Browse Topic: Transmissions

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Planetary gears are key transmission components in spacecraft drive systems and are prone to failures under long-term operation in harsh environments. To address the problem that fault diagnosis and life prediction are treated separately in existing research, this paper proposes an integrated diagnosis-prediction method. First, order tracking and time synchronous averaging are used to preprocess vibration signals, eliminating speed fluctuations and noise interference. Then, fault features are extracted via VMD/EEMD decomposition, and the gear health condition is identified through a deep convolutional neural network. Finally, ensemble learning prediction models are established separately for different fault states to realize life prediction. Experimental results show that the VMD+CNN method achieves higher diagnostic accuracy than traditional methods for gears in healthy, cracked, spalled, and pitted conditions. The ensemble prediction models matched with different states can further reduce the life prediction error. This method provides effective technical support for condition-based maintenance of spacecraft planetary gears.
Liu, Yanyan, Gao, Tongxin, Zhu, Yangsong
Satellite telemetry data compression is of great importance for preserving the integrity and effectiveness of telemetry information. As the number of telemetry parameters gradually increases, satellite states can be characterized from more comprehensive data dimensions. However, it is difficult to maintain long-term high-sampling-rate transmission for all channels constrained by telemetry bandwidth. This condition weakens the capability of telemetry data to capture satellite state variations in a sufficiently detailed manner. Therefore, it is still a challenge for selecting more representative telemetry channels and recovering the remaining dimensions. To address this issue, this paper proposes a data compression method based on linear correlation-guided channel selection and receiver-side Long Short-Term Memory Variational Autoencoder recovery, in which satellite telemetry data compression is achieved through spatial reduction. First, the Pearson correlation matrix of all channels is computed from telemetry data, and the structure among telemetry channels is analyzed based on a prior on pairwise linear relations. Second, a linear correlation-guided iterative channel selection strategy is developed under a fixed transmission budget. Candidate channels are scored by the residual correlation coverage matrix over the unselected channels, and the initially selected subset is further refined through local channel swapping to obtain a more globally representative transmitted subset. Finally, the transmitted channels are fed into the reconstruction model to recover the untransmitted channels, so as to ensure the transmission of telemetry information. Experiments are conducted on real multivariate satellite telemetry data under predefined transmission budgets. Results on 84-dimensional real operational satellite telemetry data show that the proposed method exhibits favorable data compression capabilities. Representative RMSE comparisons under different transmission budgets further showed favorable reconstruction performance, demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed method for telemetry data compression under limited communication resources.
Wang, Zhipeng, Zhang, Kuibin, Song, Yuchen, Peng, Yu
Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites, as a crucial infrastructure for global communication and emergency support systems, are highly valued due to their wide coverage, long communication distances, and large transmission capacity. However, the scarcity of orbital slots and the difficulty in quickly identifying available satellites in actual user scenarios have become the main bottlenecks restricting the communication efficiency of multi-satellite relay systems in geostationary orbit. To address these issues, this paper proposes an accurate and efficient method for selecting the set of available satellites for multi-satellite relay applications. We construct a spatial coverage model based on the H3 hierarchical discrete global grid system and a geometric model that characterizes the visible orbital arc of the user station. By comprehensively considering the geographic locations of gateway stations and user stations, satellite beam coverage boundaries, and the visibility constraints imposed by user terminal antenna pointing, the proposed method can accurately screen out qualified satellite sets that satisfy the end-to-end link condition of “gateway–satellite–user station”. Simulation experiments are conducted in the Ku-band to validate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme, with performance metrics including coverage probability, accessible satellite quantity distribution, and selection efficiency evaluated. The results show that the H3-based modeling approach effectively reduces computational complexity while ensuring high accuracy in visibility judgment. The proposed method significantly improves the accuracy and efficiency of satellite selection, and supports dynamic updates in mobile user scenarios. This work presents a reliable satellite selection algorithm, which can be used to support efficient resource scheduling and provide a strong guarantee for GEO multi-satellite relay communication.
Yu, Xinyue, Jiang, Yanzi, Lu, Yi, Hou, Yucheng, Su, Xingyu, He, Wenxi, Zhang, Jie
With the accelerated deployment of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) mega-constellations, such as Starlink and OneWeb, satellite networks are transitioning from providing best-effort connectivity to supporting stringent, mission-critical services, including autonomous driving coordination, ultra-high-definition video streaming, and real-time financial transactions. This paradigm shift imposes highly heterogeneous Quality of Service (QoS) requirements regarding latency, bandwidth, and reliability. However, traditional unified scheduling and static routing mechanisms are inadequate for handling the dynamic topologies and bursty traffic inherent in LEO environments, often leading to service starvation or excessive packet loss. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an integrated primary-backup path guarantee framework that tightly couples a Multi-Level Feedback Queue (MLFQ)-based dynamic scheduling algorithm with a Dynamic Weight Adaptive Routing Algorithm (DWARA). The MLFQ scheduler employs an aging-based priority promotion mechanism to dynamically adjust time slices, effectively preventing low-priority traffic starvation while ensuring ultra-low latency for Class A services. Concurrently, DWARA models QoS as a three-dimensional vector (Throughput, Delay, Reliability) and utilizes the eigenvector method to derive service-aware weights for path selection. To validate the efficacy of the proposed scheme, comprehensive simulations were conducted using STK and Python, emulating a 64-node polar constellation under varying fault conditions. The results demonstrate that the integrated framework significantly outperforms baseline algorithms. Specifically, it reduces the average blocking rate by up to 37% under scenarios with 10 faulty satellites compared to Dijkstra, while lowering end-to-end latency for delay-sensitive services to approximately 28 ms at a traffic arrival rate of 500. Furthermore, the framework achieves a 92% bandwidth satisfaction rate for high-throughput services and maintains near-zero packet loss for high-reliability transmissions, offering a scalable and robust QoS assurance solution for next-generation space-air-ground integrated networks.
Zhang, Hongyuan, Zhang, Pengfei, Zhou, Qihao, Gao, Zhao
This paper focuses on power allocation for RSMA-enabled uplink transmission in LEO satellite systems. A representative cluster is selected for analysis, where the terminal with the best channel quality serves as the target user and transmits its information by means of two split streams. The remaining users are treated as weak users sharing the uplink access structure. Since satellite-ground links are affected by channel estimation errors and propagation uncertainty, the available channel state information (CSI) may deviate from the actual channel. To improve the reliability of uplink transmission, a bounded CSI error model is adopted, and the decoding conditions for different successive interference cancellation (SIC) stages are formulated in a robust form. On this basis, the target-user rate is optimized under transmit-power and decoding-reliability constraints. The formulated problem is difficult to solve directly because the power variables are coupled with the SINR and rate expressions. Therefore, a successive convex approximation (SCA) method is employed to transform the original problem into a series of solvable convex subproblems. The obtained results confirm that the proposed scheme brings a clear target-user rate gain over the NOMA benchmark under the same simulation setup. The results show the effectiveness of robust RSMA power allocation for uplink interference management in LEO satellite systems.
