Abstract: A system for monitoring vehicle battery health having a radar antenna array, a SPR system and a battery system. The radar antenna array transmitting and receiving SPR signals. The SPR system driving the antennas to emit radar signals and receive reflection signals, and analyzing the received reflection signals. At least a portion of the battery system being disposed within a cavity of the SPR system. The SPR system detecting a condition of the battery system based on analysis of the received reflection signals.

Abstract: A location system utilizes a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) antenna array both to detect surface and subsurface road features as well as broadcast transmissions, which are used to improve localization. For example, the GPR antenna may pick up an AM tor FM radio transmission or Wi-Fi signals, and may use these to calculate or refine the estimated position of the vehicle.

Abstract: Route planning is provided to a vehicle (or vehicle driver) based at least in part on the type of vehicle and the terrain conditions between the originating location and destination. The vehicle may employ a terrain monitoring system including a surface-penetrating radar (SPR) system for obtaining SPR signals as the vehicle travels along a route; the obtained SPR signals may be used for navigation against reference images associated with the route. In some embodiments, a navigation server bases route selection in part on the terrain associated with various routes and characteristics of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for fabricating carbon nanoparticle polymer matrix composites includes the steps of: providing a nanoparticle mixture that includes carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), mixing the nanoparticle mixture and a plastic substrate into a homogenous (CNP)/polymer mixture having an interconnected network of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs); and irradiating the (CNP)/polymer mixture with electromagnetic radiation controlled to form a polymer composite and uniformly consolidate and/or interfacially bond the carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) into the polymer matrix.

Abstract: Surface-penetrating radar (SPR) is used to obtain images of a vehicle's undercarriage and employ these to identify the vehicle (or vehicle type or class). In particular, a vehicle may have a unique undercarriage SPR “signature” that remains largely stable over time, since it is not significantly affected by buildup of dirt, moisture or light debris. Even if the signature is not sufficiently differentiated from those of similar vehicles, it can be used to identify the vehicle within a class, which may be adequate for many purposes.

Abstract: A method for fabricating carbon nanoparticle polymer matrix composites includes the steps of: providing a nanoparticle mixture that includes carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), mixing the nanoparticle mixture and a plastic substrate into a homogenous (CNP)/polymer mixture having an interconnected network of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs); and irradiating the (CNP)/polymer mixture with electromagnetic radiation controlled to form a polymer composite and uniformly consolidate and/or interfacially bond the carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) into the polymer matrix.

Abstract: A location system utilizes a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) antenna array both to detect surface and subsurface road features as well as broadcast transmissions, which are used to improve localization. For example, the GPR antenna may pick up an AM or FM radio transmission or Wi-Fi signals, and may use these to calculate or refine the estimated position of the vehicle.

Abstract: Doppler analysis of surface-penetrating radar signals are utilized to compute or estimate parameters associated with vehicle motion. The Doppler shift may originate with reflections from subsurface or above-surface features ahead of (or behind) the moving vehicle, in which case a vehicle speed may be computed from the shift; or may originate with reflections from surface or subsurface features directly below the vehicle, in which case the shift corresponds to a vertical speed that may be used to sense the performance of, or changes in, the vehicle's suspension system.

Abstract: A nanostructured material includes carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), such as carbon nanotube particles (CNTs) or carbon nanofiber particles (CNFs), intercalated by intercalation nanoparticles (INPs), such as halloysite nanoparticles (HNPs), in a base material, such as a polymer. A method for making the nanostructured material includes the steps of: providing a mixture of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) having a selected composition; providing intercalation nanoparticles (INPs) configured to intercalate the carbon nanoparticles (CNPs); intercalating the carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) by mixing the intercalation nanoparticles (INPs) in a selected CNP:HNP ratio to form an intercalated material; and combining the intercalated material in a base material in a selected concentration with the base material providing a matrix for the intercalated material.

Abstract: A system for navigating a vehicle on a terrain includes a surface-penetrating radar (SPR) system having one or more micro-antenna array having a full frequency range for acquiring real-time SPR information associated with the vehicle and one or more controllers configured to determine information associated with the terrain and/or the vehicle based at least in part on the acquired real-time SPR information. In various embodiments, the micro-antenna array(s) includes multiple micro-antenna elements, each being configured to operate at a frequency range, the frequency ranges of the micro-antenna elements collectively spanning the full frequency range greater than the frequency range of an individual one of the micro-antenna elements.

Abstract: One or more vehicles in a platoon may be operated autonomously using a surface-penetrating radar (SPR) system implemented in the lead vehicle. SPR signals obtained by the system may be converted to one or more images (or scans) that provide information about the ground surface and/or other surfaces around the vehicle within a detection range of the SPR system. Based on the obtained SPR signals, the lead vehicle may create a real-time map including the SPR information and/or localize the real-time SPR information to an existing map. This real-time SPR map information may then be transmitted from the lead vehicle to succeeding vehicles in the platoon in a pass-it-down fashion for localizing the succeeding vehicles behind the lead vehicle.

Abstract: Route planning is provided to a vehicle (or vehicle driver) based at least in part on the type of vehicle and the terrain conditions between the originating location and destination. The vehicle may employ a terrain monitoring system including a surface-penetrating radar (SPR) system for obtaining SPR signals as the vehicle travels along a route; the obtained SPR signals may be used for navigation against reference images associated with the route. In some embodiments, a navigation server bases route selection in part on the terrain associated with various routes and characteristics of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for fabricating carbon nanoparticle polymer matrix composites includes the steps of: providing a nanoparticle mixture that includes carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), mixing the nanoparticle mixture and a plastic substrate into a homogenous (CNP)/polymer mixture having an interconnected network of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs); and irradiating the (CNP)/polymer mixture with electromagnetic radiation controlled to form a polymer composite and uniformly consolidate and/or interfacially bond the carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) into the polymer matrix.

Abstract: A nanostructured material includes carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), such as carbon nanotube particles (CNTs) or carbon nanofiber particles (CNFs), intercalated by intercalation nanoparticles (INPs), such as halloysite nanoparticles (HNPs), in a base material, such as a polymer. A method for making the nanostructured material includes the steps of: providing a mixture of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) having a selected composition; providing intercalation nanoparticles (INPs) configured to intercalate the carbon nanoparticles (CNPs); intercalating the carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) by mixing the intercalation nanoparticles (INPs) in a selected CNP:HNP ratio to form an intercalated material; and combining the intercalated material in a base material in a selected concentration with the base material providing a matrix for the intercalated material.

Abstract: A method for making a nanostructured material includes the steps of: providing a mixture of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) having a selected composition; providing intercalation nanoparticles (INPs) configured to intercalate the carbon nanoparticles (CNPs); intercalating the carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) by mixing the intercalation nanoparticles (INPs) in a selected CNP:HNP ratio to form an intercalated material; and combining the intercalated material in a base material in a selected concentration with the base material providing a matrix for the intercalated material.

Abstract: A method for making a nanostructured material includes the steps of: providing a mixture of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) having a selected composition; providing intercalation nanoparticles (INPs) configured to intercalate the carbon nanoparticles (CNPs); intercalating the carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) by mixing the intercalation nanoparticles (INPs) in a selected CNP:HNP ratio to form an intercalated material; and combining the intercalated material in a base material in a selected concentration with the base material providing a matrix for the intercalated material.