Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a starter is shown. A method for monitoring the starter includes determining electrical energy consumed by pinion and motor solenoids operative to activate and rotate a pinion gear of an electrically-powered motor meshingly engageable to a starter ring gear portion of a flywheel of the engine during an engine starting event. Current ringing in the pinion and motor solenoids is monitored during the engine starting even, and a fault is identified in the pinion and motor solenoids based upon the current ringing and the electrical energy consumption of the starter during the engine starting event.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the starter motor includes determining starter motor resistance associated with an engine starting event and determining a back-emf for the starter motor based upon the starter motor resistance. A state of health of the starter motor corresponding to the back-emf of the starter motor and engine cranking time is determined. Engine stop/start functionality is controlled based upon the state of health of the starter motor.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for participative sensing of road friction conditions by vehicles, collection of the friction data from a large number of vehicles by a central server, processing the data to classify friction conditions by roadway and locale, and sending notifications of the friction conditions to vehicles as appropriate. A large number of vehicles use participative sensing systems to identify road friction estimates which are reported to the central server—where the vehicles use sensor data and vehicle dynamic conditions to estimate friction. The central server stores and aggregates the friction data, filters it and ages it. Vehicles requesting advisories from the central server will receive notices of road friction conditions which may be significant based on their location and heading. Driver warnings can be issued for low friction conditions ahead, and automated vehicle systems may also respond to the notices.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a starter is shown. A method for monitoring the starter includes determining electrical energy consumed by pinion and motor solenoids operative to activate and rotate a pinion gear of an electrically-powered motor meshingly engageable to a starter ring gear portion of a flywheel of the engine during an engine starting event. Current ringing in the pinion and motor solenoids is monitored during the engine starting even, and a fault is identified in the pinion and motor solenoids based upon the current ringing and the electrical energy consumption of the starter during the engine starting event.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of subsystems that are monitored during on-going operation. A method for monitoring a subsystem includes monitoring states of commanded and observed parameters for the subsystem. Deviations in the observed parameters are determined off-board the vehicle. The deviations are employed to determine magnitudes of subsystem operating signatures off-board the vehicle. The subsystem operating signatures are employed to identify presence of a subsystem fault and isolate the subsystem fault off-board the vehicle. The presence of the isolated fault is communicated to the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for participative sensing of road friction conditions by vehicles, collection of the friction data from a large number of vehicles by a central server, processing the data to classify friction conditions by roadway and locale, and sending notifications of the friction conditions to vehicles as appropriate. A large number of vehicles use participative sensing systems to identify road friction estimates which are reported to the central server—where the vehicles use sensor data and vehicle dynamic conditions to estimate friction. The central server stores and aggregates the friction data, filters it and ages it. Vehicles requesting advisories from the central server will receive notices of road friction conditions which may be significant based on their location and heading. Driver warnings can be issued for low friction conditions ahead, and automated vehicle systems may also respond to the notices.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining road surface information in a vehicle. In one embodiment, the method includes: determining at least one condition assessment value based on steering data; determining a feature set to include at least one of self-aligning torque (SAT), slip angle, SAT variance, steering rate, and lateral acceleration based on the condition assessment value; processing steering data obtained during a steering maneuver and associated with the feature set using a pattern classification technique; and determining a surface type based on the processing.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a starter is shown. A method for monitoring the starter includes determining electrical energy consumed by pinion and motor solenoids operative to activate and rotate a pinion gear of an electrically-powered motor meshingly engageable to a starter ring gear portion of a flywheel of the engine during an engine starting event. Current ringing in the pinion and motor solenoids is monitored during the engine starting even, and a fault is identified in the pinion and motor solenoids based upon the current ringing and the electrical energy consumption of the starter during the engine starting event.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for vehicular communications. The systems include a server and a controller in a vehicle. The controller is configured to receive data from vehicular components and transmit the data to the remote server. In a normal mode, the data is transmitted in accordance with a normal frequency of events, while in an abnormal mode, the data is transmitted in accordance with an abnormal frequency of events. The abnormal frequency is different from the normal frequency. The abnormal mode is set in response to an event trigger denoting a fault of at least one component.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating a temperature of a tire. The method includes: receiving tire pressure data; and estimating a temperature of a tread of the tire based on the tire pressure data.

