Abstract: A control device for a vehicle having: an engine; a variator arranged downstream of the engine in a power transmission path connecting the engine and drive wheels; a mechanical oil pump that is driven by the engine and supplies hydraulic pressure to the variator; and an electric oil pump that supplies hydraulic pressure to the variator, wherein the control device for the vehicle has a controller that executes a low standby control which downshifts the variator by moving a belt of the variator in a radial direction during stopping of the vehicle. The controller limits an output of the engine and increases an amount of oil discharged by the electric oil pump when executing the low standby control.

Abstract: A first multi-plate brake device and a second multi-plate brake device are arranged side by side in a direction of a rotating axis X along an inner peripheral surface of a transmission case. In the second multi-plate brake device, the snap ring is supported by a supporting portion which is formed on the first multi-plate brake device side of the snap ring and protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the transmission case radially inward to the rotating axis X. The piston retainer of the first multi-plate brake device includes an abutting portion that protrudes to the second multi-plate brake device side and abuts the supporting portion from the opposite side of the snap ring of the second multi-plate brake device. The abutting portion includes a thick portion whose radial thickness on a lower side in a vertical direction is increased as compared to on an upper side in the vertical direction based on a state of mounting the automatic transmission on a vehicle.

Abstract: A travel control method for executing autonomous lane change control of a vehicle includes, before performing two or more successive lane changes, presenting the driver with first lane change information as to whether or not to accept execution of autonomous control of the successive lane changes; when detecting a first acceptance input made by the driver indicating that the driver accepts the execution of the autonomous control, executing first autonomous lane change control; then presenting the driver with second lane change information as to whether or not to accept execution of the autonomous lane change control after the first lane change; and when detecting a second acceptance input made by the driver, executing the autonomous lane change control after the first lane change. An action load of the second acceptance input is set smaller than an action load of the first acceptance input.

Abstract: A vehicle door assembly includes a first molding, a second molding and an end cap. The first molding is configured to be installed to a first door component. The second molding is configured to be installed to a second door component. The first and second moldings at least partially define a vehicle window opening. The end cap supports an end of the first molding to an end of the second molding. The end cap has an extension extending across a gap at least partially defined by the first and second moldings to fill the gap.

Abstract: A base material is provided for molding in which reinforcing fibers are oriented at three or more different orientation angles. In this base material, the reinforcing fibers oriented at one or two of the three or more orientation angles are continuous fibers, and the reinforcing fibers oriented at the other orientation angles are discontinuous fibers.

Abstract: An indicator lamp of the present invention includes a lamp body, a light source unit disposed inside the lamp body, and a light transmissive resin member disposed at a position for transmitting light that is emitted from the light source unit and for outputting the light from the lamp body. The light source unit emits red light having a maximum value of light intensity at a wavelength of 600 nm or longer and 700 nm or shorter. The light transmissive resin member has an L* value of 35 or less, a transmittance of light having a wavelength of 675 nm of 90% or greater and a total light transmittance of 5% or greater in the state in which an optical path length of transmitting light is 2 mm. This configuration provides an indicator lamp with excellent design that shows its presence by showing a red chromatic tone when a light source is turned on and that shows a black color tone when the light source is turned off.

Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed that includes a vehicle body and at least one sensor assembly that is supported on the vehicle body. The at least one sensor assembly is configured to detect an external object and includes a housing portion and a sensor that is supported within the housing portion such that the sensor is oriented at a fixed (e.g., downward) angle.

Abstract: A vehicle control device or method controls an output of a drive source of a vehicle based on a color of an illuminated signal of a traffic light in a vehicle-advancing direction during travel in autonomous driving. The vehicle control device includes a control unit that estimates the color of the currently illuminated signal of the traffic light based on oncoming vehicle information and controls the output of the drive source based on an estimation result when the color of the illuminated signal of the traffic light cannot be acquired by the onboard camera. The control unit limits the output of the drive source and reduces a vehicle speed from a current vehicle speed to a vehicle speed at which fuel efficiency is superior to that at the current vehicle speed when the color of the illuminated signal of the traffic light is estimated to be red.

