A method for operating an internal combustion engine comprises providing a vehicle having an internal combustion gasoline engine including multiple cylinders and wherein the engine is operating in a deactivated cylinder mode, receiving a torque request if a cylinder reactivation torque smoothing mode is active, setting a variable torque ratio to 1.0 if the torque request is greater than a fast exit threshold torque, setting the variable torque ratio to 0.0 if the torque request is less than a slow exit threshold torque, setting the variable torque ratio to a value between 0.0 and 1.0 if the torque request is between the fast exit threshold torque and slow exit threshold torque, and calculating a component of final engine output torque.

A method for operating a speed control system of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving one or more electrical signals representative of vehicle-related information. The method further comprises determining, based on the signals representative of vehicle-related information, whether one or more predetermined conditions are met. The method still further comprises automatically determining a baseline set-speed for the speed control system when it is determined that at least certain of the one or more predetermined conditions are met. The method yet still further comprises adjusting the baseline set-speed to determine an instantaneous set-speed of the speed control system based on a signal indicative of a desired comfort level. A speed control system comprising an electronic control unit configured to perform the above-described methodology is also provided.

A hybrid vehicle and a control method of gear shift therefor are provided. The hybrid vehicle and the control method of gear shift therefor minimize torque fluctuation during gear shift to enhance driving force and fuel efficiency. The method includes predicting a time point when gear shift occurs and estimating an intervention amount of the gear shift. Engine torque corresponding to the estimated intervention amount is then reduced up to the time point when the gear shift occurs and motor torque corresponding to the reduced engine torque is increased up to the time point when the gear shift occurs.

Systems and methods for starting an engine of a hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, the method starts an engine according to vehicle conditions that are within a range that is defined by one or more thresholds. The thresholds may be adjusted based on a history of individual driving patterns.

A driving system for a vehicle includes an engine including a fuel injection valve, an electric motor, a hydraulic clutch which connects/disconnects the engine to/from the motor, a hydraulic pressure sensor which detects hydraulic pressure of the clutch, and a controller which selectively executes one of a motor travel mode where the motor is activated and the engine is stopped, and an engine travel mode where at least the engine is activated. In a startup of the engine accompanying a change from the motor travel mode to the engine travel mode, the controller causes the clutch to transition from a disconnected state to a connected state, determines the connected state of the clutch based on hydraulic pressure detected by the hydraulic pressure sensor, and when the clutch is confirmed to be in a predetermined connection initial state, the controller causes the fuel injection valve to inject fuel.

A vehicle can include throttle, braking, and steering systems. The vehicle can further include a computing system that obtains, from one or more sensors, data representing one or more of a velocity or an acceleration of the vehicle. The computing system can further determine an estimated weight of the vehicle based on the one or more of the velocity or the acceleration of the vehicle, and autonomously operate the throttle, braking, and steering systems of the vehicle based on the estimated weight of the vehicle.

In one embodiment, an apparatus for adaptively interacting with a driver via voice interaction is provided. The apparatus includes a computational models block and an adaptive interactive voice system. The computational models block is configured to receive driver related parameters, vehicle related parameters, and vehicle environment parameters from a plurality of sensors. The computational models block is further configured to generate a driver state model based on the driver related parameters and to generate a vehicle state model based on the vehicle related parameter. The computational models block is further configured to generate a vehicle environment state model based on the vehicle environment parameters. The adaptive interactive voice system is configured to generate a voice output based on a driver's situation and context as indicated on information included within at least one of the driver state model, the vehicle state model, and the vehicle environment state model.

A method for use with a speed control system of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving readings from one or more vehicle sensors to determine the nature of the terrain over which the vehicle is traveling. The method further comprises gathering information relating to one or more parameters of the vehicle that correspond to the configuration of the vehicle. The method still further comprises determining, based on the nature of the terrain and the gathered information, whether the vehicle is appropriately configured to travel over the terrain. A system comprising an electronic control unit configured to perform the method is also provided.

A computing system determines an estimated weight of a vehicle by measuring kinematic data of the vehicle, including at least one of a velocity or an acceleration of the vehicle. The computing system processes the data to determine an estimated weight of the vehicle. Based on the estimated weight of the vehicle, the computing system can autonomously operate the throttle, braking, and steering systems of the vehicle.

One of the most popular and exhilarating stunts in off-road vehicle driving is catching air off a jump. Unfortunately, once the vehicle is in the air, the driver loses significant control of the vehicle. An electronic vehicle control system is described herein that addresses this problem. The system may include an ABS module, a shock position sensor, and an ABS override module. The ABS override module may be coupled to the shock position sensor and the ABS module. The ABS override module may receive a shock-extended signal from the shock position sensor indicating one or more of the shocks are fully extended. The ABS override module may send a stop-ABS signal that may prevent the ABS module from operating. The ABS override module may additionally be connected to a yaw rate sensor, the brakes, and the throttle, and may automatically control the pitch, roll and yaw of the vehicle.