Abstract: One embodiment is a method of operating an electronic control system (ECS) to control an engine to propel a vehicle. The method comprises receiving a throttle command, determining an operation to increase engine cycle efficiency by reducing engine torque below a magnitude corresponding to the throttle command and below a torque curve limit over a first vehicle operation segment and permitting an increase in engine torque above the torque curve limit over a second vehicle operation segment, controlling the engine to output torque below the magnitude corresponding to the throttle command and below the torque curve limit over the first vehicle operation segment, and controlling the engine to output torque above the torque curve limit over the second vehicle operation segment in response to a second received throttle command and constrained by an extended limit on operation of the engine above the torque curve limit.

Abstract: One embodiment is a system comprising an engine structured to output torque to an accessory drive, a rotary load structured to be selectably driven by the accessory drive, and an electronic control system. The electronic control system is operable to selectably engage and disengage the rotary load effective to vary the load on the engine, monitor engine load values in coordination with engagement of the rotary load, store a data set comprising the monitored engine load values in association with values of one or more associated system conditions in a non-transitory memory medium, update a mathematical model of the system stored in the non-transitory memory medium in response to the engine load values to converge one or more model parameters, diagnose or prognosticate a failure state of the rotary load in response to a change in the one or more model parameters, and output a perceptible diagnostic indication of the failure state in response to the diagnosis or prognostication.

Abstract: A system for establishing a torque limit for a vehicle is provided. The system uses impending terrain and speed conditions to determine an optimum torque, which improves engine efficiency and reduces fuel consumption.

Abstract: A method, an optimization controller, and combustion engine are disclosed. The method includes determining, by an optimization controller, values of a performance parameter of a target vehicle using characteristics of at least two platoons travelling on a roadway, each of the values corresponding to a platoon of the at least two platoons; selecting, by the optimization controller, one of the at least two platoons based on a comparison of the values of the performance parameter, and coordinating, by the optimization controller, for the target vehicle to join the selected of the at least two platoons.

Abstract: Hybrid power systems include an internal combustion engine and a motor/generator connectable with the engine. A reefer unit is configured to receive power from the motor/generator via a reefer power system that includes an export power inverter and an energy storage device.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed that include an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders operable by a valve actuation mechanism that opens and closes the intake and exhaust valves during nominal engine operations. In response to engine operations indicating a cylinder deactivation condition, one or more the cylinders is selected for deactivation and operated by combusting an amount of fuel that is effective to limit air flow through the deactivated cylinder(s) so that the air flow and combusted fuel amount are less than during nominal cylinder operations.

Abstract: One embodiment is a system comprising an engine structured to output torque to an accessory drive, a rotary load structured to be selectably driven by the accessory drive, and an electronic control system. The electronic control system is operable to selectably engage and disengage the rotary load effective to vary the load on the engine, monitor engine load values in coordination with engagement of the rotary load, store a data set comprising the monitored engine load values in association with values of one or more associated system conditions in a non-transitory memory medium, update a mathematical model of the system stored in the non-transitory memory medium in response to the engine load values to converge one or more model parameters, diagnose or prognosticate a failure state of the rotary load in response to a change in the one or more model parameters, and output a perceptible diagnostic indication of the failure state in response to the diagnosis or prognostication.

Abstract: The systems, methods, and apparatuses provided herein disclose interpreting a performance criteria for a vehicle, wherein the performance criteria is indicative of a desired operating parameter for the vehicle; interpreting a good driver definition value indicative of a good driver profile for the interpreted performance criteria; determining a performance value indicative of how an operator of the vehicle is performing with respect to the good driver definition value; and in response to the performance value indicating that the vehicle is not satisfying the performance criteria, managing an actuator output response value for at least one actuator in the vehicle to facilitate achievement of the good driver definition value.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, methods, and techniques relating to engine start/stop functionality are disclosed. Automatic engine start/stop controls can be disabled during engine operating conditions in which one or more combustion parameters indicate a lack of combustion stability in one or more cylinders of the engine. Engine start/stop controls are enabled when the one or more combustion parameters satisfy combustion parameter conditions indicating combustion stability in the one or more cylinders.

Abstract: A system includes a powertrain system including a transmission, and a controller coupled to the powertrain system. The controller is structured to: receive operation data regarding operation of the powertrain system; determine the powertrain system is operating in a non-nominal state responsive to the operation data; adjust a shift schedule for the transmission based on the determined non-nominal state; and control the transmission based on the adjusted shift schedule.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a powertrain system including an engine, a transmission, a drive shaft, and a final drive; and a controller communicably coupled to the powertrain system. The controller is structured to: receive a shift schedule for the transmission of a vehicle, the shift schedule indicating when shift events occur based on operation of the vehicle; receive vehicle operation data during operation of the vehicle, the vehicle operation data including a current combustion recipe for the engine; determine a predicted impact of a scheduled shift event on a fuel consumption rate of the vehicle based on the current combustion recipe for the engine; determine an adjustment to the scheduled shift event based on the predicted impact; and provide a command to implement the adjustment to the scheduled shift event to the transmission of the vehicle.

