Abstract: A method for a vehicle includes receiving a shift schedule for a transmission of a vehicle, the shift schedule indicating when shift events occur based on operation of the vehicle. The method further includes receiving vehicle operation data during operation of the vehicle. The method further includes determining a power to overcome vehicle losses based on the vehicle operation data. The method further includes determining an adjustment to the shift schedule to optimize a vehicle operating parameter based on the determined power to overcome vehicle losses and implementing the adjustment to the shift schedule.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle including a controller structured to communicate with a transmission and an engine of a vehicle, and additionally structured to: receive at least one of vehicle operation data, route data, or dynamic data during operation of the vehicle; determine that the vehicle is in a coasting state based on the at least one of the vehicle operation data, the route data, or the dynamic data; provide a command to at least one of the engine and the transmission to maintain the coasting state for the vehicle; and determine an end of the coasting state based on the at least one of the vehicle operation data, the route data, or the dynamic data.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for optimizing a valve orifice shape. According to one representative embodiment, a method includes determining a specified relationship between a valve position and an output characteristic, and determining an orifice profile. The method also includes determining a relationship of an orifice area to the output characteristic. Further, the method includes shaping an orifice in a valve based on the orifice profile and the specified relationship between the valve position and the output characteristic. According to the method, the valve should approximately exhibit the specified relationship.

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 system for a vehicle includes a transmission, an engine, and a controller communicably coupled to the transmission and the engine. The controller is structured to receive a vehicle operating parameter, receive vehicle operation data during operation of the vehicle, determine that the vehicle is in a coasting state based on the vehicle operation data, and provide a command to control at least one of an engine and the transmission during the coasting state to at least one of optimize the vehicle operating parameter and facilitate and maintain the coasting state.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an initial planning module, a tandem implementation module, and a scheduler module. The initial planning module is structured to interpret one or more fleet delivery requirements, assets, drivers, and vehicle descriptions. The tandem implementation module is structured to determine a travel schedule with respect to a first vehicle and a second vehicle that enables the first vehicle and the second vehicle to travel in tandem for a least a portion of a route in response to input from the initial planning module. The scheduler module is structured to provide a fleet delivery schedule to the first vehicle and the second vehicle in response to the determination of the tandem implementation module.

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: This disclosure provides a system and method for controlling internal combustion engine system to reduce operation variations among plural engines. The system and method utilizes single-input-single-output (SISO) control in which a single operating parameter lever is selected from among exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) fraction and charge air mass flow (MCF), and a stored reference value associated with the selected lever is adjusted for an operating point in accordance with a difference between a measured emissions characteristic and a pre-calibrated reference value of the emissions characteristic for that operating point. Adjusting the selected operating parameter lever towards the theoretical pre-calibrated reference value of the operating parameter lever for each of plural operating points can reduce engine-to-engine variations in engine out emissions.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for optimizing a valve orifice shape. According to one representative embodiment, a method includes determining a specified relationship between a valve position and an output characteristic, and determining an orifice profile. The method also includes determining a relationship of an orifice area to the output characteristic. Further, the method includes shaping an orifice in a valve based on the orifice profile and the specified relationship between the valve position and the output characteristic. According to the method, the valve should approximately exhibit the specified relationship.

Abstract: An alternator voltage may be controlled based on a proportional gain scheduling in response to an engine load of an internal combustion engine and/or a state of charge (SOC) deviation for a battery based on a target SOC of the battery and an actual SOC of the battery. The alternator voltage may be a voltage less than a current battery voltage under high engine loads to enable the battery to power an accessory system and the alternator voltage may be a voltage greater than a voltage of the battery under low engine loads or engine loads less than high engine loads to enable the alternator to charge the battery.

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: Systems, apparatuses, and methods herein relate to vehicle speed management. The apparatus includes a projection module structured to determine a future road load for a vehicle based on horizon data regarding an attribute of a route of the vehicle at a future location of the vehicle. The apparatus also includes a vehicle drafting module structured to determine a drafting road load for the vehicle based on drafting data regarding operation of a second vehicle. The apparatus further includes a vehicle speed management module structured to determine and provide a vehicle speed adjustment to an output device of the vehicle to at least one of facilitate and maintain a drafting arrangement between the vehicle and the second vehicle responsive to at least one of the future road load and the drafting road load.

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: An engine starting system and technique include selecting a target engine speed profile from a plurality of engine speed profiles based on operator inputs and operating parameters of the vehicle. A feedback control strategy is used to substantially conform the engine speed with the target speed profile during starting until a target speed is reached in which fueling is initiated to start the engine.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems comprising vehicle gear shifting controls are disclosed. One embodiment is a method comprising operating a vehicle system comprising an engine structured to output torque, a transmission structured to receive torque from the engine and output torque to one or more ground contacting wheels, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the engine and the transmission. The electronic control system is structured to estimate an engine load parameter using one or more dynamically determined vehicle operating parameters, set an engine load threshold using the engine load parameter, evaluate a current engine load relative to the engine load threshold, and selectably perform an operation to control or influence a shifting event in response to the evaluation.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems comprising vehicle gear shifting controls are disclosed. One embodiment is a method comprising operating a vehicle system comprising an engine structured to output torque, a transmission structured to receive torque from the engine and output torque to one or more ground contacting wheels, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the engine and the transmission. The electronic control system is structured to estimate an engine load parameter using one or more dynamically determined vehicle operating parameters, set an engine load threshold using the engine load parameter, evaluate a current engine load relative to the engine load threshold, and selectably perform an operation to control or influence a shifting event in response to the evaluation.

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: An apparatus remotely provides refueling management instructions for a vehicle. One or more initial vehicle parameters are determined, including an initial quantity of fuel, a plurality of route parameters including a starting point, an ending point and an estimated average fuel efficiency of the vehicle, and a plurality of refueling parameters including one or more refueling locations. The sufficiency of an initial quantity of fuel is evaluated in relation to the estimated average fuel efficiency and a distance to be traveled by the vehicle equal to a difference between the ending point and the starting point. One or more current vehicle parameters are interpreted at a first predetermined time, a refueling agenda is created, and an associated predetermined refueling amount at each of the identified one or more refueling locations is determined.

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: An apparatus includes an initial planning module, a tandem implementation module, and a scheduler module. The initial planning module is structured to interpret one or more fleet delivery requirements, assets, drivers, and vehicle descriptions. The tandem implementation module is structured to determine a travel schedule with respect to a first vehicle and a second vehicle that enables the first vehicle and the second vehicle to travel in tandem for a least a portion of a route in response to input from the initial planning module. The scheduler module is structured to provide a fleet delivery schedule to the first vehicle and the second vehicle in response to the determination of the tandem implementation module.