Abstract: A single stator electric machine includes a plurality of magnets for generating a first magnetic field. Each respective magnet represents a respective rotor pole. A magnet holder retains the plurality of magnets. A stator is disposed radially outward from the plurality of magnets for generating a second magnetic field. The stator includes a plurality of stator poles separated by slots with each of the stator poles having a concentrated winding with a respective number of turns formed around each respective stator pole. Each respective concentrated winding within the stator comprises non-overlapping phases which increase an active length of the windings of the stator and reduce an overhang of each respective winding with respect to each stator pole for improving torque efficiency. A number of rotor poles is at least eight and the number of rotor poles and a number of stator slots have a least common multiple of at least 36.

Abstract: A system and method for managing faults occurring in a power steering system in a vehicle is disclosed that has particular application for an MRHPS system to provide reliable functioning of the power steering system. The method includes detecting a fault condition in the MRHPS system and selecting a safe mode from a plurality of predetermined safe modes based on the fault condition. The plurality of predetermined safe modes include a normal operation mode, an engine speed follow mode, a manual mode, a fixed duty cycle mode and a voltage control mode. If a fault condition is detected, the method applies the safe mode to manage the fault condition.

Abstract: A method for improving energy efficient operation of a vehicle includes monitoring vehicle operating characteristics, modeling operation of the vehicle by utilizing the vehicle operating characteristics to estimate energy consumption rates of the vehicle across an allowable vehicle operating range, and generating a control output to the vehicle on the basis of the energy consumption rates.

Abstract: A system and method for providing autonomous and remote vehicle maintenance and repair. The system employs an on-board diagnosis and prognosis module that monitors one or more vehicle buses to identify trouble codes and other information indicating a vehicle problem. The on-board module causes a telematic device on the vehicle to broadcast a message including a problem code that identifies the problem the vehicle is having. A remote repair center may receive the message and may identify a software upgrade patch associated with the problem that can be transmitted to the vehicle to upgrade its software to correct the problem. Also, the message may be received by another vehicle that is part of a broadcast network that has previously received the software upgrade patch to fix a problem on that vehicle, where the receiving vehicle may transmit the software upgrade patch to the vehicle having the problem.

Abstract: A system and method for managing faults occurring in a power steering system in a vehicle is disclosed that has particular application for an MRHPS system to provide reliable functioning of the power steering system. The method includes detecting a fault condition in the MRHPS system and selecting a safe mode from a plurality of predetermined safe modes based on the fault condition. The plurality of predetermined safe modes include a normal operation mode, an engine speed follow mode, a manual mode, a fixed duty cycle mode and a voltage control mode. If a fault condition is detected, the method applies the safe mode to manage the fault condition.

Abstract: A method for determining a speed of a power steering pump used in a power steering assembly of a vehicle that has particular application in a vehicle using a magneto-rheological hydraulic power steering (MRHPS) system for improving the fuel efficiency and ride comfort of the vehicle, and for reliable functioning of the power steering system. The method includes determining an angle of rotation of the steering wheel and a rate of change of the angle of rotation of the steering wheel based on the angle of rotation of the steering wheel of the vehicle. The method further includes determining the speed of the vehicle and the speed of the power steering pump based on the angle of rotation of the steering wheel, the rate of change of the angle of rotation of the steering wheel and the speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: A powertrain for propelling a hybrid vehicle includes a front drivetrain, for driving a pair of front wheels, and a rear drivetrain, for driving a first and a second rear wheel, to propel the hybrid vehicle. First and second rear drive motors are operatively connected to the rear wheels to propel the hybrid vehicle. Energy is transmitted from an energy storage device to power and operate each of the first and second rear drive motors. Likewise, during regenerative braking, energy is transmitted from each of the rear drive motors to recharge the energy storage device. The first rear drive motor is operated independent of the second rear drive motor to transmit torque to vector torque between each of the rear wheels and control dynamics of the hybrid vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing vehicle diagnostic and prognostic algorithms and improving vehicle maintenance practices. The method includes collecting data from vehicle components, sub-systems and systems, and storing the collected data in a database. The collected and stored data can be from multiple sources for similar vehicles or similar components and can include various types of trouble codes and labor codes as well as other information, such as operational data and physics of failure data, which are fused together. The method generates classes for different vehicle components, sub-systems and systems, and builds feature extractors for each class using data mining techniques of the data stored in the database. The method also generates classifiers that classify the features for each class. The feature extractors and feature classifiers are used to determine when a fault condition has occurred for a vehicle component, sub-system or system.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is provided with an engine, as well as a transmission having a motor/generator, a stationary member, and a planetary gear set. The engine and the motor/generator are separately selectively connectable to one of the drive axle assemblies by engagement of different ones of the torque-transmitting mechanism to transfer torque to that drive axle assembly. One or both of the engine and the motor/generator is also selectively connectable to the other drive axle assembly by engagement of another one of the torque-transmitting mechanisms to transfer torque to the other of drive axle assembly.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is provided with an engine, as well as a transmission having a motor/generator, a stationary member, and a planetary gear set. The engine and the motor/generator are separately selectively connectable to one of the drive axle assemblies by engagement of different ones of the torque-transmitting mechanism to transfer torque to that drive axle assembly. One or both of the engine and the motor/generator is also selectively connectable to the other drive axle assembly by engagement of another one of the torque-transmitting mechanisms to transfer torque to the other of drive axle assembly.

