Abstract: Systems and methods for an On-Demand Autonomy (ODA) service. The system includes a set of functional modules enabled for ODA service activities disposed in a follower vehicle (Fv) in communication with an ODA server that includes a user request module configured to receive request information from the Fv from the ODA server, and to process and communicate the request information to the schedule module; the schedule module configured to coordinate an arrival time information with the ODA server for pickup of the Fv based on the request information, and communicate the arrival time information to the schedule execution module; the schedule execution module configured to direct the Fv to a pickup point based on the arrival time information, and communicate the pickup point to the indication module; and the indication module configured to provide alerts to vehicles in the vicinity of the pickup of the Fv via the ODA service.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle having a LIDAR system that scans a field of view is described herein. With more specificity, a computing system of the autonomous vehicle defines a region of interest in the field of view for a scan of the field of view by the LIDAR system. The region of interest is a portion of the field of view. Based on the region of interest, the computing system transmits a control signal to the LIDAR system that causes the LIDAR system to emit first light pulses with a first intensity within the region of interest during the scan and second light pulses with a second intensity outside the region of interest during the scan. The first intensity is different from the second intensity to provide different ranges for distance measurements inside and outside the region of interest.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a threaded hole in a workpiece includes providing the workpiece having a region with a hole. The method also includes cutting a threading for the hole. Furthermore, the method includes, independent of cutting the threading, densifying the region proximate the hole to reduce material porosity in the region.

Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photonic chip, and a laser integrated into the photonic chip. The laser has a front facet located at a first aperture of the photonic chip to direct a transmitted light beam into free space. A reflected light beam that is a reflection of the transmitted light beam is received at the photonic chip and a parameter of the object is determined from a comparison of the transmitted light beam and the reflected light beam. A navigation system operates the vehicle with respect to the object based on a parameter of the object.

Abstract: An electrical system can include a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) and a power inverter connected to the RESS. The power inverter can be configured to provide electrical power to a traction motor. The electrical system includes a plurality of machine windings connected between a plurality of first switches and the traction motor. Each switch of the plurality of first switches is configured to transition between a closed state to allow current flow between the power inverter and the traction motor. The electrical system includes a plurality of inductor windings connected between a plurality of second switches and an off-board power source. Each switch of the plurality of second switches is configured to transition between a closed state to allow current flow between the off-board power source and the power inverter to charge the RESS.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing product samples to users in autonomous vehicles, thereby allowing businesses to advertise their products via the rideshare platform. A physical advertising platform is provided leveraging existing rideshare and delivery infrastructure to allow businesses to advertise their products by providing samples in rideshare vehicles and/or with rideshare vehicle deliveries. Consumers have the opportunity to try new products from local businesses that they may otherwise not be exposed to. In some implementations, a rideshare application interface can allow users to see what new local product samples are available. In some examples, a user can select one or more product samples to try.

Abstract: A lithium metal oxide (LMO) cathode includes a current collector having a length defining a first end and a second end, a width, and a first side and a second side, LMO active material applied to the first side and the second side of the current collector such that the LMO active material applied to each respective side of the current collector has an inner face contiguous with the current collector and an outer face, and a plurality of channels extending widthwise across the cathode within the LMO active material applied to the first and second sides. The LMO active material on each current collector side can have a thickness of about 100 ?m to about 400 ?m. The channels on the same side of the current collector can be spaced apart by 0.1 mm to 10 mm. The channels can have widths of 10 ?m to 60 ?m.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing secure Ethernet transmissions. In some aspects, an autonomous vehicle system is provided and can include a first system-on-chip being configured to provide data to a second system-on-chip via an Ethernet harness, a first switch being configured to: receive the data from the first system-on-chip, and provide the data to a first transceiver for transmission to the second system-on-chip, the first switch being configured to provide first transmission data to the first transceiver and to prohibit receipt of retrieval data from the second system-on-chip, and the first transceiver configured to communicate with the second system-on-chip via the Ethernet harness.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for performing an assisted driving trailer reversing operation including a camera operative to capture an image, an interactive user interface operative to display a graphical user interface and to receive a user input, a processor operative to generate the graphical user interface in response to the user input, the user input being indicative of a trailer destination, to generate a left maneuverability margin and a right maneuverability margin in response to a trailer dimension and a hitch angle, and a projected trailer path in response to the trailer destination, wherein the graphical user interface includes the image and a plurality of graphics overlaid on the image indicative of the left maneuverability margin, the right maneuverability margin, the projected trailer path and the trailer destination, and a vehicle controller operative to perform a trailer reversing operation in response to the control signal.

Abstract: Presented are thermomechanical fuses for mitigating heat propagation across electrochemical devices, methods for making and methods for using such fuses, and traction battery packs with load-bearing, sacrificial thermomechanical fuses to help prevent thermal runaway conditions. A battery assembly includes an electrically insulating battery housing with multiple battery cells disposed inside the battery housing. These battery cells are electrically interconnected, in series or parallel, and stacked in side-by-side facing relation to form adjacent, mutually parallel stacks of battery cells. Thermomechanical fuses thermally connect neighboring stacks of the battery cells. Each thermomechanical fuse is formed, in whole or in part, from a dielectric material that undergoes deterioration or deformation at a predefined critical temperature; in so doing, the thermomechanical fuse thermally disconnects a first stack of cells from a neighboring second stack of cells.

