Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system for a pleasure boat provided with a control system of the hybrid propulsion system and of the position of the boat, the hybrid propulsion system further comprising an internal combustion engine and an electric motor/generator operating in an integrated manner and according to two operating modes managed by the control system, In which —the control system is configured to control the position of the boat by means of signals from a plurality of gyroscopic sensors and/or triaxial accelerometers, and —the plurality of gyroscopic sensors and/or triaxial accelerometers is located such that there is at least one gyroscopic sensor and/or one triaxial accelerometer at the bow of the boat and at least one gyroscopic sensor and/or one triaxial accelerometer at the stern of the boat.

Abstract: A system for generating and matching profiles of people for ride sharing comprises a processor to process physiological data of users collected by sensors in the vehicles, driving data collected by sensors in the vehicles, and lifestyle data of the users. The processor generates user profiles based on the physiological, driving, and lifestyle data. The user profiles include correlations between the data and stress levels of the users during the use of the vehicles. A network interface receives the physiological, driving, and lifestyle data from the vehicles; receives a request from a first user to share a ride in a vehicle; receives information from the processor about a second user having a user profile compatible to the first user; and sends a response to the first user including the information about the second user to allow the first user to share the ride in the vehicle with the second user.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger and an exhaust gas recirculation pipe fluidly connecting an exhaust system to an air intake system upstream of a compressor of the turbocharger. A first value of a parameter indicative of the density of a mixture of fresh air and exhaust gas in the air intake system is determined. A flowing of exhaust gas through the exhaust gas recirculation pipe is interrupted if the first value is lower than a first reference value thereof.

Abstract: A method for automatically operating a cam-driven pump is disclosed. The pump is monitored to determine whether a specified detachment condition or potential detachment of an actuator of the pump from a driving cam is occurring. The pump is operated in a minimal pressure holding mode to provide a minimal pressure within a working chamber of the pump so as to bias the actuator towards the cam if it is determined that the detachment condition is occurring.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling the hydraulic dwell time between a first injection and a second injection performed by a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine are disclosed, in which the injector is equipped with a needle operated by a control valve. A value of a nominal electric dwell time between the first injection and the second injection is determined. An actual instant of hydraulic closing of the fuel injector after the first injection is also determined. A corrected electric dwell time is calculated as a function of the nominal electric dwell time and the actual instant of hydraulic closing of the fuel injector after the first injection. The fuel injector is operated using the corrected electric dwell time.

Abstract: A method of identifying a faulted component in an automotive system including an internal combustion engine managed by an Electronic Control Unit. The internal combustion engine is operated according to a predefined detection routine. A noise signal emitted by the activated internal combustion engine is recorded in a data carrier or memory system. The recorded noise signal is analyzed by a signal treatment algorithm to determine a plurality of vibration modes of the automotive system from the noise signal.; The amplitude of the noise signal is compared at each vibration mode with an acceptable amplitude threshold. A faulted component of the automotive system is determined if the amplitude of the correspondent vibration mode is greater than the acceptable amplitude threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A first energizing electrical current is supplied to an injector solenoid, causing the opening of an injector control volume and a pressure reduction in said injector control volume, for a first energizing time. The first energizing time is predetermined to avoid that the pressure in the injector control volume approximates a value which would cause an injector needle to raise up and a fuel injection to start. After the predetermined time interval, a second energizing electrical current is supplied to the injector solenoid for a predetermined second energizing time, which is a function of a rail pressure (prail) and a fuel injection quantity.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger and an exhaust gas recirculation pipe fluidly connecting an exhaust system to an air intake system upstream of a compressor of the turbocharger. A first value of a parameter indicative of the density of a mixture of fresh air and exhaust gas in the air intake system is determined. A flowing of exhaust gas through the exhaust gas recirculation pipe is interrupted if the first value is lower than a first reference value thereof.

Abstract: A method for automatically operating a cam-driven pump is disclosed. The pump is monitored to determine whether a specified detachment condition or potential detachment of an actuator of the pump from a driving cam is occurring. The pump is operated in a minimal pressure holding mode to provide a minimal pressure within a working chamber of the pump so as to bias the actuator towards the cam if it is determined that the detachment condition is occurring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for energizing a solenoidal fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector is electrically connected to a battery capable of providing a battery voltage and to a boost converter capable of providing a boost voltage that is higher than the battery voltage. The boost voltage is applied to a solenoid of the fuel injector to perform a first opening phase of the injector, the energy from the solenoid of the fuel injector is then discharged. A second opening phase of the fuel injector is performed, and followed by a hold phase using the battery voltage (Vbatt). Lastly, a closing phase of the fuel injector is performed.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling the hydraulic dwell time between a first injection and a second injection performed by a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine are disclosed, in which the injector is equipped with a needle operated by a control valve. A value of a nominal electric dwell time between the first injection and the second injection is determined. An actual instant of hydraulic closing of the fuel injector after the first injection is also determined. A corrected electric dwell time is calculated as a function of the nominal electric dwell time and the actual instant of hydraulic closing of the fuel injector after the first injection. The fuel injector is operated using the corrected electric dwell time.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine is disclosed in which the fuel injector is driven by an energizing current profile for an energizing time interval. An energizing current profile is selected for each fuel injection in a fuel injection system from among a plurality of predetermined energizing current profiles based on a function of an engine combustion mode. For each selected energizing current profile, a corresponding energizing time is determined as a function of a common rail pressure value and a fuel quantity value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A first energizing electrical current is supplied to an injector solenoid, causing the opening of an injector control volume and a pressure reduction in said injector control volume, for a first energizing time. The first energizing time is predetermined to avoid that the pressure in the injector control volume approximates a value which would cause an injector needle to raise up and a fuel injection to start. After the predetermined time interval, a second energizing electrical current is supplied to the injector solenoid for a predetermined second energizing time, which is a function of a rail pressure (prail) and a fuel injection quantity.

Abstract: A method is provided for estimating a hydraulic dwell time between a first injection pulse and a second injection pulse performed by a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to determining a value of an electric dwell time between the first injection pulse and the second injection pulse, estimating a value of an injector closing delay between an instant in which an electric closing command of the first injection pulse is generated and an instant in which the fuel injector closes, estimating a value of an injector opening delay between an instant in which an electric opening command of the second injection pulse is generated and an instant in which the fuel injector opens, and calculating a value of the hydraulic dwell time as a function of the electric dwell time value, of the injector closing delay value and of the injector opening delay value.

Abstract: A method is provided for estimating a hydraulic dwell time between a first injection pulse and a second injection pulse performed by a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to determining a value of an electric dwell time between the first injection pulse and the second injection pulse, estimating a value of an injector closing delay between an instant in which an electric closing command of the first injection pulse is generated and an instant in which the fuel injector closes, estimating a value of an injector opening delay between an instant in which an electric opening command of the second injection pulse is generated and an instant in which the fuel injector opens, and calculating a value of the hydraulic dwell time as a function of the electric dwell time value, of the injector closing delay value and of the injector opening delay value.

Abstract: A method is provided for estimating fuel injecting pressure of an injector belonging to a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine. The fuel injection system includes, but is not limited to a fuel rail and at least one injector that are fluidly connected with the fuel rail through a connecting conduit. The method includes, but is not limited to modelling the pressure fluctuation within the connecting conduit according to the equation P=B·e?At cos(?t), where A, B and ? are parameters, and t is a variable representing time, determining the dwell time between the injector opening and injector previous closing, and applying the determined dwell time to the equation in order to calculate the fuel injecting pressure.