Abstract: An anticipating module for a device for controlling, in real time, the path of a motor vehicle includes a sub-module for computing a turning command for compensating for the curvature of a bend in the lane of the vehicle and a variable-gain device that is connected to an output of the computing sub-module. The gain of the variable-gain device is connected to a controller to adjust the gain so as to decrease the lateral offset between the centre of gravity of the vehicle and the centre of the lane of the vehicle depending on the result of the comparison of components of a vector of current measurements of state variables of the device to one another and to a detection threshold, the output of the variable-gain device being the steering command for compensating for the curvature of the bend.

Abstract: A transmission case having a storage area inside for an assembling member, includes a first opening in the storage area; a seating portion provided in the storage area and on which the assembling member inserted from an opening direction of the first opening is to be seated; and a mirror-finished portion allowing an opposite portion of the assembling member facing the seating portion to be visually recognized when the assembling member is being inserted to the first opening from the opening direction.

Abstract: A driving control method comprises: acquiring a destination of a vehicle; referring to a first map that includes identification information of a travel lane and a second map that does not include the identification information of the travel lane; calculating a route from a current position of the vehicle to the destination; when traveling along a first route included in the route and belonging to the first map, setting first driving control, while when traveling along a second route included in the route and belonging to the second map, setting second driving control with a lower level of autonomous driving than that of the first driving control; and creating a driving plan for the vehicle to travel along the route with contents of the set driving control. A driving control apparatus is based on the method.

Abstract: The lock-up control unit is configured to: in a case where the normal mode is selected, disengage the lock-up clutch when a vehicle speed decreases and reaches a first vehicle speed while the vehicle is traveling in a state where the lock-up clutch is engaged, in a case where the eco mode is selected, disengage the lock-up clutch when the vehicle speed decreases and reaches a second vehicle speed in a brake operation OFF state while the vehicle is traveling in the state where the lock-up clutch is engaged, in the case where the eco mode is selected, disengage the lock-up clutch when the vehicle speed decreases and reaches a third vehicle speed in a brake operation ON state while the vehicle is traveling in the state where the lock-up clutch is engaged, and set the third vehicle speed to a vehicle speed lower than the first vehicle speed, and set the second vehicle speed to a vehicle speed higher than the first vehicle speed.

Abstract: A control method for a hybrid vehicle is provided. The hybrid vehicle includes an electric motor (13) that drives the vehicle to travel, a generator (12) that supplies power to the electric motor (13), and an engine (11) that drives the generator (12). The control method includes: when bringing the electric motor (13) into a regenerative state, operating the generator to drive the engine (11) in a state in which fuel supply to the engine (11) is cut, thereby executing, in accordance with required deceleration, the motoring control for consuming the output power of the electric motor (13); and when increasing the rotational speed of the engine (11) due to an increase in the required deceleration upon execution of the motoring control, setting the rotational speed of the engine (11) such that the change rate of the rotational speed of the engine (11) increases as the consumed power by the motoring control increases.

Abstract: A vehicle idling stop control device has switches that detect an operation of opening a driver's door and an unbuckling of a driver's seat belt as disembarkation operations by a driver. When a disembarkation operation performed by the driver is detected during an idling stop, the idling stop is cancelled and the engine is restarted upon detecting a disembarkation operation performed by a driver during the idling stop. Also, restarting of the idling stop is prevented due to ending of the disembarkation operation performed by the driver until after the vehicle starts traveling. Thus, unnecessary automatic stopping and automatic restarting of the engine are thereby avoided when the vehicle sets off without the driver actually exiting the vehicle.

Abstract: In a transmission case, a pattern exerting a water repellent effect is provided around a connection portion for a connection with an electrical component. A water passage is provided on an upper surface of an outer peripheral surface of the transmission case. A drain portion is provided on a downstream side of the water passage. The drain portion is a through hole provided in the transmission case, the through hole connecting with the water passage.

Abstract: Provided is a cooling system for a power conversion device that includes a radiator, a radiator fan supplying air to the radiator, and a power conversion device including a plurality of electric components and a casing housing the plurality of electric components inside. The casing includes a base portion which is formed of a non-metallic material and on which the plurality of electric components is placed and a cover portion formed of a metallic material, fixed to the base portion, and covering a periphery of the plurality of electric components. A refrigerant channel through which a refrigerant cooling the plurality of electric components flows is formed in the base portion of the casing, and the casing is disposed at a position where an airflow of the radiator fan is applied to the cover portion.

