Abstract: A separator mechanism for battery modules and methods of removing battery modules. The mechanism includes a battery pack having a first battery module and an adhesive configured to bond the first battery module to at least one other structure. A cut-out wire is configured to separate the adhesive between the first battery module and the other structure. The other structure may be a second battery module of the battery pack or a cold plate, such that the adhesive bonds the first battery module to second battery module or cold plate. The mechanism may include an attachment mechanism for attaching the cut-out wire to an automatic pulling system. The cut-out wire may be installed concurrently with the first battery module or after the first battery module is installed. One or more handles may be attached to one or more ends of the cut-out wire.

Abstract: A skid plate for a vehicle includes a first layer, including a first material and a second layer, including a second material, which may be different from the first material. The second layer may be attached or bonded to the first layer and may convert a concentrated load into a distributed load. The second layer may provide thermal insulation for at least one underbody component of the vehicle. For example, the first layer may be metallic, while the second layer may be a rigid foam. The rigid foam may include an expanding adhesive foam. An adhesive may be disposed between the first layer and the second layer, to attach or bond the first layer to the second layer. The second layer may be adjacent to at least one underbody component of the vehicle. The concentrated load may correspond with a contact to the first layer of the skid plate.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a compute device having a microcontroller unit circuit, multiple processing circuits, and a backplane bus. Initial unsecured communications through the backplane bus are restricted. The microcontroller unit circuit is operational to authenticate the processing circuits with a plurality of processor attestations over a local area network bus based on a secure onboard communication protocol of an automotive open system architecture, a symmetric key, and a message authentication code. The processing circuits are operational to reply to the processor attestations over the local area network bus, and verify the microcontroller unit circuit based on the secure onboard communication protocol, the symmetric key, and the message authentication code received from the microcontroller unit circuit. Secure communications through the backplane bus among the processing circuits is enabled based on the authentications of the processing circuits and the verifications of the microcontroller unit circuit.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that include: a sensor assembly configured to at least facilitate: detecting when a vehicle approaches the sensor assembly; and obtaining sound data, via one or more microphones of the sensor assembly, when the vehicle approaches the sensor assembly; and a processor that is coupled to the sensor assembly and that is configured to at least facilitate generating a mapping of sound across a surface of the vehicle, using the sound data.

Abstract: A disclosure is presented for estimating height of an object using ultrasonic sensors carried onboard a vehicle. The height may be estimated by generating ultrasonic distance measurements based on a time of flight associated with ultrasonic reflections detected with the ultrasonic sensors, generating a three-dimensional (3D) occupancy grid to volumetrically represent at least a portion of an environment within field of view of the ultrasonic sensors, the 3D occupancy grid including a plurality of volumetric pixels (voxels), assigning a count value to each of the voxels based on the distance measurements, and estimating the height according to a relative spatial relationship between the vehicle and the voxel having the count value with a greatest value.

Abstract: AVs can communicate with humans for undesirable human behaviors that can cause negative impacts on AV operations, e.g., negative impacts on operational safety or passenger comfort. A behavior of a person may be detected and classified by an AV as an undesirable behavior The person may be a passenger of the AV or outside the AV. The AV may generate a communication signal based on the undesirable behavior and communicate with the person using the communication signal to address the undesirable behavior. The communication signal may include a request for stopping the undesirable behavior. The communication signal may also include an option for the person, who is a passenger of the AV, to modify the ride. The AV may modify a predetermined motion plan based on the undesirable behavior. The AV may modify a setting of a part of the AV to alert the person of the communication signal.

Abstract: A method of prioritizing updates to vehicles includes receiving one or more update requests for a first vehicle; determining a receiving capacity of the first vehicle; checking status of a battery and communications of the first vehicle; prioritizing the one or more update requests based on the receiving capacity of the first vehicle; and sending the prioritized update requests to the first vehicle. The method may include receiving one or more update requests for an additional vehicle; determining a receiving capacity of the additional vehicle; prioritizing the one or more update requests based on the receiving capacity of the additional vehicle; sending the prioritized update requests to the additional vehicle: and determining whether the vehicles are part of a common location group. Creating profiles from sets of communications available for the vehicle and selecting the best connection speed from profiles. Updating radio maps based on connection speeds.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: initiating, by a processor, steering excitation according to a pattern while the vehicle is stationary; learning, by the processor, a load associated with a front axle of the vehicle based on the steering excitation; translating, by the processor, the load associated with the front axle of the vehicle to a load associated with a tongue of a trailer, and generating, by the processor, a trailer tongue load value based on the load associated with the tongue of the trailer.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for predicting creep behaviors of objects (vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, etc.) at a location. An autonomous vehicle located at a first road segment connecting to an intersection having a stop sign can detect a first vehicle approaching the intersection from a second road segment connecting to the intersection. Using a model indicating an average creep point location specific to the second road segment connecting to the intersection, the autonomous vehicle can predict that the first vehicle will yield at the average creep point location that is specific to the second road segment.

