How to drive a robotic gearbox correctly

How to ride a robot box correctly: what you need to know

Today, cars with a robotic transmission (manual transmission, AMT) are serious competitors to the classic hydromechanical automatic transmission and CVT for a number of reasons. First of all, the robotic gearbox is cheaper to produce; manual transmission also allows for high fuel efficiency, which is especially important given strict environmental regulations and standards.

At the same time, at first glance it may seem that the robotic transmission is no different from the usual automatic transmission, but this is not the case. Taking into account certain features and design differences, you need to know how to use the robot box in order to achieve maximum riding comfort and extend the service life of the unit.

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How to use a robotic gearbox correctly

First of all, a robotic gearbox is actually a manual transmission in which the clutch is controlled, as well as gear selection and on/off are carried out automatically. In other words, the robotic gearbox is still the same “mechanics”, only the gears are switched without driver participation.

Like the automatic transmission, there is an “N” (neutral) mode. In this mode, no torque is transmitted to the wheels. This mode must be turned on when idle with the engine running, if the car is being towed, etc. Mode "R" (reverse) means moving backwards.
The robot box also has A/M or E/M modes, which is analogous to D (drive) mode for moving forward. This designation is typical for simple “single-disc” manual transmissions, that is, the box has only one clutch. It should be noted that dual-clutch robotic gearboxes (for example, DSG) have a mode designated by the letter D (drive), as on conventional automatic transmissions.
As for M mode, this means that the transmission is switched to manual control mode (similar to Tiptronic), and the “+” and “-” symbols indicate where to move the selector to up or downshift. Let's also add that on DSG-type boxes, manual mode control can be done in the form of a separate button on the selector.

Operation of a robotic gearbox: nuances

So, if your car has a robotic automatic transmission (robot), we will look at how to use such a gearbox below. It would seem that this gearbox is similar to an automatic transmission in its operating principle and is not very different from its analogue. In other words, you only need to move the selector to one position or another, after which the car will start moving, and further driving will be similar to a car with a classic automatic transmission.

Let us immediately note that a manual transmission is very different from an automatic transmission with a torque converter. For this reason, you need to know how to control a robot gearbox, as well as properly operate such a gearbox.

Let's start with warming up, that is, is it necessary to warm up the robot box in winter? As you know, for automatic transmissions, preheating is required, since the transmission oil (ATF fluid) must dilute slightly. At the same time, the requirements for a robotic box are less stringent.

In any case, for both manual and manual transmissions, regardless of type, the general rules are similar. It is important to understand that during idle time, the oil in the box drains and thickens at low temperatures. This means that the engine must idle for a certain time so that the internal combustion engine itself warms up and the oil has time to spread throughout the cavities of the gearbox.

In this case, unlike an automatic transmission, the selector does not need to be switched to different modes, that is, it is enough to turn on neutral N. Further movement should be in a gentle mode, without sudden starts, at low speed. Remember, the oil in the box takes much longer to heat up than in the engine. In order for the transmission fluid to completely warm up and reach operating temperatures, you need to drive, on average, about 10 km.

Driving on ups and downs with a robot gearbox is also a point that deserves special attention. There are many models with manual transmission (usually in the budget segment) that do not have a hill start assist system.

This means that you need to start uphill with a robotic gearbox in the same way as with a manual gearbox. In simple words, you will need to use the handbrake (parking brake). First, you should tighten the handbrake, then mode A is turned on, after which the driver presses the gas pedal and at the same time removes the car from the handbrake. These actions allow you to move uphill without rolling back.

As for descents, in this case there is no need for any additional actions. The driver simply moves the selector to mode A or D, releases the parking brake and starts driving. When driving downhill, the engine braking effect will appear.

Stopping at traffic lights, driving in traffic jams and long-term parking. Let's start right away with short stops and traffic jams. First of all, if the stop is short (about 30-60 seconds), for example, at a traffic light, there is no need to move the selector from mode A or D to N. However, a longer stop will still require a transition to neutral.

