Abstract: A power control system for a vehicle includes a charge port and a contactor connected to the charge port and including a first plurality of switches. An energy storage system includes a second plurality of switches and one or more battery packs. A bi-directional DC-DC converter is connected between the energy storage system and a plurality of vehicle loads. A controller is configured to control states of the first and second plurality of switches to configure in a plurality of modes including a range improvement mode, a first charging mode to perform charging at a first voltage level, a second charging mode to perform charging at a second voltage level, a battery preconditioning mode; and an accessory load support mode.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques for analyzing a capacitance value in an electric motor inverter are disclosed. A processor is coupled to a DC-AC inverter, which includes a capacitor across its terminals and is powered by a battery. The processor performs resistor switching to enable singular, periodic measurement of the capacitance. The measured value is compared with a nominal or beginning of life (BOL) value. An alert may be sent if the capacitance has degraded beyond a threshold. In other aspects, the DC torque ripple envelop is used to measure capacitance. The outcome is compared with the other tests to assess consistency. An inconsistent outcome may identify potential resistor degradation.

Abstract: A system comprises a computer including a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions such that the processor is programmed to receive, at a deep neural network, an image captured by an image capture device. The processor is also programmed to generate a predicted distortion map based on the image and update at least one weight of the deep neural network based on a loss function of the deep neural network.

Abstract: A battery system includes: a first positive terminal, a second positive terminal, and a negative terminal; at least two battery modules, each including switches and at least three strings of battery cells configured to, via the switches, at different times be: connected in series and to the first positive terminal; connected in parallel and to the second positive terminal; and disconnected from both of the first and second positive terminals; and a switch control module configured to, when a fault is diagnosed in one of the strings of one of the battery modules: at least one of: actuate the switches and isolate the one of the battery modules from the first and second positive terminals; and actuate the switches and isolate the one of the strings from the first and second positive terminals; and selectively actuate the switches of the remainder of the battery modules using model predictive control.

Abstract: A vehicle and a drive system include a method of operating the vehicle. In another exemplary embodiment, a drive system of a vehicle is disclosed. The drive system includes a first sensor, a second sensor and a processor. The first sensor is disposed at a first location of the drive system for measuring a first angle of rotation. The second sensor is disposed at a second location of the drive system for measuring a second angle of rotation. The processor is configured to determine a torque transferred between the first location and the second location based on a difference between the first angle of rotation and the second angle of rotation and control an operation of the drive system based on the torque.

Abstract: An anti-lag controlled ignition system includes an engine system including a turbocharger and an exhaust manifold fluidly coupled to the turbocharger. An electronic control unit (ECU) is communicatively coupled with the engine system and is configured to receive engine data from the engine system. A virtual optimization system is communicatively coupled with the ECU, and the virtual optimization system is configured to generate calibration tables in response to the engine data from the ECU. The ECU is configured to receive the generated calibration tables and is configured to reduce turbocharger lag via enthalpy calibrations for the exhaust manifold using one or more of the calibration tables.

Abstract: A system for directing projections within a vehicle includes a projector for producing a projected image. The system also includes a projection directing module in optical communication with the projector for directing the projected image to a predetermined location. The system also includes a projection surface upon which the projected image is projected. The system also includes a controller in electrical communication with the projector and the projection directing module. The controller is programmed to configure the projection directing module to direct the projected image to a projection region of the projection surface. The controller is further programmed to project the projected image on the projection region using the projector and the projection directing module.

Abstract: A damping panel includes a first metal and a second metal. The first metal has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second metal portion has a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. A fixed region is where the second surface of the first metal is fixed to the third surface of the second metal. A non-fixed region is where the second surface is not fixed to the third surface. A cavity is disposed between the second surface and the third surface at the non-fixed region. A damping material is disposed on at least one of: at least a portion of the cavity on the second surface, at least a portion of the cavity on the third surface, at least a portion of the first surface, and at least a portion of the fourth surface.

