Abstract: System and methods for an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, the internal combustion engine includes one or more engine cylinders having igniters that include a pre-chamber. One or more of the engine cylinders may be operated in a skip-fire mode if a cylinder misfires or if the internal combustion engine is cold started.

Abstract: A vehicle control system for reducing turn radius of a vehicle may include a speed sensor to determine a vehicle speed, a steering angle sensor to determine turn angle, and a controller operably coupled to the speed sensor and the steering angle sensor to determine a tight turn event based on the vehicle speed and the turn angle, responsive to the tight turn event, determine driving surface information for a surface on which the vehicle is operating, and set a target speed for an inside rear wheel of the vehicle during a turn causing the determination of the tight turn event based on the driving surface information.

Abstract: System and methods for an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, the internal combustion engine may be a boosted internal combustion engine that includes an igniter that is at least partially positioned in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine. The igniter includes an orifice that is configured to release exhaust from a pre-chamber of the igniter.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting canister purge flow based on robustness conditions of pre-chamber ignition of an engine at non-steady state operating conditions wherein robustness conditions comprise operating conditions wherein the engine operates at air to fuel ratios that are under or exceed stoichiometric ratios and canister purge flow is adjusted proportionally based on a degree of robustness of the robustness conditions. Further methods are provided for adjusting canister purge flow based on robustness conditions of pre-chamber ignition of the engine at steady state operating conditions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for improving operation of an engine that includes an evaporative emissions system. In one example, the methods and systems adjust an amount of fuel that is delivered to a pre-chamber of an igniter in response to purging fuel vapors and/or an indication of hydrocarbon breakthrough of a carbon filled fuel vapor storage canister.

Abstract: A method and a system for adjusting a base idle speed of an engine are described. In one example, the method reduces engine speed according to output of a sensor that senses mechanical vibrations. Once a vibration level exceeds a threshold, engine speed reduction ceases and the base engine idle speed is adjusted according to a present engine speed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing emissions during an engine cold start. In one example, a method may include, during emission control device heating, injecting heated air into an exhaust runner of each cylinder of the engine during an exhaust stroke of the corresponding cylinder, after a blowdown exhaust pulse. In this way, an amount of hydrocarbons in feedgas provided to the emission control device prior to the emission control device reaching its light-off temperature may be reduced.

Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for lifting drones to a desired height before launching. In one exemplary embodiment, a drone elevator system includes a looped cable that is engaged to a pair of pulleys. A first pulley of the pair of pulleys is coupled to a lighter-than-air craft and the second pulley is attached to a motor. The lighter-than-air craft moves upwards so as to raise the first pulley skywards and place the looped cable at an angle with respect to the ground. The motor is then operated to rotate the second pulley for moving the looped cable. The cable includes a set of tethers each of which is used to tether a drone. Each tether includes an extension arm that prevents the tethered drone from making contact with the cable when being lifted. Each tethered drone can be launched after being lifted to a desired height.

Abstract: A method and a system for adjusting a base idle speed of an engine are described. In one example, the method reduces engine speed according to output of a sensor that senses mechanical vibrations. Once a vibration level exceeds a threshold, engine speed reduction ceases and the base engine idle speed is adjusted according to a present engine speed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for stopping an engine of a vehicle are described. In one example, the method anticipates when an engine is expected to stop and modifies engine operation so that less fuel is in the engine's intake ports when the engine is stopped so that the fuel may not escape the engine when the engine is restarted.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine, including an engine cylinder coupled to a cylinder head, and a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber includes a first end proximal to the cylinder head, a spark gap, and pre-chamber walls enclosing an internal volume including a dead volume. The dead volume includes all of the internal volume positioned between the first end and the spark gap. A moveable element is positioned in the internal volume and fluidly coupled to the dead volume, wherein moving the moveable element changes a ratio of the dead volume to the internal volume. In this way, combustion conditions may be enhanced at a plurality of engine conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a vehicle elevation height for launching an unmanned aerial vehicle may include performing a quantitative balancing analysis using baseline factors, establishing optimal values for operational goals of a vehicle based on the quantitative balancing analysis, determining a vehicle elevation height that achieves the established optimal values for the operational goals of the vehicle by evaluating vehicle delivery parameters using normalized values, and initiating on a winch system elevation of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the determined vehicle elevation height for launching.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a pre-chamber. In one example, the pre-chamber includes a moveable element configured to adjust an orifice opening area of the pre-chamber in response to conditions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing emissions during an engine cold start. In one example, a method may include, during emission control device heating, injecting heated air into an exhaust runner of each cylinder of the engine during an exhaust stroke of the corresponding cylinder, after a blowdown exhaust pulse. In this way, an amount of hydrocarbons in feedgas provided to the emission control device prior to the emission control device reaching its light-off temperature may be reduced.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a pre-chamber. In one example, the pre-chamber includes a moveable element configured to adjust an orifice opening area of the pre-chamber in response to conditions.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing the light-off of a 3-way catalytic converter that is located in an exhaust line of a petrol engine having a plurality of cylinders with each cylinder having at least one exhaust valve. The method includes calculating a value of enthalpy of exhaust gases to make it possible to determine a quantity of heat supplied to the three-way catalyst, determining a threshold enthalpy value signaling the light-off of the catalyst, and stopping of activation of the three-way catalyst upon determining the value of the enthalpy that was calculated has reached the threshold enthalpy value.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a variable volume pre-chamber igniter, which may be coupled in an engine system. In one example, a system may include a pre-chamber igniter coupled to a cylinder of an engine, the pre-chamber igniter including a movable cap enclosing an internal volume of the pre-chamber igniter and separating the internal volume of the pre-chamber igniter from an internal volume of the cylinder. By adjusting a position of the cap, the internal volume of the pre-chamber igniter may be adjusted to provide reliable ignition to the cylinder across a wide range of operating conditions.

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: Systems and methods are provided for a variable volume pre-chamber igniter, which may be coupled in an engine system. In one example, a method may include adjusting an internal volume of a pre-chamber igniter based on operating conditions by adjusting a position of a cap of the pre-chamber igniter, the pre-chamber igniter including a plurality of orifices fluidically coupling the pre-chamber igniter to a main combustion chamber of a cylinder of an engine. By adjusting a position of the cap, the internal volume of the pre-chamber igniter may be increased or decreased to provide reliable ignition to the cylinder across a wide range of operating conditions.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing the light-off of a 3-way catalytic converter that is located in an exhaust line of a petrol engine having a plurality of cylinders with each cylinder having at least one exhaust valve. The method includes calculating a value of enthalpy of exhaust gases to make it possible to determine a quantity of heat supplied to the three-way catalyst, determining a threshold enthalpy value signaling the light-off of the catalyst, and stopping of activation of the three-way catalyst upon determining the value of the enthalpy that was calculated has reached the threshold enthalpy value.