Abstract: An accident severity estimation system for estimating the severity of an accident for a vehicle includes one or more microphones that capture a plurality of audio-based inputs indicative of verbal and non-verbal sounds emitted by one or more occupants of the vehicle. The accident severity estimation system also includes a vision system that captures a plurality of vision-based inputs representing image data indicative of the occupants, a motion-based input system that collects a plurality of motion-based inputs indicative of the motion of the vehicle during the accident, a thermal incident system that collects a plurality of thermal inputs indicative of thermal events within the vehicle, a propulsion system that provides a status-based input of the propulsion system of the vehicle, and one or more controllers.

Abstract: A severity estimation system for one or more occupants located in an interior cabin of a vehicle involved in a vehicle-related incident includes one or more microphones located within the interior cabin of the vehicle that capture audio-based inputs, an occupant monitoring system (OMS) that collects scene recognition inputs indicative of a status of the occupants, a restraint system that collects a plurality of restraint-based inputs indicative of one or more restraint-based mechanisms associated with an occupant of the vehicle being activated during the vehicle-related incident, a motion-based indicator system that collect the plurality of motion-based inputs indicative of the motion of the vehicle during the vehicle-related incident, and one or more controllers. The one or more controllers fuse together the audio-based indicator, the OMS indicator, the restraint-based indicator, and the motion-based indicator to determine an incident severity indicator corresponding to the one or more occupants.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for reference electrode-based battery imbalance diagnosis. In one embodiment, the techniques involve determining a state of health of a cell group, determining a state of health of a cell of the cell group, determining a cell imbalance of the cell group based on a comparison of the state of health of the cell group and the state of health of the cell, and generating an alert signal or a control signal based on the cell imbalance.

Abstract: A monitoring assembly for an electrochemical cell of a secondary lithium battery includes a porous sensory structure and a transducer. The porous sensory structure includes a sensory layer disposed on a major surface of a porous separator and a buffer layer disposed between the sensory layer and a facing surface of a negative electrode layer. The buffer layer electrically isolates the sensory layer from the facing surface of the negative electrode layer. The sensory layer includes an electrically conductive material and is configured to produce a response to an input signal or to a physical stimulus received within the electrochemical cell. The transducer is configured to process the response produced by the sensory layer to generate an output signal indicative of a diagnostic condition within the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A method for early detection of a stochastic preignition (SPI) in an internal combustion engine includes monitoring sensor data from a sensor that is coupled to the internal combustion engine of a vehicle, determining whether a SPI event will occur using the sensor data and a Hankel Alternative View of Koopman (HAVOK) model, and commanding the vehicle to take a corrective action before the SPI event occurs to prevent the SPI event from happening in response to determining that the SPI event will occur.

Abstract: A method for early detection of a stochastic preignition (SPI) in an internal combustion engine includes monitoring sensor data from a sensor that is coupled to the internal combustion engine of a vehicle, determining whether a SPI event will occur using the sensor data and a Hankel Alternative View of Koopman (HAVOK) model, and commanding the vehicle to take a corrective action before the SPI event occurs to prevent the SPI event from happening in response to determining that the SPI event will occur.

Abstract: A system for detecting and alleviating occupant seat discomfort includes a plurality of vehicle systems, a plurality of sensors, a human machine interface (HMI) and a controller. The plurality of vehicle systems control the interior environment of the vehicle. The plurality of sensors sense the interior environment of the vehicle and a condition of the occupant. The HMI receives an occupant profile. The occupant profile includes characteristics of the occupant and a plurality of occupant preferences. The controller is programmed to execute a method to adjust at least one of the plurality of vehicle systems based on the determination that the occupant is in a discomfort state.

Abstract: A reference electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell of a secondary lithium ion battery and methods of manufacturing the same. The reference electrode assembly includes a porous membrane having a major surface and a porous reference structure deposited on the major surface of the porous membrane. The porous reference structure includes a porous carbon layer and a porous reference electrode layer that at least partially overlaps the porous carbon layer on the major surface of the porous membrane.

Abstract: A vehicle, and a balancing device and method of controlling a state of charge of a reference electrode in a battery. The balancing device includes a measurement circuit and a charging circuit. The measurement circuit is configured to obtain a measurement of a reference voltage of the reference electrode. The charging circuit is configured to adjust the reference voltage based on the measurement. The state of charge of the reference electrode is controlled based on the reference voltage.

Abstract: A reference electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell includes a separator constructed from an electrically-insulating porous material. The reference electrode assembly also includes a current collector having a sputtered electrically-conducting porous layer arranged directly on the separator and a sputtered lithium iron phosphate (LFP) layer arranged directly on the electrically-conducting porous layer. The reference electrode assembly additionally includes an electrical contact connected to the current collector. A method using successive vacuum deposition of individual layers onto the separator is employed in fabricating the reference electrode assembly.

