| Fuzzy Logic (FL) technology, as one major component of Soft Computing (SC) based Artificial Intelligence (Al) technologies, is attracting more and more attention and has been widely used as a control method in many areas. Due to its capability of accepting uncertainty, FL is especially suitable to complex (such as non-linear) systems. The clutch engagement process of automated mechanical transmission (AMT) for heavy trucks is a dynamic and comprehensive system. An AMT has the same clutch and regular gear as a manual transmission but with automatic operation of clutch engagement and gear shifting, so it is highly efficient and easy to operate. However, the dynamic control of the clutch engagement is difficult because variables such as driver operation and road condition are different at any given time. In this paper, a FL-based controller is designed to control the process so as to provide a smooth start-up without flame out and a smooth engagement for gear shifting.;This work studied fuzzy logic theory as well, including its brief history and current status. The outcome is presented in a user-friendly interface based on the MATLAB platform.;The engagement process for both the start up period and the gear shifting period are discussed in depth. There are a total of 11 parameters involved in the controller, which are separated into 4 sub-models and 2 main models to realize the control concept. The selection strategies of membership function and control rules are also examined. |
