Abstract: A lithium-free anode having organic islands on a layer of graphene is provided. The lithium-free anode includes a current collector, a three-dimensional carbon lattice formed on the current collector, a first layer formed on the carbon lattice, a second layer formed on the first layer, and organic molecules formed on the second layer. The first layer includes copper, and the second layer includes graphene. The organic molecules are spaced apart from each other on the second layer.

Abstract: A retainer is disclosed that is configured to receive at least one elongated member in a vehicle. The retainer includes a body and first and second receptacles that are supported by the body. The first receptacle defines a first channel that is configured to receive a first elongated member (e.g., a cable, a wire, a rod, etc.) and includes a first finger that extends towards the second receptacle. The second receptacle defines a second channel that is configured to receive a second elongated member (e.g., a cable, a wire, a rod, etc.) and includes a second finger that extends towards the first receptacle. In certain embodiments, the first finger and the second finger may be formed as discrete structures so as not to interfere with flexure of the first receptacle and the second receptacle during insertion and removal of the first elongated member and the second elongated member.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo structure includes a reinforcement panel, an upright strut member having an upper end, a front wall structure having an attachment bracket fixed to an outboard upper end of the front wall structure and a bracket. The bracket is fixedly attached to a forward portion of the reinforcement panel and the upper end of the upright strut member. The bracket is further secured to the attachment bracket of the front wall structure via mechanical fasteners.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes an engine cradle and an impact receiving structure. A forward end of the first side portion and a first lateral end of a front portion of the engine cradle are fixedly attached to one another. The first side portion has a rearward section and a forward section, the rearward section being horizontally oriented and the forward section extending upward and forward from the rearward section defining an acute angle therebetween, the acute angle being between 30 and 35 degrees. The impact receiving structure is installed to the first side portion of the engine cradle proximate an intersection between the first side portion and the front member. A lower surface of the impact receiving structure extends downward along the forward section of the first side portion further defining the acute angle of the forward section of the first side portion of the engine cradle.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a combustion chamber, a piston a plurality of piston rings. The combustion chamber has a bore wall. The piston is configured to move relative to the bore wall. The plurality of piston rings is provided to the piston. Each of the piston rings has a main body that is circular. Each of the pistons rings further has a stopper that protrudes from the main body.

Abstract: A flow control member for a vehicle includes a body, a plurality of mounting tabs, and a panel member. The body has an outer surface and an inner surface. An air passage through the body is defined by the inner surface. A plurality of mounting tabs extends outwardly from the outer surface of the body. Each of the mounting tabs is configured to receive a fastener to connect the flow control member to an intake passage of the vehicle. A panel member is disposed in the air passage. The panel member defines a plurality of openings therethrough.

Abstract: A seat belt positioning mechanism that has a vehicle seat and an elastic tensioning member. The vehicle seat has a frame structure, a cushion portion covering the frame structure and a cover material covering the cushion portion. The cushion portion defines a main seating section and an outboard side seat section extending laterally outboard from a corresponding side of the main seating section. The side seat section defines an opening extending through the cushion portion. The opening is dimensioned to receive a seat belt extending therethrough. The cover material has a cover extension extending into the opening. The elastic tensioning member has a first end fixed to the frame structure and extends under the cover extension into the opening. The elastic tensioning member is dimensioned and shaped to bias the cover extension in an outboard direction against a part of the seat belt located within the opening.

Abstract: A lead vehicle braking warning system includes a speed sensor, a detector, a display and an electronic controller. The speed sensor measures current speed of a host vehicle. The detector detects current speed of a lead vehicle relative to the speed of the host vehicle. The display has a braking condition display area configured to display each of a plurality of braking conditions of the lead vehicle for the operator of the host vehicle. The electronic controller is in electronic communication with the speed sensor, the detector and the display. The electronic controller determines whether or not the lead vehicle is currently decelerating and determine which one of a plurality of braking conditions is currently being experienced by the lead vehicle and display information identifying the current one of the plurality of braking conditions of the lead vehicle within the braking condition display area of the display.

Abstract: VEHICLE A vehicle includes a vehicle frame and a vehicle body. The vehicle body is supported on the vehicle frame. The vehicle body has a cabin and a cargo box. The cabin houses one or more vehicle seats of the vehicle. The cabin has a rear wall and the cargo box has a front wall that is adjacent to the rear wall. The rear wall of the cabin and the front wall of the cargo box together define a passthrough that connects a floor of the cargo box and a floor of the cabin. The passthrough is closeable by a barrier.

Abstract: A method for use in traversing a vehicle transportation network by an autonomous vehicle (AV) includes traversing, by the AV, the vehicle transportation network. Traversing the vehicle transportation network includes identifying a distinct vehicle operational scenario; instantiating a first decision component instance; receiving a first set of candidate vehicle control actions from the first decision component instance; selecting an action; and controlling the AV to traverse a portion of the vehicle transportation network based on the action. The first decision component instance is an instance of a first decision component modeling the distinct vehicle operational scenario.