Yu, Xiaodi, Jin, Hang, Song, Yu, Hong, Tao, Ding, Xiaojin, Zhang, Gengxin
This study addresses the limited adaptability of Bundle Protocol/Licklider Transmission Protocol (BP/LTP) parameter configuration in deep-space communication environments through a cooperative optimization mechanism that operates under dynamic link conditions and diverse service demands. Conventional BP/LTP parameter settings typically rely on fixed thresholds or empirical rules, assuming relatively stable link states. However, in practical deep-space missions, the bit error rate, propagation delay, and available transmission rate all exhibit significant temporal variability. Moreover, variations in data size and reliability requirements further exacerbate the performance degradation caused by parameter mismatches. Owing to the multi-layer encapsulation and resource coupling of bundle size, block size, segment size, and the number of sessions, inappropriate parameter configurations can result in increased acknowledgment and retransmission overhead, underutilized link capacity, and prolonged end-to-end delivery latency. Traditional approaches are thus inadequate for achieving holistic, real-time, and joint optimization in such dynamic environments, necessitating adaptive parameter tuning mechanisms with link-state awareness. This paper formulates BP/LTP parameter optimization as a sequential decision process and proposes a method based on a Deep Q-Network (DQN) for adaptive parameter configuration. The state space includes transmitted data size, bit error rate, one-way propagation delay, and available transmission rate. Based on this state information, the DQN selects the bundle size and LTP block size from predefined candidate sets. The LTP segment size is derived from a mapping rule related to link conditions, and the number of concurrent sessions is calculated online using an analytical model. The method is evaluated on a satellite–ground simulation platform that consists of a BP/LTP sender, a BP/LTP receiver, and a computing unit for DQN parameter optimization. It is compared with three fixed parameter configurations in 36 experimental scenarios. The results show that, compared with the fixed configurations, the proposed method reduces end-to-end delivery latency, improves link utilization efficiency, and maintains more stable transmission performance under different link conditions and data scales.
Han, Yingxiang, Bian, Mingyue, Chang, Xiang, Cao, Suzhi, Yan, Lei
Space-Air-Ground Integrated Networks (SAGINs) have attracted extensive attention as an effective solution for providing worldwide communication services and supporting diverse transmission requirements. Nevertheless, the highly dynamic wireless environment and fluctuating user distribution introduce considerable difficulties for efficient deployment of High-Altitude Platforms (HAPs). This work studies a throughput enhancement problem in a SAGIN architecture composed of a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite, multiple HAPs, and terrestrial users. Considering practical communication constraints such as beam scheduling and subchannel assignment, the objective is to improve the overall data transmission capability through optimized HAP positioning. By interacting with varying network states, the proposed learning framework agent continuously learns suitable deployment policies for HAPs, thereby improving transmission performance and spectrum utilization efficiency. Numerical evaluations indicate that the policy optimization strategy achieves superior throughput performance and communication efficiency compared with traditional fixed deployment approaches.
Wang, Yin, Zhou, Keyan, Shao, Shuai, Zhang, Bin, Chen, Peifu, Wang, Jianfeng
Spacecraft flywheel systems are critical actuators for attitude control and stability maintenance, and their operating reliability is strongly affected by the health state of the supporting bearings. When local defects occur on the bearing raceway or rolling elements, the rolling contact state changes abruptly, which leads to time varying contact deformation, fluctuating support reaction force, and additional rotational resistance. Unlike many ground based rotating machines, spacecraft flywheel systems usually operate in compact and highly integrated configurations, where direct vibration measurement is difficult in practice. In contrast, motor current, voltage, and speed signals are easier to acquire and are therefore more suitable for condition monitoring. To describe how bearing defects propagate from the mechanical domain to electrical responses, a simplified electromechanical coupling model is developed for a flywheel rotor motor system with local bearing defects. First, a rolling element contact model is established using the defect induced deformation relation and Hertzian contact theory to derive the time varying bearing support force. Second, the fluctuating support force is mapped to an equivalent time varying load torque to represent the dominant pathway through which bearing defects influence the motor side. Third, the derived load torque disturbance is coupled with the transverse rotor dynamic equations, the rotational motion equation, and the motor dq axis model to obtain a simplified electromechanical coupling equation set. The proposed model preserves the main physical transmission chain from bearing defect to electrical response. The model provides a clear theoretical basis for analyzing fault propagation mechanisms and for developing current based diagnostic methods for spacecraft flywheel systems.
Wu, Haolong, Li, Yuqing
Spacecraft On-orbit data are characterized by large volumes, stringent timeliness requirements, and heterogeneous data values, posing significant challenges to traditional satellite-ground transmission systems. To improve transmission efficiency and reliability under dynamic link conditions, this paper proposes an adaptive data slicing and collaborative reliability enhancement method. First, a joint evaluation model integrating Data Impact and Link Health is developed to evaluate data importance and transmission conditions. Based on the evaluation results, the slice size, priority allocation, and redundancy configuration are dynamically optimized. Second, a distributed collaborative verification mechanism combining Reed–Solomon erasure coding and multi-node arbitration is introduced to enhance data integrity and recovery capability. Furthermore, a mission-driven elastic scheduling strategy is designed to facilitate efficient resource allocation in multi-user transmission scenarios. Experiments were conducted on 100 telemetry files with a total volume of 1.9 GB in a simulated satellite-ground communication environment. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method improves average throughput by 25.3% and achieves a reconstruction success rate of 99.7% across 1,000 packet-loss reconstruction trials.
Li, Cheng, Liu, Peng, Chen, Xi, Cui, Yan, Li, Han, Li, Xian, Wang, Zhihui, Yi, Xiu
This test procedure is intended to apply to hydraulic pump suction filters and strainers used in automotive automatic transmissions that include hydraulic power pumps. The various paragraphs of Section 5 include a variety of tests and alternative tests that are not applicable to all filters and applications, so the engineer must specify which tests are to be performed for a particular application. These test procedures are intended to evaluate filter functional performance characteristics only; durability is not evaluated under this standard. Filter design requirements must be specified by the engineer on the filter assembly drawing, an applicable engineering specification, or summarized on an application data sheet similar to that found in this recommended practice. See Figure 6. Pressure circuit filters, both barrier and system contamination control types, are not covered under this standard. They are similar in design and construction to filters used in many hydraulic and lubricating applications. Testing for pressure filters is covered by the ISO and SAE standards listed in Section 2.
Automatic Transmission and Transaxle Committee
This article develops a comprehensive vehicle control system for pure electric wheel loaders, covering the entire development process. Based on a dual-motor and two-speed transmission configuration, the collaborative design of the hardware and software for the vehicle control unit (VCU) was completed. Vehicle control strategies were developed, including motor demand torque calculation, an overspeed protection algorithm, a gear shift control algorithm, an energy recovery strategy integrating coasting and braking, and control methods for the working system. Finally, the control strategies were verified and optimized through real vehicle tests. Experimental results indicate that the developed pure electric loader exhibits excellent performance. Compared with a diesel counterpart of the same tonnage, its maximum speed is increased by 19.4%, operational productivity (V-cycle loading cycles per hour) is improved by 8.7%, while the operating cost is only 35% of that of the diesel model. This study provides a solution validated by real vehicle tests for the development of vehicle control systems for pure electric construction machinery.
