Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for emulating a turbocharger speed sensor of a turbocharger in an engine. A processor executing the method can receive data from a plurality of sensors in the engine, wherein the data includes: an exhaust manifold pressure of the engine; an exhaust mass flow of the engine; and an injection angle of fuel in the engine. The processor enters the data as inputs into an artificial neural network, where the artificial neural network is trained to receive the inputs and output a speed of the turbocharger of the engine, then receives an output from the artificial neural network which is the speed of the turbocharger.