According to one aspect, a clutch mechanism includes a control member. The control member is adapted to receive motive power and includes a first dry clutch member and a first viscous clutch member. The clutch mechanism further includes an output member that includes a second dry clutch member and a second viscous clutch member. The first and second dry clutch members form a dry clutch and the first and second viscous clutch members form a viscous clutch. The clutch mechanism further includes an actuation arm coupled to at least one of the control and output members. The actuation arm is selectively controllable to effect relative movement of the control and output members such that one of the dry and viscous clutches is selectively engaged.

A method is provided for controlling a drivetrain of a vehicle, wherein the drivetrain comprises a multi-clutch transmission. The gear shift of the multi-clutch transmission is adapted to be performed either by power cut shift or by power shift dependent on predetermined vehicle shift conditions. The method includes detecting at least one of a plurality of indications of slippery road conditions and setting a slip risk factor, wherein the slip risk factor is dependent on the indication of slippery road conditions. If the slip risk factor is above a first predetermined threshold value the method further comprises controlling the multi-clutch transmission such that an upcoming gear shift is performed as a power-shift independently of if upcoming shift was determined to be performed as a power-cut shift or as a power shift.

A clutch mechanism includes a control member. The control member is adapted to receive motive power and includes a first dry clutch member and a first viscous clutch member. The clutch mechanism further includes an output member that includes a second dry clutch member and a second viscous clutch member. The first and second dry clutch members form a dry clutch and the first and second viscous clutch members form a viscous clutch. The clutch mechanism further includes an actuation arm coupled to at least one of the control and output members. The actuation arm is selectively controllable to effect relative movement of the control and output members such that one of the dry and viscous clutches is selectively engaged.

Methods and systems for automatic braking for vehicles having a manual transmission are disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing a vehicle with at least one vehicle sensor, at least one actuator, and a controller in communication with the at least one vehicle sensor and the at least one actuator, determining a vehicle speed and an engine speed, receiving sensor data from the at least one vehicle sensor, calculating if the vehicle speed should be reduced based on the sensor data from the at least one vehicle sensor, generating a first control signal if the vehicle speed should be reduced, calculating if the engine speed is below a predetermined idle speed, generating a second control signal if the engine speed is below the predetermined idle speed, and automatically controlling the at least one actuator based on the first and second control signals.

A method is provided for controlling a drivetrain of a vehicle, wherein the drivetrain comprises a multi-clutch transmission. The gear shift of the multi-clutch transmission is adapted to be performed either by power cut shift or by power shift dependent on predetermined vehicle shift conditions. The method includes detecting at least one of a plurality of indications of slippery road conditions and setting a slip risk factor, wherein the slip risk factor is dependent on the indication of slippery road conditions. If the slip risk factor is above a first predetermined threshold value the method further comprises controlling the multi-clutch transmission such that an upcoming gear shift is performed as a power-shift independently of if upcoming shift was determined to be performed as a power-cut shift or as a power shift.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a motor vehicle controller comprising a computing device, the controller being configured to command a first releasable torque transmitting device of a drive-line to switch between a released condition in which a first releasable torque transmitting device substantially prevents transmission of torque from an input to an output portion thereof, and an engaged condition in which a releasable torque transmitting device allows torque transmission from an input portion to an output portion thereof. The controller may be configured to receive information indicative of: a speed of wheels of a first axle; a speed of wheels of a second axle; and a terrain over which a vehicle is driving. The controller may be configured, in response to a detected disparity between the speed of wheels of said first and second axle when said first releasable torque transmitting device is switched to said engaged condition, in dependence upon said received information indicative of the terrain over which the vehicle is travelling, either: output a signal to automatically cause said first releasable torque transmitting device to perform a reconnect operation comprising momentarily resuming the released condition, and then subsequently resuming the engaged condition, or maintain said first releasable torque transmitting device in said engaged position.

Methods and systems for automatic braking for vehicles having a manual transmission are disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing a vehicle with at least one vehicle sensor, at least one actuator, and a controller in communication with the at least one vehicle sensor and the at least one actuator, determining a vehicle speed and an engine speed, receiving sensor data from the at least one vehicle sensor, calculating if the vehicle speed should be reduced based on the sensor data from the at least one vehicle sensor, generating a first control signal if the vehicle speed should be reduced, calculating if the engine speed is below a predetermined idle speed, generating a second control signal if the engine speed is below the predetermined idle speed, and automatically controlling the at least one actuator based on the first and second control signals.

The invention relates to a method for avoiding safety-critical activation of a clutch in a hybrid module of a drivetrain of a motor vehicle, wherein the hybrid module is effective between the internal combustion engine and the transmission and has an electric drive, the clutch and a freewheel, and the clutch is used to start the internal combustion engine by transmitting a torque, supplied by the electric drive or the drivetrain, by a frictionally locking connection to the electric drive or the drivetrain, or for disconnecting the internal combustion engine from the drivetrain for purely electric driving. In a method for avoiding safety-critical activation of a clutch in a hybrid module in which safety-critical driving situations are reliably prevented, a critical interference torque of the clutch is set as a function of ambient conditions of the motor vehicle and/or peripheral conditions of the vehicle, in order to set a safety distance to be maintained by the open clutch.