A clutch is controlled to increase torque capacity of the clutch when fluctuations in torsional torque generated in a power transmission route between the clutch and a drive wheel are larger than a specified value during deceleration traveling. Accordingly, engine brake whose magnitude corresponds to an increased amount of the torque capacity of the clutch is actuated. Therefore, the fluctuations in the torsional torque can be suppressed by the engine brake.

A method to control a road vehicle provided with a clutch, which connects an internal combustion engine to drive wheels and is arranged upstream of a servo-assisted transmission; the control method comprises the steps of: checking whether the tyres of the drive wheels are close to a grip limit; and opening the clutch so that the clutch transmits a torque to the drive wheels with a slip of the clutch that is constant and other than zero when the tyres of the drive wheels are close to the grip limit.

An apparatus (a controller), and systems and methods for management of inputs, determination of a calculated clutch temperature, and control of action related to the clutch of a transmission system, and notification improvements to a user associated therewith are disclosed. In particular, a clutch calculator circuit is augmented by a machine learning component that employs a machine learning technique and provides a projected clutch temperature as a basis for actions to be taken.

An engine clutch disengagement control method for a hybrid electric vehicle is disclosed to overcome a sense of discontinuous travel caused when an engine clutch is disengaged due to influence of the inaccuracy of model engine torque. The method includes: acquiring vehicle acceleration information during engine clutch disengagement control of the hybrid electric vehicle, determining whether a predetermined condition for determining inaccuracy of model engine torque required for engine clutch disengagement control is satisfied from the acquired vehicle acceleration information, when the predetermined condition is satisfied, determining a situation in which the model engine torque is inaccurate and calculating target compensation torque using the vehicle acceleration information, calculating a target slippage amount in a transmission clutch using the calculated target compensation torque, and performing transmission clutch torque control for inducing slippage in a transmission clutch based on the target slippage amount and a current transmission speed.

A method for operating a clutch of a drive train of a vehicle wherein the clutch, a drive motor primary axis having first wheels that can be driven by the drive motor as first axis and a second axis having second wheels are driven by the drive motor via the clutch as second axis, with the clutch being adjusted between a closed position, wherein a first coupling torque of the clutch is set, and at least one second position differing from the closed position, wherein a second coupling torque of the clutch that is lower than the first coupling torque is set: determining at least one coefficient of friction of a roadway the vehicle is located on; and as a factor of the determined coefficient of friction: adjusting a basic torque of the clutch, with the clutch being prestressed in the second position by the basic torque.

A method for operating a clutch of a drive train of a vehicle wherein the clutch, a drive motor primary axis having first wheels that can be driven by the drive motor as first axis and a second axis having second wheels are driven by the drive motor via the clutch as second axis, with the clutch being adjusted between a closed position, wherein a first coupling torque of the clutch is set, and at least one second position differing from the closed position, wherein a second coupling torque of the clutch that is lower than the first coupling torque is set: determining at least one coefficient of friction of a roadway the vehicle is located on; and as a factor of the determined coefficient of friction: adjusting a basic torque of the clutch, with the clutch being prestressed in the second position by the basic torque.

A drive force transmission apparatus is mountable on a four-wheel drive vehicle switchable between a four-wheel drive mode that transmits a drive force of an engine to front wheels and rear wheels, and a two-wheel drive mode that transmits the drive force to only the front wheels. The drive force transmission apparatus allows adjustment of the drive force to the rear wheels, and includes a multi-plate clutch, a piston for axially pressing the multi-plate clutch, an actuator for axially moving the piston, and a control unit for controlling the actuator. Upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition that indicates a high probability of the vehicle needing to be switched from the two-wheel drive mode to the four-wheel drive mode, the control unit causes the actuator to displace the piston by a predetermined amount with respect to an initial position of the piston toward the multi-plate clutch.

A method to control a road vehicle provided with a clutch, which connects an internal combustion engine to drive wheels and is arranged upstream of a servo-assisted transmission; the control method comprises the steps of: checking whether the tyres of the drive wheels are close to a grip limit; and opening the clutch so that the clutch transmits a torque to the drive wheels with a slip of the clutch that is constant and other than zero when the tyres of the drive wheels are close to the grip limit.

An engine clutch disengagement control method for a hybrid electric vehicle is disclosed to overcome a sense of discontinuous travel caused when an engine clutch is disengaged due to influence of the inaccuracy of model engine torque. The method includes: acquiring vehicle acceleration information during engine clutch disengagement control of the hybrid electric vehicle, determining whether a predetermined condition for determining inaccuracy of model engine torque required for engine clutch disengagement control is satisfied from the acquired vehicle acceleration information, when the predetermined condition is satisfied, determining a situation in which the model engine torque is inaccurate and calculating target compensation torque using the vehicle acceleration information, calculating a target slippage amount in a transmission clutch using the calculated target compensation torque, and performing transmission clutch torque control for inducing slippage in a transmission clutch based on the target slippage amount and a current transmission speed.

An apparatus (a controller), and systems and methods for management of inputs, determination of a calculated clutch temperature, and control of action related to the clutch of a transmission system, and notification improvements to a user associated therewith are disclosed.