The fact is that when the “drive” mode is turned on on the robot and the driver stops the car using the brake, the clutch remains depressed. It becomes clear that if the car is in a traffic jam or stands at a traffic light for a long time, you need to switch to “neutral” in order to protect the clutch and extend the life of this unit.

Additional modes of the robot box. It should be noted that the robotic box can also have modes such as S (sports) or W (winter), with the latter often indicated in the form of a “snowflake”.

Without going into details, in winter mode the box transmits torque to the wheels “softly” to avoid slipping on a snowy road or on ice. As a rule, the car in this mode starts off in second gear, and also smoothly shifts into higher gears. In sport mode, the robot gearbox shifts to higher gears at high speeds, which improves throttle response and acceleration dynamics. At the same time, fuel consumption also increases.

Let’s also add that while driving, the robotic gearbox allows you to switch from automatic to manual mode and back. This means that the driver can upshift and downshift on the fly. However, it will not be possible to gain full control over the operation of the gearbox, since the mode is semi-automatic.

Tips and tricks

As a rule, drivers who have previously driven cars with a classic automatic transmission note certain features and differences of simple robotic gearboxes with one clutch.

This gearbox (single-disk robot) can “delay” gear shifting, is “thoughtful” when downshifting or upshifting, etc. Also, manual transmission may not work quite correctly when pressing the accelerator sharply and is more suitable for quiet driving.

Also, manual transmission is characterized by slight shocks when changing gears. The thing is that the push appears at the moment when the clutch “closes”. You can avoid such jolts by intuitively guessing when the electronics initiate switching, and releasing the gas a little before such a switch.

In the case of a robot, the electronics simply do not “know how” to take such wear into account, which leads to a deviation from the programmed grip point, that is, the calibration of precisely tuned actuators occurs. For this reason, once every 10-15 thousand km it is necessary to initialize (train) the robot box, since ignoring this rule can lead to the box falling into emergency mode.

What's the result?

Taking into account the above information, it becomes clear that among all robotic gearboxes, the best option can be considered a preselective robot with two clutches (for example, DSG or analogues).

These gearboxes do not have many of the disadvantages of single-disc manual transmissions, and also provide maximum comfort and high fuel efficiency. It should also be noted that a robot with a double “wet” clutch, with proper maintenance and operation, has a longer service life compared to analogues

Finally, we note that in the case of DSG and analogues, especially if the vehicle has a hill start assist system, the driver will not notice much of a difference between an automatic transmission and a manual transmission. The main recommendation in this case remains only the need to transfer the transmission from “drive” to “neutral” when idle for more than 1-2 minutes.

DSG gearbox (DSG): design, principle of operation, distinctive features. Reliability, DSG resource, types of DSG robotic boxes, tips.

AMT gearbox: design and operation of a robotic gearbox, types of robotic gearboxes. Advantages and disadvantages of robotic transmission.

Design and principle of operation of a robotic gearbox. Differences between robotic gearboxes and torque converter automatic transmissions and CVT variators.

What is the difference between a “classic” automatic transmission with a torque converter and a robotic gearbox with one clutch and preselective robots such as DSG.

Choosing the cheapest car with an automatic transmission: new and used cars with automatic transmission, rating, prices. Things to consider are the differences between automatic transmissions.

What is a gearbox in a car: the purpose of the gearbox, types of gearboxes, operating principles, distinctive features of transmissions.

How to drive a robotic gearbox correctly

Passenger cars use several types of stepped transmissions that provide manual or automatic gear shifting. On some cars there is a robotic gearbox, created on the basis of a mechanical one, but with automatic gear shifting and clutch control. The driver needs to know how to drive a robot, since the life of the clutch and the mechanical part of the gearbox depends on proper operation.

Robotic gearbox device

The robotic gearbox is a mechanical step transmission complemented by an electronic control unit. The clutch is controlled and gears are switched by actuator servo drives (electric or hydraulic). To start driving, the driver must place the selector lever in position A (move forward) or R (move backward), and then release the brake pedal.

