Systems, apparatus and methods to implement sectional design (e.g., in quadrants) of an autonomous vehicle may include modular construction techniques to assemble an autonomous vehicle from multiple structural sections. The multiple structural sections may be configured to implement radial and bilateral symmetry. A structural section based configuration may include a power supply configuration (e.g., using rechargeable batteries) including a double-backed power supply system. The power supply system may include a kill switch disposed on a power supply (e.g., at an end of a rechargeable battery). The kill switch may be configured to disable the power supply system in the event of an emergency or after a collision, for example. The radial and bilateral symmetry may provide for bi-directional driving operations of the autonomous vehicle as the vehicle may not have a designated front end or a back end.

A cellular structure may include a plurality of cells each having a twelve-cornered cross section. The twelve-cornered cross section may include twelve sides and twelve corners creating eight internal angles and four external angles. Each cell may include a plurality of longitudinal walls extending between a top and a bottom of the cell, the longitudinal walls intersecting to create corners of the cell. A structural component may include at least one wall surrounding a component interior space with a cellular structure having at least two cells being positioned within the interior space. A sandwich structure may include first and second substantially planar structures, and a cellular structure with at least two cells positioned between the first and second substantially planar structures.

An outer glass contact section, which is parallel to and comes into close contact with the outer surface of a windscreen, and inner glass contact parts, which have lips that press the inner surface of the windscreen, are formed at the vehicle rear-side edge of a cowl body. The lips each have a folded shape or a curved shape, have a folding point for the folded shape or a curving point for the curved shape as a boundary, and include a base-side first lip section and a distal-side second lip section.

A locking retainer system configured to secure an automotive component within a motor vehicle includes a panel defining a T-shaped aperture and a retainer. The T-shaped aperture has a vertical aperture portion and a longitudinal aperture portion. The vertical aperture portion is defined by a first planar portion of the panel and the longitudinal aperture portion is defined by a second planar portion of the panel. The first planar portion is laterally offset from the second planar portion. The retainer has a vertical retainer portion and a longitudinal retainer portion and is attached to the automotive component by an elongated strut intermediate the vertical retainer portion and the automotive component. The panel is configured to receive the retainer within the aperture, thereby securing the automotive component to the panel and limiting motion of the automotive component relative to the panel along vertical, longitudinal, and lateral axes.

An assembly useful for providing structural reinforcement and/or sound/vibration damping to a hollow member of a motor vehicle is provided which contains an injection-molded carrier made of a heat resistant thermoplastic composition, at least one of the first side and the second side of the carrier has at least one receptacle adapted to receive and retain an insert comprised of a heat-expandable resin composition. The carrier may have a plurality of openings in at least one of the first side or the second side forming a grid or lattice and the assembly may include a mounting member adapted to fasten the carrier to an interior wall of a hollow member.

A structure for reinforcing and supporting a vehicle frunk includes front side members installed in a front-to-back direction of a vehicle body at both sides of a front floor panel of a vehicle, a frunk bar extending in a width direction of the vehicle between the front side members and connected to the front side members, a bracket formed at a position corresponding to connection between the frunk bar and a respective one of the front side members, to couple the frunk bar to the respective one of the front side members, at least two motor mounts formed beneath the frunk bar in a height direction of the frunk bar, and a subframe positioned beneath the motor mounts in a height direction of the motor mounts and connected to the front side members to extend in the width direction of the vehicle.

The present disclosure relates to a protective apparatus that can be positioned along an underside of a motor vehicle and, in many cases, near a front or rear region of the motor vehicle. The protective apparatus may include an underbody made from fiber-reinforced plastic for protecting assemblies or components arranged above it against damage as a consequence of stone chipping or ground contact. Further, the underbody may have three-dimensionally structured regions for increasing its rigidity, and the underbody may be designed to absorb chassis and/or crash loads and may include integrated holders for movably attaching chassis links.

A profile strut includes an upper chord, a lower chord, two spaced-apart lateral walls which, together with the upper chord and the lower chord, define an interior, and a first profile end and a second profile end. A first end piece is disposed in the first profile end and a second end piece is disposed in the second profile end. A connecting web connects the first end piece to the second end piece. Each of the first end piece and the second end piece bears via end faces thereof against adjacent inner wall regions of the upper chord and the lower chord; respectively. An intermediate region, which is configured as a tunnel incorporated into the lower chord, is disposed between the first profile end and the second profile end.

A profile strut includes an upper chord, a lower chord, two spaced-apart lateral walls which, together with the upper chord and the lower chord, define an interior, and a first profile end and a second profile end. A first end piece is disposed in the first profile end and a second end piece is disposed in the second profile end. A connecting web connects the first end piece to the second end piece. Each of the first end piece and the second end piece bears via end faces thereof against adjacent inner wall regions of the upper chord and the lower chord; respectively. An intermediate region, which is configured as a tunnel incorporated into the lower chord, is disposed between the first profile end and the second profile end.

A vehicle has a frame, at least one seat, an engine, a plurality of ground engaging members, a windshield, and a wiper assembly connected to the upper portion of the windshield. The wiper assembly has a wiper motor, a reservoir, a wiper arm pivotally connected to the upper portion of the windshield, a wiper blade connected to the wiper arm, and a sprayer connected to the wiper arm and fluidly connected to the reservoir. The wiper motor selectively pivots the wiper arm and the wiper blade between a stowed position and a pivoted position. The wiper blade has a first side and a second side. The first side is above the second side in the stowed position. The sprayer is configured for spraying a fluid only on the surface of the windshield away from the first side of the wiper blade. A method for wiping a windshield is also disclosed.