Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a roof rail structure, a pillar structure, a tube-like reinforcement member and an attachment assembly. The tube-like reinforcement member is shaped to include a first portion, a curved portion and a second portion such that the first portion is fixed within and extends along a portion of the roof rail structure and the second portion extends downward within and extends along an upper portion of the pillar structure. The attachment assembly includes a bracket and a positioning member disposed within the pillar structure. The bracket is fixedly attached to the pillar structure. The second portion of the tube-like reinforcement member extends through an oversized opening in the bracket. The tube-like reinforcement member is fixedly attached to the positioning member and the positioning member being fixedly attached to the bracket.

Abstract: A regenerated cathode active material comprises a core material comprising lithium and a transition metal oxide, the core material having a surface, wherein the core material is a recycled cathode active material that has been re-lithiated. At least two different lithium-ion conducting species are on the surface of the core material, and the at least two different lithium-ion conducting species are selected from AlF3, Li3PO4, and a lithium metal oxide. Another regenerated cathode active material for use in a lithium-ion battery comprises a core material comprising a transition metal oxide and lithium, the core material having a surface, and multiple lithium-ion conducting species on the surface, wherein the core material is a recycled cathode active material that has been re-lithiated.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a front side member, a body attachment structure and an off-center impact structure. The front side member defines a hollow interior, an outboard wall and an inboard wall. The body attachment structure is attached to the outboard wall of the front side member. The off-center impact structure has a first end portion, a second end portion and a main section extending from the first end portion to the second end portion. The first end portion extends through an outboard forward opening and into the hollow interior of the front side member and is rigidly connected to the front side member forward of the body attachment structure. The second end portion is attached to the front side member at a location rearward of the body attachment structure with the main section extending outboard of the body attachment structure.

Abstract: Detection of merge scenarios by an autonomous vehicle (AV) is disclosed. A system includes a memory and a processor. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to, in response to detecting a merge scenario, identify an interacting object pair including a merging object and a crossing object, where the AV is the merging object; generate a yield hypothesis and a no-yield hypothesis; compute a yield reference path corresponding to the yield hypothesis and a no-yield reference path corresponding to the no-yield hypothesis; determine a yield likelihood of the yield hypothesis and a no-yield likelihood of the no-yield hypothesis; and operate the AV to merge or to wait until the merge scenario is no longer detected based on the yield likelihood and the no-yield likelihood.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a wall and a removable panel. The wall has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The wall defines a vent opening with a peripheral edge extending between the first surface and the second surface. The wall includes an air vent structure open to the vent opening. The removable panel has a trim surface and an attachment surface with a plurality of air vent slots extending from the attachment surface to the trim surface. The attachment surface has a retaining structure configured to retain an air filter along the attachment surface and an attachment structure configured to attach to the wall covering the vent opening with the retaining structure extending at least partially within the air vent structure.

Abstract: A vehicle air handling system includes an air duct housing, a particulate sensor, a first air blower and an electronic controller. The air duct housing has an air inlet and a passenger compartment vent. The particulate sensor is configured to detect a particulate level of particulates in the air duct housing. The first air blower is disposed in the air duct housing to move air within the air duct housing. The electronic controller is operatively coupled to the particulate sensor and the first air blower. The electronic controller is configured to operate the first air blower to reverse an air direction of the first air blower away from the passenger compartment vent upon detection of the particulate level of the particulates in the air duct housing being equal to or greater than a predetermined particulate threshold level in the air duct housing.

Abstract: A sunroof structure includes a frame, a transparent material and a decorative panel. The frame is configured to install to a vehicle roof structure above a passenger compartment. The transparent material is installed to the frame such that light can pass therethrough to the passenger compartment. The decorative panel is installed to the frame such that at least a portion of the decorative panel covers an interior portion of the transparent material.

Abstract: A carrier assembly for attachment to a side rail of a vehicle includes a cross bar configured to extend from a portion of the side rail and a coupling assembly disposed at least partially in a stanchion that extends from an end of the cross bar proximate the side rail. The coupling assembly is configured to couple a portion of the cross bar to the side rail. The carrier assembly also includes a cover configured to engage at least a portion of the stanchion to enclose the coupling assembly and a fastener configured to extend through an aperture disposed on a side of the stanchion opposite the cover and to engage a boss extending from a side of the cover facing the stanchion.

Abstract: A vehicle electronic system having an electronic controller and a power switching device configured to switch between a first power setting and a second power setting. The first power setting includes powering at least one of a plurality of electrically powered accessories with power from an on-board electric power supply. The second power setting includes powering the at least one of the plurality of electrically powered accessories with power from an external power supply thereby preventing the use of electric power from the on-board electric power supply. The electronic controller is configured to electronically operate the switching device to switch between the first power setting and the second power setting such that in response to detection of power from the external power supply, the switching device is switched to the second power mode.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell comprises a proton exchange membrane having an anode side and a cathode side. An anode catalyst layer is on the anode side of the proton exchange membrane and a cathode catalyst layer is on the cathode side of the proton exchange membrane. Each of the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer comprises a metal alloy. A gas diffusion layer is on each of the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer opposite the proton exchange membrane. A sacrificial intercalating agent is between the proton exchange membrane and one of the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer, the sacrificial intercalating agent having sulfonate sites that attract metal cations resulting from dissolution of the metal alloy prior to the metal cations reaching the proton exchange membrane.

