Abstract: A vehicle including an autonomic vehicle control system is described. A method for operating the vehicle includes, during operation of the autonomic vehicle control system, determining vehicle and environmental operating conditions and extra-vehicle conditions when the autonomic vehicle control system is activated. A confidence level associated with operation of the autonomic vehicle control system is determined based upon the vehicle operating conditions, the environmental operating conditions and the extra-vehicle conditions. The confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system is transmitted via an operator interface device.

Abstract: A system and method of changing features of an existing automatic speech recognition (ASR) system includes: monitoring speech received from a vehicle occupant for one or more keywords identifying a feature to remove from or add to the ASR system; detecting the keywords in the monitored speech; and adding the identified feature to or removing the identified feature from from the ASR system.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body and an active air dam assembly. The body has a first end facing an ambient airflow and a second end facing away from the ambient airflow. The assembly is disposed at the first or second end and controls the ambient airflow between the body and a road surface. The assembly includes an adjustable flap, an actuator, sensors, and a controller. The flap shifts between different stowed and deployed positions. The actuator moves the flap, e.g., via a shaft. Each sensor measures a separate performance parameter of the actuator. The controller executes a method to receive the measured performance parameters, identify a fault mode of the air dam assembly from among different possible fault modes using the performance parameters, and execute a control action corresponding to the identified fault mode.

Abstract: Disclosed are SCR predictive control systems, methods for using such control systems, and motor vehicles with SCR employing predictive control. A method for regulating operation of an SCR system includes receiving sensor signals indicative of NOx output downstream from an SCR catalyst, and sensor signals indicative of exhaust gas temperature upstream from the SCR catalyst. The method determines if a model error condition has occurred for the NOx output signal and, responsive to such an occurrence, modulating dosing injector output for at least a calibrated designated time period. Upon expiration of the designated time period, the dosing injector is activated and commanded to inject reductant in accordance with a modulated dosing value. After the dosing injector injects the modulated dosing value of reductant, the method determines if the SCR system is underdosing or overdosing based on a response shape of signals received from the outlet NOx content sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a combustion engine having at least one cylinder to burn a fuel, and a fuel injector to supply a fuel mass to the at least one cylinder. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to cause the fuel injector supply a series of fuel pulses that sum to an aggregate target fuel mass. The controller is also programmed to adjust a commanded duration of a subsequent pulse of the series of pulses from a target pulse duration value based on at least one of a dwell time since a preceding pulse, a fuel mass of the preceding pulse, and an opening delay of the preceding pulse.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block defining a cylinder and a cylinder head mounted to the block. The cylinder head supplies air and fuel to the cylinder for combustion therein. The engine also includes an exhaust manifold operatively connected to the cylinder head and having first and second outlets configured to exhaust post-combustion gasses from the cylinder. The engine also includes a turbocharging system including a low-flow turbocharger driven by the post-combustion gasses from the first outlet to pressurize the airflow and a high-flow turbocharger driven by the post-combustion gasses from the second outlet. The turbocharging system also includes a flow control device for selectively directing the post-combustion gasses to the low-flow and high-flow turbochargers.

Abstract: A vehicle engine system includes a combustion engine configured to provide a propulsion torque to satisfy a propulsion demand in response to a driver input. The engine system also includes a controller programmed to receive data indicative of at least one upcoming driving event, and issue a command to impart a predetermined velocity profile based on the upcoming driving event. The predetermined velocity profile is arranged to optimize a performance attribute of the combustion engine and preempt the driver input.

Abstract: A body-mounted tire blocker assembly can absorb and/or manage energy when a vehicle body assembly is subjected to an external force. This vehicle body assembly may include a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment. The vehicle body further includes a rocker panel defining a first panel end and a second panel end opposite the first panel end. The tire blocker assembly is coupled to the rocker panel and includes a first blocker body and a second blocker body coupled to the first blocker body. The first blocker body is farther from the first panel end than the second blocker body in order to guide a wheel away from the passenger compartment when an external force is applied to the vehicle body.

Abstract: A method avoids lithium plating of a negative electrode in a battery cell. A voltage level of a positive electrode is determined in an initial battery charging process having a charging power level. A charging rate is modified in response to the determined voltage by increasing or decreasing the charging rate when the voltage is respectively less or greater than a voltage threshold. A charging profile is recorded for the power level. A subsequent charging process at the same power level is controlled using the recorded profile, which is possibly age-indexed to an age of an actual battery used in the subsequent charging process. A system includes the battery cell and a battery cell cycler device programmed to execute the method. An electric machine may be connected to the battery cell and a load, with a controller controlling the subsequent charging process using the profiles.

