Gearbox robot automatic which is better. Gearbox selection

31.07.2019

By the general term "automatic" we usually mean some kind of "thing" that saves us from the clutch pedal. If a car has two pedals, it is a car with an automatic.

In fact, there are at least four types of automatic transmissions in use that are useful to understand. Some advanced motorists will never buy a car with a certain type of gearbox, and here's why.

Hydromechanical machines

The most common and oldest type automatic transmission became widespread in the United States in the late 1930s.

Without going into technical details, any such automaton consists of planetary gears, torque converter and valve body.

The torque converter is perhaps the most interesting unit, because it not only performs the function of clutch in ordinary car, but also smooths out torque fluctuations and can increase torque at the wheels. That's why for a long time a four-speed automatic was considered the equivalent of a five-speed manual transmission (in terms of dynamic range).

For decades on the assembly line, hydromechanical machines have become very perfect. If ten years ago, most cars had four-speed ones, today even budget models(e.g. VW Polo Sedan) can have six steps, premium brands can have eight. And recently, Ford, GM, Volkswagen and Hyundai have been talking about the arrival of 10-speed automatics!

Progress has also been made in the field of reliability. There are unsuccessful "machines", for example, the notorious DP0 (AL4) from Renault, Peugeot and Citroen (however, the box has recently been "restyled"). But in general, of all types of automatic transmissions, it is hydromechanics that should be recognized as the most problem-free.

It is customary to criticize automatic machines for increasing fuel consumption (in comparison with manual transmissions) and reducing acceleration dynamics. Nevertheless, over the past decades, hydromechanical "automatic machines" got rid of some of the shortcomings, and sometimes even sports models do not disdain such boxes.

Robotic transmissions

And what will happen if a conventional mechanical transmission is forced to work in automatic mode? That is, do automatic clutch and force some mechanism to shift gears on its own?

This is how “robots” appeared, and often they were designed out of hopelessness. For example, marketers demanded that model range"automatic", but there was no money and time for the development of hydromechanics. The "robot" was a compromise, allowing you to take the right mechanics and hang hydraulic actuators on it.

In theory, the "robot" should provide better economy, especially in traffic jams. Indeed, in classic automatic machines, when stopped in D mode, the engine continues to thresh liquid in the torque converter, while the “robot” has a conventional clutch. True, part of the benefit was eaten by the need to spend power on the drive of the hydraulic pump, so the “robots”, if more economical than the hydromechanic, then not in all modes and not radically.

But most importantly, the robots have a whole heap of their own problems. First, due to the presence of complex hydraulics, many robots turned out to be very unreliable. Secondly, ensuring smooth and fast switching is not such an easy task, so many robots work with noticeable pauses, sometimes with jerks.

However, many sports cars- even Ferrari - prefer robotic transmissions. They are distinguished by good speed due to even more complex and expensive hydraulics. But the main motive for using "robots" is not even top speed switching, but in the inability of hydromechanical transmissions to operate at high speeds, which are typical for sports engines.

Preselective robots

Porsche used a similar scheme back in the late 80s on racing cars, but Volkswagen introduced preselective robots into mass use with the advent of the DSG transmission.

The difference from a conventional robot is that inside there are, as it were, two robotic boxes with independent clutches. One clutch is responsible for a number of even gears, the second for odd ones. If the car accelerates in the first stage, the box includes the second in advance, and at the moment of switching it simply opens the odd clutch and activates the even one.

As a result, gears change with previously unattainable speed and smoothness. In addition, in standardized cycles, many preselective robots provide better economy than even mechanical boxes.

Getting rid of one disadvantage conventional robots, - pauses when switching - the preselectives could not overcome the other. Many of these transmissions are less than ideally reliable, and others suffer from a pause when starting from a standstill, although latest models managed to almost eliminate this shortcoming.

Progress does not stand still, and if preselectives eventually become as reliable as mechanical transmissions, they can be considered the gearboxes of the future.

Variators

Once considered ideal types of boxes. How many gears does your car have? Five? Eight? And the variator has an infinite number, because this is one of the varieties of continuously variable transmissions.

