- What are paddle shifters for?
- 1. What is it and how did they appear
- 2. Device and principle of operation
- 3. Advantages and disadvantages
- 4. Petals for mechanical box gear
In new foreign cars, you can see small levers on the steering wheel, they are called paddle shifters. In the overall picture of the cabin, they look cool, modern, many people like this design. But these petals are not just for styling. modern cars. And for what else? We will discuss this with you now.
Paddles are two levers that are pressed to change gears. Paddle shifters were invented in the 1980s and were first installed on Ferraris and Porsches, and then on other Formula 1 sports cars. And they created such an ultra-fashionable device for switching speed without taking the rider's hands off the steering wheel. We decided that it would be very convenient for drivers racing cars– now they did not need to look at the gearbox. And in modern world they are increasingly appearing on ordinary cars with electronics.
The paddles are mounted on the steering column, right under the steering wheel - hence the name. When you press the petal, the signal is transmitted to the gearbox control unit, and then the automation sets the desired gear. Petals are activated in two ways: in some cars they are always active, while in others you need to select the manual gear change mode, and they become active. If the driver does not use them for a long time, then the car switches to an automatic transmission. It depends on the brand of car. The main thing is to be able to choose the right moment for changing gear, and the switching is already carried out by the computer.
The very first and a big plus is what the paddles were created for - the convenience and speed of gear changes. You no longer need to take your hand off the steering wheel and yank on the big shift lever, just press the paddle with one finger. Because this very petal is right at your fingertips. This is especially convenient in fast driving, for example, a sharp throwing off of the transmission while overtaking another car. And also when you need to quickly accelerate.
Another plus - general form salon: the petals fit perfectly into modern design car. Agree that most people who buy a new car attach great importance to its appearance.
The downsides are minor, but they also exist. The main disadvantage is the cost, the price of these levers is quite high. And another disadvantage is that with the help of the petals it will no longer be possible to smoothly reduce speed, as with a manual transmission. After mechanics, many experienced drivers cannot learn how to use such a system and remain dissatisfied with it.
In cars with a manual transmission, it was previously impossible to install these same petals. But, as you know, nothing is impossible in the world. And recently, a system was introduced in the United States that replaces manual box gears to the transmission with these same petals. And the designers of Master Shift made this discovery at the auto show in Vegas. They left all three pedals in the car, but the shift knob doesn't work. Special adapters connect the gearbox to the drive unit, and the opening moment is recorded by a sensor under the pedal. At the time of selection reverse speed if the car is moving forward, special systems block electric drive.
As for the reviews of people about the paddle shifters, then the opinions are divided into two different camps. Some are convinced that this is the future of all cars, and without this device they no longer imagine driving a car. And others, on the contrary, believe that this is a waste of money, and cannot unlearn the shift knob. What can you do? How many people, so many opinions.
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In new foreign cars, you can see small levers on the steering wheel, they are called paddle shifters. In the overall picture of the cabin, they look cool, modern, many people like this design. But these petals aren't just for styling modern cars. And for what else? We will discuss this with you now.
1. What is it and how did they appear
Paddles are two levers that are pressed to change gears. Paddle shifters were invented in the 1980s and were first installed on Ferraris and Porsches, and then on other Formula 1 sports cars. And they created such an ultra-fashionable device for switching speed without taking the rider's hands off the steering wheel. We decided that it would be very convenient for drivers of racing cars - now they did not need to look at the gearbox. And in the modern world, they increasingly began to appear on ordinary cars with electronics.
2. Device and principle of operation
The paddles are mounted on the steering column, right under the steering wheel - hence the name. When you press the petal, the signal is transmitted to the gearbox control unit, and then the automation sets the desired gear. Petals are activated in two ways: in some cars they are always active, while in others you need to select the manual gear change mode, and they become active. If the driver does not use them for a long time, then the car switches to an automatic transmission. It depends on the brand of car. The main thing is to be able to choose the right moment for changing gear, and the switching is already carried out by the computer.
