Automatic Transmission Control With Jump-Aware Shift Inhibition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual-clutch transmissions (DCTs) have not been widely adopted in off-road vehicles due to high manufacturing costs and packaging issues, and existing control schemes are not adapted for the unique operational conditions and safety considerations of off-road driving, which can include jumps and terrain variations.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling an automatic transmission, including a DCT, that senses vehicle acceleration and speed to prevent gear shifting during jumps and allows manual override in fault states, and uses an adaptive pressure-torque function to manage clutch engagement based on real-time conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gear shifting is performed during jumps, then transmission efficiency is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential damage from improper shifting
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts transmission operation based on real-time vehicle state detection. During jump events, the system detects the airborne condition and automatically prohibits gear shifting to prevent damage, while allowing normal shifting operations during ground-based driving to maintain efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from acceleration sensors and speed sensors to detect jump conditions and continuously monitors vehicle state to determine when gear shifting should be prohibited or permitted, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing conditions.
2Reliability
If automatic control prohibits shifting during jumps, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to loss of driver control
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides automatic protection during jump conditions without requiring driver intervention, while still allowing the driver to override the prohibition when desired, effectively making the system self-regulating while preserving driver authority.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of giving the driver complete control or completely prohibiting shifting, the system inverts the approach by providing automatic protection that can be overridden, reversing the traditional hierarchy of control.
3Ease of operation
If manual override is allowed in fault states, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential damage from forced operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial protection by prohibiting gear shifting during detected fault conditions while still allowing clutch engagement operations and permitting driver override through neutral selection, providing selective rather than complete restriction.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system changes operational parameters based on detected conditions, adjusting what operations are permitted or prohibited depending on the specific fault state and vehicle conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling an automatic transmission of a vehicle. The method includes operating the transmission in an automatic mode whereby gear shifting of the transmission is performed automatically based on a speed of the vehicle; receiving a shifting request from a user-operated gear shifter to either: (i) upshift the transmission from a current gear to a higher gear; or (ii) downshift the transmission from the current gear to a lower gear. In response to the shifting request, the method continues with operating the transmission in a semi-automatic mode whereby gear shifting is based on user-generated shifting requests; performing the upshift or the downshift according to the shifting request; monitoring a speed of an engine of the vehicle; and in response to the speed being at a lower speed limit or an upper speed limit, returning operation of the transmission to the automatic mode.