The story behind recent improvements to Transmission Technologies Corp.’s AMT-7 automated mechanical gearbox says a lot about how far powertrain technology has come.

TTC bought the transmission works from Dana Spicer and has been selling the medium-duty AMT-7 for more than a year. The transmission is fully automated: it eliminates the traditional shifter and clutch pedal and uses electronics to control the operation of an otherwise conventional 7-speed manual.

But there were some questions about the product’s performance-specifically, some drivers found that early-release models tended to back up too quickly, making it difficult to back into loading docks.

Instead of cracking open the housing and reworking the hardware, TTC engineers instead looked at the software.

Based on fleet feedback, TTC engineers created a system that launches the vehicle when the brake pedal is released to provide a smooth and controlled “creep.” Basic system software has also been upgraded to make gear-to-gear shifts smoother, particularly downshifts.

Additional software refinements have made the AMT-7 more tolerant of bad driving habits like brake stabbing and throttle pumping. The Launch Assist feature-which prevents the vehicle from rolling-has also been improved to operate more smoothly.

TTC says some fleets have seen as much as a 15% increase in fuel economy with the AMT-7 compared to their traditional automatics.

Info: www.ttcautomotive.com