Smooth engagement for automotive dry clutch

Two piecewise linear time-invariant models of the automotive driveline are presented and their hybrid structure due to the presence of the dry clutch is highlighted. Based on a second order model, a slip control technique for the dry clutch engagement process is proposed. The feedback controller is designed by using the crankshaft speed and the clutch disk speed as measured variables. The controller guarantees comfortable lock-up and avoids the engine stall by decoupling the control of engine speed and slip speed. The regulation of the slip acceleration at the lock-up is shown to reduce the undesired driveline oscillations. The critical standing start operating conditions are considered and numerical results show the good performance of the proposed controller.