Methods and systems are described for enhanced engine friction generation. The enhanced engine friction generation improves the effectiveness of vehicle braking in deceleration fuel cut-off driving conditions by using engine vacuum and backpressure to temporarily increase engine pumping losses, thereby increasing powertrain drag and increasing deceleration torque to the wheels. The engine vacuum and backpressure may be created by changing the duration of the intake and/or exhaust valves. The system includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising adjusting an intake valve time duration or an exhaust valve time duration to increase engine friction to enhance mechanical friction on a drivetrain of a vehicle.

A vehicle control system having a subsystem controller for initiating control of a first group of at least one vehicle subsystem in a selected one of a plurality of subsystem control modes each corresponding to one or more different driving conditions; and an estimator module for evaluating at least one driving condition indicator to determine the extent to which each of the subsystem control modes is appropriate and for providing an output indicative of the subsystem control mode that is most appropriate. The estimator module is configured to increase the probability to which the at least one off-road driving mode is determined appropriate in dependence on at least one terrain indicator. In an automatic response mode the subsystem controller selects the most appropriate one of the subsystem control modes for each subsystem of the first group in dependence on the output.

A vehicle control system having a subsystem controller for initiating control of a first group of at least one vehicle subsystem in a selected one of a plurality of subsystem control modes each corresponding to one or more different driving conditions; and an estimator module for evaluating at least one driving condition indicator to determine the extent to which each of the subsystem control modes is appropriate and for providing an output indicative of the subsystem control mode that is most appropriate. The estimator module is configured to increase the probability to which the at least one off-road driving mode is determined appropriate in dependence on at least one terrain indicator. In an automatic response mode the subsystem controller selects the most appropriate one of the subsystem control modes for each subsystem of the first group in dependence on the output.

A vehicle driving assistance apparatus predicts (i) a first consumed energy amount corresponding to a consumed energy amount consumed by a driving apparatus of an own vehicle when executing a first following control and (ii) a second consumed energy amount corresponding to the consumed energy amount consumed by the driving apparatus of the own vehicle when executing the second following control. The apparatus executes the second following control when the second consumed energy amount is smaller than the first consumed energy amount. On the other hand, the apparatus executes the first following control when the second consumed energy amount is equal to or greater than the first consumed energy amount.

A method for controlling configuration of a truck includes identifying a current operating situation of the truck, implementing one of a plurality of sets of configuration parameters associated with the current operating situation, wherein each set of configuration parameters comprises at least two different configuration parameters related respectively to a ground-linking system and a powertrain system of the truck, and wherein said plurality of sets of configuration parameters comprises at least a default set of configuration parameters associated with a default driving operating situation and an off-road set of configuration parameters associated with an off-road operating situation.

This invention involves the effect of multiple rules of the road at different elevation profiles on the speed constraints and therefore the overall fuel efficiency. A vehicle designed to optimize fuel consumption that is comprised of the rules of the road that determine maximum speed, minimum speed, stop signs, streetlights, and/or changes in other rules that determine the allowable speeds of the road, a localization mechanism, and an optimization engine to optimize the fuel economy by selecting a speed profile within that maintains the vehicle within the assigned range of speeds and minimizes fuel consumption. A wide variety of methods that typically are used to optimize the fuel efficiency of human drivers operating standard vehicles can also be applied towards autonomous vehicles driving at different speed constraints and with different changes in the elevation.

This invention involves the effect of multiple rules of the road at different elevation profiles on the speed constraints and therefore the overall fuel efficiency. A vehicle designed to optimize fuel consumption that is comprised of the rules of the road that determine maximum speed, minimum speed, stop signs, streetlights, and/or changes in other rules that determine the allowable speeds of the road, a localization mechanism, and an optimization engine to optimize the fuel economy by selecting a speed profile within that maintains the vehicle within the assigned range of speeds and minimizes fuel consumption. A wide variety of methods that typically are used to optimize the fuel efficiency of human drivers operating standard vehicles can also be applied towards autonomous vehicles driving at different speed constraints and with different changes in the elevation.

Systems and methods of autonomously controlling a vehicle across the grip driving and drift driving operating ranges, are provided. The contemplated autonomous control can be effectuated using a closed-loop control system. In some embodiments, closed-loop control may be accomplished by deriving control laws involving sideslip angle, yaw rate, wheel speed, and other vehicle states. These control laws may be used to control the vehicle in a stable drift condition.

Systems and methods of autonomously controlling a vehicle across the grip driving and drift driving operating ranges, are provided. The contemplated autonomous control can be effectuated using a closed-loop control system. In some embodiments, closed-loop control may be accomplished by deriving control laws involving sideslip angle, yaw rate, wheel speed, and other vehicle states. These control laws may be used to control the vehicle in a stable drift condition.

Either a mode in which a vehicle travels with an electric motor or a mode in which the vehicle travels with an internal combustion engine is selected based on information on a fee when the vehicle is caused to travel with the electric motor and information on a fee when the vehicle is caused to travel with the internal combustion engine.