Abstract: A wearable smart device includes an outer casing wearable by a user and defining at least one cavity and having a neck portion, a first end portion designed to rest on a first shoulder of the user, and a second end portion designed to rest on a second shoulder of the user. The wearable smart device also includes a wireless communication port at least partially positioned within the cavity and designed to communicate with a remote device. The wireless communication port includes a dedicated short range communication (DSRC) port, a near field communication (NFC) port, an infrared communication port and/or an ultrasound communication port. A processor is positioned within the cavity, coupled to the wireless communication port and designed to transmit one or more signals to the remote device and/or receive one or more signals from the remote device via the wireless communication port.

Abstract: A system for improving safety while providing privacy for a vehicle. The system includes a display screen located within the vehicle, configured to alternate between a displaying state and a non-displaying state. The system includes a window configured to alternate between an opaque state and a transparent state. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to determine whether the display screen is powered on. The ECU is configured to alternate the display screen between the displaying state and the non-displaying state at a predetermined frequency when the display screen is powered on. The ECU is configured to alternate the window between the opaque state and the transparent state at the predetermined frequency, the display screen being in the displaying state when the window is in the opaque state and the display screen being in the non-displaying state when the window is in the transparent state.

Abstract: A cargo bed extension assembly includes a tailgate structured to be movable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration. The tailgate includes a cavity formed therein. An extension mechanism is positioned within in the cavity. The extension mechanism includes an extension member coupled to the tailgate so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration, and so as to enable rotation of the extension member from the extended configuration to a raised configuration. The mechanism also includes a cover portion coupled to the extension member so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the cover portion covers at least a portion of the bed.

Abstract: A spray coating application system for dispensing a liquid coating includes an elongated guide rail and a longitudinal slide plate slideably attached to the guide rail. The longitudinal slide plate is movable along a longitudinal axis of the guide rail between a first and second longitudinal positions. A transverse slide plate is attached to the longitudinal slide plate for concurrent movement therewith along the longitudinal axis of the guide rail. The transverse slide plate is moveable relative to the longitudinal slide plate in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide rail. A spray nozzle is attached to the transverse slide plate for dispersing the liquid coating as a spray. A cam follower is attached to the transverse slide plate and engagable with a cam for moving the spray nozzle relative to the longitudinal slide plate between a first transverse position and a second transverse position.

Abstract: An object detection and notification system includes an object detection system including logic that detects presence of a target object within a sensing range of a sensor and determines a direction of the target object relative to the autonomous vehicle. A notification system includes logic that provides a sound cue using a speaker to an occupant of the autonomous vehicle that is indicative of location of the target object relative to the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A power electronics assembly that includes a first cooling chip fluidly coupled to a second cooling chip. The first cooling chip and the second cooling chip each include a cooling chip fluid inlet, a cooling chip fluid outlet, and one or more cooling chip fluid channels extending between and fluidly coupled to the cooling chip fluid inlet and the cooling chip fluid outlet. The power electronics assembly also includes a semiconductor device positioned between and thermally coupled to the first cooling chip and the second cooling chip and a thermo-electric generator positioned between and thermally coupled to the semiconductor device and one of the first cooling chip or the second cooling chip.

Abstract: A button bridge system can include a curtain side airbag and a button bridge attached to the curtain side airbag. The button bridge can be attached to the curtain side airbag at various portions of the curtain side airbag such that a lower portion of curtain side airbag can be folded to a predetermined fold length. The lower portion of curtain side airbag and a corresponding portion of the button bridge can be stored in a storage position such that the button bridge is pulled taut when the curtain side airbag is deployed.

Abstract: Vehicle seat adjustment systems including cameras are disclosed. The vehicle seat adjustment system includes a camera configured to capture a seat arrangement of a front seat of a vehicle and one or more seats behind the front seat, a screen, communicatively coupled to the camera, configured to display the seat arrangement captured by the camera, an input device configured to receive an input from a user for adjusting positions of the one or more seats, an actuator communicatively coupled to the input device and configured to adjust positions of the one or more seats, and a controller communicatively coupled to the camera, the screen, the input device and the actuator. The controller receives the input from the input device and instruct the actuator to adjust the positions of the one or more seats based on the input from the user.

Abstract: A vehicle hood assembly includes a hood outer panel, a hood inner panel coupled to and positioned below the hood outer panel in a vehicle vertical direction, where at least a portion of the hood inner panel is spaced apart from the hood outer panel in the vehicle vertical direction such that the hood outer panel and the hood inner panel define a gap between the hood outer panel and the hood inner panel, and a reinforcement strap coupled to at least one of the hood outer panel and the hood inner panel, the reinforcement strap including a base portion and a rippled portion that extends outward from the base portion in the vehicle vertical direction.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is provided. The hybrid vehicle includes an acceleration pedal, an engine configured to generate an engine torque based on a position of the acceleration pedal, an electronic control unit communicatively coupled to the engine and configured to calculate a target torque based on the position of the acceleration pedal, and estimate a motor-generated (MG)-assist torque based on difference between the target torque and the engine torque, a motor generator communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit and configured to generate the estimated MG-assist torque, and a power distribution unit configured to deliver the generated MG-assist torque combined with the engine torque to one or more wheels.

