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: 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: Induced currents in a multi-phase AC motor may be attenuated by operating the multi-phase AC motor with an AC choke surrounding an AC bus providing multi-phase AC voltage to multi-phase AC stator windings in a stator, wherein the AC choke may include an effective bandwidth at least covering resonant frequencies of a capacitance between the multi-phase AC stator windings and the stator or a frame of the AC motor.

Abstract: A system for dynamically calculating collision avoidance metric thresholds for a vehicle includes a vehicle sensor, a passenger position tracking device, and a controller. The controller is in electrical communication with the vehicle sensor and the passenger position tracking device. The controller is programmed to determine a collision avoidance metric using the vehicle sensor, determine an offset to a collision avoidance metric threshold using the passenger position tracking device, and adjust the collision avoidance metric threshold based on the offset. The controller is also programed to compare the collision avoidance metric to the collision avoidance metric threshold and perform an action in response to determining that the collision avoidance metric is less than or equal to the collision avoidance metric threshold.

Abstract: A device for supporting a moveable load bearing component includes a base configured to be fixedly disposed at a vehicle support structure and located proximate to the load bearing component, the load bearing component configured to be moved between a first position and a second position. The device also includes a support member connected to the base and moveable between a retracted position and a load position, the support member supporting the load bearing component when the support member is in the load position. The support member is configured to automatically move between the retracted position and the load position based on the load bearing component being moved between the first position and the second position.

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 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 system and method for estimation of a driver state based on eye gaze includes, capturing and sending, using an outward looking camera situated in a vehicle, a first video stream of surrounding environment to a neural controller. The neural controller, based on the first video stream, generates an expected gaze distribution. Using an inward looking camera situated in the vehicle, the camera captures and sends a second video stream of a face of a driver to an eye tracker controller, where based on the second video stream, the eye tracker controller extracts a plurality of gaze directions. A gaze distribution module generates, based on the plurality of gaze directions, an actual gaze distribution. A distance distribution controller, based on a difference between the expected gaze distribution and the actual gaze distribution, generates a distance measure where a determination is made that the distance measure exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: Compact electric drive units and vehicles with such drive units are provided. An exemplary electric drive unit includes an electric motor configured to provide an electric motor torque; an input differential configured to split the electric motor torque into a first path and a second path; a final drive gear on each path; a pinion gear on each path; and a rear transfer shaft assembly and a front transfer shaft assembly on each path. Further, each pinion gear is configured to transfer torque to a respective rear transfer shaft assembly and a respective front transfer shaft assembly, and the respective rear transfer and front transfer shaft assemblies are configured to transfer torque to the respective final drive gear.

Abstract: The single-channel, Speech Features-Based Voice Activity Detection (SFVAD) system is a robust, low-latency system that generates per-frame speech and noise indications, along with calculating a pair of speech and noise time-frequency masks. The SFVAD system controls an adaptation mechanism for a Beam-Forming system control module and improves the speech quality and noise reduction capabilities of Automatic Speech Recognition applications, such as Virtual Assistance (VA) and Hands-Free (HF) calls, by robustly handling transient noises. The system extracts speech-like patterns from an input audio signal and it is invariant to the power-level of the input audio signal. Noise calculation is controlled by a pair of speech features-based detectors (voiced and unvoiced). A Cepstral-based pitch detector and a Centrum calculation method are used to prevent contamination of the calculated noise by speech content.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a vehicle of a remote transportation system. A vehicle includes a non-transitory computer readable media and one or more processors configured by programming instructions on the non-transitory computer readable media to: coordinate a platooning operation between the first vehicle and a second vehicle; monitor an environment of the first vehicle and the second vehicle while platooning; in response to the monitoring, determine a threat level vassociated with a cut-in operation of at least one object within the environment; and selectively activate at least one visual or audio cue based on the threat level to avoid the cut-in operation.

