Abstract: A Lidar system, a cleaning apparatus for the Lidar system and a method of operation. The cleaning apparatus cleans a surface of the Lidar system. The cleaning apparatus includes a nozzle and a processor. The nozzle discharges a gas at a surface of the Lidar system. The processor is configured to identify a type of debris on the surface, identify a cleaning mode for cleaning the surface based on the type of debris, select a nozzle velocity of the gas from the nozzle based on the cleaning mode, and operate the nozzle to discharge the gas at the nozzle velocity.

Abstract: A vehicle having a Lidar system includes a cleaning apparatus that performs a method of cleaning the Lidar system. The cleaning apparatus includes a nozzle for spraying a gas onto a window of the Lidar, a pump for controlling a flow of the gas through the nozzle, and a processor. The processor is configured to control the pump to control the flow of the gas through the nozzle at a variable flow rate.

Abstract: A neural network architecture and a method for determining a stress of a structure. The neural network architecture includes a first neural network and a second neural network. A neuron of last hidden layer of the first neural network is connected to a neuron of a last hidden layer of the second neural network. A first data set is input into the first neural network. A second data set is input into the second neural network. Data from the last hidden layer of the first neural network is combined with data from the last hidden layer of the second neural network. The stress of the structure is determined from the combined data.

Abstract: An improved thrust bearing for a turbocharger includes a first bearing surface, a second bearing surface, an internal passageway, a primary pad, and a plurality of secondary pads. The internal passageway fluidly connects the first and second bearing surfaces. The primary pad may be defined on the first bearing surface. The primary pad further defines a first aperture in fluid communication with the internal passageway and an oil feed defined in a turbocharger housing. The plurality of secondary pads may also be defined on the first bearing surface. Each secondary pad in the plurality of secondary pads may include a secondary surface area which is smaller than the primary surface area of the primary pad.

Abstract: A radially stacked planetary gear assembly provides improved lubrication fluid flow to the planet gear bearings of an outer planetary gear set which is especially important when the housing or outer planetary gear carrier is stationary. The assembly includes radially aligned or stacked inner and outer planetary gear sets each having a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier having planet gears in constant mesh with the sun and ring gears wherein the ring gear of the inner gear set is also the sun gear of the outer gear set and the outer carrier is the assembly housing. The sun gear is disposed on a transmission shaft having lubrication passages which aligns with pluralities of radial openings in a hub housing. A circular plate or guide adjacent one side of the housing includes channels which align with the openings and functions as a lubrication director, channeling lubrication from the transmission shaft and the pluralities of radial openings in the housing hub to the outer bearings, shafts and planet gears.