Xu, Haozhi, Ji, Shaobo, Che, Renhai, Tan, Yuchen, Hou, Defeng, Ren, Shuojin, Zhao, Jiayang
Contested logistics environments expose the limitations of both legacy fragmented systems and emerging Next Generation Command and Control architectures that assume persistent connectivity. In degraded or denied conditions, sustainment operations face latency, bandwidth constraints, and reduced decision velocity. Expanded decision support tools further increase reliance on timely, relevant data exchange. This paper argues that contested logistics requires distributed, mission-aware intelligence at the tactical edge. Low-power onboard compute enables real-time inference, adaptive data conditioning, and connectivity-aware transmission across Radio-Frequency and non-RF pathways. By selectively elevating critical information based on mission context and network state, edge-intelligent architectures improve survivability, bandwidth efficiency, and sustainment effectiveness in degraded networks.
Baumann, Edward, Pardee, Shawn
This study addresses safety issues in three representative logistics scenarios for electric vehicles (EVs) as cargo-car carriers, roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels, and containers. To address the heterogeneity across these modes, we develop an integrated “process–spatiotemporal load–risk factor” framework that embeds operational steps and confinement conditions into the indicator system, overcoming the limitations of single-scenario or single-factor studies in explaining chain-type propagation. Building on process mapping and spatiotemporal load characteristics, we develop a risk indicator system spanning “person-equipment-transported object-operation & environment-system management.” Expert judgments are then analyzed using an integrated DEMATEL-ISM approach to quantify inter-factor linkages and transmission pathways. The results indicate that regulatory oversight and carrier-side emergency equipment constitute the deep root causes of thermal runaway. The most hazardous transmission route is “regulatory oversight, procedural compliance and skill-experience match”, while “battery type, road/sea conditions and hoisting impacts” forms the shortest path. These findings reveal weaknesses in management and equipment that are amplified by operational execution and limited personnel capability, ultimately precipitating severe transportation incidents.
Yuan, Libo, Jiang, Huifu, Qin, Xiao
Driven by the growing demand for higher efficiency and load-bearing capacity in fields such as new energy vehicles and heavy-duty engineering machinery, planetary gear sets are increasingly operating at elevated rotational speeds, coupled with a corresponding expansion of their revolution radii. This dual trend directly induces a substantial surge in centrifugal acceleration acting on the internal needle roller bearings. Under the cyclic stress inherent to transmission operations, such enhanced acceleration not only accelerates the initiation of spalling faults on the inner bores of planet gears but also exacerbates the propagation and deterioration of these faults throughout the service life. To elucidate the influence mechanism of inner bore spalling on the dynamic response of planetary gear bearings, this study develops a specialized dynamic model. This model explicitly incorporates the compound kinematic effects of simultaneous rotation and revolution, thereby ensuring a high-fidelity reconstruction of actual operating scenarios. The research systematically investigates how different spalling types and dimensional parameters affect the system’s dynamic behavior. Numerical results demonstrate a positive correlation between the severity of the spalling defect and the dynamic response intensity. Specifically, the expansion of defect dimensions under harsh operating regimes markedly exacerbates both the contact impulses at the needle-roller interface and the overall vibration acceleration amplitudes. Notably, the amplitude increment of the needle rollers is far more pronounced than that of other components. These findings enrich the theoretical understanding of fault-induced dynamic responses in planetary gear systems and provide a solid theoretical and model-based foundation for optimizing the fault diagnosis, condition monitoring, and maintenance strategies of the associated needle roller bearings.
Zou, Desheng, Lai, Junbin, Guo, Wei, Dong, Peng, Xu, Xiangyang, Sun, Qiang
Contemporary disaster rescue operations face challenges due to complex and hazardous terrains. Existing rescue robots with single locomotion mechanisms (wheeled, legged, tracked) and some hybrid ones have limitations in adaptability, efficiency, or structure. To meet the dual demands of complex terrains and limited space, this paper proposes a wheel-track transformable mobile platform based on a four- bar mechanism, which adopts a modular structure. A servo motor drives the active link to adjust the spatial position of the movable link (equipped with movable wheels), enabling smooth switching between wheeled and tracked modes. Key link lengths are determined via kinematic analysis, and a two-stage gear transmission system is designed. Adams simulation verification shows the platform completes wheel-track mode conversion on flat ground without component interference and can lift the center of gravity (CG) to surmount obstacles during slope climbing. The platform's feasibility is verified, providing a technical reference for designing highly adaptable rescue robots suitable for small spaces and complex terrains in post-earthquake or post-disaster scenarios.
Ma, Shangyuan
In response to the industry's problems of transportation difficulties, low efficiency, and high safety risks during the erection of high-voltage transmission line towers in mountainous areas, this paper proposes a light tower erection device that integrates connection, assembly, and fixing functions. The device adopts 180 mm Q345 equal-angle steel tower legs and is equipped with a hydraulic drive system. The tower body is raised through the coordinated work of the main and secondary hydraulic cylinders. In contrast, the vertical and horizontal hydraulic cylinders are used for auxiliary descent and precise fine adjustment. Its modular and lightweight structural design meets the transportation needs in narrow spaces in mountainous areas. The specifications of the hydraulic cylinder are determined by mechanical calculation, and the structural strength of the square tube and the main and secondary hydraulic cylinder connecting rods is verified by finite element analysis. Kinematic simulation confirms that the operating performance of the device is stable. This device provides an efficient and reliable piece of technical equipment for the construction of transmission lines in mountainous areas, which has important engineering application value and broad promotion and application prospects.
Li, Hailong, Chen, Zhen, He, Longping, Wang, Zhongpan, Li, Cheng
The free vibration characteristics of long-span transmission conductors form the fundamental basis for vibration control design, as their natural frequencies and mode shapes directly affect line safety and the selection of vibration suppression devices. In this study, the three-dimensional linear free vibration governing equations were derived through functional integration of the kinetic and potential energies by using Hamilton’s variational principle. Compared with the conventional integral transform method, an improved meshfree discretization strategy is proposed: the shape functions are constructed using the moving least squares (MLS) method, while the boundary conditions are treated with a fully transformed approach, thereby converting the partial differential equations into ordinary differential equations. Subsequently, a corresponding eigenvalue problem is solved to calculate the first few frequencies of the system, and the effect of conductor natural parameters on these frequencies for the transmission conductor is investigated. The results indicate that the natural frequency decreases when the conductor length becomes larger, and the rate of decrease becomes more gradual as the length increases; it decreases with increasing cross-sectional diameter; it decreases linearly with increasing material density; and it increases linearly with increasing elastic modulus. These findings demonstrate that conductor length, cross-sectional diameter, material density, and elastic modulus all have significant effects on the natural frequency. Among them, length and diameter affect the frequency by altering the conductor’s inertia and structural characteristics, whereas density and elastic modulus govern the frequency from the perspectives of inertia and stiffness, respectively.