3. Advantages and disadvantages
The very first and biggest plus is what the petals were created for - the convenience and speed of gear shifting. You no longer need to take your hand off the steering wheel and yank on the big shift lever, just press the paddle with one finger. Because this very petal is right at your fingertips. This is especially convenient in fast driving, for example, a sharp drop in gear while overtaking another car. And also when you need to quickly accelerate.
Another plus is the general view of the cabin: the petals fit perfectly into the modern design of the car. Agree that most people who buy a new car attach great importance to its appearance.
The downsides are minor, but they also exist. The main disadvantage is the cost, the price of these levers is quite high. And another disadvantage is that with the help of the petals it will no longer be possible to smoothly reduce speed, as with a manual transmission. After mechanics, many experienced drivers cannot learn how to use such a system and remain dissatisfied with it.
4. Paddles for manual transmission
In cars with a manual transmission, it was previously impossible to install these same petals. But, as you know, nothing is impossible in the world. And recently, a system was introduced in the USA that replaces a manual gearbox with a transmission with these very petals. And the designers of Master Shift made this discovery at the auto show in Vegas. They left all three pedals in the car, but the shift knob doesn't work. Special adapters connect the gearbox to the drive unit, and the opening moment is recorded by a sensor under the pedal. During reverse gear selection, if the machine moves forward, special systems block the electric drive.
As for the reviews of people about the paddle shifters, then the opinions are divided into two different camps. Some are convinced that this is the future of all cars, and without this device they no longer imagine driving a car. And others, on the contrary, believe that this is a waste of money, and cannot unlearn the shift knob. What can you do? How many people, so many opinions.
Gear shift paddles - a necessity or just another toy?
Imagine that you spent your whole life behind the steering wheel of budget cars, and the gears were changed by the traditional backstage of a manual gearbox. And suddenly you are on driving position contemporary premium car. The first thing you will see in front of you is a steering wheel covered with expensive leather, behind which strange handles will stick out. This is nothing more than paddle shifters. Although they are called paddles, in fact they are located immediately behind the steering wheel, and not under it.
These devices are designed to simplify the process of driving a car.
So what are these petals for? When did they first appear on cars? What are the pros and cons they have?
Like many technical solutions familiar to us today, paddle shifters were born in the world of motorsport. Toward the end of the 80s of the last century, new electromechanical gearboxes began to be installed in Formula 1 cars, instead of the usual mechanical ones. And this allowed manufacturers to use fundamentally new way gear changes. Namely, without taking your hands off the wheel. Indeed, in the world of the Royal races, such speeds reign. where you can't take your eyes off the road even for a second. Otherwise, the rider runs the risk of being off the track, sticking out in a concrete wall.
The first team to introduce paddles was the Italian Ferrari. Assessing the benefits and safety of the new technical solution, other teams have also equipped their cars with similar devices. Since then, Formula 1 racers have used petals exclusively.
Pressing the petal transmits a signal to the gearbox control unit. after which the automation sets the gear you need. Thus, no switching drives are connected directly to the petals, everything is controlled by electronics. Most often, such a mechanism is equipped modern boxes with two clutches, paddles are less common on traditional automatic transmissions.
Video of how they work:
Activation manual mode shifting in automatic transmissions occurs in different ways. On some, it is enough to immediately press the petal to change gear. In others, you must first select the manual gear change mode, and only after that you will be able to use the petals.
Pros and cons of paddle shifters
Probably the biggest benefit of using the paddles is that the driver doesn't have to take their hand off the steering wheel in order to quickly downshift when overtaking. Unfortunately, not all modern drivers possess necessary level skill in order to control both the situation on the road and the process of changing gear manually. And given the fact that cars are becoming more powerful and faster, paddle shifters are becoming a real panacea for such would-be drivers.
Another plus is that such systems look great. They actually make the interior of the car visually more attractive and modern. Some of the petals look like the controls of a spaceship.
