The variety of transmissions available in the market today is continuing to grow exponentially within the last 15 years, all while increasing in complexity. The result can be that we are now dealing with a varied quantity of transmission types including manual, conventional automatic, automatic manual, dual clutch, continuously adjustable, split power and real EV.
Until very recently, automotive vehicle producers largely had two types of tranny to select from: planetary automatic with torque converter or conventional manual. Today, nevertheless, the volume of options avaiable demonstrates the changes seen over the industry.

This is also illustrated by the many different types of vehicles now being manufactured for the market. And not only conventional automobiles, but also all electrical and hybrid automobiles, with each type needing different driveline architectures.

The traditional advancement process involved designing a transmission in isolation from the engine and all of those other powertrain and vehicle. However, this is changing, with the limitations and complications of the method becoming more more popular, and the continuous drive among manufacturers and designers to provide optimal efficiency at reduced weight and cost.

New powertrains feature close integration of components like the prime mover, recovery systems and the gearbox, and in addition rely on highly advanced control systems. This is to make certain that the best degree of efficiency and overall performance is delivered at all times. Manufacturers are under increased pressure to create powertrains that are brand new, different from and better than the last version-a proposition that’s made more complex by the necessity to integrate brand elements, differentiate within the marketplace and do it all on a shorter timescale. Engineering teams are on deadline, and the development process needs to be better and fast-paced than ever before.
Until now, the use of computer-aided engineering (CAE) has been the most typical way to build up drivelines. This process involves elements and subsystems designed in isolation by silos within the organization that lean toward confirmed component-level analysis equipment. While they are highly advanced tools that enable users to extract very dependable and accurate data, they are still presenting data that’s collected without consideration of the whole system.

While this may produce components that work very well individually, putting them collectively without prior concern of the entire program can create designs that don’t work, leading to Driveline gearboxes issues in the driveline that are difficult and expensive to improve.