Abstract: An indexing multi-panel door includes a leading door panel supported on a first track and moveable between open and closed positions, a trailing door panel supported on a second track and moveable between open and closed positions, a motion control track mounted to one of the door panels, a follower mounted to the other one of the door panels, the follower including a first distal end received within the motion control track, the motion control track including features to frictionally engage the first distal end, wherein when the leading door is moved between the open and closed positions, engagement between the first distal end and the features moves the trailing door panel along with the leading door panel, and allows slippage, wherein the leading and trailing door panels move relative to one another as the leading and trailing door panels are moved between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A workpiece accumulator system for a stamping machine includes linear actuators, nesting blocks, exit rails, and a first controller. The nesting blocks are disposed on moveable members of the linear actuators and arranged to vertically stack workpieces being fabricated by the stamping machine. The first controller communicates with a second controller that controls the stamping machine. The first controller controls the linear positions of the linear actuators to retract the nesting blocks from an initial position to accommodate placement of the one of the plurality of workpieces in a stack on the nesting blocks. The linear actuators are controlled to retract the nesting blocks to fully retracted positions to place the plurality of workpieces in the stack onto the exit rails when a quantity of the plurality of workpieces in the stack is equal to a desired quantity.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for gripping of a workpiece with a layer jamming structure having rigid datum structures. A system includes a layer jamming structure configurable in an inactivated conformable state, with a membrane defining an internal cavity containing a number of overlapping material layers. The rigid structures engage the layer jamming structure. A pressure system includes a pump coupled with the internal cavity to change a pressure therein to transform the layer jamming structure from the inactivated conformable state to an activated rigid state disposed around the workpiece. The rigid structures help conform the layer jamming structure to the workpiece during transformation to the activated rigid state and to present datum fixturing surfaces in the activated rigid state.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for learning a neural network and to determine a pose of a vehicle in an environment. A first processor performs a first feature extraction on sensor-based image data to provide a first feature map. The first processor also performs a second feature extraction on the aerial image data to provide a second feature map. Both feature maps are correlated to provide a correlation result. The first processor learns a neural network using the correlation result and ground-truth data, wherein each of the first feature extraction and the second feature is learned to extract a portion of features from the respective image data. A geo-tagged second feature map can then be retrieved by an on-board processor of the vehicle which, along with on-board processed sensor-based data by the network trained by the first processor, determines the pose of the vehicle.

Abstract: A radar system and method include a sparse array receive element and a processing device. The system performs a beamforming operation on a received radar signal to generate a beamforming spectrum, which contains superposed impulse responses with relative power and angle. The processing device executes an iterative detection routine, starting with a first stage detection that compares the beamforming spectrum to an active power threshold and identifies tentative detection points. In the second stage detection, the processing device determines a certain detection point with the greatest relative power and updates the active power threshold for subsequent iterations of the detection routine. The update involves centering the impulse response related to the certain detection point around its angle, multiplying the relative power by the impulse response, and summing the product with the active power threshold. This process continues until a final set of detection points is obtained.

Abstract: A method of analyzing the quality of a battery cell includes performing a high-throughput quality check on the battery cell with a quality control system, assessing a quality score to the battery cell, with quality score identifying the battery cell as low-quality or high-quality, and performing a comprehensive quality check on the battery cell if identified as low-quality. The method further includes assessing an enhanced quality score to the battery cell superseding the quality score of the quality control system identifying the battery cell as confirmed low-quality or confirmed high-quality and providing revised production instructions for manufacturing successive battery cells if confirmed low-quality.

Abstract: Methods for forming vascular components include providing a composite sacrificial body comprising a first sacrificial material having an outer surface and a second sacrificial material applied to at least a portion of the outer surface, molding a solid substrate around the composite sacrificial body, removing the first sacrificial material by deflagration such that at least a portion of the second sacrificial material remains in the same orientation relative to the substrate as originally molded, and subsequently removing the second sacrificial material by a non-deflagration process to form a vascular component. The second sacrificial material can include a phase change material, a syntactic foam including hollow beads bound together with a polymeric binder or a sintered aggregation of hollow beads, a polymeric foam, a water-soluble resin, or an aerogel. The non-deflagration process can include mechanical pulverization, contacting the second sacrificial material with a solvent or chemical etching agent.

Abstract: Autonomous control of a subject vehicle including a longitudinal motion control system includes determining states of parameters associated with a trajectory for the subject vehicle and parameters associated with a control reference determined for the subject vehicle. A range control routine is executed to determine a first parameter associated with a range control command based upon the states of the plurality of parameters, and a speed control routine is executed to determine a second parameter associated with a speed control command based upon the states of the plurality of parameters. An arbitration routine is executed to evaluate the range control command and the speed control command, and operation of the subject vehicle is controlled to achieve a desired longitudinal state, wherein the desired longitudinal state is associated with a minimum of the range control command and the speed control command.

Abstract: A bidirectional switch fault protection circuit includes a bidirectional switch circuit, a desaturation detection circuit, and a gate driver. The bidirectional switch circuit generates first and second switch voltages based on a direction of electric current. The desaturation detection circuit outputs the first switch voltage in response to the electric current flowing in a first direction and outputs the second switch voltage in response to the electric current flowing in a second direction opposite the first direction. The gate driver receives the first switch voltage in response to the electric current flowing in the first direction and the second switch voltage in response to the electric current flowing in the second direction. The gate driver detects a first short circuit condition based on the first switch voltage and a second short circuit condition based on the second switch voltage.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, methods and systems are provided for controlling steering of an autonomous vehicle. The method includes: operating, by a processor, the autonomous vehicle in a path-based automated driving assist mode; receiving, by the processor, driver input including a driver torque; classifying, by the processor, an operation mode based on a type of the path-based automated driving assist mode; determining, by the processor, an override threshold for overriding the path-based automated driving assist mode on a first lateral side of the autonomous vehicle based on the operation mode; determining, by the processor, a driver override status based on the override torque threshold; and generating, by the processor, control signals to control the steering of the autonomous vehicle based on the driver override status and the driver torque.

