Abstract: A vehicle aerodynamic cover includes an upper body portion, a lower body portion and a boundary. The upper body portion defines a top edge. The lower body portion extends downwardly from the upper body portion and defines a bottom edge. The upper body portion is inclined in an inboard direction relative to the lower body portion when the aerodynamic cover is in an installed state. The boundary connects the upper and lower body portions.

Abstract: A 3D printing system includes a tank containing a liquid photopolymer resin. A textured surface is connected to the tank. The textured surface is configured such that light passes therethrough and into the liquid polymer resin. A transducer is connected to the tank. The transducer is configured to emit an acoustic wave toward the textured surface.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a door, a latch mechanism and a secondary reinforcement member (an attenuation member). The door has an inner door panel and a reinforcement member installed thereto the inner door panel. The latch mechanism is installed the inner door panel such that in a latching orientation the latch mechanism retains the door in the closed orientation and in a release orientation the door can move to the open orientation. A rearward portion of the reinforcement member is outboard and level with a portion of the latch mechanism. The secondary reinforcement member is fixedly attached to a central area of the reinforcement member spaced apart from the rearward area of the inner door panel and spaced apart from a forward area of the inner door panel. In response to an impact event, the reinforcement member deforms and contacts the latch mechanism preventing movement of the latch mechanism.

Abstract: To provide an electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery which retains the shape while retaining a discharge capacity at a high rate. An electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a current collector and an electrode active material layer arranged on a surface of the current collector, and is used for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a liquid volume coefficient of 1.4 to 2.0, in which the electrode active material layer includes an electrode active material and a binder including polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), and the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) is in a non-crystallized state and is included in the range of 0.5 to 3.3% by volume with respect to the total volume of the electrode in the electrode active material layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a conductive semiconductor substrate in which a trench is formed on the first main surface; a plurality of conductive layers, each of which is either a first conductive layer or a second conductive layer, which are laminated on one another along a surface normal direction of a side surface of the trench; and dielectric layers arranged between a conductive layer closest to the side surface of the trench among the plurality of conductive layers and the side surface of the trench, and between the plurality of corresponding conductive layers. The first conductive layer is electrically insulated from the semiconductor substrate, and the semiconductor substrate that electrically connects to the second conductive layer inside the trench electrically connects to the second electrode.

Abstract: To provide a negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that can be produced even without performing a heat treatment at a high temperature such as 2,000° C. or higher and can have the discharge capacity and the cycle characteristics (capacity retention) further increased. The negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to the invention has a configuration in which a negative electrode active material layer containing a negative electrode material and a binder is formed on the surface of a current collector. Further, the negative electrode material has a core portion including carbonaceous negative electrode active material particles; and a shell portion including a polyimide and silicon-based negative electrode active material particles and/or tin-based negative electrode active material particles.

Abstract: A vehicle management method includes calculating, based on a desired condition of each user sharing a ride on a vehicle, a first route for the vehicle to travel and a first required time for the vehicle to arrive at a destination on the first route, when a delay time with respect to the first required time exceeds a predetermined time while the vehicle is traveling along the first route, setting an alternative boarding location for a boarding location or an alternative deboarding location for a deboarding location based on the desired condition of each user, calculating a second route including the alternative boarding location or the alternative deboarding location and a second required time for the vehicle to arrive at a destination on the second route, and notifying the users of at least the alternative boarding location or the alternative deboarding location and the second required time.

Abstract: A traffic signal recognition method and a traffic signal recognition device acquire a result sequence consisting of a plurality of determination results in time-series order obtained by determining a display state of a traffic signal based on a plurality of images of a traveling direction of a vehicle, set a first threshold as a number threshold if a specific determination result which is a latest determination result among the determination results is a determination result of a permission display that allows a passage of the stop line corresponding to the traffic signal, set a second threshold smaller than the first threshold as the number threshold if the specific determination result is other than a determination result of the permission display, and output the specific determination result if a number of determination results identical to the specific determination result is greater than the number threshold.

Abstract: A driving assist method executes a lane change assist based on a generated target travel route. Upon determining the host vehicle is traveling in a road having several lanes, an determination is made as to whether or not the host vehicle is traveling in a first area where an autonomous lane change can be executed. Next, upon determining that the host vehicle is traveling in the first area, an determination is made as to whether or not the host vehicle is traveling in a predetermined range from an area border, which is a boundary between the first area and a second area where the autonomous lane change cannot be executed. Upon determining the host vehicle is traveling in a predetermined range from the area border, a control for the autonomous lane change is performed so that the host vehicle travels in a traveling lane.