Li, Chen, Cheng, Yongfeng, Li, Danyu, Qiu, Gang
Gear-shift execution is critical to power delivery, vehicle acceleration, and driver workload in Formula Student racing vehicles. Conventional shifting solutions for sequential gearboxes are often limited by driver-dependent operation, insufficient actuator authority, incomplete torque coordination, or the absence of closed-loop gear-state confirmation. This study develops and validates a clutchless electro-pneumatic gear-shifting system for a CF700-powered Formula Student vehicle equipped with an integrated sequential dog-engagement gearbox. The system is treated as a shift-assist form of automated manual transmission, in which the driver retains gear-selection authority while shift actuation and engine torque coordination are performed electronically. Although pneumatic shifting systems are already established in motorsport applications, the present work focuses on their vehicle-specific integration through measured shift-load characterization, geometry-based actuator design, gear-position-based closed-loop control, and electronic-throttle-assisted torque intervention. Vehicle tests were conducted under straight-line acceleration, high-speed obstacle-avoidance, and endurance-oriented training conditions. Across 76 recorded shift events, no failed gear transition or missed target-gear confirmation was observed. In straight-line acceleration tests, the mean target-gear confirmation time for recorded upshifts was 96 ± 5 ms, and the representative gear-position transition interval was approximately 20 ms. The full Engine Control Unit (ECU)-controlled upshift event was 0.50 ± 0.10 s because it included the calibrated low-torque dwell and torque-recovery phase, and should therefore be interpreted as a control-event window rather than the mechanical shift duration. After powertrain-specific actuation and torque-control calibration, the developed system provides an implementation basis for similar electronically controlled sequential-gearbox racing platforms, with potential to reduce shift time and driver workload and to support improved autocross drivability and performance.
Cao, Yuanyi
To address the core requirement of “layered ripeness and non-destructive harvesting” in tobacco-growing hilly regions of China, a specialized tobacco leaf harvester was developed. Considering the challenges posed by scattered plots and complex terrain, a four-wheel steering chassis system was proposed. The platform adopts a four-wheel independent drive and steering (4WID-4WIS) configuration, powered by DC servo motors and integrated with a microcontroller-based ROS system. The resulting drive chain—comprising motors, gear reducers, and off-road tires—achieves a maximum operating speed of 0.5 m/s. A novel rotary cross-blade harvesting module was designed in conjunction with a conveyor-based transmission mechanism, enabling stratified harvesting and leaf transport. Full-condition field tests were conducted. In terms of mobility, the harvester achieved stable operation at 0.5 m/s on cement roads, 0.1–0.2 m/s in fields, and demonstrated slip-free climbing on 20° slopes. In terms of harvesting performance, the system’s adjustable modules accommodated varying plant heights; however, issues with blade grip were observed when handling irregularly slanted stalks, affecting collection efficiency. During continuous field entry and exit operations, no mechanical failures occurred, verifying the prototype’s operational stability. This study introduces an innovative combination of omnidirectional mobile chassis and stratified blade modules, offering technical support for the modernization of tobacco agriculture. Further refinement of the harvesting strategy will be pursued to enhance practicality.
Guo, Ting, Gu, Jin, Li, Wen, Tang, Xiaoming, Long, Chao, Yang, Dongchao
To meet the need for optimizing the dynamic performance of asymmetric gear transmissions operating under high-speed and heavy-load conditions, this study presents a refined stiffness modeling approach. A tooth-surface contact stiffness model is formulated based on Hertzian contact theory. By integrating the energy method, a coupled stiffness model is established that incorporates bending, shear, axial compression, and foundation stiffness components. Stable curves depicting the variation of mesh stiffness with the path of contact are subsequently derived by leveraging the principle of stiffness superposition. The findings demonstrate that the proposed mathematical model accurately represents the stiffness behavior of asymmetric gears as governed by the changing contact length, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for enhancing gear dynamics and extending the service life of transmission systems.
Zhao, Zeyi, Sun, Xiaoyan, Wu, Ziheng, Tang, Xin, Liu, Yanxia, Li, Fajia
As a high-precision transmission core component, the RV reducer’s performance depends on the time-varying stiffness of its core components. Building a time-varying stiffness model is essential for studying its dynamic characteristics. This paper addresses the lack of key factors in existing dynamic studies by creating a multi-factor coupled dynamic model. It analyzes the time-varying stiffness of the crankshaft bearing, involute gear, and cycloid gear-pin gear. The study also focuses on building a dynamic analysis model for the crankshaft bearing. By measuring changes in oil film thickness and initial assembly clearance caused by temperature rise, it explains how combined clearance affects bearing performance. To verify the model, a domestic RV reducer is modeled and assembled in SolidWorks. The simplified model is imported into ADAMS for simulation. Under set load and speed conditions, dynamic parameters like angular velocity and acceleration of core components are obtained. This provides a more scientific analysis method and data support for understanding the dynamic characteristics and improving the transmission performance of RV reducers.
Xuan, Liang, Teng, Shaowei, Huang, Ruizhe, Wan, Zefu, Shao, Mengqi, Yu, Zhishen, Wang, Ziyue
This paper focuses on the parameter matching of key components and the improvement of overall vehicle performance for a certain front-wheel drive pure electric vehicle. Firstly, based on the target performance of the vehicle, the rated/peak power, speed, and torque of the permanent magnet synchronous drive motor, as well as the capacity, voltage, and series-parallel scheme of the LiFePO4 power battery, are systematically calculated. Meanwhile, the gear ratio of the transmission system is determined based on the dual constraints of the maximum speed and the maximum gradeability. Subsequently, the vehicle model is built using AVL Cruise, and the maximum speed, 0-100 Km/h acceleration time, maximum gradeability, and NEDC range are simulated and verified under steady-state and transient conditions. The results show that the maximum speed of the prototype vehicle reaches 139 Km/h, the 0-100 Km/h acceleration is 7.98 s, the maximum gradeability is 33.2%, the power consumption per 100 Km is 12.12 KWh, and the range is 485 Km, all of which are superior to the design indicators. The research verifies the rationality of the proposed parameter matching scheme and can provide a theoretical basis and engineering reference for the forward development of the power system of pure electric vehicles of the same level.
He, Yuefan, Zhang, Baoping, Tang, Shujian, Chen, Hanbang, Jin, Biao
With the rapid development of the global economy, issues such as the energy crisis and environmental pollution have become increasingly severe. Owing to their environmental friendliness, structural simplicity, and high energy efficiency, electric vehicles have attracted widespread attention. Electric drive technology serves as the most promising and versatile propulsion solution for battery electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles. As an advanced mechatronic transmission system, the electric drive axle offers high transmission efficiency, flexible packaging, and ease of digital and active chassis control integration, and has thus been increasingly adopted in modern vehicle architectures. The differential is a key component within the electric drive axle, responsible for regulating the rotational speed difference between the left and right wheels and ensuring balanced torque distribution. It plays a decisive role in vehicle stability and traction performance. This study focuses on the reliability testing methodology for differentials in electric drive axles, primarily including the extraction of reliability test conditions and the feasibility analysis of the proposed testing scheme. Specifically, based on the parameters of a given electric vehicle, a Simulink model of the motor and differential is established, and a complete four-wheel-drive vehicle model is constructed. Through simulation under typical driving conditions, operational data of the rear-drive axle differential are obtained. The collected data are then preprocessed and subjected to dimensionality reduction using Principal Component Analysis. The selected principal components are further analyzed using K-means clustering to construct representative differential reliability test conditions. The limitations of existing testing methods are analyzed based on the simulated results and relevant literature. Finally, a reinforced fatigue testing method for the differential is designed according to the extracted test conditions, and the feasibility of the corresponding test bench is evaluated.
