Unified MPC strategy for idle-speed control, vehicle start-up and gearing applied to an Automated Manual Transmission

A real-time Model Predictive Control (MPC) is proposed for controlling the behavior of an Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). The underlying formulation shows a unified approach that handles different modes: idle-speed control, vehicle start-up, gearing up and down. Sub-optimal solutions are computed on line using an adaptive reduced dimensional parametrization that is directly linked to the accelerator pedal position. Transmission stability constraints are explicitly handled as well as saturations on the control inputs. The proposed control is tested both in simulation and on line in a city car demonstrator equipped with a natural gas engine.