Abstract: Systems and methods for providing heating and cooling to a cabin of an autonomous or semiautonomous electric vehicle. A system includes one or more autonomous or semiautonomous electric vehicle components generating thermal energy as a byproduct of operation, a radiator fluidly coupled to the one or more vehicle components and positioned downstream from the one or more vehicle components such that the radiator receives at least a portion of the thermal energy, a thermoelectric cooler thermally coupled to and located downstream from the radiator, and one or more bypass valves that control fluid flow from the radiator such that fluid flows directly to a cabin of the vehicle or flows through the thermoelectric cooler before flowing into the cabin.

Abstract: Devices configured to direct heat flow are disclosed, as well as methods of forming thereof. A device may include a self-assembling heat flow object. The self-assembling heat flow object may include a material having one or more self-assembling properties that cause the material to react to an environmental stimulus and one or more thermal pathways. An application of the environmental stimulus causes the self-assembling heat flow object to deploy and arrange the one or more thermal pathways for directing thermal energy to one or more locations.

Abstract: Elastic metamaterial designs are provided, such as an acoustic radiator or sound partition, with non-spherical shapes or apertures defined in unit cells of an elastic medium. A method for making the same includes determining a set of boundary conditions for a plurality of non-spherical shapes/apertures defined in the elastic medium, and using a gradient-based algorithm to optimize a porous media model domain for the elastic medium, where porosity is related to size dimensions of the non-spherical shape/aperture and an anisotropic elastic modulus is related to an angle of orientation of the non-spherical shape/aperture. The method may include optimizing an objective function, and obtaining a grayscale design that relates to the porosity and the anisotropic elastic modulus. Reaction diffusion equations may be used with the grayscale design to obtain a pattern for the non-spherical shapes/apertures. Methods of manufacturing may include multi-material additive manufacturing techniques.

Abstract: A thermal management assembly is provided for both removing heat and absorbing acoustic energy. The thermal management assembly includes a heat sink base component and a plurality of thermally conductive fins disposed in a sparsely-arranged array in thermal communication with the heat sink base component. Each fin defines a two-sided Helmholtz unit cell disposed in a periodic array extending from the heat sink base component. Each unit cell includes a lossy resonator and a lossless resonator. The lossy resonator includes a first chamber portion bounded by at least one first boundary wall defining a first chamber volume, and a first neck forming an opening in the first chamber portion. The lossless resonator includes a second chamber portion bounded by at least one second boundary wall defining a second chamber volume, and a second neck forming an opening in the second chamber portion.

Abstract: A particle separator includes a separator body in a primary fluid passageway of a machine. The primary fluid passageway includes one or more bleed holes through which a diverted portion of the fluid flowing in the primary fluid passageway toward a volume of the machine is diverted into an auxiliary flow passageway that bypasses the volume and directs the diverted portion of the fluid toward one or more other components of the machine. The separator body is coupled with the inner wall and/or outer wall of the primary fluid passageway. The separator body includes an upstream edge positioned to separate at least some particles carried by the fluid from the fluid as the diverted portion of the fluid bends around and flows over the at least one upstream edge of the separator body and into the auxiliary flow passageway.

Abstract: A vehicle including a power receiving pad for wirelessly receiving power, a plurality of magnetic sensors for measuring a magnetic field of a power transmitting pad and obtaining magnetic field data, one or more processors, and one or more memory modules are provided. The one or more memory modules include a computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to receive the magnetic field data from the plurality of magnetic sensors, and estimate a lateral misalignment of the power receiving pad with respect to a magnetic axis of the power transmitting pad. The magnetic sensors are arranged to detect at least an X-component and a Y-component of a magnetic field produced by a power transmitting pad.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a reconfigurable soft robotics-based vehicle interior is provided. The soft-robotics based vehicle interior comprises a child seat portion disposed in a vehicle seat, the child seat portion comprising a child seat constructed of highly compliant materials and mechanisms. When required, the highly compliant materials and mechanisms may be manipulated such that the child seat portion is moved from a retracted state to an engaged state. The child seat may also manipulate the highly complaint materials and mechanisms based on an anatomy of a child to provide customizable support for the child.

