Abstract: A stator assembly typically includes at least one stator core assembly that generates a magnetic field to rotate a rotor. The stator core assembly includes a core and a coil wrapped around the core to receive a current thus generating the magnetic field. To improve the performance and manufacturability of the stator assembly, a stator core assembly may include an insulator, disposed between the coil and the core, formed as a single flat sheet. A flat manufacturing process allows greater control of the insulator geometry, a broader range of materials to form the insulator, and patterning of structural features into the insulator to improve assembly and performance. The coil of the stator core assembly may also be electrically coupled to a bus bar using a fastener process and/or a crimping process that consumes less energy and occurs at lower temperatures than conventional soldering or welding processes.

Abstract: A conventional vehicle typically behaves like a single rigid body with fixed characteristics defined during the design phase of the vehicle. The rigid nature of the conventional vehicle limits their ability to adjust to different operating conditions, thus limiting usability and performance. To overcome these limitations, a reactive vehicle may be used that includes a sensor and a reactive system. The sensor may monitor the position and/or orientation of an operator, the vehicle operating conditions, and/or the environment conditions around the vehicle. The reactive system may adjust some aspect of the vehicle based on the data acquired by the sensor. For example, the reactive system may include a video-based mirror with a field of view that changes based on the operator's movement. In another example, the reactive system may include an articulated joint that changes the physical configuration the vehicle based on the operator's movement.

Abstract: A conventional vehicle typically behaves like a single rigid body with fixed characteristics defined during the design phase of the vehicle. The rigid nature of the conventional vehicle limits their ability to interact and adapt to different environments. To overcome these limitations, an articulated vehicle may be used where one or more sections of the vehicle are reconfigurable, thus changing various aspects of the vehicle including the shape, the size, and the footprint. In one example, the articulated vehicle includes a front section and a tail section joined together by an articulated joint. The articulated joint rotates the tail section about an axis relative to the front section, thus modifying the height and the wheelbase. The vehicle also includes a morphing section to maintain continuity in the form of the vehicle and a payload positioning joint to maintain a desired orientation of a payload as the vehicle is being articulated.

Abstract: An energy storage system for use with an external device including: an energy storage cell; a microcontroller; an internal communication bus; an interface including two power terminals and a communications port electrically connected to the internal communication bus; power conversion circuitry for performing a charging operation during which energy is transferred from the power terminals to the energy storage cell and a discharging operation during which energy is transferred from the energy storage cell to the power terminals; and one or more sensors for monitoring one or more parameters of the energy storage cell, wherein it is all packaged to form a single, integrated unit.

Abstract: An energy storage system for use with an external device including: an energy storage cell; a microcontroller; an internal communication bus; an interface including two power terminals and a communications port electrically connected to the internal communication bus; power conversion circuitry for performing a charging operation during which energy is transferred from the power terminals to the energy storage cell and a discharging operation during which energy is transferred from the energy storage cell to the power terminals; and one or more sensors for monitoring one or more parameters of the energy storage cell, wherein it is all packaged to form a single, integrated unit.