Methods, systems, media, and program products for calibrating gearbox control unit

Abstract

The present application is in the field of vehicle calibration, and more particularly, to methods, systems, computer-readable storage media, and computer program products for calibrating a transmission control unit. The method comprises the following steps: collecting vehicle operation data and reading a calibration value of the gearbox control unit; extracting performance indexes and key working condition features associated with the performance indexes from the vehicle operation data; determining whether the performance index meets a predetermined condition; in response to the condition that the performance index does not meet the preset condition, calculating a new calibration value according to the key working condition characteristics, the performance index and the calibration value; and writing the calculated new calibration value into the gearbox control unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of vehicle calibration, and more particularly, to a method, system, computer-readable storage medium, and computer program product for calibrating a transmission control unit. Background Art

[0002] In vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, the calibration of the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) has a direct impact on the performance of the transmission system. During the TCU calibration process, manual calibration is primarily used to modify the TCU's calibration values. As TCU performance becomes increasingly powerful, the number of parameters requiring calibration is also increasing. Although calibration and testing software can assist in the calibration process, engineers are still required to repeatedly adjust the parameters based on test results, a process that consumes significant time and costs.

[0003] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the above background technology section is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of the present application, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to ordinary technicians in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address or at least alleviate one or more of the above-mentioned problems, the following technical solutions are provided. This application provides a method, system, computer-readable storage medium, and computer program product for calibrating a transmission control unit. These methods can automatically calibrate a transmission control unit according to predetermined conditions without engineer intervention, and obtain a final calibration value that satisfies the predetermined conditions, significantly reducing the workload of the calibration process.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present application, a method for calibrating a transmission control unit is provided, the method comprising: collecting vehicle operating data and reading a calibration value of the transmission control unit; extracting a performance indicator and a key operating condition characteristic associated with the performance indicator from the vehicle operating data; determining whether the performance indicator satisfies a predetermined condition; in response to the performance indicator not satisfying the predetermined condition, calculating a new calibration value based on the key operating condition characteristic, the performance indicator, and the calibration value; and writing the calculated new calibration value into the transmission control unit.

[0006] As an alternative or supplement to the above solution, in a method according to an embodiment of the present application, in response to the performance indicator satisfying the predetermined condition, the calibration value is output as a final calibration value.

[0007] As an alternative or supplement to the above scheme, in a method according to one embodiment of the present application, the performance indicator includes acceleration jump during on-the-spot shifting, and wherein the key operating condition characteristics associated with the performance indicator include engine speed, engine torque, transmission oil temperature and atmospheric pressure.

[0008] As an alternative or supplement to the above solution, in a method according to an embodiment of the present application, in response to an instruction to change the gear position of the transmission, vehicle operating data is collected and a calibration value of the transmission control unit is read.

[0009] As an alternative or supplement to the above solution, in a method according to one embodiment of the present application, INCA software is used via the INCA application programming interface API to complete the following operations: collecting vehicle operating data and reading the calibration value of the transmission control unit; and writing the calculated new calibration value to the transmission control unit.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present application, a system for calibrating a transmission control unit is provided, the system comprising: an acquisition module configured to acquire vehicle operating data; a read / write module configured to read / write calibration values ​​of the transmission control unit; an extraction module configured to extract performance indicators and key operating condition characteristics associated with the performance indicators from the vehicle operating data; and a calculation module configured to calculate new calibration values ​​based on the key operating condition characteristics, the performance indicators, and a current calibration value of the transmission control unit.

[0011] As an alternative or supplement to the above solution, in a system according to one embodiment of the present application, the acquisition module is configured to use INCA software via INCA-API to acquire vehicle operation data, and wherein the read-write module is configured to use INCA software via INCA-API to read / write the calibration value of the transmission control unit.

[0012] As an alternative or supplement to the above solution, in a system according to an embodiment of the present application, the calculation module uses the following algorithms to calculate new calibration values: artificial intelligence algorithm; supervised learning algorithm; reinforcement learning algorithm; and any combination thereof.

[0013] According to a third aspect of the present application, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises instructions, and the instructions, when executed, execute any one of the methods described in the first aspect of the present application.

[0014] According to a fourth aspect of the present application, a computer program product is provided, comprising instructions, which, when run, execute any one of the methods described in the first aspect of the present application.

[0015] The method for calibrating a transmission control unit according to one or more embodiments of the present application can automatically complete the calibration process of the transmission control unit and obtain the final calibration value, eliminating the need for engineers to repeatedly perform analysis, calculations, and adjustments to the calibration value. Furthermore, the method can optimize for multiple performance indicators and is scalable, thereby fully utilizing existing resources. Furthermore, the method can selectively collect vehicle operating data for specific performance indicators, thereby conserving resources required for data storage and transmission. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The above and / or other aspects and advantages of the present application will become clearer and easier to understand through the following description of various aspects in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar elements are represented by the same reference numerals. In the drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 is a flow chart of a method 10 for calibrating a transmission control unit according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0018] Figure 2 is a block diagram of a system 20 for calibrating a transmission control unit according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The description of the following specific embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the disclosed technology or the application and use of the disclosed technology. In addition, there is no intention to be bound by any express or implied theory presented in the foregoing technical field, background technology or the following specific embodiments.

