Abstract: A system and method for determining a roadway bank angle based on vehicle information. The method may include the steps of: obtaining vehicle information from at least one vehicle, the vehicle information is obtained from at least one of a global navigational satellite system (GNSS) receiver and one or more onboard vehicle sensors, and the GNSS receiver and the one or more onboard vehicle sensors are installed in the at least one vehicle; performing a roadway bank angle determination process using the obtained vehicle information to obtain a roadway bank angle; and updating a representative roadway bank angle based on the roadway bank angle.

Abstract: A regeneration system for a vehicle includes: a particulate module configured to determine an amount of particulate trapped within a particulate filter, the particulate filter configured to filter particulate from exhaust output from an engine; and a regeneration control module configured to, in response to a determination that the amount of particulate trapped within the particulate filter is at least a predetermined amount: close a wastegate of a turbocharger; and open an EGR valve connected (a) to an intake system of the engine downstream of the turbocharger and (b) to upstream of the particulate filter, the closing of the wastegate and the opening of the EGR valve flowing air from (a) the intake system to (b) upstream of the particulate filter through the EGR valve without the air entering the engine.

Abstract: Individual electrodes for a solid-state lithium-ion battery cell may be formed, for example, by elevated temperature consolidation in air of a mixture of resin-bonded, electrode active material particles, oxide solid electrolyte particles, and particles of a non-carbon electronic conductive additive. Depending on the selected compositions of the electrode materials and the solid electrolyte, one or both of the cathode and anode layer members may be formed to include the non-carbon electronic conductive additive. The battery cell is assembled with the solid-state electrodes placed on opposite sides of a consolidated layer of oxide electrolyte particles. The electronic conductivity of at least one of the cathode and anode is increased by the incorporation of particles of a selected non-carbon electronic conducive additive with the respective electrode particles.

Abstract: A latch mechanism includes a detent lever attached to a vehicle, and a release lever attached adjacent the detent to move between a pulled position, pushing the detent lever to an unlocked position responsive to activation of a release handle, and a released position, releasing the detent to move to a locked position responsive to deactivation of the release handle. A forkbolt is attached to the vehicle to move between: a first position—engaging the detent, retaining the striker at one location, and latching a compartment closure assembly closed; a second position—disengaging the detent, retaining the striker at another location, and latching the closure assembly in one pop-up position; a third position—reengaging the detent, retaining the striker at yet another location, and latching the closure assembly in another pop-up position; and a fourth position—disengaging the detent and allowing the closure assembly to open.

Abstract: A coulomb friction damped drive shaft may include an outer shaft defined by a longitudinal axis, a first tapered portion and a second tapered portion at opposite ends of the outer shaft; an inner shaft inserted through the outer shaft along the longitudinal axis and defined by a first uniform portion a second uniform portion adjacent to opposite ends of the inner shaft; a first tapered sleeve inserted between the first uniform portion and the first tapered portion; and a second tapered sleeve inserted between the second uniform portion and the second tapered portion. The first tapered sleeve may be biased along the longitudinal axis toward the second tapered sleeve to create a friction between the inner shaft and the outer shaft. The friction may act on a twisting motion of the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft to coulomb friction dampen oscillations in the inner shaft.

Abstract: A connecting rod comprises a shaft connecting a first end including a first bore with a second end including a second bore. Methods for forming and assembling a connecting rod and crankshaft assembly include fabricating the second end of the connecting rod via additive manufacturing such that the second end comprises a first and second weakened regions on opposing sides of the second bore, and breaking the second end of the connecting rod at the first and second weakened regions to form a connecting rod assembly comprising a second end base and a second end cap, wherein the base comprises a first fracture face and a second fracture face which each respectively correspond to a first fracture face and a second fracture face of the cap. The methods can further include mating the base and the cap such that a crankpin of a crankshaft is disposed within the second bore.

