Abstract: A vehicle, system and method of detecting an object. The system includes an image network, a radar network and a head. The image network receives image data and proposes a boundary box from the image data and an object proposal. The radar network receives radar data and the boundary box and generates a fused set of data including the radar data and the image data. The head determines a parameter of the object from the object proposal and the fused set of data.

Abstract: A data management platform for Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) is provided. An AV can partition raw data into ingestion objects. The AV can transform the ingestion objects and generate associated manifests. The AV can offload first copies of the manifests in real-time to a data center. At a later time, the AV can offload second copies of the manifests to an AV servicing station. The station can upload the second copies to the data center. If the manifests match, then the station can notify the AV that it is safe to erase the manifests and transformed objects from local storage after offloading completes. If the manifests do not match and a Service Level Agreement (SLA) is violated, then the AV can be docked for further diagnosis. If no SLA is applicable, then the error can be annotated and the transformed objects can be discarded.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a measurement device is provided that includes an actuator module, a control module, a load cell module, a processing module, and a notification module. The actuator module includes an actuator. The control module includes one or more actuator controllers configured to control the actuator. The load cell module includes one or more motors configured to set orientation of attachments points for the actuator with respect to a component relative to a location of a user. The processing module includes a processor configured to receive and analyze information from the load cell module pertaining to an insertion force for the component. The notification module is configured to provide a notification based on the analyzing performed by the processing module.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses to build an explainable user output to receive input feature data by a neural network of multiple layers of an original classifier; determine a semantic function to label data samples with semantic categories; determine a semantic accuracy for each layer of the original classifier within the neural network; compare each layer based on results from the comparison of the semantic accuracy; designate a layer based on an amount of computed semantic accuracy; extend the designated layer by a category branch to the neural network to extract semantic data samples from the semantic content to train a set of new connections of an explainable classifier to compute a set of output explanations with an accuracy measure associated each output explanation for each semantic category of the plurality of semantic categories, and compare the accuracy measure for each output explanation to generate the output explanation in a user understandable format.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for customizing a user profile for a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: customizing, at a first device, a user profile defining vehicle access for one or more users of the vehicle; providing, to a second device, an access key and the user profile through a first communication channel; providing, to the vehicle, the user profile through a second communication channel; verifying the user profile of the second device with the user profile of the vehicle; and in response to the verifying, storing, in the vehicle, the access key.

Abstract: A fleet management system coordinates multiple autonomous vehicles (AVs) to transport a group of passengers from one location to another. A single user can submit a request to the fleet management system to provide a ride for the group, the request specifying the number of passengers and the pickup location. The fleet management system determines a number of AVs to transport the group based on the number passengers, and dispatches this number of AVs to the pickup location. The AVs pick up the passengers at the pickup location, drive the passengers to a destination, and drop the passengers off at the destination.

Abstract: A method for voice recognition (VR)-based task allocation and hotword detection function control for within a wireless network having a hands-free (HF) node, e.g., a motor vehicle or telematics unit thereof, and an audio gateway (AG) node such as a wireless device, includes detecting, via a first wireless chipset of the HF node, a second wireless chipset of the AG node. The wireless chipsets include respective VR engines responsive to a corresponding hotword. The method includes establishing a Bluetooth or other wireless connection between the wireless chipsets in response to detecting the second wireless chipset. The method may include automatically transmitting a disable command signal to the second wireless chipset, via the first wireless chipset, to thereby disable a hotword detection function of the second wireless chipset. The method may be recorded on a computer readable medium as instructions executable by a processor.

Abstract: An energy storage assembly includes a plurality of battery cells electrically connected to each other to form a battery pack in which the battery cells are grouped together to form a first stack of cells and a second stack of cells. The energy storage assembly also includes a first barrier disposed between the first stack of cells and the second stack of cells to reduce heat transfer between the first stack of cells and the second stack of cells. The energy storage assembly further includes a coolant plate disposed along the battery cells. The coolant plate defines a channel for guiding a fluid therethrough to thermally transfer heat away from the battery cells. The coolant plate defines a slot spaced from the channel, and the slot axially aligns with the first barrier to reduce heat transfer between the first stack of cells and the second stack of cells.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle having one or more batteries. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, data from at least two of a user of the vehicle, the vehicle, one or more charging stations, and one or more vehicle services; determining, by the processor, optimization criteria based on the received data; computing, by the processor, a charging route solution based on the optimization criteria; and generating, by the processor, interface data for presenting the charging route solution to the user of the vehicle.

Abstract: Presented are feedback control systems for monitoring battery system hardware, methods for making/operating such systems, and vehicles with wireless battery management systems (WBMS) governed through distributed feedback control. A method of operating a WBMS includes a wireless-enabled manager device selecting a batch of cell module assemblies (CMA) within the WBMS to communicate with to thereby retrieve data for their respective battery modules. A manager access control list (ACL) is created with respective media access control (MAC) addresses and ID data for the selected CMAs. A wireless connection is established between the manager device and a respective cell monitoring unit (CMU) for each selected CMA based on the corresponding MAC addresses and ID data in the manager ACL. The manager device downloads, from the CMU of each selected CMA, device data for each battery modules associated with the selected CMA. The manager device then switches the operating mode for each CMU.

