Abstract: A system in a vehicle includes two or more smart battery packs to power drive units of the vehicle to move the vehicle. Each of the two or more smart battery packs includes a battery pack, and a battery management system (BMS) to monitor a state of charge of the battery pack. An energy distribution unit facilitates charge transfer among the two or more smart battery packs.

Abstract: A height adjustable top mount for adjusting a ride height of a vehicle comprising includes a top plate, a worm wheel, a core, and worm gear. The top plate is configured to mount to a body of the vehicle and movable between a first position and a second position. The worm wheel is received in the top plate and includes an inner wheel surface and an outer wheel surface. The core is received within the worm wheel and helically meshed to the inner wheel surface of the worm wheel. The worm gear is meshed to the outer wheel surface of the worm wheel. Rotation of the worm gear drives rotation of the worm wheel, rotation of the worm wheel simultaneously moves the top plate vertically relative to the core, and movement of the top plate adjusts the ride height of the vehicle in a corresponding direction.

Abstract: A multi-actuator capable vehicle headrest includes a headrest support and a multi-cam release mechanism mounted to the headrest support. The multi-cam release mechanism includes a first cam and a second cam. A headrest shell member is pivotally mounted to the headrest support through the multi-cam release mechanism. An actuator is mounted to the headrest shell member. The actuator includes a first actuator portion operable to disengage the multi-cam release mechanism based on a first input and a second actuator portion operable to disengage the multi-cam release mechanism based on a second input that is distinct from the first input allowing the multi-actuator capable vehicle headrest to transition between a deployed configuration and a folded configuration.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state electrochemical cell having a uniformly distributed solid-state electrolyte and methods of fabrication relating thereto. The method may include forming a plurality of apertures within the one or more solid-state electrodes; impregnating the one or more solid-state electrodes with a solid-state electrolyte precursor solution so as to fill the plurality of apertures and any other void or pores within the one or more electrodes with the solid-state electrolyte precursor solution; and heating the one or more electrodes so as to solidify the solid-state electrolyte precursor solution and to form the distributed solid-state electrolyte.

Abstract: A virtual LiDAR sensor system fora motor vehicle includes a plurality of camera modules and algorithms that generate a depth image, a RGB image, and a segmentation information image. The system is implemented with an algorithm that associates the backscattered signals with information from a color-reflectivity table, incident angle determination and depth information.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell generator, a rechargeable energy storage circuit, an auxiliary load, a converter circuit, and a switch circuit. The fuel cell generator is operable to generate electrical power in a stack output signal. The auxiliary load is powered by the rechargeable energy storage circuit while in a first mode, and powered by a local signal while in a second mode. The converter circuit is operable to convert the stack output signal into a plurality of recharge signals while in the first mode and in the second mode, and convert the stack output signal into the local signal while in the second mode. The switch circuit is operable switch the plurality of recharge signals to one or more electric vehicles, and switch the local signal to the auxiliary load while in the second mode.

Abstract: In various aspects, the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing an electrode for an electrochemical cell. The method includes contacting a solid electrode material and a substrate at an interface. The method further includes preparing a liquid electrode material at the interface by heating at least a portion of the solid electrode material to a first temperature. The first temperature is greater than or equal to a melting point of the solid electrode material. The method further includes creating a layer of the liquid electrode material on the substrate by moving at least one of the solid electrode material and the substrate with respect to the other of the solid electrode material and the substrate. The method further includes forming the electrode by cooling the liquid electrode material to a second temperature. The second temperature is less than or equal to the melting point.

Abstract: A cargo bed divider system for a pickup truck includes a first guide rail connectable to a first lateral side of a cargo bed, a second guide rail connectable to a second lateral side of the cargo bed, a cargo bed divider supported between the first guide rail and the second guide rail, and an adjustment mechanism connectable to a forward end of the cargo bed and the cargo bed divider. The adjustment mechanism selectively moves the cargo bed divider between a first position adjacent the forward end of the cargo bed and a second position adjacent to a rear end of the cargo bed.

