Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to a distributed driving system with the support of an intelligent roadside toolbox (IRT) to address long-tail cases. The IRT comprises a cloud and provides fused data from multiple sensors and data sources. A connected automated vehicle (CAV) uses the fused data to supplement its sensing data and maintain its automation level when its components have failure. Moreover, the IRT predicts the movement and behavior of surrounding objects, pedestrians, and bicycles; and provides such vulnerable road user information to the CAV to help the CAV maintain its safe driving and desired autonomous driving level in complex urban environments. For emergency situations or function failure, the IRT provides emergency services and failure safety measures for the CAV.

Abstract: Lithium ion battery anodes including graphenic carbon particles are disclosed. Lithium ion batteries containing such anodes are also disclosed. The anodes include mixtures of lithium-reactive metal particles such as silicon, graphenic carbon particles, and a binder. The use of graphenic carbon particles in the anodes results in improved performance of the lithium ion batteries.

Abstract: A solid-state method for recycling spent and/or scrap cathode material includes heating a cathode material comprising lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature T1 for an effective period of time t1 to convert the cathode material to a solid precursor, combining the solid precursor with a lithium compound, and heating the solid precursor and the lithium compound in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature T2 for an effective period of time t2 to form a product comprising monocrystalline lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide having a formula LiNixMnyMzCo1-x-y-zO2, where M represents one or more dopant metals, x?0.33, 0.01?y<0.33, 0?z?0.05, and x+y+?z 1.0.

Abstract: Provided herein is a Device Allocation System (DAS) for distributed autonomous vehicle-cloud operations. The technology provides a simplified DAS design in which an intelligent roadside toolbox is provided as a cloud-based platform of an Intelligent Roadside Infrastructure System. Cloud resources are used to supplement a connected and automated vehicle (CAV) to maintain the automation level of the CAV during abnormal driving conditions. Specifically, cloud resources comprise one or more of: computational resources, system security and backup resources, sensing resources, transportation behavior prediction and management resources, planning and decision-making resources, and/or vehicle control resources and/or instructions. Accordingly, the distributed autonomous vehicle-cloud operations maintain or restore the automation level of the CAV during abnormal driving conditions such as extreme weather or complex road geometry.

Abstract: A three-dimensional industrial anomaly detection method including pre-processing a three-dimensional point cloud map of a to-be-inspected object to obtain a plurality of point cloud groups, extracting features from the plurality of point cloud groups to obtain a point cloud feature group, generating a point cloud feature map based on the point cloud feature group and the three-dimensional point cloud map, projecting the point cloud feature map to form a point cloud projection of the same size as an RGB image of the to-be-inspected object, extracting features from the RGB image to obtain RGB features, extracting features separately from the RGB features and point cloud features of the point cloud projection, fusing feature information outputted to obtain fused features, and performing anomaly prediction on the to-be-inspected object based on the RGB features, the point cloud features, and the fused features, to obtain a prediction result for the to-be-inspected object.

Abstract: Stabilized porous silicon particles are disclosed. The particles include a porous silicon particle comprising a plurality of interconnected silicon nanoparticles and (i) a heterogeneous layer comprising a discontinuous SiC coating that is discontinuous across a portion of pore surfaces and across a portion of an outer surface of the porous silicon particle, and a 10 continuous carbon coating that covers outer surfaces of the discontinuous SiC coating, and remaining portions of the pore surfaces and the outer surface of the porous silicon particle, or (ii) a continuous carbon coating on surfaces of the porous silicon particle, including the outer surface and pore surfaces. Methods of making the stabilized porous silicon particles also are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to aspects of a Distributed Driving System (DDS) for managing Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) and particularly, but not exclusively, to systems, designs, and methods for a Device Allocation System (DAS) configured to allocate and distribute resources to devices of a Distributed Driving Systems (DDS).

Abstract: Stabilized porous silicon particles are disclosed. The particles include a porous silicon particle comprising a plurality of interconnected silicon nanoparticles and (i) a heterogeneous layer comprising a discontinuous SiC coating that is discontinuous across a portion of pore surfaces and across a portion of an outer surface of the porous silicon particle, and a continuous carbon coating that covers outer surfaces of the discontinuous SiC coating, and remaining portions of the pore surfaces and the outer surface of the porous silicon particle, or (ii) a continuous carbon coating on surfaces of the porous silicon particle, including the outer surface and pore surfaces. Methods of making the stabilized porous silicon particles also are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for synthesizing crystalline Ni-rich cathode materials are disclosed. The Ni-rich cathode material may have a formula LiNiXMnyMzCo1-x-y-zO2, where M represents one or more dopant metals, x?0.6, 0.01?y<0.2, 0?z?0.05, and x+y+z?1.0. The methods are cost-effective, and include methods for solid-state, molten-salt, and flash-sintering syntheses.

Abstract: A solid-state method for recycling spent and/or scrap cathode material includes heating a cathode material comprising lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature T1 for an effective period of time t1 to convert the cathode material to a solid precursor, combining the solid precursor with a lithium compound, and heating the solid precursor and the lithium compound in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature T2 for an effective period of time t2 to form a product comprising monocrystalline lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide having a formula LiNixMnyMzCo1-x-y-zO2, where M represents one or more dopant metals, x?0.33, 0.01?y<0.33, 0?z?0.05, and x+y+?z 1.0.

