The present invention relates to a method for operating a driver model for controlling a vehicle. Acc.sup.Vehicle speed (kph) ntion, a vehicle .sub.Accelerator pedal [%] cle is selected and activated by the driver model from a number of vehicle statuses (301, 303, 305, 307, 309) by comparing a current status of the vehicle with at least one selection condition specified for a particular vehicle status, the number of vehicle statuses (301, 303, 305, 307, 309) comprising at least a first vehicle status (301, 303, 305, 307, 309) and a second vehicle status (301, 303, 305, 307, 309). Furthermore, the driver model, on activation of a particular vehicle status (301, 303, 305, 307, 309), enables at least one control command assigned to the vehicle status (301, 303, 305, 307, 309) for modifying a setting of the vehicle, wherein a plurality of changes are made by the driver model between a currently activated vehicle status (301, 303, 305, 307, 309) and at least one further vehicle status (301, 303, 305, 307, 309) and, for at least one change of the plurality of changes, a coasting status (303), in which the vehicle is coasting, is activated before any activation of the further vehicle status (301, 303, 305, 307, 309) by the driver model.

A method of determining a commanded friction brake torque is disclosed. The method uses inputs, such as from a gearshift sensor, an accelerator pedal sensor, a brake pedal sensor, and engine torque output sensor, a transmission speed input sensor and a transmission speed output sensor, to determine how much engine braking or regenerative braking is occurring. The method then uses this information combined with the braking command information from the brake pedal sensor to determine the amount of friction braking to apply to the friction brakes.

A shift control device and a shift control method for a vehicle may include a storage to store a table having a target speed corresponding to a speed of the vehicle at a starting point of a coasting operation of the vehicle and a speed profile corresponding to each of gearshifting stages of the vehicle with respect to each downhill slope, and a controller to control gearshifting of the vehicle traveling in the coasting operation on a downhill road, according to the table and the speed profile, to control the speed of the vehicle, according to a driver intent of accelerating the vehicle and a driver intent of traveling the vehicle at a constant speed.

Methods and systems are described for vehicle coasting optimization. The system may include a vehicle having an engine, a drivetrain, and an accelerator. The system may include selecting a fuel-saving mode based on an anticipated braking requirement in response to detecting the vehicle is non-stationary and the accelerator is disengaged. The system may include generating an instruction corresponding the selected fuel-saving mode, wherein the instruction is configured to control at least the engine and the drivetrain.

Various embodiments include a method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine with a crankshaft and a drivetrain separable from the internal combustion engine using a releasable clutch comprising: propelling the vehicle in a first operating state in a predetermined range around a speed while the internal combustion engine is off and is separated from the drivetrain by the releasable clutch; sensing a braking operation while in the first operating state; predicting whether a power demand is expected within a predetermined time interval; and, if the power demand is expected, setting the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine in rotation, or increasing a rotational speed of the crankshaft in preparation for an engine restart.

The braking force control device detects an impossible state where one or some of the actuators are temporarily unable to generate a negative driving force, and a predictive state where one or some of the actuators are predicted to become unable to generate a negative driving force. Every time the coasting state occurs before establishment of the impossible state and after establishment of the predictive state, the braking force control device gradually increases the negative driving force generated by the corresponding one or ones of the actuators. Even when the coasting state occurs in the impossible state, the braking force control device does not cause the corresponding one or ones of the actuators to generate a driving force. Every time the coasting state occurs after the impossible state, the braking force control device gradually decreases the negative driving force generated by the corresponding one or ones of the actuators.

A method for inertia drive control is provided. The method includes performing advanced inertia drive control by an inertia drive controller. The controller detects a speed reduction event during road driving of a vehicle, lane division together with road type division for a road, and performs inertia drive control guide and the inertia drive control based on drive conditions of lane change and lane maintenance.

Methods and systems are presented for improving performance of a vehicle operating in a cruise control mode where a controller adjusts torque output from a vehicle to maintain vehicle speed within a desired range. The methods and systems include adapting a vehicle dynamics model and a vehicle fuel consumption map that provide input to nonlinear model predictive controller.

A system, method, and apparatus includes management of engine off coasting during operation of a vehicle. The engine speed is increased and/or fueling of the engine is re-initiated before the engine and driveline are finally engaged when the engine off coasting mode of operation is terminated.

A system and method of inducing and controlling coasting of a vehicle are able to prevent unnecessary acceleration and deceleration, improve fuel efficiency, and prevent a safety accident of a driver and pedestrians by dividing a preset distance from a vehicle to a signal lamp into four or more sections on the basis of road signal information, etc., and by performing deceleration induction, deceleration control, acceleration induction, coasting induction, creep torque control in coasting, etc. for sections, respectively, based on information of a vehicle speed, a signal lamp, etc.