Zheng, Hongyu, Li, Ziyu, Wang, Dajiang, Tian, Kai
Improving the efficiency of electric vehicle (EV) transmissions can help to extend the driving range of EVs, and the EV oil used in these transmissions plays an important role. In this study, in order to enhance energy efficiency, we examined the effects of lowering viscosity, traction, and friction in EV oil. While friction modifiers (FMs) have been widely used as friction reduction technologies in the field of tribology for many years, we previously developed a new FM that reduces friction in drive units. We found that a combination of lowering viscosity and using the developed FM was effective for better energy efficiency. The oil formulated with the developed FM improved efficiency by approximately +0.8% to +0.9% compared to commercial EV oil. EV oil also requires cooling performance. We assumed that reducing heat generation through friction reduction would improve cooling performance and examined the effect of lowering viscosity, traction, and friction. Consequently, it was found that a combination of lowering traction and applying the developed FM is effective for reduction in parasitic heat losses. We also examined durability, which is an issue when reducing viscosity. The results suggested that the oil formulated with the developed FM had good durability for gears and bearings. Thus, we succeeded in developing an ultra-low-viscosity EV oil that has excellent energy efficiency and high cooling performance.
Nakamura, Toshitaka, Furuse, Takashi, Hasegawa, Shinji, Akahori, Shinya, Itou, Kimikazu, Sakurada, Soichiro, Akiguchi, Junnosuke
Considering the spatial harmonic and time harmonic excitation of the permanent magnet synchronous motor, and the dynamic meshing excitation of gear pairs, this paper constructs one electromechanical coupling torsional vibration model. The torsional vibration characteristics of the electric drive transmission system in pure electric vehicles are investigated. Key electromechanical parameters are obtained by numerical calculations, and the electromechanical coupling system model is solved using the Runge-Kutta method. Finally, the system dynamic response characteristics at rated speed of 3000 r/min are analyzed. The results indicate that the significant bidirectional coupling exists between the electromagnetic excitation of the motor and the mechanical excitation of the gear transmission system. The current spectrum contains fundamental and harmonic components, along with components of gear meshing frequencies and their modulated sideband characteristics relative to the electrical frequency. The electromagnetic torque spectrum exhibits components of gear meshing frequencies, and gear angular velocity fluctuations are influenced by motor harmonic excitation. Under multi-source excitation, this study reveals the frequency modulation mechanism of torsional vibrations in electromechanical coupling drive systems, providing a theoretical basis for vibration and noise suppression.
Luo, Yaou, Zhao, Kaihua, Fu, Shengping
Solar greenhouses in winter or mountainous areas can be at risk of roof snow accumulation, leading to collapse, poor lighting, and sudden drops in temperature. The snow removal technologies presently employed on these greenhouses have the disadvantages of being cumbersome to adjust, being intricately structured, having a high cost, having high energy consumption, and being poorly adaptable to the curvature of the plastic. An intelligent snow removal device for removing snow on a northern solar greenhouse roof, and an automatic alarm safety system were designed to solve the problems. The device consists of a snow-clearing mechanism, a traversing mechanism, and detection-alarm modules. The mechanism for snow removal consists of a crank-slider with a curved guide rail. The snow removal rod is driven by the gear motor, which goes back and forth on the arched top. A bevel gear transmission system drives the gear motor mechanism. Due to this, the transverse mechanism moves with an interrupting jump-action on transverse rails around many different zones. The system for monitoring snow pressure has a distributed sensor that is programmed as a shield using an Arduino software system. The sensors detect the pressure of the snow in real-time. When the snow pressure hits the threshold, it activates the mechanism for coordinated functioning. This mechanism triggers snow clearing when the pressure threshold is achieved to avoid energy consumed through “premature clearing”. It also fits well on the curved surfaces of the greenhouse without any jamming. The snow removal machine’s various components and operations would accomplish full span snow removal and make it possible to overcome high labour intensity, slow manual response, energy waste, and others. The technology can enhance the safety of winter production of northern greenhouse crops and improve the disaster-resistant capacity of modern agriculture facilities. This technology has been granted a patent for invention.
Fu, Chengguo, Wei, Shanxiang, Zhang, Rongxian, Ding, Xuefeng, Gao, Yulan
This study presents a systematic investigation into the assembly stress and fatigue life of 60-series harmonic reducers. A sophisticated finite element simulation model is constructed to precisely simulate the real assembly process and calculate stress distribution in the flexspline under axial assembly errors. In addition, corresponding fatigue life tests are designed to explore the influence of different axial assembly errors on the number of rotation cycles and transmission efficiency of the harmonic reducer. By comparing the predictions of the fatigue life mathematical model with the test data, a reliable fatigue life prediction method is established, providing a solid theoretical basis for the whole-machine assembly process and reliability design of this series of harmonic reducers.
Du, Yuefei, Qiu, Haodong, Fan, Yong, Li, Ziyuan, Dong, Yi, Zhang, Chi, Li, Chenzheng, Li, Yuan
High-speed wet clutches may experience dynamic instability between the friction plates, leading to rattling vibrations and a significant increase in drag torque. This study employs a homogeneous flow model to characterize the gas-liquid two-phase flow within a high-speed clutch. It establishes a dynamic model for the angular oscillation of friction plates. Finite-element numerical simulations and stability analyses were conducted. The results indicate that as the clutch speed difference increases, the density and viscosity of the two-phase flow decrease rapidly, leading to a sharp reduction in fluid stiffness and damping. Consequently, the friction plates become more susceptible to angular oscillation. The stability of angular oscillation is determined by two key parameters: dimensionless comprehensive stiffness and critical frequency ratio. Higher dimensionless comprehensive stiffness and a lower critical frequency ratio enhance oscillation stability. Numerical evaluations of various groove types reveal that as rotational speed and friction plate clearance increase, the fluid stiffness coefficient, damping coefficient, dimensionless comprehensive stiffness, and critical moment of inertia all decrease, thereby reducing angular oscillation stability. Among the tested groove geometries, enclosed grooves and spiral grooves exhibit superior stability due to their strong hydrodynamic effects, yielding the highest dimensionless comprehensive stiffness. The critical frequency ratio for the self-excited angular oscillation of friction plates is approximately 0.5, termed the half-frequency oscillation characteristic. Experimental data validate the proposed angular oscillation model and its frequency response, providing a theoretical foundation for performance prediction and stability optimization in high-speed clutch design.
Cheng, Xu, Peng, Zengxiong, Zhang, Jing, Jin, Jiayin
The dynamic characteristics of the electric drive axle of the new energy commercial vehicle is an important performance to evaluate its quality, and the dynamic performance of the two-stage helical gear transmission system in the electric drive axle reducer directly reflects the dynamic performance of the electric drive axle. This study focuses on the secondary gear transmission system of the electric drive axle reducer of the new energy commercial vehicle, and mainly studies the influence of the tooth surface contact stiffness with the change of meshing on the vibration performance of the transmission system. Through establishing the coupled nonlinear dynamic model of torque-begear shaft of high-speed helical gear, the dynamic equations of the system under the influence of time-variable contact mesh stiffness are derived. Taking gear error excitation and support stiffness into consideration, a 3D model software is used to build the simulation virtual model of bevel gear of electric drive axle reducer, and the dynamic simulation analysis of its transmission system is carried out. By setting different tooth contact stiffness coefficients, the variation rules of translational vibration acceleration, angular acceleration and spectrum response of transmission gears are studied systematically. Simulation results indicate that selecting the contact stiffness coefficient within 80% to 90% of the average mesh stiffness value leads to improved meshing performance in the gear transmission system of an electric drive axle reducer. This configuration results in reduced vibration amplitude, narrower sidebands, and decreased dynamic transmission error, thereby effectively enhancing the NVH performance of the transmission system. The findings also provide an important reference for optimizing the meshing behavior of electric drive axle reducers.
