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BNCE Pusad

Ritesh
Bhusari

[SENSOTRONIC BRAKE
CONTROL (SBC)]
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Sensotronic Brake Control

1. INTRODUCTION

Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) is an innovative

electronically controlled system which Mercedes-Benz will fit on future

passenger car models.

Following on from innovations like ABS ASR. ESP and

Brake Assist, this systems regarded as another important milestone to

enhance driving safety. With Sensotronic Brake control electric impulses

are used to pass the driver's braking commands onto a microcomputer

which processes various sensor signals simultaneously and, depending

on the particular driving situation, calculates the optimum brake pressure

for each wheel. As a result, SBC offers even greater active safety than

conventional brake systems when braking in a corner or on a slippery

surface. A high-pressure reservoir and electronically controllable valves

ensure that maximum brake pressure is available much sooner.

Moreover, the system offers innovative additional functions to reduce

the driver’s workload. These include Traffic Jam Assist, which brakes

the vehicle automatically in stop-and-go traffic once the driver takes his

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Sensotronic Brake Control

or her foot off the accelerator. The Soft-Stop function, another first

allows particularly soft and smooth stopping in town traffic.

SBC forms the conventional hydraulic brake into an

even more powerful mechatronic system. Its microcomputer is integrated

into the car's data network and processes information from various

electronic control units. In this way, electric impulses and sensor signals

can be instantly converted into braking commands providing a marked

safety and comfort gain for drivers.

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Sensotronic Brake Control

2. COMPONENTS OF SBC

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Sensotronic Brake Control

2. BRAKE PEDAL: ELECTRONICS

INSTEAD OF VACUUM

When a driver hits the brake pedal, this moves a piston rod

which is linked to the brake booster and the master brake cylinder.

Depending on the pedal force, the master brake cylinder builds up the

appropriate amount of pressure. In the brake lines which in a tried and

tested interaction of mechanics. and hydraulics then presses the brake

pads against the Brake discs via the wheel cylinder.

In the Sensotronic brake Control, by contrast, a large

number of mechanical components are simply replaced by electronics.

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Sensotronic Brake Control

The brake booster will not be needed in future either. Instead sensors

gauge the pressure inside the master brake cylinder as well as the speed

with which the brake pedal is operated and pass these data to the SBC

computer in the form of electric impulses.

To provide the driver with the familiar brake feel, engineers

have developed a special simulator which is linked to the tandem master

cylinder and which moves the pedal using spring force and hydraulics.

In other words: during braking the actuation unit is completely

disconnect from the rest of the system and serves the sole purpose of

recording any given, brake command. Only in the event of a major fault

or power failure inside the 12V vehicle battery does SBC automatically

use the services of the tandem master cylinder and instantly establishes a

direct hydraulic link between the brake pedal and the front, wheel brakes

in order to decelerate car safely.

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Sensotronic Brake Control

6. CONTROL UNIT: PRESSURE MODULATORS

FOR EACH WHEEL

The central control unit under the bonnet is the centerpiece

of the electro hydraulic brake. In addition to the data relating to the

brake pedal actuation, the SBC computer also receives the sensor signals

from the other electronic assistance systems. For example, the anti-lock

braking system (ABS) provides Information about wheel speed, while

ESP makes available the data from its steering angle, turning rate and

transverse acceleration sensors. The transmission control unit finally

uses the data highway to communicate the current driving range. The

result of these highly complex calculations is rapid brake commands

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Sensotronic Brake Control

which ensure optimum deceleration and driving stability as appropriate

to the particular driving scenario. What makes the system even more

sophisticated is the fact that SBC calculates the brake force separately

for each wheel.

The high-pressure reservoir contains the brake fluid which

enters the system at a pressure of between 140 and 160 bar. The SBC

computer regulates this pressure and also controls the electric pump

which is connected to the reservoir. This ensures much shorter response

times than on conventional brake systems. Yet another advantage: full

braking power is available even when the engine is switched off.

The hydraulic unit mainly comprises four so-called wheel

pressure modulators. They mete out the brake pressure as required and

pass it onto the brakes. In this way it is possible to meet the

microcomputer's stipulations while each wheel is slowed down

separately in the interests of driving stability and optimum deceleration.

These processes are monitored by pressure sensors inside the wheel

pressure modulators.

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Sensotronic Brake Control

4. EMERGENCY BRAKING: STOPPING DISTANCE

REDUCED BY UP TO THREE PERCENT.

The main performance characteristics of Sensotronic Brake

Control include the extremely high dynamics during pressure build-up

and the exact monitoring of driver and vehicle behavior using

sophisticated sensors. In case of, emergency braking SBC already

recognizes the driver’s rapid movement from the accelerator onto the

brake pedal as a clue to an imminent emergency stop and responds

automatically. With the aid of the high-pressure reservoir, the system

increases the pressure inside the brake lines and instantly presses the

pads onto the brake discs so that they can get a tight grip the moment the

driver steps onto the brake pedal. As a result of this so-called prefilling

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of the brake system, the stopping distance of an SBC- equipped sports

car from a speed of 120kmph is cut by around three percent as compared

to a car featuring conventional braking technology.

