Abstract: Asphalt binders and related methods and uses are provided. In some embodiments, the asphalt binder is produced by: providing a high-asphaltene content petroleum feedstock; performing solvent deasphalting on the feedstock to produce a partially deasphalted oil and an asphaltene-rich residue; and collecting the partially deasphalted oil (DAO). The high-asphaltene content petroleum feedstock may comprise residue from vacuum distillation or flash separation of extra heavy oil or bitumen, or recycled asphalt. The DAO may itself be used as the asphalt binder or may be a component of a blend with the original feedstock. Asphalt binders may also be produced by blending residue and heavy distillate produced from vacuum distillation or flash separation, with DAO or the asphaltene-rich residue of the solvent deasphalting process. The disclosed methods allow for production of asphalt binders of a wide variety of performance grades.

Abstract: A method of continuously determining a measure of quality for a control device of a technical device or for a system model of a technical system, from an input variable and an output variable. Time series of the input variable and the output variable are acquired up to a time step. A discrete ARMAX model structure is adapted for the ascertained, corresponding time series of the input variable and output variable, in order to determine a first set of parameters for modeling the time series of the input variable and a second set of parameters for modeling the time series of the output variable. The measure of quality is determined for the time step as a function of the first and the second set of parameters.

Abstract: A method of continuously determining a measure of quality for a control device of a technical device or for a system model of a technical system, from an input variable and an output variable. Time series of the input variable and the output variable are acquired up to a time step. A discrete ARMAX model structure is adapted for the ascertained, corresponding time series of the input variable and output variable, in order to determine a first set of parameters for modeling the time series of the input variable and a second set of parameters for modeling the time series of the output variable. The measure of quality is determined for the time step as a function of the first and the second set of parameters.

Abstract: Methods and systems for hierarchy detection for block diagrams. One system includes an electronic processor configured to access a block diagram. The electronic processor is also configured to identify a set of connected components in the block diagram. The electronic processor is also configured to convert a first connected component included in the set of connected components into a directed acyclic graph (DAG). The electronic processor is also configured to determine a set of candidate hierarchies included in the DAG. The electronic processor is also configured to verify the set of candidate hierarchies. The electronic processor is also configured to generate a displayable hierarchical block diagram based on the verified set of candidate hierarchies.

Abstract: A method for parameterizing a functional software of a vehicle, including: receiving information about a vehicle state, transmitting the information about the vehicle state via a communication interface addressed to a remote processing unit outside the vehicle, and receiving, at the local processing unit in the vehicle, information about at least one parameter for influencing the vehicle behavior, which was transmitted by the remote processing unit outside the vehicle, via the communication interface.

Abstract: A method for parameterizing a functional software of a vehicle, including: receiving information about a vehicle state, transmitting the information about the vehicle state via a communication interface addressed to a remote processing unit outside the vehicle, and receiving, at the local processing unit in the vehicle, information about at least one parameter for influencing the vehicle behavior, which was transmitted by the remote processing unit outside the vehicle, via the communication interface.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a malfunction of a sensor system in an air system of an internal combustion engine, said sensor system comprising a first air state sensor, a second air state sensor and a third air state sensor, wherein a first value and a second value of a first comparison variable are ascertained in two different ways in an overall calculation step such that the result of a comparison between the first value and the second value is a function of each of the output variables of the first, second and third air state sensors and wherein in a fault detection step, said method recognizes as a function of the comparison between said first value and said second value of the comparison variable that a fault exists in the sensor system.

Abstract: A method for processing sensor signals in a control unit of a motor vehicle and a control unit for carrying out the method. The control unit is provided for the open-loop and/or closed-loop control of a system and acquires signals from this system. The system is modeled with the aid of a model, at least one value being ascertained for a slow signal based on the model.

Abstract: A method for monitoring at least one part of an internal combustion engine based on a variable whose values characterize the operation of the part of the internal combustion engine during different states of the internal combustion engine, including: determining an actual pattern with the actual values of the variable during different states of the internal combustion engine which describe the actual operation of the internal combustion engine; providing a reference pattern for a known operation of the internal combustion engine, the reference pattern including reference values of the variable for different states of the internal combustion engine; and comparing the actual pattern to the reference pattern to determine a similarity between the actual operation and the known operation.

Abstract: A method for checking a functional capability of a pitot mass flow sensor for measuring a mass flow of an inflowing gas in an engine system having an internal combustion engine, includes: measuring, as partial measured variables, a dynamic pressure that corresponds to a pitot pressure of a pitot tube of the pitot mass flow sensor; an absolute pressure; and a temperature of the inflowing gas; determining a diagnostic value depending on the partial measured variables and on a mass flow in the internal combustion engine; and ascertaining a functional capability of the pitot mass flow sensor depending on whether the diagnostic value indicates that a mathematical relationship between the partial measured variables corresponds to a predefined relationship.