Abstract: A transmission system for a vehicle includes a first helical pinion gear having a helix angle coupled to a first shaft and configured to receive an input torque. The transmission system includes a second helical pinion gear having a first helix angle coupled to a second shaft and configured to receive the input torque. The second shaft is disposed within the first shaft and rotatable within the first shaft. The transmission system includes a differential assembly having a third helical gear having the first helix angle coupled to the first helical pinion gear, and a fourth helical gear having the helix angle coupled to the second helical pinion gear. The third helical gear and the fourth helical gear are coupled to a differential gear set to drive a first output shaft and a second output shaft associated with the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and a system for user interaction with a hologram includes displaying the hologram inside a passenger compartment of the vehicle, after displaying the hologram inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, monitoring a vehicle user inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle user provided a user command, determining that the vehicle user provided the user command, and in response to determining that the vehicle user provided the user command, manipulating the hologram in accordance with the user command.

Abstract: A door molding for a door of a vehicle includes a main body securable to a door panel, and a bulb portion extending from the main body. The bulb portion includes a first bulb portion extending from the main body to a bulb peak. The first bulb portion is configured to contact a door glass of the door. A second bulb portion extends from the bulb peak to the main body. The second bulb portion includes a first contact area configured to contact a first location of the door panel, a second contact area configured to contact a second location of the door panel, and a hinge portion connecting the first contact area to the second contact area.

Abstract: A vehicular communication controller includes a microcontroller (MCU) located within a vehicle to generate, by a software component, a find service request to discover an offered service from one or more systems on a chip (SoC). The MCU may generate a service message packet that includes the find service request inserted into a payload of the find service message packet where the payload is bound to an automotive/embedded communication protocol. Using unicast or multicast, the find service message packet may be sent to one or more SoC receiving devices. The SoC receiving devices may deserialize the header and payload of the find service message packet to retrieve the find service request and generate a service directory message based on service metadata and publish a cloud event including a solicited response that is sent back to the software component.

Abstract: Presented are electric machines with optimized stator tooth geometries and multi-gauge stator conductors, methods for making/using such electric machines, and motor vehicles equipped with such electric machines. An electric machine includes a housing, a rotor assembly rotatably attached to the housing, and a stator assembly coaxial with and separated by an airgap from the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes one or more magnets mounted to a rotor core. The stator assembly includes a stator core with multiple axially elongated, circumferentially spaced stator slots, multiple radially aligned stator teeth interleaved between and separating the slots, and multiple electromagnetic windings wound through the slots. Each stator tooth has an elongated tooth body with a tooth head at a radial end of a tooth root, which attaches to a cylindrical hub of the stator core. The tooth head has an axial cross-section with a trapezoidal crown integral with a rectangular tip.

Abstract: A method of forming a thermoplastic plastic component includes applying an amount of pigmented powder to a sheet of thermoplastic, heating the sheet of thermoplastic to a selected temperature, melting the amount of pigmented powder on the sheet of thermoplastic to form a coating, re-heating the sheet of thermoplastic to another selected temperature, positioning the sheet of thermoplastic over a pattern, and vacuum forming the sheet of thermoplastic to form the sheet of thermoplastic into the pattern.

Abstract: A structural assembly includes a frame and a plurality of panels. The frame includes a wall that at least partially defines an interior region. The plurality of panels is disposed at least partially in the interior region and is coupled to the frame. The plurality of panels includes a first panel and a second panel. The first panel includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface defines a first plurality of depressions and the second surface defines a first plurality of protrusions complementary to the first plurality of depressions. The second panel includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The third surface defines a second plurality of depressions. The fourth surface defines a second plurality of protrusions complementary to the first plurality of depressions. The first panel is coupled to the second panel.