It would seem, what else do engineers need? The variator provides the choice of the optimal gear ratio and is ready to keep the engine in good shape at any time. As a result, optimal dynamics, better economy…

In fact, everything turned out to be not so simple. The variator requires a very powerful hydraulic system to operate, and the cost of driving the pump often offsets the gain in efficiency. Therefore, CVTs are usually comparable in terms of fuel consumption to hydromechanics.

In addition, there was a problem of dynamic range - the ratio of the gear ratio of the lowest gear to the highest. Gradually, as the variators became more complex, this problem was also exhausted, but everything turned out to be not as elementary as the theorists dreamed of.

There were also problems with the reliability of some CVT models, as well as restrictions on the transmitted torque.

Moreover, the most optimal modes CVT operation is often ... unpleasant for the driver. For example, early boxes drove the tachometer needle into the area high speed, which created the effect of "trolleybus acceleration": the engine yells, the car does not seem to accelerate. Modern CVTs sometimes they try to imitate the operation of stepped transmissions, but what then is their point?

In general, the variator has not received the expected distribution, and the balance is gradually shifting in favor of modern fluid mechanics and preselective robots.

As an afterword

When buying a used car, many are afraid of "robots" and CVTs. It is not necessary to absolutize this principle - there is bad boxes and among hydromechanics - but in general there is a grain of truth in this.

In any case, when choosing a car with any automatic transmission, try to find out the “case history”: on the Internet, from friends or in the ratings of reputable publications.

First of all, if there is automatic transmission, in normal mode, the driver does not need to independently select and engage a gear, work with the pedal, etc. In practice, this greatly simplifies the process of driving a car, increases comfort and safety.

As for the automatic boxes themselves, today it is customary to call “automatic” both, and (AMT) and CVTs. In other words, there are several options for automatic transmissions, and for a number of reasons, classic automatic transmissions and "robots" are the most common among them.

Read in this article

What is the difference between "robot" and "machine"

To understand how one type of gearbox differs from another, it is necessary to consider their features and principle of operation. We note right away that both the “automatic” (automatic transmission) and the “robot” (RKPP, AMT) provide a similar final result: The transmission automatically selects and shifts gears while driving based on vehicle speed, engine load, accelerator position, etc.

However, hydromechanical automatic transmission and robotic box manual transmission gears are fundamentally different in design and principle of operation. Let's look at their features and differences in more detail.

Let's start with the "classic" hydromechanical "automatic" with. Unlike the robot, which appeared relatively recently, an ordinary automatic transmission appeared a long time ago and became the first type of automatic transmission that began to be massively installed on cars.

In a nutshell, automatic transmission is step box gears, where the torque converter (GDT) plays the role of a clutch. At the same time, it is transmitted to the gas turbine engine through the transmission ATF fluid.

The valve plate () and the ECU are responsible for controlling the operation of the automatic transmission. The plate has special channels through which the pressure is supplied transmission fluid. The channels are blocked by valves (). At the command of the ECU, the valve opens or closes, respectively, opening or blocking the channel.

When the valve is open, ATF fluid acts on the gearbox, which as a result allows you to engage and disengage gears in automatic mode.

Advantages and disadvantages of automatic transmission. Speaking of pros and cons hydromechanical automatic transmission, in the list of main advantages, the reliability of the unit and the time-tested design, as well as the ability to withstand a sufficiently large torque, should be highlighted.

Among the minuses, we note that although the automatic transmission works quite smoothly, the moments automatic switching gears are still noticeable to the driver. Also, gear shifting can be “long”, especially on older “automatic machines”. Still to be highlighted high flow fuel for cars with this type of transmission.

As for repairs, in the event of failure of both the box itself and the torque converter, one should prepare for serious costs. At the same time, the maintainability of automatic transmissions is quite acceptable, a large number of Service stations provide repair services.

The robotic gearbox was originally designed to achieve maximum fuel economy and comfort while simplifying and reducing the cost of the unit itself. In the conditions of the world fuel crisis and tough environmental standards this solution was intended to solve a number of problems inherent in classic hydromechanical automatic transmissions.

