For whom was the “robot” created in the first place?
First of all, when discussing a robotic gearbox, we should not forget that Priora is a budget car for a wide range of consumers. That’s why, taking a course towards “roboticization” of the gearbox, AvtoVAZ made sure that the price was as affordable as possible. They cost little money - the increase in the cost of the car, associated with the automation of the gear shifting process, is several times cheaper than the automatic transmission installed on the same Vesta or Grant.
ZF robotic box
In fact, the “robot” on Priora turned out to be a prototype for further implementation in more modern models. In addition, this maneuver by AvtoVAZ was intended to revive interest in the car, the production of which was decided to be extended until 2020. Let us recall that according to the original plans of the Togliatti plant, the fate of the rethought “ten” was supposed to end in 2020.
According to representatives of AvtoVAZ, the Lada Priora AMT should have turned out to be an extremely attractive offer for inexperienced motorists who do not want to start their driving journey with “mechanics”. Because of the fear of a manual transmission, many of them prefer used foreign cars, but the Lada Priora with a robotic gearbox should turn out to be an excellent alternative.
The smart brains of Priorovskaya AMT also know how to save fuel. A “robot” operating in the appropriate mode is capable of producing quite a noticeable difference in fuel consumption. The average consumption on the highway, measured by AvtoVAZ specialists, was 5.6 liters. So the hard-earned 20 thousand rubles that you have to pay extra exclusively for the Lada Priora AMT should not only provide additional comfort and make the process of driving a vehicle easier, but also result in very real fuel savings due to the early gear shift algorithm embedded in the “brains”.
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Establishing work with the press is one of the signs of global changes taking place at AvtoVAZ. The new plant president, Bo Andersson , held a Western-style press conference: open acknowledgment of problems, but at the same time cautious optimism and precise growth figures in all areas. And also an emphatically friendly attitude towards critics. Yes, thieves operate in the “factory-dealer” chain, and cars come for sale disassembled. The President had to play the role of detective. By the way, it was successful: there are fewer such cases. At the same time, VAZ is sending its employees to dealers to strengthen the pre-sale inspection, conducting it twice. Yes, many big shots at the plant completely forgot the way there. Now they have to show up for the planning meeting at seven in the morning. Of course, those who sell Ladas themselves drive Mercedes. But the plant management has already shown them an example by switching to their own products. Which, without a doubt, you will soon be proud of. And so on.
The main thing is that the new president slightly lifted the veil of secrecy over what was happening on the isolated planet Zhelezyaka, where, as you know, there is no water, there are no minerals either, and it is inhabited by frightening robots, now at least the direction of their creative search is clear. Why, one might ask, install a new AMT transmission in the Priora, which is a “lame duck” of the factory line and will be replaced by Vesta next year? It turns out that this is necessary for the development of engineering, without which VAZ risks turning into a site for screwdriver assembly of other brands, a “slave” - as Andersson puts it.
Lada Priora Photo: Public Relations Directorate of JSC AVTOVAZ
Having been tested on the dying Priora, the new gearbox will be installed on all modern Lad models. Of course, it’s difficult to call a “robot” the brainchild of VAZ engineering. In fact, Tolyatti residents install their own conventional manual transmission, and buy all the necessary electronics from the German company ZF. These are gear shift and clutch actuators, their control unit and the operating mode selector. However, installing and adjusting this “add-on” is a truly labor-intensive task. And it was done: Andersson was not afraid to invite journalists to break the box during the upcoming test, noting that he himself tried to do this, and it did not work out.
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Why else is a robotic gearbox needed, besides “puzzled” engineers? Especially considering that the plant has already mastered the installation of a proven “automatic machine” from the Jatco company? It's simple: AMT is cheaper - plus only 20 thousand rubles to the price of the car. And, of course, more economical - 5.6 liters per 100 kilometers in the combined cycle. For comparison, a Kalina with a machine gun will burn 8 liters - and this is according to the passport, but in reality it is more. Squeezing all the juices out of the Priora, I got a consumption of about 8 liters. A good result, which means that the announced five and a half liters are quite realistic with “thoughtful” driving. Finally, the “robot” is designed to expand the range of products - after all, the larger the range, the higher the competitiveness. By the way, this fall the buyer will be able to order cars with the set of options he needs, and not just choose from several basic configurations.
“You ask why we need a “robot.” I want you to answer this question yourself. Is he needed, will he be in demand? How do you think? I’m interested in your opinion,” Bo Andersson countered all the questions. Well, let's try to figure it out.
Lada Priora Photo: Public Relations Directorate of JSC AVTOVAZ
Two in one
It was with this proud slogan that Mr. Boo himself, the head of the Tolyatti Automobile Plant, presented a domestic novelty. When driving a Lad Priora with a robotic gearbox, the driver is free to switch from mode A, where all gears are switched automatically, to manual mode M, where the lever has only two positions: + and -. Naturally, this kind of multifunctional solution also has its obvious disadvantages.
Of course, the most important thing is the reaction speed of the “robot” and the electromechanical drive of the actuators. Everyone knows that expensive and prestigious models of robotic gearboxes are equipped with a hydraulic drive, where shifting is measured in hundredths of seconds. Although, in fairness, we note that comparing Priora with Ferrari or Lamborghini is still not entirely fair. The actual performance on the Lada Priora “robot” shows the following:
- 120 ms in automatic mode;
- 70 ms in manual mode.