Abstract: A method for determining an optimal state-of-charge (SOC) operating window for a battery for use in an electric vehicle includes learning a pattern of periodic charging of the battery for a plurality of time periods and a pattern of periodic usage of the battery for the plurality of time periods, determining a periodic energy requirement for the battery for the plurality of time periods based on the learned patterns using a statistical model, and setting a maximum SOC level and a minimum SOC level for the SOC operating window based on two or more of the periodic energy requirement, the learned patterns and a battery chemistry of the battery.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for predicting microhardness properties of a weld that defines a weld joint between at least two workpieces. The system includes a processor programmed to: receive temperature data that includes temperature values each attributed to a corresponding one of a plurality of points of the weld at corresponding times during a welding process used to produce the weld, determine peak temperature values and cooling rate values for each of the points of the weld based on the temperature values, predict a three-dimensional (3D) distribution of microhardness values of the weld based on a machine learning method that evaluates the peak temperature values and the cooling rate values, and generate display data based on the 3D distribution of microhardness values.

Abstract: A rotor grounding system for an electric machine includes a rotor including a shaft assembly configured to rotate about an axis. A housing supports the shaft assembly for rotation of the rotor. A bearing assembly has an outer circumference disposed against the shaft assembly. A discharge bar extends through at least a part of the bearing assembly. The bearing assembly has an inner circumference disposed against the discharge bar. A discharge circuit is defined between the rotor and the housing, where the discharge circuit extends through the bearing assembly and the discharge bar.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle systems for thermal event mitigation during vehicle towing, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such intelligent control systems. A method of operating a host vehicle includes a resident or remote vehicle controller verifying the host vehicle is an incapacitated state. Responsive to the incapacitation of the host vehicle, the controller detects the host vehicle being towed by a tow vehicle and identifies a wireless-enabled portable computing device (PCD) within a predefined range of the host vehicle. Responsive to the host vehicle being towed, the controller determines if the wireless-enabled PCD is on the tow vehicle while towing the host vehicle. Upon detection of a thermal event in at least one battery cell in the host vehicle's battery system while the host vehicle is being towed, the controller responsively commands a resident vehicle subsystem to execute a control operation to mitigate the thermal event.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating image data from a vehicle having a plurality of cameras. A method includes: activating, by the processor, initial video feed from each of the plurality of cameras; determining, by the processor, configuration parameters for each of the plurality of cameras based on the initial video feed; in response to a trigger event, performing frame synchronization of subsequent video feed from each of the plurality of cameras based on the configuration parameters; and generating, by the processor, the image data based on the frame synchronization.

Abstract: A system for fuel cell membrane edge protection includes a fuel cell including a fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly. The assembly includes an anode gas diffusion electrode and a cathode gas diffusion electrode configured for facilitating an electrochemical reaction. The reaction creates water as a by-product. The assembly further includes a proton exchange membrane disposed between the electrodes and a subgasket. The subgasket includes an interior aperture portion defined by a perimeter and is connected to the anode gas diffusion electrode and the membrane about the perimeter such that an area of overlap between the subgasket, the electrode, and the membrane exists around the perimeter. The assembly further includes a carbon paper layer spanning the interior aperture portion. The layer includes patterned wettability and is configured to move the water away from the area of overlap into a center portion of the layer.

Abstract: A battery cell recycling system includes a recycling table having a first table surface opposite a second table surface and at least one collection slot defined through the first table surface and the second table surface. The battery cell recycling system includes a battery guide system to receive a battery cell including a first lead tab, a second lead tab and a pouch. The battery guide system is movable between a first position and a second position in which at least one of the first lead tab, the second lead tab and the pouch is disposed over the collection slot. The battery cell recycling system includes at least one actuator configured to move at least one cutting blade to remove at least one of the first lead tab, the second lead tab and the pouch from the battery cell in the second position.

Abstract: A mobile locker includes one or more dispensing units. Each dispensing unit consists of an accessible product space where each product space also includes a temperature monitor. A passible environmental control incudes a multiple of containers located around the perimeter of each accessible product space. Further, each of the containers incorporates a phase change material (PCM) that is used to temperature condition each accessible product space.

Abstract: The concepts include a user support system in the form of a microphone, a visual display arranged in a vehicle cabin, and a controller. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to receive, via the microphone, a voice-based request from a user, and employ a virtual assistant to determine a user interaction in real time and to determine a specific intent for the voice-based request, including capturing metadata. A user interaction routine determines a user interaction parameter associated with the virtual assistant based upon the voice-based request from the user. A user sentiment analysis routine determines a user satisfaction parameter associated with the virtual assistant based upon the voice-based request from the user. The controller responds in real-time to the voice-based request based upon the user satisfaction parameter and the user interaction parameter that are associated with the virtual assistant.