And now for the cons. They are most noticeable for those drivers who like to participate in the process of driving a car, and not trust the computer to do all the work. For such people, shifting with a traditional handle is a special ritual, an integral part of all driving. And the trouble is that many automotive manufacturers today they cease to equip their models with the usual mechanics, increasingly preferring automatic transmissions with the possibility of manual gear shifting. But nothing can replace the pleasure of a competent regassing on the way to the next turn and a clear gear reset
Of the minuses, it is also worth noting the high cost of servicing boxes with modes manual switching. However, if you can afford a car worth several million rubles, you are unlikely to care about such trifles. But for those who are used to counting money, this will be a weighty argument.
P.S. Write to us in the comments, have you ever dealt with petals? If yes, please describe your experience.
Not all drivers can answer the question - shift paddles - what is it and how are they more convenient than conventional systems? Let's try to fill this gap and tell you more about this gearshift system, since, according to many, they have a great future.
The idea to place the gearshift levers on the steering wheel was first implemented on sports cars. Similar designs appeared in the eighties of the last century on fireballs participating in Formula 1 races. The very first team to install paddle shifters on a racing car was Ferrari. Later, these systems began to be installed on racing cars other brands, and after some time they appeared on ordinary serial machines.
More actively, the petal gear design began to be used after the advent of systems like Tiptronic. This auxiliary automatic transmission option provides the ability to change gear ratio at the discretion of the driver. The required speed is selected by the driver, and the Tiptronic directly engages the desired gear. Switch automatic box, equipped with a Tiptronic transmission system, has an additional track where the lever moves and manual gear shifting is activated. Similar transmission systems first began to be installed in the early nineties on some Porsche models.
In essence, the paddles are a pair of plastic levers, when pressed, the gears are switched. They are located under the steering wheel, which is extremely convenient not only for the driver, but also for the passenger in the front seat.
The convenience of such shift paddles is especially felt when driving actively, for example, when you need to increase speed during overtaking. IN this case automation will begin to switch speeds in normal mode, and the use of paddle shifters will make it possible to spin the motor, changing the gear at the limit of its power to increase acceleration. Considering how often accidents occur during overtaking, such petals are a good help for the driver.
During squeezing, a signal is transmitted from the lever to the electronic unit, which activates the automatic transmission solenoids, and the gear ratio changes. The driver of the car only needs to choose the moment of switching, and the computer, using electric drives, will automatically turn on desired speed. The fact that the drives are not directly connected to the paddle shifters makes it possible to place them anywhere, but the paddle shifter is still the most suitable. There are alternatives to these designs. For example, on the Mazda sixth series steering column equipped not only with a pair of petals, but also with speed reduction levers on both sides. This is done so that the driver has the ability to both increase and decrease speed with one hand.
The inclusion of manual control in various designs can occur either by simply pressing the petals, or by selecting this mode on the main selector. If the petals are not used for a long time, then special systems will automatically transfer the transmission to the normal control mode.
Until recently, paddle shifters were installed only on automatic transmissions. But the designers of the Master Shift company from the United States at the Las Vegas auto show demonstrated an innovative and quite promising concept in this direction. Their invention makes it possible to replace a manual box with a system with paddle shifters. Three pedals remain in the car, but the traditional manual transmission handle is not used. The drive unit and the box are connected by means of adapters. Under the clutch pedal there is a special sensor that detects the opening of the discs, and then with the help of a petal, the required gear is selected. After depressing the clutch pedal, the discs are separated, the electric drive brings the required step and the discs are closed.
The designers have installed special systems that block the electric drive during reverse gear selection if the car is moving forward.
It is quite likely that in soon cars equipped with such a gearshift system will be mass-produced.
This video shows how the Mazda 6 is controlled using the steering column paddles.
