Abstract: A two-speed gearbox assembly includes a housing, a first planetary gear set configured to operably connect to an output of an electric motor, a second planetary gear set rotationally coupled to an output of the first planetary gear set, and a third gear set rotationally coupled to an output of the second planetary gearset. A first clutch is configured to selectively couple the first planetary gear set to the second planetary gear set, and a second clutch is configured to selectively ground a portion of the second planetary gear set to the housing. The gearbox assembly is selectively switchable between (i) an on-road first gear where the first clutch is engaged and the second clutch is disengaged, and (ii) an off-road second gear where the first clutch is disengaged and the second clutch is engaged to provide sustained high torque and low speed.

Abstract: A two-speed gearbox assembly includes a housing, a first planetary gear set configured to operably connect to an output of an electric motor, a second planetary gear set rotationally coupled to an output of the first planetary gear set, and a third gear set rotationally coupled to an output of the second planetary gearset. A first clutch is configured to selectively couple the first planetary gear set to the second planetary gear set, and a second clutch is configured to selectively ground a portion of the second planetary gear set to the housing. The gearbox assembly is selectively switchable between (i) an on-road first gear where the first clutch is engaged and the second clutch is disengaged, and (ii) an off-road second gear where the first clutch is disengaged and the second clutch is engaged to provide sustained high torque and low speed.

Abstract: A vehicle configured to perform a tank steer operation includes a differential having a differential case, first and second half shafts operably coupled to the differential, a drive unit configured to drive the vehicle, and a gearbox assembly coupled to the drive unit. The vehicle is selectively operable in a tank steer mode that rotates one or more wheels on a first side of the vehicle in a first direction, and rotates one or more wheels on an opposite second side of the vehicle in a second direction opposite the first direction to rotate the vehicle. The vehicle operates in the tank steer mode by selectively grounding the differential case and connecting an output of the gearbox assembly to the first half shaft, such that the drive unit rotates the first half shaft in the first direction and, via the differential, rotates the second half shaft in the second direction.

Abstract: A permanent magnet motor includes a rotor configured to rotate about a stator axis and having N pairs of permanent bar magnets each arranged therein and in a V-angle configuration defining a V-angle (?) therebetween and corresponding to one of N rotor poles, wherein N is greater than one. An adjustment system is configured to adjust the V-angle between each pair of the N pairs of permanent bar magnets between at least a first V-angle (?1) and a different second V-angle (?2). A controller is configured to control the permanent magnet motor and the adjustment system to (i) mitigate noise, vibration, and/or harshness (NVH) of the permanent magnet motor and (ii) improve efficiency of the permanent magnet motor at high speed operating regions or improve torque of the permanent magnet motor at low speed operating regions.

Abstract: Torque distribution control systems and methods for through-the-road electrified vehicles having distinct first and second torque generating systems for distinct first and second axles, respectively, utilize existing vehicle sensors to (i) obtain measured wheel rotational speeds and a measured steering wheel angle, (ii) estimate virtual yaw rates of the first and second axles using these measured values and other known vehicle parameters, (ii) predict whether oversteer or understeer of the vehicle is likely to occur based on the estimated first and second axle virtual yaw rates, and (iv) when oversteer or understeer of the vehicle is predicted to occur, adjust a torque distribution between the first and second torque generating systems to prevent the oversteer or understeer from occurring and to keep the vehicle on a constant turn path.

Abstract: Techniques for managing wheel slip in a through-the-road hybrid vehicle comprise detecting a front wheel slip event based on measured rotational speeds of front wheels, determining a likelihood of a subsequent rear wheel slip event, when the front wheel slip event has ended and the likelihood of the subsequent rear wheel slip event satisfies a calibratable threshold, adjusting a front/rear axle torque split and pre-loading at least one of an engine and a belt-driven starter generator (BSG) unit coupled to a crankshaft of the engine to compensate for a torque drop that is predicted to occur during the rear wheel slip event, and re-adjusting the front/rear axle torque split and pre-unloading at least one of the engine and the BSG unit such that a drop in torque output at a front axle aligns with an end of the rear wheel slip event.

