The variety of transmissions available in the market today has grown exponentially within the last 15 years, all while increasing in complexity. The result is definitely that we are now coping with a varied quantity of transmission types including manual, standard automatic, automatic manual, dual clutch, continuously adjustable, split power and real EV.
Until very recently, automotive vehicle producers largely had two types of transmitting to choose from: planetary automatic with torque converter or conventional manual. Today, however, the volume of choices available demonstrates the adjustments seen across the industry.
That is also illustrated by the countless various kinds of vehicles now being manufactured for the market. And not merely conventional automobiles, but also all electrical and hybrid vehicles, with each type needing different driveline architectures.
The traditional development Driveline gearboxes process involved designing a transmission in isolation from the engine and all of those other powertrain and vehicle. However, this is changing, with the limitations and complications of this method becoming more more popular, and the constant drive among producers and designers to deliver optimal efficiency at decreased weight and cost.
New powertrains feature close integration of components like the prime mover, recovery systems and the gearbox, and in addition rely on highly advanced control systems. That is to assure that the very best amount of efficiency and functionality is delivered all the time. Manufacturers are under increased pressure to create powertrains that are brand new, different from and much better than the last version-a proposition that’s made more technical by the necessity to integrate brand components, differentiate within the marketplace and do everything on a shorter timescale. Engineering teams are on deadline, and the advancement process must be more efficient and fast-paced than ever before.
Until now, the use of computer-aided engineering (CAE) has been the most common way to develop drivelines. This technique involves components and subsystems designed in isolation by silos within the business that lean toward confirmed component-level analysis equipment. While they are highly advanced equipment that allow users to extract extremely dependable and accurate data, they remain presenting data that is collected without factor of the whole system.
While this may produce components that all work nicely individually, putting them collectively without prior thought of the entire program can create designs that don’t work, leading to issues in the driveline that are difficult and expensive to correct.