Abstract: The systems, methods, and apparatuses provided herein disclose interpreting a performance criteria for a vehicle, wherein the performance criteria is indicative of a desired operating parameter for the vehicle; interpreting a good driver definition value indicative of a good driver profile for the interpreted performance criteria; determining a performance value indicative of how an operator of the vehicle is performing with respect to the good driver definition value; and in response to the performance value indicating that the vehicle is not satisfying the performance criteria, managing an actuator output response value for at least one actuator in the vehicle to facilitate achievement of the good driver definition value.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein provide for receiving internal vehicle information, external static information, and external dynamic information; controlling the operation of one or more electronic accessories of the vehicle based on the received information; and managing a power supply for the one or more electronic accessories based on the energy usage and the operation of the electronic accessories.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein provide for receiving internal hybrid vehicle information, external static information, and external dynamic information; determining a propulsion power for the hybrid vehicle at a particular location at a particular time based on at least one of the internal hybrid vehicle information, the external static information, and the external dynamic information; determining a current state of charge of a battery, wherein the battery is operatively coupled to an electric motor in the hybrid vehicle; and managing a state of charge of the battery at the particular location at the particular time based on the current state of charge and the determined propulsion power.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed provide for receiving internal hybrid vehicle information, external static information, and external dynamic information; determining a propulsion power for the hybrid vehicle at a particular location at a particular time based on at least one of the internal hybrid vehicle information, the external static information, and the external dynamic information, and wherein in response to the determined potential propulsion power, predicting a shift event at the particular location at the particular time; determining a current state of charge of a battery, wherein the battery is operatively coupled to an electric motor in the hybrid vehicle; and managing the state of charge of the battery at the particular location at the particular time based on the current state of charge and the determined propulsion power to eliminate the need for the potential shift event at the particular location at the particular time.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a powertrain system including an engine, a transmission, a drive shaft, and a final drive. The system also includes a controller communicably coupled to the powertrain system. The controller is structured to: receive vehicle operation data during operation of a vehicle; receive route data for a route of the vehicle, wherein the route data is received in advance of the vehicle traveling the route; determine a cylinder deactivation event has occurred based on the vehicle operation data; determine an adjustment to a shift schedule for the transmission based on at least one of the cylinder deactivation event and the route data; and provide a command to implement the adjustment with the transmission.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling performance of a vehicle engine by sensing and/or accessing data regarding the driving environment and adjusting at least one of an engine output torque limit and a shifting schedule for the vehicle based on the sensed data.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus includes management of cruise speed in anticipation of upcoming terrain changes. A cruise speed controller can be structured to predict a change in speed of vehicle in light of an upcoming terrain feature, and lead a change in reference speed to which the cruise speed controller is regulating vehicle speed to accommodate the upcoming terrain feature. In one embodiment a physics based model of the vehicle is used to predict a speed change. If predicted speed change exceeds a threshold, the cruise speed controller will initiate a change in speed to either speed up for an upcoming uphill terrain feature, or slow down for an upcoming downhill feature. In one form the distance in advance of the terrain feature as well as the velocity change profile (acceleration or deceleration) are determined by computation of a regression formula.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, systems and controls including dynamic vehicle parameter determination are disclosed. One embodiment is a method of operating a vehicle system including a powertrain comprising a prime mover structured to propel the vehicle, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the prime mover and the transmission. The method includes estimating a plurality of coefficients of a vehicle loss model, evaluating a convergence criterion for the plurality of estimated coefficients, setting converged values of the plurality of coefficients if the convergence criterion is satisfied, determining a vehicle powertrain command utilizing the converged values of the plurality of coefficients, and transmitting a vehicle powertrain command to control operation of one or more powertrain components.

Abstract: Mild hybrid powertrain controls and apparatuses, methods and systems including the same are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a mild-hybrid system comprising an engine, an electrical machine, power electronics, an energy storage system, and an electrical load. The system includes a controller structured to receive an electrical machine power command based upon a power allocation to the electrical machine, process the electrical machine power command with feedforward controls structured to compensate for an inaccuracy associated with the power electronics, process the electrical machine power command with proportional integral (PI) controls structured to compensate for a power loss associated with one or more electrical loads, provide a compensated machine power command based upon the processing with the feedforward controls and the processing with the PI controls, and output the compensated machine power command to control the electrical machine.