Coordinated torque control security method and apparatus

A torque control system for a vehicle, comprising:

• a powerplant that produces a torque output;
• operator inputs including one of an accelerator pedal position and a cruise control signal;
• and
• a control module that controls said powerplant, that determines an expected axle torque based on a vehicle speed, a powerplant profile and one of an accelerator position and a cruise control signal, that estimates an actual axle torque of a powerplant based on a powerplant maximum torque, an engine speed and engine system inefficiencies, that converts said expected axle torque to an expected acceleration based on a wheel radius and a road load, that converts said actual axle torque to an actual acceleration based on said wheel radius and said road load, and that regulates said torque output of said powerplant when a rate-of-change in the difference between said expected acceleration and said actual acceleration is greater than a first threshold.

A method of preventing undesirable vehicle behavior in a vehicle torque control system comprising:

• estimating an actual axle torque of a powerplant based on a powerplant maximum torque, an engine speed and engine system inefficiencies;
• comparing said actual axle torque to an idle torque range;
• and
• regulating a torque output of a powerplant when said actual axle torque is not within said idle torque range during a first time period after said vehicle torque control system detects an idle torque request.

A torque control system for a vehicle, comprising:

• a powerplant that produces a torque output;
• operator inputs including one of an accelerator pedal position and a cruise control signal;
• and
• a control module that controls said powerplant, that estimates an actual axle torque of a powerplant based on a powerplant maximum torque, an engine speed and engine system inefficiencies, that compares if said actual axle torque to an idle torque range and that regulates said torque output when said actual axle torque is not within said idle torque range during a first time period after said control module detects an idle torque request.