Abstract: A method and a system are configured to control an actuator for imposing forces in an adjusting direction, in particular a vehicle longitudinal direction from a vehicle front towards a vehicle rear, onto a loading surface, such as a vehicle seat, which is adjustably mounted on a body of a motor vehicle. A collision-based event is anticipate or detected, An actuator is activated in response to detection of the collision-based event in order to activate an actuator-driven movement of the loading surface relative to the body in adjusting direction for influencing, and in particular decelerate a collision-based movement of the loading surface relative to the body against the adjusting direction.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes an oil pan including an oil pan body defining a cavity. The oil pan body includes a dividing wall separating the cavity into a first compartment and a second compartment. The dividing wall defines a compartment opening extending therethrough, and the compartment opening fluidly interconnects the first compartment and the second compartment. The engine assembly also includes an oil pump at least partially disposed inside the first compartment of the oil pan. The oil pump includes a pump pickup conduit in fluid communication with the first compartment. The engine assembly additionally includes a temperature sensor disposed inside the pump pickup conduit of the oil pump. The temperature sensor can measure the temperature of oil flowing into the oil pump. In other words, the temperature sensor can sense the temperature of the oil pumped in the engine.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes an oil pan including an oil pan body defining a cavity. The oil pan body includes a dividing wall separating the cavity into a first compartment and a second compartment. The engine assembly further includes a drip tray coupled to the oil pan body. The drip tray is disposed over the second compartment and can direct oil to the first compartment where the oil is warmed up initially in order to minimize the time it takes to heat the oil when the internal combustion engine is warming up. The engine assembly further includes an oil scraper coupled to the oil pan body. The oil scraper is disposed over the drip tray and can scrape oil from a crankshaft.

Abstract: A first fuel rail of an engine connects to first fuel injectors and a second fuel rail connects to second fuel injectors. The first fuel injectors each includes a tip portion projecting through an opening in the cylinder head into the combustion chamber. The second fuel injectors each includes a tip portion projecting through an opening in a bottom portion of an intake port. The first fuel rail includes first mounting brackets each including an aperture, and outwardly projecting mounting bosses, and fixedly attaches to the cylinder head via fasteners that pass through the apertures of the first mounting brackets and attach to the mounting bosses of the cylinder head. The second fuel rail includes second mounting brackets each including an aperture. The second fuel rail fixedly attaches to the first fuel rail via fasteners that attach to the mounting bosses of the first fuel rail.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an accelerator pedal, transmission, transfer case, mode selection device, road wheels, an electronic brake assembly, and a controller. The transfer case is connected to the transmission, and is operable for establishing a predetermined transfer case mode. The mode selection device receives a requested crawl mode of the vehicle in the predetermined transfer case mode. The electronic brake assembly has a brake motor and brake calipers, with each brake caliper disposed proximate a respective wheel to brake the respective road wheel. The controller is programmed to simulate a four-wheel drive-low mode of the transfer case in response to the requested crawl mode by decelerating the vehicle via control of the brake assembly and limiting a gear state of the transmission to 1st or 2nd gear. An auto-hold state may be engaged in crawl mode when the vehicle stops to prevent rolling of the vehicle.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block that defines a cylinder and a cylinder head mounted to the cylinder block. The engine additionally includes a gas compressor configured to selectively pressurize air being received from the ambient for delivery to the cylinder. The engine also includes an intake valve that is operatively connected to the cylinder head and controls delivery of the selectively pressurized air to the cylinder for combustion therein. Furthermore, the engine includes an air inlet assembly arranged between the intake valve and the compressor. The air inlet assembly is configured to supply the pressurized air to the cylinder and includes at least one passage configured to collect a condensate from the pressurized air. A vehicle having such an engine is also disclosed.

Abstract: In various embodiments the present disclosure provides a system and a method for estimating energy usage in a vehicle. The system includes hardware that perform certain operations that include receiving data associated with a route to be taken by the vehicle. The operations include determining, based on the data associated with the route and a state of the vehicle, an estimate corresponding to the energy that would be used by the vehicle when traversing a segment of the route.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided to control an actuator for exerting forces upon a loading area, particularly a vehicle seat, in an adjusting direction, especially a longitudinal vehicle direction extending from a front end of the vehicle to a tail end of the vehicle. The loading area is mounted on a body of a motor vehicle, particularly a passenger car, such that it can be adjusted in the adjusting direction. An imminent collision of the motor vehicle is detected, and an actuator is driven in order to accelerate the loading area in the adjusting direction prior to the imminent collision in the event an imminent collision is detected.

Abstract: An improved rotor assembly configured for magnets with differing lengths, and methods and systems for manufacturing the same. The rotor assembly may be created by selectively creating first and second tabs extending into apertures of lamination sheets. The first and second tabs may be selectively removed, depending on the different magnet lengths and the specific lamination sheet, according to one of a first finishing schedule and a second finishing schedule. The lamination sheets are stacked with any remaining first and second tabs, and other features, aligned.