Abstract: A method is described and includes acquiring sensor data produced by sensors of a plurality of vehicles traversing an area including a location of a user, wherein the vehicles traversing the area comprise a subset of a fleet of vehicles for providing rideshare services; processing the acquired sensor data to determine a category of the user; selecting a vehicle from the fleet of vehicles based on the category of the user, wherein the selected vehicle comprises at least one accommodation corresponding to the category of the user; and dispatching the selected vehicle to a pick-up location designated by the user.

Abstract: Methods and systems provided for determining a phase state and/or for determining a degree of subcooling in a fluid. An exemplary method for operating a refrigeration cycle includes flowing a refrigerant through a metering device and calculating a pressure differential of the refrigerant across the metering device. Further, the method includes determining whether the refrigerant is a saturated liquid based on the pressure differential. The method includes, when the refrigerant is not a saturated liquid, cooling the refrigerant upstream of the metering device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically suppressing noise at electric vehicle charging sites. In particular, systems and methods are provided for measuring the ambient noise at a charging site and adjusting electric vehicle chargers to reduce noise pollution. In some examples, electric vehicle charger cooling fans potentially generate a high level of noise, and the power output of a charger can be decreased to decrease the heat generated by the chargers, thereby reducing the need for fans. In various examples, reduction of noise pollution can be especially important in specified geographies (e.g., residential neighborhoods) and/or during selected timeframes (e.g., overnight). In various examples, the system interfaces with a central computer service (e.g., a dispatch service) to intelligently route autonomous vehicles to charging sites based on noise levels at various available charging sites.

Abstract: An onboard security system for an autonomous vehicle (AV) can detect and respond to anomalies in the AV. The onboard security system may include one or more network anomaly detectors to detect unexpected changes to traffic on a local network of the AV, and one or more process anomaly detectors to detect unexpected changes to software processes running on the AV. If an anomaly is detected, an anomaly response system may classify the anomaly and determine a maneuver for the AV to perform, e.g., to pull over and stop the AV.

Abstract: Presented are torque converters (TC) with hydraulic systems for converter feed and clutch control, methods for making/operating such TC assemblies, and vehicles equipped with such TC assemblies. A TC assembly includes a housing that drivingly connects to an electric motor, and an output member that drivingly connects to a multi-gear transmission. Rotatable within the TC housing are a turbine attached to the TC output member and an impeller juxtaposed with the turbine. A lockup clutch disposed inside the TC housing, between the turbine and housing, is operable to lock the housing to the output member. A disconnect clutch disposed inside the housing, between the impeller and housing, is operable to lock the housing to the impeller. A pump is attached to the TC housing and drivingly connected to the motor for feeding fluid into the housing to increase pressure within the TC chamber and activate the lockup and disconnect clutches.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for calibrating vehicle sensors while a vehicle is being transported from one location to another. In particular, instead of using a dedicated calibration facility, systems and methods are provided for using mapped features to perform extrinsic sensor calibration while transporting the vehicle on an open-bed truck, train, or other open-bed vehicle hauler. During transport, a known distance between the vehicle sensor and a mapped target is determined, and compared to a measured distance between the vehicle sensor and the mapped target. The vehicle sensor is calibrated based on the comparison.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting weld defects, and methods for manufacturing vehicles using such methods or systems, are provided. An exemplary method includes receiving an input indicating a weld material and material thickness by a portable computing device and determining, with the portable computing device, a detection protocol for the weld material and material thickness. Further, the method includes communicating the detection protocol from the portable computing device to a portable heating source and to a portable thermographic sensor, heating a weld with the portable heating source according to the detection protocol, and recording thermographic data from the weld with the portable thermographic sensor according to the detection protocol.

Abstract: Methods and systems to assist maneuvering of a trailer being towed by a vehicle. The trailer includes a left wheel, a right wheel, an axle, a left brake device coupled to the left wheel, and a right brake device coupled to the right wheel. The methods and systems receive a driver command for a target path for the trailer, determine a left braking torque for the left wheel and a right braking torque for the right wheel based on the target path so as to provide for differential braking, and apply, via the left brake device and the right brake device, the left braking torque and the right braking torque to assist maneuvering of the trailer along the target path.

Abstract: There is disclosed an AV, comprising a vehicle motive system comprising hardware to operate the AV; and an AV controller to autonomously or semi-autonomously control the vehicle motive system, the AV controller comprising a hardware platform comprising a processor circuit and a memory, and instructions encoded within the memory to: provide an operating system (OS), including a utility set comprising a plurality of OS utility commands; provide a remote procedure server to accept incoming remote procedure requests from a host outside the AV; provide remote procedure stubs for a set of whitelisted commands, wherein the whitelisted commands comprise a subset of utility commands permissible to run on an AV with a production status; receive an incoming remote procedure request via the remote procedure server; map the incoming remote procedure request to a whitelisted command; and provide the remote procedure request to a remote procedure stub for the whitelisted command.