Lurch avoidance strategy and its implementation in AMT vehicles

Conventionally the control of dry clutch’s engagement during a standing start in AMT vehicles is assured by look-up tables whose values are carefully chosen to produce a smooth synchronisation at the expense of a long slipping time. This article proposes, instead, a new approach based on: an open-loop look-up table aiming to reduce the slipping time, combined with an observer-based optimal control assuring the engagement comfort. Particular attention has been given to the details of the on-line implementation on a Clio AMT prototype. Experimental results show both a close match between the predicted and the actual trajectories and a high level of comfort.