Hyundai and Kia present co-developed ICT Connected Shift System

KUALA LUMPUR: Hyundai in partnership with Kia has developed a new automatic transmission called the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Connected Shift System for combustion vehicles that is said to be the world’s first. It is powered by artificial intelligence and uses 40 major patents.

While both companies plan to use it in their future cars, the ICT Connected Shift System is capable of selecting a suitable ratio by scanning the road ahead and map data. The transmission control unit (TCU) gets the input from the car’s 3D navigation which is then interpreted based on the recorded pre-empt turns, gradient and elevation changes, traffic conditions and road works.

The forward camera collects lane data, while the radars analyse neighbourhood detecting the speed and distance of the subject vehicle with respect to the nearby vehicles. After which the role of artificial intelligence comes in the picture. The AR-powered system then predicts “optimal shift scenario for real-time driving situations” and manages gears accordingly. It is said that the system would help yield better fuel efficiency and improve comfort.

When tested on a curved road, the ICT Connected Shift System was able to reduce the frequency of shifts by 43 per cent (approx) and brake operation by nearly 11 per cent. While entering a highway the system switched to Sport driving mode automatically. Moreover, upon the accelerator pedal release, the brakes were automatically applied after determining downhill slopes, speed bumps and speed limit change.

Along with this, neutral gear was automatically selected for improved fuel economy after radars detected a relatively long slow down and no speed irregularities. Not just this, both companies are reportedly working on an ICT Connected Shift System that interacts with traffic signals via LTE or 5G communication and also identifies driver’s tendencies.

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