Abstract: A vehicle includes a system and method of modeling and controlling a traction of a wheel of the vehicle. The system includes an observer, a predictive controller and an online solver. The observer receives a dynamic model parameter of the wheel and determines an estimate of a wheel velocity and an uncertainty in the wheel velocity using a non-linear model of the wheel. The predictive controller determines an average gain and differential gain from the estimate of the wheel velocity and the uncertainty in the wheel velocity. The online solver calculates a motor torque and a wheel brake torque for increasing the traction of the wheel with a road based on the average gain and the differential gain. The motor torque and the wheel brake torque are applied at the vehicle.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a polymeric gel electrolyte for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The polymeric gel electrolyte includes greater than or equal to about 0.1 wt. % to less than or equal to about 10 wt. % of a non-lithium salt. The non-lithium salt includes a non-lithium cation having an ion radius that is greater than or equal to about 80% to less than or equal to about 250% of an ion radius of a lithium ion. The polymeric gel electrolyte further includes greater than or equal to about 50 wt. % to less than or equal to about 99.9 wt. % of a non-volatile gel. The non-volatile gel includes greater than or equal to 0 wt. % to less than or equal to about 50 wt. % of a polymeric host and greater than or equal to about 5 wt. % to less than or equal to about 100 wt. % of a liquid electrolyte.

Abstract: Rotor for electric machines and methods for fabricating rotors for electric machines are provided. An exemplary method includes assembling a stack of laminations to form a rotor core having an external surface. The rotor core defines one to five layers of internal cavities and an interior permanent magnet is positioned in a selected internal cavity. The method also includes locating a non-magnetic structural element in the selected internal cavity. Further, the method includes applying a compressive force on the external surface of the rotor core with an annular sleeve.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for coordinating remote control of an autonomous vehicle by a remote transportation system. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor of the remote transportation system, request data requesting intervention of control of the autonomous vehicle; selecting, by the processor, an operator from a plurality of available operators; selectively assigning, by the processor, the selected operator to a task associated with the intervention based on at least one of a skill level of the selected operator, a workload of the selected operator, and an economic element of the ride associated with the selected operator; and coordinating, by the processor, control of the autonomous vehicle based on the assigned operator.

Abstract: A method for storing shard data and data formats for storing shard data are proposed. Shard data entries are generated and stored, wherein each shard data entry comprises a definition of one or more semantic objects covered by the shard data entry. Shard metadata is generated and stored, wherein the metadata comprises references to the shard data entries and, for each of the shard data entries, data representative of a bounding box indicative of an area in a geographical area that is covered by the shard data entry.

Abstract: A system for modular dynamically adjustable capacity storage for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells, a negative terminal including a chassis ground connection, and a plurality of positive battery pack terminals. The negative terminal and the plurality of positive battery pack terminals are useful for connecting at least one electrical circuit through the battery pack. The system further includes a battery cell switching system, including a plurality of solid-state switches connected to each of the battery cells. The plurality of solid-state switches is operable to selectively connect a portion of the battery cells in parallel, selectively connect the portion of the battery cells in series, and selectively connect one of the plurality of battery cells to one of the plurality of positive battery pack terminals.

Abstract: A method to perform secure boot procedure using a multi-stage security verification is provided. The procedure includes, within a microcontroller, referring to a table to identify a first defined memory region including code useful to start-up application programming of the microcontroller, wherein the application programming is operable to provide a function of the microcontroller to the vehicle, and a second defined memory region, including programming and data useful to operation of the application programming of the microcontroller. The procedure further includes, within a first stage, verifying authenticity of contents of the first region and starting-up the application programming of the microcontroller based upon verifying the authenticity of the contents of the first region.

Abstract: Methods and systems for an On-Demand Autonomy (ODA) system are provided. A method includes: receiving a request for ODA service from the Fv, wherein the request includes a location of the Fv; when the Lv is within a first distance of the location of the Fv: identifying the Fv within a scene of an environment of the Lv; identifying an orientation of the Fv within the scene of the environment of the Lv; and determining a second location for the Lv to begin the ODA service; when the Lv is within a second distance of the second location, determining a closeness of other vehicles within a second scene of the environment of the Lv; confirming the orientation of the Fv in the second scene; performing a handshake method with the Fv to create a virtual link between the Lv and the Fv; and performing at least one of pulling and parking platooning methods using the created virtual link.

Abstract: A method in an On-Demand Autonomy system includes: monitoring for a trip change request from a plurality of platoon vehicles including a first leader vehicle (Lv) and a follower vehicle (Fv). When a trip termination request is received from a platoon vehicle, the method includes broadcasting information regarding the request to the other platoon vehicles, and monitoring for an acknowledgement of the request. When the trip termination request originated from the first Lv, the method includes electing a new Lv, computing a rendezvous point for the new Lv and the Fv, and signaling the Fv and new Lv regarding the rendezvous point. When a trip modification request is received from the Fv, the method includes broadcasting information regarding the request to the first Lv, electing a new Lv, computing a rendezvous point for the new Lv and the Fv, and signaling the Fv and new Lv regarding the rendezvous point.

Abstract: A system and method for generating shard data based on semantic sharding is proposed. Shard data is generated by a map sharder that is configured to generate the shard data based on semantic objects in a geographical area and a definition of sections. The sections cover parts of the geographical area. The map sharder searches, for each of the sections, for semantic objects that are located at least partly in a section and stores found objects in a shard data entry of the shard data.

