Toyota

About: Toyota is a company organization based out in Safenwil, Switzerland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Internal combustion engine & Battery (electricity). The organization has 40032 authors who have published 55003 publications receiving 735317 citations. The organization is also known as: Toyota Motor Corporation & Toyota Jidosha KK.

Topology optimization design of flextensional actuators

Abstract: Flextensional actuators can be defined as a piezoceramic (or a stack of piezoceramics) connected to a flexible mechanical structure that converts and amplifies the output displacement of the piezoceramic. Essentially, the actuator performance depends on the distribution of stiffness and flexibility in the coupling structure and, therefore, on the coupling structure topology. In this work, we propose a general method for designing flextensional actuators with large output displacement (or generative force) by applying the topology optimization method. The goal is to design a flexible structure coupled to the piezoceramic that maximizes the output displacement (or force) in some specified direction. Static and low frequency applications are considered. To illustrate the implementation of the method, 2-D topologies of flextensional actuators are presented because of the lower computational cost; however, the method can be extended to 3-D topologies. By designing other types of coupling structures connected to the piezoceramic, new designs of flextensional actuators that produce output displacements or forces in different directions can be obtained, as shown. This method can be extended for designing flextensional hydrophones and sonars.

Effect of the addition of transition metals to Pt/Ba/Al2O3 catalyst on the NOx storage-reduction catalysis under oxidizing conditions in the presence of SO2

Abstract: The NO x storage-reduction catalysis under oxidizing conditions in the presence of SO 2 has been investigated on Pt/Ba/Fe/Al 2 O 3 , Pt/Ba/Co/Al 2 O 3 , Pt/Ba/Ni/Al 2 O 3 , and Pt/Ba/Cu/Al 2 O 3 catalysts compared with Pt/Ba/Al 2 O 3 , Pt/Fe/Al 2 O 3 , Pt/Co/Al 2 O 3 , Pt/Ni/Al 2 O 3 , Pt/Cu/Al 2 O 3 and Pt/Al 2 O 3 catalysts. The NO x purification activity of Pt/Ba/Fe/Al 2 O 3 catalyst was the highest of all the catalysts investigated in this paper after an aging treatment. That of the aged Pt/Ba/Co/Al 2 O 3 and Pt/Ba/Ni/Al 2 O 3 catalysts was essentially the same as that of the aged Pt/Ba/Al 2 O 3 catalyst, while that of the aged Pt/Ba/Cu/Al 2 O 3 and Pt/Cu/Al 2 O 3 catalysts was substantially lower than the others. The Fe-compound on the aged Pt/Ba/Fe/Al 2 O 3 catalyst has played a role in decreasing the sulfur content on the catalyst after exposure to simulated reducing gas compared with the Pt/Ba/Al 2 O 3 catalyst without the Fe-compound. XRD and EDX show that the Fe-compound inhibits the growth in the size of BaSO 4 particles formed on the Pt/Ba/Fe/Al 2 O 3 catalyst under oxidizing conditions in the presence of SO 2 and promotes the decomposition of BaSO 4 and desorption of the sulfur compound under reducing conditions.

Integrated vehicle motion control system

Abstract: An integrated vehicle motion control system is provided in which the software configuration is formed in a hierarchical structure, and includes (a) a command section adapted to determine target vehicle state quantities based on driving related information, and (b) an executing section adapted to receive the target vehicle state quantities as commands from the command section, and execute the commands by means of a plurality of actuators. The command section includes an upper-level command section adapted to determine first target vehicle state quantities based on the driving related information, without taking account of the dynamic behavior of the vehicle, and a lower-level command section adapted to determine second target vehicle state quantities inview of the dynamic behavior of the vehicle.

Distributed Conflict Resolution for Connected Autonomous Vehicles

Abstract: This paper proposes a novel communication-enabled distributed conflict resolution mechanism in order for a group of connected autonomous vehicles to navigate safely and efficiently in intersections without any traffic manager. The conflict resolution strategy for individual vehicle is decoupled temporally. In a decision maker, the vehicle computes the desired time slots to pass the conflict zones by solving a conflict graph locally based on the broadcasted information from other vehicles. In a motion planner, the vehicle computes the desired speed profile by solving a temporal optimization problem constrained in the desired time slot. The estimated time to occupy the conflict zones given the new speed profile is then broadcasted again. It is proved that the aggregation of these local decisions solves the conflicts globally. Theoretically, this method provides an efficient parallel mechanism to obtain local optimal solutions of a large-scale optimization problem (e.g., multivehicle navigation). Application-wise, as demonstrated by extensive simulation, this mechanism increases the efficiency of autonomous vehicles in terms of smaller delay time, as well as the efficiency of the traffic in terms of larger throughput when there is no traffic manager to mediate the conflicts.

Band-bending induced passivation: high performance and stable perovskite solar cells using a perhydropoly(silazane) precursor

Abstract: Surface passivation of the perovskite photo absorber is a key factor to improve the photovoltaic performance. So far robust passivation strategies have not yet been revealed. Here, we demonstrate a successful passivation strategy which controls the Fermi-level of the perovskite surface by improving the surface states. Such Fermi-level control caused band-bending between the surface and bulk of the perovskite, which enhanced the hole-extraction from the absorber bulk to the HTM side. As an added benefit, the inorganic passivation layer improved the device light stability. By depositing a thick protection layer on the complete device, a remarkable waterproofing effect was obtained. As a result, an enhancement of VOC and the conversion efficiency from 20.5% to 22.1% was achieved. We revealed these passivation mechanisms and used perhydropoly(silazane) (PHPS) derived silica to control the perovskite surface states.