Abstract: A system for indicating an operating mode of a motor vehicle having a vehicle interior and an operator seat arranged therein includes a rotatable steering wheel arranged inside the vehicle interior relative to the operator seat. The steering wheel includes a front side facing the operator seat and an opposing back side. The system additionally includes a light source configured to project a beam of light onto the back side of the steering wheel. The back side of the steering wheel is configured to capture the light beam and illuminate therewith the front side of the steering wheel to thereby generate a sensory signal indicative of the operating mode to a vehicle operator positioned in the operator seat. A motor vehicle employing the system for generating a sensory signal to a vehicle operator for indicating an operating mode of the vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of making magnesium-based alloy components, such as automotive components, include treating a casting comprising a magnesium-based alloy to a first deforming process to form a preform. In one aspect, the first deforming process has a first maximum predetermined strain rate of greater than or equal to about 0.001/s to less than or equal to about 1/s in an environment having a temperature of ?to about 250° C. to ?to about 450° C. In another aspect, the first deforming process is cold deforming that is followed by annealing. The preform is then subjected to a second deforming process having a second maximum predetermined strain rate of ?about 1/s to ?about 100/s in an environment having a temperature of ?about 150° C. to ?about 450° C. to form the magnesium-based alloy component substantially free of cracking. A solid magnesium-based alloy component having select microstructures are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method comprising receiving a rideshare request from a user, the rideshare request including a destination; transporting the passenger to the destination using an autonomous vehicle (AV) having a plurality of windows comprising electrically switchable smart glass; during the transporting, monitoring a metric related to arrival of the AV at the destination; and untinting the windows when the monitored metric has a prescribed relationship to a threshold value.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to a testing apparatus that enables an analog frequency response of a device under test to be analyzed. The testing apparatus includes a laser source and an optical resonator. The laser source is optically injection locked to the optical resonator. The testing apparatus also includes a modulator configured to apply a time-varying voltage to the optical resonator. The time-varying voltage causes the laser source optically injection locked to the optical resonator to generate a frequency modulated optical signal that can include time-varying chirps. The testing apparatus further includes an interferometer (e.g., variable delay, fixed length) configured to receive the frequency modulated optical signal from the laser source optically injection locked to the optical resonator. The interferometer outputs an optical test signal having a range of frequencies. The frequencies in the optical test signal are based at least in part on the time-varying chirps.

Abstract: A polymer-metal sandwich structure includes a first layer made of a polymer and having a first bonding surface, a second layer made of a metal and having a second bonding surface, and a third layer sandwiched between and in contact with the first and second bonding surfaces. The first layer contains or is capable of liberating anions of a first ion type at the first bonding surface, the second layer contains or is capable of liberating cations of a second ion type at the second bonding surface, and the third layer is made of a flame retardant formed of anions of the first ion type and cations of the second ion type. A method of manufacturing the polymer-metal sandwich structure is also provided.

Abstract: A hybrid core for manufacturing a cast component, the hybrid core including a sand core portion having an exterior shape configured to define an interior feature of the cast component. The hybrid core also includes a metal chill element embedded within the sand core portion. The metal chill element is configured to locally absorb heat energy from the cast component during cooling of the cast component and solidification thereof. The metal chill element is constructed and arranged within the sand core portion to be removed during shake out from the cast component subsequent to the solidification thereof. A system and a method for manufacturing a cast component using such a hybrid core are also envisioned.

Abstract: A flash thermography device is configured to apply a flash of light to a target area on a surface of the battery cell. An imaging device is configured to capture an image of the target area subsequent to the flash of light being applied to the surface of the battery cell. A defect detection control module is configured to receive the image captured by the imaging device, analyze the image to determine whether a defect is present in the battery cell, and selectively generate and output an indication of whether the defect is present based on the analysis of the image.

Abstract: An electric motor assembly includes a housing having a generally cylindrical inner surface defining a generally cylindrical cavity within the housing, a stator operatively disposed within the generally cylindrical cavity, the stator including a plurality of stacked laminations wherein each lamination has an outer circumferential edge and a plurality of finger elements extending inward, and a layer of polymer disposed between a generally cylindrical outer surface of the stator and the generally cylindrical inner surface of the housing, such that the stator is fastened to the housing by the polymer. A method of manufacturing the electric motor assembly includes disposing a stator within a housing such that a gap is defined between the stator and the housing and the stator is not directly connected to the housing, and substantially filling the gap with a polymer capable of fastening the stator to the housing by only the polymer.

Abstract: Examples described herein provide a computer-implemented method that includes monitoring, using a microcontroller, an electric circuit of a vehicle, the electric comprising a battery source and a load. The battery source supplies electric power to the load. The method further includes detecting, using the microcontroller, a high current event in the electric circuit by comparing a current level of a current flowing through the electric circuit to a time-based current threshold. The method further includes responsive to detecting the high current event, controlling a gate driver to cause a switch of an electronically resettable fuse to open the electric circuit to stop the flow of the current through the electric circuit.

Abstract: Lithium manganese oxide (LMO) particles having a substantially round shape and methods of preparing such LMO particles are provided herein. The method includes, in the presences of a catalyst, calcining (i) a lithium source and a manganese source and/or (ii) a lithium and manganese source to form the LMO particles. Examples of the lithium source include Li2CO3, LiOH, LiNO3, Li2O, and combinations thereof, and examples of the manganese source include MnO2, Mn3O4, and a combination thereof. The lithium and manganese source includes LixMn2O4, where 0.75?x?1.25. The catalyst includes one or more transition metal, such as a period 5 transition metal, a period 6 transition metal, a period 7 transition metal, and a combination thereof, an oxide of the one or more transition metal, a salt of the one or more transition metal, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A battery module includes a first battery cell and a neighboring second battery cell. The battery module also includes a heat sink in contact with and configured to absorb thermal energy from each of the first battery cell and the second battery cell. The battery module additionally includes a module enclosure surrounded by ambient environment and configured to house each of the first battery cell, the second battery cell, and the heat sink. The battery module further includes a heat transfer mechanism having a first switch configured to detect temperature of the first battery cell exceeding a predetermined value indicative of a thermal runaway event. The heat transfer mechanism is also configured to transfer thermal energy from the first battery cell to the module enclosure to thereby control propagation of the thermal runaway event to the second battery cell.