Simply put, the “robot” box is where the clutch foot drive is replaced with an electric drive, and the gear shift is carried out by the actuator. The choice of gear and its inclusion, as well as the engagement and disengagement of the clutch, is controlled by an electronic unit.

The control of these boxes resembles the well-known single-disk robot in terms of the principle of operation. There are all the same servos, actuators and controller. The main difference is that while, for example, the second gear is engaged, the ECU simultaneously engages the third one, keeping the clutch “squeezed out”. As soon as the shift time comes, in a fraction of a second, the second gear is turned off and the third gear, already half engaged in advance, is switched on.

While driving, the gearbox control unit evaluates the actions of the driver, takes into account the speed of the car, the position of the gas pedal, the load on the engine and a number of other parameters in order to select the most suitable gear in relation to specific conditions.

Pros and cons of a "robot" with double clutch. In terms of advantages, the up and down shifts are imperceptible to the driver, the highest shift speed makes it possible to achieve an almost complete absence of power flow interruption, the car accelerates smoothly and quickly.

It also retains the maximum fuel efficiency inherent in all robotic gearboxes. At the same time, preselective boxes are the most economical compared to all other types (single-disk robot, automatic transmission, variator, mechanics).

As for the minuses, first of all, such boxes are quite complex, cars with a preselective gearbox are very expensive. The resource of these types of transmissions is longer than that of analogues with a single clutch, however, in practice it is reduced compared to classic torque converter automatic transmissions.

Speaking of maintainability, DSG repair and analogues from other manufacturers can be quite expensive. In practice, the cost of such work and spare parts often exceeds the high-quality restoration of an automatic transmission with a torque converter as part of a comprehensive overhaul or overhaul of the gearbox.

Summing up

As you can see, each of the considered types of automatic transmissions has its pros and cons. Also, if an automatic gearbox and a robot are considered, there are differences both in the device of these gearboxes and in the principles of their operation.

Also, before buying a car (especially a used one), it is important to know what type of gearbox is installed, automatic or robot, how to distinguish these types of boxes. The point is that under general concept Automatic transmission today can hide both the first and second options.

As a rule, it is recommended to study separately the information on specific model car, for which generation and in what years of production this or that transmission was installed. It should be remembered that visually, for example, DSG can not be distinguished from a conventional automatic transmission with Tiptronic. In other words, you need to know how to distinguish a robot from a machine in a car.

Finally, we note that it is quite difficult to unequivocally answer the question, a robot and an automatic machine, which is better. If we are talking about new cars with a gun, then it is better to select a gearbox taking into account personal preferences and financial capabilities.

As a rule, a machine with a single disc robot is cheaper and more economical in terms of consumption, however, the comfort when shifting gears can be reduced compared to a classic automatic transmission. For this reason, it is optimal to test drive models with various types Checkpoint.

In the case of preselective robotic boxes, it is the classic automatic that may seem more “thoughtful”, the comfort when shifting gears suffers a little, worse dynamics overclocking, etc.

However, the reliability of a torque converter automatic transmission in practice turns out to be higher, such a box is often easier and cheaper to repair. These features should be considered separately, especially if you plan to buy a used car with an automatic transmission.

Pros and cons of automatic transmission

It has both advantages and disadvantages:

Robotic checkpoint

Combines the functions of both automatic transmission and mechanical box gears. It's essentially the same mechanics, but with automatic control. Control system using executive mechanisms controls clutch operation and gear shifting. In this case, the switching occurs in the same way as in mechanics, only without the participation of the driver.

Initially, a robotic gearbox was created in order to significantly reduce the cost of a gearbox in comparison with an automatic transmission and at the same time combine all the advantages of an automatic transmission and mechanics, which primarily include comfort and ease of operation.

In cars sports class a slightly different type of robotic transmission is used - with two clutches. This allows for maximum high speed gear shifting.

Advantages and disadvantages of the robot

For clarity, the advantages and disadvantages of a robotic transmission are also presented in the form of a table. At the same time we will comparative characteristic between two types of transmissions.

