Abstract: Presented are torque converters (TC) with hydraulic systems for converter feed and clutch control, methods for making/operating such TC assemblies, and vehicles equipped with such TC assemblies. A TC assembly includes a housing that drivingly connects to an electric motor, and an output member that drivingly connects to a multi-gear transmission. Rotatable within the TC housing are a turbine attached to the TC output member and an impeller juxtaposed with the turbine. A lockup clutch disposed inside the TC housing, between the turbine and housing, is operable to lock the housing to the output member. A disconnect clutch disposed inside the housing, between the impeller and housing, is operable to lock the housing to the impeller. A pump is attached to the TC housing and drivingly connected to the motor for feeding fluid into the housing to increase pressure within the TC chamber and activate the lockup and disconnect clutches.

Abstract: Systems and methods for responding to in a battery. A battery cell for a battery system includes a core of a known battery type, and a cell film having an initial thickness, the cell film configured as a pouch enclosing the core. The battery cell has at least one engraved groove in the cell film, the at least one engraved groove characterized by a groove thickness that is less than the initial thickness. The groove thickness configured to break open responsive to a predetermined gas pressure or target temperature in the pouch.

Abstract: A method and a system for a high-voltage (HV) battery pack having multiple rechargeable energy storage devices (RESSs) that are connectable to an external load via a power bus via a pre-charge circuit in parallel with a first electrical contactor. The RESSs are monitored via current sensors. The current sensors monitor current levels between the RESSs and the power bus, detect a low current level from one of the current sensors, identify one of the RESSs associated with the low current level, activate the respective pre-charge circuit, monitor the electrical current, and determine a state of the respective first electrical contactor based upon the electrical current.

Abstract: A charging system of a vehicle includes a charging device configured to transfer an electric charge between a battery system of the vehicle and a recipient energy storage system, the charging device including a plurality of conversion stages. The charging system also includes a switching system configured to selectively bypass one or more conversion stages during a charging process, the charging process including transferring electric charge from the battery system to the recipient energy storage system, and a first controller configured to operate the switching system based on a voltage range of a recipient charge port of the recipient energy storage system.

Abstract: An inflatable structure includes a top end cap, a bottom end cap, a bladder attached to the top and bottom end caps and configured to hold pressurized air therebetween, and a plurality of tethers disposed within the bladder, each tether in the plurality of tethers having a first end coupled to the top end cap and a second end coupled to the bottom end cap, wherein when the bladder is inflated, the bladder expands axially forcing the top end cap and the bottom end cap away from one another, the plurality of tethers adapted to restrict movement of the top end cap and the bottom end cap away from one another and limit axial expansion of the bladder, wherein, at least one of the plurality of tethers is elastic, and the inflatable structure is adapted to provide multiple support profiles that are capable of supporting compressive loading.

Abstract: Methods and systems determine resistance related constants for use by a vehicle towing a trailer. A system for controlling functions of the vehicle and the trailer includes sensors that provide sensor data. A processor performs a readiness check, based on the sensor data, by determining whether the sensor data exceeds predetermined thresholds. When the readiness check is passed, meaning the thresholds are not exceeded, and based on the sensor data, the processor computes values for constants that represent aerodynamic resistance and rolling resistance of the vehicle and the trailer. Based on the constants, the processor controls functions of the vehicle.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle communications (comm) systems provisioning enhanced vehicle-to-everything (V2X) wireless mesh network (WMN) hop propagation, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A method of controlling operation of a host vehicle includes a vehicle controller determining the host vehicle is incapacitated and then detecting the host vehicle's wireless comm device is unable to connect to a cellular or satellite communications system. Responsive to such insufficient connectivity, the controller broadcasts a V2X WMN distress message containing data specific to the host vehicle and data specific to the host vehicle's incapacitating event. Upon receipt of the distress message, a recipient vehicle's controller determines if a prior distress message for the incapacitating vehicle event was previously received and if the distress message exceeds any preset multi-hop restrictions.

