Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method to selectively pair an in-vehicle display to a mobile device used by a passenger with an in-vehicle display system when seated in the vehicle, including receiving, by a processor of a vehicle, notification via a rideshare app of a request for a ride to a destination; in response, to the passenger entering the vehicle, initiating a pairing operation of a system of the vehicle with a passenger's mobile device based on the capture by the passenger using the passenger's mobile device of a QR code displayed in the vehicle; displaying a QR code for capture by the passenger's mobile device in the vehicle and initiating a wireless connection with the passenger's mobile device wherein the wireless connection is a secure connection based on an identification of the passenger and passenger location in the vehicle based on the QR code.

Abstract: A lightweight and portable inflatable assembly includes an inflatable structural component and a chemical reaction based inflator device. The inflatable structural component includes a flexible housing defining a cavity. The inflatable structure is uninflated in a first operational mode and filled with an inflation fluid retained for at least 4 hours in a second operational mode. At least one primary and at least one secondary charge unit are in fluid communication with the cavity. The primary charge unit includes a first gas generant material configured to generate a first predetermined volume of inflation medium for filling the cavity, while the secondary charge unit includes a second gas generant material configured to generate a second predetermined volume of inflation medium for filling the cavity in the second operational mode. The second predetermined volume is ?about 40% by volume of the first predetermined volume.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle of determining whether the vehicle is operating in a road segment with a low visibility condition to cause a loss of input of sensor data to a vehicle controller that operates an assist feature, activating one or more adaptive alerts based on a road departure risk of the vehicle, and driver use of the assist feature in the upcoming road segment, wherein the road departure risk is determined by calculating a road departure risk index that compares an estimated vehicle path based on the vehicle state data with a probabilistic vehicle path for the upcoming road segment; and predicting whether will operate within an acceptable path in the upcoming road segment; and tracking the vehicle in the upcoming road segment based on vehicle navigation data to provide at least one adaptive alert based on a prediction of the road departure risk.

Abstract: A mount system, such as for a vehicle antenna, includes a module with a ground. A fastener extends into the module. A retainer clip moves from an undeployed position to a deployed position by operation of the fastener. The fastener extends through a deployment ramp block. The deployment ramp block engages and guides the retainer clip from the undeployed position to the deployed position, by operation of the fastener. The mount system is configured to effect grounding of the ground to the product and to retain the module in position on the product.

Abstract: A system for managing a set of fleet vehicles includes a central command unit having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The fleet vehicles have one or more respective electronic components and respective vehicle controllers adapted to perform self-diagnosis of their respective electronic components. The central command unit is adapted to receive notification of the self-diagnosis and classify the respective electronic components as working ones and non-working ones. The central command unit is adapted to perform component matching, including polling inventory across the fleet vehicles. Working ones of the respective electronic components are selectively redistributed for reuse across the fleet vehicles. In some embodiments, at least one of the fleet vehicles is designated as a master vehicle and the central command unit is stored in the master vehicle. In other embodiments, the central command unit is stored in a cloud computing service.

Abstract: A method of forming a component having a cross-section with a bend radius includes providing a work-piece blank from press-hardened steel (PHS). The method also includes austenitizing the work-piece blank in a furnace via heating the strip of sheet metal to achieve therein an austenite microstructure, including soaking the work-piece blank for a predetermined amount of time. The method additionally includes quenching the austenitized work-piece blank to achieve therein a martensitic matrix microstructure with dispersed chromium-enriched carbide. The method also includes roll-forming the austenitized and quenched work-piece blank to generate the cross-section and the bend radius.

Abstract: A method for preparing a metallic surface of a device includes executing iterations of a first cleaning regimen and executing iterations of a second cleaning regimen. The first cleaning regimen includes applying a hydrocarbon solvent, e.g., an iso-octane solution, to the metallic surface of the device, executing a first sonication event on the device, and rinsing the metallic surface of the device. The second cleaning regimen includes applying a solution of chlorinated solvent to the metallic surface of the device, executing a second sonication event on the device, and rinsing the metallic surface of the device.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition for a battery is provided. The electrolyte composition includes a lithium salt in a carbonate-based solution and lithium difluoro(oxalate)borate present in the electrolyte composition in an amount from 0.1 part by weight to 5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the electrolyte composition.

Abstract: An audio notification system for an autonomous vehicle (AV) determines that the AV is within range of a user and emits a sound though a speaker of the AV to notify that the user that the vehicle has arrived. The audio notification system may include a sensor for sensing that the user has accessed the AV, and turns off the sound in response to the user accessing the AV. The audio notification may be generated according to one or more audio options, e.g., volume, pitch, or audio pattern.

Abstract: An electrode structure for a battery includes a middle layer made of an electrically conductive perforated mesh having a top surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of interconnected electrically conductive segments and a plurality of perforations among adjacent ones of the interconnected segments. A top layer of an electrode material is disposed on the top surface, and a bottom layer of the electrode material is disposed on the bottom surface, such that the top and bottom layers are disposed in physical contact with each other through the perforations in the middle layer. A method of manufacturing the electrode structure includes providing the layer of perforated mesh, applying the top and bottom layers of electrode material to the top and bottom surfaces, and curing the top and bottom layers of electrode material using one or more of heat, electromagnetic radiation and convection to produce a layer of cured electrode structure.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided that include: obtaining, via telematics systems of a plurality of vehicles, vehicle telemetry data as the plurality of vehicles travel through one or more geographic regions; transforming, from a computer processor, the vehicle telemetry data into a geohash encoded format pertaining to the one or more geographic regions; identifying, via a processor, a plurality of road junctions using the vehicle telemetry data that is transformed into a geohashed encoding; identifying, via the processor, a plurality of road segments using the vehicle telemetry data that is transformed into a geohashed encoding for the one or more geographic regions; and generating, via the processor, a road network mapping for the one or more geographic regions that includes the plurality of road junctions and the plurality of road segments utilizing the vehicle telemetry data that is transformed into a geohashed encoding.