Abstract: A engine starting method is carried out to start an engine of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a first hub, a second hub, and a damper. The damper connects the first hub and the second hub in a power transmission path between the engine and a generator capable of power generation and powered travel. The engine starting method determines whether or not the engine needs to be started, begins to crank the engine via the generator when the engine needs to be started, performs a first ignition when torque fluctuation caused by torsion in the first hub and the second hub is in a range of being absorbable by the damper during the cranking, and suppresses engine torque generated by the first ignition below engine torque generated by second and subsequent ignitions.

Abstract: A vehicle engine cradle structure includes a front member, a rear assembly and a side member. The front member extends in a vehicle lateral direction and has a first outboard end and a second outboard end. The rear assembly extends in the vehicle lateral direction and has a first outboard area and a second outboard area opposite the first outboard area. The first side member has a first forward end, a first rearward end and a first forward outboard portion all being formed as a single monolithic unitary element. The first forward end is fixedly attached to the first outboard end of the front member. The first rearward end is fixedly attached to the first outboard area of the rear assembly. The first forward outboard portion extends in an outboard direction from the first outboard end of the front member defining an off-center impact area.

Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a fuel cell system having a fuel cell stack, a reformer configured to reform a raw fuel and supply the reformed raw fuel to the fuel cell stack, a fuel flow rate control unit configured to control a flow rate of the raw fuel supplied to the reformer, an air supply pipe configured to supply oxygen to the raw fuel, and a combustor configured to mix a cathode discharged gas and an anode discharged gas discharged from the fuel cell stack and combust the mixed gas.

Abstract: A processor is configured to execute instructions stored in a memory to identify distinct vehicle operational scenarios; instantiate decision components, where each of the decision components is an instance of a respective decision problem, and where the each of the decision components maintains a respective state describing the respective vehicle operational scenario; receive respective candidate vehicle control actions from the decision components; select an action from the respective candidate vehicle control actions, where the action is from a selected decision component of the decision components, and where the action is used to control the AV to traverse a portion of the vehicle transportation network; and generate an explanation as to why the action was selected, where the explanation includes respective descriptors of the action, the selected decision component, and a state factor of the respective state of the selected decision component.

Abstract: An all-solid-state battery comprises a lithium anode, a cathode, solid electrolyte and a protective layer between the solid electrolyte and the lithium anode. The protective layer comprises an ion-conducting material having an electrochemical stability window against lithium of at least 1.0 V, a lowest electrochemical stability being 0.0 V and a highest electrochemical stability being greater than 1.0 V. More particularly, when the solid electrolyte is LiSiCON, the electrochemical stability window is at least 1.5 V, the lowest electrochemical stability is 0.0 V and the highest electrochemical stability is greater than 1.5 V. When the solid electrolyte is sulfide-based, the electrochemical stability window is at least 2.0 V, the lowest electrochemical stability is 0.0 V and the highest electrochemical stability is greater than 2.0 V.

Abstract: A control method controls an electric four-wheel-drive vehicle to switch a drive torque distribution between a first distribution prioritizing energy efficiency and a second distribution prioritizing driving performance. The distribution is set to the second distribution where wheel slip is detected during a trip, and returned to the first distribution once the vehicle has stopped. When wheel slip is detected at least during acceleration, the distribution is switched from the first distribution to the second distribution. When wheel slip is detected during deceleration, a slip experience flag is set. The slip experience flag is maintained at least until starting off in a subsequent trip. Where the slip experience flag has been set, the distribution is maintained as the second distribution when the vehicle has stopped, and where the slip experience flag has not been set, the distribution is returned to the first distribution upon the vehicle being stopped.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine (1) for a vehicle is equipped with a variable compression ratio mechanism (2) capable of changing the mechanical compression ratio. An idle stop, which is for automatically stopping the internal combustion engine (1) when the vehicle stops, and a sailing stop, which is for stopping the internal combustion engine (1) in conjunction with the release of a forward clutch (8) during inertial travel, are carried out. A target compression ratio during normal travel is set on the basis of the load and rotation speed of the internal combustion engine (1). During an idle stop the target compression ratio is set to an idle stop restart compression ratio (?is). During a sailing stop the target compression ratio is set to a sailing stop restart compression ratio (?ss). The sailing stop restart compression ratio (?ss) is lower than the idle stop restart compression ratio (?is).