Abstract: An electronic control unit (ECU), or node, is configured to use a single key for generating requests from a security peripheral for a MAC. The security peripheral includes the stored shared key. The security peripheral may further include a policy enabling it to detect if a request from the V-ECU is valid, in which case it generates a MAC. The security peripheral is also used to store information in a MAC Generate Allow List (MGAL). In some embodiments, the receiving nodes in a network receive data based on a security peripheral's response to a transmit nodes requests for a MAC. The receiving nodes use this knowledge to avoid being spoofed.

Abstract: A hybrid system including a high-voltage bus, a high-voltage battery electrically connected to the high-voltage bus, a fuel cell power device electrically connected to the high-voltage bus, and a drive unit electrically connected to the high-voltage bus. A controller is electrically connected to the drive unit, the fuel cell power device, and the high-voltage battery. The controller is configured to identify an application power request for the drive unit and determine a relationship between the application power request and an optimal membrane life power for the fuel cell power device. The controller is also configured to direct the fuel cell power device to operate between the optimal membrane life power and a second power. The application power request is at a power level between the optimal membrane life power and the second power.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a vehicle processor stores battery capacity data of a battery of a vehicle and includes a navigation application configured to provide a location of the vehicle and a vehicle route. A user device includes a display and data processing hardware in communication with the display. The data processing hardware executes a monitoring application in communication with the vehicle processor and executes a weather application including predicted weather data. The data processing hardware is configured to receive the vehicle route and provide a notification on the display of the user device corresponding to an installation attribute of a service station along the vehicle route.

Abstract: An accessory system for a vehicle includes a housing having a base attached to the vehicle and a projection extending from the base, the projection being fluidly coupled to a duct of the vehicle. The accessory system also includes a first vehicle accessory having a cavity configured to selectively receive the projection of the housing to selectively attach the first vehicle accessory to the housing in an engaged state.

Abstract: A system and method for additive manufacturing includes a fusing mechanism, an outlet and a controller. The system and method is performed in a chamber containing a layer of particle. The fusing mechanism transmits a beam for fusing particles in the layer of particles. The fusing mechanism is configured to move the beam in a fusing path extending from one end of the chamber to another end of the chamber in a first direction. The outlet is movable in the first direction and configured to blow air in a second direction opposite of the first direction. The controller is configured to move the outlet in the first direction and keep the outlet upstream of the beam.

Abstract: An incident evaluation system for vehicle incidents includes a first imager configured to capture image data corresponding to a first vehicle and a first vehicle processor that is communicatively coupled to the first imager and configured to receive the captured image data. The first vehicle processor is configured to generate a first vehicle report in response to an incident captured in the image data and includes a first vehicle profile including at least one of first vehicle insurance details, driver details, and pre-incident image data. The incident evaluation system also includes a server communicatively coupled to the first vehicle processor and configured to receive the first vehicle report. The server is configured to evaluate the captured image data to generate an incident report.

Abstract: A vehicle to load inverter module (V2LIM) based onboard charger (OBC). The V2LIM based OBC may include an alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter having an AC/DC input and an AC/DC output, a direct current to direct current (DC/DC) converter having a DC/DC input and a DC/DC output, and a direct current to alternating current (DC/AC) converter having a DC/AC input and a DC/AC output, and a controller configured for controlling the AC/DC converter, the DC/DC converter, and the DC/AC converter according to a split-phase load powering mode.

Abstract: A vehicular autonomous preference system includes a plurality of sensors positioned within a cabin of a vehicle, and data processing hardware including a memory storing a user profile that includes user preferences and a trainable preference model that includes a model trainer. The data processing hardware is configured to execute the model trainer in response to sensor data received from one or more of the plurality of sensors to update the user preferences in the user profile. The data processing hardware is also configured to adjust ambient controls of the vehicle based on the trainable preference model and the updated user preferences.