The control unit switches speeds depending on the crankshaft speed and movement resistance. The design of the controller includes a special sensor that records the angle of inclination of the vehicle. Depending on the position of the car, the operation of the robotic box is adjusted.

The design of the box provides a manual shift mode, designated by the letter M. To select the speed, you need to press the selector forward or backward, up or down the gear. The electronic controller monitors the engine operating mode and driving speed; the permissible ratios of speeds and revolutions of the power unit are stored in the device’s memory. For example, the block will not allow an attempt to start from 3rd gear or twist the engine crankshaft by mistakenly engaging a lower gear ratio when driving on the highway.

Servicing a robotic gearbox involves conducting computer diagnostics to determine the residual thickness of the clutch friction linings. If you handle the transmission carelessly, accelerated wear of the clutch linings occurs. Changing dimensional chains negatively affects the operation of actuators that are calibrated in the factory.

When carrying out annual vehicle maintenance or every 10-15 thousand km, the design is adapted to compensate for the wear of the linings. Neglecting the adaptation procedure leads to incorrect operation of the unit and its transition to emergency mode. In the mechanical part of the transmission, the oil is replaced with a fluid recommended by the manufacturer. The frequency of unit maintenance depends on the manufacturer; recommendations are given in the vehicle’s service book.

How to ride a box robot

The robotic gearbox is designed for calm movement; you should not press the gas pedal sharply even when the sport mode is activated.

To ensure dynamic acceleration, it is recommended to switch the selector to manual control mode and smoothly accelerate in each gear. When slowing down, you must return the lever to the automatic gear selection position. It is allowed to tow a car with a robot in the event of a breakdown of the power plant or fuel supply units. If the transmission breaks down, it is recommended to move the car on a tow truck.

There is a jolt when the robot shifts gears, which is not a problem or a sign of malfunction. To reduce the effect, you can monitor the switching points and reduce engine speed. If the car is stuck in mud or slush, the car can be rocked by switching the gearbox from mode A to mode R. But prolonged slipping leads to disruption of the actuators. To restore functionality, it is necessary to perform computer calibration of the servos.

Features of driving with a robotic gearbox

Since the robot is a compromise design, some features of driving a car should be taken into account. For example, a robotic unit does not always switch speeds correctly, which leads to a drop in acceleration intensity. When you press the gas pedal sharply, the gears shift downward with a delay. This feature should be taken into account when overtaking on the highway, especially when driving into oncoming traffic.

Is warm-up required?

When the engine warms up, it is not necessary to set the gearbox selector to various positions, by analogy with hydromechanical units. After starting to move, it is recommended to drive 1-2 km at a reduced speed to reduce the load on the rubbing surfaces. Since the gearbox housing is located at a distance from the power unit, the oil in the transmission heats up after 10-15 km of travel.

Starting the upward movement and overcoming the descent

The design of robotic units does not use a hill start assistant. The exception is some car brands.

To start moving uphill in a car with a robot gearbox, you need to move the lever to position A, while simultaneously holding the car with the parking brake system. The driver then releases the brake lever and increases engine speed.

To reduce the rollback of the car, the driver needs to catch the moment the clutch is engaged and at the same time release the handbrake lever. Before starting to operate the car, it is recommended to perform several test attempts to start on a hill in order to understand the moment when the clutch begins to operate. In winter, the box switches to manual gear selection mode, which reduces slippage at the beginning of movement. After acceleration, the speeds are switched forcibly or the selector is moved to the automatic position.

As the speed increases, the transmission will increase gears, but if the engine speed drops, the transmission will switch to a lower speed in automatic mode. When driving downhill, the lever remains in position A, the gas pedal is released to apply engine braking.

