Abstract: A system for acoustically monitoring a heartbeat includes an acoustic body having a first material in contact with a second material, a density and a propagation speed of sound of the first material is matched with a density and a propagation speed of sound of a human body, and a density and a propagation speed of sound of the second material is matched with the density and the propagation speed of sound of the first material, a covering material in contact with a first surface of the acoustic body formed by the first material, and a microphone acoustically coupled to a second surface of the acoustic body formed by the second material.

Abstract: A coaxially arranged energy storage device suitable for energy storage and structural support for a composite component is provided. The coaxially arranged energy storage device contains an anode core of a continuous carbon fiber;, an electrolyte coating coaxially arranged on the continuous carbon fiber core; and a cathode layer coating coaxially arranged to the continuous carbon fiber core on the electrolyte coating. The electrolyte coating comprises a gel or elastomer of a cross-linked polymer and a lithium salt and a Young's modulus of the gel or elastomer of a cross-linked polymer is from 0.1 MPa to 10 Mpa. The cathode layer comprises particles of a cathode active material embedded in a matrix of an electrically conductive polymer. Methods to prepare the coaxially arranged energy storage device are described and utilities described.

Abstract: A method of forming integrated power electronics packages by 3D-printing the PCB on and around power devices includes bonding a power device to a first surface of a cold plate and printing, using a 3D-printer, a circuit board on and around the power devices such that the circuit board includes one or more insulating portions and one or more conductive portions.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products that are configured to identify or otherwise detect the presence of bacteria, classify the identified or detected bacteria, and also predict the growth of the classified bacteria on various touchable surfaces within a vehicle passenger cabin or compartment. Such systems, methods, and computer program products are configured to identify/detect, classify, and predict the presence and/or growth of bacteria, and transmit one or more alerts, warnings, and/or reports to vehicle owners, service providers, and/or occupants based on the identification/detection, classification, and prediction.

Abstract: Methods for validating manufacturing equipment for use during the production of a motor vehicle include identifying touchpoints on the underbody of a vehicle, machining a foam underbody, and validating manufacturing equipment using the foam underbody. A three-dimensional model of the underbody of the vehicle may be used to identify the touchpoints and for machining the foam underbody. The foam underbody includes a polyurethane foam. At least the touchpoints of the foam underbody are machined to a tolerance of less than or equal to +/?3 millimeters with reference to the touchpoints on the three-dimensional model.

Abstract: A vehicle floor silencer includes at least one first wall, at least one second wall positioned opposite the first wall, and at least one floor extending between the at least one first wall and the at least one second wall. The at least one first wall, the at least one second wall, and the at least one floor combine to define a receptacle structured to open in an upward direction and to receive a wire harness therein after the floor silencer has been positioned on the floor of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods are provided for designing a microchannel layout for a flow field of a bipolar plate. The methods include defining a fluid flow optimization domain with boundary conditions and loads. Using a gradient-based algorithm together with computational fluid dynamics, the domain is then optimized for minimum flow resistance. The methods include setting the minimum inverse permeability to a non-zero value, and obtaining a grayscale design and fluid velocity field. Using Gray-Scott reaction diffusion equations with the grayscale design and fluid velocity field, the method includes obtaining a microchannel layout. The microchannel layout is then incorporated as a pattern for the flow field of the bipolar plate. In various aspects, anisotropic microchannels are provided; they may be formed using at least one of an additive manufacturing technique, a metal inverse opal electroplating technique, and a hybrid combination thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing driver habits are disclosed herein. One embodiment learns undesirable driving habits of a driver over time as the driver operates a vehicle; identifies, for each learned undesirable driving habit, one or more situational triggers associated with that undesirable driving habit; receives information from one or more of vehicle sensors and one or more external sources; predicts that the driver will engage in a particular undesirable driving habit; and carries out one or more of the following avoidance strategies to assist the driver in refraining from engaging in the particular undesirable driving habit: communicating one or more speed advisories to the driver; suggesting an alternate route to the driver; and presenting the driver with one or more of a coupon, an offer, and a discount at a place of business to encourage the driver to take a break by stopping at the place of business.

Abstract: A system for providing safety to a hoist having a hook and a chain. The system includes a safety cable threaded through an opening of the hook or an object to be lifted. The system includes a connector connected to the safety cable and the chain such that when the hook and the chain of the hoist are disconnected, the object remains connected to the chain via the connector and safety cable. The connector includes a base portion having a chain opening configured to receive the chain, and a first cable opening configured to receive the safety cable. The connector includes a top portion configured to be coupled to the base portion and cover a portion of the chain opening such that the base portion and the top portion, when coupled together, remain at a substantially fixed position along the length of the chain.

