Development of an Electronic Braking System Applied to Commercial Vehicles Focused on Improvement of Braking Pedal Feeling and Braking Performance

Abstract

Embedded electronics are becoming increasingly common in solutions developed for commercial vehicles. Technological advancements enabled the development of electronic solutions that provide braking systems with functions to improve safety, comfort, performance, durability, and cost-effectiveness of wear components. In this context, the electronic braking system, EBS, has become increasingly present in the electronic architecture of commercial vehicles. Considering the functions that can be developed within the electronic braking system, the following stand out: the pedal characterization, which potentially improves comfort and increases the sensation of safety during braking; and the brake force distribution, which can be adjusted to ensure that the vehicle achieves an optimal balance between performance and friction material’s durability. This work consists of the presentation of tests and results of technical activities required to develop an EBS for medium-heavy and heavy-duty vehicles designed for a variety of applications. EBS was developed to prioritize comfort and safety, with optimized braking sensation and performance without compromising the durability of the wear components of the vehicles. Activities started with the experimental determination of the brake factor—a value that transmits to EBS the braking capacity of the truck. In sequence, brake pedal setup was performed based on data extracted from a vehicle equipped with a mechanical braking system and validated by subjective assessment. In addition, the braking force distribution definition started by establishing its target: friction material’s wear equalization or braking performance; went through balancing the mechanical braking power per axle; and finished being validated by data obtained from vehicles in use. Results showed that the implementation of electronic braking systems in commercial vehicles brought several benefits to the product, in particular, improvement of braking feeling when pressing the brake pedal, and in both braking performance and friction material’s durability, which resulted in a better balance between maintenance costs and technical advantages.