Stopping and parking

A car with a robotic unit stops using standard brakes. The driver then sets the gearbox lever to neutral and engages the parking brake. The brake pedal is released, the driver can turn off the engine and remove the key from the lock. When stopping, for example at traffic lights, it is permissible to leave the selector in the forward position. When parked for a long time, it is necessary to move the lever to the neutral position, since the clutch wears out in the depressed position.

Other modes

Robotic gearboxes support additional operating modes:

The mode, indicated by a snowflake icon, is intended for movement in winter. The box controller ensures starting from second gear and changes the gear shift algorithm, reducing wheel slip on slippery road surfaces.
The “sport” function allows you to change gears at higher engine speeds, which ensures dynamic acceleration.
Manual mode, which allows you to forcefully control the gearbox.

Operation of a robotic gearbox in urban environments

Driving a car with a robotic gearbox in the city requires switching to neutral when stopping for longer than 20-30 seconds.

If you hold the car on the brake, the clutch is in the open state. Because of this, the friction clutch drive parts wear out and the elasticity of the spring elements is lost. There are no additional requirements for the operation of the robotic unit.

Correct driving with a robotic gearbox

Any car enthusiast who has chosen a car with a robotic gearbox almost immediately asks the question: how to control a robotic gearbox?

It should be understood that a robotic gearbox is, by and large, a classic manual gearbox, which includes a small electrical unit that controls gear shifting and clutch.

Such robotic boxes have a number of remarkable advantages: they are reliable, comfortable and easy to use, and are also characterized by low fuel consumption.

Today, almost every car manufacturer has in its model range models equipped with robotic gearboxes. At the same time, each manufacturer uses its own unique technology and a special name.

So, in order to figure out how to properly ride a “robot” and how the robotic gearbox is controlled, let’s look at it in more detail.

Robotic gearbox device

It should be understood that the “robot” is a branch in the history of the evolution of mechanical gearboxes. Experts also call robotic gearboxes a hybrid of a manual gearbox and an automatic one. Due to the fact that the robotic mechanism, automated by an electric unit, began to be controlled by servo actuators, some characteristics of such gearboxes have increased.

There are robotic gearboxes with manual modes. Some types of “robots” generally allow operation in 3 different modes: automatic, semi-mechanical, manual. In the first case, driver intervention in the gear shifting process is not required. In the second case, the driver will be able to independently control the clutch. In the third case, all control falls on the shoulders of the driver.

If you love fast driving and are an ardent fan of drive, then the ideal option would be to choose a “cam” robotic gearbox, since it is the fastest of all other “robots”. The speed of switching one gear is about 0.1-0.15 seconds. Cars with this type of gearbox are equipped with a clutch pedal, although its use is only required to move off. Then the switching process is similar to the switching process in racing motorcycles, that is, without using the clutch.

Robotic gearboxes are equipped with electric or hydraulic clutch drives. For the first, electric motors or servomechanisms act as components. In the second case, the elements are hydraulic cylinders.

The following brands of cars are equipped with hydraulic cylinder drives: Peugeot, Fiat, Renault, BMW, Volkswagen, Citroen and many other brands. Typical representatives based on electric drive are: Nissan, Opel, Mitsubishi and others.

To fully understand the question of how to drive a robotic gearbox, you will need to cover a number of issues.

Warming up the robotic gearbox and operating features

Many of the owners of this type of gearbox or those who have recently discovered them for the first time are interested in the question: is it necessary to preheat the robotic gearbox in low or extremely low temperatures?

Although, according to the assurances of the designers and from a purely operational point of view, warming up for this type of gearbox is not necessary, it is worth considering an important point - the temperature of the oil and how it behaves at low temperatures. After all, some types of oils at low temperatures begin to thicken and accumulate in the lower part of the gearbox.

The standard warm-up procedure is to leave the car running for a few minutes and leave the selector alone while it warms up. At the same time, it is better to move off smoothly and calmly, avoiding jerks and jolts. Monitor the revs: their level should be at a minimum in the area of about one kilometer.

