Optimal gearing

An automatic clutch, an electro-hydraulic clutch control and a whole new gearchanging strategy – these are the main ingredients in the new Scania Opticruise system.

Enlarge photo
Photo: Carl-Erik Andersson

When reaching a hill, the new Scania Opticruise changes down early to maintain a higher speed up the hill.

TEXT: CONNY HETTING

Scania Opticruise, one of the first automated gear-changing systems in the market, has been refined in many steps over the years. Now development of the system is taking a new turn. After four years of development, the concept of a standard mechanical gearbox remains, but the system has been extensively modified, with improved mechanical components and entirely new software.

The new automatic clutch is based on a market innovation – an entirely new electro-hydraulic clutch actuator that allows precision clutch control.

“The new electro-hydraulic clutch actuator provides better control than a pneumatic system during starts or manoeuvring as well as on slippery surfaces,” says Mikael Hanson, head of Transmission Software. “It also speeds up gearchanges.”

Optimising fuel consumption

The new Scania Opticruise takes into account not only factors like engine revs, vehicle acceleration, speed and load, but also the slope of the road, driving style and other external factors in order to calculate the most suitable gear for the situation. When reaching a hill, the new system changes down early to maintain a higher speed up the hill. All this has been designed to improve vehicle driveability and simplify work for the driver.

“It enables the driver to concentrate on the surrounding traffic while achieving optimal fuel consumption,” Hanson says.

According to Hanson, the fundamental principle behind Scania Opticruise is that the engine should work at the revs that are the most efficient in every situation, making the most out of every drop of fuel.

The development team behind the new Opticruise has had 15 field-test trucks at its disposal, used by customers in real-life situations, as well as its own trucks. At first there was some reluctance among drivers, since the functionality of the clutch control system was a bit rough around the edges. “Perhaps we started the field tests a bit early,” Hanson says.

Better operating economy

Among other advantages of the new system, the automatic clutch means less clutch wear as well as better operating economy, thanks to new functions that provide optimal fuel consumption. The new gearchanging strategy includes using low revs wherever possible, thereby saving fuel without compromising driveability.

When Scania launched Opticruise in the mid-1990s, it was the first automated gearchanging system in the market.
 
“The new Scania Opticruise is a major step forward with a focus on supporting the driver to do an even better job. Scania has achieved a new level of driveability that should please most professional drivers,” Hanson says.

3 questions to...

img-Launch-Opticruise-Side-bar-small.jpg 

Mikael Hanson, head of Transmission Software.

What are you most proud of in the new Scania Opticruise?

“That it turned out being as good as we had hoped, putting Scania among the top automated gearchanging systems in the market, and that we did it in the time allotted. We had ambitious goals, and we achieved them.” 
 

What was the hardest part of the development process?

“Many things, but perhaps mainly the new electrohydraulic clutch actuator, which is based on completely new technology. Thanks to a dedicated project team, we resolved this and all the other challenges.”

How does the new Scania Opticruise affect a driver’s working day?

“We now offer a fully automated system, alongside a system that retains the clutch pedal. Drivers and operators can choose according to preference. The new Scania Opticruise has greatly enhanced functionality. The driver never needs to think about gear selection, but can focus on the road. The new gearchanging strategy provides greater comfort, thanks to its underlying logic, which is so much smarter than what was used previously.”

10 innovations

  1. Scania Opticruise is now available with an automatic clutch.
  2. A new, smarter gearchanging strategy that provides good driveability in both economy and power modes. 
  3. High precision manoeuvring with the automatic clutch. 
  4. Extra high precision and smooth accelerator response in manoeuvring mode. 
  5. Automatic starting gear selection, aided by an inclination sensor. 
  6. The option of activating the power take-off outside the cab. 
  7. Compatibility with Adaptive Cruise Control and Scania Ecocruise, allowing smoother interaction between speed control and gear selection systems. 
  8. Smart gear selection when approaching intersections and roundabouts. 
  9. Improved interaction between the Scania Retarder and Scania Opticruise, which avoids excessive downchanging during retarder braking. 
  10. Interaction between Scania Opticruise and Hill-hold, which makes starting on an incline very easy.