TECHNIQUES TO CONTROL AN ENGINE FOR AUTONOMOUS DRIVING OPERATIONS

The technology enables an in-vehicle control computer located in an autonomous vehicle to control an output of a propulsion apparatus based on an estimate of the electrical load of one or more devices on or in the autonomous vehicle. An example method of autonomous driving operation includes determining, at a first time, by a computer located in the vehicle, a second energy or power consumption value of a plurality of devices that are expected to operate at a second time later than the first time, where the second energy or power consumption value is a different than a first energy or power consumption value of the plurality of devices at the first time; and sending, by the computer, the second energy or power consumption value to control an engine or a motor located in the vehicle.