Abstract: A vehicle includes a power plant, continuously variable transmission (CVT), drive wheels, sensors, and controller. The CVT achieves a fixed gear/positive engagement and friction drive modes, and includes an input member that receives input torque from the power plant, an output member, and a variator assembly having drive and driven variator pulleys. The pulleys are connected to each other via an endless rotatable drive element, and to a respective one of the input and output members. Pulley actuators change a CVT speed ratio. The controller calculates a relative slip of the pulleys using measured speeds and displacements from the sensors, reduces the relative slip until the relative slip is below a calibrated speed limit or within a calibrated speed range via actuator control signal to the pulley actuators, and commands the fixed gear/positive engagement mode via positive engagement control signals to the CVT until the relative slip reaches zero.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided with elastic elements that have configurable characteristics of force and displacement for a variety of applications. An elastic element is configured to deflect from a base shape when a load is applied and to resume the base shape when the load is removed. The elastic element formed of a metallic glass material. The elastic element applies a force to a moveable element.

Abstract: A powertrain includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine including a rotor, a geartrain including a pump drive mechanism, a first clutch and a second clutch and a variator for a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The internal combustion engine is rotatably coupled to the rotor of the electric machine by activation of a second clutch. The internal combustion engine is rotatably coupled to the variator by activation of first and second clutches. The rotor of the electric machine is rotatably coupled to the variator by activation of the first clutch, and the electric machine is operative in either a forward direction or a reverse direction. The geartrain is disposed to operate the pump drive mechanism to drive a fluidic pump in a first direction when the electric machine is operating in the forward direction and when the electric machine is operating in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A method, device, and system for detecting transparent elements in a vehicle environment are described. In some examples, this may include accessing an image of a scene captured by an image capture device attached to a vehicle. A reflected image present in the image may be detected. The reflected image may include a portion of the vehicle. It may be determined that the scene includes a transparent element based at least in part on detecting the reflected image present in the image.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT comprises a shaft rotatable about an axis, and variator assembly, and an actuator mechanism. The variator assembly includes a pulley supported on the shaft and having a ramp surface, and an endless rotatable device frictionally engaged with the pulley. The ramp surface inclines in an axial direction along the axis toward the endless rotatable device. The CVT further comprises an actuator mechanism that includes a wedge component that has a wedge surface interfacing with the ramp surface, and a rotary piston operatively connected to the wedge component. The rotary piston defines a first fluid chamber pressurizable to apply a rotational force that provides relative motion between the ramp surface and the wedge surface resulting in a wedge force on the ramp surface and a clamping force of the endless rotatable device on the pulley.

Abstract: A transmission includes a continuously variable unit (CVU) (20) arranged in parallel with an expansion gearset (120). The CVU (20) includes a first pulley (22) that is rotatably coupled to a second pulley (24) and an input member (12). The expansion gearset (120) includes a planetary gearset (130) that is arranged in series with a coplanar second gearset (140), and the second gearset (140) includes a first gear (142) engaged with a layshaft gear (144). The second pulley (24) is rotatably couplable to the first gear (142) of the second gearset (140). The layshaft gear (144) is engaged with a ring gear (136) and a carrier member (134) which is rotatably couplable to an output member (14). The first pulley (22) is rotatably couplable to the sun gear (132) via a first clutch (115). The transmission operates in a continuously variable mode when the first clutch (115) is deactivated, and operates in a power split mode when the first clutch (115) is activated.

Abstract: Examples of the disclosure enable a mobile device to generate high quality images. In some examples, the mobile device includes a lens assembly that includes a first lens configured to provide positive optical power, and a telephoto stage including a second lens configured to provide negative optical power, and a third lens configured to perform one or more of increasing a sharpness and decreasing a distortion of an image associated with light transmitted through the lens assembly. The lens assembly has a track length that is less than or equal to approximately 6.0 mm and a focal length that is greater than or equal to approximately 7.3 mm. Aspects enable a lens assembly to be used in a mobile device environment, such that a mobile device including and/or associated with the lens assembly is configured to take high quality images.

Abstract: Techniques for verifying a location and identification of a landing marker to aid an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver a payload to a location may be provided. For example, upon receiving an indication that a UAV has arrived to a delivery location, a server computer may process one or more images of an area that are provided by the UAV and/or a user interacting with a user device. A landing marker may be identified in the image and a representation of the landing marker along with instructions to guide the UAV to deliver the payload to the landing marker may be transmitted to the UAV and implemented by the UAV.

Abstract: A method, device, and system for detecting transparent elements in a vehicle environment are described. In some examples, this may include accessing a first image depicting a scene. The first image may include a first polarization characteristic. A second image depicting the scene may also be accessed. The second image may include a second polarization characteristic. It may be determined that the scene includes an element having transparent properties based at least in part on the first image and the second image.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for locking a cycle. A clutch system of the cycle includes a forward lock system configured to alternatively prevent or allow operation of the cycle in a forward direction. A shaft extends through the clutch system. An actuator is configured to move the forward lock system along the shaft between a lock position and a free position. A controller is configured to shift the actuator, via a signal from a processor, between the lock position and the free position. The cycle is configured to be locked against forward operation by the clutch system.

