Abstract: A stator assembly for an axial flux motor includes a heat exchanger jacket configured to circulate a heat transfer liquid. A stator also includes a plurality of stator cores each having a conductive winding, an electrically insulating material disposed over at least a portion of the conductive wire winding, and a molded soft magnetic composite (SMC) material. The heat exchanger jacket is disposed circumferentially around at least a portion of a perimeter of the stator. Each stator core defines a peripheral surface configured to contact the heat exchanger jacket and at least a portion of the peripheral surface is defined by the molded soft magnetic composite (SMC) material. Methods of making a molded soft magnetic composite (SMC) material stator core are also provided.

Abstract: An Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) charging system that can simultaneously deliver both Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC) power to Plug-in Electric Vehicle's (PEV) AC voltage bus and DC voltage bus, respectively. Either a Combined Charging System (CCS) coupler or separate paired AC and DC couplers provide the connection between the EVSE's vehicle connector(s) and the PEV's inlet(s). The EVSE is configured to simultaneously supply AC and DC power to the vehicle when connected to the PEV. The EVSE coupler(s) facilitate communication between a PEV and the EVSE charging system when connected to the charging inlet(s) of the PEV. Connection of the AC voltage bus to the PEV is controlled by one or more relays, while and connection of the DC voltage bus to the PEV is controlled by operation of an Offboard Charging Module (OBCM).

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a downforce on a vehicle. An aerodynamic deflector on the vehicle is repositionable. An actuator is coupled with the aerodynamic deflector. A controller configured to: detect a performance mode of operation of the vehicle; determine a requested lateral acceleration; calculate a control adjustment of the aerodynamic deflector to generate a downforce to achieve the requested lateral acceleration and maximize lateral grip of the vehicle; and operate the actuator to effect the control adjustment of the aerodynamic deflector to generate the downforce on the vehicle.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a body having fore and aft portions. The vehicle includes a bumper beam coupled to the vehicle body proximate the fore portion and a heat exchanger disposed aft of the bumper beam. A fascia assembly is coupled to the vehicle body and extends about the bumper beam. The fascia assembly includes a fascia inlet configured to direct an airflow from the exterior of the fascia assembly to the interior of the fascia assembly. An energy absorption member is disposed between the fascia and the bumper beam. An air passage extends through at least one of the bumper beam and the energy absorption member. The air passage extends from an air passage inlet to an air passage outlet. The air passage inlet is positioned downstream of the fascia inlet with respect to the airflow, and the air passage outlet being positioned upstream of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A battery and supercapacitor system of a vehicle includes a lithium ion battery (LIB) having first and second electrodes, and a supercapacitor having third and fourth electrodes. A first reference electrode is disposed between the first and second electrodes and is configured to measure a first potential at a location between the first and second electrodes. A second reference electrode is disposed between the third and fourth electrodes and is configured to measure a second potential at a location between the third and fourth electrodes. The first electrode may be connected to the third electrode, and the second electrode may be connected to the fourth electrode. The first and second reference electrodes may not be connected to any of the first, second, third, or fourth electrodes.

Abstract: An enhanced imaging system for a motor vehicle includes a vision processing module that generates a data signal, in response to the camera capturing at least one of the video and the image. A graphics processor is configured to tone map the video or image to generate an RGB histogram including an overall tonal range. The processor is further configured to compare the overall tonal range to a tonal threshold. The processor detects one or more objects having a boundary that separates an interior region having an object tonal value from an exterior region having an exterior tonal value. The processor generates an optimized signal for increasing a difference between the object tonal value and the exterior tonal value, in response to the overall tonal range being above the tonal threshold. The system can further include a display device for displaying an optimized video or image.

Abstract: A latch assembly having primary position, a secondary position, and an unlatched position is disclosed. The latch assembly includes a striker and a retention member. A slot of the retention member is shaped to receive the striker when the latch assembly is in the primary position. The latch assembly includes a detent lever defining a catch configured to engage with the retaining feature of the retention member to secure the latch assembly in the secondary position. The latch assembly includes a linking member coupled to the detent lever, a memory lever moveable about a pivot axis, and a release lever. The memory lever defines a retention surface configured to engage with the linking member when the latch assembly is in the unlatched position. The release lever is rotatable about a shared axis of rotation and operatively connected to the memory lever when the latch assembly is in the unlatched position.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fixturing hairpins for joining by welding. A fixture system includes an outer structural ring fixed relative to an inner structural ring and mates with the component around its hairpin type conductor ends. Dielectric rings are disposed between conductor pairs. Clamp rings are disposed on opposite sides of the dielectric rings. One clamp ring and one dielectric ring define an opening receiving one conductor pair. Another clamp ring and another dielectric ring define another receiving another conductor pair. The clamp rings are movable toward one another to align and crowd the conductor pairs between the clamp rings and the dielectric rings prior to welding.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for active vehicle cabin occupant detection system. The method includes predicting the presence of a vehicle occupant during operation of a vehicle in response to a door sensor indicative of a door opening, a carbon dioxide level and a pressure sensor in a passenger seat indicative of the vehicle occupant in the passenger seat, detecting the presence of the vehicle occupant using a vehicle cabin motion detector in response to the vehicle being shutdown, confirming the presence of the vehicle occupant using an infrared camera to detect a thermal signature of the vehicle occupant in response to the predicted presence of the vehicle occupant, and transmitting an alert via a wireless transmitter indicative of the presence of the vehicle occupant.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to sulfur-containing electrodes and methods for forming the same. For example, the method may include disposing an electroactive material on or near a current collector to form an electroactive material layer having a first porosity and applying pressure and heat to the electroactive material layer so that the electroactive material layer has a second porosity. The first porosity is greater than the second porosity. The electroactive material may include a plurality of electroactive material particles and one or more salt additives. The method may further include contacting the electroactive material layer and an electrolyte such that the electrolyte dissolves the plurality of one or more salt particles so that the electroactive material layer has a third porosity. The third porosity may be greater than the second porosity and less than the first porosity.

