Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain system and a traffic sensing system. Power flow in the vehicle is managed by determining a present location and a trajectory of the vehicle, and determining traffic level information based on the present location and trajectory. A speed profile for the vehicle is predicted based upon the traffic level information of the vehicle and the powertrain is operated to manage power flow in the vehicle based upon on the predicted speed profile.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain system having a non-combustion tractive power generating device and a positioning system. A method of managing power flow in the vehicle includes determining a present location and a trajectory of the vehicle, and determining a probability of vehicle braking at a predetermined location within the trajectory of the vehicle. The non-combustion tractive power generating device is operated to manage power flow in the vehicle based upon the probability of vehicle braking at the predetermined location.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle includes estimating expected states and probable ranges for influence factors associated with stochastic parameters over a time horizon. A preferred control state and a candidate control state for an objective function are determined. The objective function is controlled using the preferred control state for the objective function over the time horizon.

Abstract: A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle utilizing analysis of a plurality of images generated by a camera device located upon the vehicle includes monitoring the images wherein each image comprises a plurality of pixels, utilizing a texture-less processing scheme to analyze the images including filtering the image to separate portions of the image indicating a clear surface upon which a potential road surface can be estimated from other portions of the image that do not indicate a potential road surface. The clear path is determined based upon the clear surface and the clear path is utilized to operate the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle utilizing analysis of a plurality of images generated by a camera device located upon the vehicle includes monitoring the images wherein each image comprises a plurality of pixels, identifying a set of interest points from the plurality of pixels in a current image, finding their corresponding points in a preceding image through correspondence matching, filtering the matched pairs of interest points to select a preferential set of matched pairs, generating a three dimensional map of features in the view based upon the preferential set of matched pairs, determining the clear path based upon the mapped features, and utilizing the clear path to operate the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for improving energy efficient operation of a vehicle includes monitoring vehicle operating characteristics, modeling operation of the vehicle by utilizing the vehicle operating characteristics to estimate energy consumption rates of the vehicle across an allowable vehicle operating range, and generating a control output to the vehicle on the basis of the energy consumption rates.

Abstract: An apparatus for the recovery of energy from regenerative braking events in a vehicle is provided. A braking system is configured to selectively transmit energy from a wheel to the compressor of a heat pump/refrigerant loop. The apparatus may store recovered energy in the heat capacity of a coolant fluid to assist powertrain heating or cooling.

Abstract: A cable adapted for use as an actuator, adaptive structural member, or damper, includes a plurality of longitudinally inter-engaged and cooperatively functioning shape memory alloy wires.

Abstract: An engine misfire system comprises a rough road detection module and a misfire detection module. The rough road detection module selectively generates a rough road indicator based upon a transmission output speed of a vehicle. The misfire detection module selectively diagnoses engine misfire and selectively generates a misfire indicator based on diagnosed engine misfire and the rough road indicator.

Abstract: An adaptive battery estimation control system includes a fixed and adaptive battery estimators effective for a battery parameter estimations across a wide range of dynamic battery operational conditions.

Abstract: A method for controlling regeneration of a lean NOx trap includes estimating an accumulated NOx in the lean NOx trap; determining whether the estimated NOx exceeds a first threshold value or a second threshold value; estimating the temperature of the lean NOx trap; determining whether the estimated temperature exceeds a threshold temperature; determining a desired air-fuel ratio for initiating a regeneration event, the desired air-fuel ratio being determined based upon the estimated NOx and the estimated temperature of the lean NOx trap; hastening the occurrence of a regeneration event when the estimated NOx exceeds the first threshold value through active control of engine operating regimes; and initiating a regeneration event when the estimated NOx exceeds the second threshold value or when the estimated temperature exceeds the threshold temperature by forcing homogenous operation of the engine at the desired air-fuel ratio.

Abstract: A method for controlling regeneration of a lean NOx trap includes estimating an accumulated NOx in the lean NOx trap; determining whether the estimated NOx exceeds a first threshold value or a second threshold value; estimating the temperature of the lean NOx trap; determining whether the estimated temperature exceeds a threshold temperature; determining a desired air-fuel ratio for initiating a regeneration event, the desired air-fuel ratio being determined based upon the estimated NOx and the estimated temperature of the lean NOx trap; hastening the occurrence of a regeneration event when the estimated NOx exceeds the first threshold value through active control of engine operating regimes; and initiating a regeneration event when the estimated NOx exceeds the second threshold value or when the estimated temperature exceeds the threshold temperature by forcing homogenous operation of the engine at the desired air-fuel ratio.

