Abstract: A bi-directional electrical charging system for a motor vehicle includes a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) configured to store a first voltage. The RESS is adapted for use with an off-board power source that is configured to store a second voltage. The system further includes an electric motor having a plurality of machine windings. The system further includes a power inverter disposed between the RESS and the off-board power source. The system is movable to a forward buck mode, a reverse buck mode, a forward boost mode, and a reverse boost mode for selectively delivering electrical power from one of the RESS and the off-board power source to the other of the RESS and the off-board power source, in response to the power inverter cycling between at least two of the ON state, the RESS OFF state, and the external OFF state.

Abstract: An occupant classification system comprises a capacitive sensor configured to measure capacitance. The capacitive sensor is at least partially arranged between a seat frame and at least one of a seat cover and a seat cushion of a seat. A sensor is configured to measure at least one of weight and pressure on the seat. The sensor is at least partially arranged between a vehicle structure and a component of the seat. A controller is configured to generate an occupant classification based on the measured capacitance and the at least one of the measured weight and the measured pressure on the seat.

Abstract: An electric motor includes a stator, a rotor, a rotor shaft and a pump. The rotor is disposed within the stator and separated from the stator by an airgap. The airgap inadvertently accumulates a fluid. The rotor shaft is connected to the rotor. The pump is configured to move the fluid out of the airgap.

Abstract: Presented are fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite components for motor vehicles, methods for making and using such components, and motor vehicles with unitary FRP-composite vehicle roof rail-and-panel structures. A vehicle body structure for a motor vehicle includes one or more elongated support rails, each of which includes at least two contoured rail panels that are joined together to define therebetween an internal rail cavity. At least one of these contoured rail panels is formed with an FRP material. The vehicle body structure also includes a body panel that is formed with the same FRP material. The body panel includes a main panel section with one or more stepped interfaces that each projects transversely from a respective side of the main panel section and mounts thereon one of the contoured rail panels. The body panel and a contoured rail panel of each support rail are integrally formed as a single-piece, unitary structure.

Abstract: A head-up display system includes a housing having an interior surface and defining a cavity configured for receiving a ray of light. The head-up display system also includes a lens disposed within the cavity and configured for reflecting the ray of light towards the interior surface. Further, the head-up display system includes a first cured film formed from a coating composition, disposed on the interior surface, and configured for absorbing a ray of light within the cavity. The head-up display system also includes a second deposited film formed by an ionized gas treatment of the first cured film. The second deposited film is configured for transmitting the ray of light to the first cured film to thereby minimize scatter of the ray of light within the cavity. A device including the head-up display system is also described.

Abstract: A vehicle, radar system for the vehicle and method for detecting an object. The radar system includes a transmitter for transmitting a source signal and a receiver for receiving a reflection of the source signal from an object. A processor obtains a radar parameter of the object from the received reflection, adjusts an operating parameter of the radar based on the radar parameter to provide an altered source signal, and detects the object based on a reflection of the altered source signal.

Abstract: An electric drive unit clutch for an automobile includes a first rotatable shaft, a one-way clutch fixedly mounted onto the first rotatable shaft, a dog clutch slidingly mounted onto the first rotatable shaft and adapted to rotate with the first rotatable shaft, a clutch ring positioned between the one-way clutch and the dog clutch, and a second rotatable shaft rotatable engaged with the clutch ring, wherein the clutch ring is adapted to transfer rotational motion from the second rotatable shaft through the one-way clutch and the dog clutch to the first rotatable shaft.

Abstract: A method of joining a multiple member work-piece includes providing a first steel work-piece having a first electrical resistivity and a second steel work-piece having a second electrical resistivity that is lower than the first electrical resistivity. A third material is disposed in contact with the second steel work-piece. The third material has an electrical resistivity that is greater than the second electrical resistivity. The method includes resistance welding the first and second work-pieces together. The third material may be in the form of a rivet, a third work-piece, or a coating material disposed between the first and second work-pieces. A bonded assembly includes steel members and a third material being bonded together, wherein the electrical resistivity of the second member is lower than the electrical resistivity of the first member, and the third material has an electrical resistivity that is greater than the electrical resistivity of the second member.

Abstract: A system for anonymizing motor vehicle position information includes a global positioning system (GPS) module disposed within a host vehicle, a control module disposed within the host vehicle and in electronic communication with the GPS module. The control module executes a control logic for collecting real-time host vehicle telemetry data packets from the GPS module, and a control logic for continuously wirelessly communicating the real-time host vehicle telemetry data packets.

Abstract: A method for estimating a magnet temperature of a rotor magnet within a rotary electric machine includes, while a rotor of the electric machine is stationary, injecting a high-frequency voltage component onto a control voltage of the electric machine, via a controller, to generate an adjusted voltage command, and extracting a high-frequency component of a resulting current as an extracted high-frequency component. The method also includes calculating an inductance value of the electric machine using the extracted high-frequency component of the resulting current. The magnet temperature is estimated using the calculated inductance value and an angular position of the rotor. The method includes controlling an operation of the electric machine using the estimated magnet temperature. An electric powertrain uses the electric machine and controller noted above.