Abstract: A battery system with cell groups arranged in modules and with plurality of modules arranged in individual battery sub-packs includes a controller network configured to monitor the sub-packs. The network includes a plurality of cell monitoring units (CMUs); each CMU connected to one module for processing data for respective cell groups. The network also includes multiple voltage sensors on each CMU, with each sensor detecting voltage across one cell group. The network additionally includes an electronic controller programmed with an algorithm and in wireless communication with each CMU. The algorithm identifies when electrical power is disconnected from the RESS and directs electrical current through a selected sub-pack after power is restored. The algorithm also interrogates voltage sensors of a particular CMU, detects a change in voltage triggered by the current, and records a cross-reference between the particular CMU and the selected sub-pack when the change in voltage is detected.

Abstract: A method for beamform management in vehicular communications includes, within a computerized processor, determining a planned route for a vehicle, identifying a plurality of candidate cellular towers with which the vehicle may communicate along the planned route, and determining signal strengths of each of the towers at locations along the route. The method further includes determining a communication plan including identifying locations of each of the towers and segmenting the planned route into portions based upon the determined signal strengths. One of the towers is assigned to communicate with the vehicle for each of the portions based upon the signal strengths. The method further includes utilizing the communication plan to change communication between the vehicle and the towers as the vehicle traverses the route by directing a primary lobe of an antenna beam toward each of the candidate cellular towers in turn according to the communication plan.

Abstract: A fleet management system provides a shared trip platform that virtually connects multiple autonomous vehicles (AVs). Multiple AVs, each transporting at least one passenger, are connected in a shared trip. Each of the AVs provides an audio/video stream of the passenger compartment and a current location to a server. The shared trip platform provides a display in each of the AVs showing the current locations of the two AVs in the shared trip. The shared trip platform also transmits the audio/video streams to AVs connected in the shared trip, enabling a video chat between the passengers in the connected AVs.

Abstract: A composite electrode material may include a carbon-based matrix component and a silicon-based particulate component embedded in the carbon-based matrix component. The silicon-based particulate component may include a plurality of core-shell structures, with each core-shell structure including: a silicon core, an intermetallic layer overlying the core, and a graphitic shell surrounding the silicon core and the intermetallic layer. In a method of making the composite electrode material, a metal catalyst layer may be deposited on a plurality of silicon particles to form a plurality of precursor structures in particle form. The precursor structures may be dispersed in organic polymeric material to form a precursor electrode material, which may be heated in an inert environment to pyrolyze the organic polymeric material and transform the precursor electrode material into a composite electrode material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that detects and remedies a battery health condition are provided. The method includes receiving data including one or more of vehicle sensor information, dealer information and vehicle characteristic information, analyzing the received data to determine whether one or more battery health alerts are required, and outputting or transmitting the one or more determined battery health alerts.

Abstract: A MIMO system is provided for a vehicle having an exterior structure and an enclosure. The system includes external antennas attached to the exterior structure and internal antennas positioned within the enclosure. The system further includes an RF transceiver and an antenna selecting device. The selecting device is disposable between a first state where the selecting device is configured to operably connect at least two of the external antennas to the RF transceiver and a second state where the selecting device is configured to operably connect one or more of the external antennas and one or more of the internal antennas to the RF transceiver. A controller is configured to actuate the selecting device to move to the second state, in response to the signal strength being above an upper strength threshold, and in further response to the ratio being above an upper ratio threshold.

Abstract: A monitor and control system and a method of monitoring and controlling an onboard system of an assembly includes one or more of a plurality of sensors detects whether an event occurred in the onboard system. The sensors communicate with a master controller when the master controller is in a nominal mode in which the master controller is powered on to actively monitor the sensors, and includes a sleep mode in which the master controller is powered off and does not monitor the sensors when in the sleep mode. An agent controller monitors the sensors when the master controller is in the sleep mode. One or more of the sensors signal the agent controller that the event has occurred. The agent controller signals the master controller to awaken from the sleep mode in response to the one or more of the sensors signaling the agent controller of the event.

Abstract: A vacuum cup assembly and a method of lifting an object are provided. The vacuum cup assembly includes a cup structure defining an opening at a proximal end, a recess at a distal end, and a cavity region between the proximal and distal ends, where the cavity region includes at least one cavity. The opening is in fluid communication with the recess and with the cavity region. Inner structures are disposed in the cavity region. The inner structures are configured to hold the cup structure in a gripping position when a negative pressure is applied to the cavity region through the opening in the cup structure. The cup structure is configured to be in a resting position without the negative pressure being applied to the cavity region. The vacuum cup assembly has a first shape in the resting position and a second shape in the gripping position.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a torque-transmitting assembly includes turning an inner component and machining an outermost surface of the inner component such that the outermost surface of the inner component has a continuous convex shape. The method further includes turning an external component and machining an innermost surface of the external component such that the innermost surface of the external component has a continuous convex shape. The method also includes heating the innermost surface of the external component to expand a size of the innermost surface after machining the innermost surface of the external component and placing the heated external component onto the inner component while the inner component is maintained at room temperature.

Abstract: A system and method to eliminate false detections in a radar system involve arranging an array of antenna elements into two or more sub-arrays with a spacing between adjacent ones of the antenna elements of one of the two or more sub-arrays being different than a spacing between adjacent ones of the antenna elements of at least one other of the two or more sub-arrays. The method includes receiving reflected signals at the two or more sub-arrays resulting from transmitting transmit signals from the antenna elements of the two or more sub-arrays, and processing the reflected signals to distinguish an actual angle from the radar system to an object that contributed to the reflected signals from ambiguous angles at which the false detections of the object are obtained. A location of the object is determined as a result of the processing.