A method and apparatus to assist a vehicle ascending a hill are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a trailer connection component configured to determine whether a trailer is connected to the vehicle. The example apparatus also includes a road geometry component configured to determine a slope of a road on which the vehicle is driving. The example apparatus also includes a vehicle payload component configured to determine a gross vehicle weight of the vehicle. The example apparatus also includes a throttle adjuster configured to adjust a throttle based on the gross vehicle weight to maintain a set speed.

A method and apparatus to assist a vehicle ascending a hill are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a trailer connection component configured to determine whether a trailer is connected to the vehicle. The example apparatus also includes a road geometry component configured to determine a slope of a road on which the vehicle is driving. The example apparatus also includes a vehicle payload component configured to determine a gross vehicle weight of the vehicle. The example apparatus also includes a throttle adjuster configured to adjust a throttle based on the gross vehicle weight to maintain a set speed.

A control method for an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine including a valve timing control mechanism on at least an intake side and configured to control an operation of the valve timing control mechanism on the intake side during acceleration, the method including, calculating a relational expression between an intake valve timing, the intake valve timing being an operation timing of an intake valve, and a cylinder air charge amount in a range in which the intake valve timing can be advanced or retarded within a predetermined calculation cycle from a current value, calculating a target air charge amount, the target air charge amount being a target value of the cylinder air charge amount during the acceleration, based on an operating state of the internal combustion engine, calculating a target value of the intake valve timing corresponding to the target air charge amount from the relational expression for each calculation cycle, and setting a command signal for the valve timing control mechanism on the intake side based on a calculated target value of the intake valve timing.

A method to control a road vehicle during a slip of the drive wheels, which are caused to rotate by an internal combustion engine provided with a plurality of cylinders arranged in two banks, and with a plurality of fuel injectors each injecting fuel into a corresponding cylinder. The control method comprises the steps of: detecting a slip of at least one drive wheel; and controlling the internal combustion engine, only during a slip of at least one drive wheel, with a signalling law, which causes the internal combustion engine to work in an abnormal manner so as to generate an abnormal vibration and/or an abnormal noise, which can be perceived by the driver. The internal combustion engine has two twin control units, each of which is associated with a corresponding bank, controls all and the sole injectors of its own bank and actuates the signalling law completely independently of and autonomously from the other control unit.

A method to control a road vehicle during a slip of the drive wheels and having the steps of: detecting a slip of at least one drive wheel; and controlling, only during a slip of at least one drive wheel, a driving unit of the road vehicle with a signalling law so as to obtain a cyclic operating irregularity, which generates an abnormal vibration and/or an abnormal noise.

A vehicle control system includes an acceleration generating device (engine, T/M) that generates an acceleration applied to a vehicle, and a vehicle control device that controls the acceleration generating device, based on an accelerator pedal stroke representing an operation of an accelerator pedal by a driver, and a vehicle speed of the vehicle. In the vehicle control system or method, the vehicle control device controls the acceleration generating device, based on a required acceleration that is determined based on a relationship between the accelerator pedal stroke and the required acceleration, including, as a condition, an acceleration corresponding to a given accelerator pedal stroke, which is specified by a relationship between the vehicle speed and the acceleration when the accelerator pedal stroke is held at the given value.

A vehicle control system includes an acceleration generating device (engine, T/M) that generates an acceleration applied to a vehicle, and a vehicle control device that controls the acceleration generating device, based on an accelerator pedal stroke representing an operation of an accelerator pedal by a driver, and a vehicle speed of the vehicle. In the vehicle control system or method, the vehicle control device controls the acceleration generating device, based on a required acceleration that is determined based on a relationship between the accelerator pedal stroke and the required acceleration, including, as a condition, an acceleration corresponding to a given accelerator pedal stroke, which is specified by a relationship between the vehicle speed and the acceleration when the accelerator pedal stroke is held at the given value.

A turbocharger system for a vehicle comprising a turbocharger, a tank for compressed gas and an exhaust manifold conduit in fluid communication with an inlet of the turbocharger. The tank is in fluid communication with the manifold conduit and is arranged and controlled to push compressed gas into the manifold conduit during a predetermined pulse duration time period for initial compressor spin up in the turbocharger.

A turbocharger system for a vehicle comprising a turbocharger, a tank for compressed gas and an exhaust manifold conduit in fluid communication with an inlet of the turbocharger. The tank is in fluid communication with the manifold conduit and is arranged and controlled to push compressed gas into the manifold conduit during a predetermined pulse duration time period for initial compressor spin up in the turbocharger.

An engine including having a frame structure with a central longitudinal space containing a gear train in which end gears drive end crankshafts and a central gear drives a central crankshaft, a pair of dual piston and cylinder assembly are connected between each end crankshaft and central crankshaft on opposite side of the central space. The combustion chambers of cylinders on each side of the central are intercommunicated by passages extending through the hubs of gears in the gear train, a controller for the fuel injectors of the cylinders selectively causes the double pistons of each pair of passage connected to have either simultaneous internally fired power drive strokes in one mode or simultaneous internally fired and shared power drive strokes in another mode.