Power output monitoring for vehicles equipped with electronic throttle

Vehicles equipped with electronic throttle control (ETC) systems are entering the automotive marketplace for several reasons, including improved fuel economy (early transmission upshifts, lean-burn combustion, variable displacement engines), drivability (improved pedal response, altitude compensation, traction control), and emissions (controlled tip-in/tip-out, cold start). These improvements come at the cost of increased complexity. One of the issues is related to engine power output detection and mitigation in case of operation under exceptional conditions. The authors propose a method that monitors the operation of the powertrain based on the amount of injected fuel and provides a natural mitigating action.