Development of control strategy for optimal control of a continuously variable transmission operating in combination with a throttle controlled engine

This paper discusses the development of a control strategy, for a CVT that operates in combination with a mechanically throttle controlled engine, for optimal performance of the powertrain in terms of fuel economy, emissions and driveability. A concept design of an electronically controlled CVT for a quadricycle application is conceived. A lumped mass simulation model of the concept vehicle along with the powertrain was created in MATLab/Simulink. An optimal control strategy is developed and implemented in the simulation model to predict the performance and compare with that of the manual transmission.