Abstract: A system uses a fleet of AVs to assess visibility of target objects. Each AV has a camera for capturing images of target objects. AVs provide the captured images, or visibility data derived from the captured images, to a remote system, which aggregates visibility data describing images captured across the fleet of AVs. The AVs also provide condition data describing conditions under which the images were captured, and the remote system aggregates the condition data. The remote system processes the aggregated visibility data and condition data to determine conditions under which a target object does not meet a visibility threshold.

Abstract: A system uses a fleet of AVs to assess visibility of target objects. Each AV has a camera for capturing images of target objects. AVs provide the captured images, or visibility data derived from the captured images, to a remote system, which aggregates visibility data describing images captured across the fleet of AVs. The AVs also provide condition data describing conditions under which the images were captured, and the remote system aggregates the condition data. The remote system processes the aggregated visibility data and condition data to determine conditions under which a target object does not meet a visibility threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adding stops to an autonomous vehicle route. A passenger can request an intermediate stop during which the passenger can exit the autonomous vehicle. An intermediate stop request may include a stop duration. Autonomous vehicle driving behavior during the intermediate stop may include parking, driving around, and performing a different route.

Abstract: A battery control system includes a battery comprising: first and second terminals; third and fourth terminals; a plurality of individually housed batteries; and a plurality of switches configured to connect ones of the batteries to and from ones of the first, second, third, and fourth terminals. A mode module is configured to set a mode of operation based on at least one of a plurality of present operating parameters. A switch control module is configured to control the plurality of switches based on the mode of operation.

Abstract: High performance electrodes for electrochemical devices having a polymer network with an electroactive material chemically attached to a crosslinked polymer matrix are disclosed. A method includes mixing an electrode slurry and forming a polymer network within the electrode slurry. The electrode slurry includes an electroactive material, an electrically conductive filler, a plurality of polymer chains, and a plurality of chemical crosslinking precursors. Each chemically crosslinking precursor is configured to (i) chemically crosslink the plurality of polymer chains and (ii) chemically attach the electroactive material to the plurality of polymer chains.

Abstract: Presented are automated driving systems for executing intelligent vehicle operations in mixed-mu road conditions, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles with enhanced headway control for transitional surface friction conditions. A method for executing an automated driving operation includes a vehicle controller receiving sensor signals indicative of road surface conditions of adjoining road segments, and determining, based on these sensor signals, road friction values for the road segments. The controller determines whether the road friction value is increasing or decreasing, and if a difference between the road friction values is greater than a calibrated minimum differential. Responsive to the friction difference being greater than the calibrated minimum differential and the road friction value decreasing, the vehicle controller executes a first vehicle control action.

Abstract: A plenum assembly for a vehicle includes a plenum body, a plenum grid coupled to the plenum body, the plenum grid including a grid surface having a plurality of grid openings and a separation member extending from the grid surface toward the plenum body, and a vent port including a side surface extending from the plenum body and a domed surface formed integrally with the side surface, the vent port including an edge defining a vent port opening in the side surface such that a flow of air passes through the vent port and through the plurality of grid openings in the grid surface.

Abstract: Trailer brake gain in a towing configuration of a tow vehicle and a trailer is determined by providing, to a processor, trailer wheel rotation information. The processor provides trailer brake control signals at a plurality of different evaluation trailer brake gains. The processor determines the trailer brake gain based upon the trailer wheel rotation information corresponding to the plurality of different evaluation trailer brake gains.

Abstract: A method for operating an advanced driver assistance (ADAS) system of a motor vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving, from side and end cameras mounted to the vehicle, camera signals indicative of real-time images of outboard-facing side and end views of the vehicle. The controller determines a region of interest (ROI) inset within each end/side view within which is expected foreign objects and/or hazards. These ROIs are analyzed to detect if a foreign object/hazard is present in the vehicle's end and/or side views. Responsive to detecting the foreign object/hazard, movement of the foreign object/hazard is tracked to determine if the foreign object/hazard moves towards or away from the vehicle's underbody region. If the foreign object/hazard moves to the underbody region, control signals are transmitted to the vehicle's propulsion and/or steering system to automate preventative action that prevents collision of the vehicle with and/or removes the foreign object/hazard from the underbody.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods and systems are provided for controlling charging for a plurality of electric vehicles, each of the plurality of electric vehicles including a respective battery that is charged electrically via a respective charger. In one exemplary embodiment: (i) vehicle data, including respective charge statuses for the respective batteries of the plurality of electric vehicles, via sensors onboard the plurality of electric vehicles; (ii) charging station data, including respective availabilities for the plurality of charging stations, is obtained; (iii) the plurality of electric vehicles are each paired with respective charging stations, generated paired sets of electric vehicles and charging stations, based on the vehicle data and the charging station data, via a processor; and (iv) charging of respective batteries of the electric vehicles are controlled with the respective paired charging stations, via the processor.

Abstract: Management system for a rechargeable energy storage device in an electric vehicle and corresponding method is disclosed. The rechargeable energy storage device has one or more battery packs each having a plurality of modules with one or more respective cells. A respective module management unit is embedded in each of the plurality of modules through respective microcircuits and configured to determine one or more local parameters. A supervisory controller is configured for two-way communication with the respective module management unit. The supervisory controller is configured to receive the local parameters, determine one or more global pack parameters based in part on the local parameters and transmit the global pack parameters back to the respective management unit. The supervisory controller is configured to control operation of the rechargeable energy storage device based in part on the global pack parameters and the local parameters.

