ITC/USA 2015 Conference Proceedings / The Fifty-First Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 26-29, 2015 / Bally's Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV / In this paper, we present our research on using computer-vision analysis for vehicular safety applications. Our research has potential applications for both autonomous vehicles and connected vehicles. In particular, for connected vehicles, we propose three image analysis algorithms that enhance the quality of a vehicle's on-board video before inter-vehicular information exchange takes place. For autonomous vehicles, we are investigating a visual analysis scheme for collision avoidance during back up and an algorithm for automated 3D map building. These algorithms are relevant to the telemetering domain as they involve determining the relative pose between a vehicle and other vehicles on the road, or between a vehicle and its 3D driving environment, or between a vehicle and obstacles surrounding the vehicle.

published_or_final_version / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The purpose of this study is to identify realistic opportunities and barriers regarding PEV charge management by analyzing real-world PEV data from customers in the Austin Energy service area and evaluating direct, quantifiable economic value benefits as it relates new revenue, cost avoidance, CO2 reductions, and MW potential for peak shaving. The main objective is to provide business analysis to support the strategic road-map for Austin Energy PEV home charging programs. Three main charge program implementations are considered: Uncontrolled Charging, Time of Use Rates, and One Way Utility Control. The data used for the analysis includes 45 households with PEVs from Mueller area; 24 were under a Time of Use trial with pricing incentives to charge at night, and 21 receive normal Austin Energy rates. Data analysis shows that 66% of Time of Use trial group successfully shifted PEV load to Off Peak hours (10:00PM to 6:00AM). The potential of One Way control, based on load availability for interruption, shows that it will not be possible to implement until there are 37,000 PEVs in the Austin Energy area. Uncontrolled Charging represents a risk by increasing load during the residential peak. Time of Use Rates program will incentivize load shifting, reduce wholesale energy costs for Austin Energy while allowing customers to reduce their overall electricity bill. / text

<p> To reduce cost of structural composites the development of more efficient manufacturing methods is of great interest. Sheet forming of thermoset prepreg, also known as hot drape forming, has been a promising manufacturing method for decades. An automatic tape layer (ATL) can be used to perform the lay-up in an efficient way. The flatly stacked unidirectional prepreg forms a sheet to be formed over a given mould. Knowledge about the materials forming behaviour is important to reach the required shape without flaws, such as wrinkles.</p><p>An experimental approach is developed to investigate the intra- (within the layer) and interply deformation. The intraply deformation properties are registered by the use of a bias-extension test and a digital image correlation (DIC) equipment. To measure the interlaminar (between the layers) friction in the prepreg/prepreg interface a specialized rig is designed and built.</p><p>The two tested materials are Cycom^® HTA/977-2 from Cytec and HexPly® T700/M21 from Hexel, which are examples of the second and third generation of carbon fibre/epoxy prepreg. Where M21 includes craze stoppers in form of thermoplastic particles, the 977-2 has the same function but in melted stage. These particles seem to influence both the intraply deformation modes and increase the level of friction between layers.</p><p>The results from the bias-extension test was compared with the theory of pin-jointed net (PJN) and it was found that M21 behaves accordingly. The measured rotation for 977-2 is less than the theoretical, this due to slippage. The rate of deformation seems to have an influence not only on the load level, but also in the mode of deformation. Both for the interlaminar and intraply deformation the resistance to motion were much larger for M21 than 977-2.</p> / KEKS (kostnadseffektiva kompositer)

<p>The lithium ion battery is today mainly used in cell phonesand laptops. In the future, this kind of battery might beuseful in hybrid electric vehicles as well.</p><p>In this work, the main focus has been to gain more knowledgeabout the lithium ion battery in the hybrid electric vehicle(HEV) and more precisely to examine what processes of thebattery that are limiting at HEV currents. Both experiments andmathematical modelling have been used. In both cases, highrate, pulsed currents typical for the HEV, have been used.</p><p>Two manuscripts have been written. Both of them concern thebehaviour of the battery at HEV load, but from different pointsof view. The first one concerns the electrochemical behaviourof the battery at different ambient temperatures. Theexperimental results of this paper were used to validate amathematical model of a Li-ion battery. Possiblesimplifications of the model were identified. In this work itwas also concluded that the mass transfer of the electrolyte isthe main limiting process within the battery. The mass transferof the electrolyte was further studied in the second paper,where the concentration of lithium ions was measured indirectlyusing in situ Raman spectroscopy. This study showed that themathematical description of the mass transfer of theelectrolyte is not complete. One main reason of this issuggested to be the poor description of the physical parametersof the electrolyte. These ought to be further studied in orderto get a better fit between concentration gradients predictedby experiments and model respectively.</p>

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This dissertation performs a comprehensive analysis of the effect of different environmental, demographic and vehicle variables on the severity of two-vehicle crashes. The limitations associated with previous studies have been addressed by using a large crash database, properly defining the independent variables, using appropriate statistical models, and by considering the effect of factors normally unaccounted for such as crash type, impact speed, and weight or height incompatibilities between the two vehicles.The use of multinomial logit models at the individual occupant and crash levels provides the flexibility to evaluate variables that have opposing effects at different injury levels (such as airbags). Alternative formulations with interaction terms and with instrumental variables are included. An analysis of marginal probabilities and costs is also provided, which is particularly useful when discussing potential safety treatments with transportation officials, politicians and other decision makers.The findings from the different models are consistent and suggest that the type of crash has a great impact on severity. Age is the most significant demographic variable, with children and older occupants being least and most likely to be injured, respectively. Behavior also seems to be critical, as the use of seatbelts greatly decreases occupant injuries. Heavier vehicles increase the safety of its occupants but decrease the safety of occupants of the other vehicle. The effect of vehicle type is not as significant as weight, with the exception of pickups, which are both more crashworthy and more aggressive than passenger cars. Further research is needed on the effects of airbags and impaired driving, as the analyses conducted have been inconclusive.

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