Development of a gear shift test setup for hybrid transmission vehicles

Abstract

As fuel and efficiency regulations tighten, precise and highly efficient transmission systems are becoming necessities. Previous studies at the MIT Global Engineering and Research (GEAR) Laboratory demonstrated mathematically the ability to improve the shift event via Hall Effect sensing; this study sought to implement those results in practice. To accomplish this, measurements of the physical gearsets, motors, and actuators were implemented into Computer Aided Design (CAD) software in order to design mounts and fixtures. Those mounts and fixtures were then manufactured and implemented into the real setup. In addition, brushless DC motors were utilized and tailored to drive the transmission. The end result was both CAD and physical assemblies that are simple, easy to assemble, and precise to the specifications of the experiment. From this study a proof-of-concept was built, showing that it is indeed possible spatially and physically to build an effective test setup that can support the theoretical needs of the experiment.