Abstract: Methods are provided for determining plant stress, including: using a computer-based camera system having thermal imaging and visual imaging to capture foliage at close proximity of at least one plant to provide high resolution images/video thereof; analyzing both thermal and visual images/video therefrom to form a composite image; determining the thermal activity of the composite image/video and photosynthesis state of the at least one plant; and deriving the plant stress from the determination. A handheld computer-based camera system is also provided and includes a smartphone and thermal imaging device.

Abstract: An oxygen storage capacity (OSC) monitoring system for a vehicle having a catalytic converter includes an inlet oxygen sensor that generates an inlet sensor signal (ISS) based on an oxygen content of exhaust flowing into the catalytic converter. A control module receives the ISS, increases a closed loop fuel control gain during a first period and determines a fuel control factor based on the ISS during the first period. The control module determines an OSC when an average value of the fuel control factor is greater than a first value and is less than a second value during the first period.

Abstract: An oxygen storage capacity (OSC) monitoring system for a vehicle having a catalytic converter includes an inlet oxygen sensor that generates an inlet sensor signal (ISS) based on an oxygen content of exhaust flowing into the catalytic converter. A control module receives the ISS, increases a closed loop fuel control gain during a first period and determines a fuel control factor based on the ISS during the first period. The control module determines an OSC when an average value of the fuel control factor is greater than a first value and is less than a second value during the first period.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for predicting ambient air temperature (PAT) around a vehicle (and partly controlling vehicle operation) based on Mass Air Flow (MAF), Vehicle Speed (VSS), Inlet Air Temperature (IAT), Engine Run Time (ERT) and the last PAT value (LPAT). If MAF,VSS are below thresholds C1, C2 and ERT is below threshold C4, then PAT is set equal to the smaller of IAT or LPAT. If MAF,VSS,ERT exceed C1, C2, C4, as for example, in steady run operation, then after an interval PAT approaches IAT?C5+/?C6 where C5 and C6 are stored parameters. An idle counter increments when MAF<C1, VSS<C2 is TRUE and decrements by parameter C3 when FALSE and must reach zero before the PAT steady run value is set. This improves prediction accuracy during transition from idle to steady state running. The PAT estimation process is repeated about every 10 seconds.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for predicting ambient air temperature (PAT) around a vehicle (and partly controlling vehicle operation) based on Mass Air Flow (MAF), Vehicle Speed (VSS), Inlet Air Temperature (IAT), Engine Run Time (ERT) and the last PAT value (LPAT). If MAF,VSS are below thresholds C1,C2 and ERT is below threshold C4, then PAT is set equal to the smaller of IAT or LPAT. If MAF,VSS,ERT exceed C1,C2,C4, as for example, in steady run operation, then after an interval PAT approaches IAT−C5+/−C6 where C5 and C6 are stored parameters. An idle counter increments when MAF<C1,VSS<C2 is TRUE and decrements by parameter C3 when FALSE and must reach zero before the PAT steady run value is set. This improves prediction accuracy during transition from idle to steady state running. The PAT estimation process is repeated about every 10 seconds.

Abstract: A diagnostic method and system detects leaks in a vapor handling system of a vehicle that includes a fuel tank and a pressure/vacuum sensor that senses pressure and vacuum in the fuel tank. A canister recovers vapor from the fuel tank. A canister vent solenoid selectively provides atmospheric air to the canister. A controller connected to the canister vent solenoid and the pressure/vacuum sensor executes a leakage detection test that is capable of detecting leaks in the vapor handling system that have a diameter on the order of 0.020 inch. The leakage detection test includes a volatility test phase, a pressure phase, a vacuum phase, an analysis phase and a results phase. In other features, the leakage detection algorithm generates data sets having greater than 25 standard deviations between leakage and no-leakage data sets.

Abstract: A diagnostic method and system detects leaks in a vapor handling system of a vehicle that includes a fuel tank and a pressure/vacuum sensor that senses pressure and vacuum in the fuel tank. A canister recovers vapor from the fuel tank. A canister vent solenoid selectively provides atmospheric air to the canister. A controller connected to the canister vent solenoid and the pressure/vacuum sensor executes a leakage detection test that is capable of detecting leaks in the vapor handling system that have a diameter on the order of 0.020 inch. The leakage detection test includes a volatility test phase, a pressure phase, a vacuum phase, an analysis phase and a results phase. In other features, the leakage detection algorithm generates data sets having greater than 25 standard deviations between leakage and no-leakage data sets.