Abstract: A fuel pump cover includes a first cover member and a second cover member. The first cover member has an attachment flange configured to attach to a surface of a fuel tank, a cover part coupled to the attachment flange and configured to cover a first fuel pump outlet to a fuel pump, and an attachment feature. The second cover member is configured to be removably attached to the attachment feature, and configured to cover a second fuel pump outlet to the fuel pump.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly is provided that includes a polymer electrolyte membrane and a catalyst layer provided on a surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane. The catalyst layer comprises catalyst particles and an ionomer film surrounding each of the catalyst particles. The ionomer film has an oxygen permeability of approximately 6.0×1012 mol/cm/s to 15.0×1012 mol/cm/s at 80° C. and a relative humidity of approximately 30% to 100%.

Abstract: A multi-device in-vehicle-infotainment system is configured to playback audio files one after another using a media device shuffling operation and an audio file shuffling operation. Specifically, in response to instructions from a user interface, a controller is further configured to automatically provide a plurality of audio files, one audio file after another, to an audio output component where the controller selects the plurality of audio files randomly shuffling between a plurality of electronic media devices selecting one or more audio files from differing ones of the plurality of electronic media devices for audio playback.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing remote support and negotiating problem situations of autonomous operation of vehicles based on signal states and vehicle information are described. The disclosed technology receives state data for the vehicles by an apparatus such as a remote vehicle support apparatus. The state data indicates a respective current state for the vehicles. The vehicles are each assigned to respective remote vehicle support queues based on the respective state data. An indication that one of the vehicles is requesting remote support is received by the remote vehicle support apparatus. In response to a determination that a change in the state data indicates that autonomous operation of the one of the vehicles is operating outside of defined parameter values, the remote support is provided to the one of the vehicles through a communications link by transmitting instruction data to modify the autonomous operation of the one of the vehicles.

Abstract: An electronic controller of a vehicle is in electronic communication with lamp cover condition sensors, a headlamp switch, an off-road lamp switch and an electronic display. The electronic controller is configured to turn on the off-road lamp device in response to the off-road lamp switch being switched to the on condition and further in response to each of a plurality of predetermined conditions being met, the electronic controller further being configured to prevent the off-road lamp device from turning on in response to the off-road lamp switch being switched to the on condition and further in response to at least one of the plurality of predetermined conditions not being met, the predetermined conditions including at least a determination that the removable lamp cover of the off-road device has been removed, and a determination that the headlamp switch is in the second operating condition.

Abstract: A jig has a frame, a carrier and a hood latch supporting assembly. The frame has two first shafts and a bracket attachment portion. The carrier has two sliders and a second shaft. The two sliders are fitted to the first shafts for movement in a Z-direction along the first shafts. The second shaft is perpendicular to the first shafts. The two sliders and the second shaft are rigidly fixed to one another. The hood latch supporting assembly has a second slider and a latch support portion. The second slider is fitted to the second shaft for movement in an X-axis direction along the second shaft. The latch support portion is coupled to the second slider for movement therewith. The frame assembly allows movement of a latch mechanism loosely fitted to a bracket during alignment of the latch mechanism to the bracket.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure having a cargo structure, a retractable step and a handle assembly. The cargo structure has a floor, a first side wall and a tailgate. The retractable step is installed to the cargo structure beneath the floor and the first side wall and adjacent to the tailgate. The handle assembly has a base and a grip handle extending from the base. The base is attached to an upright surface of the first side wall. The base is shaped and contoured such that the grip handle is positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from an upper surface of the first side wall within the cargo area above the floor and above the step. An individual using the step to enter the cargo area grabs the grip handle for assistance in stepping up into the cargo area.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure with a cargo area structure, a retractable step and a handle assembly. The cargo area structure has a floor, a first side wall and a tailgate at least partially defining a cargo area. The handle assembly has a base and a grip handle. The base is attached to an upright surface of the first side wall. The grip handle is movable relative to the base between a stowed orientation in which the grip handle is at a location lower than an upper surface of the first side wall and a gripping orientation in which at least a portion of the grip handle extends higher that the upper surface of the first side wall. With the grip handle in the gripping orientation an individual using the step to enter the cargo area grabs the grip handle for assistance in stepping up into the cargo area.

Abstract: Trajectory planning for an autonomous vehicle is disclosed. A method for planning a trajectory for an autonomous vehicle includes determining a coarse driveline from a first location to a second location; determining a strategic speed plan for the coarse driveline; removing lateral discontinuities in the coarse driveline based on the strategic speed plan to generate an adjusted coarse driveline; and generating lateral constraints around the adjusted coarse driveline and a discrete-time speed plan based on observed objects.

Abstract: A socket tool adapter includes a base member having a first surface and a second surface. First and second jaw members are pivotally connected to the first surface of the base member. The first and second jaw members are configured to move between first and second closed positions and first and second open positions, respectively. The first and second jaw members are configured to receive an accessory when the first and second jaw members are in the open positions. First and second biasing members are connected between the first and second jaw members, respectively, and the base member. The first and second biasing members are configured to bias the first and second jaw members to the first and second closed positions, respectively. A cover member is connected to the second surface of the base member.