Abstract: Preemptively charging rechargeable energy storage systems (RESSs) in advance of an electrical grid outage. The preemptive charging may include generating a weather map of a geographical area anticipated to be impacted with a storm or a natural event of a severity predicted to induce a power outage, which may include generating a distribution map of an electrical power distribution network within the geographical area, generating an outage map by overlaying the weather map relative to the distribution map to identify one or more intersections where the power outage is predicted, and scheduling or otherwise implementing preemptively charging of one or more the RESSs downstream of the intersections in advance of the power outage.

Abstract: Vehicles and related systems and methods are provided for assisting vehicle operation. A detection service obtains a current object location derived from one or more sensors onboard a vehicle, determines a current deviation metric associated with the current object location based on a relationship between the current object location and a preceding object location derived from the one or more sensors, and classifies the current object location into one of a plurality of different classifications based on the current deviation metric value, where a primary subset of object locations has respective values for the deviation metric that are less than a threshold. The detection service monitors a predicted path associated with the vehicle with at least the most recent object location of the primary subset to generate an alert in response to a predicted intersection with the predicted path.

Abstract: Methods and devices for processing tubular workpieces are provided. An exemplary method for processing a tubular workpiece includes providing instructions, with a computing device, for cutting the tubular workpiece according to a desired design; loading the tubular workpiece into a processing machine including a laser-cutting device and a punch bit; and operating the laser-cutting device, based on the instructions, to cut the tubular workpiece to form an opening and a slug in the opening. Further, the method includes operating the punch bit, based on the instructions, to punch the slug to remove the slug from the opening.

Abstract: An electrode for a fuel cell system is provided. The electrode includes a carbon support. The carbon support includes carbon particles each functionalized with one or more sulfur and oxygen-containing moieties. Platinum-based catalyst particles are disposed on the carbon support. Ionomer is disposed on the carbon support. A weight ratio of the ionomer to the carbon support is about 0.4 or less.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing one or more powders each formed of two or more materials. The system includes a housing having an enclosure, a crucible configured to produce a melt of a first material, a droplet device configured to receive the melt of the first material and produce a flow of droplets thereof within the enclosure, a distribution device configured to propel a second material into the droplets to mix therewith, wherein the droplets solidify to form particles of the first material, the second material, and/or a reaction product thereof, a platform within the enclosure configured to intercept the particles, and one or more generators configured to produce electromagnetic waves and/or acoustic waves to form a fluidized bed of the particles on the platform. The platform and/or the one or more generators are configured to produce, from the fluidized bed, a powder including the particles.

Abstract: A system in a vehicle includes a controller to implement a neural network to provide current commands based on inputs. The inputs include a torque input. The system also includes a current controller to provide a three-phase voltage through an inverter based on the current commands from the controller. An electric traction motor provides drive power to a transmission of the vehicle based on injection of the three-phase voltage. The current commands resulting from implementation of the neural network are corrected based on estimated torque resulting from the injection of the three-phase voltage to the electric traction motor.

Abstract: A vehicle having a Lidar system includes a cleaning apparatus that performs a method of cleaning the Lidar system. The cleaning apparatus includes a nozzle for spraying a gas onto a window of the Lidar, a pump for controlling a flow of the gas through the nozzle, and a processor. The processor is configured to control the pump to control the flow of the gas through the nozzle at a variable flow rate.

Abstract: Fuse configurations for a distributed power architecture of a vehicle is provided. The distributed power architecture includes a high-voltage battery pack having a plurality of batteries and a plurality of converters, each of the plurality of converters being configured to receive high-voltage power from one of the plurality of batteries and to provide low-voltage power to a low-voltage bus. The distributed power architecture also includes a plurality of fuses disposed on one or more of an input side and an output side of each of the plurality of converters and a vehicle controller with at least one communication link to each of the plurality of power converters. Each of the plurality of fuses are configured to selectively prevent current flow through one of the plurality of converters.

