Abstract: A self-protecting functional separator for a battery cell is provided. The self-protecting functional separator includes a polymer substrate including a first primary surface and a second primary surface. The self-protecting functional separator further includes a functional layer applied to the first primary surface. The functional layer including a mixture includes a first piezoelectric material including a single crystal-type material and a second piezoelectric material.

Abstract: A system for synchronization of multiple clocks in a vehicle network includes a processor that is programmed to synchronize a time follower clock to a primary grand leader clock. The primary grand leader clock is monitored and the time follower clock is synchronized to a standby grand leader clock upon a failure of the primary grand leader clock. The time follower clock is synchronized to the primary grand leader clock if a new ignition cycle has occurred between a failure of the primary grand leader clock and a recovery after failure of the primary grand leader clock. The time follower clock continues to be synchronized to the standby grand leader clock if a new ignition cycle has not occurred between the failure of the primary grand leader clock and the recovery after failure of the primary grand leader clock.

Abstract: A quality control system in a battery manufacturing process includes two or more capacitive measurement apparatuses to obtain a capacitance measurement from two or more intermediate products generated during the battery manufacturing process. The system also includes processing circuitry to obtain the capacitive measurement from the two or more capacitive measurement apparatuses, to determine a characteristic of the corresponding intermediate product, and to control at least one process of the battery manufacturing process that produced at least one of the two or more intermediate products based on the characteristic.

Abstract: A charging system includes a scalable power source for powering a motor of a vehicle and telematics and battery management modules. The scalable power source includes: N battery packs, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 3; and multiple switches connected to the N battery packs including N?1 switches for serially connecting the N battery packs between supply and return lines and a multiple of N switches for parallel connecting the N battery packs to the supply and return lines. The telematics module requests capability of a charging station and receives a response signal from a device indicating the capability of the charging station. The battery management module: based on the capability of the charging station, selects one of the available arrangements in which to connect the N battery packs, sets states of the multiple switches; and then charges the N battery packs based on the states.

Abstract: An electrical system can include a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) and a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter. The DC-DC converter is connected to the RESS and configured to connect to a DC charging station. The DC-DC converter is configured to selectively connect the RESS to the DC charging station such that a charging current is selectively provided to the RESS during a recharging operation.

Abstract: An airbag system includes a vehicle having a vehicle seat rotated between an upright position to a fully reclined position. An airbag is positioned forward of a passenger seated on the vehicle seat, the airbag positioned in a stowed condition and a fully inflated condition. A horizontal cushion of the airbag in the fully inflated condition extends from a main airbag section. The horizontal cushion is contacted by a head of the passenger and prevents rotation of the head into direct contact with one or both knees of the passenger.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a secondary lithium battery is provided herein, as well as a method for assembling a secondary lithium battery including the negative electrode. The negative electrode includes a current collector having a first side and an opposite second side. A first negative electrode layer is disposed on the first side of the current collector and a second negative electrode layer is disposed on the second side of the current collector. A lithium metal layer is disposed (i) between the first and second negative electrode layers or (ii) on a major facing surface of the first or second negative electrode layer. An electrolyte infiltrates the first and second negative electrode layers and is in contact with the lithium metal layer. The electrolyte establishes a lithium ion transport path between the lithium metal layer and at least one of the first or second negative electrode layers.

Abstract: A calibration system includes a docking stand fixed within a three-dimensional coordinate system and an end effector supported by the docking stand. The end effector includes a frame received by the docking stand and an adjustable member movable along the frame. The adjustable member includes a clamp and a reference surface. The calibration system includes a computational system including at least one processor and at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions. The calibration system includes a measurement instrument in electronic communication with the computational system. The measurement instrument is movable and is arranged to interact with the reference surface and transmit a signal to the processor.

Abstract: A computer is provided for a system for detecting, characterizing, and mitigating road network congestion. The system includes a plurality of motor vehicles. Each motor vehicle includes a telematics control unit (TCU) for generating one or more location signals for a location of the associated motor vehicle and one or more event signals for an event related to the associated motor vehicle. The computer includes one or more processors for receiving the location signal and/or the event signal from the TCU of the associated motor vehicles. The computer further includes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium (CRM) including instructions, such that the processor is programmed to identify a location of the road network congestion at a current time step. The processor is further programmed to track the road network congestion and predict the road network congestion at a next time step.