Pan, Yunping, Song, Junchen, Du, Shuai, Wu, Changquan, Liao, Lieping
High-precision five-axis machining puts forward strict requirements for the stiffness and position stability of the AC double-angle milling head, especially when the gear transmission system is used under heavy cutting load and complex force coupling conditions. In the actual processing environment, the non-uniform deformation caused by structural coupling and load changes will directly affect the machining accuracy and stability. In order to solve these problems, this paper designs and analyzes a gear-type AC double-angle milling head with a pendulum structure and a layered modular structure. A parametric finite element model was established, and ABAQUS software was used to conduct a static analysis of two typical A-axis directions (0° and 90°), taking into account the internal prestressing force generated by gravity, cutting force, and gear meshing to reflect the typical working conditions. Under the same boundary conditions and load conditions, the influence of different structural materials on the overall stiffness was further studied through comparative analysis. The results show that under the conditions of five-axis linkage machining and positioning machining, the overall deformation of the milling head is maintained within the micron range, which meets the requirements of high-precision machining. The deformation behavior shows obvious dependence on the A-axis direction, reflecting the inherent anisotropic stiffness characteristics of the structure. Compared with the traditional structure, the proposed design has better rigidity performance under combined load conditions and provides practical reference values for the subsequent structural optimization, material selection, and precision control of high-performance five-axis CNC milling heads.
Xie, Xingui, Yuan, Yongchao, Qi, Quan, Li, Xiangshuai
Dual-motor architectures provide additional operating degrees of freedom for electric commercial vehicles (ECVs), but the integration of automated manual transmissions (AMTs) introduces torque discontinuities during gear-related mode transitions. Existing energy management strategies usually focus on steady-state efficiency optimization, while the mechanical feasibility of mode transitions is often considered separately or neglected. To address this issue, this study proposes a topology-aware hierarchical control framework for dual-motor ECVs. The framework combines an offline global efficiency map with an online transition-feasibility arbitration mechanism. In the offline layer, the energy-oriented operating mode and torque split are extracted over the vehicle-speed and wheel-torque domain. In the online layer, a topology-based transition matrix is used to identify mechanically singular mode transitions, and potentially torque-interrupting commands are re-routed through feasible bridge modes. The proposed method embeds powertrain topology constraints into the real-time implementation of an offline optimal map, thereby complementing conventional global optimization methods with transition-feasibility arbitration. Simulation results under the CHTC driving cycle show that the proposed strategy improves torque continuity during mode transitions while retaining most of the energy-saving benefit of the unconstrained efficiency-oriented strategy. Compared with the rule-based strategy, the proposed method reduces SOC-equivalent energy consumption by 10.7%, and recovers 65.5% of the DP-achievable energy-saving potential. Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) results further demonstrate that the proposed online arbitration logic can be executed within the controller sampling period.
Song, Dafeng, Chen, Lexin, Zeng, Xiaohua, Ni, Lixin
This study details the development and experimental validation of a high-fidelity one-dimensional (1D) simulation model for a two-speed transmission designed for off-road vehicles, such as tractors and backhoe loaders used in agricultural and civil engineering applications. The model, implemented in the AMESim platform from Siemens, integrates physics-based loss sub-models for all major components, including gears, bearings, seals, and fluid drag (churning) losses. After development, the model was rigorously validated against test bench data, with efficiency measurements taken across various speed, torque, and oil level combinations, demonstrating a strong correlation with experimental results. A detailed analysis enabled the quantification of the contribution of each loss mechanism, identifying the countershaft gears and input shaft bearings as the primary contributors. Furthermore, a Machine Learning (ML)–based calibration framework, employing Bayesian Optimization, was implemented to reduce discrepancies between simulation and experiment and to generate a synthetic dataset for the creation of fast-executing surrogate models. The study concludes that the proposed methodology constitutes an effective tool for efficiency analysis and optimization during early design stages, establishing a foundation for future integration with ML techniques and the development of digital twins.
Ferreira, Tiago Simao, Fallahi, Farzad, Kedziora, Slawomir, Hichri, Bassem, Kiefer, Jean-Daniel
This study investigates the knocking noise phenomenon in a marine dual-power dual-branch transmission gear system. Vibration mechanisms are analyzed, and potential failure modes are assessed. System vibration data were evaluated using time-domain and frequency-domain methods. Results show that overall vibration levels remained within acceptable limits, with no indication of imminent failure. Physical inspection confirmed that the shaft, gears, bearings, housing, and installation met specifications, with no observed performance degradation or structural damage. By correlating noise occurrence with vessel loading conditions, a strong relationship was identified among gear transmission torque, the power distribution ratio between high-and low-pressure turbines, and the onset of knocking. Specifically, under low-load conditions, uneven power and torque distribution among the four gear branches led to insufficient loading on the low-pressure side. This light-load state induced instability in the low-pressure gears, resulting in periodic tooth disengagement or back-side tooth contact, which is established as the root cause of the knocking noise.
Gu, Chengzhong, Xu, Hanwei, Luo, Rirong, Ren, Fushan
In the paper, a novel non-contact high-power energy transfer system based on a layered coupling structure is designed to meet the demand for reliable energy transmission during the inter-stage separation process of launch vehicles. The system adopts the upper four-coil transmitting array and the lower single-coil receiving structure and combines the innovative design of a 6:1 step-down transformer topology. Through the optimization of the multi-channel magnetic field coupling mechanism, the system realizes the safe transmission of more than 2 kW of power in close interstage under the difficult problem of transmission loss under the scenario of low input voltage and high output current, which effectively solves the problem of the system. Experimental findings can demonstrate that with a specified input voltage, the system could keep its output voltage of about 28 V under a given input voltage, and the maximum output current reaches about 85 A. The transmission efficiency is significantly higher than the traditional single-coil structure, and the measured data verify the applicability of the scheme in the core indexes of voltage stability, power capacity, and transmission distance. The design breaks through the reliability limitation of traditional contact connections under extreme working conditions and provides an innovative solution for continuous energy supply during the dynamic separation process of the carrier.
Guo, Xinwen, Jing, Xiaorong, Xu, Pengfei
With the development of battery technology and wireless power transmission technology, their applications in the aviation field have broad prospects. Alignment control is the key to achieving wireless power transmission in the air. This paper first establishes a mathematical model for the proposed wireless power transmission device, decomposes and simplifies it to obtain a controlled object model that is more suitable for the algorithm in this paper. Aiming at the accuracy of alignment control in the task, a fused dynamic inverse algorithm with feedforward optimization was designed step by step and verified through simulation. In the simulation, typical application scenarios were designed in combination with the requirements of wireless power transmission technology. The results show that compared with the general dynamic inversion algorithm and differential feedback-fused dynamic inverse algorithm, better alignment control effects have been achieved, and this algorithm can achieve alignment within the expected error range, further verifying its effectiveness and having certain application prospects.
