A method and system for improved driver reward display functionality. A driver reward is calculated based on inputs, such as freight fuel, fuel economy, and % idle. The driver reward system configures and displays a primary driver reward image for various menu selections. The primary driver reward image is configured to indicate whether the driver reward is at full penalty, partial penalty, neutral, partial bonus, or full bonus. The image is displayed in one color if above an expected value and another color if below the expected level. Images that indicate to the operator of the vehicle the impact of each input on the overall driver reward or whether each input is improving or worsening may be displayed. A secondary driver reward image may also be displayed to indicate a specific bonus or penalty in miles per hour and speed limit.

A vehicle control apparatus is provided that can maintain an automatic engine stop function when an abnormality occurs in a preceding vehicle following control function. The vehicle control apparatus includes a first control unit configured to include a preceding vehicle following control function to control vehicle speed, based on a traveling state of a preceding vehicle, and to output a prohibition request to an automatic engine stop function; and a second control unit configured to include the automatic engine stop function, and to maintain the automatic engine stop function, contrary to the prohibition request output from the first control unit, when an abnormality occurs in the preceding vehicle following control function.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure includes a cruise control system with (a) a vehicle having a steering system, an accelerator system, a braking system, a battery, a display, a processor, and memory; and (b) a cruise control program, operatively coupled to the accelerator system and configured to display a most recent cruising setpoint and a menu of user-adjustable cruising setpoints.

An expanded powertrain interface and strategy for an autonomous driving controller to control powertrain torque (or vehicle acceleration/deceleration) capability at the current operating point, in addition to capability for subsequent operating points at a future time based on predictive assessment of powertrain energy management, subsystem contraints/limits, and capability in the future. The powertrain interface and strategy applies to a vehicle with electrified powertrain control (hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or pure battery electric vehicle (BEV)) with an autonomous driving (AD) capability (either full or semi-automated driving). This powertrain interface and strategy may also be used with non-electrified powertrain (conventional) systems based on available combustion engine torque at the target vehicle speed and gear.

An expanded powertrain interface and strategy for an autonomous driving controller to control powertrain torque (or vehicle acceleration/deceleration) capability at the current operating point, in addition to capability for subsequent operating points at a future time based on predictive assessment of powertrain energy management, subsystem contraints/limits, and capability in the future. The powertrain interface and strategy applies to a vehicle with electrified powertrain control (hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or pure battery electric vehicle (BEV)) with an autonomous driving (AD) capability (either full or semi-automated driving). This powertrain interface and strategy may also be used with non-electrified powertrain (conventional) systems based on available combustion engine torque at the target vehicle speed and gear.

A vehicle speed control system for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, the vehicle speed control system comprising one or more electronic control units configured to carry out a method that includes applying torque to at least one of the plurality of wheels, detecting a slip event between any one or more of the wheels and the ground over which the vehicle is travelling when the vehicle is in motion and providing a slip detection output signal in the event thereof. The method carried out by the one or more electronic control units further includes receiving a user input of a target speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel and maintaining the vehicle at the target speed independently of the slip detection output signal by adjusting the amount of torque applied to the at least one of the plurality of wheels.

A vehicle speed control system for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, the vehicle speed control system comprising one or more electronic control units configured to carry out a method that includes applying torque to at least one of the plurality of wheels, detecting a slip event between any one or more of the wheels and the ground over which the vehicle is travelling when the vehicle is in motion and providing a slip detection output signal in the event thereof. The method carried out by the one or more electronic control units further includes receiving a user input of a target speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel and maintaining the vehicle at the target speed independently of the slip detection output signal by adjusting the amount of torque applied to the at least one of the plurality of wheels.

A system and method for minimizing shift cycling for low speed engine operation with a vehicle cruise control. A vehicle control system operating in a cruise control mode determines a deficiency in vehicle speed between a measured vehicle speed and a cruise set speed. The deficiency is determined by comparing the vehicle speed to the cruise set speed, and includes using the compared value to find a cruise speed margin, which is continuously updated. While the cruise control system is active, the control system logic determines the time at which a transmission upshift occurs based on the cruise speed margin. The vehicle speed, at which the upshift is made, is determined as a function of the updated cruise speed margin. An upshift is not made, if a likely drop in vehicle speed would result in the event a downshift would occur once the upshift is made.

A system that includes an accelerometer configured to measure acceleration of a vehicle, a gyroscope configured to measure orientation of the vehicle, a memory having computer readable instructions, and a processor for executing the computer readable instructions. The computer readable instructions include performing at intervals: receiving acceleration data from the accelerometer; receiving orientation data from the gyroscope; combining the acceleration data and the orientation data to generate speed fluctuation and slope data for the vehicle; and transmitting the fluctuation and slope data to a controller of the vehicle. The controller utilizes the speed fluctuation and slope data to modulate an engine throttle of the vehicle.

An upper-limit vehicle speed should be prevented from being set to speed different from an intention of a driver. When it is detected that a speed limit is changed, an upper-limit vehicle speed setting ECU temporarily switches a control mode from a normal mode to an inquiry mode. An ASL operation unit serves a function for a change operation of upper-limit vehicle speed in the normal mode, and serves a function for a reply operation about whether the speed limit is accepted in the inquiry mode. When the ASL operation unit is operated in the normal mode, the upper-limit vehicle speed setting ECU does not switch the control mode to the inquiry mode, even if a change of a speed limit is detected, until a certain period of time (a certain period during which a mode switching prohibition period is set) has passed since the operation.