Automatic Gearbox Modelling: Qualitative Approach

Abstract

In today's automotive landscape, the evolution of automotive systems into intricate mechatronic devices has rendered the application of mathematical modeling increasingly intricate, making it challenging to draw definitive conclusions about the correlation between real-world scenarios and theoretical models. Consequently, there is a growing imperative to embrace more qualitative modeling methodologies to derive robust and substantiated conclusions. This research undertakes to construct a generic model of the automatic gearbox, focusing on the AL4 gearbox as an application element. It is based on a comprehensive understanding of its behavior, employing a qualitative approach by using finite state machine modeling implemented in MATLAB Stateflow, drawing from its extensive technical documentation, which offers intricate insights into its design and operational intricacies. After formulating the theoretical model, simulations have been conducted to compare its behavior with real-world performance, thereby validating its accuracy and efficacy. Based on its behavior, this model will be a reference for research and engineering activities. This approach not only enhances comprehension of the AL4 automatic gearbox's functionality but also paves the way for developing models that are more precise, thereby augmenting automotive system design and performance, and validating shift strategies. By leveraging modeling tools such as MATLAB Stateflow, engineers can simulate diverse automotive system behaviors and conduct in-depth analyses to refine design and operational parameters.