The idea for a hydraulic shifter with automatic clutching ability comes from the principle that the University of Alberta Formula Racing team is a student-run group racing against other students at international collegiate competitions. We understand that driver training plays a major role in the points outcome of dynamic events at competition. The car is scheduled to be completed well before competition so that team members can gain as much seat time as possible, however, it is recognized that no matter what build timeline the team has, we will never be able to get a driver with 1000+ hours of seat time. To combat this undeniable fact, this hydraulic shifter was designed with the intent to create an easy and confidence-inspiring car for new drivers.

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A hydraulic shift mechanism combines the clutch and shift actuation into one single action eliminating the need for closed-loop processing from the driver. The simplified control interface reduces the driver's physical and cognitive workloads improving the overall performance of both novice and expert drivers.

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This shifter design is not my design and I cannot take credit for it, however, I can take credit for the manufacturing and bringing the design to life.