Abstract: Presented are metalworking systems for forming metallic workpieces, methods for making/operating such systems, and battery packs with cell terminals bent by a two-stage plunger press. A metalworking system includes a first plunger with a plunger cavity extending through the first plunger's body, and one or more die cavities recessed into the first plunger's contact face. The die cavity includes one surface that contacts and bends a first workpiece a first angle, and another surface that contacts and bends a second workpiece a second angle. A second plunger includes one or more die cavities recessed into the second plunger's contact face. This die cavity includes one surface that contacts and bends the first workpiece a third angle, and another surface that contacts and bends the second workpiece a fourth angle. The second plunger passes through the plunger cavity such that the first and second plungers bend the metallic workpieces in tandem.

Abstract: A powertrain system configured to transfer torque to a driveline is described, and includes an internal combustion engine, a torque converter, a transmission, an electric machine, and a controller. The engine is configured to operate in one of an all-cylinder mode and a dynamic deactivation mode to generate an engine torque. The electric machine is configured to generate a motor torque. The motor torque and the engine torque combine to generate an output torque that is transferable to the driveline and is responsive to an output torque request. The controller is in communication with the engine, the torque converter, the transmission, and the electric machine. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to operate the engine in the dynamic deactivation mode to generate engine torque, and operate the electric machine to generate motor torque to supplement the engine torque to generate the output torque.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for optimizing dispatching of autonomous vehicles (AVs) using an AV fleet management system. The AV fleet management system can receive first data indicative of client application to the AV fleet management system being opened on a client device. The AV fleet management system can determine availability of an AV within proximity of the client device. The AV fleet management system can determine a first route from a first location of the AV to a second location of the client device. The AV fleet management system can dispatch the AV from the first location to the second location via the first route prior to determining a destination of a second route from the second location to the destination.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to active noise cancellation in the interior of a vehicle. In exemplary embodiments, a microphone mounted on the vehicle outputs an audio signal indicative of noise emitted by a noise source. A computing system of the vehicle determines a position of the noise source based upon sensor signals output by sensors mounted on the vehicle. The computing system further determines a position of a passenger in the vehicle based upon a sensor mounted inside the vehicle. The computing system generates a complementary signal that is configured to attenuate the noise based upon the audio signal, the position of the noise source, and the position of the passenger. The complementary signal is then output by way of a speaker in the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A battery pack thermal management system can include a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules encased within a battery case, a coolant line having an inlet and an outlet each penetrating a perimeter of the battery case and at least one thermally activated valve. The at least one thermally activated valve can be configured to spray coolant onto one or more battery modules responsive to a temperature within the battery pack exceeding a temperature threshold. The temperature threshold can be defined based on the temperature of a thermal event occurring within the battery pack which exceeds a normal operating temperature of the battery pack. The coolant line within the battery pack is biased towards the perimeter of the battery case. The battery pack can power a battery electric or hybrid electric vehicle.

Abstract: A system includes a clutch control module, a shift control module, and a torque control module. The clutch control module is configured to generate a release command signal to switch a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) from a locked state to a freewheel state. When the SOWC is in the locked state, a transmission transfers torque from an engine to a driveline and from the driveline to the engine. When the SOWC is in the freewheel state, the transmission transfers torque from the engine to the driveline and but not from the driveline to the engine. The shift control module is configured to generate a shift command signal to shift the transmission from a first gear to a second gear after the release command signal is generated. The torque control module is configured to increase an output torque of the engine for a period when the shift command signal is generated.

Abstract: An automatic transmission comprising a control valve body adapted to control oil flow within the transmission, a torque converter having a torque converter clutch operable in one of an open and an applied condition, a first control circuit between the control valve body and the torque converter and a second control circuit between the control valve body and the torque converter, a first oil path that provides a fluid connection between the first control circuit and the torque converter, a second oil path that provides a fluid connection between the second control circuit and the torque converter, a third oil path that provides a fluid connection between the second control circuit and the torque converter clutch, and an orifice that provides a fluid connection between the second control circuit and the torque converter.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for predicting a vehicle pose. In one embodiment, a system includes a non-transitory computer readable medium. The non-transitory computer readable medium includes: an asynchronous prediction module configured to, by a processor, receive vehicle data from a vehicle, and compute a prediction of vehicle pose from the vehicle data, wherein the computation is performed asynchronously using a vehicle time frame and a common coordinate system; and a synchronous prediction module configured to, by the processor, compute a final prediction of the vehicle pose across the vehicle population based on the prediction of vehicle pose from the asynchronous prediction module, wherein the computation is performed synchronously using a global time frame and the common system.

Abstract: Presented are multi-axis pivoting coupler joints for motorized vehicles, methods for making/using such coupler joints, and electric scooters with multi-axis pivoting coupler joints enabling multimodal scooter operation. A pivoting coupler joint includes first and second bearing assemblies each with a respective housing, respective inner and outer races concentric with each other and located in their respective housing, and a respective set of rolling elements rollably interposed between their respective inner and outer races. The first inner race of the first bearing assembly receives therethrough and circumscribes an axle shaft of a vehicle wheel. The second inner race attaches to a wheeled rider deck of the vehicle. The first and second bearing housings are joined together and angularly offset from each other.