Abstract: Presented are metalworking systems for forming metallic workpieces, methods for making such workpieces and methods for operating such systems, and battery cell tabs bent by a multistage plunger press. A metalworking system includes a plunger fixture that mounts adjacent metallic workpieces, and a plunger head movably mounted to the plunger fixture to move between activated and deactivated positions. A first row of plunger fingers is mounted to the plunger head and moves in one direction to press against and bend one metallic workpiece a predefined bend angle. Likewise, a second row of plunger fingers is mounted to the plunger head and moves in an opposite direction to press against and bend another metallic workpiece another predefined bend angle. The plunger head then moves to the activated position, in tandem with the plunger fingers bending the metallic workpieces, to cause the plunger fingers to bend the workpieces additional respective bend angles.

Abstract: A hybrid threading tap includes a reamer portion and a thread cutting portion having a plurality of cutting teeth. The thread cutting portion is arranged with the reamer portion along the longitudinal axis. The reamer portion is configured to be advanced within a hole of a workpiece to plastically deform and expand the hole to an expanded hole and provide the expanded hole with a zone of residual compressive stress. The plurality of cutting teeth is configured to cut a threading into the expanded hole within the zone.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to solid-state electrolytes and methods of making the same. The method includes admixing a sulfate precursor including one or more of Li2SO4 and Li2SO4.H2O with one or more carbonaceous capacitor materials. The first admixture is calcined to form an electrolyte precursor that is admixed with one or more additional components to form the solid-state electrolyte. When a ratio of the sulfate precursor to the one or more carbonaceous capacitor materials in the first admixture is about 1:2, the electrolyte precursor consists essentially of Li2S. When a ratio of the sulfate precursor to the one or more carbonaceous capacitor materials in the first admixture is less than about 1:2, the electrolyte precursor is a composite precursor including a solid-state capacitor cluster including the one or more carbonaceous capacitor materials and a sulfide coating including Li2S disposed on one or more exposed surfaces of the solid-state capacitor cluster.

Abstract: A crash detection system for a vehicle comprises first and second batteries and a computational system comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. First and second antennas are both in electronic communication with the computational system and powered by one of the batteries, with the antennas configured to independently wirelessly communicate with an external network. A microphone powered by one of the batteries and in electronic communication with the computational system. The microphone continuously receives sound waves in real time and transmits sound signals to the processor. The processor monitors properties of the sound waves within the sound signals, compares the properties to thresholds stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium, determines if the vehicle has been involved in a collision if at least one of the properties crosses the respective threshold, and communicates with the external network to report the collision with one of the antennas.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of microphones to obtain speech from a person outside the vehicle as an input signal and a sensor system to determine a location and orientation of the person relative to the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a controller to determine characteristics of the input signal and to determine whether to perform speech enhancement on the input signal based on one or more of the characteristics and the location and orientation of the person.

Abstract: An electrode precursor or slurry according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a blended electroactive material and a binder solution. The blended electroactive material includes a first electroactive material and a second electroactive material. The first electroactive material includes nickel. The first electroactive material is selected from the group consisting of LiNixCoyMnzO2 where x is greater than 0.6, LiNixCoyAlzO2 where x is greater than 0.6, LiNixCoyMnzAl?O2 where x is greater than 0.6, or any combination thereof. The second electroactive material includes a phosphor-olivine compound at less than or equal to about 30 weight percent of the blended electroactive material. The binder solution including a polymeric binder and a solvent including N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. In various aspects, the present disclosure provides a high-nickel-content positive electrode formed from the slurry.

Abstract: A heat dissipation device for an electronics cooling system having an electronic component includes a housing that defines a chamber. The device further includes a first liquid, which is contained within the chamber and has a first boiling temperature. The device further includes a sorbent material immersed within the first liquid. The device further includes a second liquid, which is adsorbed by the sorbent material and has a second boiling temperature that is above the first boiling temperature. The first liquid vaporizes into a first vapor, in response to the first liquid reaching the first boiling temperature. The second liquid is desorbed from the sorbent material, in response to the second liquid and the sorbent material reaching a desorption temperature that is below the second boiling temperature. The second liquid vaporizes into a second vapor, in response to the second liquid reaching the second boiling temperature.

Abstract: A positive electrode for an electrochemical cell of a secondary lithium metal battery may include an aluminum metal substrate and a protective layer disposed on a major surface of the aluminum metal substrate. The protective layer may include a conformal aluminum fluoride coating layer. A positive electrode active material layer may overlie the protective layer on the major surface of the aluminum metal substrate. The positive electrode active material layer may include a plurality of interconnected pores, which may be infiltrated with a nonaqueous electrolyte that includes a lithium imide salt.

Abstract: A wastegate system of a vehicle includes: a wastegate valve configured to regulate exhaust flow through a turbine of a turbocharger of an engine; a wastegate actuator including a lever that is mechanically coupled to the wastegate valve via one or more linkages and that is configured to move linearly based on a pressure within an interior of the wastegate actuator; a resonator that is fluidly coupled to the interior of the wastegate actuator via a first one or more hoses and that is configured to counteract force attributable to pressure changes in the exhaust from combustion events within the engine; and a regulator valve that is fluidly connected between a pneumatic source and the resonator via a second one or more hoses and that is configured to regulate the pressure within the interior of the wastegate actuator.