Abstract: An automated charging system for an electric vehicle is disclosed that includes a plug with a built-in camera assembly. The camera assembly captures images of a charging port of the electric vehicle, which are processed by one or more processors to estimate the location of the charging port relative to the plug. A control system generates signals for one or more actuators to move the plug relative to the charging port, thereby inserting the plug into the charging port to connect a power supply to the electric vehicle. The images may be processed via an image recognition algorithm and/or one or more machine learning algorithms. In an embodiment, the images are processed by a neural network to estimate the location of the charging port relative to the plug. The plug can also include a tapered structure to make fine adjustments to the position or orientation of the plug during connection.

Abstract: An automated charging system for an electric vehicle is disclosed that includes a plug with a built-in camera assembly. The camera assembly captures images of a charging port of the electric vehicle, which are processed by one or more processors to estimate the location of the charging port relative to the plug. A multi-stage localization architecture is described that includes a gross localization procedure and a fine localization procedure. The gross localization procedure can implement a first convolutional neural network (CNN) to estimate a position of an object in the image. The fine localization procedure can implement a second CNN to estimate a position and orientation of the object. Actuators for moving the plug in a three-dimensional space can be controlled by the multi-stage localization architecture.

Abstract: A sensor system for monitoring a device, the sensor system including a housing, a base configured to attach the sensor system to the device to be monitored, a sensor configured to obtain data related to at least one operating parameter of the device, and an integral energy harvesting device configured to provide at least a portion of the energy required to operate the sensor system.

Abstract: A plug connection system that autonomously charges an electric vehicle (EV) is provided. The method includes: obtaining a trained machine learning (ML) model from a back-end server; capturing an image using an image capturing device of the charging system, wherein a portion of the image comprises the EV charging portal; inputting the image into the trained ML model to determine one or more regions of interest associated with the EV charging portal within the image; determining a location of the EV charging portal based on the one or more determined regions of interest and one or more image processing techniques; and providing information to maneuver the robotic arm of the charging system to a physical position based on the determined location of the EV charging portal.

Abstract: A system and method for forming electrical devices via additive manufacturing processes that utilize starting materials that are in a solid state at least prior to, as well as after, the formation of the electrical device. A first solid starting material can be configured to form one or more insulator layers of the electrical device, while another solid starting material can be applied to form one or more electrically conductive layers. The starting materials canbe applied layer-by-layer during formation of the electrical device such that the electrically conductive layers can become automatically embedded within the insulating layers, and vice versa. The additive manufacturing process(es) utilized to form the electrically conductive layers from solid starting materials can be different than the additive manufacturing process(es) utilized to form the insulator layers.

Abstract: Technologies for non-contact displacement control are disclosed. An additive manufacturing system may include a dispenser having a tip configured to deposit an additive material onto a substrate, a transducer coupled to the dispenser and configured to transmit an emitted signal from the dispenser to the substrate, and a sensor coupled to the dispenser and configured to detect a return signal from the substrate to the dispenser, where the return signal is indicative of a distance between the tip of the dispenser and the substrate.

Abstract: A feedback control system for use with ultrasonic welding. A weld energy set point and/or a reference power curve are used by a controller to provide a power supply voltage set point and a power supply frequency set point for the power that is to be drawn by an ultrasonic weld generator. Information regarding the actual voltage and/or frequency of the drawn electrical power, and/or the frequency and magnitude of an ultrasonic wave transmitted from the generator to an applicator tool used to weld an object can be utilized by an estimator to estimate the weld energy dissipated at the weld site and/or generate a power curve for the welding operation. Using information from the estimator, the controller can determine adjustments for variables for the current and/or future welding operations. Further, welding may not commence until a clamping force exerted on the object satisfies a clamping force set point.

Abstract: Electrically resistive devices, such as voltage dividers, and methods of making the same are disclosed. An illustrative voltage divider may include a substrate having an axis, an electrically resistive path applied to the substrate, and at least one terminal positioned around the substrate and in contact with the electrically resistive path. The electrically resistive path may include a primary resistor and a secondary resistor, with the primary resistor having a higher electrical resistance than the secondary resistor. An adjustable displacement of the at least one terminal along the axis of the substrate may allow adjustment of at least one electrical resistance associated with the at least one terminal. An adjustable tightness of the at least one terminal around the substrate may allow adjustment of the at least one electrical resistance associated with the at least one terminal.

Abstract: A charging device autonomously charges an electric vehicle. The charging device includes: a main body and an arm coupled to the main body. The main body is controllably moveable, and the arm is controllably extendable and retractable in a longitudinal direction. A charging plug is included at a distal end of the arm. The charging plug is controllably moveable and insertable into a charging portal of the electric vehicle. The arm comprises: a rigid chain, the rigid chain being compliant in a first direction from a neutral axis and resistant in an opposite second direction past the neutral axis, or at least one scissor arm.

Abstract: A method for forming an article of manufacture using additive manufacturing, includes: a processor executing program instructions to: (a) rotate an object continuously about a horizontal axis using a first rotational stage, wherein the object is partially submerged in a bath of energy curable liquid formulation during the rotation; (b) control a rate of rotation of the object to achieve a desired radial thickness of a sub layer of uncured liquid formulation at a desired rotational location on the object; (c) direct an energy source to provide an energy dose onto the object at a desired rotational location, wherein the energy dose is configured to cure and solidify the sub layer; and repeat (a), (b) and (c) until a desired radial thickness of a cured liquid formulation layer is a achieved.

Abstract: A method for forming an article of manufacture using additive manufacturing, includes: a processor executing program instructions to: (a) rotate an object continuously about a horizontal axis using a first rotational stage, wherein the object is partially submerged in a bath of energy curable liquid formulation during the rotation; (b) control a rate of rotation of the object to achieve a desired radial thickness of a sub layer of uncured liquid formulation at a desired rotational location on the object; (c) direct an energy source to provide an energy dose onto the object at a desired rotational location, wherein the energy dose is configured to cure and solidify the sub layer; and repeat (a), (b) and (c) until a desired radial thickness of a cured liquid formulation layer is a achieved.