[0020] In the following detailed description of the embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the disclosed technology. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the disclosed technology can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features are not described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.

[0021] Terms such as "having" and "including" indicate that in addition to the units (modules) and steps that are directly and clearly stated in the specification and claims, the technical solution of this application does not exclude the situation where it has other units (modules) and steps that are not directly or clearly stated. Terms such as "first" and "second" do not indicate the order of units in terms of time, space, size, etc., but are only used to distinguish between the units. Moreover, the steps in this article are not limited to being implemented in the order written, but the steps written later can also be implemented at the same time as the steps written earlier, or before the steps written earlier.

[0022] Various embodiments of the present application will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] In vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions, the transmission control unit (TCU) adjusts the transmission's oil pressure and gear position based on the vehicle's real-time status and the driver's commands (e.g., via pedals). This ensures the vehicle delivers power as intended and provides a positive driving experience. Before a vehicle leaves the factory, the TCU must be calibrated to ensure smooth shifting, fuel economy, and driving comfort.

[0024] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method 10 for calibrating a transmission control unit according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 As shown, first, in step S102, vehicle operating data is collected and the calibration values ​​of the transmission control unit are read. Vehicle operating data includes vehicle speed, engine speed, atmospheric pressure, ambient temperature, transmission gear position, and control signals (such as throttle signal, brake signal, shift signal), etc. The calibration values ​​of the transmission control unit can be set thresholds, conditions, or strategies (e.g., logic). When these thresholds, conditions, or strategies are met, the transmission control unit can cause the transmission to perform corresponding operations. For example, the calibration values ​​of the transmission control unit can include shift points (or a set of shift points, i.e., a shift curve). When the vehicle reaches a shift point, the transmission control unit can cause the transmission gear position to change.

[0025] Next, in step S104, performance indicators and key operating condition characteristics associated with these performance indicators are extracted from the vehicle operating data. Specifically, by analyzing the vehicle operating data, performance indicators can be extracted. These performance indicators can reflect the performance of the transmission at the current calibration value, and each of these performance indicators can be associated with certain key operating condition characteristics. For example, the acceleration jerk during the shift process can be calculated based on the changes in transmission gear position and vehicle speed over a period of time. The acceleration jerk can reflect the smoothness of the transmission shift at the current calibration value. Furthermore, the acceleration jerk may be related to the vehicle's engine speed, engine torque, transmission oil temperature, and atmospheric pressure during the shift process.

[0026] Then, in step S106, a determination is made as to whether the performance indicator satisfies a predetermined condition, which may be derived from customer requirements or regulatory requirements. If the performance indicator satisfies the predetermined condition, it indicates that the transmission performance at the current calibration value meets the customer requirements or regulatory requirements, meaning that the current calibration value of the transmission control unit does not need to be adjusted. Otherwise, it indicates that the calibration value of the transmission control unit needs to be adjusted. In some embodiments, the predetermined condition may be pre-set by an engineer and may be modified based on vehicle model and region.

[0027] In step S112, in response to the performance indicator satisfying the predetermined condition, the calibration value is output as the final calibration value, and the calibration process ends. In step S108, in response to the performance indicator not satisfying the predetermined condition, a new calibration value is calculated based on the key operating condition characteristics, the performance indicator, and the calibration value. Generally, if a performance indicator does not satisfy the predetermined condition, some of the calibration values ​​need to be adjusted based on the key operating condition characteristics associated with these performance indicators. For example, the response speed of a transmission shift may be associated with the transmission shift delay time, which may be related to some of the set calibration values ​​(e.g., the initial value of the main oil pressure, the torque management strategy, and the gear pre-determination strategy). Therefore, when the response speed of a transmission shift does not satisfy the predetermined condition, a new calibration value can be calculated based on the current response speed, the current shift delay time, and the current calibration value. Then, in step S110, the calculated new calibration value is written to the transmission control unit so that the transmission control unit can subsequently shift according to these new calibration values.

[0028] Next, the process returns to step S102 and repeats the steps in method 10 to verify whether the performance of the transmission meets the requirements under the new calibration value. If the performance of the transmission meets the requirements, the calibration value at this time is output as the final calibration value, as shown in step S112, and the calibration process ends.

