A cruise control system of a motor vehicle includes additional functionality to address increasing vehicle speed on a down gradient. A downshift is commanded upon detection of repeated or prolonged activation of a speed-down control, the additional engine braking reducing vehicle speed to cruise speed in a manner which is within driver expectation.

A method for controlling an automatic transmission of a vehicle includes detecting a deceleration of the vehicle; detecting a cornering value of the vehicle; determining, as a function of the deceleration and as a function of the cornering value, a compensated shift-down point of a rotational speed at which shifting into a relatively low gear of the transmission occurs; and selecting a gear as a function of the compensated shift-down point.

A method for controlling an automatic transmission of a vehicle includes detecting a deceleration of the vehicle; detecting a cornering value of the vehicle; determining, as a function of the deceleration and as a function of the cornering value, a compensated shift-down point of a rotational speed at which shifting into a relatively low gear of the transmission occurs; and selecting a gear as a function of the compensated shift-down point.

Provided herein is a method and control system for a multiple-mode continuously variable transmission having a ball planetary variator. The control system has a transmission control module configured to receive a plurality of electronic input signals, and to determine a mode of operation from a plurality of control ranges based at least in part on the plurality of electronic input signals. The transmission control module includes a CVP control module. In some embodiments, the transmission control module is adapted to include an engine braking control process. The engine braking control process is configured to adjust the variator corresponding to an engine braking request.

A continuously variable clutch (CVT) is disclosed which is operable in a first direction to transfer power from a power source to ground engaging members of a vehicle, and in a second direction where the ground engaging members brake and/or drive the engine. The CVT has a braking assembly having a thrust member positioned over a drive clutch shaft and adjacent an outer sheave of the drive clutch. A flanged sleeve is operatively coupled to the drive clutch shaft and generally positioned intermediate the inner and outer sheaves of the drive clutch, with a portion of the flanged sleeve being adjacent the thrust member. The flanged sleeve is fixed relative to the drive clutch shaft when operating in the first direction and is cooperable with the thrust member to move the flanged member axially relative to the drive clutch shaft and towards the inner sheave when operating in the second direction.

A gear selection recommendation can be displayed in a vehicle having a transmission to be actuated manually. The gear selection recommendation can be calculated based on a present deceleration setpoint value to be ascertained by a control unit. A gear suitable for generating an engine braking force corresponding to the present deceleration setpoint value is calculated and the calculated gear is displayed as the gear selection recommendation on a display unit included in the vehicle.

A gear selection recommendation can be displayed in a vehicle having a transmission to be actuated manually. The gear selection recommendation can be calculated based on a present deceleration setpoint value to be ascertained by a control unit. A gear suitable for generating an engine braking force corresponding to the present deceleration setpoint value is calculated and the calculated gear is displayed as the gear selection recommendation on a display unit included in the vehicle.

A system, method, and apparatus for controlling acceleration of a machine when the machine exits a grade. The system, method, and apparatus may determine a virtual gear having a maximum speed limit equivalent that matches the speed of the machine as the machine exits the grade. The system, method, and apparatus may also deactivate an automatic retarding control (ARC) strategy, which may be activated when the machine is on the grade to reduce and limit the speed of the machine to no more than a set speed, if the ARC strategy is active as the machine exits the grade. The system, method, and apparatus may also control automatic downshift of a transmission system to the virtual gear if the ARC mode was activing during the exit from the graded surface and is now deactive.

A transmission controller includes: a corner detector that detects a corner; a predictor to predict a rolling amount based upon road data when the corner is detected and an accelerator opening degree is fully closed; a device to determine a first necessary engine braking amount in accordance with the rolling amount; a device to determine a first required speed change stage corresponding to the first necessary engine braking amount; a calculator to calculate a second necessary engine braking amount when the corner is detected and the accelerator opening degree is fully closed based upon a minimum required inter-vehicle distance with the vehicle ahead; a device to determine a second required speed change stage corresponding to the second engine braking amount; and a transmission controller to select, as a target speed change stage, either smaller one of the first or second required speed change stage, and then perform downshift control.

A speed change ECU for a CVT sets a target input rotational speed Nin* such that the speed ratio of the CVT is varied stepwise a plurality of times consecutively to the downshift side in response to an operation to depress a brake pedal by a driver, and sets the target input rotational speed Nin* such that an amount of increase S(1), S(2), . . . in input rotational speed along with a downshift becomes smaller as the number of times of execution of downshifts is increased while downshifts in which the speed ratio is varied stepwise are executed consecutively.