Abstract: Presented are manufacturing control systems for fabricating composite-material structures, methods for making/operating such systems, and resin transfer molding techniques for ameliorating race-tracking effects in fiber-reinforced polymer panels. A method for forming a composite-material construction includes confirming, via a system electronic control unit (ECU), that a fiber-based preform is placed in a mold cavity and that opposing mold segments of the molding apparatus are sealed together. A filler, such as a compressible bladder, a cluster of spring-biased pins, or a spray-chopped fiber bed, is introduced into a void between the fiber-based preform and a tool face of one mold segment to thereby eliminate an unwanted resin race track. The system ECU commands a resin pump to inject resin through a primary gate of the molding apparatus and into the mold cavity to thereby impregnate the fiber-based preform with the resin. One or more vents operate to evacuate air from the mold.

Abstract: An electric drive system of a vehicle comprises a motor, a position sensor, an inverter, sensors to sense current and voltage supplied to the motor, and a controller to control the motor by controlling the inverter based on data from the position sensor and the sensors and a torque command. The controller estimates a motor torque using a motor model, calculates the motor torque, and generates a first state of health for the electric drive system based on a difference between the estimated and calculated motor torques. The controller generates, in response to the first state of health being less than or equal to a first threshold, a second state of health for at least one of the position sensor, the sensors, and the motor, and determines whether one of the position sensor, the sensors, and the motor is faulty based on the first and second states of health.

Abstract: A partial discharge calibration standard apparatus may include a first and second rigid members defining respective first and second facing surfaces. An electrically insulating material may be disposed between the facing surfaces. The apparatus may further include a pressure member maintaining the rigid members together, thereby fixing the first and second facing surfaces in a substantially parallel spaced relation across the insulating material such that a partial discharge threshold magnitude for an electrical potential difference between the first and second facing surfaces is determined.

Abstract: A panel assembly is formed by a plurality of bonds between two sheet materials in a face to face relationship to form a preform. The plurality of bonds define a closed perimeter region between the two sheet materials and an open perimeter region between the two sheet materials. The preform may be formed into a predefined shape. Pressurized fluid is applied through an inlet into the open perimeter region to expand the preform. The pressurized fluid expands the open perimeter region such that the two sheet materials expand in an opposing direction, thereby defining an expanded open perimeter region. The closed perimeter region between the two sheet materials remains vacant of the pressurized fluid such that the closed perimeter region is not expanded. The expanded open perimeter region is filled with a filler material for improving a performance characteristic of the panel assembly, e.g., strength, sound absorption, or stiffness.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a towing preferred navigational route including an input to receive a request for a navigational route wherein the request is indicative of a destination and a tow mode engagement, a memory to store an aggregated segment data wherein the aggregated segment data is generated in response to a plurality of tow enabled vehicles traveling the segment, a processor to generate the navigational route in response to the request for the navigational route and the aggregated segment data, and an output to couple the navigational route for display to a driver.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method and apparatus including a sensor to detect a current location, a memory for storing a first set of Kalman filter parameters associated with a first environmental condition and a second set of Kalman filter parameters associated with a second environmental condition, a processor for performing an assisted driving algorithm according to the first set of Kalman filter parameters, for receiving the current location, for determining a second set of Kalman filter parameters in response to the current location, for performing the assisted driving algorithm according to the second set of Kalman filter parameters, and for generating a control signal in response to the assisted driving algorithm according to the second set of Kalman filter parameters, and a vehicle controller operative to control a vehicle in response to the control signal.

Abstract: A system for powering an electric vehicle (EV) includes a battery, a power distribution module, and a battery bypass module. The power distribution module receives power from a charging station, draws power from the battery in a discharging mode, distributes power from the charging station to the battery in a charging mode, and distributes power to a plurality of subsystems of the EV. The battery bypass module is coupled to the battery and the power distribution module. When the battery bypass module is engaged in a charging bypass mode, power distributed by the power distribution module bypasses the battery and is distributed to at least a subset of the plurality of subsystems of the EV.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object may be manufactured using a powder bed fusion additive manufacturing technique. A layer of powder feed material may be distributed over a solid substrate and scanned with a high-energy laser beam to locally melt selective regions of the layer and form a pool of molten feed material. The pool of molten feed material may be exposed to gaseous nitrogen, carbon, or boron to respectively dissolve nitride, carbide, or boride ions into the pool of molten feed material to produce a molten nitrogen, carbon, or boron-containing solution. The molten nitrogen, carbon, or boron-containing solution may cool and solidify into a solid layer of fused nitride, carbide, or boride-containing material.

