• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.234-242
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• 2002

In this research, a transmission control unit was developed for a wheel loader on the basis of 16-bit microcontroller system. The TCU has the basic functions which include shifting control algorithm, actuation of six proportional solenoid valves, signal conditioning for four speed sensors, remote data monitoring capability with RF-module and duty cycle identification system which could identify the duty cycles from PWM signals. In order to design the control system, the overall transmission structure of the wheel loader was investigated and its characteristics of shifting were analyzed in advance. For the purpose of identifying the existing control algorithm and acquire some information about the shifting performance, the shifting experiments were performed for various shifting conditions with the conventional TCU. From the previous work on the conventional TCU, the shifting scheme was designed with the open-loop control which is based on the experimental data only to verify the feasibility of the developing TCU's shilling capability. The experimental results show comparable shifting characteristics to that of conventional TCU though the tests were performed at restricted shilling conditions. Hence, we could have the confidence for the development of the wheel loader automatic transmission TCU and its shifting quality could be improved with the adoption of appropriate feedback control scheme.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.89-97
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• 2014

As the digital control technologies in automotive industry have advanced, electronic control units(ECUs) play a key-role to improve system performance. Transmission control unit(TCU) is a shifting controller for automatic transmission of which major functions are to determine the shift and manage the shifting process considering the various sensor signal on transmission and driver's commands. As with any ECU in vehicle, TCU performs complex algorithms such as shift control, diagnostic and failsafe functions. However, firmware design analysis is hardly possible by the reverse engineering due to code protection. Transmission simulator is a hardware-in-the-loop simulator which enables TCU to work in normal mode by simulating the electrical signal of TCU interface. In this research, diagnosis and failsafe algorithm implemented on commercialized TCU is analyzed by using the transmission simulator that is developed for wheel loader construction vehicle. This paper gives various experimental results on the proportional solenoid current trajectories for different operating modes, error detection criterion and limphome mode gears for all the possible cases of clutch malfunction. The derived results for conventional TCU can be applied to the development of inherent TCU algorithms and the transmission simulator can also be utilized for the test of TCU to be developed.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.17-26
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• 2023

A forklift is an industrial vehicle that lifts or transports heavy objects using a hydraulically operated fork, and is equipped with an automatic transmission for the convenience of repetitive transportation, loading, and unloading work. The Transmission Control Unit (TCU) is a key component in charge of the shift control function of an automatic transmission. It consists of an electric circuit with an input/output signal interface function and firmware running on a microcontroller. To develop TCU firmware, the development process of shifting algorithm design, firmware programming, verification test, and performance improvement must be repeated. A simulator is a device that simulates a mechanical system having dynamic characteristics in real time and simulates various sensor signals installed in the system. The embedded transmission simulator is a simulator that is embedded in the TCU firmware. information related to the mechanical system that is necessary for TCU normal operation. In this study, an embedded transmission simulator applied to the originally developed forklift TCU firmware was designed and used to verify various forklift shift control algorithms.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.29-36
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• 2017

Electronic control technologies that have long been developed for passenger cars spread to construction equipment and agricultural vehicles because of its outstanding performance achieved by embedded software. Especially, system program of transmission control unit (TCU) plays a crucial role for the superb shift quality, driving performance and fuel efficiency, etc. Since the control algorithm is embedded in software that is rarely analyzed, development of such a TCU cannot be conducted by conventional reverse engineering. Transmission simulator is a kind of electronic device that simulates the electric signals including driver operation command and output of various sensors installed in transmission. Standalone TCU can be run in normal operation mode with the signals provided by transmission simulator. In this research, transmission simulator for the tracked vehicle TCU is developed for the analysis of shift control algorithm from the experiments with standalone TCU. It was confirmed that shift experimental data for the simulator setup conditions can be used for the analysis of control algorithms on proportional solenoid valves and shift map.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.30-38
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• 2018

Electronic control units (ECUs) are currently popular, and have evolved further towards the high-end application of autonomous vehicles in the automotive industry. Such digital technologies have also become widespread, in agriculture and construction equipment. Likewise, transmission control of high-speed tracked vehicles is based on the transmission control unit (TCU), performing complex gear change control functions, and diagnostic algorithms (a TCU's self-diagnostic and reporting capability of malfunction data through CAN communication). Since all functions of TCU are implemented by embedded-software, it is hardly possible to analyze specifications by reverse engineering. In this paper a real-time transmission simulator adaptable to TCU is presented, for analysis of diagnosis algorithm and standards. Signal simulation circuits are deliberately designed considering electrical characteristics of TCU inputs and various analysis tools, such as analog input auto scan function, and global output enable switch, are implemented in software. Test results from hardware-in-the-loop simulator verify tolerance time for each error, as well as cause of fault, error reset conditions.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.301-306
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• 2008

