Abstract: A system for modifying driving behavior of an autonomous vehicle based on passenger satisfaction of a passenger may include a first sensor structured to detect a first property of the passenger; a processor operably coupled to the first sensor, the processor structured to calculate a passenger satisfaction index based on the first property of the passenger; an automated driving system structured to operate the autonomous vehicle, the automated driving system being operably coupled to the processor. The processor may be structured to control the automated driving system to modify driving behavior of the autonomous vehicle in response to the passenger satisfaction index satisfying a first condition.

Abstract: A radar system may include an antenna structured to transmit a radar signal and receive reflected radar signals from targets and a processor operably connected to the antenna. The radar system may receive a first reflected signal, having a first arrival angle, at a first time. The radar system may receive a second reflected signal, having a second arrival angle at a second time. The second arrival angle may be equal to the first arrival angle plus an angle offset calculated based on a velocity hypothesis. The radar system may translate the first vector by applying the angle offset, thereby calculating a translated first vector. The radar system may calculate a beamforming spectrum based on the translated first vector and the second vector. The radar system may identify peaks in the beamforming spectrum to identify angular positions of multiple targets.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a dietary supplement including berberine in an amount up to about 1500 mg, cinnamon in an amount up to about 300 mg, chromium in an amount up to about 300 mcg, milk thistle in an amount up to about 150 mg, and pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium (PQQ) in an amount up to about 30 mg. Additionally, the present disclosure relates to a method for managing weight, maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, preventing diabetes, or alleviating symptoms associated with diabetes, including administering a composition to a subject. In some embodiments, the composition includes berberine in an amount up to about 1500 mg, cinnamon in an amount up to about 300 mg, chromium in an amount up to about 300 mcg, milk thistle in an amount up to about 150 mg, and PQQ in an amount up to about 30 mg.

Abstract: Two-phase cooling systems for autonomous driving super computers (ADSC) are described herein. In some examples, a two-phase cooling system can include a flow channel configured to circulate a flow; an evaporative heat exchanger comprising an inlet for receiving fluid from the flow channel and an outlet for releasing vapor generated from the fluid, the evaporative heat exchanger being configured to collect heat from components of the ADSC and transfer the heat away via the vapor released from the first outlet; a condensing heat exchanger configured to condense the vapor and remove latent heat associated with the vapor, the condensing heat exchanger comprising an inlet to the flow channel for receiving the vapor and an outlet to the flow channel for discharging fluid generated by condensing the vapor; and a pump configured to receive the fluid from the condensing heat exchanger and circulate the fluid to the evaporative heat exchanger.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for preventing a loss of throughput data connectivity from one or more active autonomous vehicles of the fleet communicating with a back office network by: collecting an average aggregate of the throughput data from the one or more active AVs communicating with the back office network; updating a set of records in a throughput data table corresponding to a plurality of mapped AV routes for the one or more active AVs, by processing a throughput data table record in the temporary buffer of updated throughput data to eliminate identified duplicate or out-of-date throughput data recorded in the throughput data table; and determining, by the back office network, whether one or more of the AV route segments or the final drop-off location exhibits the effect of an instance of the loss of throughput data connectivity between the AV and the back office network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamically tracking the cleanliness of a vehicle's exterior. In particular, a dynamic strategy for cleaning vehicles is provided. In a system including a fleet of vehicles, the vehicles are regularly cleaned to remove dirt, dust, and any other matter that has stuck to the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for providing potable water, which apparatus comprises a plurality of components linked in series to provide a flow path through the apparatus, wherein the plurality of components comprises: (i) an inlet (4) for a stream of contaminated water requiring purification; (ii) a centrifugal separator (20) for separating the contaminated water stream into a partially purified water stream and a contaminant stream; (iii) a pre-filter pump (26); (iv) a pre-filter pressure sensor (30); (v) a first filter assembly (32) comprising one or more filter modules for removing particles of a predetermined size and/or removing organic contaminants from the partially purified water stream; (vi) a post-filter pressure sensor (38); (vii) a post-filter pump (40); (viii) a second filter assembly comprising one or more reverse osmosis filters (48); (ix) a UV steriliser unit (52); and (x) an outlet (6) for purified potable water; and wherein the apparatus further comprises an electronic controller (

Abstract: A map database stores data describing a set of connected roadways, each having one or more lanes. A navigation system selects a route for an autonomous vehicle (AV) by identifying a set of candidate lanes for routing the AV in the map database and retrieving at least one parameter of each candidate lane from the map database. The navigation system determines a performance metric for each of the candidate lanes, the performance metric for a given candidate lane based on the retrieved at least one parameter of the given candidate lane. The navigation system selects a candidate lane for routing the AV based at least in part on the determined performance metrics.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for an assembly fixture for positioning a component having a pivot pin including a rigid member, a fixed positioning pin affixed to a first point on the rigid member for insertion in a first locating hole in an assembly, a component restraint affixed to a second point on the rigid member for applying a force to the component for retaining the component in a fixed position and orientation with respect to the assembly fixture, and a pivot positioning pin coupled to a third point on the rigid member by a flexible mounting assembly, the flexible mounting assembly facilitating a linear movement of the pivot positioning pin along a linear path.