Abstract: An apparatus for a battery cell is provided. The apparatus includes the battery cell. The battery cell includes an electrode stack including at least one pair of an anode electrode and a cathode electrode and a can including a wall encapsulating the electrode stack. The battery cell further includes a positive battery terminal connected to the electrode stack and projecting outside of the can. The battery cell further includes a negative battery terminal connected to the electrode stack. The positive battery terminal and the negative battery terminal are configured for providing electrical energy. The battery cell further includes a thermal barrier adjoining the can and the positive battery terminal. The thermal barrier seals gases within the battery cell from exiting the battery cell between the can and the positive battery terminal at an ambient temperature of at least 600° C.

Abstract: A system for an augmented-virtual reality simulator using a vehicle is provided. The system includes the vehicle including a control feature configured for selective use in an actual operation mode and in a simulation mode. In the actual operation mode, the control feature is utilized to control actual operation of the vehicle. In the simulation mode, the control feature is utilized as an input device to the augmented-virtual reality simulator. The system further includes a computerized simulation controller. The controller includes programming to monitor activation of the augmented-virtual reality simulator, command activation of the simulation mode based upon the activation of the simulator, monitor inputs to the control feature, and operate the simulator based upon the inputs to the control feature. The system further includes a headset configured for being worn by a user providing a graphical rendering to the user based upon the simulator.

Abstract: An example method includes receiving a wakeup request from a device from a vehicle. The wakeup request indicates that the device desires to perform a task that consumes electrical power from a battery of the vehicle. The method further includes assigning a priority to the wakeup request. The method further includes queuing the wakeup request according to a wakeup schedule. The method further includes, responsive to a current time satisfying the wakeup schedule, performing the task based at least in part on the priority.

Abstract: A method, fuel cell system and vehicle for maintaining compression via re-compression is provided. By recovering fuel cell stacks of the fuel cell system after a pre-determined time of operation and performing re-compression on each of the recovered fuel cell stacks, power generation capacity, active area pressure and seal force is recovered to address increased contact resistance and loss of fuel cell system power generation capacity as well as decreased seal force and increased risk of reactant gas and coolant leak.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes a first plurality of battery cells, a second plurality of battery cells, and an intermediate layer arranged in a stack. Each of the first plurality of battery cells includes a first cathode, a first cathode current collector, a first anode, a first anode current collector, and a first solid state separator, and each of the second plurality of battery cells includes a second cathode, a second cathode current collector, a second anode, a second anode current collector, and a second solid state separator. The first cathode current collectors are electrically connected in parallel to a first terminal, and the second anode current collectors are electrically connected in parallel to a second terminal. The first anode current collectors of the first plurality of battery cells are electrically connected and are electrically connected to the second cathode current collectors of the second plurality of battery cells.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for testing a trailer light system including a trailer connector for coupling a first voltage to a first trailer light and a second voltage to a second trailer light, a transmission state detector for determining a vehicle transmission state, and a trailer interface module for detecting an electrical connection to a trailer at the trailer connection, and for applying the first voltage to the trailer connector and the second voltage to the trailer connector in response to the detection of the electrical connection and the vehicle transmission state being in a park state.

Abstract: A system for real-time video streaming for a vehicle includes a camera system configured to capture videos of an environment surrounding the vehicle. The system also includes a vehicle communication system configured to communicate with a remote server and a vehicle controller in electrical communication with the camera system and the vehicle communication system. The vehicle controller is programmed to determine a system enablement state. The vehicle controller is further programmed to determine a camera system configuration in response to determining that the system enablement state is a system enabled state. The vehicle controller is further programmed to capture at least one video frame using the camera system based at least in part on the camera system configuration. The vehicle controller is further programmed to transmit the at least one video frame to the remote server using the vehicle communication system.