Advantages of a robotic gearbox	Disadvantages of a robotic gearbox
1. More simple design unlike automatic transmission	1. Jerks when starting and shifting gears (for manual transmission with one clutch)
2. Less expensive service and repair compared to automatic transmission	2. The need to move the lever to the neutral position during a long stop and roll back the car on the rise
3. Better fuel economy	3. The unpredictability of the behavior of the robotic gearbox in heavy road conditions
4. More high efficiency	4. The effect of "thoughtfulness" when shifting gears

Drawing conclusions

What is the best gearbox? From the point of view of comfort, the automatic transmission undoubtedly wins, although the developers of the robot tried to win this position from the automatic transmission.

But the robot will be more cost-effective. The cost of the box itself, its maintenance and repair will be cheaper. And a car with a robotic gearbox consumes less fuel and oil than with an automatic one.

Now reliability. Here you can argue. Neither one nor the other box can be called absolutely reliable in comparison with the same mechanics. It is also unclear how both boxes will behave in difficult conditions. But automatic transmission is at least more predictable than a robot, from which it is not known what to expect.

Therefore, which gearbox will be better, each driver decides for himself, based on his ideas about the convenience and comfort of driving. It is worth noting that the robot can be easily mistaken for an automatic machine: often there is no clutch pedal for both automatic and robotic gearbox leads inexperienced drivers into confusion. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully study the characteristics of the selected car in the buying process.

Technological progress does not stand still, not so long ago it was believed that learning to drive is better on the mechanics, and it is cheaper to maintain it, but now everything has changed. An automatic transmission or a robotic box untie your hands when traveling, the driver no longer has to think about changing gears. Even racing cars equip with such gearboxes, to say nothing of ordinary motorists. To decide which is better, you must first understand the device of each variety, the pros and cons.

According to statistics, about half of the cars currently sold are with automatic transmission. Its purpose is to change the frequency and torque transmitted to the drive wheels in a wider range than the engine can provide. But different box designs do this a little differently.

Automatic transmission

An automatic transmission is a type of transmission where the gear ratio is selected automatically, depending on several factors. Only those gearboxes are called automatic, where there are necessarily two structural elements: a planetary gear and a torque converter. The transformer is responsible for transmitting torque from the engine, the rotation is transmitted due to the fluid - oil.

Automatic transmission device

The planetary gear appeared as structural element as early as the beginning of the 20th century. The first mass-produced car, the Ford T, had such an element in its design. It has been produced all over the world since 1908 for almost twenty years in millions of batches. But back in 1906 he began to produce Cadillac car, with fully automatic transmission.

The first car with a planetary gear - Ford T

The planetary gear resembles the movement of the planets around the sun. The components of this mechanism are listed below:

In the center of the gearbox is the so-called "sun" or small gear.
The carrier is a lever mechanism.
Large gear wheel with internal gears.
Satellites - an analogue of the planets of the solar system, gears, revolve around the "sun".

The device of the planetary automatic transmission system

Planetary system - several planetary gears. The torque converter transmits torque, but there is no rigid connection between the engine and the box, unlike mechanics. It's like a clutch in a manual transmission. There is a slight loss of power during the transmission of movement due to the lack of a rigid connection with the engine, but due to the hydraulics, the stroke is softer. Certain gears in the planetary system are blocked, and a reduction, overdrive or direct transmission is obtained.

When you have to get to work through traffic jams, it is more convenient to use automatic transmission. Then the driver does not have to press a lot of levers, and control does not require such concentration as when operating the mechanics. Indeed, after several hours in the stream of cars, the legs get tired, and the loss of concentration can lead to emergency. People for whom manual transmission is incomprehensible choose automation, and many of the students include themselves among them. At the same time, the service life of the above models is the same. The impact on the human factor is also reduced, there is no need to constantly monitor the machine.

The gear shifts smoothly, the car moves without sharp jerks. The gearbox adapts to the driver, so the ride is comfortable, regardless of the chosen driving style. Clutch discs and release bearing last longer, and this feature is noted even by experienced drivers who have used manual transmission all their lives. Automatic machines began to be produced earlier, so there are fewer pitfalls in their behavior. Measures are constantly taken to improve the design, as a result, fuel consumption is reduced.