Abstract: An alloy composition is provided. The alloy composition includes silicon (Si) at a concentration of greater than or equal to about 0.55 wt. % to less than or equal to about 0.75 wt. %, magnesium (Mg) at a concentration of greater than or equal to about 0.55 wt. % to less than or equal to about 0.75 wt. %, chromium (Cr) at a concentration of greater than or equal to about 0.15 wt. % to less than or equal to about 0.3 wt. %, and a balance of the alloy composition being aluminum (Al). The alloy composition has an intermetallic phase content of less than or equal to about 3 wt. %. Methods of preparing the alloy composition and of processing the alloy composition are also provided.

Abstract: A tire radius monitoring system for dynamically determining a tire effective radius for each of the wheels on a vehicle is described. The system includes a GPS sensor, a plurality of wheel speed sensors, and a controller. The controller determines, via the GPS sensor, a velocity vector related to longitudinal velocity of the vehicle. The controller determines wheel speeds for the plurality of vehicle wheels, and detects a no-wheel-slip state for the vehicle wheels and the velocity vector from the GPS sensor. The controller determines tire effective radii for the plurality of vehicle wheels based upon the velocity vector for the vehicle and the wheel speeds for the plurality of vehicle wheels during the no-wheel-slip state, and controls vehicle operation based upon the tire effective radii.

Abstract: Presented are clutch-type engine disconnect devices, methods for making/using such disconnect devices, and motor vehicles equipped with such disconnect devices. An engine disconnect device includes a notch plate, which has multiple notches and attaches to a torque converter, and a pocket plate, which has multiple pockets and attaches to an engine's crankshaft. A pawl is movably mounted within each notch; these pawls selectively engage the notches with the pockets. A notch plate insert is nested within each notch, supporting thereon one of the pawls. A selector plate interposed between the pocket and notch plates moves from a first position, to shift the pawls out of engagement with the pockets, and a second position, to move the notch plate inserts within the notches and allow the pawls to engage the notches with the pockets to thereby lock the notch plate to the pocket plate to rotate in unison with each other.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator with stator slots securing therein electrically conductive windings. A rotor is rotatably mounted adjacent the stator and includes a stack of rotor laminates. Each laminate includes circumferentially spaced poles, each of which includes a magnet slot spaced from an insert slot. These laminate magnet slots cooperatively define the rotor's magnet slots. Likewise, the laminates' insert slots cooperatively define the rotor's insert slots. Magnets are mounted inside the rotor's magnet slots, and non-magnetic inserts are mounted inside the rotor's insert slots. One or more poles of each laminate includes a structural web that extends radially through the magnet and insert slots of that pole. Multiple poles of each rotor laminate lack a radially extending structural web. Each rotor laminate is rotated with respect to a neighboring rotor laminate such that each pole with a structural web axially aligns with a pole without a structural web.

Abstract: Angled, single laser weld and a method of forming an angled, single laser weld including arranging a first and second faying surfaces of a first and second component adjacently to form an interface between the components; irradiating at least one of the first and second components at the interface with a laser, wherein the first faying surface defines a plane formed at an angle alpha in the range of +/?5 degrees to 60 degrees from an axis A perpendicular to the first front surface and the second faying surface matches the first faying surface; and forming a junction at the interface with an hourglass shaped weld.

Abstract: A method of making a reference electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes providing a subassembly including a separator layer and a current collector layer coupled to the separator layer. The method further includes providing an electrode ink including an electroactive material, a binder, and a solvent. The method further includes creating a reference electrode precursor by applying an electroactive precursor layer to the current collector layer. The electroactive precursor layer covers greater than or equal to about 90% of a superficial surface area of a surface of the current collector layer. The electroactive precursor layer includes the electrode ink. The method further includes creating the reference electrode assembly by drying the electroactive precursor layer to remove at least a portion of the solvent, thereby forming an electroactive layer. The electroactive layer is solid and porous.

Abstract: A method to form a gear for motor vehicles includes one or more of the following: placing a blank between a first tool member and a second tool member, each of the first tool member and the second tool member having a set of teeth; and moving the first tool member and the second tool member towards the blank while rotating the first tool member and the second tool member to form a gear with a set of teeth from the blank. Each tooth of the set of teeth has a topography that varies tooth-to-tooth.

Abstract: Vehicle behavioral monitoring includes determining a measure of distraction of the operator of a target vehicle, characterizing the type or category of distraction, determining level of risk that the target vehicle poses, and invoking various responses including host vehicle notifications and evasive actions and external notification and information sharing.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to features that facilitate the automatic cleaning of optical sensors and in particular Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors used in autonomous vehicle deployments. In some aspects, the disclosed technology includes a sensor cleaning apparatus having a housing, wherein the housing is configured to be rotatably coupled to an optical sensor, a wiper blade coupled to the housing, wherein the wiper blade is disposed at a downward angle relative to a top-surface of the optical sensor, and one or more nozzles disposed within the wiper blade, wherein the nozzles are configured to apply compressed gas to a surface of the optical sensor.