Abstract: One or more aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a synchronized actuation system for holding samples (e.g., battery cells) in place such that ultrasonic sensors can make physical contacts with the samples to transmit and receive acoustic signals across the samples for purposes of making ultrasound measurements of the battery sample. The movement of sensors on both sides of a sample can be synchronized (as opposed to being handled via independent actuators) to improve signal repeatability.

Abstract: One or more aspects of the present disclosure are directed to fixturing mechanisms for placement of battery cells inside an ultrasonic testing system. The disclosed fixturing mechanisms enable accurate and predictable loading, placement, and unloading of battery cells inside ultrasonic testing systems allowing all faces of battery cells of different types (e.g., pouch cells, prismatic cells, cylindrical cells, etc.) to have sufficient exposure to transmission and reception of acoustic signals. This fixturing mechanism furthers the goal of providing a robustly designed ultrasonic test system and producing accurate inspection results for batteries.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a suite of testing apparatuses and non-destructive, acoustic inspection methods for scanning and inspecting batteries to determine and characterize various physical phenomena in these batteries. In one aspect, a rastering system for non-invasive and acoustic inspection of battery cells includes a holder for placing a battery cell inside the system for the acoustic inspection, at least one transducer configured to perform acoustic measurements on the battery cell, and a controller configured with inspection parameters for performing the acoustic measurements, the inspection parameters being dynamic and interchangeable depending on at least one or more of a shape, a size, and a form factor of the battery cell.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for measuring process characteristics including electrolyte distribution in a battery cell. A non-destructive method for analyzing a battery cell includes determining acoustic features at two or more locations of the battery cell, the acoustic features based on one or more of acoustic signals travelling through at least one or more portions of the battery cell during one or more points in time or responses to the acoustic signals obtained during one or more points in time, wherein the one or more points in time correspond to one or more stages of electrolyte distribution in the battery cell. One or more characteristics of the battery cell are determined based on the acoustic features at the two or more locations of the battery cell.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for measuring process characteristics including electrolyte distribution in a battery cell. A non-destructive method for analyzing a battery cell includes determining acoustic features at two or more locations of the battery cell, the acoustic features based on one or more of acoustic signals travelling through at least one or more portions of the battery cell during one or more points in time or responses to the acoustic signals obtained during one or more points in time, wherein the one or more points in time correspond to one or more stages of electrolyte distribution in the battery cell. One or more characteristics of the battery cell are determined based on the acoustic features at the two or more locations of the battery cell.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include efficiently surfacing the availability of constrained transportation options such that the utilization of those options is at least partially maximized and directed to users for whom the options would be a positive user experience. During busy times, requests for transportation with a high estimated arrival time and/or to a low-demand area may not be the most efficient matches for constrained transportation options such as autonomous vehicles. Instead, waiting for a transportation request with a lower estimated arrival time and/or to a higher-demand area may be a better choice in terms of maximizing the percentage of time an autonomous vehicle spends transporting passengers and reducing the time passengers spend waiting for an autonomous vehicle. In some embodiments, dynamically altering the mode-availability radius of an autonomous vehicle may increase the utilization of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for measuring process characteristics including electrolyte distribution in a battery cell. A non-destructive method for analyzing a battery cell includes determining acoustic features at two or more locations of the battery cell, the acoustic features based on one or more of acoustic signals travelling through at least one or more portions of the battery cell during one or more points in time or responses to the acoustic signals obtained during one or more points in time, wherein the one or more points in time correspond to one or more stages of electrolyte distribution in the battery cell. One or more characteristics of the battery cell are determined based on the acoustic features at the two or more locations of the battery cell.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing non-invasive stimulation of an animal's body, the apparatus comprising: a connector body having a conductor and a pair of stimulators electrically coupled to said conductor, the pair of stimulators being disposed on the connector body to allow the cutaneous surface of the animals body to be engaged therebetween. In use, a power source is electrically coupled to said conductor to transmit an electric current to the pair of stimulators to perform non-invasive stimulation on the animals body as current passes therethrough.