Abstract: A vehicle includes an assembly for providing suspension and steering for a wheel. The assembly includes an inner knuckle and a steering knuckle. The inner knuckle is coupled to an upper control arm at an upper joint and a lower control arm at a lower joint, forming a double wishbone suspension. The upper joint and the lower joint define a first axis. The steering knuckle is coupled to the inner knuckle at a steering joint that forms or otherwise defines a kingpin axis. The steering joint includes a revolute joint, a ball joint, or both. The steering knuckle is configured to be engaged with a tie-rod coupled to a steering mechanism. The kingpin axis is nearer a center of the wheel than the first axis, thus preventing or otherwise limiting torque steer. The upper and lower joints are constrained from significant steering rotation by suitable bushings, anti-steer arms, or both.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented herein for providing a reinforcement structure to reduce a Head Impact Criteria value associated with an object impacting a hood assembly that comprises the reinforcement structure. The reinforcement structure is arranged between an outer hood structure and an inner hood structure. The reinforcements structure comprises a main reinforcement and a reinforcement extension configured to extend laterally away from the main reinforcement. The reinforcement extension comprises a rib structure configured to accommodate an upper profile of a rigid front fascia feature and a rear flange configured to extend rearward over the rigid front fascia feature. The reinforcement extension is structured to be stiff enough to deform in a manner that reduces the amount of time an impacting structure reaches a peak acceleration value while also reducing the achievable peak acceleration value.

Abstract: A bed cover for a vehicle that may be deployed electromechanically, either on demand or automatically, when a vehicle operator so desires, when predetermined weather conditions are detected, when the vehicle reaches a predetermined speed or experiences predetermined operating conditions, and/or when predetermined aerodynamic drag conditions are detected. The bed cover is deployable from a stowed configuration to one or more use configurations. These use configurations may include a traditional horizontal bed cover and/or an angled “cap-style” bed cover, with the angled bed cover providing enhanced aerodynamic drag reduction characteristics. A vehicle control module and camera, sensor, and/or stop trigger are used to ensure that is safe to deploy and use the bed cover, without negatively impacting an item, animal, or person present in the bed or rear cargo space of the vehicle.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative systems, structures, and methods for performing authenticated access to a structure. An illustrative system includes a connector configured to be operably connected to a personal electronics device and to receive an electric charge from the personal electronics device, a controller couplable to an electromechanical locking device and the connector, and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the controller to receive first authentication information, receive second authentication information from the personal electronics device, authenticate the personal electronics device responsive to the first authentication information and the received second authentication information, and activate an electromechanical locking device to unlock responsive to the electric charge and a successful authentication.

Abstract: A dryer attachment for a vehicle, including: a coupler adapted to engage a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) duct of the vehicle; a flexible conduit coupled to the coupler; and a nozzle coupled to the flexible conduit opposite the coupler; wherein the coupler, the flexible conduit, and the nozzle are collectively adapted to deliver an air flow from the HVAC duct of the vehicle to an object disposed adjacent to a port of the nozzle. The coupler is adapted to engage a vent of the HVAC duct of the vehicle. Alternatively, the coupler is adapted to replace a vent of the HVAC duct of the vehicle. Alternatively, the coupler is adapted to engage a dedicated port of the HVAC duct of the vehicle.

Abstract: A drive system includes a first drive train and a second drive train coupled by a differential assembly. Each drive train include a motor, an output gear, and a clutch assembly that engages and disengages the output gear from respective halfshafts. The differential assembly is configured to couple the first and second halfshafts, and connect/disconnect the first output gear and the first halfshaft. The differential assembly includes, for example, side gears, a spider gearset, and an actuator for engaging and disengaging the differential casing from the first output gear. A control system is configured to actuate actuators of clutch assemblies and/or a differential assembly to achieve one or more drive modes for each drive axis. The control system determines the first drive mode, controls the clutch assemblies and differential assemblies, and controls one or more motors. The drive modes include, for example, torque vectoring, fully locked, single motor, and neutral.

Abstract: A fluid-affected fuse includes a structural housing, a pair of electric terminals, one or more fuse elements, and a fluid arranged in an internal volume of the structure. The structure provides rigidity to the fuse. The terminals are coupled to the structural housing and are configured to be coupled to an electric power circuit of a battery circuit. The one or more fuse elements are electrically connected in series to the pair of electric terminals and are arranged in the internal volume. The fluid is configured to affect a temperature of the fuse element. A fluid-filled fuse is filled with fluid, optionally sealed, and operated with the increased heat capacity of the fluid to affect temperature of the fuse. A fluid-cooled fuse is filled with the fluid, undergoing a stream of the fluid thus allowing control of fuse temperature. A control system controls the fluid stream and fuse operation.

