Modelling and Control for Automated Manual Transmissions with Dry Clutch

Automated Manual Transmissions (AMTs) with dry clutches are becoming more and more used as an improving add-on solution on classical manual transmission systems and as a reconfiguration element in modern hybrid electric vehicles. The paper presents some recent research developments for the solution of some open problems related to AMTs. After reporting an extensive literature review on the topic, specific attention is devoted to modelling of the driveline, modelling of an engagement actuator and control strategies for the engagement. The need for a detailed hybrid driveline model is motivated by the performance analysis of AMT in terms of engagement time, driver comfort, clutch facing wear and so on. It is shown how a reduced order model of the driveline can be derived and used in order to design control strategies which can be simply implemented on electronic control units. A dynamic model of the electro- hydraulic actuator used for the clutch engagement is also proposed. Finally, a brief overview of the existing control strategies for the dry clutch engagement process is reported by considering, among others, decoupling control, optimal control and model predictive control.