Abstract: When executing the autonomous lane change control of lane change of the subject vehicle from the subject vehicle lane in which the subject vehicle travels to adjacent lane, the autonomous lane change control is executed so as to accelerate the lateral speed of the subject vehicle in the subject vehicle lane and thereafter decelerate the lateral speed in the subject vehicle lane. As a result, it takes longer for the driver of the following vehicle to confirm the lateral movement of the preceding subject vehicle during the lane change of the subject vehicle from the start of the lane change than a lane change in which the lateral speed is decelerated in the adjacent lane. Therefore, it becomes easier to recognize the lane change.

Abstract: In a structure of a disconnect plug of an electric vehicle, a plug bracket is raised from an inside of a battery unit to an inside of a bulge formed on a floor panel under rear seats for preventing a submarine motion of a passenger. In addition, a disconnect plug is detachably attached to a front face of a plug bracket, and an opening for accessing to the disconnect plug is formed on a front wall of the bulge. Further, a cover for covering the opening capable of being opened and closed is provided on a trim beneath a front face of a seat cushion of the rear seats.

Abstract: A control method is provided for controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle configured to engage a lockup clutch during a fuel cut, and to decrease a lockup hydraulic pressure at a fuel cut recovery to bring the lockup clutch to a slip engagement. The control method includes estimating a torque of the internal combustion engine generated by the fuel cut recovery when a fuel cut recovery condition is satisfied. The control method further includes decreasing a decrease amount of the lockup hydraulic pressure as the torque is greater.

Abstract: A control method is provided for controlling a lateral position of a motor vehicle. The control method includes calculating a sighting distance of a detector means embedded in the vehicle, calculating a first component of a steering angle setpoint of a steered wheels of the vehicle, and calculating a second component of the steering angle setpoint. The first component is an open loop component of a control system, while the second component is a closed loop component of the control system. The first component is weighted by a gain that is a decreasing function of the sighting distance.

Abstract: A battery manufacturing method includes forming a unit cell having a positive electrode that is obtained by a positive electrode active material layer containing an electrolytic solution being disposed on a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode that is obtained by a negative electrode active material layer containing an electrolytic solution being disposed on a negative electrode current collector, and a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes. Heat sealing a seal part that is disposed at an outer peripheral portion of the unit cell. Cooling the outer peripheral portion of the unit cell by using a cooling medium after carrying out the heat sealing of the seal part. The method is performed such that the positive electrode and the negative electrode are formed without an application film being subjected to a drying process performed through heating.

Abstract: A travel control method for a vehicle is provided, which includes autonomous steering control for autonomously controlling the steering of the vehicle. The travel control method includes: setting a plurality of cancellation thresholds corresponding to respective travel scenes, the cancellation thresholds being used for canceling the autonomous steering control and transitioning to the driver's manual operation; detecting a travel scene of the vehicle during execution of the autonomous steering control; extracting a cancellation threshold corresponding to the detected travel scene from among the plurality of set cancellation thresholds; and determining, based on the extracted cancellation threshold, whether or not to cancel the autonomous steering control and transition to the driver's manual operation.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control method for a hybrid vehicle is provided for a drive system including an internal combustion engine, a generator that is driven by the internal combustion engine, and a battery that is charged with electric power generated by the generator. A target power generated by the generator is set and the target engine output is calculated for the internal combustion engine according to the target generated power. The air density in the environment in which the vehicle travels is detected. The target engine output is corrected based on the detected air density with respect to the decrease in air density, and the generated power of the generator is made to follow the target generated power. The execution of air density correction is permitted or stopped depending on an operating state of the drive system.

Abstract: Provided is an electric vehicle control method. The electric vehicle control method includes: a disturbance torque estimation process of calculating a disturbance torque estimation value including an influence of a road surface gradient; a speed parameter acquisition process of acquiring a speed parameter relating to a vehicle speed; a stop process of calculating a stopping basis torque target value so as to converge a torque command value to the disturbance torque estimation value in accordance with a decrease of a speed parameter; and a vibration damping process of calculating a stopping correction torque target value by performing filterring on the stopping basis torque target value.

