Abstract: A lithium metal electrode including ceramic particles is provided herein as well as electrochemical cells including the lithium metal electrode and methods of making the lithium metal electrode. The lithium metal electrode includes ceramic particles present as a ceramic layer adjacent to a first surface of the lithium metal electrode, embedded within the first surface, or a combination thereof. The ceramic particles include lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) particles, alumina particles, or a combination thereof.

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: The present disclosure relates to solid-state batteries and methods for forming solid-state batteries. The method includes contacting a polymeric precursor and an assembled battery including two or more electrodes defining a space therebetween, where the polymeric precursor fills the space defined between the two or more electrodes and any voids between the solid-state electroactive particles of each electrode; and reacting the polymeric precursor to form a polymeric gel electrolyte that forms a solid-state electrolyte layer in the space between the two or more electrodes and fills the voids between the solid-state electroactive particles of the electrodes. In other instances the method includes disposing the polymeric precursor on exposed surfaces of an electrode and reacting the polymeric precursor to form the solid-state electrolyte.

Abstract: A magnesium alloy matrix having an alloy composition including aluminum at a concentration of between 0.5 wt. % to 2.5 wt. %, manganese at a concentration of between 0.3 wt. % to 1.0 wt. %, the concentration of manganese is greater than or equal to a value of [Mn] determined by a linear function [Mn]=x[Al], where x is at least 0.6 when [Al]=0.5 and is at least 0.14 when [Al]=2.5, zinc at a concentration of between 0 wt. % to 3 wt. %, tin at a concentration of between 0 wt. % to 3 wt. %, calcium at a concentration of between 0 wt. % to 0.5%, rare earth metals at a concentration of between 0 wt. % to 5 wt. %, and a balance of the alloy composition being magnesium.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes: a sensor system configured to generate sensor data sensed from an environment of the vehicle; and a control module configured to, by a processor, predict parked vehicles within the scene of the environment, identify an outer edge associated with the parked vehicles, generate a virtual lane line based on the outer edge associated with the parked vehicles, and generate signal data based on the virtual lane line to at least one of display the virtual lane line within the scene and control the vehicle.

Abstract: An electrolyte for a lithium ion battery includes a nonaqueous aprotic organic solvent and a lithium salt dissolved in the organic solvent. The organic solvent includes a cyclic carbonate, an acyclic carbonate, and an acyclic fluorinated ether for improved low temperature and high voltage performance as well as enhanced thermostability. The ether group has a general formula of R1—O—[R3—O]n—R2, where n=0 or 1, R1 and R2 are each straight-chain C1-C6 fluoroalkyl groups, and, when n=1, R3 is a methylene group or a polyethylene group.

Abstract: An electromechanical system operates in part through physical interaction with an operator, and includes a multi-axis robot, a controller, and a counterbalance mechanism connected to the robot. The counterbalance mechanism includes a base structure connected to a set of linkages, a pneumatic cylinder, a spring-loaded cam assembly, and an optional constant force spring. The linkages form a four-bar parallelogram assembly connectable to a load. The cylinder and cam assembly, and optional constant force spring, each impart respective vertical forces to the parallelogram assembly. The forces combine to provide gravity compensation and self-centering functions or behaviors to the load, enabling the load to move with a vertical degree of freedom when manually acted upon by the operator, and to return the load to a nominal center position.

Abstract: A method for coating a separator for a battery includes creating an electrostatic field and disposing a substrate material within the electrostatic field. The method further includes applying a coating material to the substrate material in a presence of the electrostatic field and drying the coating material upon the substrate material.

Abstract: A rechargeable energy storage system and a method of manufacturing includes a battery pack having a battery cell module assembly with an interconnect board disposed between and physically connecting the battery cells with the cell monitoring unit, and a module cover at least partially enclosing the battery cells, the cell monitoring unit, and the interconnect board. The battery pack has relatively high and relatively low loss regions for radio frequency signal communication. A radio frequency manager is wirelessly connectable to the cell monitoring unit by radio frequency signal communication. A signal directing component is operable for transmitting and/or receiving a radio frequency signal between the cell monitoring unit and the radio frequency manager, is configured to direct the radio frequency signal to the relatively low loss region, and is integrated in one of the module cover, the interconnect board, or the radio frequency manager.

Abstract: A transfer case pump includes an oil pump, a cover assembly, and a torque transfer mechanism. The oil pump has a pump shaft, and is configured to pressurize a lubricant in response to a rotation of the pump shaft. The pump shaft rotates around a pump axis. The pump axis is parallel to a rear axis of a rear shaft. The pump axis is offset from the rear axis. The cover assembly has a channel configured to transfer the lubricant from the oil pump to the rear shaft. The cover assembly extends around the rear shaft and around the pump shaft. The torque transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a torque from the rear shaft to the pump shaft.

