Vehicle transmission shift quality

Abstract

A vehicle powertrain modelling system includes a powertrain model ( 20 ), a vehicle model ( 30 ), a seat model ( 55 ), a driver model ( 60 ) and a correlation element ( 50 ) comprising a neural network. As a result vehicle development is enhanced, using the neural network ( 50 ) to correlate modelled shift aspects with previous subjectively obtained ratings.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . An AMT vehicle transmission control system comprising a transmission shift parameter control element, a vehicle manoeuvre detection element and a controller, wherein the controller is arranged derive control instructions from the detected vehicle manoeuvre to control the shift parameter control element. 
   
   
       12 . A system as claimed in  claim 11  in which the controller comprises a neural network. 
   
   
       13 . A system as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising a shift quality sensor element. 
   
   
       14 . A system as claimed in  claim 13  in which the controller is arranged to adjust control parameters or provide a diagnostic report or control other parameters based on the sensed shift quality. 
   
   
       15 . A vehicle control system comprising an AMT vehicle transmission control system as claimed in  claim 11 . 
   
   
       16 . A vehicle including a control system as claimed in  claim 11 . 
   
   
       17 . A method of calibrating a system as claimed in any preceding claim  1  comprising the steps of running the system through one or more predetermined manoeuvre and correlating a modelled rating against a driver subjective rating for the same manoeuvre. 
   
   
       18 . A method as claimed in  claim 17  in which the calibration is carried out by a neural network. 
   
   
       19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . A method of controlling an AMT vehicle transmission comprising detecting a vehicle manoeuvre, deriving shift control instructions for the detected manoeuvre and controlling a shift parameter control element based on the control instructions. 
   
   
       21 . A method of developing an AMT vehicle transmission comprising the steps of measuring a shift profile, determining the contributory factors and varying the contributory factors to obtain an improved shift profile. 
   
   
       22 . A method as claimed in  claim 20  in which a cost function is associated with aspects of a shift profile and the improved shift profile is obtained by minimising the cost defined as a deviation from a preferred shift profile. 
   
   
       23 . A vehicle powertrain modelling system comprising a plurality of powertrain model elements and an interaction monitor arranged to monitor interaction between the elements, in which the model elements include a time-deterioration model and the interaction monitor monitors interaction of the elements over time. 
   
   
       24 . A vehicle development system comprising a modelling system as claimed in  claim 23 .