Abstract: A first method includes identifying an occlusion in the vehicle transportation network; identifying, for a first world object that is on a first side of the occlusion, a visibility grid on a second side of the occlusion; and altering a driving behavior of the first vehicle based on the visibility grid. The visibility grid is used in determining whether other world objects exist on the second side of the occlusion. A second includes identifying a first trajectory of a first world object in the vehicle transportation network; identifying a visibility grid of the first world object; identifying, using the visibility grid, a second world object that is invisible to the first world object; and, in response to determining that the first world object is predicted to collide with the second world object, alerting at least one of the first world object or the second world object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing traffic flow through an intersection are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving positional data indicating a current location of a first vehicle intending to pass through the intersection, receiving directional data indicating an intended direction of the first vehicle through the intersection from the current location, determining, based on the positional data and the directional data, whether an intended path of the first vehicle through the intersection interferes with an alternative path through the intersection, and adjusting a traffic signal at the intersection to decrease an amount of time to pass through the intersection via the alternative path.

Abstract: A sash cover assembly for a vehicle includes a sash cover and a spacer cap. The sash cover includes a projection configured to be received by a sash of the vehicle. The spacer cap is connected to and surrounds the projection. The spacer cap is configured to prevent contact between the projection and the sash when the sash cover is connected to the sash.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assisting navigation of a vehicle are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of assisting navigation of a vehicle includes receiving navigational data relating to an intended route of the vehicle, receiving object data relating to at least one external object detected within a vicinity of a current position of the vehicle, determining whether the at least one external object affects an ability of the vehicle to proceed along the intended route, and generating at least one instruction relating to the ability of the vehicle to proceed along the intended route.

Abstract: An apparatus for remote support of autonomous operation of a vehicle includes a processor that is configured to perform a method including receiving a request for a trip through a transportation network, wherein the trip includes a first travel portion from a first location to a second location, and a second travel portion from the second location to a third location. Each of the first travel portion and the second travel portion is associated with a different service such that a first payload of the first travel portion is different from a second payload of the second travel portion. The method also includes determining, based on the request, a route for the trip from the first location to the second location, and from the second location to the third location, and performing a validation process that confirms a presence of cargo in the first payload and/or the second payload.

Abstract: A vibration attenuation assembly that includes a strut weight configured to attenuate resonant frequency of a vehicle strut assembly. The strut weight has an upper surface and a lower surface. The strut weight has a rod receiving opening that extends from a central area of the upper surface to the lower surface. The upper surface has a conical shape.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly for a vehicle includes a vehicle seat, a seat support rail, a load limiter and a seatbelt assembly. The seat support rail supports the vehicle seat within the vehicle. The vehicle seat is adjustably supported to the seat support rail. The load limiter is supported to the seat support rail. The seatbelt assembly has a latch and a receptacle that receives the latch. The receptacle is movably supported to the load limiter. The receptacle is movable along the load limiter from a rest position to an operated position upon receiving a predetermined force.

Abstract: A door structure is moveable to and from of a closed orientation covering a door opening and an open orientation exposing the door opening of a vehicle. The door structure has an inner door panel with an interior latch handle attachment area and an attenuation slot adjacent to the interior latch handle attachment area. The attenuation slot is defined between a first slot edge and a second slot edge. The interior latch handle is installed to the interior latch handle attachment area. A portion of the interior latch handle is located adjacent to the first slot edge of the attenuation slot. In response to an impact event proximate a central area of the door structure, the door structure and the interior latch handle attachment area deform such that the first slot edge and the interior latch handle move relative to the second slot edge of the attenuation slot.

Abstract: Route planning for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) includes obtaining a route between an origin and a destination, where the route is optimized for at least one of a noise level or energy consumption of an engine of the HEV that is used to charge a battery of the HEV, and where the route comprises respective engine activation actions for at least some segments of the route; and controlling the HEV to follow the segments of the route and to activate the engine according to the respective engine activation actions.

Abstract: Traversing a vehicle transportation network includes operating a scenario-specific operational control evaluation module instance. The scenario-specific operational control evaluation module instance includes an instance of a scenario-specific operational control evaluation model of a distinct vehicle operational scenario. Operating the scenario-specific operational control evaluation module instance includes identifying a multi-objective policy for the scenario-specific operational control evaluation model. The multi-objective policy may include a relationship between at least two objectives. Traversing the vehicle transportation network includes receiving a candidate vehicle control action associated with each of the at least two objectives. Traversing the vehicle transportation network includes selecting a vehicle control action based on a buffer value.