A method and system of operating an internal combustion engine (ICE) of a hybrid powertrain system for powering a vehicle or stationary apparatus having a variable load demand includes arrangements and configurations of operating the ICE to charge/recharge capacitive energy storage, such as ultra-capacitors, during acceleration or high load demand on the ICE. Operation of the ICE can be transitioned from one mode of operation to another, more efficient, mode of operation during charging and high load. The present invention provides fuel efficiency/economy benefits when charging the capacitive energy storage during high load situations.

The hybrid vehicle includes an engine having a throttle valve and a forced induction device, a second MG (a motor generator), a drive wheel connected to the engine and the second MG, and a controller (an HV-ECU). While the forced induction device performs boosting, the controller performs a reduction rate restricting process for restricting a target engine torque reduction rate in magnitude to be less than an upper limit rate to prevent a throttle opening degree from rapidly decreasing. Further, the controller performs MG regenerative control for controlling the second MG so that regenerative braking by the second MG compensates for engine brake reduced by the reduction rate restricting process.

Methods and systems are provided for operating a high voltage generator coupled to a plug-in hybrid vehicle driven by a reciprocating piston engine. In one example, a method may include, predicting variations in output torque from the reciprocating piston engine and adjusting the driving torque required for the high voltage electric generator based upon the predicted torque variations.

The present disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for predicting the movement intent of objects. In one aspect, a mobile robot predicts the movement intent of pedestrians from past pedestrian trajectory data and landmark proximity. In another aspect, a host mobile robot predicts the movement intent of other robots/vehicles using motion analysis models for different driving behaviors, including curve negotiation, zigzagging, rapid acceleration/deceleration, and tailgating. In a further aspect, a mobile robot can self-predict movement intent and share movement intent information with surrounding robots/vehicles (e.g., through vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication). The mobile robot can self-predict future movement by comparing the operating values calculated from the monitored components to the operating limits of the mobile robot (e.g., an adhesion limit between the tires and ground). Exceeding operating limits can be an indication of skidding, oversteering, understeering, or fishtailing.

Systems and methods use cameras to provide autonomous navigation features. In one implementation, a method for navigating a user vehicle may include acquiring, using at least one image capture device, a plurality of images of an area in a vicinity of the user vehicle; determining from the plurality of images a first lane constraint on a first side of the user vehicle and a second lane constraint on a second side of the user vehicle opposite to the first side of the user vehicle; enabling the user vehicle to pass a target vehicle if the target vehicle is determined to be in a lane different from the lane in which the user vehicle is traveling; and causing the user vehicle to abort the pass before completion of the pass, if the target vehicle is determined to be entering the lane in which the user vehicle is traveling.

A vehicle control apparatus controls a vehicle-control force of a vehicle that is switchable between traveling under normal traveling control and traveling under cruise control. The apparatus includes a first target-vehicle-control-force determination unit, a second target-vehicle-control-force determination unit, and a vehicle-control-force controlling unit. The first target-vehicle-control-force determination unit determines a target vehicle-control force of the normal traveling control on the basis of an accelerator position, and switches a control mode of the normal traveling control between a normal mode and a one-pedal mode. The second target-vehicle-control-force determination unit determines a target vehicle-control force of the cruise control, and execute override when the accelerator position is greater than a reference accelerator position in the cruise control. The vehicle-control-force controlling unit controls the vehicle-control force on the basis of the target vehicle-control force determined by the first target-vehicle-control-force determination unit or the second target-vehicle-control-force determination unit.

This disclosure relates to a system and method for detecting vehicle events. Some or all of the system may be installed in a vehicle, operate at the vehicle, and/or be otherwise coupled with a vehicle. The system includes one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to the vehicle. The system receives contextual information from a source external to the vehicle. The system detects a vehicle event based on the information conveyed by the output signals from the sensors and the received contextual information.

A vehicle includes a powerplant, a front axle having first and second wheels and a differential operably coupled to the powerplant. A power-takeoff unit (PTU) is connected to the differential. A rear axle has third and fourth wheels and a gearbox connected to the PTU without a center differential. The gearbox has a first clutch configured to selectively couple the third wheel to the PTU and a second clutch configured to selectively couple the fourth wheel to the PTU. A controller is programmed to determine, during a turn, which of the third and fourth wheels is an outer rear wheel, determine whether there is a positive or negative torque on the outer rear wheel, and disengage, or keep disengaged, the one of the first and second clutches that is associated with the outer rear wheel in response to a negative torque on the outer rear wheel.

A vehicle control system (1) configured for autonomous driving includes an autonomous driving mode in which the vehicle is operated without requiring an intervention of the driver at least in regard to steering or acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle, and an autonomous stopping mode in which the vehicle is brought to a stop in a prescribed stop area when it is detected that the control unit or the driver has become incapable of properly maintaining a traveling state of the vehicle. A control unit (15) transfers driving responsibility in regard to an operation input unit to the driver when an operation amount applied to the operation input unit exceeds a first threshold when an autonomous driving mode is being executed, and when an operation amount applied to the operation input unit exceeds a second threshold greater than the first threshold when an autonomous stopping mode is being executed.

A method of operating a vehicle having an engine, a throttle valve and a throttle operator. A continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the engine has a driving pulley, a driven pulley, and a belt operatively connecting the driving and driven pulleys. A ground engaging member is operatively connected to the driven pulley. A piston is operatively connected to the driving pulley for applying a piston force thereto and thereby changing an effective diameter of the driving pulley. A control unit controls actuation of the piston and the piston force. The method includes detecting a stall condition indicative of the vehicle being stalled, and, responsive to the detection, setting the piston force to be zero.