Abstract: A lamp housing to cure a pigmented ultraviolet (UV) curable paint includes a plurality of UV light emitting diode (LED) lights. The plurality of UV LED lights simultaneously emits light. The plurality of UV LED lights includes a first UV LED light and a second UV LED light. The first UV LED light emits a first wavelength and the second UV LED light emits a second wavelength. The first wavelength is different than the second wavelength. The lamp housing further includes a flexible substrate. The plurality of LED lights is disposed on the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate matches a contour of the pigmented UV curable paint.

Abstract: A pre-formed battery cell thermal barrier for a battery module includes a plurality of conductively coupled electrochemical cells and a pre-formed thermal barrier. The battery module can further include a cell holder configured to receive the plurality of conductively coupled electrochemical cells and the pre-formed thermal barrier. The pre-formed thermal barrier includes a cured potting material insertable into a cell-to-cell space in the battery module. The pre-formed thermal barrier includes one or more locking features configured to physically interlock with one or more corresponding locking features of the cell holder.

Abstract: With a conductive fluid flowing through a conduit formed from a non-magnetic material, and with a flow meter positioned at or near the conduit and having a magnetic field source spaced from the conduit and producing a first magnetic field that at least partially interacts with the conductive fluid flowing through the conduit, a method includes generating sensor data representative of strength of a second magnetic field that at least partially interacts with the flow meter. The second magnetic field is produced by eddy currents induced in the conductive fluid by the first magnetic field. Based on processing of the generated sensor data representative of strength of the second magnetic field, the method includes determining a flow rate of the conductive fluid through the conduit.

Abstract: A molten metal laundering system includes a pump that draws molten metal from a reservoir. A heated raceway receives the molten metal from the pump and carries a flow of the molten metal. A conduit extends from the heated raceway and is exposed exterior the heated raceway. The conduit carries the flow. A temperature sensor senses a temperature of the molten metal in the conduit. An outlet at an end of the conduit directs the flow from the conduit into a casting mold. A flow meter is disposed along the conduit with the conduit extending through the flow meter. The flow meter senses a flow rate of the flow of the molten metal in the conduit. A control module adjusts operation of the pump based at least on the flow rate sensed by the flow meter and the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: An electric motor grounding system includes a hollow cylinder packed with an electrically conductive media. Rotating seals are connected on the hollow cylinder on opposed ends of the hollow cylinder to retain the conductive media within the hollow cylinder. A rotor shaft is positioned within an electric motor, the rotor shaft having a hollow center internally receiving the hollow cylinder. A metal tube is connected to an electric ground. The metal tube is slidably inserted through the hollow center of the hollow cylinder, the rotor shaft being conductively connected to the electric ground through the metal tube and the conductive media.

Abstract: A manufacturing system includes: stability targets; a set of rails; robots including photogrammetry targets mounted on heads of the robots, the robots move along the set of rails, and each of the robots including a plasma cutting tool or a camera mounted on one of the heads; and a photogrammetry system. The photogrammetry system includes: a support stand; overhead cameras mounted on the support stand above the robots and a workpiece to be worked on by one of the robots; and a control module. The control module: via the overhead cameras, determines locations of the stability targets and photogrammetry targets; based on the locations of the stability targets and photogrammetry targets, determines locations of the overhead cameras and heads of the robots; and controls the robots to create and inspect a feature on the workpiece based on the locations of the overhead cameras and heads of the robots.

Abstract: An overspray-free paint system includes: a paint robot including an overspray-free paint applicator; and a first fixture robot for lifting and orienting a fixture assembly relative to at least one of the paint robot and the overspray-free paint applicator, the fixture assembly configured to hold an object to be painted by the overspray-free paint applicator, the first fixture robot including a first gripper configured to grab a first portion of the fixture assembly, and the first fixture robot configured to lift and orient the fixture assembly via the first gripper.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method when executed by data processing hardware causes the data processing hardware to perform operations. The operations include maneuvering, autonomously, a vehicle along a test track, monitoring, via at least one audio sensor, audio data from the vehicle during the maneuvering of the vehicle along the test track, and monitoring, via a monitoring system disposed along the test track, monitoring data of the vehicle along the test track. The operations also include executing, based on the monitored audio data, a sound detection function of an autonomous test algorithm, detecting, via the sound detection function, an error noise, categorizing, via a categorization function of the autonomous test algorithm, the detected error noise, identifying, based on the categorized error noise, a maintenance station and executing, in response to the identified maintenance station and categorized error noise, a spontaneous path planning function of the autonomous test algorithm.

Abstract: A modular cell holder assembly includes a first cell holder member including a first cell receptacle and a second cell holder member including a second cell receptacle. The second cell holder member is connected with the first cell holder member forming a modular cell holder with the first cell receptacle and the second cell receptacle combining to form a cell receiving zone. A plurality of current connectors is provided on an outer surface of one of the first cell holder member and the second cell holder member. The plurality of current connectors is configured to establish a selected electrical configuration of energy storage cells in the cell receiving zone.

