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.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack for providing uniform fluid flow through a plurality of plates is provided. The fuel cell stack includes a plurality of plates that define a plurality of fuel cells stacked with each other, each plate having a fuel inlet hole for receiving fuel and a fuel outlet hole for discharging fuel. The fuel cell stack includes a fuel inlet insert extending into the fuel inlet hole of at least some of the plurality of plates. The fuel inlet insert has an upstream end and a downstream end relative to a direction of fuel flow through the fuel inlet holes. The upstream end of the fuel inlet insert has a porosity and permeability less than a porosity and permeability of the downstream end of the fuel inlet insert such that the fuel insert provides uniform fuel flow through the plurality of plates.

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: 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 complaint 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: 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 method is disclosed and includes determining at least one of a height field and an orientation field of a fiber-reinforced structure. The fiber-reinforced structure includes a plurality of fiber portions and a polymer matrix. The method includes generating a reaction-diffusion representation of the fiber-reinforced structure. The reaction-diffusion representation indicates a concentration of at least one of the polymer matrix and the plurality of fiber portions. The method includes designating a reference fiber deposition path based on the reaction-diffusion representation. The method includes generating a continuous fiber deposition path based on the reference fiber deposition path. The method includes transmitting a signal representing the continuous fiber deposition path to a deposition device, the deposition device using the continuous fiber deposition path to deposit a fiber of the fiber-reinforced structure.

Abstract: A touchpad for use in an infotainment system and a method of use is provided. The touchpad comprises a bottom layer comprising processing circuitry configured to control operation of a plurality of tactile pixels. The tactile pixels are disposed in a tactile pixel layer on top of the bottom layer. Each tactile pixel comprises a top plate having a plurality of vertices and a support strut coupled to each vertex, each strut comprising a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) hinge disposed between a first rigid portion and a second rigid portion.

Abstract: Methods are provided for designing and generating a tool path for three-dimensional printing of a fiber composite part. The method includes defining a three-dimensional domain model and determining a set of boundary conditions for the three-dimensional domain model. The methods include applying a gradient-based algorithm to a predetermined stress state located within the three-dimensional domain model in order to: (1) optimize the three-dimensional domain model for minimum deflection or stress using a structural mechanics algorithm for a composite article, and (2) provide a topologically optimized fiber composite part design and fiber orientation field. The methods include using the topologically optimized fiber composite part design and fiber orientation field as an input to solve Gray-Scott reaction diffusion equations to generate an anisotropic tool path for three-dimensional printing of the fiber composite part.

Abstract: An absorption cycle based system is disclosed for using waste heat from a vehicle and providing selective heating, cooling, and dehumidifying to a vehicle compartment. The system includes a waste heat loop in thermal communication with a power generating unit of the vehicle, and a vapor absorption subsystem. The vapor absorption subsystem may include a thermal compressor in thermal communication with the waste heat loop, a radiator unit, a condensing unit for heating the vehicle compartment, an evaporating unit for selectively cooling and dehumidifying the vehicle compartment, and a plurality of valves configured to selectively direct refrigerant through the vapor absorption subsystem. The vehicle compartment may include at least one of a passenger cabin, an electronics housing, a battery pack, an engine compartment, and a refrigeration compartment.

Abstract: An atomizing spray device includes a housing having inlets that receive a first fluid and a slurry of ceramic particles and a second fluid. The inlets are fluidly coupled with outlets by an interior chamber that mixes the first fluid with the slurry to form a primary mixture of the first fluid and first atomized droplets of the slurry. A first outlet on a first side of the housing and a second outlet on the first side of the housing are shaped to change the primary mixture to form a secondary mixture of the first fluid and second atomized droplets of the slurry. The first outlet sprays the secondary mixture onto a first surface as a first layer of coating and the second outlet sprays the secondary mixture onto the first surface as a second layer of coating while the housing moves in a direction along the first surface.

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: Embodiments described herein relate to an adaptable photonic apparatus including an optical neural network. The photonic apparatus includes an optical input that provides an optical signal. The photonic apparatus also includes a chassis component and an optical neural network (ONN). The chassis component includes at least one modular mounting location for receiving a modular network component. The ONN is operably connected with the optical input and is configured to perform optical processing on the optical signal according to a deep learning algorithm. The ONN includes optical components arranged into layers to form the ONN. The modular network component is an additional optical processing component that is configured to function in cooperation with the ONN to adapt the deep learning algorithm.

