Abstract: A structural arrangement for a vehicle includes a vehicle frame including a first frame member and a second frame member coupled to the first frame member. The vehicle frame extends along a vehicle body axis. The vehicle frame includes a suspension component including a control arm, a bushing, a bolt coupling the suspension component to the second frame member, and a load member coupled to the first frame member at a first attachment point and coupled to the second frame member at a second attachment point. The load member extends generally longitudinally along the vehicle body axis. The suspension component is coupled to the second frame member at the second attachment point and is detachable from the second frame member upon application of a load to the vehicle due to an impact event.

Abstract: A method of positioning components in a body structure of a motor vehicle includes determining a misalignment between a first aperture defined by a first component and a second aperture defined by a second component. The method also includes selecting, in response to the determined misalignment, a compensation pin having a center axis and an indexing feature. The method additionally includes inserting a nominal pin through the first aperture, wherein the nominal pin is parallel to the center axis and shifted therefrom by an offset distance. The method also includes orienting and fixing the compensation pin to the first component via the indexing feature. The method further includes inserting the compensation pin into the second aperture, thereby setting position of the first component relative to the second component. A vehicle body structure using such a component positioning method and a compound dowel having the compensation pin are also considered.

Abstract: A tire radius monitoring system for dynamically determining a tire effective radius for each of the wheels on a vehicle is described. The system includes a GPS sensor, a plurality of wheel speed sensors, and a controller. The controller determines, via the GPS sensor, a velocity vector related to longitudinal velocity of the vehicle. The controller determines wheel speeds for the plurality of vehicle wheels, and detects a no-wheel-slip state for the vehicle wheels and the velocity vector from the GPS sensor. The controller determines tire effective radii for the plurality of vehicle wheels based upon the velocity vector for the vehicle and the wheel speeds for the plurality of vehicle wheels during the no-wheel-slip state, and controls vehicle operation based upon the tire effective radii.

Abstract: Presented are thermomechanical fuses for mitigating heat propagation across electrochemical devices, methods for making and methods for using such fuses, and traction battery packs with load-bearing, sacrificial thermomechanical fuses to help prevent thermal runaway conditions. A battery assembly includes an electrically insulating battery housing with multiple battery cells disposed inside the battery housing. These battery cells are electrically interconnected, in series or parallel, and stacked in side-by-side facing relation to form adjacent, mutually parallel stacks of battery cells. Thermomechanical fuses thermally connect neighboring stacks of the battery cells. Each thermomechanical fuse is formed, in whole or in part, from a dielectric material that undergoes deterioration or deformation at a predefined critical temperature; in so doing, the thermomechanical fuse thermally disconnects a first stack of cells from a neighboring second stack of cells.

Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical cell is provided. The electrode includes a carbon membrane having a first face and an opposing second face, wherein at least a portion of the carbon membrane is modified to include an elevated number of nucleation sites for lithium relative to the carbon membrane when unmodified.

Abstract: A system ground surface projection for autonomous driving of a host vehicle is provided. The system includes a LIDAR device of the host vehicle and a computerized device. The computerized device is operable to monitor data from the LIDAR device including a total point cloud. The total point cloud describes an actual ground surface in the operating environment of the host vehicle. The device is further operable to segment the total point cloud into a plurality of local point cloud and, for each of the local point clouds, determine a local polygon estimating a portion of the actual ground surface. The device is further operable to assemble the local polygons into a total estimated ground surface and navigate the host vehicle based upon the total estimated ground surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for locating a pair of components relative to one another using complex surfaces. One component has a complex surface, where the complex surface is smoothly contoured. Another component is shaped to be connected with the first component. A fixture locates the first component relative to the second component. The fixture includes a locator with a complex surface region shaped to mate with the complex surface of the one component to locate the fixture relative to that component. The fixture includes another locator to locate the fixture relative to the second component.

Abstract: A method of operating a powertrain system during coasting operation, wherein the powertrain system includes a driveline component (e.g., a transmission, drive shaft, differential, axle or wheel) having an output torque profile. The method includes: (i) determining a desired output torque transition profile for the driveline component between a first transition point before an end of a first state, and a second transition point after a beginning of a second state; and (ii) in response to a braking torque request, generating a friction braking torque command to operate a friction braking system, and adjusting the friction braking torque command during a transitional state between the first and second transition points by an amount corresponding to a difference between a magnitude of the output torque profile and a magnitude of the desired output torque transition profile.

Abstract: A vehicle including a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor, an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), and an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) is described. Operating the vehicle includes determining, via the GPS sensor, first parameters associated with a velocity, a position, and a course, and determining, via the IMU, second parameters associated with acceleration and angular velocity. Roll and pitch parameters are determined based upon the first and second parameters. A first vehicle velocity vector is determined based upon the roll and pitch parameters, the first parameters, and the second parameters; and a second vehicle velocity vector is determined based upon the roll and pitch parameters, road surface friction coefficient, angular velocity, road wheel angles and the first vehicle velocity vector. A final vehicle velocity vector is determined based upon fusion of the first and second vehicle velocity vectors. The vehicle is controlled based upon the final vehicle velocity vector.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) perception system and method of determining an autonomous vehicle (AV) action for a host vehicle. The method includes: obtaining onboard vehicle sensor data from at least one onboard vehicle sensor, the onboard vehicle sensor is a part of vehicle electronics of the host vehicle; obtaining edge sensor data from at least one edge sensor, the edge sensor is a part of an edge layer; generating a unified perception output based on the onboard vehicle sensor data and the edge sensor data; determining an AV action for the host vehicle based on the unified perception output; and providing the AV action to the host vehicle, wherein the host vehicle is configured to carry out the AV action.