Abstract: Motor driven systems with optimized performance and efficiency are provided. A drive system includes a motor and a gear system coupled with the motor by a shaft. The gear system includes a pair of input gears disposed on the shaft, and a pair of transfer shafts including transfer gears meshing with the input gears. The gear system is configured to cancel axial, radial and/or tangential forces for minimized net force at the shaft.

Abstract: A protection system for a high-voltage component includes a switching circuit and a protection controller. The switching circuit changes a variable arrangement of multiple battery packs between a parallel arrangement and a series arrangement. The protection controller commands the switching circuit into the series arrangement in response to a recharging session, commands a current flow in the recharging session, measures a measured voltage between an input node and a floating chassis ground of the high-voltage component, advances a timer while the measured voltage indicates a presence of an improper voltage, and cancels the recharging session in response to the presence of the improper voltage for greater than an exposure time. The recharging session provides a direct-current fast-charging voltage to battery packs in the series arrangement, and is greater than the battery voltage.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a system is provided that includes a sensor system configured to generate sensor data associated with a seat of a vehicle; and a processor communicatively coupled to the sensor system and configured to determine, from the sensor data, a baseline position of a child seat sitting on the seat of the vehicle, determine, from the sensor data, a displacement of the child seat from the baseline position, and selectively generate notification data based on the displacement.

Abstract: A negative electrode for an electrochemical cell of a secondary lithium metal battery is manufactured by a method in which a precursor solution is applied to a major surface of a lithium metal substrate to form a protective interfacial layer thereon. The precursor solution includes a first organic solvent mixture, a dioxolane, and a fluorinated organosilane. The protective interfacial layer exhibits a composite structure including a polymeric matrix component and a lithium-containing dispersed component embedded in the polymeric matrix component.

Abstract: A method of assisting deceleration during a stop of a motor vehicle having a drivetrain including a traction motor, a road wheel operatively connected to the drivetrain, a friction brake configured to decelerate the road wheel, and an electronic controller includes detecting, via the electronic controller, a request to stop the vehicle. The method also includes commanding the traction motor to provide regenerative braking in response to the request to stop the vehicle. The method additionally includes determining a current vehicle operating state. The method also includes determining an amount of brake drag torque to be generated by the friction brake based on the current vehicle operating state. The method further includes commanding an application of the determined amount of the brake drag torque in parallel with the regenerative braking, thereby operating the friction brake as a mechanical drivetrain damper while assisting the regenerative braking to stop the motor vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring chain health of a chain having multiple links in a closed loop, as the chain cycles. The system includes: a camera statically positioned with respect to the chain, the camera configured to generate a frame to include a link from among the multiple links; and a controller module operationally coupled to the camera and programmed to repeat the steps of: receiving the frame; converting the frame to a black and white frame with a high-contrast; identifying a link type of the link in the black and white frame based on referencing a plurality of predefined skyline templates; and, storing the link with the link type and a respective temporal marker in a cache, storing a sequence. The system continues until discovering that the chain has cycled back to the starting link, identifies a type of chain for the chain, and fingerprints the chain.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle systems with networked on-body vehicle cameras with camera-view augmentation capabilities, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A method for operating a motor vehicle includes a system controller receiving, from a network of vehicle-mounted cameras, camera image data containing a target object from a perspective of one or more cameras. The controller analyzes the camera image to identify characteristics of the target object and classify these characteristics to a corresponding model collection set associated with the type of target object. The controller then identifies a 3D object model assigned to the model collection set associated with the target object type. A new “virtual” image is generated by replacing the target object with the 3D object model positioned in a new orientation. The controller commands a resident vehicle system to execute a control operation using the new image.

Abstract: A method is provided for autonomously operating a vehicle. The method includes receiving vehicle state and vehicle environment data; determining that a vehicle position is not in a position for autonomous mode based on vehicle state and vehicle environment data, wherein the position is associated with a center of one lane of a roadway; enabling a steering assistance torque for a lane-centering operation concurrently within a pre-determined period of time of engagement of the autonomous mode for a vehicular operation; blending the steering assistance torque for assisting in vehicle guidance with a torque applied by the operator for the lane-centering operation with the autonomous mode of vehicular operation engaged; and executing enablement of the autonomous vehicular operation mode with the vehicle positioned within the center of one lane of the roadway as the operator is transitioned from a hands-on to a hands-off control of the vehicle.

Abstract: Techniques for simulating LIDAR data are described. In one embodiment, a method for simulating LIDAR data may include retrieving a simulated scene that simulates a real-world scene, the simulated scene including at least one target object having a reflectivity r and located at a range R from a LIDAR sensor, the LIDAR sensor having at least one intrinsic parameter; generating a probability of detection (Pd) drop-off function for the LIDAR sensor, wherein the Pd drop-off function is related to r, R, and the at least one intrinsic parameter; for each data point comprising a ray emitted by the LIDAR sensor that hits the target object, generating a Pd value using the Pd drop-off function; and determining based on the Pd value whether to drop the data point.