Drivers are becoming more fatigued and uncomfortable with increase in traffic density, and this condition can lead to slower reaction time. Consequently, they may face the danger of traffic accidents due to their inability to cope with frequent gear shifting. To reduce this risk, some drivers prefer automatic transmission (AT) over manual transmission (MT). The AT offers more superior drivability and less shifting shock than the MT; therefore, the AT market share has been increasing. The AT is controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU), which provides better shifting performance. The transmission control unit (TCU) is a higher-value-added product, so the companies that have advanced technologies end to evade technology transfer. With more cars gradually using the ECU, the TCU is expected to be faster and more efficient for organic communication and arithmetic processing between the control systems than the l6-bit controller. In this paper, the model of an automatic transmission vehicle using MATLAB/Simulink is developed for the Hardware in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation with a 32-bit embedded system, and also the AT control logic for shifting is developed by using MATLAB/Simulink. The developed AT control logic, transformed automatically by real time workshop toolbox, is loaded to a 32-bit embedded system platform based on Freescale's MPC565. With both vehicle model and 32-bit embedded system platform, we make the HIL simulation system and HIL simulation of AT based on real time operating system (RTOS) is performed. According to the simulation results, the developed HIL simulator will be used for the performance test of embedded system for AT with low cost and effort.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.9 no.7
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• pp.1601-1606
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• 2005

In this study, an automatic idle stop control system was developed, which automatically stops the idle state engine as it detects the stop state of the car for several seconds and restarts the stopped engine with the driver's electrical signal. It is composed of microprocessor and the related electronic circuits and communicates with ECU and TCU. With accurate and confirmed operating performance, the control system was equipped in the test car which was proceeded the ECE15+EUDC mode test. It is confirmed that the control system, ASG has much favourable effects on reducing the fuel consumption and harmful exhaust emissions.

• Journal of the korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.36-46
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• 1993

In CVT vehicle, the engine speed is completely decoupled from the vehicle speed within the range from maximum transmission ratio to minimum transmission ratio. This allows the engine to operate in optimal state(e.g. best fuel economy or maximum power mode.) In this study, the CVT control algorithm for optimal operation of engine is suggested. In order to implement the real time digital control of electro-hydraulic CVT system, a software called CVTCON has been developed. CVTCON also includes the CVT operation module, (2) system test module, (3) system control module and (4) data management module. By using the CVTCON and the electro-hydraulic CVT system, two modes of experiments were carried out: constant throttle opening mode and acceleration mode. From the experimental result, it was found that the algorithm suggested in this study showed optimal operation of the CVT system.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.47-56
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• 2020

As a shift control of automatic transmission was managed with the electronic control unit (ECU), shift quality which is a measure of shift shock during gear change has markedly improved. However, the initial clutch pressure control of the clutch filling phase should continue to rely on the predetermined control input since the input and output speeds are unchanged until the shifting process attains the inertia phase. It is critical to minimize the clutch response time and control the clutch pressure accurately at the end of clutch fill to achieve quick shift response and smoothness. Advanced transmission companies have adopted an auto calibration method which establishes the databases for the clutch piston fill-up attributes and the frictional characteristics of the disks. In this study, a distinctive auto calibration algorithm for forklift transmission under development is proposed and verified with the real-vehicle test. The experimental calibration results showed consistent turbine dynamics at the initial stage of shifts with the properly calibrated clutch-fill control parameters. By using this technique, it is necessary to finalize the shift control for the various operation conditions.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.46-55
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• 2021

A forklift is a powered industrial vehicle used to lift and move materials over short distances. Nowadays, almost all forklifts are equipped with an automatic transmission due to its improved operator comfort and increased productivity. Thanks to marked improvement of transmission control unit equipped with highly-advanced microcontrollers, recently developed automatic transmission for forklift have various auxiliary functions such as creep, auto retardation, and automatic shift with excellent shift quality. This paper deals with the creep function which enables one to maneuver a forklift at the designated low speed by slip control of clutches. The design of creep function was based on four modes of creep operation depending on the status of the operator's shift lever and accelerator pedal. Control algorithms and control parameters for each mode were designed to achieve the desired static and dynamic performance. Vehicle test for the designed creep function was carried out with an independently developed embedded controller. Test results confirmed good creep speed control without speed error at a steady state with a mild shift shock during mode changes by stepping or releasing the accelerator.