For comfort during the trip, soft acceleration, you have to pay a higher cost of the gearbox and a decrease in efficiency. During hydraulic transmission, there is a mismatch between the rotational frequencies of the turbine and pump wheels. This process is called hydraulic transmission slip, it is present in any mode of operation of the transmission. But, if the speed is constant, there is no braking and acceleration, torque converter blocking is applied. The hydraulic transformer is excluded from the torque transmission circuit. The motor is directly connected to the gearbox shaft.

Automatic transmission in the context

You will have to leave a considerable amount in a car service if something breaks. The reason for this is the complexity of the mechanism. If the battery dies, you won't be able to start the car. folk methods. With a manual transmission, you can simply push the car, and automatic transmission will break when using this method. Automatic machines in budget cars may be delayed in responding to commands. The decision is made by the system, not the person, so it is more difficult to control the machine.

The car owner will have to exercise caution when driving. In the cold season, you often have to skid in the snow in order to get through difficult area. When iron Horse equipped with automatic transmission, such manipulations lead to its overheating. If you continue like this, the car will quickly break down.

Handling with automatic transmission in winter is slightly worse than on mechanics

The conclusion is the following — handling in winter is worse than in summer, especially when traveling out of town. The automatic transmission is more suitable for quiet city conditions, rather than cross-country racing. In the event of a breakdown, you can not tow the car, you will have to pay for a tow truck. You can not abruptly start off, switch to parking mode or park carelessly, otherwise you will have to repair the device ahead of schedule.

It works on the same principle as a mechanical one, has a similar design with gears. But the separation of the crankshaft of the motor from power transmission vehicle and gear shifting in the box is carried out automatically. The device is controlled by electronics, and the motorist only submits information to the input.

Management is carried out electronic unit with servo drives or actuators, which are of two types - hydraulic and electric motors. When the actuators are given the command to shift, one actuator depresses the clutch. The other one turns on the required speed by moving the synchronizers.

Hydraulic drive is more expensive, and it is installed only on cars executive class or sports cars. Operation involves the use brake fluid. It is under pressure and accelerates the switching process to 0.05 sec. Therefore, hydraulics are chosen by racers and street racers. The electric drive is used more often, as it is cheaper. But the switching delay is tenths of a second, which is felt at the time of acceleration.

Left - hydraulic drive, right - electric drive

There are two operating modes of the box - automatic and manual. In the first case, the computer sends an order to change gears based on the collected data. various systems. This includes the speed of movement, the number of engine revolutions and other indicators. If activated manual mode, a person gives commands using the control levers - the petals under the steering wheel and the gear selector. The motorist himself adjusts the selector and sets a limit on the gear change by the robot.

Paddle shift paddle

To fully understand how the robotic box works, it is worth considering its design. The device is identical to the manual transmission. It consists of a body called the crankcase. Inside are shafts arranged parallel to each other. Gears are attached to them, which are engaged in pairs. The box is two-shaft or three-shaft.

Robotic gearbox device

Torque is transmitted from the motor to the primary, also called the drive shaft. The converted moment is sent to the drive wheels from the secondary - the driven one. The difference between the shafts is that on the secondary, the gears can rotate freely, while on the drive they are rigidly attached. Often the slave is divided into two to reduce its length and, accordingly, the dimensions of the box. To prevent the torque from being applied to the wheels, select the "neutral" position. In this mode, the gears rotate freely on the driven shaft.

When using a manual transmission, you must press the clutch pedal before changing gear. Otherwise input shaft will not be disconnected from the vehicle engine. Electronics built into robotic modifications relieves the burden on the driver. Therefore, while driving, a person does not need to press the clutch pedal with his foot.

After the clutch has actuated, the driver moves the synchronizers using the gear lever. They are special mechanisms that equalize the speed of the driven shaft and the activated gear. When the clutch is engaged, the torque is transferred to the driven shaft with the desired coefficient. It is then fed to main gear and wheels.

