Abstract: A method of welding a component made from a ferrous alloy to a component made from an aluminum alloy includes machining and cleaning a fay surface on the ferrous alloy component, machining and cleaning a fay surface on the aluminum alloy component, depositing a layer of copper alloy material onto the fay surface of the ferrous alloy component, forming a weld groove on at least one of the layer of copper alloy material deposited on the fay surface of the ferrous alloy component and the fay surface of the aluminum alloy component, and laser welding the layer of copper alloy deposited on the fay surface of the ferrous alloy component and the fay surface of the aluminum alloy component to one another.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a transmission associated with a vehicle. The method includes receiving a neutral range selection for the transmission, and receiving a temperature and a pressure of a lubricant associated with the transmission. The method includes receiving a speed of an input shaft associated with the transmission, and determining, by a processor, based on the temperature and the speed of the input shaft, a pressure threshold value for the lubricant. The method includes outputting, by the processor, one or more control signals to command the transmission to a one clutch neutral state in which one clutch of a plurality of clutches associated with the transmission is engaged based on a comparison of the pressure threshold value to the pressure of the lubricant.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring deliveries in an autonomous vehicle. In particular, systems and methods are provided for monitoring the conditions of the interior of a delivery container inside an autonomous vehicle. In various implementations, the delivery container includes one or more compartments, and the conditions of each of the one or more compartments is monitored.

Abstract: A system for mitigating thermal runaway in a battery-powered electric vehicle (EV). The system includes a gas sensor configured to measure a level of at least one type of gas in a vicinity of a battery of the EV, a thermal event detector configured to determine, based on the measured level of the at least one type of gas, that the battery is experiencing out-gassing, and a communications interface configured to transmit an alert to a fleet management system regarding the out-gassing of the battery. The fleet management system alters an assignment of the EV in response to the out-gassing of the battery.

Abstract: Presented are joint active thermal management (JATM) systems with heat exchanger storage of surplus refrigerant, methods for making/operating such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A JATM system includes a coolant loop that fluidly connects to a vehicle battery system for pumping thereto coolant, an oil loop thermally coupled to the coolant loop and fluidly connected to a vehicle powertrain system for pumping thereto oil, and a refrigerant loop thermally coupled to the coolant loop and operable to circulate refrigerant for heating/cooling a passenger compartment. An electronic controller determines if a current amount of refrigerant in the refrigerant loop exceeds a calibrated threshold for the current operating mode of the JATM system. If so, the controller determines if one of the refrigerant loop's heat exchangers is available to store excess refrigerant. If the heat exchanger is available, the refrigerant loop stores excess refrigerant in the available refrigerant heat exchanger.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein examples of system and procedure for generating a model to be implemented within autonomous vehicles for identifying assertive vehicles at an intersection having stop indicators. The model can be generated via data-driven procedure where captures of the movement of vehicles through an intersection are analyzed and utilized for generating the model. The model may be provided to the autonomous vehicles and may be implemented by the autonomous vehicles for identifying assertive vehicles.

Abstract: A method for alignment a lidar with a camera of a vehicle includes: aggregating multiple lidar scans performed by the lidar of a vehicle while the vehicle is in motion to generate an aggregated point-cloud; rendering the aggregate point-cloud onto a camera image to generate a rendered image; comparing the rendered image with the camera image to determine a difference between the rendered image and the camera image, wherein a difference value is indicative of the difference between the rendered image and the camera image is represented; and determining that the camera is aligned with the lidar in response to determining that the difference value is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing indications to identify a selected autonomous vehicle, thereby distinguishing the selected autonomous vehicle from other autonomous vehicles in a fleet. In particular, autonomous vehicles that are not paired with a specific nearby user may employ various exterior indicators to dissuade the user from entering. Additionally, autonomous vehicles that are not paired with the specific nearby user may provide guidance toward the user's autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A lithium metal negative electrode for an electrochemical cell for a secondary lithium metal battery includes a polycrystalline metal substrate having a major facing surface with a defined crystallographic texture. An epitaxial lithium metal layer is formed on the major facing surface of the polycrystalline metal substrate. The epitaxial lithium metal layer exhibits a predominant crystal orientation. The predominant crystal orientation of the epitaxial lithium metal layer is derived from the defined crystallographic texture of the major facing surface of the polycrystalline metal substrate.

