Bmw working on an 8-speed transmission capable to identify road profile

At the Innovation Days in Munich, Bmw announced that it is currently working on an 8-speed transmission that can predict curves and road conditions. So what does this mean: well, when you are on the road and it starts to rain, the system can adapt the DTC (Dynamic Stability Control) in order to avoid some unintended drifting. Moreover, using the data received from the navigation system, the system can determine the gear required for a gear required for a smooth driving manoeuvre and confident acceleration out of the bend.

Furthermore, the using information provided by cameras and radar sensors and pertaining to the traffic situation ahead of the vehicle will also be able to determine the required amount of deceleration and adapt the drive management to each specific situation. This means that the upcoming vehicles will actually be capable to help you drive more fuel efficient and without any risk of accidents.

“In practice and thanks to this anticipatory control system, the automatic transmission adapts remarkably accurately to the situation-related requirements and demands of the driver. As a result of the complexity of the factors taken into consideration by the control system, the automatic transmission selects the appropriate gear similarly as foresighted as an experienced driver using a manual gearbox. It assists the driver with fast and appropriate response, which immediately leads to an increase in driving pleasure and optimised efficiency. Hence, the interaction between driver and vehicle reaches a new dimension.” said the press release.[via - 4wheelsnews]

Bmw Adaptive 8-Speed Transmission