Abstract: A chargeable power of the battery is calculated based on a voltage and charge upper-limit voltage of a battery; the chargeable power and outputtable power of the charger are compared and a lower power is calculated as a first charge power; a timing that the battery temperature reaches a predetermined limit is calculated as a first timing; based on the temperature, surrounding temperature, and charge current when charging with the first charge power, a second charge power limited according to the battery temperature is calculated; by referencing a map, a charge time that comes after the first timing is calculated as a second charge time based on the state of the battery when the first timing is reached and the second charge power; and time obtained by adding the second charge time to the first charge time until the first timing is reached is calculated as the total charge time.

Abstract: A method controls a motor vehicle including a plurality of sensors for acquiring raw data relative to the environment of the vehicle and a computational unit for receiving the raw data acquired by the sensors. The method includes: the computational unit receives the raw data and processes the raw data to deduce therefrom pieces of information relative to the environment of the vehicle and coefficients of probability of error in the deduction of each piece of information, and settings for controlling the vehicle are generated depending on the pieces of information and the probability coefficients. For at least one of the sensors, a quality coefficient relative to the quality of the raw data sent by this sensor is determined, the reliability of the control settings is estimated, and a decision is made to correct or not correct the control settings depending on the estimated reliability of the control settings.

Abstract: An EGR estimation method for an internal combustion engine 1 estimates an EGR rate in an intake and exhaust system 10, 20 of an internal combustion engine, the intake and exhaust system 10, 20 of an internal combustion engine including an intake system 10, an exhaust system 20, and an EGR device 40, the EGR device 40 includes an EGR passage 41 and an EGR valve 43. The EGR estimation method includes determining a gas replacement state by exhaust gas and fresh air in an upstream EGR passage, which is a portion of the EGR passage between the EGR valve and the exhaust passage, when fuel cut of the internal combustion engine is started and the EGR valve is fully closed; and estimating the EGR rate based on a result of the determination.

Abstract: An assistance device for driving in a traffic lane for a motor vehicle includes a module for determining at least one input variable chosen from among variables related to the vehicle and variables related to the traffic lane, a module for producing a correction instruction according to the input variable, and an assistance module capable of implementing a driving assistance action according to the correction instruction. The input variable includes a lateral position of the vehicle in the traffic lane and a lateral deflection speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a battery has a stacking step in which a plurality of unit cells are stacked, the unit cells being such that a positive electrode obtained by a positive electrode active material layer containing an electrolytic solution disposed on a positive electrode current collector, and a negative electrode obtained by a negative electrode active material layer containing an electrolytic solution disposed on a negative electrode current collector with a separator interposed therebetween. In the stacking step, each time one of the unit cells is stacked, the stack of the unit cells are pressed from the stacking direction.

Abstract: The parking assistance method using a parking assistance device includes: when parking of a subject vehicle is performed in a manual mode, detecting a parking execution state of the subject vehicle and determining, based on the parking execution state, whether or not the parking toward a target parking space is necessary again; and when a determination is made that the parking toward the target parking space is necessary again, outputting, to a user interface, guidance information for switching a parking mode of the subject vehicle from the manual mode to an automated mode.

Abstract: A control method and a control device are provided for autonomously controlling a host vehicle when turning across an oncoming lane at an intersection with a signal light being green. A determination is made as to whether or not the host vehicle can make a right or left turn while a signal light is still green at a time of the right or left turn, either while the host vehicle in the left lane is waiting in a row of vehicles to make the right turn or while the host vehicle traveling in the right lane is waiting in a row of vehicles to make the left turn at an intersection during travel under autonomous driving. The host vehicle then creeps forward to a start position for starting at a next time the signal light is green upon determining the right or left turn cannot be made.

Abstract: A vehicle bumper is provided integrally to include metal beam-extension portions on both right-and-left end sides of a metal bumper-beam portion. In this vehicle bumper, the bumper-beam portion and the beam-extension portion include a vertical wall portion, an upper wall portion and a lower wall portion, and a resin reinforcing rib is joined to inner surfaces of a void formed of each of the wall portions. In addition, in this vehicle bumper, an extension dimension of the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion of the beam-extension portion is larger than an extension dimension of the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion in the bumper-beam portion, the resin reinforcing rib in the beam-extension portion is joined to the vertical wall portion, the upper wall portion, and the lower wall portion of the beam-extension portion; and the stiffness of the bumper-beam portion is higher than the stiffness of the beam-extension portion.