Abstract: Presented are liquid-gas (LG) separator assemblies for segregating air and water in fuel cell system (FCS) exhaust streams, methods for making/using such assemblies, and FCS-powered vehicles equipped with such assemblies. An LG separator assembly includes a quick-connect (QC) fitting with a fitting body having a first open end, which couples to an exhaust pipe of the FCS to thereby receive an exhaust stream expelled from the FCS. An LG separator unit has a separator body with opposite open ends, a first of which couples to a second open end of the fitting body to thereby releasably couple to the exhaust pipe and receive therefrom the exhaust stream through the QC fitting. The LG separator unit extracts liquid water entrained within the exhaust stream, ejects the extracted water through a water nozzle located within the separator body, and expels the remaining exhaust stream through a second end of the separator body.

Abstract: A cargo lift system for a vehicle includes a frame system, a deck system, and a cargo hook. The frame system is configured to be attached to the vehicle. The deck system includes a deck frame having a plurality of deck frame segments. The deck system is operable to translate along the frame system in (i) a first deployment mode where the deck frame segments cooperate to define a rigid support platform and (ii) a second deployment mode where the deck frame segments articulate to a lift position adjacent to a ground surface associated with the vehicle The cargo hook is attached to the deck system and operable to move between an extended state and a retracted state.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a part using water jet cutting includes providing a water jet cutting system having a water cutter to define a cutting stream and having a working surface. The water jet cutting system includes at least one actuator responsive to one or more control signals from a controller to move the water cutter relative to the working surface. The method includes positioning a sacrificial material system on the working surface of the water jet cutting system and positioning a stock material adjacent to the sacrificial material system, the part to be composed of the stock material. The method includes cutting the part from the stock material using the water jet cutting system.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting an operating parameter of a vehicle by processing a trailer information includes a sensor and a controller. The vehicle includes a tow hitch configured to couple with a trailer. The sensor is configured to detect if the trailer is coupled to the tow hitch. The controller includes a data processing hardware and a memory hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations including processing the trailer information to change the vehicle operating parameter to a predetermined operating parameter if the trailer is coupled to the hitch.

Abstract: A trailer backing assistance (TBA) application in a vehicle includes a vehicle attached to a trailer by a movable hitch. The TBA utilizes an HMI, sensors on the vehicle, a GPS system, and a remote computing system (RCS). A controller having a processor, memory, and input/output (I/O) communicates with the sensors, HMI, RCS and GPS via a V2I communications network. The memory stores the TBA which is executed by the processor. The TBA determines conditions have been satisfied, obtains and processes optical data from sensors and RCS, presents a vehicle environment view, prompts a vehicle operator for first and second inputs, calculates a current location of the vehicle, generates a planned path to a target location, presents an animation of the vehicle traversing the path, and continuously displays a live view of the trailer and hitch while actively adjusting on-screen instructions to guide the vehicle and trailer along the path.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base and a seat back connected to the seat base. The seat back includes a first side bolster including a first lateral surface and a second side bolster having a second lateral surface. An item restraint system including a selectively deployable restraint element is mounted adjacent to the first lateral surface and a selectively positionable hook is mounted to the second lateral surface.

Abstract: Methods and systems of controlling a vehicle. The methods and systems include switching to a second processor executed mode in response to determining that a range of perception information extends to a range end point that is closer to the vehicle than a first Look Ahead (LA) point. In the second processor executed mode: a motion planner requests a lateral controller to provide a closer LA point relative to the vehicle. The lateral controller determines the closer LA point and sends the closer LA point to the motion planner. The lateral controller generates control commands for an EPS system based on an error between a desired trajectory and an actual trajectory at the closer LA point. The motion planner generates the desired trajectory based on perception data and the closer LA point.

