Abstract: A testing system for an intermediate steering shaft includes a steering input motor including a shaft. A first U-joint includes a first end connected to the shaft of the steering input motor. An intermediate steering shaft includes a first shaft coupled to a second end of the first U-joint, a slider connected to the first shaft, and a second shaft connected to the slider. A second U-joint includes a first end connected to the second shaft of intermediate steering shaft. A motor includes a shaft and is configured to simulate steering loads. An adapter is configured to connect a second end of the second U-joint to the shaft of the motor. The adapter is configured to cause eccentric rotation of the second shaft of the intermediate steering shaft.

Abstract: Snap rings, assemblies, and methods are provided for retaining a component on a shaft. The snap ring includes an annular body defining an opening through a center thereof, defining an outer curved surface and an inner curved surface, having a first end and a second end spaced apart from each other to define a gap therebetween, and having a first circumferential edge and a second circumferential edge spaced apart from each other to define a circumferential opening slit extending from the first end to the second end. The snap ring is configured to be received within a continuous, circumferential mating groove formed in an exterior surface of the shaft, and to retain the component in a fixed position when the component is located on the shaft and the snap ring is located in the mating groove.

Abstract: A method for presenting one or more images to an observer on a reconfigurable electronic display includes prompting the observer to select a portion of the display that is visible to the observer and, if the observer has selected a portion of the display, presenting the images to fit within the selected portion of the display. Subsequent to presenting the images to fit within the selected portion of the display and in response to at least partial obstruction of the observer's view of the images by a visual obstruction, the images are reconfigured to be fully visible to the observer notwithstanding the visual obstruction.

Abstract: A quality control system analyzes the quality of a battery cell, with the battery cell defining a gas pouch configured to be filled with a gas. The quality control system includes a computational system including a processor and a memory, a manifold defining a passageway extending between an inlet port for receiving the gas and an outlet port, and at least one sensor in electronic communication with the computational system. The sensor is arranged to measure a physical property of the gas and transmit a signal to the computational system corresponding to the physical property of the gas. The computational system analyzes the physical property of the gas, accesses a threshold value corresponding to the physical property, compares the physical property to the threshold value, and assess a quality score for the battery cell. A corresponding method analyzes the quality of the battery cell with the quality control system.

Abstract: An anti-submarining seat cushion for a vehicle includes a main body constructed of an anisotropic material. The anisotropic material includes a primary material including a primary stiffness and a plurality of inserts that are dispersed throughout the primary material. The plurality of inserts exert an axial compressive force in response to the main body of the anti-submarining seat cushion experiencing a submarining load, where the axial compressive force is exerted in a direction that opposes the submarining load to increase an overall stiffness of the main body in a direction that aligns with the submarining load.

Abstract: A system for transmitting an audio signal in a vehicle includes a stabilizer located at a source position in the vehicle. At least one speaker is operatively connected to the stabilizer. The speaker is adapted to transmit an audio signal to a target position for at least partially supporting a spatial audio representation. The target position and the source position are independently movable. The stabilizer is adapted to direct the audio signal such that a trajectory between the target position and the source position is maintained regardless of respective motion of the target position and the source position. The trajectory includes a first segment between the source position and a deflecting surface and a second segment between the deflecting surface and the target position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing kinematic and contextual comfort scores to autonomous vehicle rides. In particular, systems and methods are provided to automatically identify driving events such as unusual acceleration, braking, and steering events, and determine the severity of identified events. Some example events include a hard braking event, a swerve event, and a quick acceleration event. Automatic detection of such events allows for engineering feedback to autonomous vehicles and provides a tool for capturing passenger satisfaction and/or reactions with regard to specific events.

Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure provide a computer-implemented system, comprising instructions for performing operations including: estimating locations in a region of a map where features associated with water, snow or ice are likely to be formed under certain adverse weather conditions; simulating one of the adverse weather conditions; generating the features associated with the simulated one of the adverse weather conditions at the locations; determining a response of a perception stack of an autonomous vehicle (AV) to the adverse weather conditions observed at the locations; determining a reaction of the AV to the features generated in the region, the reaction of the AV being a function of a configuration of the AV; in response to the reaction, updating the configuration; repeating the determining the reaction and the updating the configuration until a desired reaction is obtained; and exporting a final configuration corresponding to the desired reaction to a physical AV.

Abstract: An antenna system includes a first antenna operational to transmit a first radio-frequency signal, a second antenna operational to receive a second radio-frequency signal and receive the first radio-frequency signal, a first electromagnetic polarizer disposed between the first antenna and the second antenna and operational to change a polarization of the first radio-frequency signal, a second electromagnetic polarizer disposed between the first electromagnetic polarizer and the second antenna and operational to further change the polarization of the first radio-frequency signal, and a conductive ground plane disposed on a ground side of the first antenna and the second antenna. The conductive ground plane defines a gap between the first antenna and the second antenna. The gap extends under the first electromagnetic polarizer. The gap extends under the second electromagnetic polarizer. A horizontal component of the second polarization of the first radio-frequency signal is maintained across the gap.