Abstract: The disclosed technology provides solutions for measuring sensor realism (or fidelity) and in particular, provides methods for quantitatively determining how various sensor modeling parameters contribute to an associated fidelity metric. In some aspects, a process of the disclosed technology includes steps for receiving a first set of sensor data, determining a first fidelity score for the first set of sensor data, and processing the first set of sensor data using a perturbation algorithm to generate a second set of sensor data. In some aspects, the process can further include steps for determining a second fidelity score for the second set of sensor data. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

Abstract: A charging system of a vehicle includes a charging device configured to transfer an electric charge between a battery system of the vehicle and a recipient energy storage system, the charging device including a plurality of conversion stages. The charging system also includes a switching system configured to selectively bypass one or more conversion stages during a charging process, the charging process including transferring electric charge from the battery system to the recipient energy storage system, and a first controller configured to operate the switching system based on a voltage range of a recipient charge port of the recipient energy storage system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a transmission of a vehicle that has a selectable one-way clutch. The system includes a sensor system, an anti-lock brake system (ABS), and a controller configured to, by a processor: monitor for a deceleration event wherein an estimated output speed acceleration of the vehicle is reduced below a first threshold, receive a status of the ABS, and output one or more control signals to command the transmission to inhibit the application of the selectable one-way clutch in response to detection of the deceleration event when the selectable one-way clutch is not applied, and the estimated output speed acceleration of the vehicle is either: (i) below the first threshold while the anti-lock brake system ABS of the vehicle is active, or (ii) below a second threshold while the ABS is inactive, wherein the first threshold is greater than the second threshold.

Abstract: The disclosed technology provides solutions for generating synthetic 3D environments, In some aspects, the disclosed technology includes a process of collecting sensor data corresponding with a three-dimensional (3D) space; identifying objects in the sensor data; filtering objects for inclusion in the synthetic map based on (1) a corresponding influence score for each of the one or more of the objects and (2) a corresponding duration of presence of each of the objects in the sensor data; selecting one or more of the objects based on the filtering, wherein the corresponding influence score of each of the one or more of the objects is greater than a first threshold and the corresponding duration of presence of each of the one or more of the objects is greater than a second threshold; and generating the synthetic map including a 3D rendering of the one or more of the objects selected.

Abstract: A door assembly of a vehicle includes a first door panel movable at least partially across a door opening from a first side of the door opening toward a second side of the door opening, a second door panel spaced apart from the first door panel and movable at least partially across the door opening from the first side toward the second side. A first magnetic element is located at the first door panel and a second magnetic element is located at the second door panel. The second magnetic element is interactive with the first magnetic element such that moving of the first door across the door opening causes movement of the second door panel across the door opening.

Abstract: A method and a system for a high-voltage (HV) battery pack having multiple rechargeable energy storage devices (RESSs) that are connectable to an external load via a power bus via a pre-charge circuit in parallel with a first electrical contactor. The RESSs are monitored via current sensors. The current sensors monitor current levels between the RESSs and the power bus, detect a low current level from one of the current sensors, identify one of the RESSs associated with the low current level, activate the respective pre-charge circuit, monitor the electrical current, and determine a state of the respective first electrical contactor based upon the electrical current.

Abstract: A vehicle is received in a stationary controlled area of a controlled testing environment. Simulation inputs corresponding to a simulated scene are generated and transmitted to the vehicle. The vehicle applies torque in response. A vehicle control mechanism of the controlled testing environment, such as a chassis dynamometer, a motorized treadmill, or a lift, keeps the vehicle within the stationary controlled area during the test despite the torque applied by the vehicle. A path of the vehicle within the simulated scene is determined based on the applied torque, based upon which the vehicle's navigation system is calibrated.

Abstract: An inflatable structure includes a top end cap, a bottom end cap, a bladder attached to the top and bottom end caps and configured to hold pressurized air therebetween, and a plurality of tethers disposed within the bladder, each tether in the plurality of tethers having a first end coupled to the top end cap and a second end coupled to the bottom end cap, wherein when the bladder is inflated, the bladder expands axially forcing the top end cap and the bottom end cap away from one another, the plurality of tethers adapted to restrict movement of the top end cap and the bottom end cap away from one another and limit axial expansion of the bladder, wherein, at least one of the plurality of tethers is elastic, and the inflatable structure is adapted to provide multiple support profiles that are capable of supporting compressive loading.