The first robots were presented as an invention that combined positive traits mechanics and automatic. New items with an electronic control unit inherited a robust design from the manual transmission. In the event of a breakdown, it is not difficult to find a master who will repair it.

Improved mechanisms are also distinguished low consumption fuel and oil in comparison with automatic transmission. Compared to many torque converters, robotic modifications consume 30% less fuel.

CVT and torque converter models have a more complex design and break more often. A distinctive feature of robots is simpler control than when operating mechanics.

The advantages of robotic devices include comfort during the trip. To get rid of jerks in modern models two independent clutches are installed. Such boxes are called preselective, they switch gears in 0.02 seconds. They allow you to activate the next stage when the gear is engaged, without interrupting work and maintaining traction. Comfort during the trip and improved dynamics is achieved by reducing the moment of power breaking.

Double-plate clutch in a robotic gearbox

The robot can have up to 10 speeds, as in the recently introduced by the company Volkswagen auto. If you choose manual transmission, maximum amount gears - only 8. Devices with an electronic control unit were invented about 20 years ago and launched in mass production. Now you can find it like budget sedan, and a tuned sports car with a robotic gearbox.

Unlike a live driver, the robot cannot feel the moment when the discs close and smoothly change speed. Therefore, the movement can occur with jerks. To make it smoother, the creators of robotic gearboxes have taken steps. In improved modifications, at the moments of gear change, the electronics for some time breaks the power flow transmitted to the wheels from the motor. Therefore, unpleasant dips disappear during acceleration.

The principle of operation of the robotic gearbox

Such designs are smaller, with a smoother ride, but they will cost more. A single electromagnetic servo drive is installed in them. The gear selection mechanism is quicker and the power break time is shortened.

Robots require compliance with the rules of operation. The driver should not press hard on the gas, and when braking, it is recommended to press the pedal harder. With a sharp set or slipping, the gearbox may fail. It is necessary to ensure that the clutch does not overheat during movement.

Automation adjusts to the driving style of the car owner. The firmware of the robot control unit is set to a mode that supports only one style. Another disadvantage is that for racing on the track you will have to buy a modification with a hydraulic drive, and it will cost much more. Manual transmission repair will be cheaper, and when traveling on a worn out pavement such a mechanism will last longer. The electronic mechanism may fail after an incorrectly performed flashing or chip tuning. In the worst case, you will have to change the clutch.

Automatic or robot - the choice is not easy, but there is also a variator. But the variator does not switch speeds, since there they change smoothly. That is, it is not a speed changer. And a robot with automation can be quite compared in terms of material parameters, acceleration dynamics, behavior in adverse conditions- when slipping, maneuvering on difficult road surfaces.

If we consider the comfort of the trip, in the first place is the automatic transmission. When it is more important to strive for profit, the robotic gearbox is in the lead, in which less consumption fuel and oil. But automatic transmissions are considered more predictable when traveling. In appearance when buying, it can be difficult to assess whether a robot or machine is in front of a future owner. In both options, there is no clutch pedal, so you need to ask in advance which gearbox the selected model is equipped with.

Below you can find a comparison table between automatic transmission and robotic transmission.

	automatic transmission	Robotic checkpoint
pros	Smooth acceleration and movement	The design is simpler than that of automatic transmission
	Ease of machine control	Fuel economy and higher efficiency compared to automatic transmission
	No need to constantly replace the clutch	Repair and maintenance is cheaper than automatic transmission
Minuses	Efficiency is lower than that of a robot	Jerking on start-up and gear changes
	Higher fuel consumption	Gear shifting slower
	High cost, including repairs	Unpredictability of behavior in severe road conditions

Summing up

It is impossible to say which system is better - automatic or robotic. If such a conclusion could be drawn for all machines, manufacturers have long been producing gearboxes of the same type. When purchasing a car, you need to consider the following factors:

Which roads are supposed to be driven - urban or suburban. For busy streets better automatic transmission, and when traveling on the tracks, a robot will also do, since you don’t have to accelerate and brake all the time.
Does fuel consumption matter - automatic transmission has it a little more.
Recommendations from those who have already tried this box.
The price of an automatic transmission, as well as its repair, is more expensive than a robotic one.
Driving with automatic transmission is more comfortable for both the driver and passengers, because there are no sharp shocks during acceleration.