Abstract: A method of operating a 3-D printer apparatus includes a tank structure with a bottom wall with a printing area defined above and spaced apart from the bottom wall. A gas permeable liquid within the tank overlays the bottom wall of the tank structure defining a first mobile layer below the printing area. An inhibition liquid within the tank overlays the gas permeable liquid defining a second mobile layer below the printing area. A polymerizable resin overlays the inhibition liquid and flows into the printing area. Positioning of an object carrier controlled such that a lower surface of the object carrier is initially located within the polymerizable resin and within the printing area. Operation of a resin curing device beneath the bottom wall provides light to the printing area polymerizing predetermined portions of the polymerizable resin forming an object attached to the lower surface of the object carrier.

Abstract: A shifter assembly for a vehicle includes: a body; a shift lock; and a shift lock lever that is supported by the body such that the shift lock lever is movable between a first position and a second position to cause corresponding movement of the shift lock between a locked position, in which the vehicle is immovable, and an unlocked position, in which the vehicle is movable. The shift lock lever includes a first end portion, and an opposite second end portion that is configured for contact with the shift lock. The second end portion is generally L-shaped in configuration, and defines an interior region that is configured to receive the shift lock to inhibit (if not entirely prevent) contact between the shift lock and other components of the vehicle to reduce any likelihood of inadvertent disengagement of the shift lock and unintended movement of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method is provided for checking engagement and disengagement of a parking brake finger, which selectively blocks or blocks a shaft of the transmission. A motor-driven rotary selection plate is selectively controlled to butt against the transmission casing at the two ends of its travel, and is immobilized therebetween in a first functional engagement position and in a second functional disengagement position that correspond to the Park and non Park positions of the parking brake finger when the drive motor of the plate stops exerting torque thereon. The angular movements of the plate between its abutment positions are measured and incremented using a computer to determine whether the engagement position and disengagement position of the plate that is reached every time the drive motor is stopped corresponds to a command instruction given to the motor.

Abstract: In a recovery control method for a secondary battery that includes a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material, a solid electrolyte, and a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material containing at least a lithium metal or a lithium alloy, and is fastened from an outside, the recovery control method includes: measuring cell resistance of the secondary battery; calculating a recovery limit resistance value indicating an upper limit value of resistance that ensures recovering the secondary battery from a depth of charge/discharge of the secondary battery, a cell temperature of the secondary battery, and a pressure applied to the secondary battery; and inhibiting charging/discharging the secondary battery and executing recovery control that recovers the secondary battery when a resistance value of the cell resistance is equal to or less than the recovery limit resistance value.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a canister that adsorbs evaporative fuel generated in the fuel tank for an internal combustion engine. The hybrid vehicle can drive a drive wheel even when the internal combustion engine is stopped. When the internal combustion engine of the hybrid vehicle is stopped and a prescribed set of conditions is satisfied, the internal combustion engine is rotated by the generator. When the internal combustion engine of the hybrid vehicle is rotated by the generator, the evaporative fuel adsorbed in the canister is supplied to the upstream side of an upstream side exhaust catalytic converter device. In the hybrid vehicle, the introduced evaporative fuel as reducing agent is adsorbed in the upstream side exhaust catalytic converter device and a downstream side exhaust catalytic converter device.

Abstract: A boarding/deboarding point providing system includes a probe vehicle group, a data server, and an on-board unit or a mobile terminal. When vehicle data transmitted from the probe vehicle group are input, the data server extracts a boarding/deboarding point suitable for boarding a vehicle or deboarding a vehicle from the vehicle data, and stores the point while updating the boarding/deboarding point information database. When a request for boarding/deboarding point information is received from the on-board unit or the mobile terminal, the boarding/deboarding point information stored in the boarding/deboarding point information database is searched for a boarding/deboarding point that meets the request conditions, and the search result that includes the boarding/deboarding point is transmitted to the on-board unit or the mobile terminal.