Abstract: Pouch-type battery cells include a first and second pouch layer, one or more electrode pairs between the two pouch layers, each pair including an anode and cathode current collector, a peripheral seal defined by a peripheral seal path and joining the two pouch layers to form a pouch encasing the one or more electrode pairs, an anode tab electrically coupled to one or more anode current collectors within the pouch and a cathode tab electrically coupled to one or more cathode current collectors within the pouch each extend outward from the peripheral seal. The anode and/or cathode tab include one or more apertures disposed along the peripheral seal path such that a portion of the peripheral seal is formed between the first and second pouch layers within the one or more apertures. The tabs of multiple battery cells can be electrically coupled via busbars to form a battery pack.

Abstract: A method for identifying distracted pedestrians. The method includes determining operating conditions of a vehicle using a plurality of vehicle controllers. Pedestrian parameters for a pedestrian in a vicinity of the vehicle are acquired using a plurality of vehicle sensors. The pedestrian parameters include at least one of face positions, body positions, gait and hand gestures. Information related to an environment surrounding the vehicle is acquired. Pedestrian awareness level is determined based on the acquired pedestrian parameters and based on the information related to the environment surrounding the vehicle. A determination is made whether the pedestrian awareness level is below a predefined threshold. The pedestrian is classified as distracted, in response to determining that the pedestrian awareness level is below the predefined threshold.

Abstract: A composite article configured for mitigating noise, vibration, and harshness includes a substrate having a first stiffness. The composite article includes a structural film formed from a composition and disposed on the substrate in a pattern that is arranged to dampen a sound wave having a first frequency and a first amplitude and propagatable in a first direction to a second frequency that is less than the first frequency and a second amplitude that is less than the first amplitude. The composite article includes a coating layer disposed on the pattern and configured to dampen the sound wave in the first direction and in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The composite article has a second stiffness that is greater than the first stiffness. A method of forming the composite article is also described.

Abstract: A rotary electric machine, e.g., a cycloidal reluctance motor, includes a stator having stator teeth connected to a cylindrical stator core, and a rotor having a cylindrical rotor core. The stator core and/or rotor core are constructed of grain-oriented, spirally-wound ferrous material having a circular or annular grain orientation. The stator teeth may be constructed of grain-oriented steel having a linear grain orientation. Notches may be spaced around an inner circumferential surface of the stator core, with each stator tooth engaged with a respective notch. The rotor may be eccentrically positioned radially within the stator. The rotor core may define notches spaced around its outer circumferential surface, with salient rotor projections engaged with a respective rotor notch. The machine in such an embodiment may be a switched reluctance rotor. An electrical system using the machine and a method of manufacturing the machine are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that identify a composition of an object using a non-contact chemical sensor provided. The method includes detecting an object based on information provided by a plurality of sensors, transmitting a chemical detection signal, from a non-contact chemical sensor, at the detected object, identifying a composition of the detected object based on an attenuation of the chemical detection signal, determining whether a path change is required based on the identified composition of the detected object, and controlling one or more actuators to stop a vehicle or adjust the path of the vehicle if the path change is required.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a nutritional supplement including, about 0.5 mg to about 4 mg of folate, about 6.25 mg to about 50 mg of vitamin B-6, about 250 mcg to about 2000 mcg of vitamin B-12, about 75 mg to about 600 mg of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), about 1250 IU to about 10,000 IU of vitamin D3, about 25 mg to about 200 mg of magnesium, about 25 mg to 200 mg of N-acetyl-L-cysteine, about 5 mg to about 40 mg pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium (PQQ), about 25 mg to about 200 mg of curcumin extract, about 25 mg to about 200 mg of resveratrol, about 25 mg to about 200 mg berberine, about 12.5 mcg to about 100 mcg of chromium, and about 12.5 mcg to about 100 mcg of selenium. In an additional embodiment, the aforementioned nutritional supplement in a nutritional kit that further includes an omega-3 supplement.

Abstract: A coherent lidar system, a method of assembling the system and a vehicle including the system involve a light source to output a continuous wave, and a modulator to modulate a frequency of the continuous wave and provide a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) signal. The system includes a a splitter to split the FMCW signal to two or more paths, and two or more aperture lenses. At least one of the two or more aperture lenses is associated with each of the two or more paths and is configured to obtain a receive beam resulting from a reflection of an output signal obtained from the FMCW signal.