Control system and method for precise disengagement of a clutch

A clutch control system for precise disengagement of a clutch, wherein the disengagement of the clutch is preceded by a deliberate reduction in engine torque, during which the engine torque transitions from a positive value to a negative value and where the clutch is configured to disengage at a point of zero engine torque, the clutch control system comprising:

• a friction clutch capable of transitioning between a fully open, a partially open, and a fully closed position;
• a control unit configured to monitor the reduction in engine torque to continuously obtain a current engine torque, and determine an effectively closed position of the clutch, wherein the effectively closed position is a partially open position having a torque capacity equal to the current engine torque, thereby preventing clutch slip at the effectively closed position;
• and
• a clutch actuator configured to operate the friction clutch at the effectively closed position while the current engine torque is above zero, with the effectively closed position dynamically adjusting to a more open position in response to the reduction in current engine torque, and disengage the friction clutch to a fully open position as the current engine torque approaches zero.