A Scope and Study of Automatic

Transmission
System in Context of Operating Parameter
and
Professional Requirement”
(a*), (a)
Surin Sheth Bhavya R. Gajjar
(a*) Associate Professor Mechatronics Engg. Department
(a) P.G Student Mechatronics Engg. Department
G.H. Patel College of Engg. & Tech
Vallabh Vidhyanagar, India
saurinsheth@gcet.ac.in
(b)
Purvi Chauhan
(b) Assistant Professor Production Engg. Department
Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya
Vallabh Vidhyanagar, India
Abstract— Now-a-days every car manufacturer gives both
transmission options in most of their cars, so when any one wants
to purchase the car first thing come on his/her mind is that which
transmission system is best suited for their needs. Here comparative
study between manual and automatic transmission system based on
operating parameter and professional requirement helps customer
to find out transmission system which is best suited for their needs.
Index Terms— Manual transmission system, Automatic
transmission system, Operating parameters, Professional
requirement
I. INTRODUCTION
In the recent times the craze for automatic transmission car
has increased to great extent. Many people are attracted
towards automatic transmission car. But it didn’t decrease the
sale of manual transmission car. Many companies of car
manufacturing has manufactures both automatic and manual
transmission cars. A transmission basically transfers the power
from a car’s engine to drive shaft and the wheels. The gears
present inside the transmission change the drive wheel speed
and torque in relation to the engine speed and torque (pulling
power), Lower gear ratios helps the engine to build up enough
of power so that the car can accelerate easily from a halt. The
transmission is a device that is connected to the back of the
engine and sends the power from the engine to the drive
wheels. An automobile engine runs at its best at a certain RPM
(Revolutions per Minute) range and it is the transmission's job
to make sure that the power is delivered to the wheels while
keeping the engine within that range. It does this through
various gear combinations. In first gear, the engine turns much
faster in relation to the drive wheels, while in high gear the
engine is loafing even though the car may be going in excess of
70 MPH. In addition to the various forward gears, a
transmission also has a neutral position which disconnects the
engine from the drive wheels, and reverse, which causes the
drive wheels to turn in the opposite direction allowing you to
back up. Finally, there is the Park position. In this position, a
latch mechanism (not unlike a deadbolt lock on a door) is
inserted into a slot in the output shaft to lock the drive wheels
and keep them from turning, thereby preventing the vehicle
from rolling [1]. Let us see the basics of manual and automatic
transmission individually.
A. Manual Transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox,
stick shift, or standard transmission is a type of
transmission used in motor vehicle applications. It uses a
driver-operated clutch engaged and disengaged by a foot
pedal (automobile) or hand lever (motorcycle), for
regulating torque transfer from the engine to the
transmission; and a gear stick operated by foot
(motorcycle) or by hand (automobile)
Fig1.1 Manual Gear box
There is no doubt that a Manual adds the fun in driving due to
the changing of gears but as also increase complexity of
driving and required more concentration. In city driving,
especially like of India where there are mammoth traffic jams,
A Manual gearbox could prove to be tiresome to shift in every
next moment.
B. Automatic Transmission
An automatic transmission (also called automatic gearbox) is a
type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically
change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver
from having to shift gears manually. Most automatic
transmissions have a defined set of gear ranges, often with a
parking pawl feature that locks the output shaft of the
transmission stroke face. The Automatic Transmission
performs the job automatically depending upon the speed and
here a hydraulic torque converter takes the place of clutch
plate mechanism saving you from the hassle of pressing a
clutch.
Fig 1.2 Automatic Gear box
Automatic transmissions have various modes depending on
the model and make of the transmission. Some of the
common modes include, Park (P) this selection
mechanically locks the output shaft of transmission,
restricting the vehicle from moving in any direction.
Reverse (R) this engages reverse gear within the
transmission, permitting the vehicle to be driven backward.
Neutral / No gear (N) this disengages all gear trains within
the transmission. Drive (D) this position allows the
transmission to engage the full range of available forward
gear ratios.
