Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Steven Lin

John Eric Rollinger

Adam J Richards

Yifan Chen

Robert Michael Grant

Justin Cartwright

Matthew Gerow

Abhishek Sharma

Qianyi Wang

Methods and systems are provided for estimation of a road roughness index (RRI) and adjusting vehicle operation based on the metric. In one example, a method may include estimating the RRI as a function of a pitch energy and a roll energy of the vehicle travelling on the road. In response to the RRI being higher than a threshold, engine operation such as EGR flow rate may be adjusted.

Methods for a road surface metric

Systems and methods for operating an engine and a torque converter are presented. In one example, slip of a torque converter is adjusted via at least partially closing or opening a torque converter clutch in response to vehicle vibration. The vehicle vibration may be based on road surface conditions and an actual total number of operating cylinders of the engine.

Torque converter control for a variable displacement engine

A system includes a computer programmed to identify a plurality of audio amplitudes of an audio input. The computer is programmed to identify a plurality of time intervals of the audio input between respective identified audio amplitudes. The computer is programmed to map a haptic pattern based on identified audio amplitudes and the time intervals. The computer is programmed to actuate a motor to output the haptic pattern.

Haptic device operation

A system includes a processor configured to receive a user-selected vehicle-detectable state and corresponding user-defined state-variable value. The processor is also configured to receive a user-defined vehicle-enactable action. The processor is further configured to save the state-variable value as a condition for enacting the vehicle-enactable action saved in conjunction with the state-variable value. The processor is additionally configured to monitor the vehicle-detectable state and enact the vehicle-enactable action upon determining via the monitoring that the vehicle-detectable state corresponds to the user-defined state-variable value saved in conjunction with the state-variable value.

Method and apparatus for condition triggered vehicle setting configuration

Systems and methods for operating an engine in a variety of different cylinder operating modes are presented. In one example, an actual total number of available cylinder modes is increased in response to a vehicle's suspension setting and road roughness. By increasing the available cylinder modes, the engine may be operated in a higher number of modes where one or more engine cylinders may be deactivated to conserve fuel. The number of cylinder modes is increased during conditions where vehicle occupants may be less likely to object to operating the engine with fewer active cylinders.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Steven Lin