Abstract: Images captured by a camera system can be processed to detect precipitation in one or more of the images, and to generate a reconstructed image(s) without the precipitation, or with a reduced amount of the precipitation. Detection of precipitation can be based on a difference between a first feature in a first image and a second feature in a second image that corresponds to the first feature, where the first and second images were captured by different cameras at different times. A determination as to whether precipitation is present in the first image and the second image can be based at least in part on a disparity between the first feature and the second feature.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for detecting a marker (e.g., a marker that identifies a delivery location) utilizing an image captured by a camera of an unmanned aerial vehicle. A method may include obtaining marker information associated with a marker, the marker comprising a repetitive visual pattern, the marker being associated with delivery of an item by an unmanned aerial vehicle. Optical pattern information may be obtained that indicates a moiré pattern associated with the marker and the one or more cameras of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Image capture information that is associated with an image comprising the marker may be received. The marker may be detected in the image based at least in part on the image capture information and the moiré pattern associated with the marker.

Abstract: A location marker that may be used to provide information to a vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The location marker may include a plurality of lights that may be individually sequenced on and off at different times to create a time domain signal sequence that is readable by the vehicle. The lights may provide information in various different ways. The specific lights that are illuminated at a certain time may form a light pattern that includes or is associated with information. Different light patterns may be displayed over time to provide different information to the vehicle. In some embodiments, the amount of time that a light is on or off (or both) may provide information as a time domain signal sequence (e.g., flashing lights) to the vehicle. In various embodiments, the location marker may include retroreflectors arranged in a pattern used to identify the location marker.

Abstract: A continuously-variable transmission (CVT) assembly is employed for transmitting a torque from an external power-source. The CVT includes a variable-diameter input pulley and a variable-diameter output pulley, each having a respective range of adjustment. The CVT also includes a continuous torque-transmitting element extending between the variable-diameter input pulley and the variable-diameter output pulley, and thereby operatively connecting the input pulley to the output pulley. The CVT additionally includes a first elastic element having a first zero stiffness over the range of adjustment of the variable-diameter input pulley and configured to apply a first constant spring clamping force via the input pulley to the continuous torque-transmitting element.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes a first pulley, a second pulley, and an endless rotatable device operatively interconnecting the first and second pulleys. The endless rotatable device includes a device body and a plurality of device teeth protruding from the device body. Each of the first and second pulleys includes a first sheave, a second sheave, and a pulley axle operatively coupled between the first sheave and the second sheave. The pulley axle defines a pulley center. The first sheave is movable relative to the second sheave along the pulley axle. Each of the first and second sheaves includes a sheave body and a plurality of sheave teeth protruding from the sheave body. The sheave teeth are annularly arranged around the pulley center. The sheave teeth are shaped to mate with the device teeth.

Abstract: A transmission variator includes a first pulley rotatably attached to an intermediate member of a geartrain, and a second pulley rotatably attached to an output member that is rotatably coupled to the driveline. The geartrain includes an input member, a planetary gear set, a first clutch, a second clutch and an intermediate member. The second clutch is a low drag clutch. The input member rotatably couples to the prime mover. A controller includes an instruction set that is executable to activate only the first clutch in response to a request to operate the driveline in a forward direction, and activate only the second clutch in response to a request to operate the driveline in a reverse direction.

Abstract: A multiple-mode continuously-variable transmission (CVT) assembly for connecting to an external power-source is disclosed. The assembly includes a continuously-variable speed-ratio unit having an input member and a multiple fixed speed-ratio unit having another input member, wherein the multiple fixed speed-ratio unit is operatively connected to the continuously-variable speed-ratio unit. The assembly also includes a first torque-transmitting device operatively connected to each of the input members of the continuously-variable speed-ratio unit and the multiple fixed speed-ratio unit. The first torque-transmitting device is configured to receive an input torque from the external power-source. The assembly also includes an output member operatively connected to each of the continuously-variable speed-ratio unit and the multiple fixed speed-ratio unit and configured to carry an output torque from the assembly. A motor vehicle having such a multiple-mode CVT assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for providing a verification of a flight path or landing zone may be provided. For example, during delivery an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may capture one or more images of a plurality of delivery locations within an area. A computer system may generate one or more image templates or filters using the one or more images and subsequently use the image filters to verify a flight path or landing zone for a delivery by the UAV during flight.

Abstract: Systems and corresponding methods for optical monitoring of a state of charge or a state of health of a battery are described. For example, the battery monitoring system may include an imaging device that captures images of cells of the battery and determines states of charge of the cells based on observed dimensional changes over time, e.g., relative to reference markers. The observed dimensional changes may also be corrected for dimensional changes due to thermal strain. In addition, states of health of individual cells of the battery may be determined by comparing the dimensional changes of each of the cells over time. Further, the images may be captured at various frequencies, e.g., based on an expected operational duration of the battery and/or based on a current state of charge or state of health.

Abstract: Systems, automobiles, and methods are provided for warning of a potential collision between an approaching object and an opened side door of a vehicle. A system for a vehicle includes an approach sensor, a side door sensor, an alarm, and a controller. The approach sensor is configured to attach to the vehicle and to generate approach sensor data indicating an approaching object that may collide with a side door of the vehicle. The side door sensor is configured to generate door sensor data indicating an impending opening of the side door by an occupant. The alarm is configured to communicate with the occupant. The controller includes an alert initiation module configured to alert the occupant that the approaching object may collide with the side door in response to detecting the impending opening of the side door and detecting the approaching object.