A method for an enhanced vehicle monitoring system that utilizes cameras and other sensors to determine the state of the interior and/or exterior of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises detecting that a driver has exited a vehicle. The method further comprises monitoring a state of the vehicle. The method further comprises determining based, at least in part, on the monitoring, if an object has been left in the vehicle unintentionally or if the vehicle has been left running unattended. The method further comprises, upon determining that the object has been left in the vehicle or the vehicle has been left running unattended, sending a notification to the driver.

Methods and systems are provided for reducing driver dissatisfaction from NVH associated with cylinder deactivation. Audio and video feed is captured from inside a vehicle and analyzed to infer if a vehicle operator is distracted. If yes, then a VDE transition is scheduled to occur during the time when the driver is distracted and unlikely to notice the NVH.

Methods and systems are provided for reducing engine stall incidence during canister purging. A fuel vapor canister is purged at a higher purge ramp rate to an engine with one or more cylinders selectively deactivated. In response to an indication of potential or partial engine stall, the deactivated cylinders are reactivated and the canister purge ramp rate is lowered.

A method for an enhanced vehicle monitoring system that utilizes cameras and other sensors to determine the state of the interior and/or exterior of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises detecting that a driver has exited a vehicle. The method further comprises monitoring a state of the vehicle. The method further comprises determining based, at least in part, on the monitoring, if an object has been left in the vehicle unintentionally or if the vehicle has been left running unattended. The method further comprises, upon determining that the object has been left in the vehicle or the vehicle has been left running unattended, sending a notification to the driver.

Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine that may be automatically stopped and started are described. In one example, inhibiting of automatic engine stopping and starting may be withdrawn in response to a change in driver vehicle settings or when a temperature of an engine is less than a threshold temperature.

A side-by-side off-road utility vehicle comprising a vehicle operational status switch for controlling the operational status of the vehicle, a side-by-side seating structure, a plurality of safety restraint devices operable to retain one or more vehicle passenger in the side-by-side seating structure, and a prime mover RPM controller. The prime mover RPM controller operable to output commands to the one or more prime mover of the vehicle to limit a rotational speed of the prime mover(s) when the vehicle is in an On operational status and a selected one or more of the one or more safety restraints is in a disengaged status.

A computer is programmed to determine an occupancy status of a vehicle based on received sensor data; and adjust a parameter of a powertrain of the vehicle in response to data indicating a critical condition of the powertrain based on the occupancy status. The parameter may be one of engine speed, cylinder deactivation, transmission-shift time, and shift schedule.

A method for operating a drive device of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The drive device has a compressor, which can be driven by an electric motor for supplying combustion fresh gas to an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle. At a power increase of the internal combustion engine, the compressor is driven with the electric motor so that a torque curve selected from a plurality of different torque curves is established at the internal combustion engine over its rotational speed.

Methods and systems are presented for improving performance of a vehicle operating in a cruise control mode where a controller adjusts torque output from a vehicle to maintain vehicle speed within a desired range. The methods and systems include adapting a vehicle dynamics model and a vehicle fuel consumption map that provide input to nonlinear model predictive controller.

This blow-by gas recirculation device for an internal combustion engine is provided with a vacuum pump which supplies negative pressure to a brake booster and usable for recirculation of blow-by gas to an intake passage. This device includes: a PCV device for recirculating blow-by gas in a crankcase to the intake passage; a ventilation shortage region determination unit which determines whether or not an operational region of the engine is a PCV ventilation flow rate shortage region; and a brake negative pressure determination unit which determines whether or not the negative pressure of the brake booster is secured. The vacuum pump ventilates blow-by gas in the crankcase only when the determination units determines that the operational region is the PCV ventilation flow rate shortage region and that the negative pressure is secured. This reduces a contact risk of blow-by gas with engine oil, and inhibits the degradation of the oil.