Abstract: A power system includes DC-DC power conversion circuitry that has a first switch and a second switch on either side of a transformer. An amount of power transfer from a primary side to the secondary side of the DC-DC power conversion circuitry is controlled based on an amount of on-time or off-time of the first switch. A power threshold is determined corresponding to a lowest amount of power transfer that results in soft switching of the second switch with a constant off-time of the first switch. The DC-DC power conversion circuitry is operated in a quasi-resonant mode when the amount of power transfer from the primary side to the secondary side of the DC-DC power conversion circuitry is less than the power threshold.

Abstract: A seat for a vehicle is provided. The seat includes a seat base and a seat back coupled to the seat base so as to be rotatable with respect to the seat base about a seat back rotation axis. The seat also includes a first linkage having a first link rotatably coupled to the seat back at a first connection and a second link rotatably coupled to the seat base at a second connection. The first link is also rotatably coupled to the second link at a third connection. The third connection is structured to be movable with respect to the seat base responsive to rotation of the seat back about the rotation axis.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises an engine compartment and a hood extending over the engine compartment. An engine is situated within the engine and a pin extends from a top side of the engine toward an interior surface of the hood. An engine cover extends between the top side of the engine and the interior surface of the hood. The engine cover includes an engine cover connection and a grommet coupled to the engine cover connection. The grommet has an entrance, a stop, and an internal cavity 143 extending through the grommet from the entrance toward the stop. The internal cavity 143 is divided into a passive cavity portion and an active cavity portion. The pin rests within the passive cavity portion without passing into the active cavity portion under normal operating conditions.

Abstract: Robots including projectors for projecting images on identified projection surfaces are disclosed. A robot includes a housing, an electronic control unit coupled to the housing, a projector coupled to the housing, a human recognition module coupled to the housing, and a projection surface identification module coupled to the housing. The projector, the human recognition module, and the surface identification module are communicatively coupled with the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit includes a non-transitory memory that stores a set of machine readable instructions and a processor for executing the machine readable instructions. When executed by the processor, the machine readable instructions cause the robot to recognize a human using the human recognition module, identify a projection surface using the projection surface recognition module, and project an image on the identified projection surface with the projector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for degassing and charging phase-change thermal devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a flask, a first shut-off valve fluidly coupled to an outlet of the flask, and a first valve fluidly coupled to the first shut-off valve by a fluid line. The system further includes a second valve fluidly coupled to the first valve, wherein the second valve is operable to be fluidly coupled to the phase-change thermal device, a second shut-off valve fluidly coupled to the second valve, a third valve fluidly coupled to the first valve, a vacuum pump fluidly coupled to the third valve, and a fluid injection device fluidly coupled to the fluid line between the first valve and the first shut-off valve. The fluid injection device draws the working fluid from the flask and injects a desired amount into the phase-change thermal device.

Abstract: A system includes energy modules that output power to an energy management bus based on load demands. An energy module includes energy cells enclosed within a module housing that provide power to the energy management bus and rotation assemblies attached on opposite ends of the module housing that provide rotational movement for the energy module. The energy module includes a local controller that controls power output from the energy cells to the energy management bus, engages a self-driving mode in response to receiving a disconnection signal from a central controller, and controls movement of the energy module in the self-driving mode to a predetermined location via the first rotation assembly and the second rotation assembly. The central controller receives a current module status from the energy modules and controls a configuration of the energy modules providing power to the energy management bus based on the current module status.

Abstract: Systems and methods for qualitative and/or quantitative indentation detection are provided. A method includes receiving imaging data comprising a plurality of indentations within a region on a surface. The method further includes obtaining a size measurement for each indentation. The method further includes calculating a number of indentations within the region are equal to or above a minimum size.

Abstract: Vehicles and vehicle systems for restricting rotation of vehicle steering systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle including a front wheel, a steering column assembly coupled to the front wheel, a steering wheel coupled to the steering column assembly, a steering rack assembly that includes a rack coupled to the front wheel, where the rack extends in a vehicle lateral direction and is translatable with respect to a body of the vehicle in the vehicle lateral direction, and a resistance device including a damper coupled to at least one of the steering rack assembly and the steering column assembly that limits a rotation of the steering column assembly.

Abstract: A metal-air battery comprising an emulsified or dispersed aqueous/ionic liquid two phase electrolyte system is provided. The two phase electrolyte system contains an aqueous phase and an ionic liquid phase wherein an amount of water exceeds the aqueous solubility of the ionic liquid. In one embodiment the metal-air battery is a lithium-air battery.

Abstract: A front grille assembly for a vehicle includes a grille deflector that allows air to flow therethrough into an engine compartment of the vehicle. A grille frame supports the grille deflector at a front of the vehicle. An air flow director fin is located on the grille frame and rearward of the grille deflector. The air flow director fin modifies a flow direction of air entering the engine compartment from an unmodified flow direction without the air flow director fin to a modified flow direction toward a region of a transmission cooler of the vehicle.