Predictive Powertrain Control for the new
Actros
Mercedes-Benz has a long tradition of automation - Mercedes-
PowerShift can now “see” thanks to Predictive Powertrain
Control!
Development of automation
Electro-pneumatic Telligent automated Mercedes PowerShift Mercedes PowerShift
gearshift gearshift (TSA) 3 + Predictive
(3 generations) Powertrain Control
Hardware Synchronised transmission Synchronised transmission Constant-mesh transmission Constant-mesh transmission
16-speed transmission 16-speed transmission 12-/16-speed transmission 12-speed transmission
Shift control unit on engine Shift control unit on engine Shift control unit on armrest Shift control unit steering-
tunnel or armrest tunnel or armrest Steering-column control column control
(from MPS 3) Tilt sensor
Tilt sensor (from MPS 2) GPS sensors
Benefits Semi-automatic Fully automatic Fully automatic Best fully automated
No engine overspeed No engine overspeed Faster gearshifts transmission: MPS 3 with
Driver assistance - MPS 1/2006: -15% than extremely fast shift times,
TSA rocking mode, crawler mode
- MPS 2/2008: -30% than Linked with GPS data and 3D
TSA roadmap for generating an
- MPS 3/2011: -50% than electronic horizon for
TSA predictive driving
Fast reverse gears
Continuously optimised
various transmission
modes
Year 1985-1995 1996-2005 2006-2011 08/2012
Marketing Mercedes-Benz Trucks 2
Predictive Powertrain Control makes fuel savings of up to 5%
possible with predictive gear selection and cruise control
speed.
Predictive Powertrain Control at a glance
2
1 4
Hill coasting
Steep hill 3 Hilltop 5
Valley floor Predictive EcoRoll
Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC)
- Generates an electronic horizon
- Combines digital 3D maps, GPS data & high-performance computer
- Coasts, accelerates AND shifts in predictive fashion
- Saves up to 5% fuel
- The driver perceives this as pleasant!
Marketing Mercedes-Benz Trucks 3
Predictive Powertrain Control is switched on and off on the
display – the adjustability of the lower hysteresis is new
compared with cruise control.
Settings of Predictive Powertrain Control at a glance
Activation Adjustment Active Event
Predictive Powertrain In addition to the upper The system is active as The green PPC logo
Control is switched on hysteresis (between +4 soon as the negative in the instrument
and off via the km/h and +15 km/h), hysteresis lights up cluster signals that PPC
instrument cluster the lower hysteresis in green (generates is intervening actively.
(systems menu)1) (between -10 km/h and an electronic horizon) This can be predictive
Operational from a 0 km/h) can be adjusted speed control or
speed of Recommended setting predictive gear
25 km/h – system is for optimal effect : selection
deactivated when Cruise control: 85 km/h
speed drops below 20 Upper hysteresis: +4
km/h km/h
Lower hysteresis: -5
Speed Speed
km/h
Marketing Mercedes-Benz Trucks 4
Like every excellent driver Predictive Powertrain Control
decides before coming to the hill whether shifting down is
sensible or not!
Details about the use of Predictive Powertrain Control: steep hill
Description
Downshifting prior to coming to the hill and/or increasing the
speed to avoid shifting on the hill (predictive wide open throttle)
Optimised shift sequence on the hill (fewer gearshifts and
greater gear steps)
Illustrative With Predictive
Powertrain Control
Without Predictive
Powertrain Control
Upper
hysteresis
1
Steep hill
Speed
Set speed
No or later
downshift Lower hysteresis
(Only with PPC)
Marketing Mercedes-Benz Trucks 5
Why accelerate if coasting is sufficient?
Details about the use of Predictive Powertrain Control: hill coasting
Description
The kinetic energy of the vehicle is determined permanently:
The vehicle recognises whether it can quickly attain the set
speed by coasting
EcoRoll can be used to reduce drag losses
Illustrative With Predictive
Powertrain Control
Without Predictive
Powertrain Control
Upper
2 hysteresis
Hill coasting
Speed
Set speed
Lower hysteresis
(Only with PPC)
Marketing Mercedes-Benz Trucks 6
Predictive Powertrain Control can utilise the vehicle’s
momentum for a short time.
Details about the use of Predictive Powertrain Control: valley floor
Description
Upper hysteresis is exceeded for a maximum of 20 seconds and by
a maximum of 1 km/h (not initiated if vehicle already travels faster
than 90 km/h) to pick up even more momentum
Illustrative With Predictive
Powertrain Control
Without Predictive
Powertrain Control
Upper
hysteresis
3
Valley floor
Speed
Set speed
Lower hysteresis
(Only with PPC)
Marketing Mercedes-Benz Trucks 7
The principle is called “coasting over crests to avoid braking on
the downhill stretch”.
Details about the use of Predictive Powertrain Control: crest
Description
The kinetic energy of the vehicle is determined permanently:
The vehicle recognises early on whether it can coast over the
crest at sufficient speed
EcoRoll can be used to reduce drag losses
Illustrative With Predictive
Powertrain Control
Without Predictive
Powertrain Control
Upper
hysteresis
4
Crest
Speed
Set speed
Lower hysteresis
(Only with PPC)
Marketing Mercedes-Benz Trucks 8
Predictive Powertrain Control is able to design the EcoRoll
phases optimally.
Details about the use of Predictive Powertrain Control: predictive EcoRoll
Description
More precise activation of the EcoRoll mode (significantly fewer
short EcoRolls, decidedly longer EcoRolls)
EcoRoll is also activated before crests and at the end of a hill
5 below the set speed
Predictive EcoRoll
EcoRoll is also terminated already below the braking speed
EcoRoll is not activated if the EcoRoll phase might be too short
Marketing Mercedes-Benz Trucks 9
Extremely wide long-distance transport coverage – Predictive
Powertrain Control covers 95% of 295,482 km of European
motorways and main roads.
Coverage of Predictive Powertrain Control at a glance
Coverage Coverage
Count Motorways Main roads Count Motorways Main roads
ry (category O) (category 1) ry (category O) (category 1)
AUT 98% of 97% of 1,618km HUN 98% of 2,210km 98% of 1,181km
4,078km
BEL 98% of 92% of 1,930km IRL 95% of 1,599km 98% of 2,099km
3,652km
BGR 81% of 874km 84% of 2,868km ITA 99% of 96% of 9,127km
14,060km
CHE 98% of 91% on 842km LTU 100% of 637km 97% of 1,414km
3,184km
CZE 88% of 90% of 3,451km LUX 98% of 301km 96% of 206km
1,479km
DEU 99% of 96% of LVA 0% of 0km 97% of 1,371km
26,919km 48,227km
DNK 100% of 98% of 179km NDL 99% of 5,347km 96% of 440km
2,523km
ESP 99% of 98% of NOR 96% of 729km 84% of 5,919km
9,150km 16,857km
EST 0% of 0km 99% of 569km POL 99% of 1,781km 97% of 10,422km
FIN 99% of 98% of 3,942km PRT 91% of 5,296km 86% of 83km
1,575km
FRA 99% of 94% of ROU 91% of 612km 95% of 6,392km
23,263km 30,546km
Marketing Mercedes-Benz Trucks 10
