Predict-a-Shift: Hyundai, Kia Claim Transmission Breakthrough

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Since the automatic transmission’s birth shortly before the outbreak of World War 2, driver input and road load have dictated what gear a traditional autobox finds itself in. But what if a tranny could instead predict the optimal gear for the road not yet travelled?

That’s a question Hyundai and sister division Kia claim to have answered. Enter the company’s just-announced Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Connected Shift System.

The predictive system, born of advances in ICT and a concerted effort by engineers at the Korean automaker, enables “the vehicle to automatically shift to the optimal gear after identifying the road and traffic conditions ahead.”

It seems the development process saw 40 patents filed by the company.

Not a demonstration exercise, Hyundai and Kia plan to introduce a so-equipped transmission in future models. From the automaker:

ICT Connected Shift System uses intelligent software in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) that collects and interprets real-time input from underlying technologies, including 3D navigation equipped with a precise map of the road as well as cameras and radar for smart cruise control. The 3D navigation input includes elevation, gradient, curvature and a variety of road events as well as current traffic conditions. Radar detects the speed and distance between the vehicle and others, and a forward-looking camera provides lane information.

Using all of these inputs, the TCU predicts the optimal shift scenario for real-time driving situations through an artificial intelligence algorithm and shifts the gears accordingly. For example, when a relatively long slow down is expected and radar detects no speed irregularities with the car ahead, the transmission clutch temporarily switches to neutral mode to improve fuel efficiency.

Indeed, fuel efficiency is at the core of this effort. Hyundai has made strides on that front in the recent past, introducing the first of its Smart Stream engines — a mill that combines greater thermal efficiency with reduced friction. An ICT Connected Shift System, when combined with Smart Stream tech, would presumably boost a model’s efficiency even more.

Another plaudit for predictive shifting is reduced brake wear, as the vehicle could downshift in anticipation of a curve or area of reduced speed. In a test on a curvy piece of track, a vehicle equipped with the new tranny tech saw the vehicle execute 43 percent fewer shifts in cornering, with brake operation lowered by 11 percent. Having the automatic downshift in advance of a curve (with less plow-inducing braking effort) helps a driver power out of it — and stay planted while in it.

As well, the ICT-controlled gearbox could automatically switch into sport mode during times when greater acceleration is required, like when merging onto a freeway.

Hyundai didn’t say when such a system might find its way into a production car, though it did say work is ongoing. The company plans “to further develop the ICT Connected Shift System into an even more intelligent transmission technology that can communicate with traffic signals based on LTE or 5G communication and identify drivers’ tendencies, resulting in further refinement of gear-shift control.”

[Images: Hyundai]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Tankinbeans Tankinbeans on Feb 23, 2020

    The only transmission from H/K which I have considerable seat time using was manual and it was terrible. When my car got rear-ended, popping out some sensor for the cooling system causing it to overheat, I was given a same generation Forte with an automatic as a loaner. That drove like a dream. My vehicle was a 2011 Forte with the 6 speed, that randomly denied me access to 4th gear requiring that I either bounce back to 3rd or skip it altogether and go into 5th gear. I've not experienced their more recent manual transmissions and couldn't say if mine was an anomaly, but I would rent a vehicle thus equipped. I like trying things, just not buying them prematurely.

  • Jeff S Jeff S on Feb 23, 2020

    Trying different vehicles is good because you can get a better idea of how a vehicle drives. Better to try out a vehicle before you buy it.

  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
  • Lorenzo At my age, excitement is dangerous. one thing to note: the older models being displayed are more stylish than their current versions, and the old Subaru Forester looks more utilitarian than the current version. I thought the annual model change was dead.
  • Lorenzo Well, it was never an off-roader, much less a military vehicle, so let the people with too much money play make believe.
  • EBFlex The best gift would have been a huge bonfire of all the fak mustangs in inventory and shutting down the factory that makes them.Heck, nobody would even have to risk life and limb starting the fire, just park em close together and wait for the super environmentally friendly EV fire to commence.
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