Abstract: A retainer is disclosed that is configured to receive at least one elongated member in a vehicle. The retainer includes a body and first and second receptacles that are supported by the body. The first receptacle defines a first channel that is configured to receive a first elongated member (e.g., a cable, a wire, a rod, etc.) and includes a first finger that extends towards the second receptacle. The second receptacle defines a second channel that is configured to receive a second elongated member (e.g., a cable, a wire, a rod, etc.) and includes a second finger that extends towards the first receptacle. In certain embodiments, the first finger and the second finger may be formed as discrete structures so as not to interfere with flexure of the first receptacle and the second receptacle during insertion and removal of the first elongated member and the second elongated member.

Abstract: A diagnosis device determines diagnoses one of primary and secondary board temperature sensors as abnormal, in response to a condition that a state in which a primary temperature sensor value and a secondary temperature sensor value deviate from each other by a predetermined value or more continues for a predetermined duration or more; performs torque limitation to limit a torque inputted from an engine to an automatic transmission, during driving in a predetermined travel section based on a predetermined condition, after the one of the primary and secondary board temperature sensors is diagnosed as abnormal; and performs transmission shift restriction to restrict shifting of the automatic transmission along with the torque limitation, in response to a condition that the one of the primary and secondary board temperature sensors continues to be diagnosed as still abnormal after the driving in the predetermined travel section is completed.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo structure includes a reinforcement panel, an upright strut member having an upper end, a front wall structure having an attachment bracket fixed to an outboard upper end of the front wall structure and a bracket. The bracket is fixedly attached to a forward portion of the reinforcement panel and the upper end of the upright strut member. The bracket is further secured to the attachment bracket of the front wall structure via mechanical fasteners.

Abstract: A lithium-free anode having organic islands on a layer of graphene is provided. The lithium-free anode includes a current collector, a three-dimensional carbon lattice formed on the current collector, a first layer formed on the carbon lattice, a second layer formed on the first layer, and organic molecules formed on the second layer. The first layer includes copper, and the second layer includes graphene. The organic molecules are spaced apart from each other on the second layer.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes an engine cradle and an impact receiving structure. A forward end of the first side portion and a first lateral end of a front portion of the engine cradle are fixedly attached to one another. The first side portion has a rearward section and a forward section, the rearward section being horizontally oriented and the forward section extending upward and forward from the rearward section defining an acute angle therebetween, the acute angle being between 30 and 35 degrees. The impact receiving structure is installed to the first side portion of the engine cradle proximate an intersection between the first side portion and the front member. A lower surface of the impact receiving structure extends downward along the forward section of the first side portion further defining the acute angle of the forward section of the first side portion of the engine cradle.

Abstract: A system and method of displaying advertising content includes transmitting data associated with a vehicle to a data center. An advertisement is generated based on the transmitted data. The advertisement is transmitted to the vehicle. An evaluation period is determined during which the advertisement is prevented from being displayed. The advertisement is displayed on a display of an in-vehicle infotainment system following the evaluation period.

Abstract: A slidable center console for a vehicle includes a console actuator for changing a slide position of the center console, a selector switch provided on the center console for changing an operation mode of the vehicle, and a console adjustment switch for adjusting the slide position of the center console by using the console actuator.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a combustion chamber, a piston a plurality of piston rings. The combustion chamber has a bore wall. The piston is configured to move relative to the bore wall. The plurality of piston rings is provided to the piston. Each of the piston rings has a main body that is circular. Each of the pistons rings further has a stopper that protrudes from the main body.

Abstract: Provided is a software updating device for executing processing for updating software causing an equipment mounted on a vehicle to operate. The software updating device includes a controller that acquires the software, and controls the equipment by applying the software to the equipment. The controller includes a first storage unit that stores acquired first software and a second storage unit that stores acquired second software. In a state where no driving force is output by a power train of the vehicle, the controller executes processing for updating the software by changing software to be applied to the equipment from the first software to the second software.

Abstract: A flow control member for a vehicle includes a body, a plurality of mounting tabs, and a panel member. The body has an outer surface and an inner surface. An air passage through the body is defined by the inner surface. A plurality of mounting tabs extends outwardly from the outer surface of the body. Each of the mounting tabs is configured to receive a fastener to connect the flow control member to an intake passage of the vehicle. A panel member is disposed in the air passage. The panel member defines a plurality of openings therethrough.