Abstract: A method of making a lithiated silicon-based precursor material for a negative electrode material of an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. An admixture comprising a plurality of lithium particles and a plurality of silicon particles is briquetted by applying pressure of greater than or equal to about 10 MPa and applying heat at a temperature of less than or equal to about 180° C. to form a precursor briquette. The briquette has lithium particles and silicon particles distributed in a matrix and has a porosity level of less than or equal to about 60% of the total volume of the precursor briquette. The briquetting is conducted in an environment having less than or equal to about 0.002% by weight of any oxygen-bearing species or nitrogen (N2).

Abstract: A test system for detecting impairment aboard a motor vehicle includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and sensors in communication therewith. The sensors are positioned within a vehicle interior, and include at least a touch screen and a microphone, and possibly an eye-tracking camera. In response to receiving a start request indicative of a requested start event of the motor vehicle, the ECU executes instructions to initiate a cognitive response test via the sensors. The ECU determines a test score of a driver during the test while the motor vehicle remains off, compares the test score to baseline scores to determine a passing or failing test result, and executes a control action aboard the motor vehicle in response to the passing or failing test result. The ECU may disable or immobilize the motor vehicle in response to the failing test result.

Abstract: Method and systems for image deblurring in a vehicle. The methods and systems include determining a point spread function based on vehicle motion data and a depth map received from vehicle motion sensors and a depth sensor. A deblur matrix is calculated based on the point spread function. A blurred input image, received from an imaging device, is deblurred based on the deblur matrix to thereby provide a deblurred output image. A function of the vehicle is controlled based on the deblurred output image.

Abstract: A light assembly and method of forming light assemblies includes a flexible light layer, a thermoplastic housing, and an IMC layer. The flexible light layer has a flexible substrate, a printed circuit, and a plurality of LEDs extending outward from the flexible substrate. The IMC layer is formed opposite the flexible light layer from the thermoplastic housing and covers the LEDs. Forming may include placing the flexible light layer within a mold cavity, injecting the thermoplastic structure on one side of the flexible light layer, and injecting the IMC layer on the opposite side of the flexible light layer from the thermoplastic structure. Injecting the thermoplastic structure into the mold cavity may change the shape of the flexible light layer. Datum features of the flexible light layer may align the thermoplastic structure relative to the datum features.

Abstract: An electric vehicle (EV) is charged according to a selected charging rate. An available dispatch time is determined based on a current charge level of a battery of the EV, a first charging rate, and a target charge level. An anticipated dispatch time is determined based on predicted demand for a fleet of EVs that includes the EV. If the available dispatch time is later than the anticipated dispatch time, the first charging rate is selected; if the available dispatch time is earlier than the anticipated dispatch time, a second charging rate that is lower than the first charging rate is selected. The second charging rate may be a rate that charges the battery of the EV to at least the target charge level in time for the anticipated dispatch time.

Abstract: An extruded rail assembly including a first multi-channel extrusion having at least two tubular channels connected by a center rib, and having a joining end configured for joining at a predetermined angle to a joining end of a second multi-channel extrusion. The second multi-channel extrusion includes at least two tubular channels connected by a center rib, and having a joining end configured for joining at the predetermined angle to the joining end of first multi-channel extrusion. The joining ends of the first and second multi-channel extrusions are configured such that the center ribs complementarily engage as a joining surface.

Abstract: Method and systems for image deblurring in a vehicle. The methods and systems include determining a point spread function based on vehicle motion data and a depth map received from vehicle motion sensors and a depth sensor. A deblur matrix is calculated based on the point spread function. A blurred input image, received from an imaging device, is deblurred based on the deblur matrix to thereby provide a deblurred output image. A function of the vehicle is controlled based on the deblurred output image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for preserving privacy of data collected from a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, privacy preferences entered by a user of the vehicle; receiving, by the processor, the data collected from the vehicle; distorting, by the processor, the data; downsampling, by the processor, the distorted data based on the privacy preferences; and communicating, by the processor, the downsampled, distorted vehicle data to a third-party entity.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method and apparatus for generating a three-dimensional point cloud generation using a polarimetric camera in a drive assistance system equipped vehicle including a camera configured to capture a color image for a field of view and a polarimetric data of the field of view, a processor configured to perform a neural network function in response to the color image and the polarimetric data to generate a depth map of the field of view, and a vehicle controller configured a perform an advanced driving assistance function and to control a vehicle movement in response to the depth map.

Abstract: A vehicle storage compartment includes a first vehicle component including a pin, a second vehicle component pivotally hinged to the first vehicle component. The first vehicle component and the second vehicle component define a storage cavity in which a vehicle occupant in a passenger compartment may store objects. The compartment includes a dampener arm that is pivotally rotatable about one of the first pin and the second pin and defining a slot enclosing the other one of the first pin and second pin. The dampener arm slot defines an interference fit with the other one of the first pin and the second pin such that pivoting of the second vehicle component is dampened.