Presented are control systems for operating dual-independent drive unit (DIDU) powertrains, methods for making/operating such systems, and electric-drive vehicles with fault management and mitigation for DIDU axles. A method of operating a motor vehicle with a DIDU axle includes monitoring first and second drive units (DU) that are independently operable to drive respective road wheels via respective axle shafts of the DIDU axle. A vehicle controller receives an indication of a fault condition in the first DU from a fault sensing module and responsively determines a fault type for the fault condition. The controller ascertains the vehicle's current speed and determines a respective torque limit for each of the DIDU drive units based on the fault type and current vehicle speed. Torque output of the first DU is concomitantly constrained to a first torque limit while torque output of the second DU is constrained to a second torque limit.

Presented are control systems for operating dual-independent drive unit (DIDU) powertrains, methods for making/operating such systems, and electric-drive vehicles with fault management and mitigation for DIDU axles. A method of operating a motor vehicle with a DIDU axle includes monitoring first and second drive units (DU) that are independently operable to drive respective road wheels via respective axle shafts of the DIDU axle. A vehicle controller receives an indication of a fault condition in the first DU from a fault sensing module and responsively determines a fault type for the fault condition. The controller ascertains the vehicle's current speed and determines a respective torque limit for each of the DIDU drive units based on the fault type and current vehicle speed. Torque output of the first DU is concomitantly constrained to a first torque limit while torque output of the second DU is constrained to a second torque limit.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for controlling an engine of a hybrid vehicle. The apparatus includes an environment information collection unit configured to collect traveling environment information of the hybrid vehicle, a determination unit configured to compare the traveling environment information with reference information and determine whether the traveling environment information meets a preset condition, a setting unit configured to set a reference coolant temperature based on the traveling environment information and change the reference coolant temperature based on the traveling environment information when the traveling environment information meets the preset condition, and an engine control unit configured to prevent the engine from operating heating and air-conditioning control of the hybrid vehicle when the traveling environment information meets the preset condition and a coolant temperature is lower than the reference coolant temperature changed by the setting unit.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for controlling an engine of a hybrid vehicle. The apparatus includes an environment information collection unit configured to collect traveling environment information of the hybrid vehicle, a determination unit configured to compare the traveling environment information with reference information and determine whether the traveling environment information meets a preset condition, a setting unit configured to set a reference coolant temperature based on the traveling environment information and change the reference coolant temperature based on the traveling environment information when the traveling environment information meets the preset condition, and an engine control unit configured to prevent the engine from operating heating and air-conditioning control of the hybrid vehicle when the traveling environment information meets the preset condition and a coolant temperature is lower than the reference coolant temperature changed by the setting unit.

The passenger transportation system comprises: a non-propelled non-wheeled passenger module having at least one passenger seat for a passenger, a first propulsion module configured to autonomously travel on the ground and a second propulsion module configured to autonomously travel in air, wherein the passenger module is arranged to be releasably coupled to the first propulsion module or the second propulsion module to allow the passenger module to be transported on the ground or in air by the first propulsion module or the second propulsion module.

The passenger transportation system comprises: a non-propelled non-wheeled passenger module having at least one passenger seat for a passenger, a first propulsion module configured to autonomously travel on the ground and a second propulsion module configured to autonomously travel in air, wherein the passenger module is arranged to be releasably coupled to the first propulsion module or the second propulsion module to allow the passenger module to be transported on the ground or in air by the first propulsion module or the second propulsion module.

A power control system is disclosed for a utility vehicle having position sensors configured to collect vehicle position data. The system includes a propulsion system having electric drive motors powered by a battery, and the drive motors are configured to recharge the battery via regenerative braking. The battery has a maximum charge capacity and a regenerative capacity, wherein the regenerative capacity is a portion of the maximum charge capacity reserved for regenerative braking. Memory is configured to store terrain data indicative of terrain types for a plurality of locations. A processor is configured to determine a location of the utility vehicle based on the position data, identify a current terrain type based on vehicle location and stored terrain data, and generate a command signal to adjust the regenerative capacity of the battery based on the current terrain type.

A self-propelled vehicle includes a maneuvering unit, a drive unit including first and second drive sections, which are driven and controlled by drive wheel control commands, a drive wheel unit including left and right drive wheels driven by the first and second drive sections, respectively, at least one caster wheel which is controlled by a caster wheel control command, a bank detector for detecting a degree of bank of the vehicle and a control unit including a drive wheel control section for generating the drive wheel control commands. The control unit further includes a caster wheel control section which generates the caster wheel control command for controlling the steering angle of the caster wheel during a bank traversing travel, based on the bank degree so as to resolve a difference between a target travel and the actual travel which occurs during the bank traversing travel.

A self-propelled vehicle includes a maneuvering unit, a drive unit including first and second drive sections, which are driven and controlled by drive wheel control commands, a drive wheel unit including left and right drive wheels driven by the first and second drive sections, respectively, at least one caster wheel which is controlled by a caster wheel control command, a bank detector for detecting a degree of bank of the vehicle and a control unit including a drive wheel control section for generating the drive wheel control commands. The control unit further includes a caster wheel control section which generates the caster wheel control command for controlling the steering angle of the caster wheel during a bank traversing travel, based on the bank degree so as to resolve a difference between a target travel and the actual travel which occurs during the bank traversing travel.

An electric vehicle driving force control device capable of decreasing discrepancy generated between a driver's acceleration pedal operation and output torque actually generated by a drive motor is provided. The electric vehicle driving force control device includes target torque setting unit 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 for setting target torque by limiting an upper limit of a target torque basic value from the target torque basic value and the maximum discharge power equivalent motor torque. The target torque setting unit corrects the target torque basic value such that, on a graph indicating a relationship between an acceleration opening and the target torque, an acceleration opening generating a limited target torque shifts to an acceleration opening side greater than the acceleration opening, and target torque smaller than the target torque basic value is generated in an accelerator opening region which is smaller than the limited accelerator opening.