Use of gradient road resistance strategies

A vehicle, comprising:

• a prime mover;
• a transmission operative to couple power from the prime mover to a transmission output at a plurality of different gear ratios;
• a sensor, operative to measure a value indicative of a traction resistance of the vehicle on a grade;
• and
• a controller, in communication with the sensor and the transmission, operative to:
• select a first gear ratio of the transmission;
• determine a shift point motor speed, wherein the shift point motor speed is the motor speed at which the transmission changes from one fixed gear ratio to a different fixed gear ratio in a stepped fashion, comprising:
• determining a first intermediate shift point motor speed corresponding to a transmission gear ratio change for the vehicle on a level surface;
• receiving from the sensor the value indicative of the traction resistance;
• determining a first offset value based on the traction resistance of the vehicle on the grade;
• determining a second offset value based on a change in the traction resistance of the vehicle on the grade;
• adjusting the first intermediate shift point motor speed by the first offset value to yield a second intermediate shift point motor speed;
• and
• adjusting the second intermediate shift point motor speed by the second offset value to yield the shift point motor speed corresponding to a transmission gear ratio change of the vehicle on the grade from the first gear ratio to a second gear ratio of the transmission;
• and
• initiate the transmission gear ratio change from the first gear ratio to the second gear ratio when a motor speed of the internal combustion motor is about equal to the shift point motor speed.