Abstract: In a vehicle, a first energy storage device has a first direct current (DC) operating voltage; and a second energy storage device has a second DC operating voltage. The second DC operating voltage is greater than or less than the first DC operating voltage the first DC operating voltage. A switch is connected between the first and second energy storage devices. A fault diagnostic module, while an internal combustion engine of the vehicle is shut down, diagnoses that a fault is present when a voltage of the first energy storage device is less than a predetermined DC voltage. The predetermined DC voltage is less than the first DC operating voltage. A switch control module closes the switch when the fault is diagnosed. A starter control module, when the fault is diagnosed, applies power to a starter from the second energy storage device via the switch.

Abstract: High-strength aluminum components and methods for preparing a high-strength aluminum component are provided. Methods of forming high-strength aluminum components include heating an aluminum alloy blank above a solvus temperature, quenching the aluminum alloy blank, and stamping the aluminum alloy blank in a die to form an aluminum component having a predetermined shape. A plurality of localized plastic deformations are introduced to select regions of the aluminum component, and the aluminum component is subject to one or more aging treatments including heating the aluminum component to a temperature below the solvus temperature. The localized plastic deformations serve as nucleation sites for precipitation hardening during the one or more aging treatments to form a plurality of strengthened regions in the aluminum component.

Abstract: A method of controlling a rate of warm-up of an internal combustion engine fluidly connected to an exhaust system is disclosed. The method includes identifying a cold-start of the engine. The method also includes regulating, in response to the identified cold-start of the engine, an exhaust pressure modulation (EPM) valve arranged in a main exhaust passage of the exhaust system. The main exhaust passage channels engine exhaust gas to the ambient. Such regulation of the EPM valve will restrict a flow of the engine exhaust gas to the ambient and increase exhaust gas backpressure in the exhaust system up to a predetermined pressure value. Furthermore, the subject regulation of the EPM valve will increase a load on and the rate of warm-up of the engine. A vehicle having an engine and a controller programmed to control a rate of the engine's warm-up of according to the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle includes an oxygen mass flow rate module, an oxygen per cylinder module, and a fuel control module. The oxygen mass flow rate module generates a mass flow rate of oxygen flowing into an engine based on a mass air flow rate (MAF) into the engine and a percentage of oxygen by volume measured using an intake oxygen (IO) sensor in an intake system. The oxygen per cylinder module generates a mass of oxygen for a combustion event of a cylinder of the engine based on the mass flow rate of oxygen flowing into the engine. The fuel control module controls fueling to the cylinder for the combustion event based on the mass of oxygen.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a road wheel, and a suspension corner connecting the road wheel to the vehicle body. The suspension corner includes a suspension arm connected to the road wheel and to the vehicle body, and also includes a suspension force decoupling system disposed on an axis extending between the suspension arm and the vehicle body. The suspension force decoupling system includes an actuator having an actuator mass arranged on the axis that is configured to output an actuator force in opposite directions along the axis in response to an actuator control signal. The system also includes a compliant element connected along the axis to the actuator mass and one of the body and the suspension arm, and providing a predetermined level of mechanical compliance. A controller determines and generates the actuator force in response to a threshold acceleration of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A light sensor includes a primary lens, and a light device spaced from the primary lens. A control structure is disposed between the primary lens and the light device. An actuator is coupled to the control structure to move the control structure relative to the primary lens and the light device to control the passage of light between the primary lens and the light device. The light sensor may include a light emitting sensor having an array of individual light emitters, or a light detecting sensor having a light detector. The control structure may include an array of secondary bi-telecentric lenses for use with the light emitting sensor, or a plate having an aperture extending therethrough for use with the light detecting sensor.

Abstract: An off-board charging device disposed to electrically charge an electric energy storage system via an electrical charging system on-board a vehicle is described. This includes an electric machine electrically connected to the electric energy storage system and is disposed to supply propulsion effort to the vehicle. A method for controlling the off-board charging device includes determining severity of a drive cycle that occurs prior to a charging event for the electric energy storage system. A charging profile is determined based upon the severity of the drive cycle. A controller commands operation of the off-board charging device based upon the charging profile.

Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission having a gearbox and a pump operable to circulate a fluid through the gearbox, includes sensing an acceleration of the vehicle, and adjusting an operating state of the pump. The operating state of the pump is adjusted to change the operating state of the pump from an initial operating state, to an adjusted operating state, when the acceleration of the vehicle is greater than an acceleration threshold. When the acceleration of the vehicle decreases from being greater than the acceleration threshold to being below the acceleration threshold, the operating state of the pump is returned to the initial operating state. The operating state of the pump may include a speed of the pump, a control signal representing a fluid flow rate for the current speed of the pump, or a fluid flow circuit for supplying the fluid to the pump.