Abstract: A surface of a vehicle component can be dynamically deformable surface. The dynamically deformable surface can be configured to undergo deformations to dynamically form a dynamic button or other user interface element on demand. The dynamically deformable surface can include one or more biosensors. When a user engages the dynamic button with a portion of the body, the one or more biosensors can acquire user biodata. The user biodata can be used by the vehicle as input for various purposes. For instance, the vehicle can operate as a health-monitoring and/or comfort monitoring system. As a result of these arrangements, buttons and other user interface elements can appear and disappear depending on the need and/or application, providing a cleaner vehicle cockpit interface and greatly expanding the possibilities of where such buttons can be located at and how many things can be controlled by the driver using physical interfaces.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fluid flow in a fuel cell circuit of a vehicle. A system may have a fuel cell stack configured to receive hydrogen gas. The system may have a current sensor configured to detect current flowing through the fuel cell stack. The system may have a plurality of actuators, which may include at least one injector, a pump, and a shut valve. The system may have an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU may estimate pressures of the hydrogen gas and non-hydrogen gases in the circuit. The ECU may determine a current increase rate based on the detected current. The ECU may apply a compensatory hydrogen gas stoic to a base hydrogen gas stoic to meet a target hydrogen gas stoic by controlling one or more of the actuators based on the estimated pressures when the current increase rate is above a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A stiffness control and systems for the same are disclosed herein. A first plate and a second plate can be connected with rigid support, a hydraulic actuator and a high roughness surface. Upon actuation, the actuator can force the high roughness surface against the first plate, thus increasing rigidity through hydraulic pressure against the first plate and the second plate. Thus, the stiffness of the surface can be altered in a variable and reversible fashion.

Abstract: An artificial muscle chair device includes a plurality of artificial muscles embedded in a chair. Each artificial muscle includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region. A first electrode and a second electrode each disposed in the electrode region of the housing. The artificial muscle chair device further includes a dielectric fluid disposed within the housing. The first and second electrodes electrostatically attract, inflating the expandable fluid region with dielectric fluid and thereby applying selective pressure to an outer surface of the chair.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode assembly includes positioning a layer stack comprising an electrode positioned between an electrode insulator and a support polymer in a vacuum bag, removing air from the vacuum bag thereby vacuum coupling the electrode to the electrode insulator, and removing the layer stack from the vacuum bag, where upon removal of the layer stack from the vacuum bag, the electrode remains vacuum coupled to the electrode insulator and the electrode insulator is in direct contact with the electrode, thereby forming an electrode assembly.

Abstract: A testing system includes a testing device including a display screen. The testing device can display, via the display screen, a representation of a vehicle and oscillators of the vehicle. The testing device transmits a test request that identifies a selected oscillator of the plurality of oscillators for testing. A vehicle receives the test request. An electronic control unit of the vehicle instructs the selected oscillator to generate test signals. The testing calculates a performance metric of the test signals. The testing device determines whether the selected oscillator is properly placed, functioning at a predetermined threshold, or both. Improperly placed or improperly functioning oscillators can be adjusted or replaced.

Abstract: Embodiments of a dual-sided transparent display panel are presented herein. One embodiment comprises a first panel subassembly and a second panel subassembly, each of the first and second panel subassemblies including a plurality of adjacent layers, the plurality of adjacent layers including, from an innermost layer to an outermost layer, a first electrode layer, a first polyimide layer, a liquid-crystal matrix, a second polyimide layer, a second electrode layer, and a glass layer; a waveguide disposed between an inner surface of the first electrode layer of the first panel subassembly and an inner surface of the first electrode layer of the second panel subassembly; and one or more light sources disposed along an edge of the waveguide that is perpendicular to the inner surface of the first electrode layer of the first panel subassembly and the inner surface of the first electrode layer of the second panel subassembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to apparatuses for enhanced thermal management of an inductor assembly using functionally-graded thermal vias for heat flow control in the windings of the inductor. In one embodiment, a PCB for an inductor assembly includes a top surface and a bottom surface. Two or more electrically-conductive layers are embedded within the PCB and stacked vertically between the top surface and the bottom surface. The two or more electrically-conductive layers are electrically connected to form an inductor winding. A plurality of thermal vias thermally connects each of the two or more electrically-conductive layers to a cold plate thermally connected to the bottom surface. A number of thermal vias thermally connecting each electrically-conductive layer to the cold plate is directly proportional to a predetermined rate of heat dissipation from the electrically-conductive layer.

Abstract: An electronic assembly includes a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) circumferentially disposed around a motor and a thermal management assembly (TMA) thermally connected to the flexible PCB. One or more switching semiconductor devices are disposed on a first surface of the flexible PCB. The TMA includes a cooling jacket, at least one jacket manifold formed through the cooling jacket and a thermal compensation base layer thermally coupled to the cooling jacket. The cooling jacket is mounted around a circumference of the motor and has a mounting surface concentric with the circumference of the motor. The mounting surface is coupled to the first surface of the flexible PCB. The at least one jacket manifold has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defining a fluid flow area therebetween. The thermal compensation base layer is thermally coupled to the cooling jacket and the one or more switching semiconductor devices.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for controlling torque produced by a propulsion system in a vehicle. A torque request is received for the propulsion system with the propulsion system having a motor speed of substantially zero. A first torque that meets the torque request is produced using a first motor system of the propulsion system. A first thermal condition of the first motor system is identified. Torque production is switched from the first motor system to a second motor system of the propulsion system in response to a determination that the first thermal condition meets a first set of criteria.

Abstract: Methods and systems for notifying a driver of a first vehicle of obstacles discouraging passing of a second vehicle in front of the first vehicle. The system includes a sensor of the second vehicle configured to detect spatial data in proximity of the second vehicle. The system also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) of the first vehicle. The ECU is configured to receive the spatial data from a transceiver of the second vehicle. The ECU is also configured to determine obstacle data based on the spatial data, the obstacle data identifying a presence of obstacles ahead of the second vehicle discouraging passing of the second vehicle by the first vehicle. The ECU is also configured to provide a notification to the driver of the first vehicle when the obstacle data indicates the presence of obstacles ahead of the second vehicle.