Abstract: A system and method of manufacturing an aluminum fuel cell cradle includes providing a negative cast mold having cavities to form the cradle having a length greater than a width to define a longitudinal axis and providing a feeding mechanism disposed about the mold and in fluid communication with the cavities thereof. The feeding mechanism includes primary risers connected to and in fluid communication with the cavities. The method further includes melting a first metallic material to define a molten metallic material, moving the mold to a vertical orientation about the longitudinal axis while feeding molten metallic material through the runner to the cavities, and moving the cast mold to a horizontal orientation. A second solidification time in the risers is greater than a first solidification time in the mold such that shrinkage of the solidified metallic material occurs in the risers away from the mold.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for validating a simulation framework.

Abstract: A method is provided for offloading autonomous vehicle (AV) data to a download pole. The AV may include a transceiver. The download pole may include a transceiver. The method may include identifying, by the AV, the download pole in a parking spot that is close to the AV. The method may also include establishing short range wireless link between the AV and the download pole. The method may also include positioning the AV so that the transceiver of the AV is aligned with the transceiver of the download pole based on instructions received over the Bluetooth connection from the download pole. The method may further include establishing a first link between the transceiver of the AV and the transceiver of the download pole.

Abstract: The disclosed technology provides solutions for measuring seal characteristics and in particular, for precisely measuring frictional characteristics of a rotary seal. In some aspects, a seal testing apparatus of the disclosed technology can include a motor coupled to a proximal end of a shaft, a rotator coupled to a distal end of the shaft, and a housing disposed around an exterior surface of the rotator, wherein the housing is configured to removably receive at least one seal. In some aspects the seal-testing apparatus can further include a torque transducer coupled to the shaft, wherein the torque transducer is configured to measure a torque output of the motor.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that include: obtaining sensor data pertaining to a roadway in which a host vehicle and an emergency vehicle are both travelling; generating, using map data pertaining to the roadway, a grid of a plurality of potential cells along the roadway for the host vehicle to pull over to yield right of way to the emergency vehicle; prioritizing, via a processor of the host vehicle, the plurality of potential cells based on a plurality of different criteria as to conditions of the host vehicle and the roadway; selecting, via the processor, one of the plurality of potential cells as an optimal pull over location for the host vehicle along the roadway, based on the prioritizing of the plurality of cells; and taking a vehicle action for the host vehicle, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor, with respect to the optimal pull over location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an autonomous vehicle interactive experience platform. An interactive experience platform is provided that utilizes vehicle sensors, as well as in-cabin hardware and software, and fleet management information, to provide a unique and personalized autonomous vehicle interactive experience. The interactive experience platform can use external factors to influence in-experience elements. In some examples, the interactive experience platform can use in-experience events to influence autonomous vehicle behavior.

Abstract: Machine learning model optimization systems and methods are disclosed. A system receives sensor data captured by one or more sensors of a vehicle during a first time period. The vehicle uses a first trained machine learning (ML) model for one or more decisions of a first decision type during the first time period. The system generates a second trained ML model at least in part by using the sensor data to train the second trained ML model. The system identifies an optimal trained ML model from a plurality of trained ML models. The plurality of trained ML models includes the first trained ML model and the second trained ML model. The system causes the vehicle to use the optimal trained ML model for one or more further decisions of the first decision type during a second time period after the first time period.

Abstract: A method for adjusting state of charge (SOC) limits aboard a motor vehicle having a propulsion battery pack includes receiving a pre-drive information set via a host computer and identifying, from the pre-drive information set, a probability that the motor vehicle is about to embark on a road trip. The road trip is a drive event in which the motor vehicle will travel outside of a predetermined area. The method further includes expanding the SOC limits of the propulsion battery pack when the motor vehicle is about to embark on the road trip, such that a total SOC window of the propulsion battery pack is increased for a duration of the road trip.

Abstract: A method and system for authenticating soft part updates to an electronic control unit (ECU) or other processing device is contemplated. The authenticating may include a back office providing authentication data to a programming tool whereupon the ECU interacts with the programming tool to authenticate the soft part updates. The authenticating may optionally include the ECU identifying whether the soft part update is to be authenticated according to different types of authentications.

Abstract: A wheel housing for a vehicle includes an axially facing surface, a curvilinear surface extending outwardly from the axially facing surface, and a plurality of strakes protruding outwardly from one of the axially facing surface and the curvilinear surface. The plurality of strakes conditioning an air flow produced by a vehicle wheel.

Abstract: A multi-directional viewing camera system for a motor vehicle including a vehicle body defining an interior compartment and a body panel having an exterior surface and an interior surface facing the interior compartment. The camera system includes a mirror module for mounting to the body panel exterior surface. The mirror module is configured to capture and transmit incident light from at least one field of view (FOV) and has a polarizing beam splitter configured to reflect an s-polarized component and transmit a p-polarized component of the incident light in a visible spectral range. The camera system also includes a camera module having a video camera for mounting to the body panel interior surface. The camera module is configured to receive from the mirror module the s-polarized or the p-polarized component of the incident light and selectively display at least one FOV within the interior compartment.

Abstract: A chassis control system of a vehicle includes: a first torque source providing torque to a first axle of the vehicle; a second torque source providing torque to a second axle of the vehicle independently of the first torque source; and a vehicle control module controlling the first and second torque sources to transition between a torque redistribution and torque limit control modes based on a wheel torque redistribution threshold, a wheel torque limit of the first axle and/or second axle, and a torque limit of one of the first and second torque sources. The torque redistribution mode refers to when torque is being selectively provided to the first axle by the first torque source and to the second axle by the second torque source. The torque limit control mode refers to when torque to at least one of first axle and the second axle is limited.

Abstract: A system for detecting external leaks in a cabin of a vehicle includes sensors and onboard vehicle controls disposed on the vehicle. Control modules of the system have processors, memory, and input/output (I/O) ports. The I/O ports communicate with the sensors and onboard vehicle controls. The control modules execute program code portions stored memory. The program code portions include first and second algorithm portions. The first algorithm portion receives data from the sensors and controls and determines that the data from the sensors and controls meets initialization threshold values. When the data from the sensors and controls meets the threshold values, the second algorithm portion generates a cabin leak detection output including: a first output, a second output, or a third output. The first output indicates a large leak, the second output indicates no leak, and the third output indicates that a small leak has been detected.

Abstract: Presented are metal-coated, polymer-encapsulated power semiconductor modules, methods for making/using such power modules, and vehicles with traction power inverters containing such power modules. A power electronics assembly includes one or more power semiconductor modules packaged inside an assembly housing. Each power module includes a substrate, a semiconductor device mounted on the substrate, a polymeric encapsulant encasing therein the substrate and semiconductor device, and an electrical lead connected to the semiconductor device and projecting from the polymeric encapsulant. A metallic or ceramic coating is applied to select sections of the polymeric encapsulant's exposed exterior surface. The metallic/ceramic coating may be a single metallic layer that covers substantially all of the exposed surface area of the polymeric encapsulant's exterior surface. An optional hydrophobic polymer layer, passivated layer, and/or oxidized layer may cover the exterior surface of this metallic layer.