Abstract: A clamp system and method for measurement and control of welding a first substrate to a second substrate is provided. The system comprises a squeeze clamp having to a first end and a second end. The system further comprises a motor connected to the squeeze clamp such that the first and second ends are movable to clamp the first substrate to the second substrate. The system further comprises at least one of an electromagnetic flux sensor, a current sensor, a position sensor, and a gap sensor disposed on one of the first and second ends for determining a first measured variable between the first and second substrates. The system further comprises a controller to control the motor to clamp the first substrate to the second substrate based on the first measured variable. The controller is in communication with the electromagnetic flux sensor, the current sensor, and the gap sensor.

Abstract: Assemblies and methods are provided for manufacturing a battery. A number of cells each have tabs for coupling the cell in the battery assembly. A housing has an opening through which each tab extends. The tabs are folded to overlie an outer surface of the housing. A bus bar is disposed on an opposite side of the tabs from the housing, with a coupling joint between the bus bar and the cells. The coupling joint may comprise a weld.

Abstract: A battery includes a first mono cell formed from a first electrode foil having a first body and a first tab, and a first coating. The first body has long edges and short edges, and a length-to-width ratio of the first body is at least five. The first tab extends from one of the long edges of the first body entirely between one of the short edges a midpoint of the long edge. A second electrode foil has similar structure to the first electrode foil and coating, but a second tab is aligned opposite the first tab along the short edges. A second mono cell has similar structure. A third tab and a fourth tab of the second mono cell are on an opposing side of the midpoint of the long edges from the first tab and the second tab.

Abstract: A vehicle including an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) and operator-adjustable devices is described. Controlling the vehicle includes identifying a vehicle operator, and capturing a plurality of operator-selectable settings associated with the plurality of operator-adjustable devices for the vehicle operator. A base profile and a second profile are determined for the vehicle operator based upon the first subset associated with non-autonomous operation of the vehicle and the second subset associated with ADAS, respectively. The plurality of operator-adjustable devices are controlled to the operator-selectable settings associated with the base profile when the vehicle is operating in the non-autonomous mode, and the plurality of operator-adjustable devices are controlled to the operator-selectable settings associated with the second profile when the vehicle is being controlled at least in part by one or more of the subsystems of the ADAS.

Abstract: A system and method for locating a mobile device relative to a vehicle using mechanical waves and modulation techniques. A high frequency carrier wave that is generally inaudible to humans is modulated with a low frequency baseband signal that provides for accurate localization in order to generate a modulated signal. The modulated signal is a mechanical or pressure wave, as opposed to an electromagnetic (EM) wave, that is transmitted by one or more speaker(s) and is received by one or more microphone(s). In one example, the modulated signal is transmitted from a speaker on the mobile device (e.g., a smart phone) to a number of microphones mounted on the vehicle at specific distances apart, so as to establish multiple localization paths whose differences in phase can be used to determine the location of the mobile device, relative to the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of determining a noise or vibration response of a vehicle subassembly may include transmitting, via a controller, an input torque control signal to a first motor of a test apparatus. The first motor is mountable on a test fixture of the test apparatus and is configured to be coupled to the vehicle subassembly. The input torque control signal causes the first motor to provide an input torque characterized as a third derivative Gaussian function. The method further includes receiving a response of the vehicle subassembly to the input torque, and executing a control action with respect to the vehicle subassembly, via the controller, based on the response.

Abstract: Composite cathode-separator laminations (CSL) include a current collector with sulfur-based host material applied thereto, a coated separator comprising an electrolyte membrane separator with a carbonaceous coating, and a porous, polymer-based interfacial layer (PBIL) forming a binding interface between the carbonaceous coating and the host material. The host material includes less than about 6% polymeric binder, and less than about 40% electrically conductive carbon, with the balance comprising one or more sulfur compounds. The PBIL can have a thickness of less than about 5 ?m and a porosity of about 5% to about 40%. The host material can comprise less than about 40% conductive carbon (e.g., graphene) and have a porosity of less than about 40%. The carbonaceous coating (e.g., graphene) can have a thickness of about 1 ?m to about 5 ?m. The CSL can be disposed with an anode within an electrolyte to form a lithium-sulfur battery cell.

