Engineering solutions firm Ricardo, has unveiled a research prototype vehicle that demonstrates the company’s patent pending electromagnetic linear actuator technology, which it says offers a low cost route to robust and highly efficient Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) and Dry Clutch Transmission (DCT) vehicles, capable of providing increased fuel economy and lower emissions.

The development vehicle is based on an Opel Corsa 1.2l petrol automated manual transmission, in which the control and actuation system of the original Easytronic system has been replaced with Ricardo’s patent-pending electromagnetic linear actuator technology which can be multiplexed in order to operate both the clutch control and gear selection functions.

In the research prototype vehicle, this eAMT system demonstrates:-
• Two-pedal vehicle automation at low cost, owing to a significantly reduced parts count through use of a single electromagnetic actuator in place of separate clutch and gear actuator units
• Opportunities for reduced size and weight
• Controllable actuator force of up to 800N peak and 350N continuous
• A torque interrupt of as little as 0.35 seconds during shifts
• An advanced implementation of Ricardo AMT control software employing clutch ‘kiss’ point adaption techniques and DCT-like microslip control of a single dry-clutch.

The patent-pending linear electromagnetic actuator and control technology demonstrated on the eAMT vehicle offers a highly practical and cost-effective solution for advanced transmission systems. This technology is fully controllable in terms of position, force and velocity, and is scalable from small passenger car applications through to large commercial vehicles.

In an AMT configuration such as that demonstrated in Ricardo’s eAMT prototype, a single actuator substitutes for the separate clutch operation and gear selection systems of the current production unit. Clutch control is achieved without modification to the release bearing arrangement.

Ultimately, Ricardo aims to provide a high efficiency, zero torque interrupt transmission system that, based on the results of simulation and component testing, aims to provide a fuel consumption saving of in the region of five per cent in comparison with hydraulically actuated wet clutch DCT.

Ricardo global product group director for driveline and transmission system, Lee Sykes, said: “The advanced electromagnetic linear actuation technology in the eAMT vehicle shows huge potential for the practical implementation of next-generation transmissions in the automotive as well as the commercial vehicle sector.”