Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heating a cabin of a vehicle using an alternator of the vehicle. In one example, a method may include operating in a first operating mode to heat a cabin of a vehicle, the first operating mode including shorting an alternator output of an alternator of the vehicle to ground, and closing a coolant valve positioned between a coolant system of an engine of the vehicle and an alternator coolant circuit.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing errors in estimated fuel rail pressure incurred at the time of a scheduled injection event due to engine-driven cyclic fuel rail pressure changes. In one example, a pulse-width commanded during a scheduled injection event is determined as a function fuel rail pressure samples collected over a moving window that is customized for the corresponding fuel injector. In another example, the commanded pulse-width is determined as a function of an average fuel rail pressure sampled during a quiet zone of injector operation and predicted fuel rail pressure altering events occurring between the quiet zone and the scheduled injection event.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for mitigating reverse vehicle rollback. In one example, in response to a request to shift a transmission from reverse to forward when vehicle speed is elevated, vehicle brakes are applied and the actual transmission shift is delayed until the vehicle motion in the reverse direction is sufficiently decelerated. Additionally, the engine may be stalled and restarted before the transmission shift is performed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a hybrid electric vehicle. In one example, a method may include delaying an electric-only operation of the hybrid vehicle in response to a powertrain temperature being less than a threshold powertrain temperature and an electric-only range being less than a distance between a current location and a recharging location. The electric-only operation may be initiated in response to one or more of the powertrain temperature exceeding the threshold powertrain temperature and the electric-only range being equal to the distance.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling power generation in a vehicle. In one example, the vehicle includes a controller coupled to an auxiliary device through a communication link, the auxiliary device drawing power from a generator at a power interface. Power supplied to the auxiliary device is regulated by the controller through signals transmitted over the communication link.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an aspirator shut-off valve in an engine of a hybrid vehicle. One example method includes opening the aspirator shut-off valve following a shut-down command to the engine when engine speed is between a first engine speed and a second engine speed, the first engine speed being lower than an idle speed and the second engine speed occurring before an imminent engine stop. The example method further includes not opening the aspirator shut-off valve between the first engine speed and the second engine speed if an oxygen content of an emission control device is at or near a threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing engine compression torque when an engine having a split exhaust system is spun unfueled. In one example, a method may include maintaining closed a blowdown exhaust valve of a cylinder, the blowdown exhaust valve coupled to a first exhaust manifold that directs gases from the cylinder to a catalyst, and opening a scavenge exhaust valve of the cylinder, the scavenge exhaust valve coupled to a second exhaust manifold that directs gases from the cylinder to an exhaust gas recirculation system. In this way, compression of gases within they cylinder is reduced while gas flow to the catalyst is prevented.

Abstract: A system includes a microphone mounted inside a vehicle, a speaker mounted outside a passenger cabin of the vehicle and directed outside the vehicle, a camera with a field of view encompassing a seat in the passenger cabin of the vehicle, and a computer in communication with the microphone, speaker, and camera. The computer is programmed to, in response to data from the camera indicating a gesture by an occupant of the seat, activate the speaker to broadcast based on data transmitted by the microphone; and prevent the speaker from activating in response to data indicating that a biometric characteristic of a pedestrian outside the vehicle either matches a stored biometric characteristic or fails to match any of a plurality of stored biometric characteristics.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing a potential for release of undesired evaporative emissions to atmosphere for vehicles that rely primarily on an electric-only mode of operation for vehicle propulsion. In one example, a method may include in response to a vehicle-on request via a driver of a vehicle, maintaining off a fuel pump that supplies a fuel to a set of port fuel injectors, and re-pressurizing the set of port fuel injectors via operation of the fuel pump based on a predicted engine-start request during a drive cycle following the vehicle-on request. In this way, escape of fuel from pressurized port fuel injectors may be reduced or avoided during engine-off conditions, which may reduce opportunity for release of undesired evaporative emissions to atmosphere.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for injector correction learned while a direct injector delivers fuel as a group of fuel injections per cylinder event. The correction is learned using a pressure based injector balancing approach while relies on a sensed pressure drop across the group of fuel injections. Errors for individual pulses of the group of injections is learned as a function of inter-injection spacing and individual pulse-width commands.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes one or more fuel injectors are described. The systems and methods may characterize fuel injector operation during a time when injecting fuel may be useful to maintain balance of a catalyst to reduce engine emissions. Further, large or small amounts of fuel may be injected without affecting engine combustion.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust catalyst heating strategy that uses spark retard to increase an amount of heat output by an engine without a combustion stability limit. In one example, a method may include, during an engine cold start, applying an ignition spark at a timing that produces substantially zero combustion torque while maintaining an engine speed greater than a threshold speed via electric motor torque. Furthermore, an amount of heat output by the engine may be controlled by adjusting an airflow through the engine, such as by adjusting one or more of a throttle position and the engine speed.

