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Traditionally, the controls system in production vehicles with automatic transmission interprets the driver’s accelerator pedal position as a demand for transmission input torque. However, with the advent of electrified vehicles, where actuators are located at different positions in the drivetrain, and of autonomous vehicles, which are self-driving, it is more convenient to interpret the demand (either human or virtual) in vehicle acceleration or wheel torque domain. To this end, a Wheel Torque-based longitudinal Control (WTC) framework was developed, wherein demands can be converted accurately between the vehicle acceleration or wheel torque domain and the transmission assembly input torque domain.

Regenerative braking in hybrid electric vehicles is an essential feature to achieve the maximum fuel economy benefit of hybridization. During vehicle braking, the regenerative braking recuperates its kinetic energy, otherwise dissipated into heat due to friction brake, into electrical energy to charge the battery. The recuperation is realized by the driven wheels propelling, through the drivetrain, the electric motor as a generator to provide braking while generating electricity. “Rigid” connection between the driven wheels and the motor is critical to regenerative braking; otherwise the motor could drive the input of the transmission to a halt or even rotating in reverse direction, resulting in no hydraulic pressure for transmission controls due to the loss of transmission mechanical oil pump flow.