AMT Gear Control for Slope-Aware Direct Gear Holding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large vehicles equipped with Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) face inefficiencies in gear position selection, leading to varying fuel consumption due to differences in gear resistance, which existing techniques fail to accurately address.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device that determines forward travel segments with different road slopes, selects optimal gear positions based on estimated travel resistance and transmission efficiency, and maintains direct gear during forward travel to minimize fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the AMT selects gear positions based on conventional shift patterns, then the transmission operation is simplified, but the fuel consumption is increased due to not considering gear-specific resistance differences
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the selection criteria for gear positions by considering multiple parameters including transmission efficiency, gear resistance, road gradient, and vehicle speed. The control device calculates optimal gear positions by evaluating these parameters dynamically, selecting gears that minimize fuel consumption rather than following fixed shift patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device continuously monitors vehicle operating conditions including speed, acceleration, road gradient, and transmission state, using this feedback to dynamically adjust gear position selections. The system compares actual fuel consumption with expected consumption and refines gear selection strategies accordingly.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the transmission frequently shifts between overdrive gear and direct gear, then the fuel consumption is reduced, but the driver comfort deteriorates due to frequent gear shifts
Solution Approach 1:
The control device predicts future road conditions using gradient information and vehicle speed to anticipate upcoming travel segments. By calculating optimal gear positions in advance for upcoming segments, the system can prepare gear transitions smoothly, avoiding sudden shifts that would discomfort the driver while still optimizing fuel consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements dynamic gear position selection that adapts to changing road conditions and vehicle state. The control device continuously evaluates whether to maintain current gear or shift, balancing fuel efficiency goals with driver comfort by considering the frequency and timing of gear transitions based on real-time conditions.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the transmission maintains overdrive gear for fuel efficiency, then the fuel consumption is reduced, but the vehicle performance deteriorates when climbing slopes requiring higher torque
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically changes transmission efficiency parameters based on road gradient and vehicle load conditions. When climbing slopes are detected, the system switches from prioritizing fuel efficiency (overdrive gear) to prioritizing power delivery (direct gear), optimizing the balance between these two parameters according to actual operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
By detecting road gradients in advance and predicting upcoming travel segments, the control device can prepare for power requirements before they occur. The system calculates optimal gear positions considering future slope requirements, ensuring the vehicle is in the appropriate gear (direct gear for climbing, overdrive for cruising) before the actual need arises, thus maintaining both power and fuel efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control device controls operation of a vehicle provided with a transmission having a direct gear and normal gears including an overdrive gear having a lower gear ratio than the direct gear. The device includes a travel segment determination unit which determines a forward travel segment having a different road slope from a current travel segment, a current gear position selection unit that selects a current gear position in accordance with a shift pattern, a forward gear position selection unit that selects a forward gear position based on a travel resistance of the vehicle in the forward travel segment, and a shift control unit that maintains a gear position as the direct gear while the vehicle travels in the forward travel segment, when a gear position of the transmission in the current travel segment is the overdrive gear and the forward gear position is the direct gear.