Abstract: A battery load management system and methods of managing a battery load, e.g., in a vehicle, may be directed to a converter that steps down electrical power from an input voltage to a reduced voltage. An electrical bus in electrical communication with the converter may be configured to supply electrical power received from the converter at the reduced voltage to a plurality of electrical loads. A controller may be configured to detect a load shed trigger, and in response to the detection select one or more low-priority loads included in the plurality of electrical loads. The controller may also be configured to reduce electrical power consumption by the one or more low-priority loads.

Abstract: An assembly for a ventilation system of a vehicle is provided. The assembly is configured to use a single actuator to control direction of a vent and additionally control the flow rate of that vent. The assembly may comprise a single rotatable control member with two routes, one route used for controlling flow rate and one route for controlling flow direction. Each route may have a straight portion and curved portion.

Abstract: A modular inverter is disclosed that provides users flexibility in which devices can be installed in their system by supporting a plurality of different types of DC-to-DC converters, where each DC-to-DC converter corresponds to one of a plurality of loads. The modular inverter houses the plurality of different types of DC-to-DC converters in a plurality of bays, which couples each DC-to-DC converter to a DC rail to either receive or deliver DC power.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for operating a vehicle in a front dig mode. The front dig mode is engaged in response to determining that speed of the vehicle is below a speed threshold and determining that the amount that at least one of the front wheels of the vehicle is turned exceeds a turn threshold. While operating in the front dig mode, forward torque is provided to the front wheels of the vehicle. Further, resistance is applied to forward rotation of the inner back wheel of the vehicle. Yet further, forward torque is provided to the outer back wheel of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include systems, vehicles, and computer-implemented methods for maintaining the operational condition of a battery system incorporated in a vehicle or otherwise stored and, based on weather information, to adjust reserve capacity in the battery system prevent damage as a result of weather conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include systems, vehicles, and computer-implemented methods for developing a model from parallel sets of driving data to identify the risk level of an event in one of the sets of driving data. In an illustrative embodiment, a system includes a vehicle data system operably coupled with at least one sensor aboard a vehicle to collect vehicle driving data representing driving conduct. A portable data collection module is configured to cause a portable computing system transportable aboard a vehicle to collect portable driving data representing the driving conduct. An evaluation system is configured to receive the portable driving data and the vehicle driving data, assign a risk level to at least one event included in the vehicle driving data, and correlate the vehicle driving data with the portable driving data to identify a pattern in the portable driving data that is associable with the risk level.

Abstract: Methods, circuits, and devices for power conversion are disclosed. In some embodiments, the device comprises a circuit comprising a first, second, and third leg. Each leg may comprise two switches. The first leg is switched at a first frequency to generate a first signal, and the second leg is switched at a second frequency lower than the first frequency to generate a second signal. The third leg is switched by a neutral leg control signal to generate a third signal. The circuit generates an output power signal (e.g., a split-phase power signal) based on the first signal, second signal, and the third signal.

Abstract: A fluid mating system includes a fitting connector, a mating connector and a planar slip system. The fitting connector includes an exterior mating surface and a first interior fluid passage that permits fluid flow along a first direction. The mating connector includes an interior surface that includes a tapered lead-in portion, an interior mating surface, and a second interior fluid passage. The second interior fluid passage permits fluid flow in the first direction. The first interior fluid passage and the second interior fluid passage include a single fluid path when the interior mating surface is engaged with the exterior mating surface. The planar slip system restricts movement of the mating connector in the first direction and allows at least partial free movement of the mating connector within a plane that is perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A battery interconnect may include a desired current capacity, integrated fusible links, and be manufacturable using cost effective techniques. In some embodiments, a battery interconnect includes a busbar and relatively thinner links. A busbar carries larger currents and accordingly its cross-sectional areas are relatively larger to reduce ohmic losses. A link carries a much smaller current, and a fusible link is configured to break the circuit when the current is above a threshold, thus requiring a relatively small cross-sectional area. These sometime disparate length scales are addressed using several techniques such as layering a busbar and a foil sheet and pressing portions of a busbar to form the links. The links can be affixed to a plurality of battery cells to connect the cells in parallel or series.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle with a storage compartment has a cabin, a set of rear wheels located behind the cabin, a cargo space, and a closable integrated storage compartment located adjacent to the cabin, rearward of a rear-most seat of the automotive vehicle, and forward of the set of rear wheels. At least a portion of the storage compartment is positioned forward of a forward wall of the cargo space. The storage compartment has at least one sidewall enclosing an interior portion of the storage compartment and extending from a first side panel at a first side of the automotive vehicle toward a second side of the automotive vehicle, a first opening to the storage compartment at the first side of the automotive vehicle, and a first door at the first opening. The first door has a first step member with a horizontal step surface when open.