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The energy crisis and rising gas price in the 2000s led to a growing popularity of hybrid vehicles. Hyundai-Kia Motors has been challenging to develop the new efficient eco-technology since introducing the mild type compact hybrid electric vehicle for domestic fleet in 2004 to meet the needs of the increasing automotive-related environmental issues. Now Hyundai has recently debuted a full HEV for global market, Sonata Hybrid. This system is cost effective solution and developed with the main purpose of improving fuel consumption and providing fun to drive. Presenter Seok Joon Kim, Hyundai Motor Company

A robotic driver has been designed on the basis of an analysis of a human driver's action in following a given driving schedule. The self-learning algorithm enables the robot to learn the vehicle characteristics without human intervention. Based on learned relationships, the robotic driver can determine an appropriate accelerator position and execute other operations through sophisticated calculations using the future scheduled vehicle speed and vehicle characteristics data. Compensation is also provided to minimize vehicle speed error. The robotic driver can reproduce the same types of exhaust emission and fuel economy data obtained with human drivers with good repeatability. It doesn't require long preparation time. Thereby making it possible to reduce experimentation work in the vehicle development process while providing good accuracy and reliability.

An electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission has been developed for use in new 2-liter models. This high-performance gearbox is the world's first five-speed automatic transmission for passenger car use to be equipped with a torque converter. It is designed with an ultra-wide range and close ratio gearing and incorporates a host of outstanding technologies to provide excellent performance and driveability. This paper describes the major features and performance of this new automatic transmission and some of the studies undertaken concerning multiplication of gear steps.

ITS (intelligent transport systems) technologies accelerate the development of new vehicle functions using on-board electronic control systems coordinated with roadside facilities. Many kinds of advanced vehicle control systems and advanced information systems will be introduced into the market in the near future. The key technologies of these systems are not only the elemental technology of each mechanism, but also HMI (human machine interface) technology. Without proper HMI, drivers cannot use novel control systems safely, and cannot select suitable information during a drive. Furthermore, as an elemental technology for an on-board computer system, LAN systems with the proper gateway function are required in order to maintain and control various kinds of data, such as vehicle data, driver's condition and roadside information. Fusion of these data will produce new functions for the vehicle.

Flat panel displays for automobiles are facing a new era with the development of navigation systems. As navigation systems become more important as driver's assistance devices, development of birds-eye-view and 3D displays continues, as well as improvements for larger display screens and higher mounting positions. In response to the progress of mobile multimedia technologies, demands for larger display screens and larger aspect ratios have been increasing. Significance for improvements to anti-glare features or view angles has increased as they provide better visibility and the increase layout options. The use of human machine information interaction, which interfaces visual, audio and tactile senses, makes it possible to realize safer, more convenient and comfortable multimedia era vehicle

In the past few years, car navigation and cellular phone system are rapidly increased in Japan and vehicle information and communication system (VICS), the public traffic information service started in 1996, accelerates realization of ITS world. This rapid movement causes drivers to want more information on not only traffic jam but also other versatile items like parking availability, weather report and the latest news, etc. via cellular phone network. This paper describes the on-demand information service with the interactive human interface by operators and the development of the information center and the in-vehicle system to realize it.

The probability or risk of traffic accidents must be estimated quantitatively in order to implement effective traffic safety measures. In this study, various statistical data and probability theory were used to examine a method for predicting the risk of crossing-collisions, representing a typical type of accident at intersections in Japan. Crossing-collisions are caused by a variety of factors, including the road geometry and traffic environment at intersections and the awareness and intentions of the drivers of the striking and struck vehicles. Bayes' theorem was applied to find the accident probability of each factor separately. Specifically, the probability of various factors being present at the time of a crossing-collision was estimated on the basis of traffic accident data and observation survey data.

As part of the International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee's (ILSAC) goal of developing a global automatic transmission fluid (ATF) specification, members have been evaluating test methods that are currently used by various automotive manufacturers for qualifying ATF for use in their respective transmissions. This report deals with comparing test methods used for determining torque capacity in friction systems (shifting clutches). Three test methods were compared, the Plate Friction Test from the General Motors DEXRON®-III Specification, the Friction Durability Test from the Ford MERCON® Specification, and the Japanese Automotive Manufacturers Association Friction Test - JASO Method 348-95. Eight different fluids were evaluated. Friction parameters used in the comparison were breakaway friction, dynamic friction torque at midpoint and the end of engagement, and the ratio of end torque to midpoint torque.

Traffic accidents in Japan claim some 10,000 precious lives every year, and there is seemingly no end to the problem. In an effort to overcome this situation, vehicle manufacturers have been pushing ahead with the development of a variety of advanced safety technologies. Joint public-private sector projects related to Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) are also proceeding vigorously. Most accidents can be attributed to driver error in recognition, judgment or vehicle operation. This paper presents an analysis of driver behavior characteristics in emergency situations that lead to an accident, focusing in particular on operation of the brake pedal. Based on the insights gained so far, we have developed a Brake Assist System with a Preview Function (BAP) designed to prevent accidents by helping drivers with braking actions. Experimental results have confirmed that BAP is effective in reducing the impact speed and the frequency of accidents in emergency situations.

This paper describes the method used to design the basic control algorithm of a lane-keeping support system that is intended to assist the driver's steering action. Lane-keeping control has been designed with steering torque as the control input without providing a minor loop for the steering angle. This approach was taken in order to achieve an optimum balance of lane-keeping control, ease of steering intervention by the driver and robustness. The servo control system was designed on the basis of H2 control theory. Robustness against disturbances, vehicle nonlinearity and parameter variation was confirmed by μ - analysis. The results of computer simulations and driving tests have confirmed that the control system designed with this method provides the intended performance.

