The present invention relates to a modular way to build a rolling chassis using composite materials without custom forming, and yielding appropriate weight distribution (centre of gravity) and torsional and bending rigidity.

Each of a monocoque body and a subframe is integrally formed of reinforced resin. The subframe has a bottom portion and an upstanding portion. The bottom portion is fixed to the lower portion of the rear wall of the monocoque body and extends rearward of the vehicle. The upstanding portion extends upward from the bottom portion. An engine is directly mounted on the rear surface of the upstanding portion.

A vehicle frame structure includes a pair of side members located on both right and left sides of a vehicle, each of the pair of side members extending both forward and rearward of a cabin along a respective side of the cabin. As each of the pair of side members extends in a longitudinal direction at a substantially uniform height, a load applied to one end can be transferred toward the other end.

A composite mat for a vehicle is provided. The composite mat includes a composite material assembled to an upper surface of a floor module at a lower portion of a vehicle body, the composite material being configured by stacking a glass fiber mat and a polyurethane resin layer on a surface of a honeycomb layer, and a woven fabric layer stacked on the composite material such that the woven fabric layer is integrated with the composite material.

Aspects are provided for retaining components of an assembly to a support, including additively manufactured (AM) parts of a vehicle chassis to an assembly table. A cartridge for securing the component to the assembly table is provided which includes a housing including at least one compartment, an adhesive disposed within the at least one compartment, a fastener removably attached to the assembly table, and a membrane lid enclosing an opening of the housing. The membrane lid is configured to receive a protruding member from the component such that the protruding member becomes adhered to the adhesive upon penetrating the membrane lid. The cartridge thus allows the component to be quickly retained in any selected position while constraining movement of the component along six degrees of freedom, thereby allowing AM and non-AM parts to be securely retained to accommodate strict tolerance and precise fit between the components of the assembly.

A surveillance system includes a robot and an operator control unit (OCU) for controlling the robot. The robot includes GO a light-weight frame housing, wheels, motor compartments positioned within the light-weight frame housing, wheel motors positioned within the motor compartments and attached to the wheels, a camera for capturing surveillance images and an electronic controller that is electrically or wirelessly connected to the wheel motors and the camera and that is wirelessly connected to the OCU. The light-weight frame is made of light-weight foam that substantially surrounds, structurally supports and protects the robot wheel motors, camera and electronic controller from mechanical shock during intended use.

A body structure of an automobile is provided in which a body floor includes a floor panel having a bulge portion bulging upward formed on the rear part on opposite side parts in the vehicle width direction, and a side member disposed in the fore-and-aft direction along the upper face on opposite side parts in the vehicle width direction of the floor panel and having integrally formed therewith the rear pillar rising upward from the upper face of the bulge portion. Due to the mounting structure of a rear side frame and the roof side rail support member, it is possible to enhance the strength and stiffness of the rear part of the body floor made of CFRP by the bulge portion and the rear pillar and to strongly mount the rear side frame and the roof side rail support member on the rear part of the body floor.

A holding structure for holding a mounted part on a floor panel includes: a floor panel that extends in a vehicle front-rear direction and in a vehicle width direction, the floor panel including an adhesion surface that is joined via an adhesive agent to a first portion of a body, and an anchoring portion that protrudes from a surface on an opposite side from the adhesion surface; a mounted part that is anchored to the anchoring portion; and a connecting component comprising a first portion that is fixed to the mounted part, and a second portion that is fixed to a second portion of the body.

A method for fabricating a joint designed to connect tubes for a space frame, where a space frame may be a vehicle chassis, is provided. The method may generate joints with variable geometry and fine features which may reduce production costs, reduce production time, and generate joints configured for highly specific applications. The joint may include centering features which may create a space between a surface of the tube and a surface of the joint through which adhesive may flow.

A structural component for a motor vehicle is provided. The structural component includes a closed hollow profile including fiber composite material, with a profile outer casing surrounding a profile volume. The structural component also includes at least one reinforcing bulkhead which is arranged in the profile volume on at least one section of an inner casing surface of the profile outer casing. The height of the at least one reinforcing bulkhead, perpendicularly from the inner casing surface, in at least one position in which the at least one reinforcing bulkhead is arranged on the inner casing surface, is lower than a passage height of the profile volume in this position.