Abstract: A system for vehicle trajectory planning. The system may include a polarized camera system configured to generate polarized images of a roadway to be driven over with a vehicle, a prior controller configured to generate a prior for the roadway based at least in part on the polarized images, and a driving assistance system configured to provide a driving assistance according to the prior.

Abstract: A method of providing information related to a charge status of an electric vehicle includes monitoring, with a system controller in communication with an electrical system within the vehicle, information related to a charge status of the vehicle, and, displaying, with the system controller, for a person in proximity of the vehicle, information related to a charge status of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that include one or more sensors configured to obtain sensor data pertaining to both a driver of a vehicle and an environment surrounding the vehicle; and a processor that is coupled to the one or more sensors and that is configured to at least facilitate determining, using the sensor data, when the driver is incapacitated; determining, using the sensor data, when a threat is detected for the vehicle; and taking action to avoid the threat when the driver is incapacitated and the threat is detected, via instructions provided by the processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle. The systems and methods receive image data from at least one camera of the vehicle, detect a 2D measurement location of a static object in an image plane of the camera using the image data, receive an input vector of measurements from a sensor system of the vehicle, predict a predicted 3D location of the static object using a Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) that incorporates a motion model for the vehicle and further using the 2D measurement location of the static object, and the input vector, and control at least one vehicle feature based on the predicted 3D location of the static object.

Abstract: A system and method for locating a trailer coupler on a trailer to assist with the coupling of the trailer coupler to a vehicle hitch on a vehicle. The system includes a human-machine interface, a camera, a global positioning system, a remote computing system, a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication network, controllers, a memory, sensors, and a trailer coupler labeling application. The trailer coupler labeling application includes: sensing at least one of a hitched state and an unhitched state of the trailer coupler, capturing an optical data with the camera when the vehicle hitch is in the hitched and unhitched state, determining a distance of the trailer coupler relative to the camera when the vehicle hitch is in the hitched state, identifying the location of the trailer coupler on an image defined by the captured data and creating a label on the image of the trailer coupler.

Abstract: A seatbelt assembly for a vehicle includes a seatbelt and a base retractor coupled to the seatbelt and configured to allow the seatbelt to extend to a desired length. The base retractor includes a first end portion including a biasing device, a second end portion disposed opposite the first end portion and including a speed-based locking mechanism, and a third portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion and including a spindle coupled to the seatbelt. The seatbelt assembly also includes a pretensioner coupled to the base retractor and configured to tighten slack of the seatbelt to ensure proper position of the vehicle passenger. Additionally, the seatbelt assembly includes an electromagnet disposed within or adjacent to the base retractor and configured to enable adjustment of rotational resistance applied to the spindle based on vehicle passenger size.

Abstract: An electric generation system for vehicular applications including a vehicle tire having a tread portion, a hub portion and a plurality of semi-rigid spokes extending radially from the hub portion to the tread portion, a plurality of piezoelectric devices affixed to at least one surface of each of the plurality of semi-rigid spokes such that a deformation of the tread portion of the vehicle tire results in a deformation of at least one of the plurality of spokes and at least one of the plurality of piezoelectric devices, and a charge accumulator for receiving an electric current generated in response to the deformation of the at least one of the plurality of spokes and for storing an electric charge accumulated in response to the electric current.

Abstract: Presented are electric machines with rotor shaft-mounted heat pipes/vapor chambers thermally coupled to endcap-integrated heat sinks, methods for making/using such machines, and vehicles equipped with such machines. An electric machine includes an outer housing, a stator assembly mounted to the housing, and a rotor assembly rotatably mounted adjacent the stator assembly. The stator assembly includes one or more stator windings mounted to an annular stator core. The rotor assembly includes one or more electromagnetic rotor windings mounted to a cylindrical rotor core. A rotor power transfer circuit (PTC) is electrically connected to the rotor assembly to electrify the rotor winding(s). A rotor shaft is attached to the rotor core to rotate in unison therewith. One or more heat pipes are mounted on the rotor shaft's outer surface and project axially between the rotor PTC and rotor core. Each heat pipe passively extracts and transfers thermal energy from the rotor PTC.

Abstract: A charging system for a passenger door includes an arm rest, a receptacle disposed in the arm rest and defining a pocket including a charging panel configured to provide wireless charging to an electronic device, a charging system actuator configured to selectively bias the electronic device against the charging panel and including an electronic device presence sensor, and a charging system controller in communication with the electronic device presence sensor. The charging system controller is configured to execute operations including receiving an electronic device presence signal from the electronic device presence sensor, determining whether the electronic device is disposed within the receptacle based on the electronic device presence signal, and instructing the charging system to generate a notification signal when the electronic device is disposed within the receptacle.

