A vehicle includes a drive wheel, an engine, an accelerator pedal, a torque converter, a clutch, and a controller. The drive wheel is configured to propel the vehicle. The engine is configured to generate power and to deliver power to the drive wheel to accelerate the vehicle. The accelerator pedal is configured to generate an acceleration request based on a pedal position. The torque converter is disposed between the engine and the drive wheel. The clutch is disposed between the engine and the drive wheel and is configured to bypass the torque converter. The controller is programmed to, in response to depressing the accelerator pedal to a position that corresponds with accelerating the vehicle at a desired magnitude, adjust the torque of the engine to accelerate the vehicle at the desired magnitude, regardless of the state of the clutch.

A system for conducting a rationality check of a transmission grade sensor includes a controller configured to calculate a change in elevation over time based on a change in barometric pressure. The controller calculates another change in elevation based on an average grade determined from a transmission grade sensor. The controller compares the second change in elevation to the first change in elevation and, if there is a significant discrepancy between them, calculates a grade correction factor. The controller then modifies the shift logic and/or shift schedule of the transmission based on the average grade from the transmission grade sensor and on the grade correction factor.

A method of estimating a load on a vehicle (10), the method comprising: obtaining a first load estimate using a first load estimation technique; obtaining a second load estimate using a second load estimation technique; analysing characteristics of the first load estimate and the second load estimate; and, based on the analysis selecting either the first load estimate or the second load estimate as an output load estimate.

Transmissions, control systems for transmissions, and methods of operating transmissions are disclosed herein. A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, one or more clutches, and a control system. The input shaft is configured to receive rotational power supplied by a drive unit. The output shaft is coupled to the input shaft and configured to provide rotational power supplied to the input shaft to a load. The one or more clutches are coupled between the input shaft and the output shaft to selectively transmit rotational power between the input shaft and the output shaft in one or more operating modes of the transmission. Each of the one or more clutches is selectively engageable in response to one or more fluid pressures applied thereto. The control system is configured to control operation of the one or more clutches to select the one or more operating modes of the transmission.

Provided is a wheel loader in which the speed position of the transmission can be easily changed with a small number of switches. The wheel loader 1 includes a tilting angle sensor 9 for detecting the tilting angle of the vehicle body. In case that the vehicle body is traveling on an uphill or a downhill with a transmission 33 in a higher speed position than the lowest speed position, and the tilting angle detected by the tilting angle sensor 9 is not smaller than a prescribed threshold value, a transmission control device 45 sends the transmission 33 a command to downshift the transmission 33 one speed position by each operation of a shiftdown switch 62.

A vehicle control device comprising: a balance gradient calculation unit configured to calculate a balance gradient that is a gradient at which a propulsive force of the vehicle and a resistance force applied to the vehicle are balanced when the vehicle travels in a gear-in coasting state in which an engine is connected to a gear and the vehicle travels without supplying fuel to the engine, in a case where a traveling state of the vehicle is a neutral coasting state; and a traveling control unit configured to: switch, based on the calculated balance gradient and a specified road gradient, the traveling state of the vehicle from the neutral coasting state to the gear-in coasting state in a case where the traveling state of the vehicle is the neutral coasting state; and end, the gear-in coasting state when determining that an end condition is satisfied.

A segment determination device is provided with an altitude information acquisition unit that acquires altitude information about a plurality of points on a road on which a vehicle travels, a feature amount determination unit that determines a feature amount indicating gradient information about the road based on the altitude information about points including a first point ahead of the vehicle in a traveling direction of the vehicle and a second point further ahead of the first point among the plurality of points, and a segment determination unit that, in a case where the feature amount is outside of a predetermined range, determines a segment in which the first point is set as a start point and whichever of two points adjacent to the second point that is closer to the vehicle is set as an end point.

A driving assistance system for a work vehicle may comprise a service brake configured to decelerate the work vehicle upon actuation of the service brake, a parking brake and a transmission including a clutch. A controller may be configured to disengage the clutch when the work vehicle speed is less than a speed threshold and when the service brake is actuated, whereby the work vehicle is brought to a stop.

A transmission is subject to gear shift management that provides for shifting gears in a controlled manner in order to provide for a simplification of part and reduction in system complexity. In particular, a range synchronizer component can be replaced with a simplified range jaw clutch, without incurring a requirement for an installation of other components such as a motor generator or starter-generator.

Transmissions, control systems for transmissions, and methods of operating transmissions are disclosed herein. A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, one or more clutches, and a control system. The input shaft is configured to receive rotational power supplied by a drive unit. The output shaft is coupled to the input shaft and configured to provide rotational power supplied to the input shaft to a load. The one or more clutches are coupled between the input shaft and the output shaft to selectively transmit rotational power between the input shaft and the output shaft in one or more operating modes of the transmission. Each of the one or more clutches is selectively engageable in response to one or more fluid pressures applied thereto. The control system is configured to control operation of the one or more clutches to select the one or more operating modes of the transmission.