A vehicle includes a transmission; a torque converter coupled to the transmission; a controller in communication with the transmission and the torque converter; a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a back seat coupled to the transmission; and sensors configured to detect user occupancy of the seats. The sensors are in communication with the controller. The controller is programmed to receive data from the sensors, determine an occupancy status based on the occupancy data, set an engine operating parameter of one of the transmission and the torque converter based on the occupancy status, and control one or both of the transmission and the torque converter to operate according to the parameter.

A method for operating an engine during a fuel cut-off mode is disclosed. The method may adjust exhaust valve opening timing and exhaust valve lift of one or more cylinders to heat air flowing through the one or more cylinders so that a temperature of an after treatment device may be maintained or increased.

A fuel level measurement system and method for liquified natural gas (LNG) powered machines is disclosed. An engine control module (ECM) receives fuel line pressure levels at a first time (e.g., a key-off event) and, again, at a second time (e.g., a key-on event). The ECM predicts an expected change in pressure from the key-off event to the key-on event based on various factors. If the change in pressure detected is greater than a threshold level different from the predicted change in pressure, the ECM determines a fill event and resets a current fuel level. The ECM tracks mass flow commands used to provide fuel to the engine to determine the consumption of fuel from the fuel tank and to determine a new current fuel level based on the amount of fuel consumed. The current fuel level is displayed on a fuel gauge.

The invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle with a drive device (20) which has at least one internal combustion engine (21) as a drive machine, wherein a drive torque requested by a driver of the vehicle (1) is implemented by operating at least the internal combustion engine (21) on a roadway (2), comprising the following steps: a) Monitoring the roadway (2) for road users (3) travelling ahead, by means of a surroundings sensor system (5), b) Monitoring a driver of the vehicle (1) by means of a state sensor system (8) with respect to his request to carry out an overtaking process in order to overtake a detected road user (3) travelling ahead, and if a request to carry out an overtaking process has been detected, c) Actuating the drive device (20) to prepare the overtaking process in such a way that before the overtaking process is carried out a torque reserve of the internal combustion engine (21) is built up.

Autonomous diesel vehicles and control methods thereof are disclosed. An autonomous vehicle may include a peripheral information collecting unit configured to collect peripheral information necessary for autonomous travelling through an image camera and a laser scanner, a main control unit configured to control the autonomous travelling with reference to the peripheral information collected by the peripheral information collecting unit, a passenger monitoring unit configured to check whether a passenger exists inside the vehicle through a sensor and transmit a result of the check to the main control unit, and an engine control unit configured to control driving of an engine and injection of fuel of an injector according to a control instruction of the main control unit. When the passenger is inside the vehicle, the main control unit performs a pilot injection control, and when the passenger is not inside the vehicle, the main control unit omits the pilot injection control.

Disclosed herein are techniques for implementing vehicle ECU reprograming, so the ECU programming, which plays a large role in vehicle performance characteristics, is tailored to current operational requirements, which may be different than the operational characteristics selected by the manufacturer when initially programming the vehicle ECU (or ECUs) with specific instruction sets, such as fuel maps. In one embodiment, a controller monitors the current operational characteristics of the vehicle, determines the current ECU programming, and determines if a different programming set would better suited to the current operating conditions. In the event that the current programming set should be replaced, the controller implements the ECU reprogramming. In a related embodiment, users are enabled to specify the ECU programming to change, such as changing speed limiter settings.

A system for automatically controlling shut-off of a vehicle includes: a sensor that senses existence of a user in the vehicle; and a vehicle controlling device that determines whether the vehicle is in an idle state, determines whether a user exists in the vehicle based on a sensing value of the sensor, controls the vehicle to automatically shut off, and notifies a user of a vehicle state.

Methods and systems are provided for synergizing the benefits of a variable compression ratio engine in a hybrid vehicle system. A vehicle controller may hold the engine in a lower compression ratio during engine pull-ups and pull-downs, in particular when passing through a low speed region where compression bobbles can occur. During engine operation, in response to a change in driver demand, the controller may opt to switch the compression ratio or maintain a current compression ratio while smoothing a torque deficit using motor torque, the selection based on fuel economy.

A system and method for providing torque-assist to a rotary shaft of an internal combustion engine control an electric machine in response to operation of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve to assist the rotation of the rotary shaft. The system and method facilitate periodic operation of the EGR valve to purge condensation without objectionable torque reduction when the engine is operating near full load.

A vehicle engine automatic control device has a brake operation amount detecting unit that detects an amount of brake operation by a driver, an engine stopping/re-starting unit that, during coast drive, stops an engine based on the amount of brake operation that is detected, and, after the engine stops, re-starts the engine when the amount of brake operation that is detected falls below a first threshold, and a first threshold setting unit that sets the first threshold smaller as vehicle speed becomes lower.