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Future on-board vehicle control systems can be further improved through new types of mechatronic systems. In particular, these systems'' capacities for interaction enhance safety, comfort and economic viability. The Automotive Engineering Department (fzd) of Darmstadt University of Technology is engaged in research of the mechatronic vehicle corner, which consists of three subsystems: sensor tire, electrically actuated wheel brake and smart suspension. By intercommunication of these three systems, the brake controller receives direct, fast and permanent information about dynamic events in the tire contact area provided by the tire sensor as valuable control input. This allows to control operation conditions of each wheel brake. The information provided by the tire sensor for example helps to distinguish between straightline driving and cornering as well as to determine μ-split conditions.

With the view to many new opportunities with actuation devices of oncoming Brake-by-wire-systems, the active driving safety could be increased by means of vehicle braking dynamics on the one hand and by means of optimization of the driving conditions during braking on the other hand. This is a strong focus of the brake-pedal and Brake-by-wire research at the Department of Automotive Engineering at Darmstadt University of Technology (fzd) and the ‘Sonderforschungsbereich’ IMES (Mechatronics for Mechanical Engineering) of the ‘Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft’ (DFG) with task B6. To study the brake pedal feel, a new research vehicle focusing on an adjustable brake pedal has been developed. In view of the wide range of influences on brake pedal feel, this car allows systematic research of the brake system's man/machine interface.

A new approach to cope with the disadvantages of the self energizing drum brake by means of mechatronics is described. The introduced system allows for control of the brake factor of a duplex drum brake from C*=2 to C*=6. Variations of the friction factor μ due to fading will be compensated to a certain extent using an electronically controlled mechanism adjusting the support base of the leading shoes of the brake. The required application forces are up to seven times lower compared to a disk brake at equal braking torques. Theory, design and measurements of a prototype brake with mechatronically controlled self energizing are the topics of this paper. The described research work was carried out at the Department of Automotive Engineering (fzd) of the University of Darmstadt.

The Smart Booster is a new vacuum booster, which allows - in addition to the today's standard function remote controlled active braking without or in superposition to the driver. This active braking is proportionally controllable and extremly silent under operation. This new functionality allows a redefination of todays brake system layout by combining the Smart Booster with a standard ABS hydraulic control unit to create a new system configuration which is unique in hardware, independent of the amount of function potential requested. This solution is inexpensive and is able to cope with the brake requirements of today and those which results from new emerging systems like: traction control full range stability regulation deceleration control intelligent cruise control hill holder all other control systems which require remote brake intervention.