Abstract: A method for preparing hollow platinum or platinum-alloy catalysts includes a step of forming a plurality of low-melting-point metal nanoparticles. A platinum or platinum-alloy coating is then deposited onto the low-melting-point metal nanoparticles to form platinum or platinum-alloy coated particles. The low-melting-point metal nanoparticles are then removed to form a plurality of hollow platinum or platinum-alloy particles.

Abstract: An elastically deformable conduit assembly includes a conduit comprising an outer surface and formed of an elastically deformable material, the conduit configured to deform from a relaxed condition to an elastically deformed condition. Also included is a mating component configured to engage the outer surface of the conduit in the elastically deformed condition.

Abstract: A method for determining a fluid level value in a fluid tank of an internal combustion engine equipped with a discrete level sensor is provided. The discrete level sensor is configured for generating a first electrical signal when a fluid level is above or equal to a first predetermined fluid level threshold value and generating a second electrical signal when the fluid level is above or equal to a second predetermined fluid level threshold value. The second predetermined fluid level threshold value is greater than the first predetermined fluid level threshold value. The method includes monitoring a number of occurrences of the first electrical signal and of the second electrical signal over a time interval. The fluid level in the fluid tank is calculated as a function of the number of occurrences of the first and of the second electrical signals over the time interval.

Abstract: A storage bin for an interior compartment of a vehicle includes a support structure manufactured from a substantially rigid plastic material, and configured for attachment to a panel of the vehicle. An outer wall portion is manufactured from a substantially rigid plastic material. A flexible wall portion is manufactured from a flexible silicone material, and interconnects the support structure and the outer wall portion. The flexible wall portion includes a plurality of pleats, and is collapsible in an accordion motion between a collapsed position and an expanded position. When disposed in the collapsed position, the flexible wall portion supports the outer wall portion adjacent the panel. When disposed in the expanded position, the flexible wall portion supports the outer wall portion a lateral offset distance from the panel to define a storage compartment.

Abstract: A load transfer apparatus for a vehicle includes a first deflector member that is securable both to a body mount bracket that extends from a frame rail and to the frame rail so that a first portion of the frame rail is between the body mount bracket and the bumper, and a second portion of the frame rail is between the body mount bracket and the first deflector member. The first deflector member at least partially forms a load path from the bumper to the frame rail under a sufficient offset load applied to the bumper. The load transfer apparatus may also include a second deflector member securable to the bumper to extend from the bumper such that the second deflector member is spaced from and free from contact with the body mount bracket and the first deflector member prior to application of the sufficient offset load to the bumper.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle structure that extends along a longitudinal axis. An engine includes a crankshaft that defines a crank axis disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. A transmission includes an output shaft that defines a transmission output axis substantially parallel with the crank axis. The transmission output axis is disposed nearer the forward end of the vehicle structure than the crank axis. The crank axis is disposed vertically above the transmission output axis a distance of about 140 mm. The engine includes at least one cylinder bore that defines a bore axis disposed perpendicular to and may intersect the crank axis. The bore axis may be angled toward the forward end of the vehicle structure to define an angle between the bore axis and a vertical plane. The angle between the bore axis and the vertical plane may be about 18°.

Abstract: A system and method of autonomously steering a vehicle responsively to failure of a lane-centering system through time-dependent steering angle correction to reduce jerk resulting from transition of steering control from a lane-centering system to a lane-keeping system or vise-versa.

Abstract: A manual park release assembly includes a housing defining an inner cavity and an opening in communication with the inner cavity. The manual park release assembly further includes a locking device at least partially disposed in the inner cavity. The locking device is movable relative to the housing between a locked position and an unlocked position. Further, the manual park release actuator assembly includes a manual park release actuator coupled to the locking device. The manual park release actuator is movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position when the locking device is in the unlocked position. The manual park release actuator includes an actuator body sized to be at least partially received in the opening and a plurality of mechanical stops coupled to the actuator body.

Abstract: A low-energy transceiver tag is described, as well as methods of using the low-energy transceiver tag to enable secure communication with a vehicle. The low-energy transceiver tag includes a substrate, and electronic circuitry carried by the substrate having a transceiver circuit coupled to a power circuit. The transceiver circuit may be configured to transmit a preconfigured answer signal in response to receiving a query signal. In addition, the preconfigured answer signal may be a low-energy response associated with a remotely-located trust anchor.

Abstract: A camshaft assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a camshaft, a first lobe set, and a second lobe set, extending along, and rotatable about, a cam axis. The first lobe set includes a first, second, and third lobe. The second lobe set includes a first and second lobe. The first lobe set is movable along the cam axis between a first, second, and third position. The second lobe set is movable along the cam axis between a first and second position. The first and second position of each of the first and second lobe sets corresponds to lift of a respective valve stem in the engine. The third position of the first lobe set corresponds to zero lift of the respective valve stem to provide cylinder deactivation of a corresponding cylinder within the engine.