Abstract: A turbine assembly includes a turbine casing, a turbine wheel, vanes, and link plates. The turbine casing defines a center chamber and a volute configured to transport exhaust gas to the center chamber. The turbine wheel is disposed within the center chamber and is rotatably coupled to the turbine casing. The driving ring extends around a periphery of the center chamber and is rotatably coupled to the turbine casing. The vanes are disposed within the center chamber and are configured to adjust a flow rate of exhaust gas from the volute to the turbine wheel. The link plates couple the vanes to the driving ring such that the vanes pivot when the driving ring rotates. When the ring is rotated to a given position, the link plates are configured to pivot one of the vanes to one position while pivoting another one of the vanes to another position.

Abstract: A stator assembly for an electric motor includes a laminate steel core arranged on an axis. The stator assembly also includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The stator assembly additionally includes a stator housing arranged on the axis concentrically with respect to the laminate steel core. The stator housing has a conduit fluidly connected to each of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and configured to circulate fluid around the laminate steel core. The stator assembly also includes a structural skeleton embedded in the stator housing. The structural skeleton is thereby configured to reinforce the stator housing. An electric motor employing the above-described stator assembly is also contemplated.

Abstract: Presented are model predictive control (MPC) systems, methods, and devices for regulating operation of hybrid powertrains. A method of controlling a hybrid powertrain includes a controller determining path plan data, including a vehicle origin, destination, and predicted path. Based on this path plan data, the controller estimates vehicle velocities for multiple rolling road segments of the predicted path and, based on the estimated velocities, determines an estimated power request—transmission input torque and/or vehicle axle torque—for each road segment. The controller calculates a minimum cost function such that total fuel consumption to generate the engine power output is minimized. Minimizing the cost function is subject to battery pack current limits and state of charge (SOC) terminal costs at the ends of the rolling road segments. Command signals are sent to the engine and motor to output engine and motor torque based on the calculated minimum cost function.

Abstract: An automatic fault isolation and diagnosis system includes a cloud-based data system having multiple machine-readable troubleshooting procedures stored therein. A vehicle fault code is generated by one of multiple vehicle control devices of a vehicle platform. The fault code defines an issue with at least one system or component of the vehicle platform. A data transfer device within the vehicle platform receives the fault code and forwards the fault code to the cloud-based data system. The fault code is received and analyzed in the cloud-based data system to initially determine if the fault code is directed to and can be automatically corrected by one of the stored machine-readable troubleshooting procedures.

Abstract: A system and method of performing fault diagnosis and analysis for one or more vehicles. The method includes: obtaining design failure mode and effect analysis (DFMEA) data that specifies a plurality of failure modes; receiving diagnostic association data; receiving vehicle operation signals association data; generating augmented DFMEA data that indicates a causal relationship between the diagnostic data and the first set of failure modes, and that indicates a causal relationship between the vehicle operation signals data and the second set of failure modes, wherein the augmented DFMEA data is generated based on the DFMEA data, the diagnostic association data, and the vehicle operation signals association data; and performing fault diagnosis and analysis for the one or more vehicles using the augmented DFMEA data.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicles and control logic for provisioning comprehensive tow features, methods for manufacturing/operating such vehicles, and electric-drive vehicles with tow features for protecting the vehicle's powertrain and electrical components during towing. A method for controlling operation of an electric-drive vehicle includes a vehicle controller verifying initiation of a towing operation for the vehicle, and responsively determining if there is a drive system failure preventing the vehicle's traction motor from electrically connecting with its traction battery pack. If there is no drive system failure, the controller determines if the speed of the traction motor during towing exceeds a calibrated base speed; if so, the controller commands a power inverter to electrically connect the traction motor to the traction battery pack.

