Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Shannon Alicia Wrobel

Joshua D Payne

Justin J Chow

Nathan C Westover

Robert C MacArthur

Heraldo Felicio Stefanon

Erik Hasso Benedikt

Benjamin M Geller

Tapan V Patel

Abril A Galang

Takanori Aoki

Systems and methods are provided for optimizing predictions regarding traffic conditions based upon learned/measured traffic conditions. Current traffic conditions can be measured and characterized based on speed or other factors as a vehicle traverses the route. These measured traffic conditions can be compared to predicted traffic conditions. A weighting term can be associated with the measured traffic conditions based upon the comparison. During a subsequent time that the vehicle traverses the route, a traffic conditions prediction may be made. The weighting term and measured traffic conditions data can be used to adjust the traffic conditions prediction for better accuracy, and an optimal time(s) during which a battery of a hybrid vehicle can be pre-charged can be requested.

Systems and methods for more accurately adjusting traffic predictions for the intended use of optimizing battery pre-charging

An alternative range estimating system for a vehicle includes one or more processors and a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores a removable object selection module including computer-readable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to control operation of a vehicle input/output system to display a selectable representation of each of one or more removable objects carried by the vehicle. The module may acquire a user selection of at least one removable object from the removable objects displayed. The module may acquire an estimated alternative vehicle range determined using an estimated weight of the at least one removable object. The module may then control operation of the input/output system to display the estimated alternative vehicle range.

System and method for determining variations in estimated vehicle range

Systems and methods are provided for simulating rev-matching in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). In particular, increased engine response is provided while downshifting during acceleration. The transmission of an HEV may include an electronic control unit that controls the speed of the engine to simulate gears, and increases the speed of the engine responsive to a driver using the gear selector to shift from one of the simulated gears to a lower one of the simulated gears, thereby providing the desired rev-matching experience. The increased engine response can be reflected in a target engine speed that is calculated based on specific gear ratios associated with each of the simulated gears.

Sequential simulated gear ratio calculation and rev-matching in a hybrid electric vehicle

Systems and methods are provided for controlling a hybrid powertrain of a hybrid vehicle, and may include: determining a value of a drive request for a combustion engine of the hybrid vehicle; determining electrical loading on batteries of the hybrid vehicle; adjusting operation of an accessory of the hybrid vehicle to reduce the electrical load of that accessory on the batteries of the hybrid vehicle when the drive request value is above a determined drive request threshold amount and the electrical loading on batteries of the hybrid vehicle is above a power loading threshold; and directing at least some of the power saved by adjusting operation of the accessory from the batteries of the hybrid vehicle to a drive motor of the hybrid vehicle to provide motive force for the vehicle.

Systems and methods for accessory load adjustment to reduce engine noise

Systems and methods are provided for simulating rev-matching in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), e.g., HEVs having a two motor hybrid system transmission. In particular, increased engine response is provided while downshifting during acceleration. The two-motor hybrid system transmission may include an electronic control unit that controls the speed of the engine to simulate gears, and increases the speed of the engine responsive to a driver using the gear selector to shift from one of the simulated gears to a lower one of the simulated gears, thereby providing the desired rev-matching experience.

Simulated rev-matching in a vehicle having a two motor hybrid system transmission

Systems and methods described herein concern integrating a hub motor with a vehicle. One embodiment establishes a communication link between the hub motor and an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle; transmits, from the hub motor to the ECU via the communication link, an identity of the hub motor; transmits, from the ECU to the hub motor via the communication link, an identity of the ECU and information regarding functionality supported by the ECU; reports, from the hub motor to the ECU via the communication link based at least in part on the identity of the ECU and the information regarding the functionality supported by the ECU, calibration data for the hub motor and information regarding the functionality supported by the hub motor; and adjusts, at the ECU, one or more characteristics of the vehicle in accordance with the calibration data and the functionality supported by the hub motor.

Methods and systems for integrating a hub motor with a vehicle

A removable vehicle battery system includes an energy storage module, a charging/discharging control unit, converter configured to convert the energy into a usable format for an external device, and a power outlet configured to supply energy to the external device. The system communicates with the external device regarding the energy formats the external device requires as well as the quantity of energy in the energy storage module, and the formats in which the energy storage module can supply this energy to the external device. The control unit controls energy delivery from the energy storage module to the external device.

Removable high voltage battery components

An apparatus includes a propulsion module for a vehicle, and a control module communicatively connected to the propulsion module. The propulsion module is structured to be detached from the vehicle for mechanical connection to an off-board device. The propulsion module includes an electric motor and a power supply, and the power supply is operable to power the electric motor to output mechanical power. The control module is configured to receive a connection status of the propulsion module. In response to the connection status indicating that the propulsion module is detached from the vehicle, the control module is configured to operate the power supply at an off-board rated power to power the electric motor.

