Adaptive Gear Selection for Automatic Transmission Traction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gear selection methods for automatic transmissions in motor vehicles after a coasting phase fail to adapt effectively to the driver's dynamic strategy, leading to inappropriate gear choices during traction phases, particularly due to sudden changes in rotational speed and traction force requirements.

Innovation Solution

A gear selection method that calculates a sliding average value of rotational speed and traction force based on velocity and gradient before the coasting phase, allowing for adaptive gear choice adjustments during the traction phase, considering the driver's dynamic requirements through real-time gas pedal input and recorded data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the gear from the traction phase before the coasting is retained, then the gear selection is simple, but the gear may be too low causing large jump in rotational speed or too high causing insufficient traction force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear selection complexityVSAvoidgear adaptability to driver's dynamic strategy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing the driver's rotational speed requirement and traction force requirement during the coasting phase, and uses these stored values to determine the gear selection for the subsequent traction phase. This preliminary preparation allows the system to quickly adapt to the driver's dynamic strategy without complex real-time calculations during the traction phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring the driver's gas pedal input and vehicle state during the coasting phase to determine the driver's rotational speed requirement and traction force requirement. This feedback mechanism ensures that the gear selection in the subsequent traction phase accurately reflects the driver's dynamic strategy, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of energy

If the highest possible gear is engaged during coasting, then energy consumption is reduced, but the gear is too high for normal to sporty driving mode requiring re-shifting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumption during coastingVSAvoidgear appropriateness for subsequent traction phase

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by determining the driver's rotational speed requirement and traction force requirement during the coasting phase based on gas pedal input and vehicle state. This preliminary determination allows the system to select the most appropriate gear for the subsequent traction phase rather than defaulting to the highest gear, thus avoiding energy waste while ensuring gear appropriateness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies dynamics by making the gear selection adaptive rather than static. The gear selection changes dynamically based on the driver's coasting behavior (gas pedal input) and vehicle state, allowing the system to optimize for energy consumption during coasting while ensuring the selected gear is appropriate for the subsequent traction phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If gear tracking after normal shifting program is used during coasting with gas pedal value>0, then sporty factor is considered, but the gear selection is often implausible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsideration of sporty driving factorVSAvoidplausibility of gear selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback by monitoring the driver's gas pedal input during coasting to determine the driver's rotational speed requirement and traction force requirement. This feedback mechanism ensures that gear selection during sporty coasting (gas pedal value>0) is plausible and reliable, as it is based on actual driver intent rather than implausible tracking algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies parameter changes by using different determination criteria for gear selection based on the gas pedal value. When gas pedal value is greater than 0 during coasting, the system determines the driver's requirement based on the gas pedal input, ensuring plausible gear selection that reflects the driver's sporty driving intent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8571773B2Gear selection method for an automatic transmission for a traction phase after a coasting phase of a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2013.10.29 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a gear selection method and device for an automatic transmission for a traction phase (Z2) after a coasting phase (S) of a motor vehicle. According to the method, in a traction phase (Z1) before the coasting phase (S), a sliding average value of the rotational speed level (n) and/or of the traction force level (Fx) is formed depending on the particular velocity (v) and particular gradient (ST) and is taken into consideration for defining at least one gear choice of the automatic transmission for the traction phase (Z2) after the particular coasting phase (S).