A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, and a battery, coupled to a controller(s) configured to, in response to a virtual-driver signal, predict and maintain a constant-speed from a plurality of candidate speeds, to have a lowest fuel consumption and a minimum number of battery-charge-cycles, for a predicted distance and wheel-torque-power. A predicted engine-power is established from the wheel-torque-power required to maintain the constant-speed, and to power vehicle accessories and battery charging, such that fuel consumption and battery-charge-cycles are minimized over the predicted distance at the constant-speed. The controller(s) are configured to generate the predicted distance, from one or more of position and moving-map sensors, by detecting a current location, and identifying an open-road distance between the current location and at least one detected and/or predetermined way-point. The constant-speed is also determined by evaluating travel-times and battery-charge-discharge cycles for the constant speed over the predicted distance.

Systems, apparatus and methods to multiple levels of redundancy in torque steering control and propulsion control of an autonomous vehicle include determining that a powertrain unit of the autonomous vehicle is non-operational and disabling propulsion operation of the non-operational powertrain unit and implementing torque steering operation in another powertrain unit while propelling the autonomous vehicle using other powertrain units that are configured to implement torque steering operation and propulsion operation.

In a method for automatic movement controlling of a vehicle, at least one trajectory is determined on the basis of environmental and driving state data, and driving state quantities are subsequently calculated for an upcoming time period, using a mathematical vehicle model, taking the trajectory as a basis.

In a vehicle including a generator and a drive motor for traveling that operates with generated electric power of the generator, setting a control mode of a carrier frequency used for PWM control for adjusting the electric power of the generator to either of a basic mode or a diffusion mode; acquiring a noise recognition degree suggestion amount suggesting a vehicle situation correlated with a level of a recognition degree of a vehicle user with respect to noise generated by an operation of the generator; executing the diffusion mode in a case where the recognition degree is estimated to be high based on the noise recognition degree suggestion amount; and executing the basic mode in a case where the recognition degree is estimated to be low.

Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a boost phase of a procedure to close a driveline disconnect clutch may be cut short in response to an engine changing state from not rotating to rotating so that the engine may be restarted in an alternative way. The system and methods may also predict a degraded engine start from a low engine cranking speed or a long cranking time duration so that the engine may be started in an alternative way to increase a possibility of starting the engine and decrease the severity of degraded driveline disturbance.

The present invention provides a method for controlling an engine unit in a vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine unit, a transmission unit adapted to selectively couple with the engine unit and also configured to transmit the power generated by the engine unit, a first motor generator coupled with the transmission unit, an output unit, a power switching device, a second motor generator configured to drive at least one of front and rear wheels, and a power battery that is respectively connected to the first motor generator and the second motor generator. The method includes: acquiring an operating mode of a vehicle and an operating parameter of the vehicle; and controlling an engine unit according to an operating parameter and an operating mode to start or stop.

A drive system, mountable onto a vehicle including a detachable rotational drive mechanism, for driving the rotational drive mechanism in accordance with a torque requirement. The drive system includes an engine that outputs first rotational power, and a generator that includes a rotor for receiving the first rotational power, a stator including a stator core with a winding wound thereon, a magnetic circuit for the winding passing through the stator core, and a supply current adjustment device for adjusting magnetic resistance of the magnetic circuit for the winding, to thereby change an inductance of the winding to adjust an output current of the generator. The drive system further includes a motor driven by the outputted current of the generator to output second rotational power to the rotational drive mechanism, and a control device configured to control both the engine and the supply current adjustment device, in accordance with the torque requirement.

A vehicle control apparatus includes a deviation detector and a motor controller. The deviation detector is configured to detect a deviation of a host vehicle from a travel lane. Upon the deviation detector detecting the deviation, the motor controller is configured to increase and decrease torque of a driving motor that transfers a driving force to a wheel.

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a power determination module and a powertrain control module that includes a state selection module. The power determination module can estimate power required to travel at a desired speed on a roadway segment located in an anticipated path of a vehicle based upon an estimated slope of the roadway segment. The powertrain control module can control operational states of a hybrid powertrain. The powertrain control module includes a state selection module that can determine whether a current operational state is capable of producing the estimated power based upon a state of charge of a vehicle battery. The state selection module can also switch to another operational state that is capable of producing the estimated power if the current operational state is incapable of producing the estimated power.

In a hybrid vehicle including an engine capable of outputting motive power to driving wheels, a motor capable of outputting motive power to the driving wheels and configured to generate a counter-electromotive voltage with rotation, an inverter that drives the motor, an electric storage device connected to the inverter through an electric power line, three phases of the inverter are turned on when an accelerator is turned off while the hybrid vehicle travels with a gate of the inverter being cut off and the engine being operated.