Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing an electrochemical cell wherein the cell undergoes degradation that results in loss of active material and cation inventory during charging phase(s) of cell cycles. The method comprises: selecting at least one cell component from electrolytes, cathode active materials, and anode active materials; sequentially calculating a cell capacity at an end of each of a plurality of cell cycles based on total cyclable cations, accessible storage sites in each electrode, and the cell component(s) using a degradation model based on porous-electrode theory and having degradation pathway(s), wherein the cell cycles are initialized based on a rate of degradation over previous cycles and wherein a time at which to simulate the next cycle is chosen based on the rate of degradation over the previous cycles; and predicting end of life of the cell based on one of the calculated cell capacities being less than a percentage of nominal capacity.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling combustion performance of an engine during recompression HCCI combustion are provided. The method includes regulating a valve actuation timing and a fuel injection timing to cause a combustion phasing of at least one cylinder of the engine to approach a target combustion phasing, and estimating current combustion state information based on the combustion phasing. The current combustion state information includes at least one of a temperature, a pressure, and a pre-combustion charge composition associated with the at least one cylinder. The method further includes determining a target fuel injection amount, and determining whether the target fuel injection amount would require actuator settings that violate predetermined constraints in order to cause the combustion phasing to approach the target combustion phasing. A fuel injection amount is adjusted when the target fuel injection amount would require actuator settings that violate the predetermined constraints.

Abstract: A vehicle having a battery pack with cells arranged in at least groups of two cells in series is disclosed. A controller balances the cells based on a change in voltage across the cells being different than an expected change in voltage. The expected value is based on a current and a time associated with charging or discharging the cells. A controller is disclosed that commands charging and discharging of the battery cells based on a difference between a voltage across the group and the expected value for the group. A method for charging and discharging a battery pack is disclosed. The voltage across a group of cells is measured and compared to an expected value. An imbalance in a cell attribute is estimated according to a difference between the measured voltage and the expected voltage. The voltage across each battery cell is not required.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for on-line, real-time estimation of a residual mass in an engine cylinder during HCCI combustion. The residual mass is estimated based on an estimated residual mass for a previous combustion cycle. A value of a first performance variable for the first combustion cycle is determined based only on engine data measured by one or more sensors. A value of a second performance is estimated based at least in part on the estimated residual mass for the first combustion cycle. An adaptive scaling factor is determining for the first combustion cycle based on the determined value of the first performance variable and the estimated value of the second performance variable. An adjusted residual mass for the first combustion cycle is then determined based on the estimated residual mass for the first combustion cycle and the adaptive scaling factor for the first combustion cycle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle engine to reduce cycle-to-cycle combustion variation. A predictive model is applied to predict cycle-to-cycle combustion behavior of an engine based on observed engine performance variables. Conditions are identified, based on the predicted cycle-to-cycle combustion behavior, that indicate high cycle-to-cycle combustion variation. Corrective measures are then applied to prevent the predicted high cycle-to-cycle combustion variation.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling combustion performance of an engine are provided. A desired fuel quantity for a first combustion cycle is determined. One or more engine actuator settings are identified that would be required during a subsequent combustion cycle to cause the engine to approach a target combustion phasing. If the identified actuator settings are within a defined acceptable operating range, the desired fuel quantity is injected during the first combustion cycle. If not, an attenuated fuel quantity is determined and the attenuated fuel quantity is injected during the first combustion cycle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling engine combustion during a mixed-mode combustion modality. A target exhaust valve timing is determined based on a first combination of engine speed and load. An amount of trapped residual in an engine cylinder after an exhaust valve is closed during a first combustion cycle is also determined. Based at least in part on the amount of trapped residual, an amount of gas that will be drawn into the engine cylinder when the intake valve is opened during a second combustion cycle is determined. The target exhaust valve timing is then adjusted during the second combustion cycle in order to adjust the amount of gas that will be drawn into the engine cylinder when the intake valve is opened during a third combustion cycle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating engine performance information for a combustion cycle of an internal combustion engine. Estimated performance information for a previous combustion cycle is retrieved from memory. The estimated performance information includes an estimated value of at least one engine performance variable. Actuator settings applied to engine actuators are also received. The performance information for the current combustion cycle is then estimated based, at least in part, on the estimated performance information for the previous combustion cycle and the actuator settings applied during the previous combustion cycle. The estimated performance information for the current combustion cycle is then stored to the memory to be used in estimating performance information for a subsequent combustion cycle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for real-time engine control optimization are provided. A value of an engine performance variable is determined, a value of a first operating condition and a value of a second operating condition of a vehicle engine are detected, and initial values for a first engine control parameter and a second engine control parameter are determined based on the detected first operating condition and the detected second operating condition. The initial values for the first engine control parameter and the second engine control parameter are adjusted based on the determined value of the engine performance variable to cause the engine performance variable to approach a target engine performance variable. In order to cause the engine performance variable to approach the target engine performance variable, adjusting the initial value for the first engine control parameter necessitates a corresponding adjustment of the initial value for the second engine control parameter.

