A control apparatus and method for a hybrid vehicle that searches for and determines a scheduled travel route and a downhill section included in the scheduled travel route on the basis of positional information of the vehicle and road information. The control apparatus determines a section from a downhill control start point to an end point of a target downhill section as a controlled target section. The downhill control start point is located a predetermined first distance before a start point of the target downhill section. When the vehicle travels on the controlled target section, the control apparatus executes downhill control. Even in a situation in which a target downhill section is newly determined during execution of the downhill control, the control apparatus continues the downhill control until the vehicle reaches an end point of the controlled target section for which the downhill control is started.

An electronic control unit executes navigation-cooperative SOC control in which traveling situations on a traveling route found through a search performed by a navigation system are predicted and a state-of-charge is controlled by adjusting an output of an engine based on the predicted traveling situations to control charging-discharging of an electricity storage device. The ECU does not execute the navigation-cooperative SOC control when a temperature of the electricity storage device falls below a prescribed temperature and thus charging-discharging of the electricity storage device is limited.

A method of increasing engine braking of an engine for a vehicle, the method including: determining the change in kinetic energy of the vehicle over a period; determining the energy output from a drivetrain of the vehicle over the period; comparing the change in kinetic energy to the energy output; and increasing the engine braking of the vehicle when the change in kinetic energy is greater than the energy output over the period.

A method for guiding a vehicle, at least one parameter of the surroundings of the vehicle being detected by at least one sensor; a travel corridor being ascertained based on the parameter; a trajectory being ascertained as a function of at least one other parameter within the travel corridor; and the guidance of the vehicle being adapted as a function of the ascertained trajectory.

Systems and methods of deep neural network based parking assistance is provided. A system can receive data sensed by one or more sensors mounted on a vehicle located at a parking zone. The system generates, from a first neural network, a digital map based on the data sensed by the one or more sensors. The system generates, from a second neural network, a first path based on the three-dimensional dynamic map. The system receives vehicle dynamics information from a second one or more sensors located on the vehicle. The system generates, with a third neural network, a second path to park the vehicle based on the first path, vehicle dynamics information and at least one historical path stored in vehicle memory. The system provides commands to control the vehicle to follow the second path to park the vehicle in the parking zone.

A system for adaptive in-drive updating, for a vehicle travelling on a route, includes a controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory. The vehicle is carrying a load. The controller is adapted to obtain one or more dynamic parameters pertaining to the load. A plurality of adaptive predictors is selectively executable by the controller at a timepoint during the route at which a completed portion of the route has been traversed by the vehicle and a remaining portion remains untraversed. The plurality of adaptive predictors includes a speed predictor configured to generate a global speed profile. The plurality of adaptive predictors includes a driving consumption predictor is configured to predict a driving consumption profile for the remaining portion of the route based in part on the dynamic parameter, the route features, the global speed profile, and a past drive consumption.

Systems and methods for coordinating and controlling vehicles, for example heavy trucks, to follow closely behind each other, or linking to form a platoon. In one aspect, on-board controllers in each vehicle interact with vehicular sensors to monitor and control, for example, relative distance, relative acceleration or deceleration, and speed. In some aspects, vehicle onboard systems supply various data (breadcrumbs) to a Network Operations Center (NOC), which in turn provides data (authorization data) to the vehicles to facilitate platooning. The NOC suggests vehicles for platooning based on, for example, travel forecasts and analysis of relevant roadways to identify platoonable roadway segments. The NOC also can provide traffic, roadway, weather, or system updates, as well as various instructions. In some aspects, a mesh network ensures improved communication among vehicles and with the NOC. In some aspects, a vehicle onboard system may provide the authorization data.

Driver safety, vehicle safety, and environment safety may be scored based on a variety of input data concerning a driver, a vehicle, or an environment in which the vehicle drives. An overall safety score may be generated based on at least some of these three scores. These scores may be compared to thresholds to trigger or initiate actions such as providing notifications to drivers, raising or reducing vehicle insurance rates, providing coupons and promotions to drivers, or limiting vehicle speed in a manner that is personalized to the driver and/or vehicle and/or environment.

A system and a method of controlling a hybrid electric vehicle shift are disclosed. The system includes an engine and a drive motor operating as power sources and a transmission receiving driving torque from one of the engine and the drive motor. A data detector detects a state data for operating the transmission. A vehicle controller calculates a creep torque and an engine setting torque using the state data, determines whether a shift control condition is satisfied based on a position value of an accelerator pedal, calculates an available motor torque using a motor speed at an actual shift start point and a target motor speed when the shift control condition is satisfied, and calculates a first shift input torque using the creep torque, the engine setting torque, the available motor torque, and a first torque apply ratio. The transmission is operated based on the first shift input torque.

Methods and systems are provided for compensating an instantaneous fuel economy reading for stored energy. One method comprises, when a vehicle undergoes a sufficient change in one or more of square of vehicle speed and vehicle altitude, estimating a conversion factor for fuel due to stored vehicle energy and adjusting the instantaneous fuel economy reading by the estimated conversion factor. The adjusted instantaneous fuel economy reading may be displayed to an operator of the vehicle.