Gearbox robot or automatic: which is better

5 (100%) 1 voted

Usually, one word “automatic” means one of the three most popular types of transmission: classic automatic transmission, robotic or CVT. It is impossible to say for sure which box is better, otherwise the manufacturers would not have come up with different designs. The choice depends on the personal preferences and goals of the motorist. Let's figure out what the differences are.

Classic

The oldest type of automatic transmission is the so-called classic automatic, which Cadillac began to use back in the 30s of the last century. The role of the clutch that connects the engine to the gearbox is performed by a torque converter. For a long time automatic machines were four-speed, and only in last years modern machines began to be equipped with eight- and nine-band boxes.

The advantages of a classic hydromechanical automatic transmission are quite smooth switching gear and high reliability compared to other transmissions. Of course, not counting the good old mechanics - according to this indicator, its simple design is unrivaled. Automatic machines without the intervention of technicians quietly live an average of 150-200 thousand kilometers. Although the resource units from different manufacturers can differ significantly. In most cases, problems can be solved by repairing a specific part in the mechanical part of the gearbox. In general, a hydromechanical machine is an expensive unit.

Shortcomings pushed engineers to create other boxes classic automatic transmissions. They cause increased appetite and cannot boast of dizzying dynamics. Although with the development of complex structures and technologies, the difference is less and less significant, nevertheless, all other things being equal, it is.

Fast and complex

A robotic transmission was called to solve the problems of the machine. Without going into details, the robot is structurally the same mechanics, only with automated clutch and gear shifting. Due to the simplified mechanism, such boxes are lighter and take up less space, which made it possible to install them even on small cars like the Fiat 500 or Opel Corsa. An important plus is that cars with robots are less likely to stop at a gas station.

However, simple robots with one clutch per inexpensive cars have an annoying effect - constant delays, jerks and jerks when switching, which is especially annoying in traffic jams. Over time, engineers solved an unpleasant design feature by creating a preselective robot. The most famous is DSG from Volkswagen Group. In fact, these are two boxes with two clutches. One includes even gears, the other includes odd ones. The result is very fast and precise gear shifting without power interruption, without causing any discomfort to the driver.

In complex robotic boxes of sports cars, such as Ferrari or Lamborghini, the transition to the highest stage occurs in hundredths (!) of a second. Many manufacturers indicate the acceleration time to hundreds on cars with an advanced robot even less than with mechanics. Just a person can not get ahead of this perfect technique.

Convenience, dynamics, economy — the perfect combination. It is not for nothing that preselective robots on this moment are considered the most optimal type of automatic transmission. However, they have a tangible minus that many drivers cannot come to terms with. The complex design makes almost any box repair costly. And the reliability of robots for many brands raises questions.

without steps

Variators are generally a separate direction. By by and large, this is not a gearbox, because there are no gears in the transmission at all. We will not go into details about the change gear ratios due to the rotation of the belt on the pulleys. Let's just say that a special design allows the car to continuously transmit torque to the wheels, and therefore extremely smoothly pick up speed. No jerks or pushes. However, the medal has back side. At dynamic acceleration the motor “freezes” at certain speeds, which creates the effect of a trolleybus. The engine is noisy and monotonous. Over time, this deficiency different manufacturers eliminate. Modern continuously variable transmissions they are so good at imitating classic slot machine that the layman will not understand. But this is purely a matter of acoustic comfort.

The undoubted advantage of cars with a CVT can be called fuel efficiency. In the passport data, the fuel consumption is often indicated lower than on the same cars with mechanics. But, unfortunately, the CVTs are quite capricious. They must not be overheated or overloaded. high power, they do not work at peak loads and cannot stand long slippage in snow or mud. Therefore, you will not find such transmissions on trucks or sports cars. In addition, CVTs require lean maintenance, including frequent replacement good oil. Often they are unsuitable for repair, and after the expiration of the service life - about 150 thousand kilometers - the variator is changed. And it is not cheap because of the complex design.