Abstract: A method of forming a film system includes depositing a monolayer formed from a fluorocarbon onto a substrate. After depositing, the method includes ablating the monolayer to define a plurality of cavities therein, wherein each of the plurality of cavities is spaced apart from an adjacent one of the plurality of cavities along the monolayer. After ablating, the method includes embedding a photocatalytic material into each of the plurality of cavities to form a film on the substrate and thereby form the film system. The film system includes a plurality of regions including the photocatalytic material and disposed within the monolayer such that each of the plurality of regions abuts and is surrounded by the fluorocarbon.

Abstract: A radar sensor includes: a transmitter configured to transmit radar via a transmit antenna; a receiver configured to receive signals reflected back to the radar sensor via a receive antenna; a profile module configured to generate an energy profile including a plurality of points for a plurality of distances from the radar sensor, respectively, each of the points including an energy of the signals reflected back to the radar sensor for that one of the plurality of distances; a minimums module configured to identify ones of the plurality of points having local minimums of energy; and a curve module configured to, based on the plurality of points having local minimums of energy, generate an equation representative of a curve fit to the plurality of points having local minimums of energy, the equation relating distance from the radar sensor to baseline energy of the signals reflected back to the radar sensor.

Abstract: Systems and methods to identify an object using a radar system involve arranging an array of antenna elements into two or more subarrays with a tilt angle relative to each other. Each of the two or more subarrays includes two or more antenna elements among the array of antenna elements. A method includes receiving reflected signals at each of the two or more subarrays resulting respectively from transmitting transmit signals from the two or more subarrays, and processing the reflected signals at each of the two or more subarrays to obtain an amplitude associated with each azimuth angle in a range of azimuth angles. A location of the object is determined as the azimuth angle in the range of azimuth angles at which the amplitude exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: A turbine wheel for a turbocharger of a vehicle propulsion system includes a central hub and a plurality of blades extending outwardly from the central hub. Each of the blades defining an inducer section and an exducer section, and each of the blades including a first surface portion and a second surface portion. The first surface portion including a thermal barrier coating and the second surface portion free from the thermal barrier coating.

Abstract: A hybrid separator for an electrochemical cell is provided, along with methods of making the hybrid separator. The hybrid separator includes a first metal-organic framework comprising copper and having a plurality of first pores and a second distinct metal-organic framework comprising indium or zinc and having a plurality of second pores. The hybrid separator is capable of adsorbing one or more lithium salts in at least one of the plurality of first pores or the plurality of second pores so as to be ionically conductive. The hybrid separator may have a conductivity greater than or equal to about 0.1 mS/cm to less than or equal to about 1 mS/cm and is substantially free of any polymeric binder.

Abstract: A thermal barrier for use in a power module assembly having at least one battery cell and corresponding method of forming. The thermal barrier includes at least one compressible member having one or more pockets. A first layer and a second layer are positioned adjacent to the compressive member at a first side and a second side, respectively. The thermal barrier includes one or more phase change materials configured to be deposited into the pockets. The phase change materials are configured to undergo an endothermic phase change reaction when a temperature is at or above an activation temperature. The first layer and the second layer may be configured to at least partially reflect radiant heat. In one example, the phase change materials include a bicarbonate salt.

Abstract: An oil control valve for controlling a cam phaser includes a valve housing, a recirculation housing, a spool guide, a spool, a first and second recirculation valve, and a one-way inlet valve. The valve housing has a pressure inlet port, a first bore having a first inner surface, a first port, and a second port. The recirculation housing has a first slot, a second slot, a second bore having a second inner surface, and a first outer surface. A first recirculation valve is disposed in the first slot of the recirculation housing. A second recirculation valve is disposed in the second slot of the recirculation housing. The one-way inlet valve disposed in the pressure inlet port. The recirculation housing and spool are each slidingly disposed to have a first, second, and third modes.

Abstract: A fuel management system includes a memory and a control module. The memory stores fuel rate maps for multiple firing fractions, where: each of the firing fractions corresponds to a respective firing pattern of an engine; at least some of the firing patterns include deactivating one or more cylinders. The control module: for each of the firing fractions, determines a fuel efficiency value for each of multiple transmission gear ratios, where fuel efficiency values are provided for transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs; applies drive ability constraints to provide resultant transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs; subsequent to applying the drive ability constraints and based on the fuel efficiency values, selects one of the resultant transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs; and concurrently operates a transmission and the engine according to the selected one of the transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs.

Abstract: An engine control system includes: a target air mass module configured to determine a target mass of air within a cylinder of an engine based on a torque request; a boost control module configured to control boost provided by a turbocharger based on the torque request; an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control module configured to selectively: set a target opening of an EGR valve based on the target mass of air; set the target opening of the EGR valve to a predetermined minimum opening, where the predetermined minimum opening is greater than zero percent open; and control opening of the EGR valve based on the target opening of the EGR valve.

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.