Paddle shifters - another way to shift gears
The idea is to place the gear levers on the steering wheel stock car came from motorsport. At the end of the 80s of the last century racing cars Formula 1 began to be equipped with electromechanical gearshift systems. The first formula team to launch a paddle car out of the paddock was Ferrari. Since then, the petals have become entrenched in the design of racing cars. Over time, they appeared on civilian cars.
The spread of the petals was preceded by the appearance of a Tiptronic type system.
This additional option The automatic transmission allows the driver to change gear ratios at will. The moment of switching is chosen by the driver, and Tiptronic is engaged in the implementation. The selector of automatic transmissions equipped with Tiptronic has an additional track where the lever can be moved, thereby activating manual gear shifting. Such boxes appeared in 1990 on the 911th Porsche model.
In fact, such petals are two plastic levers, by clicking on which you can change gears. They are placed on the steering column, which is very convenient for both the driver and the passenger.
The benefits of the paddle shifters can also be experienced when dynamic movement, for example, when you need to accelerate to overtake. In this case, the "automatic" will shift gears in the normal mode, and the use of the petals will allow the engine to spin up, changing the gear at the peak of its power, which will increase the intensity of acceleration.
Considering how often accidents occur precisely when overtaking, the paddle shifters really seem like a breath of fresh air for the motorist.
Pressing the lever transmits a signal to the control unit, which activates the solenoids of the automatic box and the gear ratio changes. The driver chooses only the moment of switching, and the process of changing gear is carried out by electric drives under computer control. The absence of drives directly to the petals allows you to place them anywhere, but the most convenient location is just under the steering wheel.
There are variations of such systems:
Mazda 6 Series vehicles are equipped with steering wheel not only with two paddles, but also with downshift levers on each side. This is done so that the driver can both upshift and downshift using only one hand.
Activation of the manual switching mode in different designs can be done by pressing the petals, or by selecting this mode on the main selector. If the paddles are not used by the driver for a certain period of time, then some systems can automatically put the box into automatic switching mode.
Until recently, when mentioning paddle shifters, you didn’t have to think about what type of gearbox you were talking about. However, the engineers of the American company Master Shift have changed the rules of the game. At the SEMA tuning show in Las Vegas in 2012, a system was introduced that allows you to replace a manual gearbox with a transmission with electronic paddle shifters. At the same time, the car remains with three pedals, but the usual manual transmission lever is not used. The essence of the invention is that the drive unit is connected to the box through adapters. A sensor is installed under the clutch pedal, which records the moment the clutch discs open. Selected by clicking a petal desired gear, then the electronics waits for the clutch to be pressed, and as soon as the discs are disconnected, the electric drive brings the desired stage and the driver closes the discs by releasing the pedal.
The developers have provided special systems that block the electric drive when choosing a gear reversing when driving forward at a speed of over 1.6 km/h.
It is possible that soon cars with similar system gear shifts will go into mass production.
Imagine that you spent your whole life behind the steering wheel of budget cars, and the gears were changed by the traditional backstage of a manual gearbox. And suddenly you find yourself in the driver's seat of a modern premium car. The first thing you will see in front of you is a steering wheel covered with expensive leather, behind which strange handles will stick out. This is nothing more than paddle shifters. Although they are called paddles, in fact they are located immediately behind the steering wheel, and not under it.
These devices are designed to simplify the process of driving a car.
So what are these petals for? When did they first appear on cars? What are the pros and cons they have?
Like many technical solutions familiar to us today, paddle shifters were born in the world of motorsport. Toward the end of the 80s of the last century, new electromechanical gearboxes began to be installed in Formula 1 cars, instead of the usual mechanical ones. And this allowed manufacturers to use a fundamentally new way to change gears. Namely, without taking your hands off the wheel. Indeed, in the world of the Royal races, such speeds reign. where you can't take your eyes off the road even for a second. Otherwise, the rider runs the risk of being off the track, sticking out in a concrete wall.
