Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) unit including a variable speed compressor, a VRF heat exchanger, and a reversing valve of a vapor compression circuit. In addition, the HVAC system includes an air handling unit (AHU) including an AHU heat exchanger of the vapor compression circuit. Furthermore, the HVAC system includes a housing, wherein the VRF unit and the AHU are disposed within the housing, and wherein the variable speed compressor is configured to circulate a refrigerant through the VRF heat exchanger and the AHU heat exchanger, and the reversing valve is configured to adjust a flow direction of the refrigerant through the vapor compression circuit to adjust operation of the HVAC system between a cooling operation mode and a heating operation mode.

Abstract: A method for detecting an object in the environment of a vehicle by way of an environment detection sensor system arranged on the vehicle, the method including establishing a monitoring region in a detection region of the environment detection sensor system in order to monitor the environment of the vehicle for an object residing in the monitoring region by way of the environment detection sensor system. The method further includes locally determining a measurement deviation for at least one measurement value of the environment detection sensor system in the established monitoring region and locally adjusting a region boundary of the established monitoring region in line with the locally determined measurement deviation in order to monitor the environment of the vehicle for the object residing in the adjusted monitoring region by way of the environment detection sensor system.

Abstract: A system for limiting performance inconsistences of an electric vehicle during a race or other circumstance when consistent, high performance output is desired, such as by enabling a driver to selectively engage endurance and qualify drive modes to control a supply of electrical power used for driving the electric vehicle.

Abstract: A system for mode selective control of an electric vehicle during a race. The system may include a demand controller configured for determining a demand made by a driver during the race to control a propulsion system to propel the vehicle, a battery controller configured for determining a supply of electrical power available from a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) to meet the demand, a temperature controller configured for determining temperature thresholds for the RESS and the propulsion system, and a supply controller configured for controlling use of the supply according to an endurance mode and a qualify mode.

Abstract: A system for limiting performance inconsistences of an electric vehicle during a race or other circumstance when consistent, high performance output is desired, such as by enabling a driver to selectively engage endurance and qualify drive modes to control a supply of electrical power used for driving the electric vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle are described. A trajectory planner module provides a first trajectory to a trajectory control module. The trajectory control module determines parameters of the first trajectory. The trajectory control module compares the parameters to a respective threshold value. The trajectory control module obtains one or more alternative trajectories, determines parameters of each alternative trajectory, and compares the parameters of the alternative trajectory to a respective threshold value. The trajectory control module selects a trajectory for controlling the autonomous vehicle that has parameters which are within a range defined by the threshold values and controls the autonomous vehicle based on the selected trajectory. Thus, before handing back control to a driver, the trajectory control module selects from alternate trajectories for controlling the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle includes: determining whether an autonomous control mode of the autonomous vehicle is active; determining a steering wheel angle bias in response to determining that the autonomous control mode of the autonomous vehicle is active; and controlling, via a steering controller of the autonomous vehicle, an electronic power steering system of the autonomous vehicle using the steering wheel angle bias.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an autonomous vehicle are described. A trajectory planner module provides a first trajectory to a trajectory control module. The trajectory control module determines parameters of the first trajectory. The trajectory control module compares the parameters to a respective threshold value. The trajectory control module obtains one or more alternative trajectories, determines parameters of each alternative trajectory, and compares the parameters of the alternative trajectory to a respective threshold value. The trajectory control module selects a trajectory for controlling the autonomous vehicle that has parameters which are within a range defined by the threshold values and controls the autonomous vehicle based on the selected trajectory. Thus, before handing back control to a driver, the trajectory control module selects from alternate trajectories for controlling the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle includes: determining whether an autonomous control mode of the autonomous vehicle is active; determining a steering wheel angle bias in response to determining that the autonomous control mode of the autonomous vehicle is active; and controlling, via a steering controller of the autonomous vehicle, an electronic power steering system of the autonomous vehicle using the steering wheel angle bias.

Abstract: The present application generally relates to a method and apparatus for driving automation control of a motor vehicle. In particular, the system is operative to determine a vehicle maneuver, such as a lane change, and provide a first kinesthetic cue to a supervisory driver or vehicle occupant indicating the start of a vehicle maneuver. The system and method are then operative to complete the vehicle maneuver and provide a second kinesthetic cue indicating the completion of the vehicle maneuver.

