Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

James Joseph Reynolds

Michiel Jacques Van Nieuwstadt

Jason Meyer

Yanan Zhao

In Kwang Yoo

Mark Robert Laleman

Systems and methods for improving operation of a vehicle are presented. In one example, a controller may respond to a presence or absence of a prediction of an increase in vehicle speed during a look ahead window. The controller may inhibit or allow automatic engine stopping in response to the presence or absence of the prediction of the increase in vehicle speed during the look ahead window.

Methods and systems for inhibiting automatic engine shutdown

Methods and systems are provided for detecting NOx sensor degradation based on results from a NOx sensor self-diagnostic (SD) test performed after a key-off event. In one example, a method may comprise waiting a duration to perform a SD test of a NOx sensor after a key-off event until engine operating conditions stabilize and reach a set of qualifying conditions. One or more SD tests may be performed after waiting the duration, but outputs generated under conditions where one or more of a temperature at the sensor is greater than a threshold, and an oxygen concentration is outside a threshold range, may be excluded when determining whether or not the NOx sensor is degraded.

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Saline, MI, United States of America

James Joseph Reynolds