System and method of vehicle transient torque management

1. A method of operating a torque management system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

determining, by a processor of the torque management system, one or more segments of a route of a vehicle;

receiving, by the processor, a plurality of inputs for each segment of the route, wherein the plurality of inputs includes at least one of route parameter data, vehicle parameter data, and vehicle operating condition data;

receiving, by the processor, a preference regarding at least one of a speed for the vehicle, a torque output limit for an engine of the vehicle, and an acceleration amount of the vehicle;

determining, by the processor, a power output limit for the engine of the vehicle for a current segment of the route based, at least in part, on the plurality of inputs and the preference, wherein determining the power output limit for the current segment comprises:

determining, by the processor, for each of two or more forward segments relative to the current segment of the route, a power indicative of a total power required for traveling through the each of the two or more forward segments based on the plurality of inputs;

determining, by the processor, one or more power vectors using the determined powers for each of the two or more forward segments;

converting, by the processor, the one or more power vectors into one or more scalar quantities; and

determining, by the processor, the power output limit for the current segment using the one or more scalar quantities and the preference;

determining, by the processor, an engine torque output limit based on the power output limit; and

providing, by the processor, the determined engine torque output limit to a vehicle device to limit an engine torque output for the current route segment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a power output limit is determined each time the vehicle reaches a subsequent segment of the route.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power output limit is a maximum amount of power required for the vehicle to travel through each route segment while substantially maintaining the preferred vehicle speed.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the plurality of inputs for each segment of the route occurs while the vehicle is traveling the route.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined engine torque output limit is less than a maximum available torque of the engine.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the torque output limit is a minimum engine torque output limit.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the route parameter data, vehicle parameter data, and vehicle operating condition data includes an estimated parameter.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determination of the one or more segments is based on at least one of a distance and a change in altitude of the route.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the change in altitude includes a substantially flat portion, a substantially uphill portion, and a substantially downhill portion.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle device includes at least one of an operator interface module, the engine of the vehicle, a transmission of the vehicle, a transmission control unit, and an engine control module.

11. A torque management system, comprising:

a vehicle, the vehicle including an internal combustion engine and a transmission; and

a processor coupled to the internal combustion engine and the transmission, the processor configured to:

determine one or more segments of a route of the vehicle;

receive a plurality of inputs for each segment of the route, wherein the plurality of inputs includes at least one of route parameter data, vehicle parameter data, and vehicle operating condition data;

receive a preference regarding at least one of a speed for the vehicle, a torque output limit for the engine of the vehicle, and an acceleration amount of the vehicle;

determine a power output limit for the engine for a current segment of the route based, at least in part, on the plurality of inputs and the preference, wherein determining the power output limit for the current segment comprises:

determining for each of two or more forward segments relative to the current segment of the route, a power indicative of a total power required for traveling through the each of the two or more forward segments based on the plurality of inputs;

determining one or more power vectors using the determined powers for each of the two or more forward segments;

converting the one or more power vectors into one or more scalar quantities; and

determining the power output limit for the current segment using the one or more scalar quantities and the preference;

determine an engine torque output limit based on the power output limit; and

provide the determined engine torque output limit to a vehicle device to limit an engine torque output for the current route segment.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein a power output limit is determined each time the vehicle reaches a subsequent segment of the route.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the power output limit is a maximum amount of power required for the vehicle to travel through each route segment while substantially maintaining the preferred vehicle speed.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein receiving the plurality of inputs for each segment of the route occurs while the vehicle is traveling the route.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the determined engine torque output limit is less than a maximum available torque of the engine.

16. A computer-readable storage medium having machine instructions stored therein, the instructions being executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform operations, comprising:

receiving an identification of a route of travel of a vehicle

determining one or more segments of the route;

receiving a plurality of inputs for each segment of the route, wherein the plurality of inputs includes at least one of route parameter data, vehicle parameter data, and vehicle operating condition data;

receiving a preference regarding at least one of a speed for the vehicle, a torque output limit for an engine of the vehicle, and an acceleration amount of the vehicle;

determining a power output limit for the engine of the vehicle for a current segment of the route based, at least in part, on the plurality of inputs and the preference, wherein determining the power output limit for the current segment comprises:

determining for each of two or more forward segments relative to the current segment of the route, a power indicative of a total power required for traveling through the each of the two or more forward segments based on the plurality of inputs;

determining one or more power vectors using the determined powers for each of the two or more forward segments;

converting the one or more power vectors into one or more scalar quantities; and

determining the power output limit for the current segment using the one or more scalar quantities and the preference;

determining an engine torque output limit based on the power output limit; and

providing the determined engine torque output limit to a vehicle device to limit an engine torque output for the current route segment.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising determining a power output limit each time the vehicle reaches a subsequent segment of the route.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the power output limit is a maximum amount of power required for the vehicle to travel through each route segment while substantially maintaining preferred vehicle speed.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the determined engine torque limit is less than a maximum available torque of the engine.