Optimal Torque Control of the Launching Process with AMT Clutch for Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
The authors presented heavy duty vehicle launch control from standstill. There are a few points that need to be discussed/clarified.
1) The presented model includes inertias and damping coefficients (assuming that these model friction of the drivertrain). What about the elasticity of the drivertrain that is the major contributor to jerk?
2) Line 151 - time t2 should be time t5? Also, in Figure 2b2 and 2b1 can you provide zoom in of t1 t2 and t3. it is hard to distinguish differences. Additionally, green lines defining different points shouldnt' be done like mechanical engineering annotations, but rather as diagonal arrows pointing to the exact part of the plot.
3) Pneumatic actuator has certain time lag and dead-time in its response - why is that not included in the model?
4) What controller is used to control the position of the cylinder?
5) What is "f" in equation 12? Equation 12 uses "a" for acceleration, whereas equation 11 uses ua_dot -> what is the difference between a and ua_dot?
6) It is not at all clear how is FNN linked to the rules imposed before ? Are you comparing regular fuzzy logic and FNN? THis should be clarified
7) It is not at all clear how is FNN linked to optimization. The authors mention that FNN sets weight, but this is completely unclear and not discussed! Just saying "The weight coefficients Q1, Q2, and Q3 are adjusted according to the vehicle launching 456 recognition results (LSR) in Section 3.3." is not enough. Please move the Figure 15 before ismulation results and discuss it with the previous sentence directly. Even then, it is still not fully clear how do you recognize the conditions from FNN at the start and optimize the whoel trajectory? Or is the trajectory continously adapted and optimized every 10/100 ms based on the current recognized state?
Comments on the Quality of English Language
Line 430 is missing verbs?!: "When the vehicle in the heavy load or hill climbing launch, the driver to increase the 430 throttle pedal opening, so that the engine part of the launching reserve power to play an 431 important role in ensuring power output." .>when the vehicle is in the.. , the drvier HAS to ...
"clutch slave speed ωcf, c" -> the clutch slip speed. What is "slave speed"?
Lines 491 and 492 should be deleted since they are from instructions to the author??
Author Response
We feel great thanks for your professional review work on our article. According to your nice suggestions, we have made extensive corrections to our previous manuscript, the detailed corrections are in the Word file.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
This paper analyses the automatic engagement process of automated mechanical transmission clutches and proposes an optimal control of the clutch torque for launching heavy-duty vehicles. A fuzzy neural network-based system for recognizing vehicle launching states is established to identify the driver’s intentions, and the minimum value principle method is employed to balance the multiple control objectives. The results demonstrate that applying the optimization strategy improves the jerk, friction work, and slipping time of heavy vehicles during the launching process across various driver intentions, vehicle masses, and road gradient conditions. The research method is novel and unique, and has certain academic significance, but there are still some parts that need to be revised.
1. The explanation of the diagram of the simulation results is not detailed enough
2. In the validation study, the specific method, process and parameter setting are not explained in detail;
3. The literature review in the introduction is too brief, and the number of articles mentioned is too small to describe the current research situation and problems encountered in the field.
4. The related study on the torque vector control method “J. Liang, F. Wang et al., A Hierarchical Control of Independently Driven Electric Vehicles Considering Handling Stability and Energy Conservation, IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Vehicles, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 738-751, Jan. 2024,” can be cited.
5. There are some grammar issues that need to be corrected.
Comments on the Quality of English Language
Minor editing of English language required
Author Response
We feel great thanks for your professional review work on our article. According to your nice suggestions, we have made extensive corrections to our previous manuscript, the detailed corrections are in the Word file.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
The authors still didn't address the drivetrain elasticity and it's impact on driveline oscillations and thus jerk. Using torque control input derivative to approximate jerk is not painting the full picture for simulation results (this method may be used in control system design, but not in simulation).
Other than that, the authors covered all points adequately.
Author Response
We sincerely appreciate your attentive reading of the response manuscript and your objective, comprehensive appraisal of it. We sincerely apologize that the last response did not address the question about drivetrain elasticity and its effect on oscillations and jerk well. We have responded carefully to this question and detailed corrections are in the Word file.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
The authors have made a commendable effort to address most of my concerns within the available space. The revised version of the manuscript is enhanced noticeably. I am satisfied with the amendments made. I would recommend this paper to be published.
Comments on the Quality of English Language
Minor editing of English language required
Author Response
We sincerely appreciate your attentive reading of the response manuscript. It is an honor to receive your approval of our work.We would like to wish you a happy work and life.
