A method controls a power train of a vehicle immobilized in a parking position, the vehicle being provided with a parking brake device for immobilizing the vehicle and at least one electric motor. The method includes detecting the slope direction and/or slope data when the parking brake device is in an actuated position, detecting that the parking brake device has switched from the actuated position to a released position, and applying a motor torque setpoint to the electric motor in accordance with the detected slope direction and/or slope data.

A control system for a vehicle includes a first vehicle system including a plurality of components and a controller. The controller monitors diagnostic data for the plurality of components of the first vehicle system and outputs a two-state status indicator for each of the components of the first vehicle system. States of the two-state status indicator include a failing state and a not failing state. A control module is configured to receive the two-state status indicator and the diagnostic data from the first vehicle system and to convert the two-state status indicator into a three-state status indicator. The three-state status indicator includes a pass state, a fail state and an indeterminate state. The control module is further configured to alter an engine operating parameter based on the three-state status indicator.

A control system for a vehicle includes a first vehicle system including a plurality of components and a controller. The controller monitors diagnostic data for the plurality of components of the first vehicle system and outputs a two-state status indicator for each of the components of the first vehicle system. States of the two-state status indicator include a failing state and a not failing state. A control module is configured to receive the two-state status indicator and the diagnostic data from the first vehicle system and to convert the two-state status indicator into a three-state status indicator. The three-state status indicator includes a pass state, a fail state and an indeterminate state. The control module is further configured to alter an engine operating parameter based on the three-state status indicator.

A method of operating a self-driving (autonomous) motor vehicle to transport a passenger who requires supervision. An authorization of a sender to operate the vehicle is checked and, if authorized, the sender provides instructions to a vehicle control unit to designate a destination and one or more authorization criterion that must be met by a recipient in order to unlock the vehicle and take custody of the passenger at the destination. The vehicle travels to the destination autonomously, during which travel the status of the passenger is monitored and transmitted wirelessly to a device in the possession of the sender. At the destination, unlocking of the vehicle is permitted upon confirmation of the authorization criterion by the recipient.

A dual battery charging and discharging system controls the configuration of multiple batteries arranged in multiple battery banks. The batteries within each bank are connected in series when powering an electrical load, such as a service motor, and are connected in parallel when charging. A microprocessor monitors the voltage levels of the batteries in each bank and controls relays to switch the electrical load over to a charged battery bank when the voltage level of the discharging battery bank drops below a minimum run threshold. The microprocessor also monitors the voltage levels of the charging battery bank and controls relays to cease charging when the voltage level rises above a minimum charge threshold. The batteries are charged by an alternator driven by a drive motor through a gear reduction system.

A dual battery charging and discharging system controls the configuration of multiple batteries arranged in multiple battery banks. The batteries within each bank are connected in series when powering an electrical load, such as a service motor, and are connected in parallel when charging. A microprocessor monitors the voltage levels of the batteries in each bank and controls relays to switch the electrical load over to a charged battery bank when the voltage level of the discharging battery bank drops below a minimum run threshold. The microprocessor also monitors the voltage levels of the charging battery bank and controls relays to cease charging when the voltage level rises above a minimum charge threshold. The batteries are charged by an alternator driven by a drive motor through a gear reduction system.

A fault diagnostic system of a vehicle includes a noise module that determines a noise value based on a plurality of differences between samples of a pressure signal generated by a pressure sensor located in a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system of an engine. A signal module determines a signal value based on the samples of the pressure signal generated by the pressure sensor located in the PCV system of the engine. A diagnostic value module determines a diagnostic value based on one of: (i) a product of the noise value and the signal value; and (ii) a sum based on the noise value and the signal value. A fault module selectively diagnoses a fault in the PCV system based on the diagnostic value and generates a malfunction indicator within a passenger cabin of the vehicle in response to the diagnosis of the fault in the PCV system.

A fault diagnostic system of a vehicle includes a noise module that determines a noise value based on a plurality of differences between samples of a pressure signal generated by a pressure sensor located in a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system of an engine. A signal module determines a signal value based on the samples of the pressure signal generated by the pressure sensor located in the PCV system of the engine. A diagnostic value module determines a diagnostic value based on one of: (i) a product of the noise value and the signal value; and (ii) a sum based on the noise value and the signal value. A fault module selectively diagnoses a fault in the PCV system based on the diagnostic value and generates a malfunction indicator within a passenger cabin of the vehicle in response to the diagnosis of the fault in the PCV system.

An engine room temperature rise restricting apparatus including an open and close detector of the grille shutter, and a controller including a CPU and a memory coupled to the CPU, wherein the CPU and the memory are configured to perform: detecting a stuck-closed failure of a grille shutter of a condition that the grille shutter remains closed regardless of an open instruction for the grille shutter, based on signal from the open and close detector; and controlling a speed ratio of a continuously variable transmission so that an upper limit of an engine rotational speed or an engine driving force when the stuck-closed failure is detected is smaller than an upper limit of the engine rotational speed or the engine driving force when the stuck-closed failure is not detected.

Methods, devices, and systems of a sensor surface object detection system are provided. Output from sensors of a vehicle may be used to describe an environment around the vehicle. In the event that a sensor is obstructed by dirt, debris, or detritus the sensor may not sufficiently describe the environment for autonomous control operations. The sensor surface object detection system may receive output from the sensors of the vehicle to determine whether any of the sensors are obstructed. The determination may be made by comparing the output of one sensor to another, determining whether the output of a sensor is within a predetermined threshold, or comparing characteristics of multiple sensor outputs to one another. When a sensor is determined to be obstructed, the system may send a command to a cleaning system to automatically remove the obstruction.