Abstract: Systems and methods for real time routing of vehicles. In particular, systems and methods are provided for real time routing of vehicles based on encounters with vulnerable road users. Vehicle perception and communication systems can provide live feedback of vulnerable road user locations. Various vulnerable road user behaviors can be identified by vehicle perception systems and flagged for avoidance in a central mapping system. The feedback can be used to route other fleet vehicles around the vulnerable road users.

Abstract: An on-demand, feature focused data collection system of an automobile vehicle includes at least one data collection device provided with an automobile vehicle. A data collection unit receives data from the at least one data collection device in response to a data collection request submitted by a user. A data scene group combines portions of the data received by the data collection unit and stored in the data collection unit of the automobile vehicle or at a remote server. A control logic device receives the data collection request and activates collection of the data. The control logic device includes: a data collection strategy which differs if different types of the data are available; a reference algorithm loaded or deployed; a storage capacity allocated for the data; and a storage policy employed to save the data.

Abstract: A system for adaptive in-drive updating, for a vehicle travelling on a route, includes a controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory. The vehicle is carrying a load. The controller is adapted to obtain one or more dynamic parameters pertaining to the load. A plurality of adaptive predictors is selectively executable by the controller at a timepoint during the route at which a completed portion of the route has been traversed by the vehicle and a remaining portion remains untraversed. The plurality of adaptive predictors includes a speed predictor configured to generate a global speed profile. The plurality of adaptive predictors includes a driving consumption predictor is configured to predict a driving consumption profile for the remaining portion of the route based in part on the dynamic parameter, the route features, the global speed profile, and a past drive consumption.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an interfacial lithium fluoride layer for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is disclosed. In the method, a substrate is positioned in a reaction chamber of an atomic layer deposition reactor and a lithium fluoride (LiF) precursor is introduced into the reaction chamber such that the LiF precursor contacts and chemically reacts with functional groups on the substrate. Then, an oxidant is introduced into the reaction chamber to form a single molecular layer of lithium fluoride on the substrate. The lithium fluoride layer is formed on the substrate at a temperature of greater than or equal to about 110 degrees Celsius to less than or equal to about 250 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a head-up display system includes training a neural network to predict warp maps for an occupant perspective of a single graphical image projected onto a windshield of the vehicle, projecting, with a digital light projector, a graphical image onto the windshield, capturing, with a camera in proximity to the digital light projector, the graphical image projected onto the windshield, locating, with an occupant monitoring system, an occupant eye ellipse position, predicting, with the neural network, a warp map for an occupant perspective of the projected graphical image based on the location of the digital light projector, the occupant eye ellipse position and a shape of the windshield, applying, with the controller, the warp map to the graphical image projected by the digital light projector, and projecting, with the digital light projector, a corrected graphical image based on the predicted warp map.

Abstract: An AV receives a delivery request made by a user. The AV navigates to the user's location. The AV's onboard controller determines that the AV has arrived at the location. The onboard controller then commands the AV's motor to pause motion. The onboard controller provides the user an access to a delivery assembly in the AV. The onboard controller or the delivery assembly detects, by using sensors in the delivery assembly, whether an item has been removed from or placed into the container. Subsequent to detecting that the item has been removed from or placed into the container, the onboard controller commands the AV's motor to resume motion. The onboard controller or delivery assembly may also control a movable element in the container to allow the user to load or unload the item from a safe spot or control a divider in the container to protect the user's privacy.

Abstract: Methods and systems for additive manufacturing are provided. An exemplary method includes calculating a slice area distribution of a desired 3D design including slice areas of slices of the desired design, wherein the slices have an initial slice area differential. The method further includes obtaining a slice area distribution of a sacrificial 3D design comprising slice areas of slices of the sacrificial design. The method includes planning a 3D layout of the desired and sacrificial design, wherein at each respective parallel plane in the layout a total slice area includes a respective slice area of the desired design and a respective slice area of the sacrificial design, and wherein the layout has a total slice area differential that is less than the initial slice area differential. Also, the method includes generating instructions for printing slices of the desired design and the sacrificial design according to the layout.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing indications to identify a selected autonomous vehicle, thereby distinguishing the selected autonomous vehicle from other autonomous vehicles in a fleet. In particular, autonomous vehicles that are not paired with a specific nearby user may employ various exterior indicators to dissuade the user from entering. Additionally, autonomous vehicles that are not paired with the specific nearby user may provide guidance toward the user's autonomous vehicle.