Abstract: A system for multi-mode connectivity for group vehicle activity and for over-the-air updates via time synchronized device-to-device side-link communications is provided. The system includes a remote communication device configured to transmit data, vehicles to receive the data, and a computerized controller. The controller includes programming to analyze hardware of the vehicles to identify alpha vehicles including excellent wireless capabilities, monitor signal strength between the vehicles and the remote communication device to identify vehicles including relatively strong communication strength, and determine a portion of the plurality of vehicles including highly functioning vehicles including the capabilities and communication strength. The controller generates a series of data transfers to first transfer the data from the remote communication device a highly functioning vehicle and subsequently transfer the data from the highly functioning vehicle to a second of the vehicles and transfers the data.

Abstract: An optically transparent coplanar microwave slot antenna formed between a first glass layer and a second glass layer is provided including a metal oxide layer, a first slot element and a second slot element formed in a dipole arrangement within the metal oxide layer wherein the first slot element is formed by a first triangular slot, a first trapezoidal slot, and a first rectangular slot and the second slot element is formed by a second triangular slot, a second trapezoidal slot, and a second rectangular slot, and a waveguide feedline for carrying microwave signals to the first slot element and the second slot element.

Abstract: A design for repair casting having a repairable ultra-large single-piece casting and a replacement part. The ultra-large single-piece casting includes a main body portion, at least one predefined replaceable portion integrally cast with the main body portion, and a cut-guide delineating the predefined replaceable portion from the main body portion. The cut-guide includes a continuous channel defined on an exterior surface of the single-piece casting. The cut-guide further includes a rib extending from a channel wall on the main body portion. A damaged replaceable portion is excisable from the main-body portion by cutting through the single-piece casting along the cut-guide. The excised damaged replaceable portion may be replaced with the replacement part, which has substantially the same geometry, dimensions, and mechanical properties as an undamaged replaceable portion. The replacement part may be joined to the main body portion by mechanical means or by welding.

Abstract: A system includes a reference speed module and a motor control module. The reference speed module is configured to determine a reference speed range based on a speed of a left wheel of a pair of front or rear wheels of a vehicle and a speed of a right wheel of the pair of front or rear wheels. The right wheel is disconnected from the left wheel. The motor control module is configured to control at least one of a first electric motor and a second electric motor based on the reference speed range. The first electric motor is connected to the left wheel. The second electric motor is connected to the right wheel.

Abstract: A system for sharing sensor data between a vehicle and a plurality of remote system generally includes a vehicle communication system, a three-dimensional (3D) sensor, and a controller. The controller is programmed to generate an initial 3D point cloud using the 3D sensor, generate an occupancy grid map based on the initial 3D point cloud, and select a producer remote system to provide data for a cell of the occupancy grid map classified as a first blindspot. The controller is further programmed to send a data request to the producer remote system using the vehicle communication system, receive data from the producer remote system including information about the cell of the occupancy grid map classified as the first blindspot, generate a merged 3D point cloud by merging the data received from the producer remote system with the initial 3D point cloud, and identify objects using the merged 3D point cloud.

Abstract: A system comprises a computer including a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions such that the processor is programmed to: determine, via a trained neural network model, a route for a vehicle to traverse based on vehicle sensor data, and update the trained neural network model based on data received from at least one of an edge computing device or an infrastructure (V2I) device.

Abstract: A vehicle seat system includes a seat including a seat base and a seat back having a first end pivotally connected to the seat base and a second end. A belt guide system is mounted adjacent to the second end. The belt guide system includes a guide mechanism supportable in a vehicle. The guide mechanism including a guide track having a first end section, a second end section, and an intermediate section extending between the first end and the second end. A shuttle arranged at the guide track. The shuttle is shiftable between the first end section and the second end section. An actuator is operatively connected to the shuttle. The actuator is operable to shift the shuttle between the first end section and the second end section. A belt guide is mounted to the shuttle.

Abstract: A method of repairing an ultra-large single-piece cast component of a vehicle body. The method includes the steps of locating a damaged portion of the cast component, determining an extent of the damaged portion of the ultra-large cast component, defining a cut-line sectioning off the damaged portion from an undamaged portion of the ultra-large cast component, cutting along the cut-line to excise the damaged portion from the undamaged portion of the ultra-large cast component, and joining a replacement piece to the undamaged portion of the ultra-large cast component. The replacement piece is fabricated based on the original manufacturer's geometry and dimensional data of the excised damaged portion. The undamaged portion of the ultra-large cast component remains on the vehicle body during the repair.

