an electronically mechanized control method for regulating the engagement rate or stroke time of a fluid operated torque transmitting device , wherein the flow rate is controlled with a flow control device having a low flow state and a high flow state . the shift is initiated with the flow control device in the high flow state . after a variable delay time , the flow control valve is activated to the low flow state to complete the shift . the delay time is scheduled as an open - loop function of various system parameters to achieve the optimum amount of overlap between the on - coming and off - going torque transmitting devices . an adaptive learning control superimposed on the open - loop control trims the open - loop schedule to compensate for changes in system parameters or tolerance variations which affect the stroke time .