Transmissions That Think Ahead

Among the technologies being developed at BMW AG is a predictive system that uses a vehicle's navigation system to help the transmission know in advance when to shift.

BMW says the "predictive power management" system it is developing anticipates hills, valleys and curves and directs the automatic transmission to shift accordingly for smoother and more efficient engine operation. The technology uses the navigation system's GPS to determine the radius of an upcoming curve before the vehicle arrives.

BMW notes that automatics normally react after the fact to accelerator or brake input. The company's new system downshifts before the driver lifts the accelerator and, in a series of turns, maintains a lower gear rather than "hunting" up and down as a conventional automatic might do. BMW says downshifting ahead of a curve enables the vehicle to enter under light load and accelerate "far better" upon exiting.

The company's predictive shifting system may be adjusted for sport, comfort or fuel-saving operation. In eco mode, the technology can help drivers maximize fuel economy by signaling when gentle deceleration rather than last-minute braking is appropriate.

Similarly, BMW says, the system's ability to analyze routes could be tapped to determine the most fuel-efficient route to a destination.