A throttle control system and methods are disclosed that provide a driver of a vehicle with greater control over engine functions and vehicle performance. The throttle control system processes input signals from a throttle pedal of the vehicle and sends modified throttle position signals to a throttle body of the vehicle so as to increase throttle responsiveness of the vehicle. The throttle control system includes a control module, a wiring harness, and a signal adjuster. The wiring harness electrically couples the control module with the throttle pedal and the throttle body. The control module sends signals directly to the throttle body of the engine, bypassing an electronic control unit of the vehicle. The signal adjuster includes a rheostat that enables manual adjustment of the throttle responsiveness of the vehicle. A control dial coupled with the rheostat facilitates hand operation of the rheostat.

Methods and systems are provided for adjust spark timing based on ambient humidity and transient tip-in parameters. In one example, a method may include, during a tip-in, retarding spark timing based on each of ambient humidity, peak air charge, and rate of change of air charge. As such, the spark timing retard may be higher at lower humidity levels, and the spark timing retard may be lower at higher humidity levels.

Methods and systems are provided for boosted engine systems. In one example, a system may include a pressurized air induction system with two pathways, the first for delivering ambient and the second for delivering boosted air to the engine. The pressurized air induction system is also adapted to store boosted air for faster supply of boost pressure in the event of demand for greater engine torque.

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine of a vehicle having a continuously variable transmission is disclosed. When a driven pulley speed is less than a predetermined driven pulley speed and an actual engine speed is less than an engine speed causing a driving pulley speed to be a driving pulley engagement speed: controlling the engine to increase the actual engine speed to increase the driving pulley speed to be at least the driving pulley engagement speed. When the driven pulley speed is above the predetermined driven pulley speed, the actual engine speed is greater than the engine speed causing the driving pulley speed to be the driving pulley engagement speed, and the desired engine speed is less than the engine speed causing the driving pulley speed to be the driving pulley engagement speed: controlling the engine to operate under conditions corresponding to an engine braking speed.

A vehicle control device includes a depression amount detection unit, a depression speed detection unit, a reaction force setting unit, and a reaction force generation unit. The reaction force setting unit sets a value of a reaction force in a manner of separating characteristics into advancement characteristics and return characteristics. The reaction force setting unit sets a value of a reaction force with respect to a depression amount in such a way that, in main advancement characteristics except for both ranges corresponding to start of depressing and end of depressing among advancement characteristics, a degree of increase of a value of a reaction force relatively decreases, as a depression amount increases until a predetermined ratio with respect to a maximum depression amount of an accelerator pedal reaches, and a degree of increase of a value of a reaction force relatively increases, as a depression amount increases after the predetermined ratio reaches; and sets a value of the reaction force in such a way that a value of the reaction force decreases, as a depression amount decreases.

A method for diagnosing a waste gate valve malfunction in a power generation system is presented. The method includes determining an actual pressure differential across a throttle valve. The method further includes determining an estimated pressure differential across the throttle valve based on one or more first operating parameters of the power generation system. Furthermore, the method includes determining an absolute difference between the actual pressure differential and the estimated pressure differential. Moreover, the method also includes comparing the absolute difference with a threshold value and if the absolute difference is greater than the threshold value, determining an operating condition of the throttle valve. Additionally, the method includes determining whether the waste gate valve has malfunctioned based on the determined operating condition of the throttle valve. An engine controller and a power generation system employing the method are also presented.

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for automatically obtaining a profile for a set of accelerator pedal position sensors in a target vehicle. The profile can comprise a correlation of the position of the pedal to an output signal for one or more sensor in the set of sensors. A pedal position sensor signal reader can be used to automatically detect signals from one or more pedal position sensor in the target vehicle's accelerator pedal, while the pedal is released, depressed, and moving between the released and depressed positions. A pedal profile can be automatically generated using the output signals and corresponding pedal positions. Obtained data can be used to program a speed control device for the target vehicle. Correlated output can be used to adjust the speed of the vehicle by sending an emulated signal to the ECM, which may adjust the speed control system.

An electronic pedal assembly may include a pedal platform and at least one force sensor configured to sense a force applied to the pedal platform. One or more control devices may be communicatively coupled to the force sensor(s) and configured to determine a throttle output for controlling the throttle condition of the vehicle based at least in part on the force applied to the pedal platform and based at least in part on an operating condition associated with operating the vehicle. In some embodiments, the force sensor(s) may be configured to measure a force distribution on the pedal platform. The control device(s) may monitor the force distribution and adjust an operation of the vehicle based on the force distribution. The operation of the vehicle can include controlling the throttle condition of the vehicle or an operation that is different from controlling the throttle condition of the vehicle.

An ignition switch is turned on, and when an abnormality is detected in any of electronic control instruments or sensors, real failure is established, and a fail-safe process is performed. After a lapse of a predetermined period from the establishment of the real failure, fault determination is established, a failure level is sent, and a hybrid fail-safe process is performed. Then, when the abnormality is eliminated, the real failure is not established, and the fail-safe process of an engine is finished. Then, when the ignition switch is turned off and then again turned on, sending of the failure level to a hybrid control unit is stopped, and the hybrid fail-safe process is finished.

Systems and methods are provided for providing redundant pulse-width modulation (PWM) throttle control. The system includes a manual throttle controller configured to generate a manual PWM throttle control signal, and an automated throttle control system. The automated throttle control system includes a plurality of automated throttle controllers, each of which being configured to independently control a throttle of a vehicle, and each including a processor configured to generate and output an automated PWM throttle control signal, a first double pole double throw (DPDT) relay that, when engaged, is configured to receive and output the manual PWM throttle control signal, and a second DPDT relay, configured to receive and output the automated PWM throttle control signal to an engine, when the second DPDT relay is engaged; and receive and output the manual PWM throttle control signal to the engine, when the DPDT relay is disengaged.