Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission, where the transmission is downstream of the engine, and where the electric machine is downstream of the transmission. In one example, while the vehicle is being propelled solely via the electric machine, one or more gears of the transmission may be pre-engaged or selected, to prepare the driveline for an engine start event. In this way, driveline torque disturbance and delays in torque requests may be reduced or avoided upon a request for an engine start event.

Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission, where the transmission is downstream of the engine, and where the electric machine is downstream of the transmission. In one example, while the vehicle is being propelled solely via the electric machine, one or more gears of the transmission may be pre-engaged or selected, to prepare the driveline for an engine start event. In this way, driveline torque disturbance and delays in torque requests may be reduced or avoided upon a request for an engine start event.

An apparatus is provided for detonation control in spark ignition engines. The apparatus includes an analog neurocomputing hardware device, a knock sensor coupled to a spark ignition engine, an ignition coil for the spark ignition engine, and an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for the spark ignition engine. The analog neuromorphic hardware device is configured to receive knock signals from the knock sensor, receive ignition coil data from the ignition coil, determine a knock level and ignition quality measure based on the received knock sensor signals and the received ignition coil data, and transmit the knock level and ignition quality measure to the ECU.

A method of controlling a vehicle (1) in which rear road wheels (2) are driven by a prime mover (4, 20). This vehicle control method comprises: a basic torque setting step of setting, based on a driving state of the vehicle, a basic torque to be generated by the prime mover; an incremental torque setting step of setting an incremental torque such that the basic torque is increased in accordance with an increase in steering angle of a steering device (26) equipped in the vehicle; and a torque generation step of controlling the prime mover to generate a torque which is determined by increasing the basic torque based on the incremental torque.

A cylinder cutout system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The system may include a plurality of cylinders having a first pattern of cylinders and a second pattern of cylinders. Additionally, a fuel governor operatively coupled to a plurality of fuel injectors may regulate an amount of fuel received by the plurality of cylinders. The system may further include a plurality of sensors configured to collect a set of engine data and a controller communicably coupled with the plurality of fuel injectors, the fuel governor and the plurality of sensors. The controller may be programmed to detect a start-up condition of the engine and to execute a cylinder test cycle on at least a portion of the plurality of cylinders based on a positive detection of the start-up condition. The controller may activate one of the first or second patterns of cylinders based on the cylinder test cycle results.

A cylinder cutout system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The system may include a plurality of cylinders having a first pattern of cylinders and a second pattern of cylinders. Additionally, a fuel governor operatively coupled to a plurality of fuel injectors may regulate an amount of fuel received by the plurality of cylinders. The system may further include a plurality of sensors configured to collect a set of engine data and a controller communicably coupled with the plurality of fuel injectors, the fuel governor and the plurality of sensors. The controller may be programmed to detect a start-up condition of the engine and to execute a cylinder test cycle on at least a portion of the plurality of cylinders based on a positive detection of the start-up condition. The controller may activate one of the first or second patterns of cylinders based on the cylinder test cycle results.

A system is disclosed including but not limited to a processor; a hybrid power source for servicing a system load, the hybrid power source comprising a natural gas engine, a diesel engine and a battery; a linear computer program comprising, instructions determining a current system load serviced by power provided from the hybrid power source; instructions to determine a current operating state for the natural gas engine, the diesel engine and the battery; instructions to use linear programming to determine a new operating state for the natural gas engine, the diesel engine and the battery to reduce power consumption servicing the current system load the natural gas engine, the diesel engine and the battery; and instructions to replace the current operating state for the natural gas engine, the diesel engine and the battery to the new operating state for the natural gas engine, the diesel engine and the battery.

A system is disclosed including but not limited to a processor; a hybrid power source for servicing a system load, the hybrid power source comprising a natural gas engine, a diesel engine and a battery; a linear computer program comprising, instructions determining a current system load serviced by power provided from the hybrid power source; instructions to determine a current operating state for the natural gas engine, the diesel engine and the battery; instructions to use linear programming to determine a new operating state for the natural gas engine, the diesel engine and the battery to reduce power consumption servicing the current system load the natural gas engine, the diesel engine and the battery; and instructions to replace the current operating state for the natural gas engine, the diesel engine and the battery to the new operating state for the natural gas engine, the diesel engine and the battery.

A method and system for regenerating a soot particle filter of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine control unit determines a pressure difference from a differential pressure signal received from a differential pressure sensor, which pressure difference is present between an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet of the soot particle filter. The method compares the pressure difference to a pressure difference threshold value and operates the combustion engine in a regeneration operating profile if the determined pressure difference is smaller than the pressure difference threshold value. If the determined pressure difference is greater, a differential pressure correction device is connected between the differential pressure sensor and the engine control unit and a differential pressure simulation signal is generated by the differential pressure correction device and transmitted to the engine control unit to operate the internal combustion engine in the regeneration operating profile.

A method and system for regenerating a soot particle filter of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine control unit determines a pressure difference from a differential pressure signal received from a differential pressure sensor, which pressure difference is present between an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet of the soot particle filter. The method compares the pressure difference to a pressure difference threshold value and operates the combustion engine in a regeneration operating profile if the determined pressure difference is smaller than the pressure difference threshold value. If the determined pressure difference is greater, a differential pressure correction device is connected between the differential pressure sensor and the engine control unit and a differential pressure simulation signal is generated by the differential pressure correction device and transmitted to the engine control unit to operate the internal combustion engine in the regeneration operating profile.