Grade and payload based transmission gear selection strategy

1. A method, implemented by a programmed controller, of controlling an automatic transmission during deceleration of a vehicle arising from a force resisting forward movement of the vehicle arising from a combination of an uphill incline grade and a vehicle mass, the method comprising:

determining a force of resistance to forward movement of the vehicle, the force of resistance being determined at least based upon the uphill incline grade;

determining, by the programmed controller, a destination gear based upon a set of gear-specific output curves and the force of resistance;

comparing, by the programmed controller, the destination gear to a current gear within which the vehicle is currently operating; and

executing, by gear selection logic providing electronic control signals to the automatic transmission, an early downshift schedule in response to determining, during the comparing, that the destination gear is at least two positions lower than the current gear, thereby performing a series of downshifts of the automatic transmission from the current gear to the destination gear,

wherein, during each gear shift performed according to the early downshift schedule, shifting occurs at a cross-over point between output curves of current and next lower gears.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the output curves are rim power curves.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the output curves are rim pull curves.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining a force of resistance to forward movement is determined at least based upon the vehicle mass.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle mass is determined indirectly from an acceleration determination.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the uphill incline grade is determined indirectly from an acceleration determination.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is an articulated truck.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step occurs sufficiently early to ensure that a first downshift of the series of downshifts occurs at a vehicle speed corresponding to the cross-over point between output curves of a current gear and a next lower gear of the series of downshifts.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the destination gear corresponds to a gear wherein a sum of propulsive forces equals a sum of forces resisting forward motion of the vehicle, thereby creating a condition wherein the vehicle, operating in the destination gear, is able to maintain a current speed.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions facilitating performing a method, implemented by a programmed controller, of controlling an automatic transmission during deceleration of a vehicle arising from a force resisting forward movement of the vehicle arising from a combination of an uphill incline grade and a vehicle mass, the method comprising:

determining a force of resistance to forward movement of the vehicle causing the deceleration of the vehicle, the force of resistance being determined at least based upon the uphill incline grade and the vehicle mass;

determining, by the programmed controller, a destination gear based upon a set of gear-specific output curves and the force of resistance;

comparing, by the programmed controller, the destination gear to a current gear within which the vehicle is currently operating; and

executing, by gear selection logic providing electronic control signals to the automatic transmission, an early downshift schedule in response to determining, during the comparing, that the destination gear is at least two positions lower than the current gear, thereby performing a series of downshifts of the automatic transmission from the current gear to the destination gear,

wherein, during each gear shift performed according to the early downshift schedule, shifting occurs at a cross-over point between output curves of current and next lower gears.

11. A vehicle including:

an automatic transmission;

a set of sensor inputs providing values indicating a current operational status of the vehicle and pertinent to controlling the automatic transmission, the set of sensor inputs including:

engine speed;

engine torque;

current transmission gear; and

vehicle speed; and

a programmed controller, configured by computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, to perform a method of controlling the automatic transmission during deceleration of the vehicle arising from a force resisting forward movement of the vehicle arising from a combination of an uphill incline grade and a vehicle mass, the method comprising:

determining a force of resistance to forward movement of the vehicle causing the deceleration of the vehicle, the force of resistance being determined at least based upon the uphill incline grade and the vehicle mass;

determining, by the programmed controller, a destination gear based upon a set of gear-specific output curves and the force of resistance;

comparing, by the programmed controller, the destination gear to a current gear within which the vehicle is currently operating; and

executing by gear selection logic providing electronic control signals to the automatic transmission, an early downshift schedule in response to determining, during the comparing, that the destination gear is at least two positions lower than the current gear, thereby performing a series of downshifts of the automatic transmission from the current gear to the destination gear,

wherein, during each gear shift performed according to the early downshift schedule, shifting occurs at a cross-over point between output curves of current and next lower gears.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the vehicle is an articulated truck.