Abstract: A control system (32, 33) for a vehicle (10), the control system (32, 33) comprising one or more controllers, the control system (32, 33) being configured to: receive a transmission speed signal that is indicative of an output speed of a transmission (24) of the vehicle (10) as the transmission (24) performs a gearshift; receive a driver demand signal that is indicative of a driver demand for acceleration of the vehicle (10) during the gearshift; and determine a torque demand signal for an engine (20) of the vehicle (10) in accordance with the transmission speed signal and the driver demand signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a thermal control method for a vehicle, comprising determining (110), based on a location of a vehicle and digital map data (220), an estimate of at least one vehicle operating condition at one or more future points in time, determining (130), for each of the future points in time, a desired operating temperature for a module of the vehicle based on the associated at least one vehicle operating condition, and controlling (150), in advance of at least one of the future points in time, one or more thermal control means (20) associated with the vehicle to direct an operating temperature of the module to the desired operating temperature at the respective future point in time.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, a computer program, an engine intake system, and a vehicle are provided. The method is for controlling an air charge provided to a vehicular engine. The method comprises determining a target valve lift of an inlet valve in a continuously variable valve lift system based, at least in part, on: a required air charge for a given torque request; and an estimate of a variable pressure of an engine intake manifold for a time when the inlet valve is to be actuated in accordance with the target valve lift. The method also comprises controlling actuation of the inlet valve in the continuously variable valve lift system in accordance with the determined target valve lift.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continually and rapidly adjusting the output torque of an engine according to a torque demand uses an active tappet to vary the instant air charge in a combustion chamber. The invention allows substantially efficient combustion throughout the engine operating map. Various methods of changing the charge of air are disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a speed control system which is configured automatically to attempt to cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value by causing a first vehicle speed value determined according to a first predetermined method to become or be maintained substantially equal to the predetermined target speed value at least in part by causing application of positive drive torque to one or more wheels by means of a powertrain. The speed control system is configured to impose a constraint on the amount of driving torque that may be demanded of the powertrain in dependence on the target speed value and a second vehicle speed value determined according to a second predetermined method. The second predetermined method is based on the mean speed of the driven wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: A motor vehicle controller comprising data processing apparatus, the data processing apparatus configured to carry out the steps of: receiving a surface friction signal indicative of a coefficient of friction between a road wheel and a driving surface; receiving an accelerator position signal indicative of a position of an accelerator control with respect to an allowable range of positions; determining a powertrain torque limit value corresponding to an amount of powertrain torque at which slip of a driving wheel is expected to exceed a predetermined amount, the powertrain torque limit value being determined at least in part in dependence on the surface friction signal; and determining and outputting a powertrain torque demand signal corresponding to an instant amount of torque to be developed by a powertrain, the powertrain torque demand signal being determined in dependence at least in part on the accelerator position signal according to a predetermined relationship.

Abstract: A motor vehicle controller configured to: receive a drive demand signal indicating an amount of net drive to be applied to one or more driving wheels of a vehicle, estimate a value of a parameter indicative of a surface coefficient of friction between one or more driving wheels and a driving surface, and apply a net torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle. The amount of net torque applied is determined in dependence at least in part on the received drive demand signal. The controller is configured to increase an amount of net torque applied to one or more driving wheels independently of the drive demand signal and to update an estimate of the parameter in dependence on a change in speed of the at least one driving wheel when the amount of net torque applied to the at least one driving wheel is increased.

Abstract: A motor vehicle controller that carries out a method which includes: receiving a signal indicative of a surface friction parameter, surface_friction, the surface friction parameter corresponding to a coefficient of friction between a road wheel and a driving surface; receiving a signal indicative of a position of an accelerator control with respect to an allowable range of positions, accel_ctrl_pos; determining a critical powertrain torque limit value PT_TQ_CRIT in dependence at least in part on the value of surface_friction; and providing a traction warning indication to a driver in dependence on the value of accel_ctrl_pos and PT_TQ_CRIT.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, a computer program, an engine intake system, and a vehicle are provided. The method is for controlling an air charge provided to a vehicular engine. The method comprises determining a target valve lift of an inlet valve in a continuously variable valve lift system based, at least in part, on: a required air charge for a given torque request; and an estimate of a variable pressure of an engine intake manifold for a time when the inlet valve is to be actuated in accordance with the target valve lift. The method also comprises controlling actuation of the inlet valve in the continuously variable valve lift system in accordance with the determined target valve lift.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle control system comprising a speed control system, the speed control system being configured automatically to attempt to cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value by causing a first vehicle speed value determined according to a first predetermined method to become or be maintained substantially equal to the predetermined target speed value at least in part by causing application of positive drive torque to one or more wheels by means of a powertrain, wherein the speed control system is configured to impose a constraint on the amount of driving torque that may be demanded of the powertrain in dependence on the target speed value and a second vehicle speed value determined according to a second predetermined method, said a second predetermined method being based on the mean speed of the driven wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continually and rapidly adjusting the output torque of an engine according to a torque demand uses an active tappet to vary the instant air charge in a combustion chamber, so as to modulate engine torque during an automatic change of speed ratio. The invention allows substantially efficient combustion throughout the engine operating map. Various methods of changing the charge of air are disclosed.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle operable to implement a speed control function, the control system comprising: means for receiving a user input of a target speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel; target speed torque determining means for determining an instantaneous value of torque, target speed torque, that should be applied to one or more wheels of the vehicle by a powertrain in order to control the vehicle to travel at the target speed; and filter means operable to filter the value of target speed torque to generate a filtered torque value, the system being operable to command the powertrain to apply to the one or more wheels an amount of torque corresponding to the filtered torque value, wherein the system further comprises modifier means operable to receive the instantaneous value of target speed torque generated by the target speed torque determining means and to input to the filter means a value of torque that is less than the target speed torque in dependence on a current speed of the vehicle