Abstract: A system for motion planning for a vehicle includes at least one vehicle sensor for determining information about an environment surrounding the vehicle and a controller in electrical communication with the at least one vehicle sensor. The controller is programmed to perform a plurality of measurements of a remote vehicle using the at least one vehicle sensor. The plurality of measurements includes at least a plurality of position measurements of the remote vehicle. The controller is further programmed to determine a risk score for each of a plurality of location cells in an environment surrounding the remote vehicle based at least in part on the plurality of measurements of the remote vehicle. The controller is further programmed to adjust a planned path of the vehicle based at least in part on the risk score of each of the plurality of location cells in the environment surrounding the remote vehicle.

Abstract: A road sign interpretation system includes a front-facing camera mounted on or in a vehicle collecting image data of multiple road signs. A first convolutional neural network (CNN) receives the image data from the front-facing camera and yields a set of sign predictions including one or more sign text instances. A second CNN defining a text extractor receives the image data from the front-facing camera and extracts text candidates including the multiple sign text instances. Sign and sign data localization is provided in the second CNN to compute a text order from the multiple sign text instances. A sign text synthesizer module receives individual sign text instances from the first CNN and individual ones of the sign text instances in digitized forms from an optical character recognizer (OCR). A semantic encoding and interpretation module receives the sign text instances and identifies semantics of the multiple road signs.

Abstract: A structural component for a vehicle includes a component including an interior surface defining a first hollow passage and a structural reinforcement contacting the interior surface of the component. The structural reinforcement and component define a cross-section and the structural reinforcement partially fills the cross-section. A process for forming the structural component including inserting a bladder into the first hollow passage defined by the interior surface of the component and inflating the bladder in the first hollow passage, forming a cavity between the bladder and the interior surface, filling the cavity with a polymer resin, and foaming the polymer resin. A system for forming a structural component for a vehicle includes a component including a first hollow passage defined by an interior surface of the component, a bladder insertable into the first hollow passage of the component, and a supply line connected to an interior of the bladder.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for real-time adjustment of image quality parameters. The system includes a controller configured to: acquire an image frame, having a fixed-pixel region that defines a region-of-interest, from one or more imaging devices; apply image processing techniques to determine a modified fixed-pixel region that excludes non-relevant object pixels; alter one or more image quality parameters based on statistics of pixels in the modified fixed-pixel region; and provide the altered one or more image quality parameters to the one or more imaging devices for use with subsequent image frames; wherein the one or more imaging devices produce an image that is tuned, based on the altered one or more image quality parameters, to the portions of the image in the region-of-interest that does not include the non-relevant object pixels.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base and a selectively vertically adjustable seatback coupled to the seat base. The selectively vertically adjustable seatback including a first frame component coupled to the seat base and a second frame component connected to the first frame component, the second frame component being shiftable relative to the seat base.

Abstract: A system comprises a computer including a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions such that the processor is programmed to: receive intermediate concept constraints at a neural network and train the neural network with training data, training labels, and the at least one of the data constraint, the feature constraint, or the intermediate concept constraint.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing guidance when reversing a vehicle towing a trailer. In one embodiment, a method includes: A method for providing guidance when reversing a vehicle towing a trailer, comprising: receiving, from a camera of the trailer, image data associated with an environment of the vehicle; determining, by a processor, that the camera of the trailer is at least one of partially and fully underwater; in response to the determining, determining, by the processor, at least one of underwater image data and underwater guideline data based on a correction factor associated with the water and the image data; and generating, by the processor, display data based on the at least one of underwater image data and underwater guidelines data.

Abstract: An axial flux electric motor includes a housing including an inner surface and a stator fixedly mounted in the housing. The stator includes a plurality of stator segments each supporting a winding, an inner support member defining a central passage, and an outer annular member constraining the plurality of stator segments. The outer annular member includes an outer surface portion abutting the inner surface of the housing. A thermal connection system is disposed between the outer surface portion of the outer annular member and the inner surface. The thermal connection system transfers heat from the stator into the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle, system and method of detecting an internal short in a battery pack of the vehicle. The system includes a plurality of sensors and a processor. The plurality of sensors obtains states of charge at battery cells of the battery pack. The processor discharges the battery pack to identify a first set of the battery cells based on the states of charge of the battery cells, charges the battery pack to identify a second set of the battery cells based on the states of charge of the battery cells, and generates an alarm when an intersection of the first set and the second set is non-empty.