Abstract: A multilink suspension assembly for a motor vehicle includes a steering knuckle rotatably mounting thereon a wheel unit, and a tie bar mounted to a respective swivel joint of the steering knuckle. Two lower control links are located aft of the tie bar and have inboard ends mounted to respective mounting junctions on the vehicle chassis and outboard ends mounted to respective swivel joints at a lower end of the steering knuckle. Two upper control links, which are located aft of the tie bar and vertically spaced from the lower control links, have inboard ends mounted to respective mounting junctions on the vehicle chassis and outboard ends mounted to respective swivel joints at an upper end of the steering knuckle. The swivel joints mount the upper and lower control links to the steering knuckle inboard from the wheel unit and below an upper extent of the wheel unit's tire.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling a sensor of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving depth image data from the sensor of the vehicle; computing, by a processor, an aleatoric variance value based on the depth image data; dividing, by the processor, the depth image data into grid cells; computing, by the processor, a confidence bound value for each grid cell based on the depth image data; computing, by the processor, an uncertainty value for each grid cell based on the confidence bound value of the grid cell and the aleatoric variance value; and controlling, by the processor, the sensor based on the uncertainty values.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for heating a vehicle window to remove ice and condensation using a carbon nanotube heating pad. The apparatus includes a user interface operative to receive a user request, a vehicle windshield, a heating pad wherein the heating pad includes a carbon nanotube heating element and a reflective surface and is oriented such that the carbon nanotube heating element is directed towards the windshield, a power supply operative to supply power to the carbon nanotube heating element in response to a control signal, and a processor operative to generate the control signal in response to the user request.

Abstract: A method, autonomous system controller, and computer program product generate a first route for an autonomous vehicle to transport a first person from a first location to a destination. In response to determining that a second person satisfies trigger criteria comprising: (i) being at a second location that is within a proximity threshold to the first route; (ii) being associated with the first person; and (iii) being associated with the destination, an affordance is caused to be presented via respective user interface devices to at least one of the first and second persons that proposes that the autonomous vehicle transport both the first and second persons to the destination. In response to receiving acceptance, a second route is generated for the autonomous vehicle that comprises picking up the first person at the first location, picking up the second person at the second location, and transporting both persons to the destination.

Abstract: Lithium-based and sodium-based batteries and capacitors using metal foil current collectors, coated with porous layers of particles of active electrode materials for producing an electric current, may adapted to produce heat for enhancing output when the cells are required to periodically operate during low ambient temperatures. A self-heating cell may be placed in heat transfer contact with a working cell that is temporarily in a cold environment. Or one or both of the anode current collector and cathode current collectors of a heating cell may be formed with shaped extended portions, uncoated with electrode materials, through which cell current may be passed for resistance heating of the extended current collector areas. These extended current collector areas may be used to heat the working area of the cell in which they are incorporated, or to contact and heat an adjacent working cell.

Abstract: A vehicle cabin thermal management system includes a first heat exchange system adapted to operate primarily based upon a convective mode of heat transfer within a vehicle cabin, a second heat exchange system adapted to operate primary based upon a non-convective mode of heat transfer within the vehicle cabin, and a controller in communication with the first heat exchange system and the second heat exchange system, wherein the controller controls a thermal output of the second heat exchange system, and wherein the controller controls the first heat exchange system to reduce the operating level of the first heat exchange system in response to the controller operating the second heat exchange system.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, and an electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a positive electroactive material. The positive electroactive material includes a phospho-olivine compound. The negative electrode includes lithium metal. The separator is between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The separator is electrically insulating and ionically conductive. The electrolyte includes a ternary salt and a solvent. The ternary salt includes LiPF6, LiFSI, and LiClO4.

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: A method for distributing electrical power to electric motors in an electric powertrain, in which the electric motors are electrically connected to a shared power supply, includes receiving input signals via a supervisory controller. The input signals include a total torque request of the electric powertrain and electrical limits of the power supply. The method includes determining an open-loop torque command for each respective motor in response to the input signals. In response to the total torque request and the power supply limits, the controller also determines maximum and minimum power limits of motor, with the maximum and minimum power limits including a calibrated power reserve for executing a predetermined torque operation. The method includes transmitting the open-loop torque command and the power limits to a respective motor control processor of each motor to thereby control the torque operation.