Ratio Control for Continuously Variable Transmissions with Minimal Sensor Configuration

In this paper, a model‐based controller for an electrically actuated hybrid belt continuously variable transmission is developed. The main goal is to track a desired transmission ratio. A nonlinear model of the transmission dynamics is presented and an identification procedure for the unknown model parameters given. A control structure with two degrees of freedom is used to achieve the desired tracking performance. The proposed concept allows a straightforward realization of the control algorithm, the number of required sensors is reduced to a minimum. It is demonstrated by means of test rig experiments, that the proposed approach yields very satisfactory results over the entire operation range.