A safety support system that uses information received from the road infrastructure is being developed in a project sponsored by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The purpose of this system is to reduce the number of accidents at intersections and on highways. The system is now being tested in an experimental vehicle. This paper describes what kind of information is helpful to drivers based on the experimental results.

On-board voice-interaction systems such as a voice-activated system or a text -to-speech (TTS) system enable drivers to operate devices or to obtain desired information without relying on visual processes. These systems are aimed to reduce the driver's workload, but there is a concern about their possible effect on mental distraction. This paper describes driving simulator tests that were conducted to examine the potential influence of such systems on driver's mental distraction. The results obtained for all of the indices show that the mental distraction level when operating a voice-activated system is significantly lower than that of a traditional manually operated system.

Lock-up operation of an automatic transmission is known as one good method of improving fuel economy. However, locking up the transmission at low vehicle speeds can often cause undesirable vibration or booming noise. Slip control of the lock-up clutch can resolve these problems, but the speed difference of the lock-up clutch needs to be controlled at a certain value. This control system has to overcome large changes in the parameters of the lock-up system at low vehicle speeds and also changes with regard to the speed ratio in a continuously variable transmission (CVT). In this study, this complex non-linear system has been modeled as a first-order linear parameter varying (LPV) system. A robust control algorithm was applied taking various disturbances into account to design a new slip lock-up control system.

It was found that pitting resistance of gears is strongly influenced by resistance to temper softening of carburized steel. The investigation about the influence of chemical compositions on hardness after tempering revealed that silicon, chromium and molybdenum are effective elements to improve resistance to temper softening and pitting resistance. Considering the production of gears, molybdenum is unfavorable because it increases hardness of normalized or annealed condition. Developed new steel contains about 0.5 mass% of silicon and 2.7 mass% chromium. The new steel has excellent pitting resistance and wear resistance. Fatigue and impact strength are equivalent to conventional carburized steels. Cold-formability and machinability of the new steel are adequate for manufacturing gears because of its ordinary hardness before carburizing. The new steel has already been put to practical use in automatic transmission gears. Application test results are also reported.

An Adaptive Cruise Control system with stop-and-go capability has been developed to reduce the driver's workload in traffic jams on expressways. Based on an analysis of driving behavior characteristics in expressway traffic jams, a control system capable of modeling those characteristics accurately has been constructed to provide natural vehicle behavior in low-speed driving. The effectiveness of the system was evaluated with an experimental vehicle, and the results confirmed that it reduces the driver's workload. This paper presents an outline of the system and its effectiveness along with the experimental results.

The International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC) ATF subcommittee members have compared the two oxidation bench test methods, Aluminum Beaker Oxidation Test (ABOT) and Indiana Stirring Oxidation Stability Test (ISOT), using a number of factory-fill and service-fill ATFs obtained in Japan and in the US. In many cases, the ATFs were more severely oxidized after the ABOT procedure than after the same duration of the ISOT procedure. The relative severity of these two tests was influenced by the composition of the ATFs. The bench test oxidation data were compared with the transmission and the vehicle oxidation test data.

Traffic accidents in Japan claim some 10,000 precious lives every year, and there is seemingly no end to the problem. In an effort to overcome this situation, vehicle manufacturers have been pushing ahead with the development of a variety of advanced safety technologies. Joint public- private sector projects related to Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) are also proceeding vigorously. Most accidents can be attributed to driver error in recognition, judgment or vehicle operation. This paper presents an analysis of driver behavior characteristics in emergency situations that lead to an accident, focusing in particular on operation of the brake pedal. Based on the insights gained so far, we have developed a Brake Assist System with a Preview Function (BAP) designed to prevent accidents by helping drivers with braking actions. Experimental results have confirmed that BAP is effective in reducing the impact speed and the frequency of accidents in emergency situations.

In this study, an attempt was made to apply the steering entropy method, proposed by Boer and Nakayama as a workload measurement technique, to a comparative evaluation of the workload of older and younger drivers. As the first step, driving simulator tests were conducted to examine a method of making comparisons between subjects whose driving performance differed. The same method was then used in making evaluations during driving tests conducted with an actual vehicle. Under the conditions used in this study, the results indicate that it should be possible to compare driving workloads among different subjects through the combined used of Hp and α. Hp is a quantified value of steering perturbation as an information entropy value that is calculated from a time history of steering angle data. It changes between 0 (no steering perturbation) and 1 (absolute randomness) in a theoretical sense.

The JR507E type 5-speed automatic transmission (AT) which was installed in the new model Nissan CIMA was released at the beginning of the 21st century. Without being bound with the conditions of the conventional 4-speed AT, the transmission components were structurally improved after reviewing analyses targeting the performance that meets the market demands. The JR507E was successfully developed as appropriate for the next generation AT with regard to “environmental concerns” and the users performance needs. This paper describes the characteristics of the JR507E type 5-speed AT

Eight rollover research tests were conducted using the 2001 Nissan Pathfinder with a modified FMVSS 208 dolly rollover test method where the driver and right front dummy restraint performance was analyzed. The rollover tests were initiated with the vehicle horizontal, not at a roll angle. After the vehicle translated laterally for a short distance, a trip mechanism was introduced to overturn the vehicle. Retractor, buckle, and latch plate performance in addition to the overall seat belt performance was analyzed and evaluated in the rollover test series. Retractor pretensioners were activated near the rollover trip in three of the tests to provide research data on its effects. Various dummy sizes were utilized. The test series experienced incomplete data collection and a portion of the analog data was not obtained. National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) data was also analyzed to quantify the characteristics of real world rollovers and demonstrated the benefits of restraint use.