Abstract: A battery system includes: at least two battery modules, where each of the at least two battery modules includes three strings of battery cells; and a switch control module configured to: determine state of charges (SOCs) of the strings of battery cells, respectively; determine, using model predictive control based on the SOCs, periods of phases, respectively; determine, using model predictive control based on the SOCs, periods for the strings, respectively, to be connected to a second positive terminal and a negative terminal during the phases, the determination of the periods for the strings including: setting the period for one of the strings of one of the battery modules to end before the end of a phase; and setting the periods for the other two strings of the one of the battery modules to end at the end of the phase.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle are provided. The systems and methods receive a frame of visible image data from at least one camera of the vehicle and a frame of invisible perception data from a perception sensor. The systems and methods fuse the frame of invisible perception data and the frame of visible image data to provide a fused frame of perception data. Object detection, classification and tracking are performed using a neural network based on the fused frame of perception data to provide object detection data. Steering, propulsion and/or braking of the vehicle are controlled based on the object detection data.

Abstract: An axial flux electric machine includes a casing, stator cores, windings, and fins. The casing has a hollow cylindrical shape with an inner radial surface and an outer radial surface. The stator cores are spaced circumferentially along the inner radial surface of the casing. The windings are wrapped around the stator cores. The fins project from the inner radial surface of the casing to spaces between the windings.

Abstract: A system for optimizing ownership cost of a fleet having electric vehicles includes a command unit adapted to selectively execute a simulation module, a sampling module and an optimization module. The command unit is configured to construct a multi-agent model based at least partially on historical fleet trip data and mobility pattern data of the fleet. Route data for a set of fleet tasks is obtained, including charging infrastructure data. The command unit is configured to simulate different configurations of the electric vehicles carrying out the set of fleet tasks over a predefined period, via the simulation module, based in part on the multi-agent model and the route data. The command unit is configured to determine an optimal configuration from the different configurations of the electric vehicles, via the optimization module. The optimal configuration minimizes investment and operational costs of the fleet.

Abstract: An engine block for a vehicle includes a bore surface defining a cylinder bore. The bore surface exhibits a first microstructure and includes a pattern of a plurality of cycloidal features formed in the bore surface. The plurality of cycloidal features each exhibit a first length in a first axis and a second length in a second axis arranged 90 degrees from the first axis. The plurality of cycloidal features also exhibit a ratio of the first length to the second length in a range of 1:1.5 to 1.5:1. The plurality of cycloidal features further exhibit a second microstructure including tempered martensite, wherein the second microstructure is different from the first microstructure. The engine block is included in a vehicle. The cycloidal features are formed with a laser.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide active control of rotor cooling. In a number of embodiments, a system includes a controller coupled with an electric machine having a rotor. The controller evaluates parameters related to the electric machine for flow rate requirements of the rotor, where the flow rate requirements relate to cooling of the rotor. A flow rate of a fluid for cooling the rotor is computed, where the flow rate is based on a composite of the flow rate requirements. A control valve signal is delivered to set a control valve to supply the flow rate to the rotor based on the parameters.

Abstract: An enclosure for a rotary electric machine may include a housing supporting a stator of the electric machine and first and second end plates attached to the housing and rotatably supporting a rotor at opposite ends with respective first and second bearings isolated from the end plates.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for downloading of geographic information. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided that includes the following steps: identifying, via a processor using map data, a plurality of geographic areas in which a vehicle is to travel along a selected route to a destination; identifying, via the processor using the map data, a plurality of map tiles corresponding to the plurality of geographic areas, such that each of the plurality of map tiles corresponds to a different one of the plurality of geographic areas; obtaining data access information for each of the plurality of geographic areas; and determining, via the processor, a prioritized sequence for downloading the plurality of map tiles, based on the data access information for the plurality of geographic areas.