Automated manual transmission

Mid-2000s BMW SMG-III shifter, with a selector for the shift speed located below the shifter

The automated manual transmission (AMT) is a type of transmission for motor vehicles. It is essentially a conventional manual transmission[1][2][3][4][5] equipped with automatic actuation to operate the clutch and/or shift gears.

Many early versions of these transmissions that are semi-automatic in operation, such as Autostick, which automatically control only the clutch – often using various forms of clutch actuation, such as electro-mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or vacuum actuation[6][7] – but still require the driver's manual input and full control to initiate gear changes by hand. These systems that require manual shifting are also referred to as clutchless manual systems.[8] Modern versions of these systems that are fully automatic in operation, such as Selespeed and Easytronic, can control both the clutch operation and the gear shifts automatically, by means of an ECU, therefore requiring no manual intervention or driver input for gear changes.[9][10]

The usage of modern computer-controlled AMTs in passenger cars increased during the mid-1990s, as a more sporting alternative to the traditional hydraulic automatic transmission. During the 2010s, AMTs were largely replaced by the increasingly widespread dual-clutch transmission, but remained popular for smaller cars in Europe and some developing markets, particularly India, where it is notably favored over conventional automatic and CVT transmissions due to its lower cost.[11]

  1. ^ 5 Transmissions - Cost, Effectiveness, and Deployment of Fuel Economy Technologies for Light-Duty Vehicles. 2015. doi:10.17226/21744. ISBN 978-0-309-37388-3. Retrieved 26 July 2020. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  2. ^ Yulong, Lei; Hua, Tian (11 April 2005). "Research on Accurate Engagement Control of Electrohydraulic Clutch Actuator". www.sae.org. SAE Technical Paper Series. 1. doi:10.4271/2005-01-1787. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Transmission Actuation" (PDF). www.fte-automotive.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Manual Transmission". www.autozine.org. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Manual vs Automatic Transmission: A Shift to Know About". 6 May 2020.
  6. ^ "ProductFinder Commercial Vehicles - ZF". www.zf.com.
  7. ^ Drivemaster Service Information hudsonterraplane.com
  8. ^ "Hyundai Created a Clutch-less Manual Transmission". 10 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Directly from the Formula 1". www.magnetimarelli.com. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Introduction to Automatic Transmission Systems". www.tranzmile.com. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  11. ^ Desk, HT Auto (22 March 2022). "AMT or CVT: Which automatic transmission technology is better?". HT Auto. Retrieved 20 November 2023.