A method performed by a control unit in connection with a pre-heating process of an aftertreatment system for a combustion engine is provided. The control unit obtains a scheduled start time of the combustion engine. The control unit schedules a pre-heating of the aftertreatment system to be completed before the scheduled start time. The control unit detects a start of the combustion engine at an actual start time. In response to the detected start of the combustion engine, and using the actual and scheduled start times, the control unit determines whether the scheduled pre-heating of the aftertreatment system fulfils one or more success criteria. When the one or more success criteria are fulfilled, the control unit triggers a performance increase of the combustion engine.

A control device prevents damage due to backward rotation of a rotary engine and prevents misjudgment of backward rotation of the rotary engine. The control device for a rotary engine includes a motor mechanically connected to the shaft of the rotary engine, a controller (a motor ECU) that performs energization control of the motor to start the rotary engine by driving the motor, and a sensor (such as a motor rotation sensor). When starting the rotary engine, the controller stops energization to the motor based on an electric signal from the sensor when the shaft of the rotary engine rotates backward a predetermined angle or more, and then the shaft of the rotary engine continues to rotate backward for a predetermined time.

Systems and methods for operating an engine that may be selectively automatically stopped and started are described. In one example, the method adjusts an amount of time that the engine may be inhibited from automatically stopping based on driver inputs such as driver demand pedal position, vehicle speed, and braking torque.

To prolong a lifetime of a starter battery, a starting system (5) for an internal combustion engine (3) includes: a starter battery (22) constituted of a lithium-ion battery and configured to supply electric power to a starter motor (21); and a controller (51) configured to drive the starter motor (21) by the electric power from the starter battery (22) to perform cranking operations of the engine (3) intermittently, wherein the controller (51) is configured to prohibit the cranking operations for a first time interval before the cranking operations are performed a prescribed number of times within a prescribed time window, and to prohibit the cranking operations for a second time interval longer than the first time interval right after the cranking operations are performed the prescribed number of times within the prescribed time window.

Methods and systems are provided for heating a catalyst via a catalyst heater are presented. In one example, the catalyst may be heated to provide a minimum amount of time for the catalyst to reach a threshold temperature. In another example, the catalyst heater may be heated to minimize an amount of power that is used to heat the catalyst.

A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes a plurality of engine starting devices and an internal combustion engine is described. In one example, the method determines whether or not to inhibit automatic engine stopping so that a lifespan of an engine starting device may be extended. In one example, the inhibiting is based on a ratio of an actual total number of engine starts generated via the engine starting device to an actual total distance traveled by the vehicle since the engine starting device was installed.

A method for controlling autonomous driving in an autonomous vehicle includes detecting an autonomous driving-related critical situation during the autonomous driving, outputting a notification message requesting a control-right handover from an autonomous driving system to a human driver when the autonomous driving-related critical situation is detected, and activating a minimal risk maneuver (MRM) driving mode to deactivate the autonomous driving system when the control-right handover is not successful. In particular, when the minimal risk maneuver (MRM) driving mode is activated, the deactivated state of the autonomous driving system is maintained until an engine-restart of the autonomous vehicle is detected.

A method, apparatus, system, vehicle, and/or computer program provides that one or more components of a vehicle are operated as a function of a predetermined pick-up time of the vehicle at a pick-up position of a parking facility in such a way that the vehicle exhibits one or more predetermined states at the pick-up position at the predetermined pick-up time.

A vehicle includes a rotary electric machine, an internal combustion engine, a temperature sensor, and a limiter. The rotary electric machine generates power to move the vehicle. The internal combustion engine is started by the rotary electric machine to generate power to move the vehicle. The temperature sensor detects temperature of the rotary electric machine or of a drive circuit for the rotary electric machine. The limiter restricts the power generated by the rotary electric machine if the temperature is higher than a first threshold temperature. The start prohibitor prohibits the rotary electric machine from starting the internal combustion engine if the temperature is higher than a second threshold temperature which is higher than the first threshold temperature.

A system for automatically controlling shut-off of a vehicle includes: a sensor that senses existence of a user in the vehicle; and a vehicle controlling device that determines whether the vehicle is in an idle state, determines whether a user exists in the vehicle based on a sensing value of the sensor, controls the vehicle to automatically shut off, and notifies a user of a vehicle state.