Abstract: A method for controlling a pump motor associated with a component molding system includes applying a selected activation energy to the pump motor, driving, with the pump motor, a casting medium from a source to a mold through a casting medium delivery system, delivering the casting medium into a mold cavity, detecting one or more casting medium delivery parameters in the casting medium delivery system, detecting one or more casting medium mold parameters in the mold cavity, sending a first plurality of signals representing the casting medium delivery parameters to a controller, sending a second plurality of signals representing the casting medium mold parameters to the controller, processing the first plurality of signals and the second plurality of signals to determine pump motor control parameters, and adjusting the selected activation energy to the pump motor based on the pump motor control parameters.

Abstract: A robotic system is provided. The robot system includes a robot arm, a lamp assembly, and a control module. The robot arm includes a first end and a second end that opposes the first end. The lamp assembly is disposed at the second end of the robot arm and includes at least one ultraviolet (UV) light that is configured to cure paint on a panel of a vehicle. The control module is configured to actuate the robot arm and position the lamp assembly relative to the panel of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for providing a vehicle with a multi-tone paint scheme, the method including: applying a first paint of a first color to a body of the vehicle with a panel of the vehicle detached from the body of the vehicle; applying a film onto the panel, the film including a second paint of a second color that is different from the first color; and mounting the panel to the body of the vehicle.

Abstract: A compliant end effector includes a robot mounting bracket and a component support member. The component support member includes a side surface and a top surface. A component clamping system includes a first clamp member operable to move toward the side surface of the component support member and a second clamp member operable to move toward the top surface of the component support member. A controller is operatively connected to the clamping system. The controller is configured to engage the first and second clamp members as the component gripping and manipulating system is in a set position and release the first clamp member and the second clamp member allowing a portion of a component held by the component clamping system to move with one or more degrees of freedom when the component gripping and manipulating system is moving to the set position.

Abstract: A method for painting a body of a vehicle with a multi-tone paint scheme. The method includes: applying a first paint of a first color to the body; oven-curing the first paint; applying a second paint of a second color to the body, the second paint configured to be cured by ultraviolet light, the second color is different from the first color, and curing the second paint by exposing the second paint to ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A manufacturing system includes: stability targets; a set of rails; robots including photogrammetry targets mounted on heads of the robots, the robots move along the set of rails, and each of the robots including a plasma cutting tool or a camera mounted on one of the heads; and a photogrammetry system. The photogrammetry system includes: a support stand; overhead cameras mounted on the support stand above the robots and a workpiece to be worked on by one of the robots; and a control module. The control module: via the overhead cameras, determines locations of the stability targets and photogrammetry targets; based on the locations of the stability targets and photogrammetry targets, determines locations of the overhead cameras and heads of the robots; and controls the robots to create and inspect a feature on the workpiece based on the locations of the overhead cameras and heads of the robots.

Abstract: A part formation system includes: a mobile robot; a first material feeding device configured to feed carbon fiber prepreg material, one layer at a time, onto the mobile robot to form a stack of carbon fiber prepreg layers on the mobile robot; a second material feeding device configured to feed a paint film onto the stack of carbon fiber prepreg layers to provide a resultant stack of layers; and a heat press configured to form and cure the resultant stack of layers to provide a resultant painted part by heating and compressing the resultant stack of layers.

Abstract: A forming over part system including a first roll of a first paint film, a second roll of a second paint film, a film adhering device, and a film positioning device. The film adhering device receives the first paint film. The film adhering device is configured to adhere the first paint film to a component of a vehicle. The film positioning device is configured to hold the first and second rolls and based on actuation of an actuator, position the second roll of the second paint film to the film adhering device while the film adhering device is applying the first paint film to the component.

Abstract: A manufacturing system configured for processing a workpiece. The manufacturing system includes a mobile cart with: a first mounting assembly and a second mounting assembly both configured to support the workpiece, and the first mounting assembly further configured to rotate the workpiece; and a first mechanical coupling in cooperation with the first mounting assembly such that rotation of the first mechanical coupling rotates the first mounting assembly. A docking station includes a second mechanical coupling and a motor configured to rotate the second mechanical coupling, the second mechanical coupling configured to cooperate with the first mechanical coupling such that rotation of the second mechanical coupling rotates the first mechanical coupling and the workpiece supported by the first mounting assembly and the second mounting assembly.

Abstract: A painting system includes a mobile robot including a frame, wheels connected to the frame, and a motor configured to move the wheels to position the mobile robot. A paint container is mounted on the mobile robot and configured to store paint. A robot arm includes a first end mounted on the mobile robot and a paint applicator arranged at a second end of the robot arm. The paint applicator is in fluid communication with the paint container and includes one or more nozzles to spray the paint onto a surface.

Abstract: A system for welding vehicle component assemblies includes a measurement sensor configured to scan first and second vehicle components, a welding apparatus configured to weld the first vehicle component and the second vehicle component together, and at least one processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions to access scan data of the first and second vehicle components, generate a CAD model of an as-scanned assembly of the first and second vehicle components, obtain input parameters associated with one or more features of the first and second vehicle components, generate predicted optimal welding parameters, using the machine learning model, based on CAD model and the input parameters, and control the welding apparatus to perform at least one welding operation on the first and second vehicle components according to the predicted optimal welding parameters.