Abstract: A lead vehicle braking warning system includes a speed sensor, a detector, a display and an electronic controller. The speed sensor measures current speed of a host vehicle. The detector detects current speed of a lead vehicle relative to the speed of the host vehicle. The display has a braking condition display area configured to display each of a plurality of braking conditions of the lead vehicle for the operator of the host vehicle. The electronic controller is in electronic communication with the speed sensor, the detector and the display. The electronic controller determines whether or not the lead vehicle is currently decelerating and determine which one of a plurality of braking conditions is currently being experienced by the lead vehicle and display information identifying the current one of the plurality of braking conditions of the lead vehicle within the braking condition display area of the display.

Abstract: A seat belt positioning mechanism that has a vehicle seat and an elastic tensioning member. The vehicle seat has a frame structure, a cushion portion covering the frame structure and a cover material covering the cushion portion. The cushion portion defines a main seating section and an outboard side seat section extending laterally outboard from a corresponding side of the main seating section. The side seat section defines an opening extending through the cushion portion. The opening is dimensioned to receive a seat belt extending therethrough. The cover material has a cover extension extending into the opening. The elastic tensioning member has a first end fixed to the frame structure and extends under the cover extension into the opening. The elastic tensioning member is dimensioned and shaped to bias the cover extension in an outboard direction against a part of the seat belt located within the opening.

Abstract: VEHICLE A vehicle includes a vehicle frame and a vehicle body. The vehicle body is supported on the vehicle frame. The vehicle body has a cabin and a cargo box. The cabin houses one or more vehicle seats of the vehicle. The cabin has a rear wall and the cargo box has a front wall that is adjacent to the rear wall. The rear wall of the cabin and the front wall of the cargo box together define a passthrough that connects a floor of the cargo box and a floor of the cabin. The passthrough is closeable by a barrier.

Abstract: A parking control method includes: performing parking control of moving a vehicle to a target parking position on the basis of an operation command acquired from an operator located outside the vehicle; when the parking control to the target parking position is suspended and the vehicle leaves the target parking position, calculating a moving direction of the vehicle on the basis of a parking direction when the vehicle is parked at a next target parking position; and moving the vehicle in the moving direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing traffic flow through an intersection are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving positional data indicating a current location of a first vehicle intending to pass through the intersection, receiving directional data indicating an intended direction of the first vehicle through the intersection from the current location, determining, based on the positional data and the directional data, whether an intended path of the first vehicle through the intersection interferes with an alternative path through the intersection, and adjusting a traffic signal at the intersection to decrease an amount of time to pass through the intersection via the alternative path.

Abstract: The vehicle control device sets a region including a stationary object on a road, calculates a passing position at which a host vehicle and an oncoming vehicle pass each other in accordance with a velocity of the host vehicle and a position and a velocity of the oncoming vehicle, calculates a first score that is a larger value as the velocity of the oncoming vehicle is greater, calculates a second score that is a larger value as an acceleration rate of the oncoming vehicle is greater, integrates the first score with the second score so as to calculate an integration score, and causes the host vehicle to decelerate when the integration score is greater than or equal to a predetermined value or causing the host vehicle to keep the velocity or accelerate when the integration score is smaller than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A first method includes identifying an occlusion in the vehicle transportation network; identifying, for a first world object that is on a first side of the occlusion, a visibility grid on a second side of the occlusion; and altering a driving behavior of the first vehicle based on the visibility grid. The visibility grid is used in determining whether other world objects exist on the second side of the occlusion. A second includes identifying a first trajectory of a first world object in the vehicle transportation network; identifying a visibility grid of the first world object; identifying, using the visibility grid, a second world object that is invisible to the first world object; and, in response to determining that the first world object is predicted to collide with the second world object, alerting at least one of the first world object or the second world object.

Abstract: A method for use in traversing a vehicle transportation network by an autonomous vehicle (AV) includes traversing, by the AV, the vehicle transportation network. Traversing the vehicle transportation network includes identifying a distinct vehicle operational scenario; instantiating a first decision component instance; receiving a first set of candidate vehicle control actions from the first decision component instance; selecting an action; and controlling the AV to traverse a portion of the vehicle transportation network based on the action. The first decision component instance is an instance of a first decision component modeling the distinct vehicle operational scenario.