Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle powertrain, where the driveline includes an electric machine downstream of a dual clutch transmission, which is downstream of an engine. In one example, a method comprises communicating from a transmission, a torque to accelerate transmission components from a first speed to a second speed with first and second clutches of a dual transmission open, the communicating performed while an electric machine coupled to the dual clutch transmission at a location downstream of the dual clutch transmission is providing torque to propel a vehicle. In this way, wheel speed may remain substantially constant while the transmission is shifted and the engine is stopped.

A method to control a road vehicle for the execution of a standing start; the control method comprises the steps of: engaging a gear in a transmission while a corresponding clutch is open; progressively closing the clutch causing the clutch to transmit a torque that causes the rotation of at least a pair of drive wheels; determining a target slip of the drive wheels; cyclically determining a real slip of the of the drive wheels; and continuously modulating the torque transmitted by the clutch during the closing of the clutch based of a difference between the target slip of the drive wheels and the real slip of the of the drive wheels.

The controller is programmed to perform first control that controls a driving force distributor such as to decrease a distribution rate upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition that a frequency of at least one rotation fluctuation of an output member of the drive system, a main drive wheel and a sub drive wheel is within a predetermined area, compared with the distribution rate upon non-satisfaction of the predetermined condition.

A vehicle travel control apparatus configured to control a vehicle with a self-driving capability, including a travel state detector configured to detect a traveling state of a forward vehicle in front of the vehicle, and an electric control unit having a microprocessor and a memory. The microprocessor is configured to perform recognizing a drive-mode of the forward vehicle based on the traveling state detected by the travel state detector. The recognizing includes calculating a degree of variance of a vehicle speed or an acceleration of the forward vehicle based on the traveling state detected by the travel state detector, and determining whether the forward vehicle is traveling in a manual drive mode or a self-drive mode based on the degree of variance calculated in the calculating.

A vehicle drive device includes: an electric motor; a multi-plate clutch including a plurality of clutch plates; a pressing mechanism configured to press the multi-plate clutch; an output rotary member to which a drive force of the electric motor is transferred through the multi-plate clutch; and a control device configured to control the electric motor and the pressing mechanism. The control device is configured to control the pressing mechanism using information on the result of test operation performed while the vehicle is stationary.

A vehicle drive device includes a control device, and the control device controls an electric motor, a first pressing mechanism and a second pressing mechanism such that a relational expression of T<T.sub.1+T.sub.2 is satisfied, where T represents a torque that is input to an input rotation member, T.sub.1 represents a maximum of a torque that is able to be transmitted by a first multi-disc clutch and T.sub.2 represents a maximum of a torque that is able to be transmitted by a second multi-disc clutch.

Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a vehicle that includes an automatic transmission and a torque converter are described. In one example, vehicle launch is controlled according to a linear quadratic regulator that provides feedback control according to torque converter slip error and vehicle speed error. The vehicle launch is also controlled according to feed forward control that is based on requested torque converter slip and requested vehicle speed.

A control system includes a transmission with a directional clutch and control assembly clutches coupled together and configured for selective engagement to transfer power. A controller is configured to selectively actuate the directional clutch and the control assembly clutches with clutch commands to implement a first split mode in which combined power is transferred to drive the output shaft, a first direct drive mode in which power from only the engine to drive the output shaft, and a first series mode in which power is transferred from primarily the at least one motor to drive the output shaft. The controller is further configured to implement a transient boost function within at least a portion of the first series mode in which the at least one directional clutch is partially engaged to supplement power from the at least one motor with power from the engine to drive the output shaft.

A hybrid vehicle of the disclosure includes an engine, a motor that outputs a torque to a driving system, a hydraulic clutch that connects the engine with the motor and disconnects the engine from the motor, and a control device that performs slip control of the hydraulic clutch in response to satisfaction of a start condition of the engine and controls the motor to output at least a cranking torque to the engine. The control device sets a target value of a rotation speed difference between the engine and the motor during execution of the slip control, and increases at least one of a hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic clutch, an output torque of the motor and an output torque of the engine when a difference between the rotation speed difference and the target value is out of an allowable range. This configuration ensures good startability of the engine.

To inhibit clutch engagement during an engine restart from affecting cooperative regenerative braking control and switching of braking in a hybrid vehicle having a P2 module onboard, a control system for the hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor, a K0 clutch, drive shafts, a hydraulic friction brake system, and a controller capable of performing cooperative regenerative braking control. When start of the engine is requested during the cooperative regenerative braking control, the controller performs a first process of transitioning to braking only by the frictional brake system, a second process of raising an engine revolution speed while engagement of the K0 clutch is initiated after completion of transitioning to the braking, and a third process of controlling the engine to resume operating at a timing after the engine revolution speed increases to match a motor revolution speed after the engagement of the K0 clutch is initiated.