Multivariable engine torque and emission closed-loop control for internal combustion engine

A motor vehicle, comprising:

• a vehicle body defining an engine compartment;
• an internal combustion engine (ICE) assembly stowed in the engine compartment, the ICE assembly including an engine block with a plurality of cylinders bores, and a plurality of pistons each reciprocally movable within a respective one of the cylinder bores;
• an exhaust gar recirculation (EGR) system fluidly coupled to the ICE assembly and configured to recirculate exhaust gases from the ICE assembly back into the cylinder bores;
• an engine sensor configured to detect, in real-time, a current engine torque of the ICE assembly and output a signal indicative thereof;
• a exhaust sensor configured to detect, in real-time, a current NOx output of the ICE assembly and output a signal indicative thereof;
• and
• an engine control unit communicatively connected to the ICE assembly, the exhaust sensor, and the engine sensor, the engine control unit being programmed to:
• receive a signal indicative of a desired engine torque for the ICE assembly;
• determine a desired NOx output of the ICE assembly corresponding to the desired engine torque;
• determine, from the current engine torque detected by the engine sensor, the current NOx output detected by the exhaust sensor, the desired engine torque for the ICE assembly, and the desired NOx output for the desired engine torque, a desired engine operation reference and a desired exhaust operation reference;
• determine, from the desired engine operation reference and the desired exhaust operation reference, an engine operation control command and an exhaust operation control command;
• and
• regulate operation of the ICE assembly and EGR system based on the engine operation and exhaust operation control commands.

A method of operating an engine torque and emission control system for an internal combustion engine (ICE) assembly, the ICE assembly including a plurality of combustion chambers fluidly coupled to an exhaust aftertreatment system, the method comprising:

• receiving, via an engine control unit, a signal indicative of a desired engine torque for the ICE assembly;
• determining, via the engine control unit, a desired NOx output of the ICE assembly corresponding to the desired engine torque;
• receiving, via the engine control unit from an engine sensor, a sensor signal indicative of a current engine torque of the ICE assembly;
• receiving, via the engine control unit from an exhaust sensor, a sensor signal indicative of a current NOx output of the ICE assembly;
• determining, from the current engine torque detected by the engine sensor, the current NOx output detected by the exhaust sensor, the desired engine torque for the ICE assembly, and the desired NOx output for the desired engine torque, a desired engine operation reference and a desired exhaust operation reference;
• determining, from the desired engine operation reference and the desired exhaust operation reference, an engine operation control command to govern operation of the ICE assembly and an exhaust operation control command to govern operation of the exhaust aftertreatment system;
• and
• transmitting, via the engine control unit, the engine operation control command and the exhaust operation control command to the ICE assembly.