A method for evaluating the deceleration law of a vehicle including an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, and a powertrain including an engine, a gearbox and a unit for disconnecting the engine and gearbox, the deceleration law being defined for a discrete state of the powertrain. The method includes a first step of evaluating driving parameters, including measuring the speed (v) of the vehicle, evaluating the engaged gearbox ratio, evaluating the state of closure of the disconnecting unit, detecting the position of the accelerator pedal, detecting the position of the brake pedal, evaluating the slope (a) of the road on which the vehicle is traveling, evaluating the mass (m) of the vehicle. If the accelerator pedal is in a released position and if the brake pedal is in a released position, a second step including recording the speed (v) of the vehicle and the slope (a) of the road. A third step of computing a first coefficient (f0′), a second coefficient (f1′) and a third coefficient (f2′) of the deceleration law representing the forces F(v) being exerted on the vehicle, with the exception of the gravitational forces being exerted on the vehicle, according to the equation:

F(v)=f0′+f1′*v+f2′*v.sup.2.

The lock-up control unit is configured to: in a case where the normal mode is selected, disengage the lock-up clutch when a vehicle speed decreases and reaches a first vehicle speed while the vehicle is traveling in a state where the lock-up clutch is engaged, in a case where the eco mode is selected, disengage the lock-up clutch when the vehicle speed decreases and reaches a second vehicle speed in a brake operation OFF state while the vehicle is traveling in the state where the lock-up clutch is engaged, in the case where the eco mode is selected, disengage the lock-up clutch when the vehicle speed decreases and reaches a third vehicle speed in a brake operation ON state while the vehicle is traveling in the state where the lock-up clutch is engaged, and set the third vehicle speed to a vehicle speed lower than the first vehicle speed, and set the second vehicle speed to a vehicle speed higher than the first vehicle speed.

A system, method, and apparatus includes management of coasting during operation of a vehicle having an engine that is selectively engageable to a driveline, a cruise control mode of operation, and a road speed governor mode of operation. A road speed governor mode of operation of the vehicle is active in response to a road speed governor operation condition being present wherein the driveline is engaged with the engine. When a coasting management condition is present, operation of the vehicle in the road speed governor mode is disabled, the driveline is disengaged from the engine, and the vehicle is operated in a coasting mode of operation. The coasting mode of operation can be canceled when a coasting mode of operation cancellation condition is present to operate the vehicle in a road speed governor mode of operation with the driveline re-engaged with the engine.

A control device installed in a vehicle comprising an electronic control unit configured to: accept a plurality of first requests from a driving assistance system; arbitrate the first requests; calculate a second request that is a physical amount that differs from the first requests based on a result of arbitration in which the first requests are arbitrated; and distribute the second request to at least one of a plurality of actuator systems, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to, when there is the first request requesting a driving force exceeding a first driving force necessary for recovery from a fuel cut state, perform arbitration such that an actual driving force generated by the vehicle is no greater than the first driving force, until reaching a driving force lower limit realizable by a powertrain actuator included in the actuator system at a current gear ratio.

Method and apparatus for maintaining a speed of a vehicle within a target speed range. A plurality of coasting profiles are generated for the vehicle, each having an initial speed and a starting point on a predicted vehicle path. Each coasting profile represents a predicted vehicle speed over a time and/or distance from the starting point and is generated based on a geometry of at least a portion of the predicted vehicle path. At least one of the coasting profiles that maintains the speed of the vehicle within the target speed range is identified. A prime mover of the vehicle is controlled to place the vehicle into a coasting mode in accordance with the at least one identified coasting profile. Alternatively, feedback is provided to a user to place the vehicle into a coasting mode, such that the vehicle will coast in accordance with the at least one identified coasting profile.

The driving force control device includes: a requested driving force calculation unit configured to calculate requested driving force requested to the vehicle, in a coasting state where neither an accelerator operation nor a brake operation is performed by a driver; a power train control unit configured to control a gear ratio of the power train on the basis of the requested driving force and driving force that is achieved by the power train in the coasting state; a braking force calculation unit configured to calculate braking force required for achieving the requested driving force, when the requested driving force is smaller than driving force that is achieved by the power train at a gear ratio set by the power train control unit; and a brake control unit configured to cause the brake to generate the braking force calculated by the braking force calculation unit.

A control apparatus for a vehicle having a step-variable transmission. The control apparatus includes: a shift control portion to temporarily increase an input torque of the step-variable transmission beyond a required value, the shift control portion commanding an engaging-side coupling device which is the coupling device placed in a released state, to be brought into an engaged state, when the input speed has been raised to a predetermined value; and a torque increasing amount setting portion to set an amount of increase of the input torque of the step-variable transmission beyond the required value, such that the amount of increase is smaller when a rate of change of a running speed of the vehicle is relatively low than when the rate of change is relatively high, the rate of change of the running speed having a negative value in a decelerating state of the vehicle.

A regenerative braking system is provided. The regenerative braking system includes: a preceding vehicle recognition module installed in a vehicle, the preceding vehicle recognition module configured to determine whether a preceding vehicle is present and measure information on a relative distance and a relative velocity to the preceding vehicle; a vehicle sensor installed in the vehicle; and a controller configured to receive information generated from the preceding vehicle recognition module and a sensor signal generated form the vehicle sensor; to generate a reference deceleration to maintain a distance from the preceding vehicle within a safety distance; to generate a driving torque command for outputting regenerative braking torque for following the generated reference deceleration; and to transfer the generated driving torque command to a vehicular driving system.

Methods and systems are provided for improving fuel economy and reducing undesired emissions. In one example, a method may include in response to an engine speed being within a first threshold speed of an engine idle speed during a speed reduction request with engine cylinders unfueled, maintaining the cylinders unfueled, and controlling the engine to a desired stopping position responsive to the engine speed being greater than a second threshold speed lower than the idle speed. In this way, fuel usage and emissions may be reduced and engine restart requests may be conducted at least in part via vehicle inertia.

An apparatus for shift control in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes storage configured to store speed profiles corresponding to respective gears of the vehicle for each of a plurality of downhill slopes, and a controller configured to perform the shift control in the vehicle based on the speed profiles, when the vehicle coasts on a downhill road.