The first team to introduce paddles was the Italian Ferrari. Assessing the benefits and safety of the new technical solution, other teams have also equipped their cars with similar devices. Since then, Formula 1 racers have used petals exclusively.
Pressing the petal transmits a signal to the gearbox control unit. after which the automation sets the gear you need. Thus, no switching drives are connected directly to the petals, everything is controlled by electronics. Most often, modern double-clutch boxes are equipped with a similar mechanism; petals are less common on traditional automatic transmissions.
Video of how they work:
The activation of the manual shift mode in automatic transmissions occurs in different ways. On some, it is enough to immediately press the petal to change gear. In others, you must first select the manual gear change mode, and only after that you will be able to use the petals.
Pros and cons of paddle shifters
Probably the biggest benefit of using the paddles is that the driver doesn't have to take their hand off the steering wheel in order to quickly downshift when overtaking. Unfortunately, not all modern drivers have the necessary level of skill in order to simultaneously control the situation on the road and the process of changing gear manually. And given the fact that cars are becoming more powerful and faster, paddle shifters are becoming a real panacea for such would-be drivers.
Another plus is that such systems look great. They actually make the interior of the car visually more attractive and modern. Some of the petals look like the controls of a spaceship.
And now for the cons. They are most noticeable for those drivers who like to participate in the process of driving a car, and not trust the computer to do all the work. For such people, shifting with a traditional handle is a special ritual, an integral part of all driving. And the trouble is that many car manufacturers today cease to equip their models with the usual mechanics, increasingly preferring automatic transmissions with the possibility of manual gear shifting. But nothing can replace the pleasure of a competent regassing on the way to the next turn and a clear gear reset
Of the minuses, it is also worth noting the high cost of servicing boxes with manual switching modes. However, if you can afford a car worth several million rubles, you are unlikely to care about such trifles. But for those who are used to counting money, this will be a weighty argument.
P.S. Write to us in the comments, have you ever dealt with petals? If yes, please describe your experience.
Not all drivers can answer the question - shift paddles - what is it and how are they more convenient than conventional systems? Let's try to fill this gap and tell you more about this gearshift system, since, according to many, they have a great future.
The idea of placing gearshift levers on the steering wheel was first implemented on sports cars. Similar designs appeared in the eighties of the last century on fireballs participating in Formula 1 races. The very first team to install paddle shifters on a racing car was Ferrari. Later, these systems began to be installed on racing cars of other brands, and after a while they appeared on ordinary production cars.
More actively, the petal gear design began to be used after the advent of systems like Tiptronic. This auxiliary automatic transmission option provides the ability to change the gear ratio at the discretion of the driver. The required speed is selected by the driver, and the Tiptronic directly engages the desired gear. The automatic transmission switch, equipped with the Tiptronic transmission system, has an additional track where the lever moves and the manual gear shift is activated. Similar transmission systems were first installed in the early nineties on some Porsche models.
In essence, the paddles are a pair of plastic levers, when pressed, the gears are switched. They are located under the steering wheel, which is extremely convenient not only for the driver, but also for the passenger in the front seat.
The convenience of such shift paddles is especially felt when driving actively, for example, when you need to increase speed during overtaking. In this case, the automation will begin to switch speeds in normal mode, and the use of paddle shifters will make it possible to spin the motor, changing the gear at the limit of its power to increase acceleration. Considering how often accidents occur during overtaking, such petals are a good help for the driver.
During the squeeze, a signal is transmitted from the lever to the electronic unit that activates the automatic transmission solenoids, and the gear ratio changes. The driver of the car only needs to choose the moment of switching, and the computer, using electric drives, will automatically turn on the desired speed. The fact that the drives are not directly connected to the paddle shifters makes it possible to place them anywhere, but the paddle shifter is still the most suitable. There are alternatives to these designs. For example, on the Mazda sixth series, the steering column is equipped not only with a pair of paddles, but also with speed reduction levers on both sides. This is done so that the driver has the ability to both increase and decrease speed with one hand.
