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An Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) system, which has achieved both cost reduction and low fuel consumption, has been developed. The AMT system can automatically shift using three independently operated actuators mounted in a conventional manual transmission in accordance with a driver's operation and vehicle conditions. For downsizing, weight and cost reductions, a direct actuation driven by DC motor has been selected. To improve vehicle drivability, secure robustness against ambient temperature change and power supply voltage change and aged deterioration, the development object is to improve position control accuracy for the motor control. To meet this object, an actuator structure optimization and a disturbance observer, which is excellent in response characteristics and robust stability are combined. As a result, a highly efficient and reliable the AMT system has been developed and will be introduced through simulation and experimental results.

Environmental improvement is moving forward, due in part to the reduction of fuel consumption of automatic transmission(AT) vehicles as a result of social requirements in recent years and many measures have been implemented. Adoption of idling stop is a typical example introduced to reduce energy consumption while the vehicle is stopped to improve the urban environment. However, there are problems such as responsiveness and smoothness for an AT vehicle when the engine is stopped with the shift selector in “D” range. To overcome these problems, a new start clutch control system has been developed using an electric oil pump installed in a simple hybrid vehicle called a mild hybrid. As a result, a smooth feeling starting performance is achieved by operating the system in combination with the engine and other systems.

Automotive catalysts with a good thermal durability have been developed by modifying the composition of additives. The stability of alumina supports against the loss of the surface area depends on the ionic radius and amount of additives. Some lanthanides and alkaline earthes with large ionic radii of 0.11-0. 15nm are most effective. Among these elements, lanthanum improves not only the alumina stability but the catalytic activities of rhodium and cerium oxide. Infrared spectroscopic studies show that lanthanum oxide affects NO adsorbed on Rh to improve the activity for NO reduction. Moreover, lanthanum forms the complex oxide with cerium to improve the activity of cerium oxide. CO pulse reactions on the complex oxide (Ce, La)O2 -x have proved that the oxygen defect in the lattice promotes the diffusion of oxygen atoms to improve the oxide activity.