Abstract: An active outside rear view system for a vehicle includes a support structure mounted to an exterior surface of the vehicle. A rear view device is movably affixed to the support structure. A linkage extends from a first end to a second end, where the first end of the linkage is movably affixed to an aerodynamic enclosure and the second end of the linkage is movably affixed to the support structure. An actuator is engaged with the linkage and moves the aerodynamic enclosure between at least a first position and a second position different from the first position. The aerodynamic enclosure is independently movable relative to the rear view device and the support structure. The aerodynamic first position and the second position provide differing aerodynamic characteristics to the active outside rear view system.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method for implementing torque control using a Neural Network (NN) for a torque prediction model to receive a set of measured vehicle operating inputs associated with torque prediction; substituting a set of multiple independent variables into the torque prediction model so that the NN is then taking the form of a simplified pseudo-NN that contains a reduced variable set of one independent variable; processing, the set of measured vehicle operating inputs by the pseudo-NN based on the NN prediction model by using only one independent variable in a pseudo-NN's simplified mathematical expression; and solving for at least one root of the pseudo-NN's simplified mathematical expression by obtaining a root value without having to rely on an inversion operation of a mathematical expression that consists of an entire set of independent variables.

Abstract: A system and method operate an autonomous vehicle. A sensor senses a road and an object. A processor determines, in a Cartesian reference frame, a representation of the road and a source point representative of the object, samples a first waypoint and a second waypoint from the representation of the road, determines a linear projection of the source point to a line connecting the first waypoint and the second waypoint, determines a first estimate of a longitudinal component of the source point in a road-based reference frame based on the linear projection, the first estimate being on a curve representing the road between the first waypoint and the second waypoint, determines a second estimate of the longitudinal component from the first estimate, determines a coordinate of the source point in the road-based reference frame from the second estimate and operates the vehicle with respect to the object using the coordinate.

Abstract: A sensor lens assembly includes a cylindrical sensor body including a lower surface, a sensor lens surface, and a side surface extending between the lower surface and an outer edge of the sensor lens surface, a sensor enclosed within the cylindrical sensor body and adjacent to the sensor lens surface, and a nozzle configured to deliver a fluid near a center point of the sensor lens surface. The sensor lens surface is concave and rotates relative to the side surface of the cylindrical sensor body such that centrifugal force causes the fluid to form a film on the sensor lens surface that acts as a barrier, cushion, and particle collecting medium on the sensor lens surface.

Abstract: Braking systems and methods for an autonomous vehicle are provided. Braking devices are associated with respective wheels of the autonomous vehicle. A hydraulic circuit is connected between a primary braking module (PBM) and the braking devices and connected between a secondary braking module (SBM) and the braking devices. One of a PBM electronic control unit and a SBM electronic control unit is configured to: in response to detecting a communications failure of the other braking module, apply a predetermined hydraulic pressure operation in the hydraulic circuit. The other of the PBM electronic control unit and the SBM electronic control unit is configured to identify, based on output from the at least one sensor, the predetermined hydraulic pressure operation being applied by the one of the PBM electronic control unit and the SBM electronic control unit, and select and execute a braking profile based thereon.

Abstract: A system includes a display. The display includes an array of LEDs covered by a transparent material. The array of LEDs includes a plurality of first, second, third, and fourth LEDs respectively configured to emit red, green, blue, and violet light. The red, green, and blue light from the first, second, and third LEDs is visible to human eye. Violet light from the fourth LEDs is invisible to human eye. The system includes a photocatalytic coating disposed on the transparent material. The photocatalytic coating includes a photo-catalyst responsive to ultraviolet radiation present in sunlight and to the violet light emitted by the fourth LEDs in the array of LEDs. The system includes a controller configured to selectively turn on the fourth LEDs to activate the photo-catalyst in the photocatalytic coating disposed on the transparent material.

Abstract: A system for measuring speckle contrast includes: a head up display (HUD) system configured to output a predetermined image and having a first pixels per degree (PPD); an imaging colorimeter: having a field of view; positioned such that the predetermined image is in the field of view; having a second PPD that is at least 2.2 times greater than the first PPD of the HUD system; and configured to capture an image including the predetermined image; and a speckle contrast module configured to determine a speckle contrast of the HUD system based on the image.

Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photonic chip having a laser, an on-chip frequency shifter, a combiner and a first set of photodetectors. The laser generates a transmitted light beam and an associated local oscillator beam within the photonic chip. The on-chip frequency shifter shifts a frequency of the local oscillator beam. The combiner combines a reflected light beam with the frequency-shifted local oscillator beam, wherein the reflected light beam is a reflection of the transmitted light beam from the object to generate a first electronic signal at the first set of photodetectors. A processor obtains a first measurement of a parameter of the object from the first electronic signal. The vehicle includes a navigation system for navigating the vehicle with respect to the object using at least the first measurement of the parameter.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle having a LIDAR system that scans a field of view is described herein. With more specificity, a computing system of the autonomous vehicle defines a region of interest in the field of view for a scan of the field of view by the LIDAR system. The region of interest is a portion of the field of view. Based on the region of interest, the computing system transmits a control signal to the LIDAR system that causes the LIDAR system to emit first light pulses with a first intensity within the region of interest during the scan and second light pulses with a second intensity outside the region of interest during the scan. The first intensity is different from the second intensity to provide different ranges for distance measurements inside and outside the region of interest.