Abstract: A motor vehicle controller configured to: receive a drive demand signal indicating an amount of net drive to be applied to one or more driving wheels of a vehicle, estimate a value of a parameter indicative of a surface coefficient of friction between one or more driving wheels and a driving surface, and apply a net torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle. The amount of net torque applied is determined in dependence at least in part on the received drive demand signal. The controller is configured to increase an amount of net torque applied to one or more driving wheels independently of the drive demand signal and to update an estimate of the parameter in dependence on a change in speed of the at least one driving wheel when the amount of net torque applied to the at least one driving wheel is increased.

Abstract: A motor vehicle controller comprising data processing apparatus, the data processing apparatus configured to carry out the steps of: receiving a surface friction signal indicative of a coefficient of friction between a road wheel and a driving surface; receiving an accelerator position signal indicative of a position of an accelerator control with respect to an allowable range of positions; determining a powertrain torque limit value corresponding to an amount of powertrain torque at which slip of a driving wheel is expected to exceed a predetermined amount, the powertrain torque limit value being determined at least in part in dependence on the surface friction signal; and determining and outputting a powertrain torque demand signal corresponding to an instant amount of torque to be developed by a powertrain, the powertrain torque demand signal being determined in dependence at least in part on the accelerator position signal according to a predetermined relationship.

Abstract: A motor vehicle controller that carries out a method which includes: receiving a signal indicative of a surface friction parameter, surface_friction, the surface friction parameter corresponding to a coefficient of friction between a road wheel and a driving surface; receiving a signal indicative of a position of an accelerator control with respect to an allowable range of positions, accel_ctrl_pos; determining a critical powertrain torque limit value PT_TQ_CRIT in dependence at least in part on the value of surface_friction; and providing a traction warning indication to a driver in dependence on the value of accel_ctrl_pos and PT_TQ_CRIT.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle operable to implement a speed control function, the control system being operable to: receive an input of a target speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel; determine an instantaneous value of a primary target speed torque parameter corresponding to an amount of torque that should be developed at a given position in a powertrain in order to control the vehicle to travel at the target speed; and filter by means of filter means a value of a torque parameter input thereto to generate a filtered torque parameter value, the system being operable to command the powertrain to develop at said position an amount of torque corresponding to the filtered torque parameter value, wherein the system is operable to input to the filter means a secondary target speed torque parameter value determined in dependence on the primary target speed torque parameter value and a current value of filtered torque parameter generated by the filter means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continually and rapidly adjusting the output torque of an engine according to a torque demand uses an active tappet to vary the instant air charge in a combustion chamber. The invention allows substantially efficient combustion throughout the engine operating map. Various methods of changing the charge of air are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of controlling idle speed of a reciprocating piston gasoline engine having inlet poppet valves and active tappets therefor. The method allows the volume of inlet air to be varied so that idle speed can be confined within upper and lower limits with efficient combustion. The active tappets may be electro-hydraulic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continually and rapidly adjusting the output torque of an engine according to a torque demand uses an active tappet to vary the instant air charge in a combustion chamber, so as to modulate engine torque during an automatic change of speed ratio. The invention allows substantially efficient combustion throughout the engine operating map. Various methods of changing the charge of air are disclosed.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle operable to implement a speed control function, the control system being operable to: receive an input of a target speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel; determine an instantaneous value of a primary target speed torque parameter corresponding to an amount of torque that should be developed at a given position in a powertrain in order to control the vehicle to travel at the target speed; and filter by means of filter means a value of a torque parameter input thereto to generate a filtered torque parameter value, the system being operable to command the powertrain to develop at said position an amount of torque corresponding to the filtered torque parameter value, wherein the system is operable to input to the filter means a secondary target speed torque parameter value determined in dependence on the primary target speed torque parameter value and a current value of filtered torque parameter generated by the filter means.