Tan, Xudong, Hei, Wenjing, Lei, Yidi
Ball screws, as classic high-precision transmission structures, are widely used in various linear motion mechanisms. To meet the needs of space applications, it is necessary to address issues such as microgravity and long lifespan to enhance the in-orbit lifespan and reliability of ball screws. Traditional oil or grease lubrication methods are often unsuitable for space environments due to microgravity and vacuum evaporation problems. This paper conducts relevant research on lubrication design, friction pair design, and friction and wear verification to solve the lubrication and lifespan issues of long-lifespan ball screws for space applications.
Xie, Wen, Zhao, Jian, Gong, Kang, Hu, Xiaonan, Guo, Menglei, Jiao, Hanyu
Flexible cables are widely used in aircraft and are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of critical systems and flight safety. The design and validation of these cables represent a foundational technology in enabling the transmission of electrical power and signals throughout the entire aircraft. To achieve their intended service life, appropriate protective measures and experimental verification must be implemented. Drawing on the development experience of flexible cables for a specific domestic aircraft model, this paper proposes a combined protection method designed to extend the service life of flexible cables. Experimental analysis demonstrates the practicality and reference value of this approach.
Shi, Liqing, Hu, Huanghua, Ge, Zengwen
In response to the problem of manual transmission rattle noise in the acceleration process of a truck, the mechanism of the problem is analysed, and the scheme is developed and verified from two aspects: reducing the torsional vibration of the system and reducing the response of the transmission gear. The results show that, on the one hand, reducing the clutch stiffness and optimizing the torsional vibration of the system can reduce the rattle noise of the transmission; On the other hand, it can also reduce the rattle noise of transmission gears by improving the engagement precision of transmission gears and reducing the gear clearance. Considering the improvement effect, cost, and influence on other performance of the two schemes, the appropriate engineering scheme is selected to effectively solve the problem and improve the riding comfort of the product.
Yang, Zhijie, Xu, Binghua
The gearbox is a key component of the mechanical transmission system, and its fault diagnosis is essential to the reliability of the equipment. However, obtaining fault samples under actual working conditions for gearbox fault diagnosis is challenging. In this paper, the rigid-flexible coupling dynamic simulation model of the gearbox is established, and the co-simulation of gear normal, crack, and breakage is carried out in the ADAMS and MATLAB environments. The comparison between the simulated and measured signals shows that the simulation method can accurately reflect the key characteristics, such as rotation frequency and meshing frequency, and verify its reliability and accuracy. The research results can provide effective data support for gearbox fault diagnosis and improve the operational safety of mechanical systems.
Li, Dongxiao, Zhang, Qianqi, Zhang, Zhongzheng, Li, Yongbo
This study looks into the performance traits of a pure electric car that has a continuously variable transmission (CVT) system by doing careful simulations. The research is mostly about checking how well it performs dynamically and how much better its energy efficiency is compared to regular designs. With the help of AVL Cruise software, a detailed drivetrain model was made to test things like how fast it can accelerate, its top speed, how well it climbs hills, and how much energy it uses when driven in standard ways. The simulation results show some big improvements: the CVT car can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.92 seconds, which is 14% quicker than expected; it can reach a top speed of 179 km/h, 15% higher than planned; and it can climb really steep hills at a 41.33% gradient. The energy efficiency analysis also found that it uses less power, consuming just 15.88 kWh per 100km under NEDC conditions and 13.72 kWh per 100km in UDC cycles, which are 21% and 24% less than before. These results prove that the CVT works well in keeping the motor running efficiently by changing ratios all the time. The study points out the technical benefits of CVT systems in making performance and energy saving balanced, but it also finds some practical problems like environmental factors and system integration issues. This work gives useful ideas for making new electric vehicle transmission systems and hints at good ways to improve them in the future.
Chen, Haishan, Gong, Naifa, Pan, Yulong, Cai, Zhicheng, Gao, Yujie, Shen, Xiaobing, Fu, Xianlan, Chen, Keren
Traditional mechanical continuously variable transmission (CVT) has a complicated structure. During the transmission process, the master and slave wheels rub against each other to produce chattering and heat loss, and the master and slave wheels are seriously worn. In order to improve the transmission efficiency and reliability of continuously variable transmission, Automotive magnetic CVTs (Manetti Continus, Livaria, Breitlans, Mack) were used as research objects. By establishing the efficiency model of key parts, the relationship between the efficiency of each component and different parameters is transformed and calculated, and then it is optimized using Matlab. The finite element analysis of a permanent magnet eddy current speed regulating device is carried out by using finite element Ansys Maxwell, and the relationship curve between the average meshing area and each parameter is analyzed. The results show that the volume of the optimized gear train is reduced by about 51.7% compared with that before optimization, and the loss of MCVT is only 1.4KW under the condition of full engagement of the magnetic ring with the maximum power of 110KW, and the energy transfer efficiency can reach 98.7%, which greatly improves the working efficiency compared with the traditional mechanical CVT.
Zhou, Dan, Zhang, Bolin
The aim of this work is to develop a modular, real-time-capable digital twin of an electric powertrain based on machine learning (ML)-based model structures and a systematic, component-oriented architecture with a focus on efficiency estimation in test bench environments. The further goal here is to enable virtual testing, which can be used for frontloading and thus both prevent errors and increase the speed of product development. Based on a comprehensive set of measured and derived test bench data, a multi-stage procedure is implemented that integrates data acquisition, physically informed feature selection, modeling at the component and subsystem level, and hybrid coupling strategies. The digital twin captures inverter, electric machine, and mechanical transmission stages and generates consistent predictions of key variables such as torque, speed, power factors, and subsystem as well as overall drivetrain efficiency. The methodology enables a systematic comparison of black box, dark grey box, grey box, and bright grey box architectures with respect to prediction accuracy, information content, and real-time capability. The methodology provided uses new model structures that explicitly integrate physical dependencies while also using ML models to map nonlinear effects. The hybrid architectures presented have been shown to significantly reduce the measurement effort while achieving nearly identical model quality and surpassing purely physics-based models in terms of accuracy, robustness, and real-time capability. For the final bright grey-box architecture, average relative efficiency errors below 1 % are achieved while maintaining real-time execution rates. The study shows that bright grey box-models in particular offer a best-case compromise between the requirements of information content, error quality, and synchronization rate, thus representing a methodological advance over conventional digital twins, which are often created at the component level. The shown methodology provides an implementable framework for digital twins of electric powertrains in industrial test environments.