Abstract: A method for determining a speed of a power steering pump used in a power steering assembly of a vehicle that has particular application in a vehicle using a magneto-rheological hydraulic power steering (MRHPS) system for improving the fuel efficiency and ride comfort of the vehicle, and for reliable functioning of the power steering system. The method includes determining an angle of rotation of the steering wheel and a rate of change of the angle of rotation of the steering wheel based on the angle of rotation of the steering wheel of the vehicle. The method further includes determining the speed of the vehicle and the speed of the power steering pump based on the angle of rotation of the steering wheel, the rate of change of the angle of rotation of the steering wheel and the speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a plurality of magnets for generating a first magnetic field. A magnet holder retains the plurality of magnets. A first stator is disposed radially outward from the magnet holder for generating a second magnetic field. The first stator includes a plurality of stator poles separated by slots with each of the stator poles having a concentrated winding with a respective number of turns formed around each respective stator pole. A second stator is disposed radially inward from the magnet for generating a third magnetic field. The second stator has a plurality of stator poles separated by slots with each of the stator poles having a concentrated winding with a respective number of turns formed around each respective stator pole. The magnet holder and magnets retained therein are rotatable between the first stator and second stator.

Abstract: A single stator electric machine includes a plurality of magnets for generating a first magnetic field. Each respective magnet represents a respective rotor pole. A magnet holder retains the plurality of magnets. A stator is disposed radially outward from the plurality of magnets for generating a second magnetic field. The stator includes a plurality of stator poles separated by slots with each of the stator poles having a concentrated winding with a respective number of turns formed around each respective stator pole. Each respective concentrated winding within the stator comprises non-overlapping phases which increase an active length of the windings of the stator and reduce an overhang of each respective winding with respect to each stator pole for improving torque efficiency. A number of rotor poles is at least eight and the number of rotor poles and a number of stator slots have a least common multiple of at least 36.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing vehicle diagnostic and prognostic algorithms and improving vehicle maintenance practices. The method includes collecting data from vehicle components, sub-systems and systems, and storing the collected data in a database. The collected and stored data can be from multiple sources for similar vehicles or similar components and can include various types of trouble codes and labor codes as well as other information, such as operational data and physics of failure data, which are fused together. The method generates classes for different vehicle components, sub-systems and systems, and builds feature extractors for each class using data mining techniques of the data stored in the database. The method also generates classifiers that classify the features for each class. The feature extractors and feature classifiers are used to determine when a fault condition has occurred for a vehicle component, sub-system or system.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a plurality of magnets for generating a first magnetic field. A magnet holder retains the plurality of magnets. A first stator is disposed radially outward from the magnet holder for generating a second magnetic field. The first stator includes a plurality of stator poles separated by slots with each of the stator poles having a concentrated winding with a respective number of turns formed around each respective stator pole. A second stator is disposed radially inward from the magnet for generating a third magnetic field. The second stator has a plurality of stator poles separated by slots with each of the stator poles having a concentrated winding with a respective number of turns formed around each respective stator pole. The magnet holder and magnets retained therein are rotatable between the first stator and second stator.

Abstract: A motor control strategy for a motor in a front steering system for a vehicle that reduces vibrations from the motor being transferred to a vehicle hand-wheel. The control strategy also includes operating the electric motor in a commutation freeze mode if a position error signal is less than a first predetermined threshold by sending signals to coils of the motor to prevent to the motor from rotating, operating the electric motor in a commutation normal mode if the position error signal is greater than a second predetermined threshold that is greater than the first predetermined threshold, and operating the electric motor in an angle step mode if the position error signal is between an intermediate threshold and the second threshold where the angle step mode provides a signal to the motor to move the motor forward or backward a predetermined number of motor steps, one step at a time.

Abstract: A system and method for providing autonomous and remote vehicle maintenance and repair. The system employs an on-board diagnosis and prognosis module that monitors one or more vehicle buses to identify trouble codes and other information indicating a vehicle problem. The on-board module causes a telematic device on the vehicle to broadcast a message including a problem code that identifies the problem the vehicle is having. A remote repair center may receive the message and may identify a software upgrade patch associated with the problem that can be transmitted to the vehicle to upgrade its software to correct the problem. Also, the message may be received by another vehicle that is part of a broadcast network that has previously received the software upgrade patch to fix a problem on that vehicle, where the receiving vehicle may transmit the software upgrade patch to the vehicle having the problem.

Abstract: A motor control strategy for a motor in a front steering system for a vehicle that reduces vibrations from the motor being transferred to a vehicle hand-wheel. The control strategy also includes operating the electric motor in a commutation freeze mode if a position error signal is less than a first predetermined threshold by sending signals to coils of the motor to prevent to the motor from rotating, operating the electric motor in a commutation normal mode if the position error signal is greater than a second predetermined threshold that is greater than the first predetermined threshold, and operating the electric motor in an angle step mode if the position error signal is between an intermediate threshold and the second threshold where the angle step mode provides a signal to the motor to move the motor forward or backward a predetermined number of motor steps, one step at a time.

Abstract: A method for improving energy efficient operation of a vehicle includes monitoring vehicle operating characteristics, modeling operation of the vehicle by utilizing the vehicle operating characteristics to estimate energy consumption rates of the vehicle across an allowable vehicle operating range, and generating a control output to the vehicle on the basis of the energy consumption rates.

Abstract: A powertrain for propelling a hybrid vehicle includes a front drivetrain, for driving a pair of front wheels, and a rear drivetrain, for driving a first and a second rear wheel, to propel the hybrid vehicle. First and second rear drive motors are operatively connected to the rear wheels to propel the hybrid vehicle. Energy is transmitted from an energy storage device to power and operate each of the first and second rear drive motors. Likewise, during regenerative braking, energy is transmitted from each of the rear drive motors to recharge the energy storage device. The first rear drive motor is operated independent of the second rear drive motor to transmit torque to vector torque between each of the rear wheels and control dynamics of the hybrid vehicle.