Apparatus for and method of controlling automatic transmission

An apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission comprising:

• a standby state determination device which determines whether a vehicle is in a departure standby state or not,
• a vehicle speed detecting device which detects vehicle speed;
• a first gear shift control device which, when it is determined by said standby state determining device that the vehicle is in a departure standby state, and the vehicle speed detected by said vehicle speed detecting device is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, shifts the transmission to a neutral, and engages a mechanical clutch;
• a reverse rotation determination device which determines whether the transmission is being rotated in reverse or not based on a rotational fluctuation on a driving side or a driven side of the mechanical clutch in a process for engaging the mechanical clutch by said first gear shift control device;
• and
• a gear shift inhibiting device which, when determined by said reverse rotation determination device that the transmission is being rotated in reverse, prevents said transmission from being shifted to a drive stage.