A vehicle includes a battery, an electric machine, an electrical outlet, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to charge the battery. The electrical outlet is configured to draw power from the battery to power an external device. The controller is programmed to adjust a rate at which the electric machine charges the battery based on a power consumption at the electrical outlet exceeding a threshold and a battery degradation value.

A control system includes: a plurality of sub-power managers that control respective output power of a plurality of subsystems that actualize functions of the vehicle; and an integrated power manager that performs integrated control of output power in an overall vehicle by exchanging information. The plurality of subsystems respectively corresponds to a plurality of domains that include one or apparatuses and a storage unit. Information that is exchanged between the plurality of sub-power managers and the integrated power manager is information that enables calculation of a physical quantity that is expressed by at least either of a power dimension and an energy dimension. The integrated power manager determines an input/output-power limit value of each subsystem by performing arbitration of requested power values that are received from the sub-power managers based on subsystem priority levels that are priority levels of the plurality of subsystems.

A control system includes: a plurality of sub-power managers that control respective output power of a plurality of subsystems that actualize functions of the vehicle; and an integrated power manager that performs integrated control of output power in the overall vehicle by exchanging information with the plurality of sub-power managers. The information that is exchanged between the plurality of sub-power managers and the integrated power manager includes information that enables calculation of a physical quantity that is expressed by at least either of a power dimension and an energy dimension. The plurality of subsystems respectively corresponds to a plurality of domains that each include one or more apparatuses and a storage unit. The integrated power manager plans a stored energy quantity of the storage unit in each of the domains that respectively correspond to the plurality of sub-power managers.

A program update control apparatus comprises a rewriting control unit for performing control over rewriting of a program executed by a mobile object control unit for controlling at least part of a mobile object with a new program, a retrieving unit for retrieving information related to the new program and a power amount required for the rewriting from an external apparatus, and a power source information retrieving unit for retrieving a remaining capacity of a battery of the mobile object used for the rewriting, wherein the rewriting control unit starts the rewriting based on information related to a power amount required for the rewriting, the power source information retrieving unit retrieves a remaining capacity of the battery during the rewriting, and the rewriting control unit determines whether to continue the rewriting based on a remaining capacity of the battery retrieved and the power amount required for the rewriting.

A hybrid vehicle includes a connecting/disconnecting clutch disposed between an engine and an electric motor, an automatic transmission including an input clutch, a starting clutch disposed between the electric motor and the automatic transmission, and a control apparatus for executing an engine-start control operation for starting the engine, by igniting the engine after increasing a rotational speed of the engine by a torque of the electric motor while placing the connecting/disconnecting clutch into an engaged state. In process of the engine-start control operation that is executed when the hybrid vehicle is in a stopped state with the starting clutch being in a released state, the control apparatus places the input clutch in an engaged state until the rotational speed of the engine exceeds a predetermined speed value, and switches the input clutch to a released state after the rotational speed of the engine has exceeded the predetermined speed value.

An apparatus comprising an interface, a memory and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive sensor data samples during operation of a vehicle. The memory may be configured to store the sensor data samples over a number of points in time. The processor may be configured to analyze the sensor data samples stored in the memory to detect a pattern. The processor may be configured to manage an application of brakes of the vehicle in response to the pattern.

A method for monitoring a motor vehicle having an automated driving function. Specific operating modes are each assigned, in each instance, at least one load profile, which is a function of the load circuit needed for the operating mode and normally occurs during this operating mode. At least one characteristic quantity of the energy store is predicted as a function of the load profile. The corresponding operating mode and/or the automated driving function is enabled as a function of the predicted characteristic quantity of the energy store. The predicted characteristic quantity is ascertained as a function of a base load and/or a switching-off potential of the load circuit not needed for the operating mode.

A VP carries out vehicle control in accordance with an instruction from an ADK. A vehicle control interface interfaces between the VP and the ADK. The vehicle control interface receives from the ADK, a power supply mode request which is an instruction for controlling a power supply mode of the VP. The power supply mode includes a sleep mode in which a vehicle is in a Ready OFF state, a driving mode in which the vehicle is in a Ready ON state, and a wake mode in which the vehicle control interface is on.

A drive system including: a battery; a power generation device (PGD) including a power generator (PG) mounted to an engine shaft and an inverter converting AC-voltage of the PG into DC-voltage; a drive device (DD) including a motor driving a driven component and an inverter performing bi-directional conversion between AC-voltage of the motor and DC-voltage; a switching device (SD) including a plurality of switches switching a connection of the battery and the PGD at both ends of the DD between a series connection (S-connection) and a parallel connection (P-connection) for connection; a reactor arranged between the battery and SD or between the PGD and the DD; and a controller controlling each of the SD, PGD, and DD, wherein the controller uses, when a speed of the driven component is being changed, the SD to fix the connection of the battery and PGD to S-connection or P-connection after alternately switching the connection between the S-connection and the P-connection.

Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.