Abstract: Methods for forming channels within a substrate include molding a sacrificial component directly into the substrate and igniting the sacrificial component to deflagrate of the sacrificial component and form a channel in the substrate. The sacrificial component can include oxidizing agents such as chlorates, perchlorates, nitrates, dichromates, nitramides, and/or sulfates imbedded in a polymeric matrix, and the oxidizing agents can be 30 wt. % to 80 wt. % of the sacrificial component. The sacrificial component can further include one or more of unoxidized metal powder fuels, flammable gas-filled polymeric bubbles, one or more metallocenes and/or one or more metal oxide particles, one or more polymers with nitroester, nitro, azido, and/or nitramine functional groups, one or more burn rate suppressants such as oxamide, ammonium sulphate, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and ammonium chloride, and non-combustible hollow bubbles and/or inert particles.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to electroactive materials for use in electrodes of lithium-ion electrochemical cells and methods of making the same, for example, methods for lithiating electroactive materials. A method of lithiating an electroactive material may include dispersing an electroactive material precursor within a room-temperature electrolyte that includes a lithium-based salt and contacting the electrolyte mixture and a lithium source so as to cause the lithium source to ionize and form lithium ions. The lithium ions may react with the electroactive material precursor to form a fully lithiated electroactive material (e.g., greater than 70% of total lithiation). The method further includes, in certain aspects, electrochemically discharging the fully lithiated electroactive material to form a lithiated electroactive material having an optimized lithiation state (e.g., less than or equal to about 40% of a first lithiation state of the fully lithiated electroactive material).

Abstract: The present application generally relates to network timing synchronization in the presence of link faults including apparatus and methods In various embodiments, a method includes generating a time synchronization signal, transmitting the time synchronization signal from a first switch to a second switch via a first link and from the first switch to a third switch via a second link, detecting a link failure of the first link, and transmitting the time synchronization signal from the second switch to the third switch via a third link in response to the link failure.

Abstract: An end-effector for installation of an emblem assembly is provided. The end-effector includes a support frame, a first splitter, and a second splitter. The first splitter and the second splitter are connected to the support frame. The pneumatically actuated grippers include: a first gripper connected to the first splitter and configured to grab at least a portion of the emblem assembly; and a second gripper connected to the second splitter and configured to peel off one or more layers of the emblem assembly. The roller is connected to the support frame and configured to wet out an adhesive layer of the emblem assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle air vent includes a volume control door pivotally mounted in a housing, a primary vane pivotally mounted in the housing to direct an air flow from an outlet of the vehicle air vent in an up/down direction, and a roller knob mounted on the primary vane and connected to the volume control door such that a rotation of the roller knob causes a rotation of the volume control door.

Abstract: A control system configured to execute a safing mode sequence for a spacecraft is disclosed. The control system includes one or more star trackers that each include a field of view to capture light from a plurality of space objects surrounding the celestial body. The control system also includes one or more actuators, one or more processors in electronic communication with the one or more actuators, and a memory coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores data into a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the control system to determine a current attitude of the spacecraft, and re-orient the spacecraft from a current attitude into a momentum neutral attitude.

Abstract: An automotive engine structural component includes an oil sump formed within the engine structural component, a bore extending from an exterior surface of the engine structural component to the oil sump, an oil level indicator tube supported within the bore, the oil level indicator tube including an upper bead, a lower bead, an o-ring positioned on the oil level indicator tube between the upper and lower beads, the o-ring forming a radial seal between the oil level indicator tube and an interior surface of the bore, and a spacer clip positioned between the upper bead and the o-ring.

Abstract: An engine control system includes: a normalization module configured to normalize, to within a predetermined range of values, a spark timing of an engine and at least one other parameter of the engine, thereby producing a normalized spark timing and at least one normalized other parameter, respectively; a processing module configured to generate a sigmoidal spark timing by applying, to the normalized spark timing, one of (a) a sigmoidal function and a sinusoidal function; and an estimation module configured to estimate a torque output of the engine based on the normalized spark timing and the at least one normalized other parameter using a mathematical model.

Abstract: A traction control module includes a sensor/estimation module configured to output wheel stability data based on a plurality of wheel condition inputs and a wheel stability monitoring module configured to calculate a plurality of wheel stability predictors based on the wheel stability data. Each of the wheel stability predictors is independently indicative of a wheel slip condition. The traction control module further includes a wheel stability data fusion module configured to receive each of the plurality of wheel stability predictors, combine selected wheel stability predictors from the plurality of wheel stability predictors to generate combinations of the wheel stability predictors, and selectively output a torque reduction request based on the combinations of the wheel stability predictors.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, a body supported by the frame, a prime mover mounted to the frame, at least one axle connected to the frame, a suspension system connecting the at least one axle to the frame, and a load sensing and control system including at least one load sensor connected to the suspension system and a controller operatively connected to the at least one load sensor and the prime mover. The controller being operable to calculate a vehicle loading factor before the vehicle moves and to prevent operation of the prime mover if the vehicle loading factor that exceeds a selected load threshold.