Kopp, Lennart, Proksch, Daniel, Ockert, Niels, Karthaus, Carsten, Kley, Markus
As acoustic requirements for NVH trim components become increasingly constrained by mass, cost, and sustainability targets, traditional approaches to inner dash design based on spatially averaged Transmission Loss (TL) metrics are reaching their practical limits. In fully built vehicles, the acoustic performance of the inner dash is governed by its global insulation capability but also by strong spatial heterogeneity and its interaction with spatially distributed noise sources such as the power unit, gearbox, and tyre-road excitation. This paper presents a test-based methodology for the spatial optimisation of inner dash acoustic performance using reciprocal holography. By applying a calibrated sound power source within the vehicle cabin and measuring the reciprocal response in the engine bay and wheel-arch regions, a high-resolution spatial Transmission Loss “hologram” of the inner dash is obtained under in-situ conditions. The resulting spatial data enables the identification of localised acoustic weak points that are not observable using conventional testing methods. To bridge the gap between passive component characterisation and real-world vehicle operation, the spatial TL hologram is subsequently evaluated using representative operational source sound power data to prioritise acoustically relevant regions. This enables the transmitted acoustic energy to be evaluated under realistic driving conditions. The holographic data is then coupled with a parametric acoustic model of the inner dash system, allowing localised mass redistribution to be optimised using a genetic algorithm while respecting packaging and manufacturing constraints.
Harry, Evan, Eandi, Giacomo
Many high-end electric vehicles use an automatic two-speed transmission. The ability of the drivetrain to switch between two gear ratios improves vehicle performance and increases driving range. The aim of the presented research work is to transfer these advantages to small and lightweight battery-electric vehicles, which face significant cost and weight constraints and therefore cannot rely on highly sophisticated electric motors. Direct-drive systems are widely used in this vehicle class due to their simplicity and high baseline efficiency. However, they offer limited flexibility in adapting the operating point of the electric motor under varying load conditions. A two-speed transmission can overcome this limitation by enabling load point shifting, allowing the motor to operate closer to its optimal efficiency region during both urban and extra-urban driving. This results in improved energy consumption without adding substantial system complexity. Currently, only actuated transmissions are offered on the market, with automation adding a high degree of complexity and representing a major cost driver. Therefore, the focus during the concept development phase was on designing a fully mechanical, self-shifting system to meet the cost pressures of the targeted vehicle classes. Hence, the team at ITnA developed and patented a solution that enables automatic gear changes solely based on output torque, which reflects the motor load and the current driving situation. In the present work, both the operating principle of the technology and the advantages regarding the performance and efficiency of electric vehicles are described. Owing to its simple architecture and the absence of electronics, the transmission is inherently robust and durable, making it a significant contribution to the development of sustainable and affordable e-mobility for the mass market.
Napetschnig, Christof, Tromayer, Juergen, Stückler, David
Improved energy efficiency and lower CO2 emissions are the two major drivers for the emergence of E-mobility. Growth of electric vehicles (EVs) has sustained ever since their introduction till 2020 and has substantially increased thereafter. EVs require specialized lubricants, which are different from conventional lubricants mainly due to the addition of new hardware technology including e-motor, inverter, battery, and new materials (copper windings, elastomers, plastic, and other materials). Lubricant when used in an advanced powertrain electric vehicle specifically in E-powertrains may encounter the e-motor and must deliver unique performance attributes such as optimal electrical properties, thermal management, and material compatibility apart from the traditional features including extreme pressure, friction performance, oxidation, and wear control. In the current study, we have investigated conventional GL5, manual transmission fluid (MTF), automatic transmission fluid (ATF), and dedicated e-fluids to understand additive and viscosity effects on aforesaid performance traits. Our study emphasized that additive chemistry plays a significant role on key properties such as electrical properties, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, and tribological performance.
Katta, Lakshmi, Seth, Sarita, Singh, Sandeep, Bhardwaj, Anil, Arora, Ajay Kumar
ZF foresees hybrid powertrain technology becoming more popular for commercial transport in the coming years, and it's working earnestly to be a major player in that realm. The supplier unveiled the TraXon 2 Hybrid transmission to the North American commercial vehicle market at last year's ACT Expo and is now evaluating the technology in real-world conditions. The next-gen automated manual transmission (AMT) is optimized to improve fuel efficiency for plug-in and full hybrid heavy-duty trucks and coaches, as well as special applications such as medium- to heavy-duty mobile cranes.
Gehm, Ryan
High-temperature hydraulic control in a Formula 1 drivetrain requires dimensional stability, controlled sealing force, and resistance to wear under sustained pressure cycling. Inside the limited-slip differential, the sealing architecture plays a defined mechanical role in maintaining consistent torque management under race conditions. In Formula 1, drivetrain reliability and performance are closely linked. The limited-slip differential (LSD) governs torque distribution between the rear wheels, allowing controlled transfer of power to the wheel with greater available grip. By limiting speed difference across the rear axle, the differential contributes directly to traction and cornering behavior, particularly where grip levels vary across the vehicle. At the center of this assembly is a hydraulic actuator that clamps a friction clutch inside the differential. The actuator modulates clutch engagement to redirect torque as grip levels change through corner entry, mid-corner load transfer, and acceleration on exit. Its performance depends on precise hydraulic control, which in turn depends on sealing integrity. Within this system, seal integrity is paramount, as significant leakage could cause a catastrophic loss of system function and force the team to retire the car.
Clarke, Andrew
For brake and clutch components of aircraft vehicles which require higher mechanical strength and wear resilient, light-weight aluminium composites were developed infusing solid lubricant. In this study, hybrid composites were developed using powder metallurgy route with aluminum alloy AA356 and various amounts of zirconium oxide (ZrO2) (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt.%) as reinforcements. A solid lubricant hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) at a fixed 5 wt.% is considered. Following the appropriate ASTM guidelines, the specimens were mechanically characterized by measuring their density, porosity, micro-hardness, compression strength, impact strength, and flexural strength, among other properties. The findings showed that the composites' mechanical and physical behaviour were greatly affected by the inclusion of ZrO2. Porosity increased as a result of particle clustering and interfacial voids, while density increased gradually as ceramic content increased. Consistently increasing ZrO2 addition led to micro-hardness improvements; at 20 wt.% reinforcement, values reached their maximum, indicating that the hard ceramic phase contributed to better surface resistance. The best balance between particle reinforcement and matrix continuity was suggested by the compression and flexural strengths peaking at 15 wt.% ZrO2. However, when the addition was raised to 20 wt.%, brittleness and porosity began to marginally deteriorate. Unreinforced and lower ZrO2 composites had superior toughness in impact, whereas materials with a higher content had a poorer energy absorption capacity. The 5 wt.% hBN improved fracture arresting capabilities and helped load transmission over the interface. Inclusion of hBN provides solid-lubricating tribofilm formation that enhances the tribological performance. This study reveals that AA356/ZrO2-hBN hybrid composites have good hardness and compressive strength improvements, with 15 wt.% ZrO2 being the best composition with good strength, toughness, and wear resistance.
Senthilkumar, N.
New powertrain choices keep popping up on new vehicles from OEMs that debuted at NYIAS this year. The 2026 New York International Auto Show was - as any good auto show should be - a microcosm of the automotive industry writ large at this time. Call it a reconsideration, a shift or just the latest in customer trends, but one thing was clear in New York this year: having options is the answer. There were still markers that kept the past alive in New York, like Nissan's gas-powered 2027 Z NISMO with an all-too-rare manual transmission. Still, when looking past enthusiast-focused models towards the larger market, it's clear that everything from ICE models to EVs to PHEVs to hybrids will remain part of the U.S. market for years to come. Here are some highlights from NYIAS this year.
Blanco, Sebastian
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