Abstract: Methods and systems for engine control optimization are provided. One or more operating conditions of a vehicle engine are detected. A value for each of a plurality of engine control parameters is determined based on the detected one or more operating conditions of the vehicle engine. A range of the most commonly detected operating conditions of the vehicle engine is identified and a region of optimization is defined based on the range of the most commonly detected operating conditions of the vehicle engine. The engine control optimization routine is initiated when the one or more operating conditions of the vehicle engine are within the defined region of optimization.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing a performance of a vehicle engine are provided. The method includes determining an initial value for a first engine control parameter based on one or more detected operating conditions of the vehicle engine, determining a value of an engine performance variable, and artificially perturbing the determined value of the engine performance variable. The initial value for the first engine control parameter is then adjusted based on the perturbed engine performance variable causing the engine performance variable to approach a target engine performance variable. Operation of the vehicle engine is controlled based on the adjusted initial value for the first engine control parameter. These acts are repeated until the engine performance variable approaches the target engine performance variable.

Abstract: A vehicle having a battery pack with cells arranged in at least groups of two cells in series is disclosed. A controller balances the cells based on a change in voltage across the cells being different than an expected change in voltage. The expected value is based on a current and a time associated with charging or discharging the cells. A controller is disclosed that commands charging and discharging of the battery cells based on a difference between a voltage across the group and the expected value for the group. A method for charging and discharging a battery pack is disclosed. The voltage across a group of cells is measured and compared to an expected value. An imbalance in a cell attribute is estimated according to a difference between the measured voltage and the expected voltage. The voltage across each battery cell is not required.

Abstract: Methods and systems for engine control optimization are provided. A first and a second operating condition of a vehicle engine are detected. An initial value is identified for a first and a second engine control parameter corresponding to a combination of the detected operating conditions according to a first and a second engine map look-up table. The initial values for the engine control parameters are adjusted based on a detected engine performance variable to cause the engine performance variable to approach a target value. A first and a second sensitivity of the engine performance variable are determined in response to changes in the engine control parameters. The first engine map look-up table is adjusted when the first sensitivity is greater than a threshold, and the second engine map look-up table is adjusted when the second sensitivity is greater than a threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling engine combustion during a mixed-mode combustion modality. A target exhaust valve timing is determined based on a first combination of engine speed and load. An amount of trapped residual in an engine cylinder after an exhaust valve is closed during a first combustion cycle is also determined. Based at least in part on the amount of trapped residual, an amount of gas that will be drawn into the engine cylinder when the intake valve is opened during a second combustion cycle is determined. The target exhaust valve timing is then adjusted during the second combustion cycle in order to adjust the amount of gas that will be drawn into the engine cylinder when the intake valve is opened during a third combustion cycle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for on-line, real-time estimation of a residual mass in an engine cylinder during HCCI combustion. The residual mass is estimated based on an estimated residual mass for a previous combustion cycle. A value of a first performance variable for the first combustion cycle is determined based only on engine data measured by one or more sensors. A value of a second performance is estimated based at least in part on the estimated residual mass for the first combustion cycle. An adaptive scaling factor is determining for the first combustion cycle based on the determined value of the first performance variable and the estimated value of the second performance variable. An adjusted residual mass for the first combustion cycle is then determined based on the estimated residual mass for the first combustion cycle and the adaptive scaling factor for the first combustion cycle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling combustion performance of an engine are provided. A desired fuel quantity for a first combustion cycle is determined. One or more engine actuator settings are identified that would be required during a subsequent combustion cycle to cause the engine to approach a target combustion phasing. If the identified actuator settings are within a defined acceptable operating range, the desired fuel quantity is injected during the first combustion cycle. If not, an attenuated fuel quantity is determined and the attenuated fuel quantity is injected during the first combustion cycle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for engine control optimization are provided. One or more operating conditions of a vehicle engine are detected. A value for each of a plurality of engine control parameters is determined based on the detected one or more operating conditions of the vehicle engine. A range of the most commonly detected operating conditions of the vehicle engine is identified and a region of optimization is defined based on the range of the most commonly detected operating conditions of the vehicle engine. The engine control optimization routine is initiated when the one or more operating conditions of the vehicle engine are within the defined region of optimization.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing a performance of a vehicle engine are provided. The method includes determining an initial value for a first engine control parameter based on one or more detected operating conditions of the vehicle engine, determining a value of an engine performance variable, and artificially perturbing the determined value of the engine performance variable. The initial value for the first engine control parameter is then adjusted based on the perturbed engine performance variable causing the engine performance variable to approach a target engine performance variable. Operation of the vehicle engine is controlled based on the adjusted initial value for the first engine control parameter. These acts are repeated until the engine performance variable approaches the target engine performance variable.

Abstract: Methods and systems for engine control optimization are provided. A first and a second operating condition of a vehicle engine are detected. An initial value is identified for a first and a second engine control parameter corresponding to a combination of the detected operating conditions according to a first and a second engine map look-up table. The initial values for the engine control parameters are adjusted based on a detected engine performance variable to cause the engine performance variable to approach a target value. A first and a second sensitivity of the engine performance variable are determined in response to changes in the engine control parameters. The first engine map look-up table is adjusted when the first sensitivity is greater than a threshold, and the second engine map look-up table is adjusted when the second sensitivity is greater than a threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems for real-time engine control optimization are provided. A value of an engine performance variable is determined, a value of a first operating condition and a value of a second operating condition of a vehicle engine are detected, and initial values for a first engine control parameter and a second engine control parameter are determined based on the detected first operating condition and the detected second operating condition. The initial values for the first engine control parameter and the second engine control parameter are adjusted based on the determined value of the engine performance variable to cause the engine performance variable to approach a target engine performance variable. In order to cause the engine performance variable to approach the target engine performance variable, adjusting the initial value for the first engine control parameter necessitates a corresponding adjustment of the initial value for the second engine control parameter.