Abstract: Electronic assemblies for thermoelectric generation are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electronic assembly includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, and a conductive plane and a plurality of thermal guide traces position on the first surface of the substrate. The conductive plane includes a plurality of arms radially extending from a central region. The plurality of thermal guide traces surrounds the conductive plane, and is shaped and positioned to guide heat flux present on or within the substrate toward the central region of the conductive plane. The electronic assembly may also include a thermoelectric generator device thermally coupled to the central region of the conductive plane, and a plurality of heat generating devices coupled to the second surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A cooling system simultaneously cools both a power module and a vehicle motor. A vehicle motor housing is provided in thermal communication with a plurality of manifolds. Each manifold defines a cooling fluid inlet, a cooling fluid outlet, and a distribution recess providing fluid communication. The distribution recess may be defined by a wall having an exterior major surface in thermal communication with the vehicle motor. A manifold fluid insert may be disposed within the distribution recess, defining a plurality of inlet branch channels and outlet branch channels. A power module may be coupled to the manifold and a heat sink feature. A flow of coolant fluid is provided from each cooling fluid inlet, through the inlet branch channels of the manifold fluid insert for impingement with the heat sink feature, returning through the outlet branch channels and to the cooling fluid outlet of the respective manifold.

Abstract: An atomizing spray nozzle device includes an atomizing zone housing that receives different phases of materials used to form a coating. The atomizing zone housing mixes the different phases of the materials into a two-phase mixture of ceramic-liquid droplets in a carrier gas. The device also includes a plenum housing fluidly coupled with the atomizing housing and extending from the atomizing housing to a delivery end. The plenum housing includes an interior plenum that receives the two-phase mixture of ceramic-liquid droplets in the carrier gas from the atomizing zone housing. The device also includes one or more delivery nozzles fluidly coupled with the plenum chamber. The delivery nozzles provide outlets from which the two-phase mixture of ceramic-liquid droplets in the carrier gas is delivered onto one or more surfaces of a target object as the coating on the target object.

Abstract: An atomizing spray nozzle device includes an atomizing zone housing that receives different phases of materials used to form a coating. The atomizing zone housing mixes the different phases of the materials into a two-phase mixture of ceramic-liquid droplets in a carrier gas. The device also includes a plenum housing fluidly coupled with the atomizing housing and extending from the atomizing housing to a delivery end. The plenum housing includes an interior plenum that receives the two-phase mixture of ceramic-liquid droplets in the carrier gas from the atomizing zone housing. The device also includes one or more delivery nozzles fluidly coupled with the plenum chamber. The delivery nozzles provide outlets from which the two-phase mixture of ceramic-liquid droplets in the carrier gas is delivered onto one or more surfaces of a target object as the coating on the target object.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein describe a manifold microchannel heat sink having a target surface, a microchannel structure and an insert disposed over the microchannel structure. The microchannel structure includes a plurality of fins extending in a normal direction from the target surface and defining a plurality of microchannels. The individual fins are shaped as rectangular plates and the individual microchannels comprise gaps between the individual fins. The plurality of fins are distributed on the target surface such that at least a thickness of the individual fins or a width of the gaps comprising the individual microchannels is varied along a plane of the target surface. The insert disposed over the microchannel structure has a plurality of inlet dividers and a plurality of outlet dividers. The individual inlet dividers define an inlet channel and the individual outlet dividers define an outlet channel.

Abstract: A thermal compensation layer includes a metal inverse opal (MIO) layer that includes a plurality of core-shell phase change (PC) particles encapsulated within a metal of the MIO layer. Each of the core-shell PC particles includes a core that includes a PCM having a PC temperature in a range of from 100° C. to 250° C., and a shell that includes a shell material having a melt temperature greater than the PC temperature of the PCM. A power electronics assembly includes a substrate having a thermal compensation layer formed proximate a surface of the substrate, the thermal compensation layer comprising an MIO layer that includes a plurality of core-shell PC particles encapsulated within a metal of the MIO layer. The power electronics assembly further includes an electronic device bonded to the thermal compensation layer at a first surface of the electronic device.