Abstract: Solvent-free methods of making a component, like an electrode, for an electrochemical cell are provided. A particle mixture is processed in a dry-coating device having a rotatable vessel defining a cavity with a rotor. The rotatable vessel is rotated at a first speed in a first direction and the rotor at a second speed in a second opposite direction. The particle mixture includes first inorganic particles (e.g., electroactive particles), second inorganic particles (e.g., ceramic HF scavenging particles), and third particles (e.g., electrically conductive carbon-containing particles). The dry coating creates coated particles each having a surface coating (including second inorganic particles and third particles) disposed over a core region (the first inorganic particle). The coated particles are mixed with polymeric particles in a planetary and centrifugal mixer that rotates about a first axis and revolves about a second axis. The polymeric particles surround each of the plurality of coated particles.

Abstract: A process for correcting longitudinal roll from an offset load using active roll control within a vehicle is provided. The process includes, within a computerized controller using axle-based control to control a suspension system, operating programming to control pneumatic pressure supplied to each of a plurality of air spring devices within the suspension system to execute a vehicle leveling event including one of adjusting a height of the vehicle or maintaining the height of the vehicle. The process further includes operating programming to, simultaneously with the controlling the pneumatic pressure, utilize a plurality of active sway bars to provide an offset torque to the vehicle body. Each of the plurality of active sway bars is associated with one of a plurality of axles. Providing the offset torque is based upon a number of moles of air in each of the plurality of air spring devices and reducing the longitudinal roll.

Abstract: A spatial monitoring system for a vehicle includes a LiDAR sensor, sensors arranged to monitor ambient environmental states, sensors arranged to monitor vehicle operating conditions, and a controller. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to monitor the ambient environmental states and the vehicle operating conditions. The LiDAR sensor captures a point cloud, and the instruction set is executable to determine point cloud metrics. Desired control parameters for the LiDAR sensor are determined based upon the ambient environmental conditions, the vehicle operating conditions, and the point cloud metrics, and the LiDAR sensor is controlled based upon the desired control parameters. The LiDAR sensor is controlled to capture an image of a field-of-view proximal to the vehicle based upon the desired control parameters.

Abstract: A vehicle, radar system of the vehicle and method of operating the vehicle. A transmit antenna transmits a radio wave and a plurality of receive antennae receive echo radio waves from an object receptive to the transmitted radio wave, wherein the echo radio waves includes short-range interference. A processor generates a plurality of radar data arrays for the return signals, wherein each radar data array represents the return signal received at a corresponding receiver antennae, estimates an amount of short-range interference present in the return signal of each radar data array, subtracts the estimate of short-range interference from each of the radar data array to obtain a plurality of clutter-free radar data arrays, and detects the object using at least the plurality of clutter-free radar data arrays. A navigation system navigates the vehicle based on the detection of the object.

Abstract: A negative electrode according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a negative electroactive material and a layer. The negative electroactive material includes a lithium-aluminum alloy. The layer is disposed directly on at least a portion of the negative electroactive material and coupled to the negative electroactive material. The layer includes anodic aluminum oxide and has a plurality of pores. The present disclosure also provides an electrochemical cell including the negative electrode. In certain aspects, the negative electroactive material is electrically conductive and functions as a negative electrode current collector such that the electrochemical cell is free of a distinct negative electrode current collector component. In certain aspects, the layer is ionically conductive and electrically insulating and functions as a separator such that the electrochemical cell is free of a distinct separator component.

Abstract: Systems and methods can improve passenger safety for an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) based on the integration of sensor data captured by the AV's interior and exterior sensors. The AV can determine passenger occupancy data corresponding to where each passenger is detected within the AV by the interior sensors. The AV can determine multiple sets of one or more driving actions that the AV can perform at a future time. The AV can generate crash impact data corresponding to where each passenger is detected from one or more simulated collisions between the AV and one or more objected detected by the exterior sensors when the AV performs one or more sets of driving actions from among the multiple sets. The AV can determine ranked sets of driving actions based on the passenger occupancy data and the crash impact data.

Abstract: Sensors coupled to a vehicle are calibrated using a dynamic scene with sensor targets around a motorized turntable that rotates the vehicle to different orientations. The sensors capture data at each orientation along the rotation. The vehicle's computer identifies representations of the sensor targets within the data captured by the sensors, and calibrates the sensor based on these representations. The motorized turntable may confirm that rotation has stopped to the vehicle to trigger sensor capture, and the vehicle may communicate completion of sensor capture at an orientation to the motorized turntable to trigger further rotation.