Intelligent Quick Bed-In for Automatic Transmission Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for bedding-in automatic transmissions are time-consuming and unreliable, as they require multiple test cycles regardless of the transmission's adaptation status, leading to wasted production time and potential shift quality issues due to subjective operator assessment.

Innovation Solution

An intelligent quick bed-in method that monitors both operator and vehicle performance during the bedding-in process, allowing for adaptive learning of transmission variations and reducing the number of test cycles needed, thereby improving efficiency and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the transmission is run through gears multiple times using traditional bedding-in methods, then the transmission controller learns and adapts to variations, but the production time is excessively long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission adaptation reliabilityVSAvoidbedding-in process time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors shift quality parameters and transmission performance during the bedding-in process, using this feedback to determine when adaptation is complete. This allows the process to terminate early when targets are met, eliminating the need for fixed multiple cycles and reducing production time while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The bedding-in process transitions from a static fixed-cycle approach to a dynamic adaptive process that adjusts the number of cycles based on real-time learning progress. The system dynamically evaluates adaptation status and terminates the process when sufficient learning has occurred, optimizing the balance between reliability and time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the transmission is run through gears fewer times to reduce production time, then the bedding-in process is faster, but the transmission controller may not fully adapt to variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidtransmission adaptation completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Real-time monitoring of shift quality metrics provides continuous feedback on adaptation progress, allowing the system to determine with high confidence whether sufficient learning has occurred. This feedback mechanism ensures that even with fewer cycles, the transmission controller achieves adequate adaptation before the process terminates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces subjective operator assessment with automated electronic monitoring and analysis of transmission performance data. This substitution enables more precise and reliable determination of adaptation completeness, ensuring quality standards are met while reducing the number of required test cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If subjective operator assessment is used to determine bedding-in completion, then the process can be simplified, but shift quality issues may be missed or incorrectly identified

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebedding-in process complexityVSAvoidshift quality assessment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces subjective human operator assessment with automated electronic sensors and computer-based analysis of transmission performance data. This substitution objectively measures shift quality parameters, eliminating human bias and subjectivity while improving measurement precision and reliability of adaptation determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission control system performs self-assessment of its own adaptation status by monitoring its performance data and comparing it against target criteria. This self-service capability eliminates the need for external operator judgment while maintaining or improving assessment accuracy through consistent, data-driven evaluation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3144565B1Method for intelligent quick bed-in of an automatic transmission
Publication Date: 2020.02.19 KIA CORPORATION
  • EP3144565B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3144565B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3144565B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a method for an intelligent quick bed-in of an automatic transmission comprising the steps of operating the vehicle according to a predetermined protocol so that the powertrain controller can learn about powertrain variations and adapt operation of the transmission; obtaining feedback information regarding operator performance of the method and vehicle performance during the method; determining whether the bed-in method was successful by the level of run-up or tie-up, by whether the powertrain controller was allowed to adapt, or by the level of powertrain controller adaptation; and completing the bedding-in process. The method being capable of reducing the time required for a bedding-in process, while improving the reliability of the bedding-in process.