Abstract: A method for controlling a climate control system is disclosed. In one example, the climate control system includes adjusting an air mixing valve state and adjusting a displacement of a compressor in response to an energy conversion device load. The method may provide improved climate control in a vehicle cabin during high energy conversion device load conditions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling fuel injection to cylinders of an engine in a vehicle. In one example, a method comprises monitoring an electrical energy profile associated with a fuel injector that has been commanded to inject a predetermined amount of a fuel into an engine cylinder, inferring a fuel injection pressure based on the electrical energy profile, and controlling a subsequent fuel injection based on the inferred fuel injection pressure. In this way, fuel injection may be controlled without relying on a pressure sensor in a fuel rail that supplies fuel to the fuel injector, under conditions where the fuel rail does not include the pressure sensor or where the pressure sensor is degraded.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle adapted to be operated based on fuel combustion or electric power. In one example, an accessory train of the vehicle, including an air conditioning pump and a power steering pump, may be operated according to a first mode or according to a second mode based on a power system of the vehicle. When in the second mode, the vehicle may be instructed to coordinate operation of the air conditioning pump and the power steering pump.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a fuel level of a fuel tank. In one example, a method may include transiently powering a fuel level sensor responsive to a fuel tank refilling event to obtain a fuel level measurement, maintaining the fuel level sensor unpowered after obtaining the fuel level measurement, and, while maintaining the fuel level sensor unpowered, inferring the fuel level based the obtained fuel tank fuel level measurement and an amount of fuel consumed since the obtained fuel level measurement. In this way, electrical power consumption by the fuel level sensor is reduced while a fuel level indication is provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling operation of an engine of a vehicle to supply power to a power box that in turn supplies power to loads external to the vehicle. In one example, a method comprises, responsive to a request by an operator to operate an engine to power one or more loads external to the vehicle, monitoring an engine temperature and issuing an alert requesting the operator to take mitigating action to reduce the engine temperature when the engine temperature reaches a threshold temperature, and controlling a cooling fan as a function of whether or not the mitigating action is taken. In this way, fuel economy may be improved and power supply to power external loads may be optimized.

Abstract: A vehicle system is disclosed herein. The system includes a hitch ball mounted on a vehicle. A controller is configured to identify a coupler position of a trailer and control motion of the vehicle to an aligned position, wherein the hitch ball is aligned with the coupler position. The controller is further configured to initiate a vehicle agitation routine after the vehicle has reached the aligned position.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing errors in estimated fuel rail pressure incurred at the time of a scheduled injection event due to engine-driven cyclic fuel rail pressure changes. In one example, a pulse-width commanded during a scheduled injection event is determined as a function fuel rail pressure samples collected over a moving window that is customized for the corresponding fuel injector. In another example, the commanded pulse-width is determined as a function of an average fuel rail pressure sampled during a quiet zone of injector operation and predicted fuel rail pressure altering events occurring between the quiet zone and the scheduled injection event.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing errors in estimated fuel rail pressure incurred at the time of a scheduled injection event due to engine-driven cyclic fuel rail pressure changes. In one example, a pulse-width commanded during a scheduled injection event is determined as a function fuel rail pressure samples collected over a moving window that is customized for the corresponding fuel injector. In another example, the commanded pulse-width is determined as a function of an average fuel rail pressure sampled during a quiet zone of injector operation and predicted fuel rail pressure altering events occurring between the quiet zone and the scheduled injection event.