Abstract: Core-coil devices operate by electromagnetic induction and include inductors, transformers, and electromagnets. Cooled core-coil devices include a magnetic core having a channel through it, and a coil wound around the core. Cooled core-coil devices additionally include a coolant loop that carries ferrofluid coolant through the channel and forms a loop with the channel that extends outside the core. Ferrofluid coolant circulates in the loop without a pump due to a thermo-magnetic response to the device's thermal and magnetic field gradients and thereby cools the core while simultaneously adding to the device's inductance.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a fluidic elastomer actuator-based handle is provided. A processor determines when a person is approaching a vehicle door and, in response to determining a person is approaching the vehicle door, the processor determines if the door handle is necessary based on a determined intent of the person. If the intent is determined to open the door, the processor manipulates a soft robotics material enclosing the door handle into an in-use state to present the handle to the person through the application of one or more stimuli. When not in a rest state, the soft robotics material provides a smooth surface aligned with a surface of the door panel.

Abstract: A microchannel two-phase cooling apparatus includes a cooling manifold and a fluid diode array. The cooling manifold includes one or more fluid inlets, one or more fluid outlets, and a plurality of fluid channels extending between and fluidly coupling the one or more fluid inlets and the one or more fluid outlets. The fluid diode array includes a plurality of fluid diodes positioned within the cooling manifold. Individual fluid diodes of the fluid diode array are fluidly coupled to individual fluid channels. The fluid diode array includes a first set of fluid diodes having a first average diodicity and a second set of fluid diodes having a second average diodicity. The first average diodicity is greater than the second average diodicity and each individual fluid diode of the first set of fluid diodes has a greater diodicity than any individual fluid diode of the second set of fluid diodes.

Abstract: A bipolar plate with an enhanced fluid flow field design is provided for improved flow uniformity. The bipolar plate includes an inlet, an outlet, and a flow field having a pattern defining a plurality of microchannels configured to provide fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet. The pattern includes a plurality of channels with discrete areas of discontinuity to direct fluid from the inlet to the outlet. The pattern is designed using an inverse permeability field and is based on a reaction-diffusion algorithm to model channel spacing, thereby providing a variable pitch microchannel pattern. In various aspects, Gray-Scott reaction-diffusion equations may be used to obtain an anisotropic microchannel layout. Methods may include optimizing a porous media model domain for one of: a minimum flow resistance across the domain, a uniform velocity across a direction of the domain, and a minimum velocity across a direction of the domain.

Abstract: Methods are provided for designing and generating a tool path for three-dimensional printing of a fiber composite part. The method includes defining a three-dimensional domain model and determining a set of boundary conditions for the three-dimensional domain model. The methods include applying a gradient-based algorithm to a predetermined stress state located within the three-dimensional domain model in order to: (1) optimize the three-dimensional domain model for minimum deflection or stress using a structural mechanics algorithm for a composite article, and (2) provide a topologically optimized fiber composite part design and fiber orientation field. The methods include using the topologically optimized fiber composite part design and fiber orientation field as an input to solve Gray-Scott reaction diffusion equations to generate an anisotropic tool path for three-dimensional printing of the fiber composite part.

Abstract: A surface of a vehicle component can be dynamically deformable surface. The dynamically deformable surface can be configured to undergo deformations to dynamically form a dynamic button or other user interface element on demand. The dynamically deformable surface can include one or more biosensors. When a user engages the dynamic button with a portion of the body, the one or more biosensors can acquire user biodata. The user biodata can be used by the vehicle as input for various purposes. For instance, the vehicle can operate as a health-monitoring and/or comfort monitoring system. As a result of these arrangements, buttons and other user interface elements can appear and disappear depending on the need and/or application, providing a cleaner vehicle cockpit interface and greatly expanding the possibilities of where such buttons can be located at and how many things can be controlled by the driver using physical interfaces.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adjusting a control of a vehicle system based on a condition of an occupant. The system includes a replaceable or upgradeable electronic skin removably coupled to an interior vehicle component. The electronic skin includes at least one sensor positioned therein, configured to monitor/obtain a biometric, physiological, or wellness condition measurement from an occupant. The system includes one or more processors and a memory communicably coupled thereto. An occupant comfort module is provided including instructions that, when executed, collect and monitor feedback from the at least one sensor; determine that the feedback exceeds a predetermined threshold; and determine an adjustment for a vehicle system based on the feedback. A control module may be provided including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the vehicle system to change at least one setting based on the adjustment determined by the occupant comfort module.