Abstract: A vehicle includes a body structure having an occupant compartment, and a frame structure having a chassis. The body structure and the frame structure are fastened together using a plurality of fasteners and an adhesive. To illustrate, the plurality of fasteners may include 20, 50, 70, or more fasteners. The adhesive is arranged at one or more positions along the interface between the body structure to the frame structure. The plurality of fasteners extend beyond the wheel wells, and provide hard mounts between the body structure and frame structure. The adhesive helps to prevent stress concentrations by extending the locations of load transfer between the body structure and the frame structure. Body panels are added before or after the body structure is affixed to the frame structure.

Abstract: A sensor network comprises at least one lateral optical fiber and at least one longitudinal optical fiber. The lateral fiber comprises optical sensors coupled to a pavement in a transverse orientation relative to a direction of vehicle travel along the pavement. The longitudinal fiber comprises optical sensors coupled to the pavement in a longitudinal orientation relative to the direction of vehicle travel. The optical sensors are configured to produce wavelength shift signals comprising one or more lateral strain signals associated with the lateral fiber and one or more tangential strain signals associated with the longitudinal fiber. A processor is operatively coupled to the sensor network and configured to determine a weight of vehicles moving along the pavement based on the lateral and tangential strain signals. A transmitter is operatively coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the weight of vehicles to a predetermined location.

Abstract: A system includes a sensor network comprising at least two optical fibers coupled to a pavement. Each optical fiber includes one or more optical sensors installed a predetermined distance from one or more adjacent optical fibers. The one or more optical sensors are configured to produce a wavelength shift signal. A processor is configured to determine one or both of one or more attributes of one or more objects travelling on the pavement and a traffic condition of the pavement based on the wavelength shift signal. A transmitter is configured to transmit the one or more attributes to a predetermined location.

Abstract: One or more spacers for installing an optical cable are disposed in a trench that extends along an axis. The optical cable includes one or more optical sensors. Each spacer includes a base configured to rest in a bottom of the trench. A first arm extends from the base. The first arm is adjacent to a first wall of the trench. An opposing second arm extends from the base. The second arm is adjacent to an opposing second wall of the trench. The optical cable is configured to extend along the axis.

Abstract: A compressor according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a mixed compression stage having both axial and radial components arranged along a main flow path, and a radial compression stage having an impeller with a plurality of vanes arranged in the main flow path downstream of the mixed compression stage. The impeller is configured to rotate about an axis and has an outlet downstream of the vanes. A movable diffuser is arranged at the outlet, and the movable diffuser is configured to vary an area of the outlet.

Abstract: A method for controlling movement of an autonomous vehicle includes: estimating a set of tire force margins with respect to each wheel of the vehicle and a set of dynamic chassis margins associated with a chassis module of the vehicle; based on the margins, determining whether the vehicle is capable of moving in accordance with a decision command; when the determination is negative, outputting a request for update of the decision command; and when an updated decision command has not been received, calculating a set of marginal actuating signals based on the decision command, the margins, required slip angles respectively for the wheels and a center of percussion of the vehicle so as to make the autonomous vehicle move accordingly.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising an electrode active layer comprising a network of high aspect ratio carbon elements defining void spaces within the network; a plurality of electrode active material particles disposed in the void spaces within the network and enmeshed in the network; and a surface treatment on the surface of the high aspect ratio carbon elements which promotes adhesion between the high aspect ratio carbon elements and the active material particles.

Abstract: An electrode active layer is disclosed that includes a network of high aspect ratio carbon elements (e.g., carbon nanotubes, carbon nanotube bundles, graphene flakes, or the like) that provides a highly electrically conductive scaffold that entangles or enmeshes the active material, thereby supporting the layer. A surface treatment can be applied to the high aspect ratio carbon elements to promote adhesion to the active material and any underlying electrode layers improving the overall cohesion and mechanical stability of the active layer. This surface treatment forms only a thin (in some cases even monomolecular) layer on the network, leaving the large void spaces that are free of any bulk binder material and so may instead be filled with active material. The resulting active layer may be formed with excellent mechanical stability even at large thickness and high active material mass loading.

Abstract: A switching regulator clamping the power or ground of the power switch driver is introduced. In a buck regulator, the power switch is coupled between the input terminal of the buck regulator and the first terminal of an inductor. The second terminal of the inductor is coupled to the output terminal of the buck regulator. There is a driver power clamp configured to clamp the ground terminal of the driver of the power switch. In a boost regulator, an inductor is provided which has a first terminal coupled to an input terminal of the boost regulator and has a second terminal coupled to the negative supply terminal of the power supply through a power switch. The boost regulator has a driver power clamp that is configured to clamp the power terminal of the driver of the power switch.