Abstract: A bolt of the present invention has a composition comprising: 0.50 mass % or greater and 0.65 mass % or less of carbon (C), 1.5 mass % or greater and 2.5 mass % or less of silicon (Si), 1.0 mass % or greater and 2.0 mass % or less of chromium (Cr), 0.2 mass % or greater and 1.0 mass % or less of manganese (Mn), 1.5 mass % or greater and 5.0 mass % or less of molybdenum (Mo), wherein a total amount of phosphorous (P) and sulfur (S) as impurities is 0.03 mass % or less, the remaining is iron (Fe), and the bolt comprises an iron based oxide film with a film thickness of 3 ?m or greater and 20 ?m or less on the surface thereof. The bolt has excellent delayed fracture resistance and reliably provides a fastening axial force.

Abstract: A system for an automated vehicle includes a user input interface and an electronic controller. The electronic controller is programmed with instructions to operate at least one aspect of the automated vehicle, is configured to process information input through the user input interface, the information including data directed to predetermined parameters related to the at least one aspect of the automated vehicle at a predetermined location, and update the instructions based on the information to alter the least one aspect of the automated vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle drivetrain includes a driveshaft, a driveshaft joint and a boot. The driveshaft joint is configured to be coupled to an end of the driveshaft. The boot is disposed over the driveshaft joint. The boot has an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner and outer walls are separated by an empty space.

Abstract: A 3-D printer apparatus (three-dimensional printer apparatus) includes a bottom structure of a tank. The tank defines a printing area located above and spaced apart from the bottom structure. The bottom structure includes oxygen releasing electrodes. A resin curing device is configured to selectively provide light to the printing area. The electronic controller controls operation of the resin curing device and the oxygen releasing electrodes. The electronic controller selectively operates areas of the oxygen releasing electrodes thereby releasing oxygen to predetermined locations below the printing area in order to temporarily prevent the polymerization of a polymerizable resin within predetermined locations of the printing area during the printing process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for predicting component failure in a vehicle and alerting a driver based thereon. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving sensor data from at least one vehicle sensor over a period of time, processing the sensor data using a predictive model to detect an anomaly indicative of an upcoming component failure, determining a severity of the upcoming component failure based on at least one operating characteristic of the vehicle, and providing an alert to the driver of the vehicle regarding the severity of the upcoming component failure.

Abstract: Autonomous vehicle operation with explicit occlusion reasoning may include traversing, by a vehicle, a vehicle transporation network. Traversing the vehicle transportation network can include receiving, from a sensor of the vehicle, sensor data for a portion of a vehicle operational environment, determining, using the sensor data, a visibility grid comprising coordinates forming an unobserved region within a defined distance from the vehicle, computing a probability of a presence of an external object within the unobserved region by comparing the visibility grid to a map (e.g., a high-definition map), and traversing a portion of the vehicle transportation network using the probability. An apparatus and a vehicle are also described.

Abstract: A proactive pedal algorithm is used to modify an accelerator pedal map to ensure the deceleration when the accelerator pedal is released matches driver expectation. Modifying the accelerator pedal map provides the driver of a vehicle the sensation that the vehicle resists moving when travelling in dense scenes with potentially high deceleration requirements and coasts easily in scenes with low deceleration requirements. The accelerator pedal map is modified based on a scene determination to classify other remote vehicles as in-lane, neighbor-lane, or on-coming.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure has a vehicle frame structure, a cabin structure, a cargo area structure and an elastic bumper element. The cabin structure is installed to a forward portion of the vehicle frame structure and defines a passenger compartment. The cabin structure also has a rearward wall. The cargo area structure is installed to a rearward portion of the vehicle frame structure. The cargo area structure has a forward wall spaced apart from the rearward wall of the cabin structure. The elastic bumper element is installed to one of the rearward wall or the forward wall such that in response to flexing of the vehicle frame structure, the elastic bumper element can contact the other of the rearward wall or the forward wall thereby restricting direct contact between the rearward wall and the forward wall.