Abstract: A vehicle seat safety system. The vehicle safety seat system comprises a vehicle seat configured to move between a substantially reclining position and a substantially sitting position. The vehicle seat comprises at least a seat back and a seat bottom. The system also includes an enclosure configured to store a blanket airbag in an undeployed position prior to a collision, wherein the enclosure is disposed near the head of a passenger in the vehicle seat, and wherein the blanket airbag is ejected from the enclosure to an intermediate position in the event of a collision. The system further comprises a first electromechanical restraint system associated with the seat back and coupled to the blanket airbag by a first physical coupling and a second electromechanical restraint system associated with the seat bottom and coupled to the blanket airbag by a second physical coupling.

Abstract: A tip dresser cutter including a circumferential portion having a circular shape rotatable about an axis of rotation, a center portion located radially inward from the circumferential portion proximate the axis of rotation, and a cutting flute extending radially between the center portion and the circumferential portion. The cutting flute including a leading edge, a trailing edge, a radially inward canted surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The radially inward canted surface includes a first section extending between the center portion and a first location on the cutting flute and a second section extending between the first location on the cutting flute and a second location on the cutting flute. The second section of the radially inward canted surface including a curved portion that is parallel to a plane of rotation of the cutting flute.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for synchronizing map updates for a navigating autonomous vehicle. A management service on a managing node can receive an update to a portion of a first map, where a limited visibility map, which is a subset of the first map, can be determined based on a geographical area around an autonomous vehicle navigating a route. The limited visibility map can be synchronized among all the nodes while the autonomous vehicle is using the limited visibility map by the management service delivering, to a plurality of downstream nodes, the update to the limited visibility map when the update does not modify a portion of the limited visibility map, and by bypassing, to the plurality of downstream nodes, the update to the limited visibility map when the update modifies a portion of the limited visibility map.

Abstract: A chip-scale coherent lidar system includes a master oscillator integrated on a chip to simultaneously provide a signal for transmission and a local oscillator (LO) signal. The system also includes a beam steering device to direct an output signal obtained from the signal for transmission out of the system, and a combiner on the chip to combine the LO signal and a return signal resulting from a reflection of the output signal by a target. One or more photodetectors obtain a result of interference between the LO signal and the return signal to determine information about the target.

Abstract: A hydraulic gerotor pump for an automatic transmission may comprise a housing and a gear set rotatably disposed within the housing. The gear set may comprise an inner gear and an outer gear having radially opposed intermeshing teeth that together define a plurality of circumferentially disposed variable volume pumping chambers therebetween. The housing may be made of a first aluminum-based material, and the inner gear and the outer gear of the gear set may be made of a second aluminum-based material. The linear coefficient of thermal expansion of the first aluminum-based material may be substantially the same as that of the second aluminum-based material.

Abstract: A gesture based authentication system for an autonomous vehicle (AV) uses light detecting and ranging (lidar) to observe a user making a specific gesture and, in response to observing the gesture, authorizes the user to access the vehicle. The authentication system may first identify a human in the vicinity of the AV, and then compare a body position of the identified human to a model trained to determine if a human is performing the specific gesture. If the model determines that the identified human is performing the gesture, the AV authorizes the user to access the vehicle, e.g., to accept a delivery or to ride in the AV.

Abstract: Presented are mobile charging stations for recharging electrified vehicles, methods for making/using such mobile charging stations, and parking facilities equipped with such mobile charging stations. A mobile charging station includes a frame with multiple drive wheels and a prime mover operable to drive the wheels to propel the charging station. A hydrogen storage container and fuel cell are mounted to the frame. The fuel cell oxidizes hydrogen received from the storage container to generate electrical current. An electrical coupling mechanism connects the fuel cell to a traction battery pack of an electric-drive vehicle. A resident or remote controller is programmed to receive charge requests to recharge vehicles, and responsively determines path plan data for the mobile charging station. The controller commands the prime mover to propel the mobile charging station from the charger's origin to a charger destination, and enables the fuel cell to transmit electrical current to the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle a sensor system disposed adjacent to a headrest portion of a seat within a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The sensor system includes at least one of an air velocity sensor, an air temperature sensor, a radiant heat flux sensor, a heat flux sensor, or a humidity sensor. The sensor system is positioned near the headrest, facing a forward end of the vehicle, in a position that is not blocked by a head of a passenger seated in the seat. The sensor system provides data related to the air velocity, the air temperature, the radiant heat flux, the heat flux, or the relative humidity, enabling a climate controller to accurately calculate a current Equivalent Homogenous Temperature (EHT) of a passenger seated in the seat. The climate controller may then control a climate system of the vehicle based on the calculated EHT to provide a desired EHT.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes a first power-source configured to generate a first power-source torque and a multiple speed-ratio transmission configured to transmit the first power-source torque to power the vehicle. The powertrain also includes a fluid coupling having a fluid pump shaft operatively connected to the first power-source and a turbine shaft operatively connected to the multi-speed transmission. The fluid coupling is configured to multiply the first power-source torque, and transfer the multiplied first power-source torque to the multiple speed-ratio transmission. The powertrain additionally includes a second power-source configured to generate a second power-source torque and a first torque transfer system configured to connect the second power-source to the first power-source. The powertrain further includes a second torque transfer system configured to connect the second power-source to the multi-speed transmission. A motor vehicle having such a powertrain is also envisioned.