Abstract: Fan performance can be adjusted based on real-time operating conditions. The fan can include a plurality of blades operatively connected to a rotor. The blades can extend radially outward from the rotor to a tip. A housing can substantially surround the fan. The housing can have an inner peripheral surface that defines an inner diameter. The inner peripheral surface can include a first portion and a second portion downstream of the first portion. The first portion can be adjacently upstream of the plurality of blades, and the second portion can be substantially aligned with the plurality of blades. A plurality of actuators being distributed in a circumferential direction of the housing. The actuators can be operatively positioned to cause the inner diameter of the first portion or the second portion to be altered. As a result, one or more performance characteristics of the fan can be changed.

Abstract: A solar cell assembly is provided, the configuration of which effectuates artificial tropism. The solar cell assembly may include a combination of at least one transparent solar cell and at least one opaque solar cell. The at least one transparent solar cell may transmit some wavelength(s) of incident sunlight while the at least one opaque solar cell may transmit some wavelength(s) of incident sunlight and absorbing some other wavelength(s) of incident sunlight. The transmitted wavelength(s) of incident sunlight excite or cause one or more shape-changing elements that support the at least one transparent solar cell and the at least one opaque solar cell to actuate in a manner that causes the solar cell assembly to re-orient itself towards a direction of the incident sunlight.

Abstract: A power electronics module includes an electrically-conductive substrate including a base portion defining a plurality of orifices that extend through the base portion, the plurality of orifices defining a plurality of jet paths extending along and outward from the plurality of orifices, and a plurality of posts extending outward from the base portion, where individual posts of the plurality of posts are positioned between individual orifices of the plurality of orifices, and a power electronics device coupled to the plurality of posts opposite the base portion, the power electronics device defining a bottom surface that is oriented transverse to the plurality of jet paths.

Abstract: An inductor includes a magnetic core composed of a magnetic material having variable permeability characteristics based on at least one of design parameters or operational parameters of the inductor that includes one or more air gaps. A coil is wound through the one or more air gaps and is configured to be excited by an electric current.

Abstract: An extendable biosensing device comprising a robotic structure. The robotic structure comprises a pliable exterior lining and an extendable core. The robotic structure comprises at least one sensor located on or within the pliable exterior lining. The sensor is configured to measure a physiological condition. The extendable core automatically extends from a retracted state to a deployed state in response to a triggering event.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein describe a manifold microchannel heat sink having a target surface, a microchannel structure and an insert disposed over the microchannel structure. The microchannel structure includes a plurality of tins extending in a normal direction from the target surface and defining a plurality of microchannels. The individual fins are shaped as rectangular plates and the individual microchannels comprise gaps between the individual fins. The plurality of tins are distributed on the target surface such that at least a thickness of the individual fins or a width of the gaps comprising the individual microchannels is varied along a plane of the target surface. The insert disposed over the microchannel structure has a plurality of inlet dividers and a plurality of outlet dividers. The individual inlet dividers define an inlet channel and the individual outlet dividers define an outlet channel.

Abstract: A power electronics assembly is provided with a self-healing feature. The power electronics assembly may include a semiconductor electronics device and an insulating substrate coupled to the semiconductor electronics device. A base metal structural component may be provided, coupled to the insulating substrate. The assembly may include a frame component cooperating with the base metal structural component and defining an enclosure containing the semiconductor electronics device and the insulating substrate. The assembly further includes a self-healing polymer comprising disulfide bonds. The self-healing polymer is disposed within the enclosure; additional potting material may also be provided as a multi-layered encapsulation. In various aspects, the self-healing polymer may include polydimethylsiloxane based polyurethane (PDMS-PU) modified with disulfide bonds. The frame component may be configured to direct or confine heat to areas of the assembly where ESD may be problematic.