Abstract: A control method of an engine system is a method of controlling the engine system including an engine with a combustion chamber; a fuel injection valve configured to supply fuel to the engine; and an air-fuel ratio sensor provided in a flow path of exhaust gas from the engine. In the control method, feedback control is performed so that an air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber becomes a target value by controlling the fuel injection valve, using an air-fuel ratio measured value obtained by the air-fuel ratio sensor. In the feedback control, a transfer function is used, the transfer function being obtained by system identification of a plant having the air-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber serve as an input and the air-fuel ratio measured value obtained by the air-fuel ratio sensor serve as an output.

Abstract: The control method for a constant speed running of a vehicle performs a vehicle speed control for downshifting the gear position of the automatic transmission when the acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle is larger than the determination value during the constant speed running control. In the control method, the automatic transmission includes a plurality of gear positions that can be downshifted during the constant speed running control, and among the plurality of gear positions, the determination value between the gear positions having a relatively large difference in the gear ratio between the gear positions is set to be larger than the determination value between the gear positions having a relatively small difference in the gear ratio between the gear positions.

Abstract: An EGR estimation method for estimating an EGR rate in an intake and exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, the intake and exhaust system including: an intake system including an air cleaner and an intake passage that connects the air cleaner and the engine, an exhaust system including an exhaust passage, and a supercharger that is provided in the intake passage and the exhaust passage, the intake and exhaust system including an EGR device including an EGR passage that connects the intake passage and the exhaust passage and an EGR valve, and the intake system including an intake bypass passage that connects an upstream pressure portion and a downstream pressure portion of the supercharger and a recirculation valve. The EGR estimation method includes: opening the recirculation valve during supercharging, and estimating the EGR rate after closing the EGR valve based on the EGR rate before opening the recirculation valve.

Abstract: Provided is a composite (A) including a metal plate (B) and a reinforcing member (C) that is made of a resin. The metal plate (B) includes a joint portion (2) that is continuous with one end of a body portion (1), a hole that is formed through the body portion (1) in a thickness direction of the body portion (1) in the proximity of the joint portion (2), and a guide portion provided around the hole. The reinforcing member (C) continuously includes a main portion (5), a coupling portion (6) formed in the hole (3), and a locking portion (7) that is held in close contact with a surface on another side of the body portion (1). The guide portion (4) is at least one of a protruding portion provided on at least one of a rear side and a lateral side relative to the hole (3) in a direction from the body portion (1) to the joint portion (2), and a recessed portion extended from a front side relative to the hole (3) to the hole (3) in the direction from the body portion to the joint portion.

Abstract: A vehicle drive apparatus includes an internal combustion engine, an electric-power-generating-motor gear train, a drive gear, a driven gear, a differential, a low clutch and a high clutch. The electric-power-generating-motor gear train and the driven gear are arranged on a first plane. The drive gear, the driven gear, and the differential are arranged on a second plane. The low clutch and the high clutch are arranged on a third plane.

Abstract: A vehicle travel assistance method executed by a processor comprises: setting a travel lane in which a subject vehicle travels based on detection information of a sensor equipped in the subject vehicle, identifying a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of a subject vehicle based on detection information of a sensor, calculating, based on the detection information, a first evaluation value indicating a possibility that the subject vehicle can return to the travel lane from an adjacent lane adjacent to the travel lane after overtaking the preceding vehicle, calculating a shortening width of travel time shortened by overtaking the preceding vehicle based on the vehicle speed of the subject vehicle and the vehicle speed of the preceding vehicle, and determining whether or not to overtake the preceding vehicle based on the first evaluation value and the shortening width.

Abstract: A vehicle HVAC noise control system includes an air handler, a blower motor, an audio event device and a controller. The air handler is connected to a passenger compartment. The blower motor is operably connected to the air handler to provide a plurality of airflow rates for air flowing into a passenger compartment. The audio event device produces an audio event to the passenger compartment. The controller is operatively connected to the blower motor and the audio event device. The controller controls operation of the blower motor initially at an operating airflow rate and subsequently switches to a noise reducing airflow rate in response to a signal from the audio event device indicating that the audio event device will subsequently produce the audio event.