| A vehicle undergoing longitudinal or lateral accelerations experiences load transfer, dynamically changing the load carried by each tire. Conventional braking systems are designed only to work adequately over a large range of conditions, but ignore the dynamic state of the tires. Fortunately, new developments in braking system hardware include electro-hydraulic and electromechanical brakes, which give designers full control over the application of braking pressures.; The purpose of this research is to investigate possible advantages of active brake pressure control. By estimating the tractive ability of the tires as a function of measurable vehicle conditions, brake pressure can be applied in proportions appropriate for the current dynamic state of the vehicle. The result is increased braking ability before the onset of tire lockup (or ABS activation). Stopping distances are improved for all braking situations, and vehicle stability is improved during extreme obstacle avoidance maneuvers. |
