Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions which when executed by the processor configure the processor to receive data from a plurality of sensors in a vehicle, the sensors including a Global Navigation Satellite System receiver, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers; and to determine a location of the vehicle and a direction of motion of the vehicle based on the data and a history of locations of the vehicle in prior N seconds, where N is a number greater than 0. The instructions configure the processor to determine a permitted driving direction for the vehicle based on the location of the vehicle and a map database; and to detect whether the vehicle is moving in a wrong direction based on the permitted driving direction and the direction of motion of the vehicle.

Abstract: An electric drive system includes a rechargeable energy storage unit, a power inverter, an electric motor and a controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. A transfer of electrical power between the rechargeable energy storage unit and the electric motor is governed by a pulse width modulation (PWM) switching frequency. The controller is configured to determine a current switching frequency based in part on a PWM type, a PWM switching frequency style and an inverter direct current voltage. A PWM scalar is determined based in part on the current switching frequency and a maximum value of a control reference frequency. The controller is configured to transmit a command signal to regulate the transfer of electrical power based in part on the PWM scalar, the PWM switching frequency being proportional to a product of the PWM scalar and the control reference frequency.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to controlling an autonomous vehicle to provide indicators to distinguish the autonomous vehicle from other autonomous vehicles in a fleet. The autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle propulsion system, a braking system, a notification system, and a computing system. The notification system outputs an indicator that is perceivable external to the autonomous vehicle. The computing system receives data specifying an identity of a passenger to be picked up by the autonomous vehicle. Moreover, the computing system controls at least one of the vehicle propulsion system or the braking system to stop the autonomous vehicle for passenger pickup. Further, the computing system controls the notification system to output the indicator; a characteristic of the indicator outputted by the notification system is controlled based on the identity of the passenger to be picked up and whether the autonomous vehicle is stopped for passenger pickup.

Abstract: A method of forming an additive manufactured component comprises depositing a first layer of build material on a build platform within an additive manufacturing machine, depositing reinforcement fibers into the first layer of build material, orienting the reinforcement fibers within the first layer of build material, lowering the build platform, depositing a second layer of build material on top of the first layer of build material, depositing reinforcement fibers into the second layer of build material, and orienting the reinforcement fibers within the second layer of build material.

Abstract: An optical coupling device is described herein. The optical coupling device comprises a first waveguide and a second waveguide that are formed on a common substrate, and a resonator that is positioned out of plane with the two waveguides. The resonator and waveguides are positioned such that light traveling in each of the waveguides evanescently couples to the resonator but not to the other of the waveguides. The optical coupling device can be used in connection with improving linewidth of a laser source for a lidar sensor. In another example, the optical coupling device can be used in connection with wavelength division multiplexing.

Abstract: A method for text feedback includes: receiving, by a controller, an utterance from a user; determining, by an automatic speech recognition engine of the controller, a plurality of speech recognition results based on the utterance from the user, wherein the speech recognition results include probable commands; determining, by the automatic speech recognition engine of the controller, a plurality of confidence scores for each of the plurality of speech recognition results; determining, by the controller, a text characteristic for each of the plurality of probable commands as a function of the confidence scores for each of the plurality of speech recognition results; and commanding, by the controller, a display to show text corresponding to each of the plurality of probable commands with the text characteristic determined by the controller.

Abstract: A structural load path assembly includes an upper rail configured to be coupled to a suspension system, a lower rail spaced apart from the upper rail along a vertical direction, a first outer bracket interconnecting the upper rail and the lower rail, a second outer bracket interconnecting the upper rail and the lower rail, a first inner bracket interconnecting the upper rail and the lower rail, wherein the first inner bracket is spaced apart from the first outer bracket along a horizontal direction, and the horizontal direction is perpendicular to the vertical direction, a second inner bracket interconnecting the upper rail and the lower, and a box section sized to receive a shock absorber.