Abstract: The present application generally relates to a method and apparatus for lane changes performed by an assisted driving control system in a motor vehicle. In particular, the system is operative to determine a requirement for a lane change, to determine a first headway between a host vehicle and a lead vehicle and a second headway between the host vehicle and an adjacent vehicle occupying the desired lane. The velocity of the host vehicle is adjusted in response to the first headway and the second headway and the lane change is initiated in response to the second headway exceeding an adequate distance.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes at least one actuator configured to control vehicle steering, shifting, acceleration, or braking, at least one sensor configured to provide signals indicative of road geometry in the vicinity of the vehicle, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the actuator. The controller is configured to selectively control the actuator in an autonomous driving mode based on signals from the sensor. The controller is configured to automatically determine a first time parameter based on a distance to a merge location between a current driving lane of the vehicle and a target lane adjacent the current driving lane in response to signals from the sensor, to automatically determine a second time parameter based on a calculated merge completion time, and to automatically discontinue autonomous control of the actuator based on a difference between the first time parameter and the second time parameter.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an actuator, a sensor, and a controller configured to selectively control the actuator in an autonomous driving mode. The controller is configured to identify an adjacent driving lane proximate a current driving lane based on signals from the sensor. The controller is configured to access a current lane preference value and an adjacent lane preference value from non-transient data memory. The controller is configured to calculate a relative position and relative velocity of a target object external to the vehicle. The controller is configured to calculate a current lane weight value for the current driving lane and an adjacent lane weight value for the adjacent driving lane. The controller is configured to, in response to the adjacent lane weight value exceeding the current lane weight value, automatically control the actuator to perform a lane change maneuver from the current driving lane to the adjacent driving lane.

Abstract: The present application generally relates to a method and apparatus for lane changes performed by an assisted driving control system in a motor vehicle. In particular, the system is operative to determine a requirement for a lane change, to determine a first headway between a host vehicle and a lead vehicle and a second headway between the host vehicle and an adjacent vehicle occupying the desired lane. The velocity of the host vehicle is adjusted in response to the first headway and the second headway and the lane change is initiated in response to the second headway exceeding an adequate distance.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes at least one actuator configured to control vehicle steering, shifting, acceleration, or braking, at least one sensor configured to provide signals indicative of road geometry in the vicinity of the vehicle, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the actuator. The controller is configured to selectively control the actuator in an autonomous driving mode based on signals from the sensor. The controller is configured to automatically determine a first time parameter based on a distance to a merge location between a current driving lane of the vehicle and a target lane adjacent the current driving lane in response to signals from the sensor, to automatically determine a second time parameter based on a calculated merge completion time, and to automatically discontinue autonomous control of the actuator based on a difference between the first time parameter and the second time parameter.

Abstract: The present application generally relates to a method and apparatus for driving automation control of a motor vehicle. In particular, the system is operative to determine a vehicle maneuver, such as a lane change, and provide a first kinesthetic cue to a supervisory driver or vehicle occupant indicating the start of a vehicle maneuver. The system and method are then operative to complete the vehicle maneuver and provide a second kinesthetic cue indicating the completion of the vehicle maneuver.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an internal combustion engine that outputs exhaust gas from a cylinder, and an active thermal management system. The active thermal management system flows coolant around the cylinder thereby varying an exhaust temperature of the exhaust gas. An electronic engine controller controls the internal combustion engine and the active thermal management system. The engine controller generates a control signal to selectively operate the active thermal management system in a normal mode, a thermal increase mode, and a thermal decrease mode. The normal mode flows the coolant at a first coolant temperature. The thermal increase mode flows the coolant at a second coolant temperature greater than the first coolant temperature thereby increasing the exhaust temperature of the exhaust gas. The thermal decrease mode flows the coolant at a third coolant temperature less than the first coolant temperature thereby decreasing the exhaust temperature of the exhaust gas.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining road surface information in a vehicle. In one embodiment, the method includes: determining at least one condition assessment value based on steering data; determining a feature set to include at least one of self-aligning torque (SAT), slip angle, SAT variance, steering rate, and lateral acceleration based on the condition assessment value; processing steering data obtained during a steering maneuver and associated with the feature set using a pattern classification technique; and determining a surface type based on the processing.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an internal combustion engine that outputs exhaust gas from a cylinder, and an active thermal management system. The active thermal management system flows coolant around the cylinder thereby varying an exhaust temperature of the exhaust gas. An electronic engine controller controls the internal combustion engine and the active thermal management system. The engine controller generates a control signal to selectively operate the active thermal management system in a normal mode, a thermal increase mode, and a thermal decrease mode. The normal mode flows the coolant at a first coolant temperature. The thermal increase mode flows the coolant at a second coolant temperature greater than the first coolant temperature thereby increasing the exhaust temperature of the exhaust gas. The thermal decrease mode flows the coolant at a third coolant temperature less than the first coolant temperature thereby decreasing the exhaust temperature of the exhaust gas.

Abstract: An active thermal management system for a vehicle and a method of operating the system are provided. The active thermal management system may include, but is not limited to, an exhaust gas temperature sensor, an engine metal temperature sensor, an engine coolant output temperature sensor, an engine oil temperature sensor, a cooling system, and a controller, the controller configured to determine when the vehicle is in a tow/haul mode, operate the cooling system when at least one of the temperature of the exhaust gas, the engine metal, the coolant output from the engine and the temperature of the engine oil is greater than a predetermined temperature, and operate the cooling system to bypass a radiator when all of the temperature of the exhaust gas, the engine metal, the temperature of the coolant, and the temperature of the engine oil is lower than a predetermined low temperature.