Abstract: A battery cell is provided. The battery cell includes an external container and an electrode stack disposed within the external container. The electrode stack includes at least one pair of an anode and a cathode. The battery cell further includes an electrolyte disposed within the external container and an O2 scavenger material disposed within the external container. The O2 scavenger material is configured for absorbing oxygen gas generated within the electrode stack.

Abstract: Presented are charger coupler locking systems with control logic for managing vehicle charging, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A method of controlling charging of a vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving a signal indicating a charger coupler of a vehicle charging system is inserted into a charger port of the vehicle and, when received, responsively commanding an actuator device of a coupler locking system to move a locking element against a latching element of the charger coupler. The controller then receives sensor data from a position sensing device indicative of a travel position of the locking element; from this sensor data, the controller determines if the locking element's travel position is displaced from a predefined lock position at which the locking element contacts the latching element. If so, the controller responsively commands the vehicle's battery charging system to disable charging of the battery assembly.

Abstract: Method for sensor alignment including detecting a depth point cloud including a first object and a second object, generating a first control point in response to a location of the first object within the depth point cloud and a second control point in response to a location of the second object within the depth point cloud, capturing an image of a second field of view including a third object, generating a third control point in response to a location of the third object detected in response to the image, calculating a first reprojection error in response to the first control point and the third control point and a second reprojection error in response to the second control point and the third control point, generating an extrinsic parameter in response to the first reprojection error in response to the first reprojection error being less than the second reprojection error.

Abstract: A system for unsupervised radar calibration of a vehicle is contemplated. The system may include a radar having a plurality of antennas configured to transmit radar signals and responsively receive reflected signals. The system may further include a calibration controller configured to determine a plurality of detections from the reflected signals corresponding with unsupervised objects in the vicinity of the vehicle, and based on the detections, to generate a calibration matrix sufficient for calibrating the radar.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that include one or more sensors configured to obtain sensor data pertaining to both a driver of a vehicle and an environment surrounding the vehicle; and a processor that is coupled to the one or more sensors and that is configured to at least facilitate determining, using the sensor data, when the driver is incapacitated; determining, using the sensor data, when a threat is detected for the vehicle; and taking action to avoid the threat when the driver is incapacitated and the threat is detected, via instructions provided by the processor.

Abstract: A sensor alignment method including detecting, detecting an object within a first sensor field of view and a second sensor field of view, detecting a plurality of depth point clouds of the first field of view in response to the object being stationary, the host vehicle being stationary, and the distance between the object and the host vehicle being less than a threshold distance, aggregating the plurality of depth point clouds into an aggregated depth point cloud, detecting a first location of an edge of the object in response to the aggregated depth point cloud, detecting a second location of the edge of the object using an edge detection algorithm on the image, generating a lidar to camera alignment in response to a difference between the first location and the second location.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and control system are described for operating a multiphase motor drive system including a rotary electric machine and an inverter. An AC choke filter is arranged proximal to output leads from the inverter. A reference temperature associated with the AC choke filter is determined along with an operating point of the electric machine. Operation of the inverter is controlled based upon a temperature of the AC choke filter, the reference temperature, and an operating point of the electric machine. This includes modifying a switching frequency and a PWM type in a manner that reduces the AC choke filter temperature by reducing the occurrence of switching events to protect the AC choke filter based on temperature feedback.

Abstract: A system for enhanced satellite communication coverage via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The system may include a satellite configured for orbiting Earth, a vehicle configured for ground transportation on Earth, and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operable for relaying communication signals between the vehicle and the satellite. The system may be configured for transmitting control instructions to the UAV for controlling aerial positioning of the UAV relative to the vehicle and the satellite. The control instructions may specifying a roll, a pitch, and a yaw for orientating the UAV to point towards the satellite.