Abstract
This paper describes the shock experienced by vehicles during acceleration and during automatic transmission gear changes, and also introduces methods for reducing such shock. In order to achieve such methods, we conducted investigations through calculations using vehicle simulation models, and verified the results of these calculations through actual vehicle tests. The methods developed from our investigations enable the reduction of shock by tailoring the variation in engine torque input to the vehicle so that it matches the vehicle response properties during acceleration, and by controlling the drive torque at the automatic transmission output shaft during gear changes. This shock reduction is employed in the vehicle through the use of high-speed, large capacity computers and state-of-the-art control devices.