Abstract: A vehicle cabin heating system of a vehicle, and methods of operation of such a heating system are provided. The vehicle cabin heating system scavenges waste heat from drivetrain components. A heat pump provides further heat scavenging for delivery to the vehicle cabin. A supplemental heater may be selectively activated to provide supplemental heating when operation of the heat pump and/or vehicle cabin heating system are inadequate to provide prompt heating response. The supplemental heater may, for example, be a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater positioned downstream of a heat pump heater and/or a heater core, and/or may include a positive high voltage coolant heater positioned within a coolant fluid circuit useable to heat coolant for delivery to the heater core and/or heat pump.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing opportunistic vehicle air brake system pressurization are disclosed. Vehicle air tanks used within an air brake system are pressurized during a time a battery charging status is satisfied. For example, such air tanks may be pressurized via an air compressor at a time during which the vehicle is electrically connected to a power source other than a battery of the vehicle. An example of such a power source may include an electrical charger, such as an electric vehicle charging station, or an electric generator during a regenerative braking event. The air tanks may also be pressurized by using a battery to energize the air compressor, based on the battery being charged above a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A heavy duty truck includes a diesel engine that generates an exhaust gas flow and an exhaust after-treatment system for treatment of the exhaust gas flow. The exhaust after-treatment system includes at least one temperature sensor at an underbody SCR system within the exhaust after-treatment system and a DEF injector upstream of a close-coupled SCR system within the exhaust after-treatment system. The DEF injector is operated to inject DEF into the exhaust gas flow at a rate that varies as a function of a temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A method of autonomously backing a vehicle (e.g., a tractor unit) to a trailer (e.g., a semi-trailer) comprising a trailer-mounted coupling device (e.g., a kingpin). The method includes determining, by an autonomous backing module of the vehicle, a target corresponding to the trailer-mounted coupling device; determining, by the autonomous backing module, a path to maneuver the vehicle to the target and align a vehicle-mounted coupling device (e.g., a fifth wheel) with the trailer-mounted coupling device, determining, by the autonomous backing module, commands to components of the vehicle to autonomously control the vehicle to maneuver along the determined path to the target, and transmitting, by the autonomous backing module, the commands to the components of the vehicle (e.g., a braking control module, a steering control module, and/or a torque request module). Suitably configured vehicles are also described.

Abstract: Computer thermal regulation (CTR) systems and methods for thermal energy (TE) regulation of vehicle computers designed to operate within a target temperature range (TTR). A vehicle HVAC system includes a computer heat exchanger in the computer including a phase change material (PCM) with a phase change temperature (PCT). When the computer is below a TTR lower limit, the CTR system causes the HVAC system to run a heating cycle, heating the PCM to and above the PCT. The PCM releases stored TE to the computer. When the CTR system is above a TTR upper limit, the CTR system causes the HVAC system to run a cooling cycle, cooling the PCM to and below the TTR. The PCM then absorbs heat from the computer. TE storage and release processes during phase changes enable the PCM to operate as a buffer between the HVAC system and the computer to allow finer control over the computer temperature with an otherwise over-powered HVAC system for the vehicle.

Abstract: A heavy duty truck includes a diesel engine that generates an exhaust gas flow and an exhaust after-treatment system for treatment of the exhaust gas flow. The exhaust after-treatment system includes at least one heater and at least one selective catalytic reduction system downstream of the heater. The heater is operated to inject supplemental heat energy into the exhaust gas flow at a rate based on a difference between a target rate of heat energy in the exhaust gas flow at an inlet to the selective catalytic reduction system and a rate of heat energy supplied to the exhaust gas flow from the diesel engine.

Abstract: A vehicle includes: an engine; an exhaust pipe, fluidly coupled to the engine; a vehicle body including a fairing having an exhaust opening; and an exhaust assembly, the exhaust assembly including: an expansion chamber having a first opening fluidly coupled to the exhaust pipe and a second opening aligned with the exhaust opening in the fairing, a cross-sectional area of the second opening being greater than a cross-sectional area of the first opening, and a choke plate attached to the expansion chamber and shaped and sized to cover at least ten percent of the cross-sectional area of the second opening.

Abstract: A trailer connection safety system is provided. In example aspects, the system receives an action by an operator of a vehicle and determines a connection state of an electrical cable. If the electrical cable is not in an appropriate state for the action of the operator, an alert is generated and displayed. In further aspects, the system may act as an interlock to prevent the action of the operator if the electrical cable is not in an appropriate state.