II. COMPARISON BETWEEN AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL
TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
FUEL ECONOMY
The manual transmission couples the engine to the
transmission with a rigid clutch instead of the torque converter
on an automatic transmission or the v-belt of a continuously
variable transmission, which slip by nature. Manual
transmissions also lack the parasitic power consumption of the
automatic transmission's hydraulic pump. Because of this,
manual transmissions generally offer better fuel economy than
automatic or continuously variable transmissions; however the
disparity has been somewhat offset with the introduction of
locking torque converters on automatic transmissions.
Increased fuel economy with a properly operated manual
transmission vehicle versus an equivalent automatic
transmission vehicle can range from 5% to about 15%
depending on driving conditions and style of driving. Many
current models (2010 and on) come with manual modes, or
overrides on automatic models, although the degree of control
varies greatly by the manufacturer. Also, manual transmissions
do not require active cooling and because they are,
mechanically, much simpler than automatic transmissions, they
generally weigh less than comparable automatics, which can
improve economy in stop-and-go traffic. However this gap in
economy is being rapidly closed and many mid to higher end
model automatic cars now get better economy than their
standard spec counterparts. This is in part due to the increasing
impact of computers coordinating multiple systems,
particularly in hybrid models in which the engine and drive
motors must be managed.
Durability
Because manual transmissions are mechanically simpler,
are more easily manufactured, and have fewer moving parts
than automatic transmissions, they require less maintenance
and are easier as well as cheaper to repair. Due to their
mechanical simplicity, they often last longer than automatic
transmissions when used by a skilled driver. Typically, there
are no electrical components, pumps and cooling mechanisms
(in the manual transmission), other than an internal switch to
activate reversing lighting. These attributes become extremely
vital with a vehicle stuck in mud, snow, etc. The back and forth
rocking motion of the vehicle drivers use to dislodge a stuck
vehicle can prove fatal to automatic transmissions. The vast
majority of automatic transmission hydraulics is not designed
to be shifted between drive and reverse multiple times in rapid
sequence.
Cost

The price of a new car with a manual transmission will

commonly be lower than the same car with an automatic
transmission. Clutches are ware item which may need to be
replaced at some point in the vehicle's lifespan; however the
service life of the clutch depends on the skill of the driver and
the operating conditions.
Performance and Control
Manual transmissions generally offer a wider selection of
gear ratios. Many vehicles offer a 5-speed or 6-speed manual,
whereas the automatic option would typically be a 4-speed.
This is generally due to the increased space available inside a
manual transmission compared with an automatic, since the
latter requires extra components for self-shifting, such as
torque converters and pumps. However, automatic
transmissions are now adding more speeds as the technology
matures. The increased number gears allows for better use of
the engine's power band, allowing increased fuel economy, by
staying in the most fuel-efficient part of the power band, or
higher performance, by staying closer to the engine's peak
power.
Engine Braking
In contrast to most manual gearboxes, most automatic
transmissions have far less effective engine braking. This
means that the engine does not slow the car as effectively when
the automatic transmission driver releases the engine speed
control. This leads to more usage of the brakes in cars with
automatic transmissions, bringing shorter brake life. Brakes are
also more likely to overheat in hilly or mountainous areas,
causing reduced braking ability brake fade and the potential for
complete failure with the automatic transmission vehicle.
Complexity and learning curve
For most people, there is a slight learning curve with a
manual transmission, which may be intimidating and
unappealing for an inexperienced driver. Because the driver
must develop a feel for properly engaging the clutch, an
inexperienced driver will often stall the engine. Most drivers
can learn how to drive a car with a manual transmission in as
little as an hour, although it may take weeks before it becomes
"second nature." Additionally, if an inexperienced driver
selects an inappropriate gear by mistake, damage to mechanical
components and even loss of control may occur.
Shifting speed
Some automatic transmissions can shift ratios faster than a
manual gear change can be accomplished, due to the time
required for the average driver to push the clutch pedal to the
floor and move the gearstick from one position to another. This
is especially true in regards to dual clutch transmissions, which
are specialized computer-controlled manual transmissions.
