Methods and systems for NVH-based vehicle powertrain control

A method for a vehicle, comprising:

• setting different noise vibration and harshness (NVH) limits for a vehicle powertrain based a sensed occupancy level of the vehicle, the occupancy level sensed while the vehicle is in an autonomous mode of operation based on each of a number of occupants in the vehicle, a position of each occupant within the vehicle, and a degree of interaction of a primary occupant with vehicle steering and pedal controls, wherein setting different NVH limits includes:
• responsive to detecting zero occupants, indicating a first, lowest occupancy level and setting a first NVH tolerance threshold, higher than a nominal threshold;
• responsive to detecting only passenger occupants, indicating a second occupancy level, higher than the first occupancy level, and setting a second threshold, higher than the first NVH tolerance threshold;
• responsive to detecting a passive driver occupant, indicating a third occupancy level, higher than the second occupancy level, and setting a third threshold, higher than the second NVH tolerance threshold;
• responsive to the driver occupant interacting with only one of a vehicle steering and a braking control, indicating a fourth occupancy level, higher than the third occupancy level, and setting a fourth threshold, higher than the third NVH tolerance threshold;
• responsive to the driver occupant interacting with each of the vehicle steering and braking control, indicating a fifth occupancy level, higher than the fourth occupancy level, and setting a fifth threshold, higher than the fourth NVH tolerance threshold;
• and selecting a vehicle component calibration setting based on the NVH limit.

A vehicle system, comprising:

• a variable displacement engine (VDE) including a plurality of cylinders, where one or more of the cylinders are deactivated in a variable displacement mode of engine operation, the engine being coupled to a transmission through a torque converter;
• an occupant sensing system for detecting presence of an occupant within the vehicle, the occupant sensing system including one or more seat pressure sensors coupled to each vehicle seat;
• one or more autonomous driving sensors;
• an in-vehicle computing system including an autonomous driving module, the autonomous driving module including instructions for operating the vehicle in an autonomous mode based on signals received from the one or more autonomous driving sensors;
• and a processor and a storage device, the storage device storing instructions executable by the processor to:
• estimate an occupancy level of the vehicle based on a number, location, and activity level of occupants within the vehicle;
• during a first condition including when the occupancy level is higher than a threshold, adjusting one or more vehicle operating parameters based on a lower noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) threshold of the vehicle;
• and
• during a second condition including when the occupancy level is lower than the threshold, adjusting the one or more vehicle operating parameters based on a higher NVH threshold of the vehicle for increasing fuel economy improvement while compromising NVH;
• wherein the one or more vehicle operating parameters include a desired amount of exhaust gas recirculated into the engine (EGR), a first engine speed and load range for variable displacement operation, a number of cylinders deactivated during the variable displacement mode, a second engine speed and load range for shut off of fuel supplied to the engine during deceleration (DFSO) operation, torque converter slip, an accessory load applied on the engine, and a transmission shift schedule.