Abstract: A system for use with a direct current fast-charging (DCFC) station includes a controller and battery system. The battery system includes first and second battery packs, and first, second, and third switches. The switches have ON/OFF conductive states commanded by the controller to connect the battery packs in a parallel-connected (P-connected) or series-connected (S-connected) configuration. An electric powertrain with one or more electric machines is powered via the battery system. First and second charge ports of the system are connectable to the station via a corresponding charging cable. The first charge port receives a low or high charging voltage from the station. The second charge port receives a low charging voltage. When the station can supply the high charging voltage to the first charge port, the controller establishes the S-connected configuration via the switches, and thereafter charges the battery system solely via the first charge port.

Abstract: An electric vehicle, and a system and method for charging the electric vehicle. The system includes a user locating system and a processor. The user locating system is configured to determine a location of the user. The processor is configured to charge the vehicle at a first charging rate and determine a location of a user of the vehicle with respect to the vehicle. The processor adjusts the charging of the vehicle from the first charging rate to a second charging rate when the location of the user is within a selected distance from the vehicle.

Abstract: An emblem assembly includes a body of a polymeric material. A polymeric material extending portion is homogeneously connected to the body. The extending portion has a dove-tail shaped connector outwardly and homogenously extending from the extending portion. The dove-tail shaped connector defines a V-shape having a first wing and a second wing. An attachment member includes a first recessed pocket receiving the first wing and a second recessed pocket receiving the second wing to frictionally couple the attachment member to the extending portion.

Abstract: An exemplary method of depositing a layer of a material on an interior substrate surface of a complex geometry component includes the steps of providing the complex geometry component having an aperture defining an edge of the interior substrate surface of the complex geometry component, at least a portion of the interior substrate surface defining a first area not visible from the aperture, providing a heating element adjacent to the first area of the complex geometry component, energizing the heating element to raise a surface temperature of the first area and establish a thermal gradient between the first area and an adjacent area, and providing a vapor deposition apparatus configured to deposit the layer of material on the interior substrate surface corresponding to the first area of the complex geometry component.

Abstract: A polymeric sandwich structure having enhanced thermal conductivity includes a first layer formed from a first polymer matrix and including a first fiber reinforcing sheet embedded within the first polymer matrix, a second layer formed from a second polymer matrix and including a second fiber reinforcing sheet embedded within the second polymer matrix, and a third layer disposed between the first and second layers, the third layer formed from a third polymer matrix having graphene nanoplatelets interspersed therein. Each of the first and second fiber reinforcing sheets is made of reinforcing fibers and includes a respective set of staggered discontinuous perforations formed therein, wherein each respective set of staggered discontinuous perforations defines a respective first plurality of reinforcing fibers having a respective first length and a respective second plurality of reinforcing fibers having a respective second length longer than the respective first length.

Abstract: A method of performing a diagnostic test on a vehicle having at least one tire includes providing the vehicle with at least one sensor configured to detect a vehicle operating characteristic, a receiver configured to receive AM signals, a notification system, and a controller in electronic communication with the at least one sensor, the receiver, and the notification system, receiving sensor data from the at least one sensor and AM signal data from the receiver, analyzing the sensor data and the AM signal data, determining whether a first condition is satisfied, and in response to the first condition being satisfied, generating a first control signal to control the notification system to generate a notification.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. The method includes receiving, via an interface of the V2X enabled safety triangle warning reflector, vehicle information before deployment for storing the vehicle information in a memory disposed locally at the V2X enabled safety triangle warning reflector for subsequent use at the deployment; generating, by a processor chip in communication with the memory, a failure message associated with the vehicle failure based at least on the vehicle information contained locally in memory; and broadcasting, the failure message generated by the processor chip via a transmitter disposed of in the V2X enable safety triangle warning reflector during a vehicle failure, wherein the failure message is broadcasted in a surrounding area of the failure vehicle on a set of multiple different channels including cloud, infrastructure and personal communication service (PCS) channels to entities that provide traffic and vehicle control.

Abstract: An exemplary self-retaining locator member includes a body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The body includes an engagement area formed in the first surface, an alignment member extending from the first surface, the alignment member including a retention tab, an extension member extending from the second surface, a retention member extending from the extension member, and a stopping member extending from the second surface.

Abstract: A vehicle trim assembly includes a trim component having an interior facing surface and an exterior facing surface opposite the interior facing surface, a lens assembly overmolded into the trim component, the lens assembly including an optical surface positioned adjacent to the exterior facing surface of the trim component, and a sensor module including a sensor housing enclosing a sensor, the sensor module joined to the trim component and the lens assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring the structural integrity of a vehicle. In particular, systems and methods are provided for using transducers positioned at various location in and on a vehicle to measure parameters related vehicle structural health. In various implementations, the integrity of the vehicle frame and the integrity of the vehicle body are monitored using a multi-axis accelerometer and/or microphone. The use of transducers for monitoring can replace time-consuming and expensive manual inspections.