Abstract: An overhead system assists an operator in moving an object when the operator imparts a manual force to the object in a shared workspace characterized by overlapping ranges of motion of the robot and operator. The system includes an articulated serial robot, a cable, sensors, and a control system. One end of the cable connects to a distal end link of the robot. Another end of the cable connects to the object to suspend the object. The sensors measure a cable force and/or angle. The control system regulates operation of the robot by translating vertically and horizontally in response to the cable force and/or angle. The control system limits the position and/or velocity of the end link according to corresponding work space rules, including respective position and velocity limits, such that the system is immune to a single-point failure.

Abstract: A distributed integrated sensing and communication (DISC) module for an autonomous vehicle is described herein. The DISC module includes at least a first sensor system, a second sensor system, a processor, and memory. The first sensor system and the second sensor system are different types of sensor systems. The first sensor system outputs a first sensor signal, and the second sensor system outputs a second sensor signal. The DISC module can detect and track an object (or objects) based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal. Moreover, the DISC module can output data indicative of the object as detected. In the DISC module, the first sensor system, at least a portion of the second sensor system, the processor, and the memory are integrated on a single substrate.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) maintenance system engages a user of an AV to assist in maintenance tasks. A sensor interface receives data captured by a sensor of the AV. An issue detector processes the sensor data to detect an issue in the AV. A user interface module instructs a user to perform a maintenance task addressing the detected issue. A verification module verifies that the user successfully completed the maintenance task.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for orthogonal rotation of a radiation E-field polarization rely on a radiating element including an offset-ridge waveguide and a single-mode first ridge waveguide functionally adjacent to the offset-ridge waveguide.

Abstract: A holographic display system for a motor vehicle includes a light source for generating a beam of coherent light and a spatial light modulator (SLM) having a two-dimensional pixel array. The two-dimensional pixel array modulates the beam of coherent light for generating a plurality of subframes, with each subframe being associated with one of a plurality of partial fields of view. The system further includes a scanner for directing the subframes onto associated sections of a display surface. The system further includes a computer having a memory including instructions, such that a processor is programmed to control the two-dimensional pixel array of the SLM for generating the subframes. The processor is further programmed to control the scanner for directing the subframes onto associated sections of the display surface and displaying a reconstructed image within a full field of view, which includes each of the partial fields of view.

Abstract: A system in a vehicle includes a starter motor to start an engine of the vehicle and a battery configured to power the starter motor during the start of the engine. An ultracapacitor is controllably connected in series with the battery to provide additional power to the starter motor during the start of the engine.

Abstract: A fleet management system implements a rewards-based feedback system to receive feedback from users of a rideshare service that provides rides using autonomous vehicles (AVs). The fleet management system maintains user accounts associated with each user and provides reward points to each user account. When the user is riding in an AV, the user can access a user interface to select a portion of the reward points and reward them to the AV. The fleet management system may analyze the point rewards to identify individual user preferences, to identify preferences across users, or to identify AVs for maintenance or other types of modification.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating images from an autonomous vehicle ride. The images can include images from inside the vehicle and outside the vehicle, and can be used to create a highlight reel of the ride. The images can be captured automatically and include images of passengers during the ride. The highlight reel is provided to a user who can choose to share it with others.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating images from an autonomous vehicle ride. Systems and methods are provided for determining whether a vehicle route passes a photogenic location and, if so, capturing an image at the photogenic location. The user can be provided with an option to take a detour to a nearby photogenic location. Additionally, a route can be selected based on one or more photogenic locations along the route. Captured images are provided to the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrochemical cell that includes a double-sided electrode. The double-sided electrode includes a first electroactive material layer, a second electroactive material layer, and a current collector disposed between the first and second electroactive material layers. Each of the first and second electroactive material layers may include a plurality of electroactive material sub-films and a plurality of buffer layers disposed between adjacent electroactive material sub-films. The electrochemical cell further includes a first single-sided electrode substantially aligned with the first electroactive material layer; a first separator physically separating the first single-sided electrode and the first electroactive material layer; a second single-sided electrode substantially aligned with the second electroactive material layer; and a second separator physically separating the second single-sided electrode and the second electroactive material layer.