Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle that includes a torque converter is described. In one example, the method adjusts torque of an electric machine in response to a requested torque converter speed. The requested torque converter speed linearizes torque output of a torque converter so that vehicle wheel torque control may be improved.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine and a controller configured to inject a voltage into the electric machine. The controller measures the currents caused by the voltage and processes the currents using a discrete Fourier transform to determine positive and negative sequence currents. A phase rotation sequence is identified by comparing the sequence currents to expected positive and negative sequence currents that are associated with possible phase rotation sequences. The electric machine may be controlled according to the identified phase rotation sequence. A cable swapped diagnostic may be output when the phase rotation sequence is different than an expected phase rotation sequence.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine and an electric machine are described. In one example, torque requests are aligned in time to compensate for a delay that may be caused by broadcasting one or more torque commands over a controller area network or another type of communication link. The torque requests may be aligned via delaying an engine torque request and predicting an electric machine torque.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine and an integrated starter/generator are described. In one example, torque generated via the engine is based on a requested driveline torque and a torque of an electric machine when degradation of an engine sensor is present. The torque generated via the engine may be adjusted responsive to a requested engine torque and a feedback engine torque that is based on output of an engine airflow sensor.

Abstract: Information about a device may be emotively conveyed to a user of the device. Input indicative of an operating state of the device may be received. The input may be transformed into data representing a simulated emotional state. Data representing an avatar that expresses the simulated emotional state may be generated and displayed. A query from the user regarding the simulated emotional state expressed by the avatar may be received. The query may be responded to.

Abstract: A vehicle including an engine, an electric machine, a traction battery, and a controller is provided. The controller is programmed to, during acceleration or constant speed travel of the vehicle and responsive to state of charge of the battery falling below a first threshold, run the engine to charge the battery. The controller is further programmed to, during the running and responsive to first occurrence of the state of charge achieving a second threshold, accelerator pedal release, or braking of the vehicle, stop the engine. The controller may be further programmed to, during accelerator pedal release or braking of the vehicle and responsive to the state of charge falling below the first threshold, inhibit start of the engine. The controller may be further programmed to, during the inhibiting and responsive to acceleration or constant speed travel of the vehicle, run the engine to charge the battery.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle or a battery electric vehicle has an electric machine, a traction battery, and an accessory powered by the traction battery. The vehicle includes a controller that, in response to a driver lifting their foot off the accelerator pedal, increases the negative motor torque produced by the electric machine for charging the traction battery to compensate for a load applied by the accessory. The controller increases negative motor torque as limited by a maximum motor torque limit. The accessory may be an electric air conditioning compressor and/or a DC/DC inverter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a hybrid driveline that includes an engine, a motor/generator, and a driveline disconnect clutch are described. The systems and methods may improve vehicle efficiency while providing expected vehicle operation and performance. In one example, transmission line pressure is adjusted to match driveline disconnect clutch torque capacity to driver demand torque.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and an electric machine coupled to a gearbox through a torque converter. The vehicle includes a controller programmed to command an engine torque and an electric machine torque to achieve a predetermined positive torque at the input of the torque converter when a driver demand torque at the torque converter input decreases to fall within a range between the predetermined positive torque and a predetermined negative torque.

Abstract: A vehicle including an engine, an electric machine, a traction battery, and a controller is provided. The controller is programmed to, during acceleration or constant speed travel of the vehicle and responsive to state of charge of the battery falling below a first threshold, run the engine to charge the battery. The controller is further programmed to, during the running and responsive to first occurrence of the state of charge achieving a second threshold, accelerator pedal release, or braking of the vehicle, stop the engine. The controller may be further programmed to, during accelerator pedal release or braking of the vehicle and responsive to the state of charge falling below the first threshold, inhibit start of the engine. The controller may be further programmed to, during the inhibiting and responsive to acceleration or constant speed travel of the vehicle, run the engine to charge the battery.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and a controller. The powertrain has an engine and an electric machine. The controller is programmed to, for so long as a catalytic converter temperature is less than a threshold, maintain a steady state engine torque output and adjust an electric machine torque output to satisfy driver demand. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to the catalytic converter temperature exceeding the threshold, permit adjustments of the engine torque output to satisfy the driver demand.