Abstract: A system and method for converting a vehicle steering angle command to a vehicle steering torque command for a vehicle steering system in a vehicle. The method estimates a self-aligning torque that defines the torque that maintains a vehicle steering wheel at a neutral steering position or to a position that makes no slip angle at the road wheel, applies known total steering torque commands to the steering system at a plurality of sample time steps where the known steering torque commands include the self-aligning torque, and measures a vehicle steering angle at each time step. The method then models the steering system of the vehicle using the torque commands, the measured steering angles, a system delay and a plurality of unknown parameters.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the starter motor includes determining starter motor resistance associated with an engine starting event and determining a back-emf for the starter motor based upon the starter motor resistance. A state of health of the starter motor corresponding to the back-emf of the starter motor and engine cranking time is determined. Engine stop/start functionality is controlled based upon the state of health of the starter motor.

Abstract: A system and method for converting a vehicle steering angle command to a vehicle steering torque command for a vehicle steering system in a vehicle. The method estimates a self-aligning torque that defines the torque that maintains a vehicle steering wheel at a neutral steering position or to a position that makes no slip angle at the road wheel, applies known total steering torque commands to the steering system at a plurality of sample time steps where the known steering torque commands include the self-aligning torque, and measures a vehicle steering angle at each time step. The method then models the steering system of the vehicle using the torque commands, the measured steering angles, a system delay and a plurality of unknown parameters.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for vehicular communications. The systems include a server and a controller in a vehicle. The controller is configured to receive data from vehicular components and transmit the data to the remote server. In a normal mode, the data is transmitted in accordance with a normal frequency of events, while in an abnormal mode, the data is transmitted in accordance with an abnormal frequency of events. The abnormal frequency is different from the normal frequency. The abnormal mode is set in response to an event trigger denoting a fault of at least one component.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the fuel pump includes estimating a pump speed and a nominal pump motor current in relation to a pump motor control signal and a fuel pressure. An armature resistance and a back-emf constant for the electric motor are determined corresponding to the estimated pump speed, a monitored pump motor current, and the pump motor control signal. A nominal armature resistance and a nominal back-emf constant for the electric motor are adjusted in relation to a pump motor temperature. Residuals are calculated based upon the adjusted nominal armature resistance, the adjusted nominal back-emf constant for the electric motor, the estimated armature resistance and the estimated back-emf constant for the electric motor. The residuals are compared with corresponding thresholds. A fault in the electric motor is detected based upon the comparisons of the residuals with the corresponding thresholds.

Abstract: A method to control a vehicle including control of regenerative brakes and friction brakes includes monitoring a desired corner force and moment distribution, monitoring real-time actuator constraints including a braking torque limit of each of the regenerative brake, determining a regenerative braking torque for each of the regenerative brakes based upon the desired corner force and moment distribution and the real-time actuator constraints, determining a friction braking torque for each of the friction brakes based upon the desired corner force and moment distribution and the determined regenerative braking torque for each of the regenerative brakes, and controlling the vehicle based upon the determined regenerative braking torques and the determined friction braking torques.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a subsystem of a subject vehicle includes, in an off-board environment, executing a controller-based scheme. The scheme includes determining a plurality of residuals based upon expected and observed states of parameters associated with operation of the subsystem, determining a subsystem operating signature based upon the residuals, employing the subsystem operating signature to isolate a subsystem fault, and communicating the subsystem fault to an on-board controller of the subject vehicle.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a subsystem of a subject vehicle includes, in an off-board environment, executing a controller-based scheme. The scheme includes determining a plurality of residuals based upon expected and observed states of parameters associated with operation of the subsystem, determining a subsystem operating signature based upon the residuals, employing the subsystem operating signature to isolate a subsystem fault, and communicating the subsystem fault to an on-board controller of the subject vehicle.

Abstract: A method for isolating an actual sensor bias in a fuel delivery system having a fuel pump includes monitoring first, second and third fuel pump parameters, detecting first and second fuel pump sensor biases based on the monitored first, second and third fuel pump parameters, modeling a fourth fuel pump modeled parameter based on the monitored second and third fuel pump parameters, and isolating the actual sensor bias in one of the detected first and second fuel pump biases based on the monitored third fuel pump parameter and the modeled fourth fuel pump modeled parameter.

Abstract: A method for detecting and isolating an actual fault in a fuel delivery system having a fuel pump and a fuel pump motor, includes monitoring fuel pressure, pump current, and pump voltage. Each of a plurality of fault triggers are designated as one of flagged and un-flagged based on at least one of the fuel pressure, the pump current and the pump voltage. The actual fault in the fuel delivery system is isolated from a plurality of possible faults when a condition respective to one of the possible faults is satisfied based on at least one of the plurality of fault triggers designated as flagged and un-flagged.