The inclusion of manual control in various designs can occur either by simply pressing the petals, or by selecting this mode on the main selector. If the petals are not used for a long time, then special systems will automatically transfer the transmission to the normal control mode.
Until recently, paddle shifters were only fitted to automatic transmissions. But the designers of the Master Shift company from the United States at the Las Vegas auto show demonstrated an innovative and quite promising concept in this direction. Their invention makes it possible to replace a manual box with a system with paddle shifters. Three pedals remain in the car, but the traditional manual transmission handle is not used. The drive unit and the box are connected by means of adapters. Under the clutch pedal there is a special sensor that detects the opening of the discs, and then with the help of a petal, the required gear is selected. After depressing the clutch pedal, the discs are separated, the electric drive brings the required step and the discs are closed.
The designers have installed special systems that block the electric drive during reverse gear selection if the car is moving forward.
It is likely that in the near future cars equipped with such a gearshift system will be mass-produced.
This video shows how the Mazda 6 is controlled using the steering column paddles.
Paddle shifters - another way to shift gears
The idea to put gear levers on the steering wheel of a production car came from motorsport. In the late 80s of the last century, Formula 1 racing cars began to be equipped with electromechanical gearshift systems. The first formula team to launch a paddle car out of the paddock was Ferrari. Since then, the petals have become entrenched in the design of racing cars. Over time, they appeared on civilian cars.
The spread of the petals was preceded by the appearance of a Tiptronic type system.
This optional automatic transmission option allows the driver to change gear ratios as they see fit. The moment of switching is chosen by the driver, and Tiptronic is engaged in the implementation. The selector of automatic transmissions equipped with Tiptronic has an additional track where the lever can be moved, thereby activating manual gear shifting. Such boxes appeared in 1990 on the 911th Porsche model.
In fact, such petals are two plastic levers, by clicking on which you can change gears. They are placed on the steering column, which is very convenient for both the driver and the passenger.
The advantages of the paddle shifters can also be felt in dynamic driving, for example, when it is necessary to accelerate to overtake. In this case, the "automatic" will shift gears in the normal mode, and the use of the petals will allow the engine to spin up, changing the gear at the peak of its power, which will increase the intensity of acceleration.
Considering how often accidents occur precisely when overtaking, the paddle shifters really seem like a breath of fresh air for the motorist.
Pressing the lever transmits a signal to the control unit, which activates the solenoids of the automatic box and the gear ratio changes. The driver chooses only the moment of switching, and the process of changing gear is carried out by electric drives under computer control. The absence of drives directly to the petals allows you to place them anywhere, but the most convenient location is just under the steering wheel.
There are variations of such systems:
Mazda 6 series cars equip the steering wheel not only with two paddles, but also with downshift levers on each side. This is done so that the driver can both upshift and downshift using only one hand.
Activation of the manual switching mode in different designs can be done by pressing the petals, or by selecting this mode on the main selector. If the paddles are not used by the driver for a certain period of time, then some systems can automatically put the box into automatic switching mode.
Until recently, when mentioning paddle shifters, you didn’t have to think about what type of gearbox you were talking about. However, the engineers of the American company Master Shift have changed the rules of the game. At the SEMA tuning show in Las Vegas in 2012, a system was introduced that allows you to replace a manual gearbox with a transmission with electronic paddle shifters. At the same time, the car remains with three pedals, but the usual manual transmission lever is not used. The essence of the invention is that the drive unit is connected to the box through adapters. A sensor is installed under the clutch pedal, which records the moment the clutch discs open. The desired gear is selected with a click of the petal, then the electronics wait for the clutch to be pressed, and as soon as the discs are disconnected, the electric drive brings up the desired stage and the driver closes the discs by releasing the pedal.
The developers have provided special systems that block the electric drive when the reverse gear is selected when moving forward at a speed of over 1.6 km / h.
It is possible that soon cars with a similar gearshift system will go into mass production.