Abstract: A mounting rail for a vehicle comprises a housing attached to the vehicle and including a first portion and a second portion, a first channel extending along the first portion of the housing between a first end and a second end, the first end defining an opening to the first channel, and a lock located proximate to the opening to the first channel, the lock disposed in a lock housing and movable relative to the lock housing between a locked state blocking entry into the opening of the first channel and an unlocked state spaced apart from the opening of the first channel.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a user device configured to produce acoustic sounds at varying frequencies. The vehicle system also includes a vehicle microphone for collecting acoustic data from the user device. Additionally, the vehicle system includes a vehicle processor for storing vehicle data including the acoustic data and a server communicatively coupled to the vehicle processor. In some examples, the server is configured to determine if the acoustic data match one or more predetermined frequencies of sound.

Abstract: A glovebox for a vehicle is disclosed. The glovebox includes a frame and a storage bin translatable between a first position and a second position relative to the frame. Additionally, the storage bin is also rotatable between a closed position and an open position relative to the frame.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a battery module in a vehicle includes selecting an upper cut-off voltage and a lower cut-off voltage for the battery module. The method includes charging the battery cell from an original state to a first benchmark voltage greater than an upper cut-off voltage, via a first charging process. The method includes discharging the battery cell from the first benchmark voltage to a second benchmark voltage less than a lower cut-off voltage, via a first discharging process. The battery module is then charged from the second benchmark voltage to the first benchmark voltage, via a second charging process. The method includes obtaining a ratio of a discharging capacity to a charging capacity of the battery module. Operation of the vehicle is controlled based in part on the ratio, including taking at least one remedial action if the ratio is less than a predefined threshold.

Abstract: Vehicle systems and methods are provided for controlling converters of a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS). An exemplary method involves identifying an active subset of converters to supply an expected current consumption for one or more electrical loads supplied by the RESS, configuring droop control settings of active converters based at least in part on the expected current consumption, and configuring reserve converters with respective droop control settings different from the respective droop control settings of the active converters. The droop control settings are configured to achieve a desired distribution of the expected current consumption across the active converters and activate the reserve converters to supply supplemental current in response to transient fluctuations where current demand exceeds the expected current consumption.

Abstract: An all-wheel drive system for a vehicle having a longitudinal axis includes an electric motor. The electric motor has an output shaft that extends along a first axis, and the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The all-wheel drive system includes a first drive system including a first clutch and a first differential system configured to be coupled to a second drive system and to transfer torque to first wheels of the vehicle in a first state of the first clutch. The second drive system includes a second drive shaft and a second differential system. The second drive shaft is coupled to the output shaft and configured to transfer the torque to the second differential system. The second differential system is configured to transfer torque to second wheels of the vehicle, and the second differential system extends along a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises a Wi-Fi network including at least one Wi-Fi antenna module including a Wi-Fi antenna in communication with a Wi-Fi Integrated Circuit (IC) and a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) network including at least one BLE antenna module including a BLE antenna and a BLE IC, the BLE IC configured to detect in-band noise, characterize the in-band noise, and transmit the characterization of the in-band noise to the Wi-Fi IC.

Abstract: An electric vehicle battery control system including a first electric motor configured to propel a vehicle in a drive mode in response to a drive current, a second electric motor operative to generate a back electromotive force voltage in a fault mode, a battery, having an open circuit battery discharge voltage, for generating the drive current for coupling to the first electric motor, and a vehicle controller for limiting the drive current in response to a difference between the back electromotive force voltage and the open circuit battery discharge voltage being less than a threshold voltage difference.

Abstract: A thin-film material measurement and characterization fixture system using an embedded coplanar waveguide fixture including a substrate layer, an upper conductor layer disposed on top of the substrate layer, the upper conductor layer including a first upper conductor layer and a second upper conductor layer spaced from the first upper conductor layer by a gap, a signal trace disposed on top of the substrate layer in the gap between the first upper conductor layer and the second upper conductor layer, and a superstrate layer disposed on top of the upper conductor layer and the signal trace, the superstrate layer filling the gap between the first upper conductor layer and the second upper conductor layer to achieve accurate thin-film characterization in the millimeter wave bands.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, apparatuses, and vehicles for performing intrinsic calibration of the cameras in the vehicle. A processor may acquire plural images of a target captured by the camera at different locations. For each image, the processor may tone map the image, binarize the tone-mapped image, define a structuring element based on the digital form of the shape of the target, perform morphology on the image to align and calibrate the structuring elements, filter the target and modify each of the other pixels to black, and compile an output image. Based on the calibration, the principal point values may be shifted to account for discrepancies and store calibrated values in each camera.