Abstract: Ultra-thin lithium ion capacitors with ultra-high power performance are provided. Ultra-thin electrodes and ultra-thin lithium films can be used for the ultra-thin lithium ion capacitor. A lithium ion capacitor can include a first positive electrode and a second positive electrode, a negative electrode disposed between the first positive electrode and the second positive electrode, a first lithium film disposed between the first positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a second lithium film disposed between the second positive electrode and the negative electrode. Each of the first and second lithium films can include an electrolyte. In addition, at least one separator can be provided between the first positive electrode and the first lithium film, and at least one separator can be provided between the second positive electrode and the second lithium film.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device includes the steps of first forming a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) stack on a substrate, forming a first top electrode on the MTJ stack, and then forming a second top electrode on the first top electrode. Preferably, the first top electrode includes a gradient concentration while the second top electrode includes a non-gradient concentration.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a compressor having at least two compression stages. In particular, an exemplary compressor includes a first radial compression stage arranged along an axis, a second radial compression stage arranged along the axis, and a connector fluidly connecting an outlet of the first radial compression stage to an inlet of the second radial compression stage. The connector has a plurality of sections arranged about the axis. The compressor may be a refrigerant compressor used in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) chiller system.

Abstract: A compressor according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a mixed compression stage having both axial and radial components arranged along a main flow path, and a radial compression stage having an impeller with a plurality of vanes arranged in the main flow path downstream of the mixed compression stage. The impeller is configured to rotate about an axis and has an outlet downstream of the vanes. A movable diffuser is arranged at the outlet, and the movable diffuser is configured to vary an area of the outlet.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for technology that identifies a plurality of functional blocks in a circuit, wherein each functional block includes a plurality of components, conducts one or more passes of a first optimization loop to determine candidate aspect ratios for the functional blocks based on size data associated with the components, and conducts, within the one or more passes of the first optimization loop, one or more passes of a second optimization loop to determine candidate floorplan data for the circuit based on the candidate aspect ratios.

Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a gate structure on a substrate; forming a source/drain region adjacent to two sides of the gate structure; forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer on the gate structure; forming a contact hole in the ILD layer to expose the source/drain region; forming a barrier layer in the contact hole; performing an anneal process; and performing a plasma treatment process to inject nitrogen into the contact hole.

Abstract: A method may comprise storing a first service provider record associated with a first project located at a first geographic location, receiving a request for project identifiers located within a section of a geographic area, providing a subset of the first set of the one or more project identifiers to be displayed on a second map the first user device, receiving a selected project of the project identifiers, providing a project page indicating categorical identifiers associated with the first project indicating at least some work performed, a link to at least one service professional's profile page, an opinion review and an insight review, receiving a selection of the link to the at least one service professional's profile page, and providing, a profile page of the at least one service professional, the profile page including contact information of the at least one service professional.

Abstract: A hybrid lithium-ion battery-capacitor (H-LIBC) energy storage device includes a hybrid composite cathode electrode having a lithium ion battery (LIB) cathode active material and a lithium ion capacitor (LIC) cathode active material. An anode electrode having a surface is pre-loaded and pressed with a lithium (Li) thin film source. The anode electrode is pre-lithiated with the lithium film source by positioning the Li film source on the surface of anode electrode after electrolyte filling and soaking processes, a separator and an organic solvent electrolytic solution including a lithium salt electrolyte are also provided. A method of making a hybrid lithium-ion battery-capacitor and a method of making a hybrid composite cathode for a hybrid lithium-ion battery-capacitor are also disclosed.

Abstract: In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a refrigerant compressor, including: an impeller; a shaft; a motor configured to rotate the impeller via the shaft, wherein the motor includes a stator and a rotor; and a housing surrounding the motor, wherein the housing includes a first inlet configured to permit fluid to enter the housing and flow along a stator cooling line and a second inlet configured to permit fluid to enter the housing and flow a rotor cooling line, and wherein the first inlet is separate from the second inlet.

Abstract: In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a refrigerant compressor, including an impeller including a plurality of main blades and first and second splitter blades between adjacent main blades.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode for an energy storage device is provided. The method includes heating a mixture of solvent and materials for use as energy storage media; adding active material to the mixture; adding dispersant to the mixture to provide a slurry; coating a current collector with the slurry; and calendaring the coating of slurry on the current collector to provide the electrode.