Abstract: Presented are protective covers for weldable fasteners, methods for making/using such cover-protected weldable fasteners, and motor vehicles with such covered fasteners welded to load-bearing structural members. A weldable fastener assembly includes a fastener, such as a weld-on nut or clip retainer, that is fabricated with a shank and a flange. One end of the shank has a fastener hole that receives therethrough a mating fastener, such as a bolt, screw, stud, or clip. The flange is formed, in whole or in part, from a weldable material for welding to a load-bearing panel or other structural support member. The flange may be integrally formed with and project radially outward from the shank. A protective cover is attached to the flange and covers the fastener hole. The protective cover is frangible and formed, in whole or in part, from a material designed to withstand the temperature at which the weldable material melts.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a test system is provided for testing a power steering system for a vehicle, the test system including a motor, one or more sensors, and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to obtain sensor data pertaining to the motor. The processor is coupled to the one or more sensors and to the motor, and is configured to: determine, using the sensor data, a desired position of the motor for providing a desired amount of torque to the power steering system in order to reach one or more target behaviors: an inertia target, a spring target, a damper target, or a friction target for the power steering system; and provide instructions for the motor to move to the desired position for providing torque to the power steering system.

Abstract: A multi-layered coating system for a substrate and a method for preparing the multi-layered coating system are provided herein. The multi-layered coating system includes a substrate, a metallic layer disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the substrate, an adhesion layer disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the metallic layer, and a protective coating layer disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the adhesion layer. The metallic layer includes a metal, an oxide of the metal, or a combination thereof. The adhesion layer includes a silicate and latex.

Abstract: A full speed range adaptive cruise control system for a host vehicle includes a plurality of sensors that each generate a signal, a memory that includes executable instructions and a processor that executes the executable instructions. The executable instructions enable the processor to detect a target vehicle as being stopped along a route based upon the signals from the plurality of sensors, cause the host vehicle to stop at a distance from the target vehicle, detect the target vehicle moving along the route after the host vehicle has stopped based upon the signals from the plurality of sensors, determine whether a first predetermined period of time has elapsed since the host vehicle has stopped, determine whether a first predetermined condition is satisfied if the first predetermined period of time has elapsed, and cause the host vehicle to move if the system determines that the first predetermined condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A flexible shelving unit includes a support frame having at least one vertical guide rack, the guide rack including an elongated slot. The shelf unit is supported by the guide rack. The shelf unit includes a shelf plate framed by a front reinforcement portion and by at least one side reinforcement portion. The shelf unit when in a release position is moved to selected upward and downward locations by vertical displacement of at least one locating pin connected to and extending from the at least one side reinforcement portion which is positioned and sliding within the elongated slot. A flat end face of the at least one side reinforcement portion directly contacts a plate face of the at least one vertical guide rack with the at least one side reinforcement portion and the shelf plate in a horizontal position to frictionally retain the shelf unit in the horizontal position.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for communicating trailer information from a trailer to a vehicle. In one embodiment, the method includes: a plurality of zone-based modules configured to communicate with at least one of sensors and actuators of a vehicle; and at least one command center module configured to communicate with the plurality of zone-based modules. The at least one of the plurality of zone-based modules includes a configuration sub-module configured to, by a processor, facilitate communication of the trailer information from the trailer to at least one other of the plurality of zone-based modules. Each of the plurality of zone-based modules includes a configuration sub-module configured to, by a processor, facilitate communication of the trailer information between the plurality of zone-based modules.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for enabling an autonomous vehicle to provide road assistance to a vehicle. The autonomous vehicle can analyze sensor data about the vehicle captured by one or more of its sensors as it navigates a route. Based on the analysis of the sensor data, the autonomous vehicle can determine that the vehicle needs maintenance. The autonomous vehicle can proactively send a request, based on the determination, to initiate a towing mechanism to tow the vehicle. Based on receiving an acceptance of the request from the vehicle, the autonomous vehicle can activate the towing mechanism.