Semi-automatic transmission

Semi-automatic transmission, or clutchless manual transmission, is a system which uses electronic sensors, processors and actuators to do gear shifts on the command of the driver. This removes the need for a clutch pedal which the driver needs to depress before making a gear change, since the clutch itself is actuated by electronic equipment which can synchronise the timing and torque required to make gear shifts quick and smooth. The system was designed by European automobile manufacturers to provide a better driving experience, especially in cities where congestion frequently causes stop-and-go traffic patterns.

In standard mass-production automobiles, the gear lever appears similar to manual shifts, except that the shift stick only moves forward and backward to shift into higher and lower gears respectively, instead of the traditional H-pattern. Bugatti Veyron will use this approach for its 7-speed transmission. In Formula One, the system is adapted to fit onto the steering wheel in the form of two paddles; pulling the right paddle shifts into a higher gear, while pulling the left paddle shifts into a lower one. Several road cars have inherited the same mechanism.

Hall effect sensors sense the direction of requested shift, and this input, together with a sensor in the gear box which senses the current speed and gear selected, feeds into a central processing unit. This unit then determines the optimal timing and torque required for a smooth clutch engagement, based on input from these two sensors as well as other factors, such as engine rotation, the Electronic Stability Program, air conditioner and dashboard instruments.

The central processing unit powers a hydro-mechanical unit to either engage or disengage the clutch, which is kept in close synchronization with the gear-shifting action the driver has started. The hydro-mechanical unit contains a servomotor coupled to a gear arrangement for a linear actuator, which uses brake fluid from the braking system to impel a hydraulic cylinder to move the main clutch actuator.

The power of the system lies in the fact that electronic equipment can react much faster and more precisely than a human, and takes advantage of the precision of electronic signals to allow a complete clutch operation without the intervention of the driver.

Historically, the first semi-automatic transmission which was marketed was the 1941 M4/Vacamatic Transmission by Chrysler. It was an early attempt at an automatic transmission that still required the use of a clutch, primarily to start and stop.

Drag Racers have their own type of clutchless manual transmissions. A Liberty is basically a manual transmission with no clutch, and is used in Pro Stock. The Lenco is a transmisson also used in drag racers. A Lenco is different than a Liberty because a Lenco uses planetary gears and requires a torque converter, like an automatic. Both transmissions can be manually shifted, or use an air shifter. However, they require a clutch to use when leaving off the line for traction. The Lenco uses separate levers to shift while the Liberty uses a single shifter hooked up to several levers.

Types

• Direct-Shift Gearbox
• Dual-clutch gearbox
• Electrohydraulic manual transmission (e.g. BMW sequential manual gearbox, SMG)