A method for controlling a motor vehicle, comprising: retrieving road gradient data relating to an expected travelling route of the motor vehicle; based on at least the retrieved road gradient data and on a motor vehicle mass, simulating a required value of a braking power related variable, which required value is needed to prevent a vehicle speed from increasing above a preset desired vehicle speed in an upcoming downhill slope; determining an available value of the braking power related variable of at least one auxiliary brake of the motor vehicle; and based on the determined available value and the simulated required value of the braking power related variable, controlling the vehicle speed and/or at least one brake actuator of the motor vehicle such that the vehicle speed does not increase above the preset desired vehicle speed in the upcoming downhill slope.

An engine control method of a hybrid electric vehicle is provided. The method includes detecting a state of charge (SOC) of a main battery of the hybrid electric vehicle and detecting whether a brake requires operation when the main battery is in a fully-charged state or a charging-limiting state. An engine fuel cut of the hybrid electric vehicle is executed when a request for the engine brake is generated and an engine is operated to maximize an engine load of the hybrid electric vehicle.

Methods and systems are provided for enabling vehicle speed control without overfilling a system battery. In one example, braking energy is applied (or recuperated) by applying a negative torque from BISG until a system battery has been sufficiently charged. Thereafter, the electrical power generated by the BISG is used to operate an electric boost assist motor, and the energy is recuperated in the form of stored compressed air.

A vehicle control apparatus calculates a target speed value of an engine rotational speed that is required to provide a required torque value of an engine brake torque, and controls shifting of an automatic transmission such that the engine rotational speed is approximated to the target speed value of the engine rotational speed. The vehicle control apparatus determines whether the target speed value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. When the target speed value exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the vehicle control apparatus controls the shifting of the automatic transmission such that the engine rotational speed is held not higher than the predetermined threshold value, and controls a throttle valve such that the throttle valve is opened.

Methods, systems, and devices related to a method of controlling an autonomous vehicle, in particular, an autonomous diesel-engine truck are disclosed. In one example aspect, the method includes determining an available engine brake torque generation mechanism for reducing a current speed of the autonomous vehicle to a lower speed and selecting a brake mode corresponding to the engine brake torque availability. In case a rate of speed reduction is equal to or smaller than a threshold, the brake mode includes only an engine brake in which engine exhaust valve opening is adjusted for reducing the current speed. The threshold determined in part based on the available engine brake torque, gear position of the transmission, and the online estimated vehicle longitudinal dynamic model. In case the rate of speed reduction is greater than the threshold, the brake mode incudes a combination of the engine brake and the foundation brake.

A controller for a hybrid vehicle controls a first motor generator and a second motor generator such that electric power input to a battery does not exceed an input upper limit value and electric power output from the battery does not exceed an output upper limit value. The controller executes motoring to rotate an output shaft using the first motor generator with combustion operation of an engine stopped, thereby causing a braking force generated by friction of the engine to act on a driven wheel. The controller executes a valve-opening limitation process that limits an increase in a throttle open degree in correspondence with the input upper limit value upon issuance of an increase request for the throttle open degree that is not based on an operation of requesting a change in the braking force performed by a driver during the execution of the motoring.

A construction machine includes: an engine driving at least one hydraulic pump configured to supply operating oil to a hydraulic actuator; an exhaust adjustment mechanism adjusting a flow rate of exhaust from the engine; and a control device controlling the exhaust adjustment mechanism. The control device determines whether or not a first downhill traveling condition and/or a second downhill traveling condition are/is satisfied. When at least one of the first downhill traveling condition and the second downhill traveling condition is satisfied, the control device controls the exhaust adjustment mechanism such that the exhaust adjustment mechanism executes exhaust brake.

An emergency stop system for transferring an at least semi-autonomously operable vehicle into a safe state includes an actuating device configured to output an actuating signal, a control device configured to receive the actuating signal and to output a control signal, and an emergency braking device configured to actively brake the vehicle. The emergency braking device is configured to actuate a braking system provided in the vehicle based on the output control signal and based on a predetermined operating mode in order to generate a braking force for decelerating the vehicle.

One embodiment is a method of operating an electronic control system (ECS) to control an engine to propel a vehicle. The method comprises receiving a throttle command, determining an operation to increase engine cycle efficiency by reducing engine torque below a magnitude corresponding to the throttle command and below a torque curve limit over a first vehicle operation segment and permitting an increase in engine torque above the torque curve limit over a second vehicle operation segment, controlling the engine to output torque below the magnitude corresponding to the throttle command and below the torque curve limit over the first vehicle operation segment, and controlling the engine to output torque above the torque curve limit over the second vehicle operation segment in response to a second received throttle command and constrained by an extended limit on operation of the engine above the torque curve limit.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, sensors mounted on a vehicle can allow opportunities for coasting to be predicted based on environmental conditions, route planning information, and/or vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-infrastructure signaling. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, these sensors can also predict a need for power and/or an end of a coast opportunity. These predictions can allow the vehicle to automatically enter a coasting state, and can predictively re-engage the engine and/or powertrain in order to make power available with no delay when desired by the operator.