A launch control method for a hybrid vehicle includes: determining an intent of a driver to execute a launch control mode in a state in which an engine is turned-off; when the intent of the driver is to execute the launch control mode, starting the engine and controlling an engine speed; performing a slip control on a slip element of a transmission input terminal; when the engine speed is synchronized with a motor speed or a difference between the engine speed and the motor speed is less than a predetermined range, locking up an engine clutch; when the engine clutch is locked up, performing an engine pre-boosting control to raise an engine torque to a torque at which battery charging is available due to a motor; performing a take-up control on the slip element; and when the take-up control is terminated, locking up the slip element.

A powertrain system configured to transfer torque to a driveline is described, and includes an internal combustion engine, a torque converter, a transmission, an electric machine, and a controller. The engine is configured to operate in one of an all-cylinder mode and a dynamic deactivation mode to generate an engine torque. The electric machine is configured to generate a motor torque. The motor torque and the engine torque combine to generate an output torque that is transferable to the driveline and is responsive to an output torque request. The controller is in communication with the engine, the torque converter, the transmission, and the electric machine. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to operate the engine in the dynamic deactivation mode to generate engine torque, and operate the electric machine to generate motor torque to supplement the engine torque to generate the output torque.

A method of operating a powertrain system during coasting operation, wherein the powertrain system includes a driveline component (e.g., a transmission, drive shaft, differential, axle or wheel) having an output torque profile. The method includes: (i) determining a desired output torque transition profile for the driveline component between a first transition point before an end of a first state, and a second transition point after a beginning of a second state; and (ii) in response to a braking torque request, generating a friction braking torque command to operate a friction braking system, and adjusting the friction braking torque command during a transitional state between the first and second transition points by an amount corresponding to a difference between a magnitude of the output torque profile and a magnitude of the desired output torque transition profile.

In one aspect, a method for adjusting torque limits for a work vehicle may include controlling, with a computing device, an operation of an engine of the work vehicle such that a torque output of the engine is maintained at or below a baseline engine torque limit. The method may also include receiving, with the computing device, an input associated with a current hydraulic power requirement of a hydraulic system of the work vehicle, and adjusting, with the computing device, a torque limit for the engine from the baseline engine torque limit to an adjusted engine torque limit based on the current hydraulic power requirement of the hydraulic system. In addition, the method may include controlling, with the computing device, the operation of the engine such that the torque output of the engine is maintained at or below the adjusted engine torque limit.

A cruise control method to control a vehicle includes: receiving, by a controller of the vehicle, a set speed, a maximum allowed speed, and a minimum allowed speed, wherein each of the maximum allowed speed and the minimum allowed speed is a speed boundary; a propulsion system to produce a commanded axle torque to maintain the set speed; monitoring a current vehicle speed of the vehicle; determining a current vehicle acceleration of the vehicle; determining a time that the vehicle will take to reach the speed boundary; determining whether the time that the vehicle will take to reach the speed boundary is less than a predetermined time threshold; and in response to determining that the time that the vehicle will take to reach the speed boundary is less than the predetermined time threshold, commanding the propulsion system of the vehicle to adjust the commanded axle torque.

A method includes receiving a set speed, a maximum allowed speed, and a minimum allowed speed, wherein the maximum allowed speed and the minimum allowed speed define an allowed speed range; commanding a propulsion system to produce a commanded axle torque to maintain the set speed; monitoring a current vehicle speed of the vehicle; determining whether the current vehicle speed is between a first speed value and a second speed value, wherein the first speed value is the minimum allowed speed plus a first predetermined value, and the second speed value is the maximum allowed speed minus a second predetermined value; and in response to determining that the current vehicle speed is not between the first speed value and the second speed value, commanding the propulsion system to adjust the commanded axle torque in order to maintain the current vehicle speed within the allowed speed range.

A method for controlling a transmission of a vehicle includes: determining, via an electronic controller, a predicted lateral G-force that will act on the vehicle while the vehicle moves along a road curve using image data from a front camera of the vehicle before the vehicle moves along the road curve; communicating, via the electronic controller, the predicted lateral G-force to a transmission controller; and and controlling, via the transmission controller, the transmission of the vehicle based on the predicted lateral G-force.

A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle includes, for a starting process according to a first operating strategy, completely engaging a torque converter lockup clutch (WK) and, according to a second operating strategy, not completely engaging the torque converter lockup clutch (WK). A hydraulic pressure gradient for filling a piston chamber of the torque converter lockup clutch (WK) is selected to be higher upon selection of the first operating strategy than upon selection of the second operating strategy. A drive train module of a motor vehicle includes a control unit (5) for controlling, by way of an open-loop control system, the method.

A control apparatus for a vehicle provided, with a step-variable transmission, includes: a feedback control portion; an input torque resetting control portion; a target input torque setting portion operated upon an increase of the accelerator pedal operation amount in the process of the shift-down action in a power-off state of the vehicle, to restrict an amount of increase of the input torque target value with respect to an amount of increase of an operator-required input torque value, so as to keep the target value not larger than an upper limit value until termination of the input torque resetting control; and an actual input torque increasing portion operated upon the increase of the accelerator pedal operation amount prior to initiation of the inertia phase, to implement an input torque increasing control to control the input torque so as to be larger than the target value, prior to the inertia phase initiation.

A vehicle launch control system for a vehicle (10) comprising an input for receiving an indication signal to indicate that vehicle launch is imminent; a sensor system (12, 22) configured to determine a terrain characteristic of the terrain in the path of the vehicle if the indication signal is received; and a processing module (33) configured to determine whether the terrain characteristic is likely to result in an unwanted level of wheel slip if the vehicle is launched, wherein the processing module (33) is further configured to provide an output to indicate that an unwanted level of wheel slip will occur based on the outcome of the determination.