Various brake pads with thermoelectric energy harvesters are disclosed. In some embodiments, the brake pad comprising a backplate, a pad of friction material, and a TEG module. The backplate can comprise a through-hole in which elements of the TEG module are positioned.

Various brake pads with thermoelectric energy harvesters are disclosed. In some embodiments, the brake pad comprising a backplate, a pad of friction material, and a TEG module. The backplate can comprise a through-hole in which elements of the TEG module are positioned.

A vehicle brake cooling system is provided. The vehicle brake cooling system is configured to actively cool brake elements affecting one or more wheels of the vehicle during the periods of vigorous or prolonged application of a vehicle's brakes to prevent overheating. The system is filled with a suitable coolant fluid which is pressurized to flow through a nozzle or a system of nozzles onto a brake element during active braking, cooling the brake element. Manual or automatic operation is disclosed, including use of temperature or pressure sensors. A method of use of a vehicle brake cooling system is also disclosed.

A vehicle brake cooling system is provided. The vehicle brake cooling system is configured to actively cool brake elements affecting one or more wheels of the vehicle during the periods of vigorous or prolonged application of a vehicle's brakes to prevent overheating. The system is filled with a suitable coolant fluid which is pressurized to flow through a nozzle or a system of nozzles onto a brake element during active braking, cooling the brake element. Manual or automatic operation is disclosed, including use of temperature or pressure sensors. A method of use of a vehicle brake cooling system is also disclosed.

A piston assembly for a multi-disk system may comprise an adjustor sleeve and a piston configured to telescope relative to the adjustor sleeve. A puck may be located at an end of the piston. The piston assembly may include a multi-layer insulator. The multi-layer insulator may comprise a first insulator layer contacting the puck or the piston, and a second insulator layer contacting the first insulator layer. The first and second insulator layers may each comprise a solid disk.

A piston assembly for a multi-disk system may comprise an adjustor sleeve and a piston configured to telescope relative to the adjustor sleeve. A puck may be located at an end of the piston. The piston assembly may include a multi-layer insulator. The multi-layer insulator may comprise a first insulator layer contacting the puck or the piston, and a second insulator layer contacting the first insulator layer. The first and second insulator layers may each comprise a solid disk.

An automatic speed control including repeated autonomous establishment of a setpoint variable regarding a setpoint speed and/or a setpoint acceleration of the vehicle in such a way that the setpoint speed is smaller or equal to a specified or established maximum speed and/or the setpoint acceleration of the vehicle remains smaller or equal to a specified or established maximum acceleration controlling at least one vehicle component by taking into account the autonomously newly established setpoint variable so that an actual speed of the vehicle corresponds to the setpoint speed and/or an actual acceleration of the vehicle corresponds to the setpoint acceleration; and establishing the maximum speed and/or the maximum acceleration by taking into account a measured and/or estimated temperature of a component of a wheel brake caliper and/or a driving variable that is relevant for overheating of the component of the wheel brake caliper.

Methods are provided for optimizing usage of water harvested or generated on-board a vehicle. An amount of water selected for injection or spraying purposes, as well as an order of water injection responsive to various vehicle operating conditions, is varied based on the amount of water to be delivered, as well as a current water level relative to a predicted future water level. The method allows water usage benefits to be maximized particularly when water availability is limited.

Methods are provided for optimizing usage of water harvested or generated on-board a vehicle. An amount of water selected for injection or spraying purposes, as well as an order of water injection responsive to various vehicle operating conditions, is varied based on the amount of water to be delivered, as well as a current water level relative to a predicted future water level. The method allows water usage benefits to be maximized particularly when water availability is limited.

The flywheel device includes a sealed housing section; a rotor located in the sealed housing section where the rotor is held in a vertical position by a magnetic system; a controller coupled to the magnetic system; and a braking annular ring mounted to the sealed housing section below the rotor, where the rotor contacts the braking annular ring when the rotor is lowered or otherwise dropped from the vertical position. The controller perform operations to provide control signals to provide first power to the magnetic system to hold the rotor in the vertical position and provide second control signals to provide second power to the magnetic system to lower the rotor.