Detachable electrified powertrain components

Methods, systems, and apparatus for providing an acceleration boost. The acceleration boosting system provides or outputs a boosted acceleration. The acceleration boosting system includes a communication device, a navigation unit or a first sensor that is configured to obtain acceleration information. The acceleration boosting system includes a second sensor that is configured to detect or measure an applied force of an accelerator pedal. The applied force corresponds to a first amount of energy that is used to power or propel the vehicle. The acceleration boosting system includes an electronic control unit that is configured to determine that the acceleration information indicates that a driver should accelerate. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that the accelerator pedal is depressed within a threshold time limit of the indication and cause a second amount of energy to be converted to move or propel multiple wheels.

Acceleration booster

A method and device for mitigating environmental-control load for a hybrid vehicle are disclosed. In operation, a determination is made as to whether a hybrid vehicle is at a high-power operational mode. When the hybrid vehicle is at a high-power operational mode, a determination of an estimated time-of-travel to a low-power operational mode is made based on vehicle trajectory plan data. Heat-load buffer data is generated based on the estimated time to prolong a passenger comfort setting during the low-power operational mode.

Mitigating environmental-control load for a hybrid vehicle

A system includes a power source, a sensor to detect data, and a HVAC system having a compressor to compress vapor refrigerant and a fan to blow conditioned air into a cabin of the vehicle, the compressor and the fan both designed to operate using a portion of the power generated by the power source. The system further includes an ECU to predict that the vehicle will accelerate or decelerate based on the data, to decrease power provided to the compressor and increase power provided to the fan when the ECU predicts the acceleration in order to reduce total power provided to the HVAC system and to reduce variance in total noise and vibration generated by the HVAC system, and to increase power to the compressor when the ECU predicts that the vehicle will decelerate in order to increase the total power provided to the HVAC system.

Efficient HVAC operation by predictive control

A vehicle can be configured to learn deceleration areas by acquiring vehicle deceleration data for deceleration areas encountered by the vehicle. However, there may be certain instances in which it may not be beneficial to acquire deceleration data for use in learning the deceleration area. For instance, if it is determined both that the proceeding link for the first deceleration area matches the preceding link for the second deceleration area and that the first deceleration area and the second deceleration area are located in close proximity to each other, the learning of the second deceleration area can be disabled. As a result, a deceleration record is not saved for that particular encounter of the second deceleration area.

Selective disabling of deceleration area learning

A vehicle can be configured to provide coasting coach support when approaching a learned deceleration area, advising on how to more efficiently operate the vehicle as it approaches the learned deceleration area. An indicator can be presented within the vehicle to inform the driver that coasting coach support is provided for the learned deceleration area. However, in certain situations, it may not be possible for a vehicle to provide coasting coach support for a learned deceleration area, such as may occur when the vehicle encounters two consecutive learned deceleration areas located in close proximity to each other. There may not be sufficient time to provide coasting coach support for the second of the two consecutive learned deceleration areas. In such instances, the vehicle can be configured to present the coasting coach indicator for the first deceleration area and to disable the coasting coach indicator for the second deceleration area.

Selective presentation of coasting coach indicator for consecutive learned deceleration areas in close proximity

Vehicle acceleration from a learned deceleration area or stop can be learned and/or predicted. While approaching a learned deceleration stop, deceleration data including a current accelerator off speed can be acquired. It can be determined whether there is an acceleration learning record for the learned deceleration stop. Responsive to determining that there is an acceleration learning record for the learned deceleration area, it can be determined whether the current accelerator off speed meets a qualification rule based on one or more prior accelerator off speeds included in the acceleration learning record for the learned deceleration area. Responsive to determining that the current accelerator off speed meets the qualification rule, an acceleration for the vehicle from the learned deceleration area can be predicted. The predicted acceleration can include a cruising speed that is substantially equal to the current accelerator off speed.

Acceleration learning/prediction from learned deceleration area

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to preemptively adjusting operating parameters of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a control profile for the vehicle based, at least in part, on an environmental context and in response to identifying that the vehicle is located proximate to a roadway location for which the operating parameters are to be optimized. The environmental context characterizes at least current surroundings of the vehicle including the roadway location. The control profile indicates a predicted control input that is expected to be received through a driver input system for controlling the vehicle. The method includes adjusting the operating parameters of the vehicle according to the control profile to preemptively optimize the vehicle in anticipation of the predicted control input. The method includes controlling the vehicle according to the operating parameters upon receiving a driver control input through the driver input system.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Shannon Alicia Wrobel