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.

Abstract: Aspects are described herein that are capable of providing a vehicle configuration for a vehicle that is optimized to maximize the customer's performance priorities while additionally complying with regulatory emissions requirements and equipment regulations. A machine learning (ML) predictive model is trained based on simulations run on combinations of vehicle configurations and routes and on real-world telematics data, and used to determine a vehicle configuration optimized for a representative route.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a dual view display for a vehicle including an autonomous driving system. The autonomous driving system may monitor an environment in which the vehicle is operating, sense a condition in the environment, and determine a vehicle response to the condition including one or more automated vehicle actions. Condition-associated data including information about the sensed/perceived condition and/or the one or more corresponding automated vehicle actions to the condition may be provided to a dual view display system. The dual view display system may determine a notification corresponding to the perceived condition and/or the automated vehicle intention and cause the notification to be displayed on a transparent display. The transparent display provides an operator interface to communicate the vehicle perception/intention to the vehicle operator.

Abstract: A cruise control interlock system detects a current set of conditions for a vehicle, compares the current conditions with cruise control interlock conditions (e.g., an adjustable threshold state of a windshield wiper system), and executes a process to deactivate the cruise control system. The process to deactivate functionality of the cruise control system may include presenting a notification to the operator to alert the operator to an upcoming automatic deactivation or to encourage the operator to deactivate cruise control. The process also may include a vehicle de-rate process (e.g., reducing vehicle speed) to induce the operator to deactivate cruise control. Deactivation of cruise control may be postponed in some situations, such as when the vehicle is ascending an uphill grade or where doing so may deactivate an active downhill speed control function.

Abstract: Providing additional mass air flow to an engine of a vehicle to expand an operating range of cylinder deactivation (CDA) is provided. Aspects of the present disclosure describe a method and system to provide additional mass air flow to an engine using an auxiliary air source coupled to a turbocharger. When a low air-to-fuel ratio state is determined in association with operating the vehicle in CDA mode, the auxiliary air source is activated to assist the turbocharger with increase the supply of supercharged intake air to the engine. Accordingly, the operating range of CDA is expanded.

Abstract: A method for starting a vehicle's engine includes: causing a crankshaft of the engine to begin to rotate and to rotate through a first plurality of rotations; and causing, for each combustion chamber of at least one combustion chamber of the engine, an exhaust valve of the combustion chamber to remain in an opened position while the crankshaft rotates through the first plurality of rotations and prior to fuel being injected into the combustion chamber.