Abstract: This invention presents a function allocation system for an autonomous vehicle (AV). During the operations of the AV, some or all of its automated driving capabilities or functions could be downgraded due to long-tail events or malfunctioning. The roadside intelligent infrastructure, or the cloud platform, could supplement some or all of AV's automated driving functions, including sensing, prediction and decision-making, and/or control functions. The function allocation system dynamically allocates these functions between AV and intelligent infrastructure, achieving a higher system intelligence level S than the downgraded vehicle intelligence level V. In addition, a function allocation system could dynamically allocate sensing, prediction and decision-making, and/or control functions between AV and a cloud platform. This invention also presents a function integration system or a fusion system for an AV.

Abstract: The technology described herein provides Automated Driving System (ADS) methods and systems for coordinating and/or fusing intelligence and functions between Connected Automated Vehicles (CAV) and ADS infrastructure to provide target levels of automated driving. The technology provides systems and methods for function allocation comprising sensing allocation, prediction and decision-making allocation, and control allocation. The ADS operates across various intelligence levels, identified during vehicle operation. The function allocation system dynamically allocates essential functions based on the intelligence levels of both vehicles and infrastructures, ensuring that ADS achieves a system intelligence that surpasses that of individual components. This methodical function distribution enables ADS to manage both vehicles and infrastructures in a manner that enhances vehicular operations and control.

Abstract: Methods for synthesizing crystalline Ni-rich cathode materials are disclosed. The Ni-rich cathode material may have a formula LiNixMnyMzCo1-x-y-zO2, where M represents one or more dopant metals, x?0.6, 0.01?y<0.2, 0?z?0.05, and x+y+z?1.0. The methods are cost-effective, and include methods for solid-state, molten-salt, and flash-sintering syntheses.

Abstract: A method for etching materials in which organic solvents are added to the etching mixture and combined in a mixing arrangement. When agitated organic materials mix with the etching agent and interact with the underlying material to form a shield around the etched areas that prevents the additional interaction of water with the newly etched areas and enables the etching of silicon oxides (SiOx) but does not oxidize Si. This method leads to milder reactions with less heat generation and avoids the safety hazards associated with conventional etching methods.

Abstract: A solid-state method for recycling spent and/or scrap cathode material includes heating a cathode material comprising lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature T1 for an effective period of time t1 to convert the cathode material to a solid precursor, combining the solid precursor with a lithium compound, and heating the solid precursor and the lithium compound in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature T2 for an effective period of time t2 to form a product comprising monocrystalline lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide having a formula LiNixMnyMzCo1-x-y-zO2, where M represents one or more dopant metals, x?0.33, 0.01?y<0.33, 0?z?0.05, and x+y+?z 1.0.

Abstract: Electrolytes for lithium ion batteries with carbon-based, silicon-based, or carbon- and silicon-based anodes include a lithium salt; a nonaqueous solvent comprising at least one of the following components: (i) an ester, (ii) a sulfur-containing solvent, (iii) a phosphorus-containing solvent, (iv) an ether, (v) a nitrile, or any combination thereof, wherein the lithium salt is soluble in the solvent; a diluent comprising a fluoroalkyl ether, a fluorinated orthoformate, a fluorinated carbonate, a fluorinated borate, or a combination thereof, wherein the lithium salt has a solubility in the diluent at least 10 times less than a solubility of the lithium salt in the solvent; and an additive having a different composition than the lithium salt, a different composition than the solvent, and a different composition than the diluent.

Abstract: Lithium ion battery anodes including graphenic carbon particles are disclosed. Lithium ion batteries containing such anodes are also disclosed. The anodes include mixtures of lithium-reactive metal particles such as silicon, graphenic carbon particles, and a binder. The use of graphenic carbon particles in the anodes results in improved performance of the lithium ion batteries.

Abstract: A method for etching materials in which organic solvents are added to the etching mixture and combined in a mixing arrangement. When agitated organic materials mix with the etching agent and interact with the underlying material to form a shield around the etched areas that prevents the additional interaction of water with the newly etched areas and enables the etching of silicon oxides (SiOx) but does not oxidize Si. This method leads to milder reactions with less heat generation and avoids the safety hazards associated with conventional etching methods.

Abstract: Lithium ion battery anodes including graphenic carbon particles are disclosed. Lithium ion batteries containing such anodes are also disclosed. The anodes include mixtures of lithium-reactive metal particles such as silicon, graphenic carbon particles, and a binder. The use of graphenic carbon particles in the anodes results in improved performance of the lithium ion batteries.

Abstract: Methods for synthesizing crystalline Ni-rich cathode materials are disclosed. The Ni-rich cathode material may have a formula LiNixMnyMzCo1?x?y?zO2, where M represents one or more dopant metals, x?0.6, 0.01?y<0.2, 0?z?0.05, and x+y+z?1.0. The methods are cost-effective, and include methods for solid-state, molten-salt, and flash-sintering syntheses.