Revolutionizing Two-Wheeler Gear Shifting: A Cost-Effective Approach for Clutch-Less Gear Shift

Automotive manufacturers are constantly striving to enhance the performance and comfort of vehicles, particularly in terms of acceleration and driving experience which is a perceived behavior. The gear shift procedure plays a significant role in this aspect. Frequent actuation of clutch and throttle for gear shift in a manual gear shift transmission is one of the causes for human fatigue while driving, especially in 2-wheelers. The speed reduction during gear shift also leads to lower acceleration timing. With advancements in technology and a growing emphasis on comfortable driving experiences, clutch-less gear shift in a geared vehicle is one of the most sought-after features. Automatic transmissions are often expensive and increases system complexity, making them less accessible in particular for 2-wheeler market. Therefore, there is a need for developing a cost-effective and affordable solution to address this problem statement. The current work presents a simplified software-based solution that allows riders to shift gears effortlessly, without the need of clutch or throttle modulations. This not only reduces the amount of effort and fatigue experienced by the rider, but also improves acceleration timings. The difference in vehicle’s drivability as compared to system with dedicated shift assist sensor is not perceived by a general rider. The system utilizes existing sensors such as engine speed, vehicle speed, throttle or accelerator pedal, gear position, and clutch position sensors. Based on the signals received from these sensors, the engine management system detects the rider’s intent to shift gears without throttle or clutch actuation, modifies the engine torque, and allows for smooth gear shift when the gear lever is pressed. The torque change is realized through a change in ignition, air, fuel, or any combination of them. Since no additional hardware is required, this cost-effective feature can be implemented in a wide range of two-wheelers from cost sensitive commuter vehicles to high-performance applications.