Thanks to electro hydraulic back-up, the performance of

Brake Assist is also improved further. If this system issues the command

for an automatic emergency stop, the quick pressure build-up and the

automatic prefilling of the wheel brakes leads to a shorter braking

distance.

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5. DRIVING STABILITY: PRECISE BRAKING

IMPULSES FOR PERFECT ESP PERFORMANCE.

It is not just in emergency braking that Sensotronic Brake

Control proves it worth, but also in other critical situations such as when

there is a risk of swerving. Under such conditions, the system interacts

with the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) which keeps the vehicle

safely on course through precise braking impulses at all wheels and/or

by reducing engine speed. SBC once again offers the benefits of greater

dynamics and precision: thanks to the even faster and more accurate

braking impulses from the SBC high-pressure reservoir. ESP is able to

stabilize early and comfortably a vehicle which is about to about to

break away.

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6. COMFORT: NO PEDAL VIBRATIONS

DURING ABS OPERATION

Both the separation of the SBC pedal from the rest v! He

brake system and the proportional pressure control using

mechatronics serve to increase brake comfort particularly during

sharp deceleration or when the anti-lock braking system is operational.

The usual vibration of the brake pedal when ABS pets in does not occur

which Mercedes engineers have found, is not only a comfort feature of

the new system but also offers measurable safety benefits. Their

research in Daimler Chrysler's Berlin driving simulator has revealed that

almost two thirds of all drivers are startled when ABS pulsation sets in:

they do not increase the brake force further and are even prone to taking

their foot off the brake pedal for a short while, thereby lengthening the

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Sensotronic Brake Control

stopping distance of their vehicle In the driving simulator by an average

of 2.10 meters during ABS braking from 60kmph on snow-covered road

surface.

7. BRAKING IN CORNERS: GREATER SAFETY

THANKS TO VARIABLE BRAKE FORCE

DISTRIBUTION.

Even when braking in corners, SBC offers more safety than

a conventional brake system. This is where the variable and targeted

brake force distribution is of particular advantage to actively influence

the car's compliance steer.

While conventional brake systems always mete out the

brake pressure equally to the inner and outer wheels, SBC offers the

possibility of assessing brake forces in a way appropriate to the situation.

Hence the system will automatically increase the brake pressure at the

outer wheels because the higher vertical forces also allow them to

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transfer greater brake forces. At the same time the brake forces at the

inner wheels are reduced to provide the higher cornering forces needed

to stay on course. The result is more stable braking behavior along with

optimum deceleration values.

The system is programmed in such a way that, when

slowing down from a high speed, the larger part of the brake force

continues to act oh the front axle. SBC is capable of adapting to the

prevailing situation. At low speeds of or during partial braking, the

system automatically increases the brake force share at the rear axle to

improve brake system response and achieve even wear and tear of the

brake pads.

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8. SBC ADD-ON FUNCTIONS: SUPPORT SYSTEMS

TO REDUCE DRIVER STRAIN

Sensotronic Brake Control offers additional advantages in

everyday driving situations when slowing down ahead of traffic lights,

in-the wet, in traffic jams or uphill starts.

The Soft-Stop function of the SBC software ensures

particularly gentle and smooth stopping which provides significant

comfort benefits particularly around town when you need to slow down

frequently for traffic lights.

On a wet road surface the system metes out short brake

impulses at regular intervals to ensure that the water film on the brake

discs dries off and that SBC can always operate with optimum

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effectiveness. This automatic dry-braking function is activated at regular

intervals when the car's windscreen wipers are running. The driver does

not even notice these ultra-precise brake impulses.

The Sensotronic Brake Control also incorporates a Traffic

Jam Assist function, which is activated using the cruise control stalk

while the car is stationary. The benefit is that during stop-and-go traffic

drivers only need to use the accelerator pedal; once they take their foot

off the accelerator, SBC slows down the car to standstill at a steady rate

of deceleration. The Traffic Jam Assist facility can remain operational

up to 60kmph and switches off automatically at higher speeds.

On hills or steep drives the Sensotronic Brake Control

Drive-Away Assist prevents the car from rolling backwards or forwards:

stepping onto the brake pedal quickly but sharply is all it takes to

activate the brake. If the driver accelerates, the Drive-Away Assist

releases the brake and allows the car to drive off smoothly.

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9. THE FUTURE: SBC PAVING THE WAY FOR

AUTOMATIC GUIDANCE SYSTEMS

The advent of electronics in brake technology opens up new

and promising opportunities and not only in the discipliner of safety and

comfort. Thanks to SBC they have also moved a considerable wav closer

to the realization of their long-term objective, namely to be able to

automatically guide the cars of the future along the roads with the aid of

video cameras, proximity radar and advanced telematics. For such

autonomous vehicle guidance, the exports need a computer- controlled

brake system which automatically acts on the instructions of an

electronic autopilot and stop the car safely.

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REFERENCE

1) Technology Update

- Overdrive January 2001

2) www.google.com

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