[0029] The steps of the method 10 are described below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0030] Typically, during a vehicle's on-the-spot shift (i.e., from N gear to D gear), it is required that no vehicle vibration be detected throughout the entire clutch engagement process (e.g., the vehicle's acceleration jerk is below a threshold). Therefore, in an embodiment where the acceleration jerk during an on-the-spot shift is used as a performance indicator, first, in step S102, in response to an instruction to change the gear position of the transmission, vehicle operating data is collected and the calibration values ​​of the transmission control unit are read. Specifically, upon receiving a signal indicating an on-the-spot shift, the transmission control unit can initiate the collection of vehicle operating data and read the calibration values ​​of the transmission control unit, thereby selectively collecting vehicle operating data and reducing the resources required for data storage and transmission. The collected vehicle operating data includes engine speed, vehicle speed, engine torque, transmission oil temperature, ambient temperature, and shift signals during the on-the-spot shift. This vehicle operating data can reflect the transmission control unit's execution of the on-the-spot shift process under the current calibration values.

[0031] Then, in step S104, the acceleration jump of the vehicle during the process can be calculated from the change in vehicle speed, and the changes in parameters such as engine speed, engine torque, transmission oil temperature and atmospheric pressure associated with the acceleration jump during the process can be obtained.

[0032] Next, in step S106, it is determined whether the acceleration jerk of the vehicle is lower than a threshold value. If the acceleration jerk of the vehicle is lower than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S112, and the calibration value read in step S102 is output as the final calibration value, and the calibration process ends. If the acceleration jerk of the vehicle is higher than the threshold value, the process proceeds to S108, and a new calibration value is calculated based on the changes in parameters such as engine speed, engine torque, transmission oil temperature, and atmospheric pressure obtained in step S104, combined with the magnitude of the acceleration jerk and the calibration value read in step S102. For example, excessive acceleration jerk during an on-the-spot shift may be caused by too low a transmission oil temperature. Therefore, the calibration value associated with the initial transmission oil temperature or transmission oil pressure can be modified to a higher value to obtain a new calibration value.

[0033] Then, in step S110, the new calibration value is written to the transmission control unit. After this, the process returns to step S102. The next time the transmission control unit receives a signal instructing a garage shift, it begins collecting vehicle operating data and reading the calibration value from the transmission control unit. The calibration value at this point will be the revised new calibration value, and subsequent vehicle operating data will reflect the garage shift process executed by the transmission control unit under this new calibration value. The following steps are repeated until the acceleration jerk falls below the threshold, at which point the calibration value is output as the final calibration value, and the calibration process ends.

[0034] In some embodiments, INCA software can be used via INCA-API to complete the collection of vehicle operation data, the reading of current calibration values, and the writing of new calibration values. INCA software is a software tool widely used for calibration, measurement, and diagnosis of automotive electronic control units (ECUs). It is mainly used for the development, testing, and optimization of automotive electronic systems, and supports ECU calibration for traditional internal combustion engine vehicles and new energy vehicles (such as pure electric and hybrid vehicles). INCA-API is an interface tool for automated testing and calibration. It allows users to call the functions of INCA software through programming, thereby enabling automated operation of INCA software, including collecting and storing data, reading and writing calibrations, etc. With the help of existing software and interfaces, external resources can be fully utilized to further improve the efficiency and compatibility of calibration.

[0035] refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system 20 for calibrating a transmission control unit according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 As shown in FIG, a system 20 for calibrating a transmission control unit includes an acquisition module 210, a read / write module 220, an extraction module 230, and a calculation module 240. In the system 20, the acquisition module 210 is configured to acquire vehicle operating data; the read / write module 220 is configured to read / write calibration values ​​of the transmission control unit; the extraction module 230 is configured to extract performance indicators and key operating condition characteristics associated with the performance indicators from the vehicle operating data; and the calculation module 240 is configured to calculate new calibration values ​​based on the key operating condition characteristics, the performance indicators, and the current calibration values ​​of the transmission control unit.

[0036] The acquisition module 210, the read / write module 220, the extraction module 230, and the calculation module 240 can be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the acquisition module 210, the read / write module 220, the extraction module 230, and the calculation module 240 are configured to be implemented by modular software or programs written in Python. In such embodiments, the main program of the system 20 first loads the required Python libraries (including the libraries required for connecting to the INCA-API), and then executes the main program by calling the corresponding modules. Figure 1 Specifically, the vehicle operation data is collected by calling the acquisition module 210 and the calibration value is read by calling the read-write module 220 (for example, using INCA software via INCA-API), as shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown in step S102 of method 10; by calling the extraction module 230 to complete the extraction of performance indicators and key operating characteristics, such as Figure 1 As shown in step S104 of method 10; the calculation of the new calibration value is completed by calling the calculation module 240, such as Figure 1 As shown in step S108 of method 10; the writing of the new calibration value is completed by calling the read-write module 220, such as Figure 1 As shown in step S110 in method 10.