Box actuators (underhood)
Of these, 70 ms must be spent on the operation of the electric drive, and another 50 ms are taken over by the electronic brains, which also need time to think. Accordingly, when you need a quiet and peaceful ride with maximum fuel economy, you need to switch to automatic. Manual mode, which, by the way, will still have to get used to, will allow you to accelerate a little faster.
Robot in Priora.
Just ten years ago it was hard to even imagine a domestic car with an automatic transmission. AvtoVAZ designers took the first steps in this direction in 2009, when they began introducing cable-driven gearboxes on front-wheel drive cars.
Today, there are several options for relieving the driver of the need to use the third pedal. Since 2013, Kalina and Granta have acquired an automatic transmission - a hydromechanical automatic. The four-speed automatic transmission works successfully in tandem with the 16-valve, 106-horsepower VAZ-21127 .
In recent years, continuously variable automatic transmissions – CVTs – have become very popular all over the world. The introduction of CVTs into AvtoVAZ products would require very serious alterations and large investments. Therefore, the manufacturers decided to settle on a more budget-friendly option - to develop a robotic version of the box and begin installing it on the Priora .
We took the mechanical serial box of the VAZ-2180 as the basis, leaving the filling the same. The changes affected the rear crankcase cover, on which the input shaft speed sensor was installed. Original elements also appeared - actuators (actuators) for engaging gears and clutches, a gearbox control controller installed under the battery platform.
The development of the entire automatic transmission control system was entrusted to the German company ZF, and factory specialists configured the engine parameters.
The result is a budget automatic transmission with manual control. When the gearbox selector is set to position “A”, the transmission operates in automatic mode: from step to step, the gears are switched on smoothly, with a sharp press on the gas, a downshift is quickly engaged and held, allowing the engine to gain speed. For manual control, you can set the selector to the “M” position, in which gears will change a little faster.
Protection from the “fool”
The robotic gearbox of the Lada Priora is almost impossible to break intentionally. Of course, practically does not mean at all, but the gearbox is still insured against most erroneous user actions. The reason is painfully simple: the control command coming from the driver is not immediately transmitted to the gearbox, but is perceived by the electronic control unit, which already makes a decision on the appropriateness of the action.
The most striking example of how the protection works is the inability to engage reverse gear while the car is moving. In addition, the system is immune to crazy gear changes in a short period of time, maintaining the last operating mode. Also, Priora AMT will not allow the driver to suddenly switch to a very low gear in manual mode, but only after the power unit reaches a safe number of revolutions.
At the cost of a small budget
The cost of the “robot” cost AvtoVAZ $20 million, which is relatively little. But even with such costs, the Tolyatti Automobile Plant will have to pay for its development for several years, provided there is adequate demand for the Lada Priora AMT. The electric actuators and brains in the new gearbox were developed by the German company ZF. Actually, most of the expenses were spent on its services, as well as on experimental tests at the Nurburgring. The good old mechanical VAZ-2180 is taken as the basis.
Lada Priora AMT
Maximum localization of production and ready-made developments have made it possible to significantly reduce the cost of the product. True, we also had to abandon some functions present in more expensive foreign “robots”. For example, there is no parking function: if you forget to put the handbrake on the car, it can simply roll far “beyond the horizon” along an incline. When the car is stationary, you must either manually hold the brake or keep the Priora on the handbrake.
But there is also an obvious advantage of our “robot” over sophisticated automatic transmissions. Due to the fact that in the disabled position on the Lada Priora the gearbox is constantly in the neutral position, it can be easily started from a pusher even with a dead battery. According to AvtoVAZ instructions, a speed of 7 km/h is enough, after which the AMT lever must be switched to mode “A” and the car should start.
Despite all the concerns associated with the fact that the clutch in the VAZ gearbox is single, the car moves quite smoothly. Of course, some jerks and dips in power when changing gears still occur, but they are obviously leveled out as much as possible. If you don’t rev the car at all or slow down sharply, the disadvantage is almost imperceptible.
Why does AvtoVAZ need a “robot”?
Let's start with the most important thing: the RKP, developed in Togliatti as a result of cooperation with the ZF company, turned out to be half the price of the Jatco “automatic”. Torque converter automatic transmissions from a Japanese company are installed in Grants and Kalina new, but this option is not suitable for Priora (why, it was stated above). The VAZ “robot” is designed simply: the MKP-2180 unit is supplemented with clutch and gear shift actuators, and even an input shaft speed sensor. All this is controlled by a separate electronic unit. The robotic box is assembled at AvtoVAZ itself, which is not surprising: only additional components are exported from Germany.
Both low cost and ease of operation of the transmission are the main “advantages” available to owners of cars with a VAZ manual transmission.
Note that the “AMT-2182” box discussed here is maintenance-free. Transmission fluid, for example, does not need to be changed during the entire period of operation!
There is a widespread opinion: a “robot” with a single clutch is an attribute of the past. Such gearboxes used to be characterized by jerks when changing gears, and most manufacturers switched to using double clutches. VAZ is often compared to the Ford company, and so, the American concern also uses a double clutch in its “robots”, and for quite a long time. AvtoVAZ needed to create a budget solution that was not inferior in its characteristics to more complex and expensive analogues. Journalists tried to find out what happened as a result during a test drive.