In any case, a similar procedure can and is even recommended to be carried out in the summer, which will allow all elements of the transmission and gearbox to receive sufficiently liquid lubricant.

Such measures before the actual start of driving will play a very positive role in the service life of any car and will prevent abrasion and wear of individual elements.

In order to avoid premature failure of both the components of the gearbox and the transmission as a whole, it is recommended to follow a number of certain rules:

It is strictly not recommended to skid at low temperatures. Under such conditions, the axle box becomes detrimental to the performance system as a whole and can lead to miscalibration.
It is also important to avoid snowy sections of the road, as there is a certain probability of simply getting stuck, which will lead to unwanted slipping.
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During long periods of downtime or when the car is simply “spending the night” in the yard of your house, it is better to leave it in gear with the “E” value. Of course, provided the engine is turned off.
If the road surface is of poor quality, it is recommended to drive off without accelerating from second gear.

We start correctly: we move to a hill, overcome it and descend

All those who have chosen a robotic gearbox, or those who are just planning to do so, should take into account one important detail: some of the cars containing it as part of their transmission are often not equipped with the additional function of hill start assist. That is why it is extremely important to learn how to move independently when driving on an inclined road.

The behavior of the driver in this situation should be similar to the behavior when using a manual gearbox, so it will be easier for those who switched to “robots” from “mechanics”. Let us describe the process in more detail: move the selector to position “A”, then lightly and evenly press the accelerator; At the same time, we slowly remove the car from the handbrake.

If the conditions in which the climb is carried out are characterized by low temperature and high humidity, then manual control or the “M1” mode may be required. It is important to remember that the pressure on the gas is as permissible as possible; such a measure will prevent the formation of a slippage situation.

If there is a gyroscope in the car, when the auto mode is selected, the robotic gearbox will independently begin to select the desired gears and, accordingly, switch them. Under the condition of such movement, switching will be carried out predominantly downward. Experienced drivers, depending on the situation, can select the “M” function when fixing the current speed. If the driver decides to choose a speed mode on his own, he is recommended to select it and keep the speed in the range of 2500-5000, no lower and no higher. It's taboo!

As for driving downhill, you don’t need to do anything special except move the selector lever to position “A” and turn off the handbrake.

robot gearbox device

Operation of a robotic gearbox in urban environments

There is a widespread belief among specialists and avid car enthusiasts that urban conditions, coupled with traffic jams, often have a detrimental effect on the service life of a robotic gearbox. To avoid such a detrimental effect, when the car is completely stopped, it is recommended to set the selector lever to the “N” position, then activate the handbrake and turn off the engine. In the case when stops are short-term, the use of position “N” is not required; you can remain in position “A”.

It is also worth considering that in traffic jams lasting more than a minute, the engine will most likely need to be turned off.

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In general and in general

So, we have looked at the subtleties and nuances of driving a robotic gearbox; all that remains is to learn a few useful rules that will be especially useful for beginners and inexperienced drivers, in particular those who are encountering a robotic gearbox for the first time:

When starting, you should not press the gas all the way; if you want to gain speed, you should push it confidently, but at the same time evenly and smoothly.
In order to avoid the jerking and twitching characteristic of a robotic gearbox, experts and simply avid car owners with “robots” recommend regularly carrying out the initialization process in special service centers.
When picking up speed and especially intense acceleration, it is recommended to use skills in working with manual transmissions (of course, provided that you have previously driven it yourself).

You should also remember and take into account the fact that there are some additional provisions other than those we have discussed.

Some of the robotic boxes have modes like “winter” or “sport”. The first mode is designed in such a way that it gives smoothness and control when driving on a winter road. The second makes it possible to switch to an upshift at high speeds, and this makes rapid acceleration possible.

Conclusion

So, before choosing a robotic gearbox as the basis for the transmission of your future car, carefully read the features and intricacies of working and driving it in order to avoid most of the mistakes made by beginners, as well as keep all its elements safe and sound for many years . Good luck on the roads!