Abstract: A method for determining a modeling value of a physical variable in a gas guiding section of an engine system including an internal combustion engine, includes the following steps: operating the engine system in such a way that an air mass flow is present in the gas guiding section; determining instantaneous values of other physical variables; and determining the modeling value of the physical variable by solving a differential equation, which results as the discretization of a differential equation, with the aid of the previously ascertained instantaneous values of the other physical variables.

Abstract: In a method for determining a low pressure exhaust gas recirculation mass flow {dot over (m)}Opt in the air system of an internal combustion engine (10) with low pressure exhaust gas recirculation, the determination of the low pressure exhaust gas recirculation mass flow {dot over (m)}Opt involves a preliminary low pressure exhaust gas recirculation mass flow {dot over (m)}EGRLPDs which is determined from a function involving, in particular, the pressure p42 upstream and the pressure p12 downstream of a low pressure side exhaust gas recirculation valve EGRVIvLP (29), the temperature TEGRVIvPUs downstream of the low pressure side exhaust gas recirculation valve (29), and the geometry arEGRVIvLP of the low pressure side exhaust gas recirculation valve (29). According to the invention, at least one mass balance based variable is also considered in the determination of the low pressure exhaust gas recirculation mass flow {dot over (m)}Opt.

Abstract: A method for operating a boost pressure control in an engine system having a supercharged internal combustion engine, including the following: performing a boost pressure control based on a setpoint controller variable and an actual controller variable, ascertaining a setpoint controller variable from a provided setpoint boost pressure with a first and a second model, ascertaining an intermediate variable from a provided actual boost pressure with the first model, correcting the intermediate variable with a provided dynamic variable, which represents a dynamic change in the state of the engine system using a higher dynamics than the actual boost pressure, and ascertaining the actual controller variable from the corrected intermediate variable with the second model.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a blowoff valve in an engine system having a supercharged internal combustion engine, the blowoff valve being situated in a blowoff line around a compressor of a supercharging device, by performing the following: detecting a compressor rotational speed indication of the supercharging device; and determining a malfunction of the blowoff valve if the compressor rotational speed indication includes an oscillation after the blowoff valve is activated for opening the blowoff valve.

Abstract: A method for testing a supercharger actuator for a supercharger of a supercharged internal combustion engine, including adjusting the supercharger actuator from a first position to a second position, determining a rotational speed change information, which is a function of the change of the rotational speed of the supercharger resulting from the adjustment, and establishing a malfunction of the supercharger actuator as a function of the rotational speed change information.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing an actuator for a boost pressure system of an internal combustion engine, in which the actuator is controlled using a triggering signal, and a state variable of the boost pressure system which is at least an indirect function of the triggering signal is detected. The triggering signal is periodic, and a curve of the values of the state variable is analyzed with regard to at least one periodic characteristic.

Abstract: A drive system for a motor vehicle, having an internal combustion engine, an air and exhaust gas system, which includes at least one throttle, an exhaust gas recirculation system, which is in fluidic connection with the air and exhaust gas system at two connecting points, and a measuring device, which is designed to detect an atmospheric pressure, to detect a gas pressure at a measuring point within the air and exhaust gas system, and to ascertain a differential pressure as a function of the gas pressure and the atmospheric pressure, the measuring point being fluidically situated between the throttle and the internal combustion engine and in a region of one of the connecting points.

Abstract: A method for testing a supercharger actuator for a supercharger of a supercharged internal combustion engine, including adjusting the supercharger actuator from a first position to a second position, determining a rotational speed change information, which is a function of the change of the rotational speed of the supercharger resulting from the adjustment, and establishing a malfunction of the supercharger actuator as a function of the rotational speed change information.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a blowoff valve in an engine system having a supercharged internal combustion engine, the blowoff valve being situated in a blowoff line around a compressor of a supercharging device, by performing the following: detecting a compressor rotational speed indication of the supercharging device; and determining a malfunction of the blowoff valve if the compressor rotational speed indication includes an oscillation after the blowoff valve is activated for opening the blowoff valve.

Abstract: A method for determining a modeling value of a physical variable in a gas guiding section of an engine system including an internal combustion engine, includes the following steps: operating the engine system in such a way that an air mass flow is present in the gas guiding section; determining instantaneous values of other physical variables; and determining the modeling value of the physical variable by solving a differential equation, which results as the discretization of a differential equation, with the aid of the previously ascertained instantaneous values of the other physical variables.