Abstract: A charging system includes a service office, a charging station, a charging plug, a plurality of cameras, and a controller. The charging station is in communication with the service office. The service office is remote from the charging station. The charging plug is coupled to the charging station. The charging plug is operable to charge a battery of an electric vehicle. The plurality of cameras is coupled to the charging station. The plurality of cameras is operable to generate a plurality of images of the charging plug from a plurality of directions. The controller is disposed in the charging station. The controller is operable to transmit the plurality of images to the service office. The service office is operable to determine a physical state of the charging plug based on the plurality of images received from the controller.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a first electrode that includes a first current collector and a first electroactive material layer disposed on or near the first current collector, a second electrode that includes a second current collector and a second electroactive material layer disposed on or near the second current collector, and a separating layer disposed between the first electroactive material layer and the second electroactive material layer. The second electroactive material layer includes a plurality of hierarchical silicon columns, each of the hierarchical silicon columns has a longest dimension perpendicular to a major axis of the second current collector. The second electroactive material layer also includes a carbonaceous network that at least partially fills interstices defined between hierarchical silicon columns of the plurality of hierarchical silicon columns. The carbonaceous network includes linked carbon atoms that define a plurality of pores.

Abstract: A propulsion system for a device includes an electric motor configured to generate torque to propel the device. A controller is in communication with the electric motor and is adapted to select at least one harmonic order for a harmonic current command. The controller is adapted to define a plurality of operating regions, including a first operating region, a second operating region and a third operating region, each associated with a respective objective function for generating the harmonic current command. The controller is adapted to operate the harmonic current command with four degrees of freedom by selectively varying a q-axis current magnitude, a d-axis current magnitude, a q-axis phase and a d-axis phase as a function of the torque and a motor speed.

Abstract: A pre-charge system for a DC electric power system includes a high-voltage electric power bus that electrically connects to an external bus. A contactor includes a first switch arranged to control electric power through the positive bus link, and a second switch arranged to control electric power through the negative bus link. A pre-charge resistor is arranged in parallel with the first switch. A controller is operatively connected to the first and second switches, and in communication with a voltage sensor. The controller includes an instruction set to activate the second switch, periodically monitor the electrical potential, determine a time-rate of change in the electrical potential, and close the first switch when the time-rate of change in the electrical potential is less than a first threshold.

Abstract: Presented are articulating roof assemblies for electrical generator systems, methods for making/using such roof assemblies, and fuel cell powered electric vehicle charging stations with such roof assemblies. An electrical generator system includes a mobile or stationary rigid support frame with an electrical generator that is mounted to the support frame and operable to generate electric power. At least one charging cable is electrically connected to the generator in order to transfer the electric power to a load. A control circuit is communicatively connected to the generator and governs the creation and transfer of electric power. Mounted onto the rigid support frame is a roof assembly with one or more roof panels. Each roof panel is movable between an undeployed position, whereat the roof panel at least partially covers the generator, and a deployed position, whereat the roof panel is obliquely angled to and/or projects outwardly from the rigid support frame.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat cushion, a seat back pivotally moveable between an upright position and a reclined position, and at least one upper arm support selectively moveable between a stowed position and an extended position, the at least one upper arm support adapted to provide support for an upper arm of an occupant when the seat back of the vehicle seat is in the reclined position and the at least one upper arm support is in the extended position.

Abstract: Presented are embedded control systems with logic for computation and data sharing, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles with distributed sensors and embedded processing hardware for provisioning automated driving functionality. A method for operating embedded controllers connected with distributed sensors includes receiving a first data stream from a first sensor via a first embedded controller, and storing the first data stream with a first timestamp and data lifespan via a shared data buffer in a memory device. A second data stream is received from a second sensor via a second embedded controller. A timing impact of the second data stream is calculated based on the corresponding timestamp and data lifespan. Upon determining that the timing impact does not violate a timing constraint, the first data stream is purged from memory and the second data stream is stored with a second timestamp and data lifespan in the memory device.

Abstract: A vehicle system for recommending driving automation based on occupant behavior and emotion includes one or more input devices. The input devices generate an input signal associated with sensor data indicative of a current emotion and a current driving pattern of an occupant. The vehicle system further includes a computer having a processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium (CRM). The CRM stores multiple occupant behavior profiles, with each occupant behavior profile including a unique occupant identification and multiple historical driving patterns. Each driving pattern has an associated historical emotion for the unique occupant identification. The processor is programmed to determine a deviation of the current driving pattern from the historical driving patterns, compare the deviation to a threshold, and generate a notification signal. The notification device provides the notification to recommend that the occupant actuate the vehicle system.