Methods for predictive shifting

A method of shifting an automated transmission in a vehicle, comprising:

• tracking vehicle parameters;
• determining a current gear selection of a multiple-gear automated transmission, the automated transmission comprising computer control of shifts among the multiple gears;
• determining an downshift threshold for the current gear selection, the downshift threshold indicating a vehicle parameter at which the vehicle transmission shifts from the current gear selection to an adjacent gear of the multiple-gear transmission, the adjacent gear comprising a gear that is sequentially lower in a sequential shift routine;
• determining future gradient conditions in a lookahead distance in the vehicle operation path;
• selecting a gradient threshold;
• processing the future gradient conditions to determine a first percentage of future conditions that are above the gradient threshold;
• selecting a first percentage limit for restricting the number of future gradient conditions above the gradient threshold in the lookahead distance;
• comparing the first percentage of future conditions to the selected first percentage limit to determine that the first percentage of future conditions above the gradient threshold is within the first percentage limit;
• adjusting the downshift threshold for the current gear selection to change the vehicle parameter at which the vehicle transmission shifts from the current gear selection to the adjacent gear;
• and
• controlling the automated transmission to shift to the adjacent gear according to the adjusted downshift threshold.

A method for predictive shifting of a vehicle transmission, comprising:

• calculating vehicle parameters comprising one or more of an engine load and an engine speed;
• determining a current transmission gear selection;
• determining engine capabilities for the determined current transmission gear selection, the engine capabilities comprising one or both of a downshift threshold and an upshift threshold;
• comparing the vehicle parameters to the engine capabilities to determine whether the vehicle parameters are within a gear shift range;
• determining future gradient conditions in the vehicle operation path;
• calculating a lookahead distance;
• calculating, comprising applying a limit based on the lookahead distance, one or more of a future engine load, a future vehicle speed, or a future fuel economy based on the future gradient conditions;
• and
• determining whether to initiate a gear shift or whether to stay in the current transmission gear selection based on the determined gear shift range and the calculated one or more of future engine load, future vehicle speed, or future fuel economy.

A method for predictive shifting of a vehicle transmission, comprising:

• calculating vehicle parameters comprising one or more of an engine load and an engine speed;
• determining a current transmission gear selection;
• determining engine capabilities for the determined current transmission gear selection, the engine capabilities comprising one or both of a downshift threshold and an upshift threshold;
• comparing the vehicle parameters to the engine capabilities to determine whether the vehicle parameters are within a gear shift range;
• determining future gradient conditions in the vehicle operation path;
• calculating one or more of a future engine load, a future vehicle speed, or a future fuel economy based on the future gradient conditions;
• and
• processing the determined gear shift range and the calculated one or more of future engine load, future vehicle speed, or future fuel economy;
• determining to stay in the current transmission gear selection;
• and
• overriding automatic transmission gear shifting to stay in the current transmission gear selection.

A method for predictive shifting of a vehicle transmission, comprising:

• calculating vehicle parameters comprising one or more of an engine load and an engine speed;
• determining a current transmission gear selection;
• determining engine capabilities for the determined current transmission gear selection, the engine capabilities comprising one or both of a downshift threshold and an upshift threshold;
• comparing the vehicle parameters to the engine capabilities to determine whether the vehicle parameters are within a gear shift range;
• determining future gradient conditions in the vehicle operation path;
• comparing the determined future gradient conditions to a current gradient condition to calculate a gradient delta;
• comparing the gradient delta to a gradient threshold, and iterating the determining of the future gradient conditions until the gradient delta is greater than or equal to the gradient threshold;
• calculating one or more of a future engine load, a future vehicle speed, or a future fuel economy based on the future gradient conditions;
• and
• determining whether to initiate a gear shift or whether to stay in the current transmission gear selection based on the determined gear shift range and the calculated one or more of future engine load, future vehicle speed, or future fuel economy.

A method for predictive shifting of a vehicle transmission, comprising:

• calculating vehicle parameters comprising one or more of an engine load and an engine speed;
• determining a current transmission gear selection;
• determining engine capabilities for the determined current transmission gear selection, the engine capabilities comprising one or both of a downshift threshold and an upshift threshold;
• comparing the vehicle parameters to the engine capabilities to determine whether the vehicle parameters are within a gear shift range;
• determining future gradient conditions in the vehicle operation path;
• calculating one or more of a future engine load, a future vehicle speed, or a future fuel economy based on the future gradient conditions to determine a gear shift range;
• and
• determining to initiate a gear shift comprising adjusting the downshift threshold to maintain a constant engine speed.

A method for predictive shifting of a vehicle transmission, comprising:

• calculating vehicle parameters comprising one or more of an engine load and an engine speed;
• determining a current transmission gear selection;
• determining engine capabilities for the determined current transmission gear selection, the engine capabilities comprising one or both of a downshift threshold and an upshift threshold;
• comparing the vehicle parameters to the engine capabilities to determine whether the vehicle parameters are within a gear shift range;
• calculating a lookahead distance;
• determining, comprising applying a limit based on the lookahead distance, future gradient conditions in the vehicle operation path;
• calculating one or more of a future engine load, a future vehicle speed, or a future fuel economy based on the future gradient conditions;
• and
• determining whether to initiate a gear shift or whether to stay in the current transmission gear selection based on the determined gear shift range and the calculated one or more of future engine load, future vehicle speed, or future fuel economy.