Ease of use
Because manual transmissions requires the operation of an
extra pedal, and keeping the car in the correct gear at all times,
they require a bit more concentration, especially in heavy
traffic situations. The automatic transmissions, on the other
hand, simply require the driver to speed up or slow down as
needed, with the car doing the work of choosing an appropriate
gear. Manual transmissions also place a greater workload on
the driver in heavy traffic situations, when the driver must
operate the clutch pedal quite often. Because the clutch pedal
can require a substantial amount of force, especially on large
trucks, and the long pedal travel compared to the brake or
accelerator requires moving the entire leg, not just the foot near
the ankle, a manual transmission can cause fatigue, and is more
difficult for weak or injured people to drive. Likewise, manual
transmissions require the driver to remove one hand
periodically from the steering wheel while the vehicle is in
motion, which can be difficult or impossible to do safely for
people with a missing or impaired arm, and requires increased
coordination, even for those with full of both hands.
Stopping on Hills
The clutch experiences most of its wear in first gear
because moving the car from a standstill involves a great deal
of friction at the clutch. When accelerating from a standstill on
an incline, this problem is made worse because the amount of
work needed to overcome the acceleration of gravity causes the
clutch to heat up considerably more. For this reason, stop-and-
go driving and hills tend to have an effect on the clutches to a
certain degree. Automatic transmissions are better suited for
these applications because they have a hydraulic torque
converter which is externally cooled, unlike a clutch. Torque
converters also do not have a friction material that rubs off
over time like a clutch. Some automatics even lock the output
shaft so that the car cannot roll backwards when beginning to
accelerate up an incline.
III. Survey based on professional requirement of the
customers
For proper survey and investigation customers are
divided in five categories namely Doctors, Service men,
Business men, Youngsters, Females. Randomly few people
from each category were selected for questionnaire. Basic
question ask to all of them “Which type of transmission system
they prefer and why”? As per the survey reasons for preferring
transmission system are presented here.
Doctors
Generally doctors have limited run from home to
dispensary so they may not concern about mileage of the car.
Most probably the dispensary of the doctor is held in crowded
place. Normally Doctors open their dispensaries between 9.00-
9.30 in the morning and close at 8.30-9.00 in the evening,
heavy traffic available at that time on the road and one has to
change the gear ratio more frequently there for first thing on
their mind when buying the car is “Which transmission system
requires fewer efforts”. So to reduced stress of driving doctors
prefer automatic transmission instead of manual transmission.
Business men.
Generally businessmen have to go for business tours and
meetings so they have to travel more there for first thing on
their mind when buying the car is “what is the mileage of the
car”. Generally industries are situated far from residential area
so for day to day life businessmen prefer driver to drive their
car. They prefer less attention on driver’s comfort. Initial cost
and maintenance cost of automatic transmission is high
compare to manual transmission, there for business men prefer
manual transmission system instead of automatic transmission
system.
Service men
Generally service men have fixed salary so first thing on
their mind when buying the car is “What is the initial cost of
the car”. After that they have to looking for the mileage of the
car because fuel price is the biggest enemy of the owner. To
achieve first two goals they scarify the comfort and luxury.
Maintenance cost is also a major issue when car gets older.
Due to above reasons service men prefer manual transmission
system instead of automatic transmission system.
Youngsters
Youngsters are recently started to drive the car, they don’t
think about the cost, comfort, mileage of the car, they just want
to enjoy every aspects of the car. They find more thrill and
sporty experience in manual transmission system compares to
automatic transmission system. Sometime due to less
experience they might not change the gear whenever required
but they less concern about it. There for youngster prefers
manual transmission instead of automatic transmission.
Females
Generally females have limited run so they have less
experience of driving, first thing on their mind when buying
the car is “Which car is much easier to drive”. In automatic
transmission system no need to press clutch pedal and change
the gear so it is much easier and comfortable compares to
manual transmission. So besides of high initial cost, high
maintenance cost and less mileage they prefer automatic
transmission instead of manual transmission.
IV. CONCLUSION
As per discussion we conclude that initial cost,
maintenance cost and fuel consumption in automatic
transmission system is high compare to manual transmission
system so if one prefers luxury when moving on roads and/or
living in metro city and have daily schedule of 9 to 6, and
facing the difficulty of heavy traffic jams then go for
Automatic Transmission because it helps one to feels little bit
relax in this stressful life, but make sure that once wallet has no
objection. If one want to enjoy every bit of drive, have to travel
more per day and don’t want to spend more money than
manual transmission is the best option