[0037] In some embodiments, the acquisition module 210 is configured to save the collected vehicle operation data as a local file and return the storage path of the file. Then, the extraction module 230 is configured to extract the file from the storage path and decode and convert it, then extract the performance indicators and key operating condition characteristics from the decoded data, and return the performance indicators and key operating condition data. After the main program of the system 20 completes the determination of the performance indicators (such as Figure 1 As shown in step S106 in the main program, the main program selects whether to output the final calibration value (such as Figure 1 The calculation module 240 is still called to calculate the new calibration value (as shown in step S112). The calculation module 240 is configured to calculate the new calibration value using various algorithms, including artificial intelligence algorithms, supervised learning algorithms, reinforcement learning algorithms, and any combination thereof. After the calculation module 240 returns the new calibration value, the read-write module 220 writes it to the transmission control unit to update the calibration value of the transmission control unit. Next, when the signal indicating the spot shift is received next, the entire process is repeated to verify whether the spot shift operation under the new calibration value can provide the required performance. When it is determined that the performance indicator meets the predetermined conditions, the calibration value at this time is output as the final calibration value, and the main program ends.

[0038] The methods and systems according to one or more embodiments of the present application automate the transmission control unit calibration process and output final calibration values ​​that ensure performance indicators meet predetermined conditions. Engineers only need to pre-set these conditions based on vehicle model or region, eliminating the need for multiple analysis, adjustments, and verification operations throughout the calibration process. This significantly reduces the labor and costs associated with the transmission control unit calibration process, improving calibration efficiency and accuracy.

[0039] In addition, as described above, the present application can also be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium, in which is stored a program for causing a computer to execute the following steps: Figure 1 Here, as the computer-readable storage medium, various computer-readable storage media can be used, such as disks (e.g., magnetic disks, optical disks, etc.), cards (e.g., memory cards, optical cards, etc.), semiconductor memories (e.g., ROMs, non-volatile memories, etc.), and tapes (e.g., magnetic tapes, cassettes, etc.).

[0040] The present application may also be implemented as a computer program product comprising instructions for causing a computer to execute the following steps: Figure 1 Method 10 shown.

[0041] Software according to the present application (such as program code and / or data) can be stored on one or more computer-readable storage media. It is also contemplated that the software identified herein can be implemented using one or more general or special computers and / or computer systems, networked and / or otherwise. Where applicable, the order of the various steps described herein can be changed, combined into composite steps and / or divided into sub-steps to provide the features described herein.

[0042] The embodiments and examples set forth herein are provided to best illustrate embodiments according to the present application and its specific applications, and thereby enable those skilled in the art to make and use the present application. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the above description and examples are provided for ease of illustration and example only. The descriptions set forth are not intended to be exhaustive of all aspects of the present application or to limit the present application to the precise forms disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating a transmission control unit, the method comprising: Collecting vehicle operating data and reading calibration values ​​of the transmission control unit; extracting performance indicators and key operating condition characteristics associated with the performance indicators from the vehicle operation data; determining whether the performance indicator satisfies a predetermined condition; In response to the performance indicator not satisfying the predetermined condition, calculating a new calibration value based on the key operating condition characteristic, the performance indicator, and the calibration value; as well as The calculated new calibration value is written into the transmission control unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein In response to the performance indicator satisfying the predetermined condition, the calibration value is output as a final calibration value.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein The performance indicator includes acceleration jump during an in-place shift, and key operating condition characteristics associated with the performance indicator include engine speed, engine torque, transmission oil temperature, and atmospheric pressure.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein In response to a command to change the gear of the transmission, vehicle operating data is collected and a calibration value of the transmission control unit is read.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein Use the INCA software via the INCA Application Programming Interface (API) to: Collecting vehicle operating data and reading calibration values ​​of the transmission control unit; and The calculated new calibration value is written into the transmission control unit.

6. A system for calibrating a transmission control unit, the system comprising: a collection module configured to collect vehicle operation data; a read / write module configured to read / write calibration values ​​of the transmission control unit; an extraction module configured to extract performance indicators and key operating condition features associated with the performance indicators from the vehicle operation data; A calculation module is configured to calculate a new calibration value according to the key operating condition characteristics, the performance index and a current calibration value of the transmission control unit.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein: The acquisition module is configured to acquire vehicle operating data using INCA software via INCA-API, and wherein the read / write module is configured to read / write calibration values ​​of the transmission control unit using INCA software via INCA-API.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein: The calculation module is configured to calculate a new calibration value using the following algorithm: Artificial intelligence algorithms; Supervised learning algorithms; reinforcement learning algorithms; and any combination thereof.

9. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, wherein the instructions are configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 when executed.

10. A computer program product comprising instructions for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 when the instructions are executed.

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