Abstract: Automatic methods and robotic system for processing workpieces are provided. A method for locally re-shaping a moldable workpiece includes receiving data in an input module indicating a present form of the workpiece; providing a robot configured to pass the workpiece through a machine; determining, with a control module, a path of the robot based on the present form of the workpiece and a target form of the workpiece; and performing a finishing process by passing, with the robot, the workpiece through the machine along the path, wherein the machine re-shapes the workpiece with the target form.

Abstract: A voiceprint module for in-vehicle voiceprint drift detection. The module may be configured for determining an archived voiceprint for an operator of a vehicle, generating a first real-time voiceprint according to in-vehicle utterances of the operator made while operating the vehicle, generating a first voiceprint deviation to quantify statistical distance between one or more probabilistic density functions associated with each of the first real-time and archived voiceprints, and updating one or more vocal characteristics of the archived voiceprint to generate an updated voiceprint in response to the first voiceprint deviation surpassing an update threshold.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle control systems enabling external control of vehicles using visible or audible cues, methods for making/using such vehicle control systems, and motor vehicles equipped with such control systems. A method of controlling operation of a vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving a trigger signal indicating the vehicle is in an automatic control trigger state and, responsive to receiving the trigger signal, activating an automatic control mode that enables an entity outside the vehicle to control the vehicle using visible and/or audible cues. The vehicle controller determines if an on-vehicle network of sensing devices detects a visible/audible cue from the external entity; if so, the controller responsively determines if the detected visible/audible cue is a preset valid command.

Abstract: A method for controlling an operator drowsiness alert system for a vehicle reacts to a sensed or calculated level of drowsiness of the vehicle operator. The method includes entering a first drowsiness alert state associated with a first operator drowsiness alert if the sensed or calculated level of drowsiness is above a first predetermined level for a first predetermined time, where the first predetermined time is greater than zero. Additionally, the method includes transitioning from the first drowsiness alert state to a second drowsiness alert state associated with a second operator drowsiness alert if the sensed or calculated level of drowsiness is above a second predetermined level for a second predetermined time, where the second predetermined time is greater than zero.

Abstract: A prismatic battery cell assembly has a prismatic container that includes a body portion composed of opposed first and second side portions, opposed first and second end portions, a bottom portion, and a top portion. An electrode stack is composed as anodes interleaved with cathodes. Each of the anodes includes a first current collector having an uncoated anode current collector portion that extends in a first direction away from the electrode stack, and each of the cathodes includes a second current collector having an uncoated cathode current collector portion that extends in a second direction away from the electrode stack. A first terminal is joined to the uncoated anode current collector portions of the first current collectors of the anodes, and a terminal is joined to the uncoated cathode current collector portions of the second current collectors of the cathodes.

Abstract: Methods of mapping buildings for first responders, include using a smart device app to identify data related to entrances and exits in the building; storing the data in a centralized location or smart device app; and providing the data from the centralized location to the first responders in emergency situations. The methods may include recognizing patterns of the entrances and exits with the smart device app, the smart device app collects images, such that important objects recognizing in the collected images with the smart device app. A drone may be used to assist in mapping the building and measurements, such that the images collected by the drone are subject to important object recognition. The data to create augmented reality maps that are provided to first responders in emergency situations. Third-party devices may contribute to mapping the building and external factors mapped, including type of access to house, driveway, elevation.

Abstract: A battery including a composite enclosure is provided. The battery includes a metal cell can enclosure including a plurality of faces. One of the plurality of faces is configured for locally failing during a thermal runaway event. The battery further includes a multilayer polymeric laminated film and a battery cell including a pair of electrodes including an anode and a cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte. The battery cell is hermetically sealed within the multilayer polymeric laminated film. The multilayer polymeric laminated film is contained within the metal cell can enclosure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing autonomous chauffeur services. In particular, systems and methods are provided to integrate users' calendars with a ridehail application to provide personal chauffeur-type services. Integrating a ridehail service application with a user's calendar and online schedule enables the ridehail service to act as a personal around-the-clock chauffeur, with an autonomous vehicle appearing when needed and taking the user to their destination with no additional input.