Apex Control Innovations — Transmission Control

This wiki documents the Apex Control Innovations devices for running modern OEM automatic and dual-clutch transmissions — ZF 8HP, DCT/DKG, PDK, DQ250, and DQ500 — outside of their original vehicle environment: engine swaps, custom builds, restomods, and motorsport applications.

Two devices cover two different approaches, and both are set up with the same configuration software.

Choose your device

Which one do I need? If you want to keep the OEM transmission control unit and integrate it into a non-original vehicle, use the IOcan gateway. If you want to run the transmission without its OEM TCU, under full custom control, use the standalone transmission controller.

Standalone transmission controller

A complete transmission controller that replaces the OEM TCU and drives the transmission directly — solenoids, sensors, and speed signals. Supports ZF 8HP, DKG, PDK, DQ250, and DQ500.

• Device pinout — connector layout, inputs, outputs, and supplies

IOcan CAN gateway

A CAN gateway that keeps the OEM transmission control unit in place and recreates the OEM CAN environment it expects. Supports ZF 8HP, DKG, and PDK.

• What is IOcan? — overview, capabilities, and intended use
• Getting Started with IOcan — first power-up, the five core connections, and initial validation
• Hardware & Electrical Specifications — supply, CAN interfaces, inputs, outputs, connector, and power management
• Wiring Concepts — system architecture, vehicle/transmission CAN separation, and power sequencing
• Device pinout — main connector and terminal descriptions
• Per-transmission guides: ZF 8HP, BMW DKG, Porsche PDK — supported variants, wiring, and configuration
• BMW F30 chassis guide — worked vehicle integration example

Configuration software

Both devices are configured with the same software and share the same configuration model: inputs, controllers, CAN presets, and outputs.

• Configuration Concepts — how signals flow through the device
• The signal path — signals are assembled from generic parts rather than picked from a fixed list of slots, which is what makes an unusual engine-and-gearbox combination workable
• Configuring Inputs — every input type
• Configuring Outputs — every output type
• Ecumaster ADU with EMU Classic or Black — displaying transmission data on an Ecumaster ADU dash

Advisories

• Advisories — conditions found in the field, what causes them, and whether a fix has shipped

Owners of earlier hardware

• GCU documentation and support — support status, service, wiring and firmware for GCU hardware

Release notes

• Release Notes — firmware requirements, changes, and deprecation notices per release

Compatibility

• Supported Vehicles & Modules — engines, transmissions, shifters, dashboards, keypads, and aftermarket ECUs supported over CAN
• Supported transmissions: ZF 8HP · BMW DKG · Porsche PDK — current transmission support and status