Abstract: A system for detecting a lithium dendrite in a battery cell is provided. The system includes the battery cell including an anode and a cathode. The battery cell further includes a conductive prewarning layer disposed between the anode and the cathode and constructed with a porous material. The battery cell further includes a separator layer disposed between the conductive prewarning layer and the cathode, wherein the separator layer is configured for allowing ions to pass through the separator layer. The system further includes a sensor electrically connected to the anode and the conductive prewarning layer and monitoring data related to a voltage potential between the anode and the conductive prewarning layer. The data is useful to identify a decrease in the voltage potential between the anode and the conductive prewarning layer and diagnose existence of the lithium dendrite.

Abstract: A seat system includes a seat bottom and a seat back at a rear of the seat bottom. A thermally controlled seat belt includes a lap portion and a shoulder portion. The thermally controlled seat belt can include a porous sleeve that is connected to a seat ventilation system or a vehicle ventilation system. The seat belt can alternatively or additionally include a heating fabric or thermoelectric elements.

Abstract: A vehicle, and a balancing device and method of controlling a state of charge of a reference electrode in a battery. The balancing device includes a measurement circuit and a charging circuit. The measurement circuit is configured to obtain a measurement of a reference voltage of the reference electrode. The charging circuit is configured to adjust the reference voltage based on the measurement. The state of charge of the reference electrode is controlled based on the reference voltage.

Abstract: A control system of a vehicle comprising: i) a plurality of adjustable aerodynamic control devices associated with the vehicle; ii) a fuel economy sensor configured to determine a first fuel economy measurement; and iii) an aerodynamic device controller module configured to adjust a first one of the plurality of adjustable aerodynamic control devices and to receive from the fuel economy sensor a second fuel economy measurement. The aerodynamic device controller module stores in an onboard database state information corresponding to settings of the plurality of adjustable aerodynamic control devices if the second fuel economy measurement is an improvement over the first fuel economy measurement.

Abstract: A climate control system includes a memory, a compensation module, and a climate control module. The memory is configured to store images captured by one or more image sensors. The compensation module is configured to: based on the images, estimate a clothing level of a first occupant in an interior cabin of a vehicle or receive the clothing level from at least one of an edge computing device or a cloud-based network device; determine a first EHT setpoint; and determine a first resultant EHT based on the clothing level and the first EHT setpoint. The climate control module is configured to: determine a first EHT error based on the first resultant EHT and a cabin temperature setpoint; determine a control value based on the first EHT error; and set climate control parameters to control a temperature of a first zone within the interior cabin based on the control value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for heating a vehicle window to remove ice and condensation using a carbon nanotube heating pad. The apparatus includes a user interface operative to receive a user request, a vehicle windshield, a heating pad wherein the heating pad includes a carbon nanotube heating element and a reflective surface and is oriented such that the carbon nanotube heating element is directed towards the windshield, a power supply operative to supply power to the carbon nanotube heating element in response to a control signal, and a processor operative to generate the control signal in response to the user request.

Abstract: A monitoring assembly for an electrochemical cell of a secondary lithium battery includes a porous sensory structure and a transducer. The porous sensory structure includes a sensory layer disposed on a major surface of a porous separator and a buffer layer disposed between the sensory layer and a facing surface of a negative electrode layer. The buffer layer electrically isolates the sensory layer from the facing surface of the negative electrode layer. The sensory layer includes an electrically conductive material and is configured to produce a response to an input signal or to a physical stimulus received within the electrochemical cell. The transducer is configured to process the response produced by the sensory layer to generate an output signal indicative of a diagnostic condition within the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A climate control system includes a memory, a compensation module, and a climate control module. The memory is configured to store images captured by one or more image sensors. The compensation module is configured to: based on the images, estimate a clothing level of a first occupant in an interior cabin of a vehicle or receive the clothing level from at least one of an edge computing device or a cloud-based network device; determine a first EHT setpoint; and determine a first resultant EHT based on the clothing level and the first EHT setpoint. The climate control module is configured to: determine a first EHT error based on the first resultant EHT and a cabin temperature setpoint; determine a control value based on the first EHT error; and set climate control parameters to control a temperature of a first zone within the interior cabin based on the control value.

Abstract: A reference electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell of a secondary lithium ion battery and methods of manufacturing the same. The reference electrode assembly includes a porous membrane having a major surface and a porous reference structure deposited on the major surface of the porous membrane. The porous reference structure includes a porous carbon layer and a porous reference electrode layer that at least partially overlaps the porous carbon layer on the major surface of the porous membrane.

Abstract: A battery cell thermal conditioning system for a vehicle includes a battery pack having multiple battery cells. Multiple foam layers are individually positioned between first successive ones of the battery cells. A first carbon nanotube sheet is positioned in direct contact with one of the battery cells on a first side of the foam layers and a second carbon nanotube sheet is positioned in direct contact with a different one of the battery cells on a second side of the foam layers. A cooling plate is positioned between second successive ones of the battery cells. A controller directs current flow to the first carbon nanotube sheet and the second carbon nanotube sheet when a temperature of the one of the battery cells contacted by the carbon nanotube sheet drops below a predetermined threshold temperature.