Abstract: A method and system providing coordinated torque control and speed control of a vehicle equipped with individual wheel motors, a steering system, and yaw-rate detection to achieve a desired yaw moment for the vehicle, based upon operator input and vehicle operation, is described. This includes determining a commanded steering angle, and a yaw-rate error, based upon the commanded steering angle and detected yaw-rate. A desired wheel motor yaw torque moment is calculated. First and second torque moments are calculated for inner and outer motored wheels, based upon the desired wheel motor yaw torque moment. First and second ideal wheel speeds are calculated for the inner and outer motored wheels, based upon the commanded steering angle. Torque and speed at each inner motored wheel and each outer motored wheel are calculated, based upon the yaw-rate error, the first and second torque moments, and the first and second ideal wheel speeds.

Abstract: A vehicle braking system has two driver-operable input devices. The vehicle braking system is sufficiently configured such that one of the driver-operable input devices is effective in causing resistance to the rotation of at least one wheel only when a predetermined condition exists, and the other driver-operable input device is effective independent of the predetermined condition.

Abstract: A rough road detection system for an engine having a crankshaft includes a control module and a comparison module. The control module receives a crankshaft speed signal and determines a crankshaft rotation time and a crankshaft acceleration and jerk. The crankshaft rotation time is based on said crankshaft speed signal. The crankshaft acceleration and jerk are based on said crankshaft rotation time. The control module detects a crankshaft disturbance based on said crankshaft acceleration and jerk and counts a number of crankshaft disturbances. The comparison module determines a dispersion value and asymmetry value based on the crankshaft disturbances and determined whether rough road conditions exist based on first and second comparisons. The first comparison is between the dispersion value and a first predetermined threshold. The second comparison is between the asymmetry value and a second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A control system for warning a following vehicle of a potential collision with a leading vehicle. The leading vehicle includes a detection system for detecting the presence and velocity of the following vehicle. The control system determines a desired distance between the leading vehicle and the following vehicle based on the speed of the leading vehicle. The control system subtracts the desired distance from the actual distance to generate a distance error signal, and compares the distance error signal to a threshold. If the error signal is greater than the threshold, the control system may provide one or more operations, such as flashing hazard lights to warn the following vehicle, or taking other course of action in the event of an imminent collision, such as pre-tensioning seat belts and closing windows of the leading vehicle.

Abstract: A control system and method for use in vehicles, such as automotive vehicles. The control system and method is particularly adapted for use in vehicles having by-wire control systems. The control system uses three system controllers. Each of the controllers is adapted to receive redundant control inputs from at least one input device, such as a steering actuator, an accelerator actuator and a brake actuator. Each controller is adapted to receive a different unprocessed actuator sensor signal and a processed actuator sensor signal which are associated with the input device. Each controller may also be adapted to receive a sensor status signal which is also associated with the input device. In accordance with the method of the invention, these signals may be used to determine a sensor signal which may be used as the basis for control of control systems or components in response to the input device.

Abstract: A rough road detection system includes a collection module, a statistical module, and a comparison module. The collection module collects samples from a vibration sensitive signal. The statistical module removes a periodic anomaly from the samples and removes a random anomaly from the samples with a filter having a filter coefficient based on an engine speed signal. In addition, the statistical module calculates a statistical signal based on the samples. The rough road detection system also includes a derivative module that calculates a first and second derivative based on a rate or time. The derivative module removes negative derivatives when the derivatives are calculated with respect to the rate and positive derivatives when the derivatives are calculated with respect to time. The comparison module determines whether a rough road condition exists based on the statistical signal or the first and second derivatives.

Abstract: A torque compensation method for controlling a direct-injection gasoline engine during regeneration of a lean NOx trap disposed in an exhaust path of the engine determines a desired torque in accordance with driver demands, cruise control settings or idle control. An estimate of torque loss attributable to stratified to homogeneous transitioning to effect the regeneration is determined and a compensating control torque to the engine is provided in an amount sufficient to compensate for the estimated decrease in engine torque to thereby maintain the desired torque level during the lean NOx trap regeneration.

Abstract: A method for controlling a direct-injection gasoline engine during regeneration of a lean NOx trap disposed in an exhaust path of the engine includes determining the current air-fuel ratio and comparing the current air-fuel ratio to a lean limit air-fuel ratio. Transitions from lean stratified engine operation to rich homogenous engine operation are delayed until the current air-fuel ratio reaches the lean limit air-fuel ratio.