Systems and methods for adaptively managing engine knocking

An engine controller, comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions for causing the processor to:

• detect an increase of a knock intensity of an engine;
• after detecting the increase of the knock intensity of the engine, compare the knock intensity of the engine to a threshold knock intensity;
• in response to determining that the knock intensity of the engine is greater than the threshold knock intensity, collectively retard respective ignition timings for a plurality of engine cylinders included in the engine by substantially a first amount;
• and
• in response to determining that the knock intensity of the engine is less than the threshold knock intensity, retard a first ignition timing of a first engine cylinder of the plurality of engine cylinders by a second amount that is less than the first amount.

A method for controlling an engine, the method comprising:

• detecting a first increase of an average knock intensity of a plurality of engine cylinders included in the engine;
• after detecting the first increase of the average knock intensity of the plurality of engine cylinders, determining that the average knock intensity of the engine is less than a threshold knock intensity;
• in response to determining that the average knock intensity of the plurality of engine cylinders is less than the threshold knock intensity, retarding respective ignition timings for the plurality of engine cylinders, wherein a first ignition timing of a first engine cylinder of the plurality of engine cylinders is retarded by a first amount and a second ignition timing of a second engine cylinder of the plurality of engine cylinders is retarded by a second amount that is different than the first amount;
• detecting a second increase of the average knock intensity of the plurality of engine cylinders;
• after detecting the second increase of the average knock intensity of the plurality of engine cylinders, determining that the average knock intensity of the plurality of engine cylinders included in the engine is greater than the threshold knock intensity;
• and
• in response to determining that the average knock intensity of the plurality of engine cylinders is greater than the threshold knock intensity, collectively retarding the respective ignition timings for the plurality of engine cylinders by substantially the same amount.