Abstract: Propulsion for a vehicle is provided by a hybrid powertrain that includes a torque converter coupled to an electric machine and selectively coupled to an engine. The hybrid powertrain further includes a controller programmed to, responsive to a loss of speed feedback of the electric machine while the engine is disconnected from the torque converter and the torque converter is open, operate one or more of a gearbox, the electric machine, and the engine based on an impeller speed of the torque converter derived from a torque of the electric machine and a speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: A driver coaching system may have an input device generating an input signal indicative of a road condition. The system may also include an advisory device determining an output conveyed to a driver and indicative of a fuel efficiency rating based on an actual vehicle speed and an optimum fuel efficient speed. The advisory device may not decrease the fuel efficiency rating when the road condition does not warrant the optimum fuel efficient speed.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor between an engine and transmission and a controller configured to control motor and engine torque during an upshift to generate a reserve torque during a preparatory phase applied to the transmission during a torque phase. The controller increases engine torque for the reserve torque, and decreases motor torque such that combined engine and motor torque satisfy driver demanded torque without retarding spark when available motor torque is insufficient to provide the reserve torque. A method for controlling a vehicle having a motor connected between an engine and a transmission includes increasing engine torque for reserve torque to be applied during a torque phase of an upshift responsive to available motor torque being insufficient to satisfy the reserve torque, and reducing engine torque by retarding spark only if combined engine torque and motor torque exceeds driver demand torque after reducing motor torque to a minimum threshold.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for perceiving roadway conditions from fused sensor data. Aspects of the invention use a combination of different types of cameras mounted to a vehicle to achieve visual perception for autonomous driving of the vehicle. Each camera in the combination of cameras generates sensor data by sensing at least part of the environment around the vehicle. The sensor data form each camera is fused together into a view of the environment around the vehicle. Sensor data from each camera (and, when appropriate, each other type of sensor) is fed into a central sensor perception chip. The central sensor perception chip uses a sensor fusion algorithm to fuse the sensor data into a view of the environment around the vehicle.

Abstract: A power inverter for driving an electric machine is configured to apply a voltage to the electric machine based on a high-frequency injection current. Three phase currents are measured and input into a current controller. A voltage command output from the current controller is monitored using a discrete Fourier transform to determine a positive and negative sequence voltage of the voltage command. The sequence voltages are compared to expected positive and negative sequence voltages. A loss of connection diagnostic is output if a magnitude of the difference between the expected and actual sequence voltages is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of this disclosure, a vehicle having an electric machine and at least one controller is described. The electric machine may be configured to generate creep torque to move the vehicle. The controller may be programmed to decrease a target speed of a torque converter impeller to create a desired brake torque and partially cancel the creep torque without application of friction brakes in response to a brake pedal being pressed while an accelerator pedal is not being pressed.

Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling a vehicle using an estimated torque of an electric machine, the estimated torque based on one or more parameters associated with the electric machine that are independent from measured current feedback.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, a starter-generator, and a controller. The electric machine is coupled to a traction battery via an inverter. The starter-generator is mechanically coupled with an engine and electrically coupled with a low-voltage battery. And, the controller charges the low-voltage battery with power from the traction battery, and in response to a torque demand of the electric machine falling below a threshold defined by losses of the inverter, transitions to the starter-generator to charge the low-voltage battery.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor between an engine and transmission and a controller configured to control motor and engine torque during an upshift to generate a reserve torque during a preparatory phase applied to the transmission during a torque phase. The controller increases engine torque for the reserve torque, and decreases motor torque such that combined engine and motor torque satisfy driver demanded torque without retarding spark when available motor torque is insufficient to provide the reserve torque. A method for controlling a vehicle having a motor connected between an engine and a transmission includes increasing engine torque for reserve torque to be applied during a torque phase of an upshift responsive to available motor torque being insufficient to satisfy the reserve torque, and reducing engine torque by retarding spark only if combined engine torque and motor torque exceeds driver demand torque after reducing motor torque to a minimum threshold.