Abstract: Time domain battery usage data of a battery of an electrified powertrain of a vehicle in terms of average SOC, DOD and a set including average current flow rate and average battery temperature for each charge-discharge full cycle and half cycle of the battery during a use period are used to identify a location in a 3-D storage matrix (of fixed size and predetermined discretization levels for each dimension) in memory of an electronic control unit and a count in that location incremented. In an aspect, the charge-discharge full cycles and half cycles are identified using four-point rainflow cycle counting.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a hybrid power-split transmission of a vehicle involve obtaining measured rotational speeds of an engine and an electric motor of the transmission, wherein the transmission comprises at least two input shafts having a gear set therebetween and an output shaft, wherein one input shaft is coupled to the engine and another input shaft is connected to the electric motor, determining a main torque profile for the electric motor based on a set of operating conditions of the vehicle, calculating a speed difference between the measured rotational speeds of the engine and the electric motor, determining a disturbance torque profile for the electric motor based on the calculated speed difference, and performing closed-loop control of the electric motor based on a combination of the main and disturbance torque profiles to mitigate a disturbance at the output shaft of the transmission.

Abstract: Time domain battery usage data of a battery of an electrified powertrain of a vehicle in terms of average SOC, DOD and a set including average current flow rate and average battery temperature for each charge-discharge full cycle and half cycle of the battery during a use period are used to identify a location in a 3-D storage matrix (of fixed size and predetermined discretization levels for each dimension) in memory of an electronic control unit and a count in that location incremented. In an aspect, the charge-discharge full cycles and half cycles are identified using four-point rainflow cycle counting.

Abstract: Torque distribution control systems and methods for through-the-road electrified vehicles having distinct first and second torque generating systems for distinct first and second axles, respectively, utilize existing vehicle sensors to (i) obtain measured wheel rotational speeds and a measured steering wheel angle, (ii) estimate virtual yaw rates of the first and second axles using these measured values and other known vehicle parameters, (ii) predict whether oversteer or understeer of the vehicle is likely to occur based on the estimated first and second axle virtual yaw rates, and (iv) when oversteer or understeer of the vehicle is predicted to occur, adjust a torque distribution between the first and second torque generating systems to prevent the oversteer or understeer from occurring and to keep the vehicle on a constant turn path.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a hybrid power-split transmission of a vehicle involve obtaining measured rotational speeds of an engine and an electric motor of the transmission, wherein the transmission comprises at least two input shafts having a gear set therebetween and an output shaft, wherein one input shaft is coupled to the engine and another input shaft is connected to the electric motor, determining a main torque profile for the electric motor based on a set of operating conditions of the vehicle, calculating a speed difference between the measured rotational speeds of the engine and the electric motor, determining a disturbance torque profile for the electric motor based on the calculated speed difference, and performing closed-loop control of the electric motor based on a combination of the main and disturbance torque profiles to mitigate a disturbance at the output shaft of the transmission.

Abstract: Techniques for managing wheel slip in a through-the-road hybrid vehicle comprise detecting a front wheel slip event based on measured rotational speeds of front wheels, determining a likelihood of a subsequent rear wheel slip event, when the front wheel slip event has ended and the likelihood of the subsequent rear wheel slip event satisfies a calibratable threshold, adjusting a front/rear axle torque split and pre-loading at least one of an engine and a belt-driven starter generator (BSG) unit coupled to a crankshaft of the engine to compensate for a torque drop that is predicted to occur during the rear wheel slip event, and re-adjusting the front/rear axle torque split and pre-unloading at least one of the engine and the BSG unit such that a drop in torque output at a front axle aligns with an end of the rear wheel slip event.

Abstract: An axle assembly for a vehicle includes an axle housing assembly having a carrier housing and a differential assembly mounted in the carrier housing for rotation about a rotational axis. In an exemplary implementation, the differential assembly includes a unitary differential case, a differential gear set and a shroud member. The differential case defines an interior cavity and a window having an outer perimeter, where the window is configured to provide access to the interior cavity for assembling the gear set into the interior cavity. The shroud member is configured to be removably coupled to the differential case to cover the window and provide a radiused contour aligning with a radiused contour of the differential case thereby reducing spin losses when the differential assembly is rotating relative to the axle housing assembly.