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Greater Safety Through New Brake Control Systems

New Developments from Bosch

Networking of active and passive safety systems with driver assistance systems 

forms the basis for new safety functions 

July 4, 2005

In 1995, Bosch was the first company in the world to begin series production of the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®). Since then, the leading automotive components supplier has developed a scalable range of products which allow further safety and convenience functions to be easily integrated into the ESP®. "All relevant additional functions can in future be implemented on the basis of a conventional hydraulic braking system", explains Klaus Meder, head of development in the Chassis Systems Division at Bosch on the occasion of the company's Automotive Press Briefing in Boxberg.
  
Just how significantly ESP® increases vehicle stability is shown by several new studies by automobile manufacturers and international institutions. They demonstrate that the use of ESP® could prevent around half of the serious single car accidents. "Currently almost two-thirds of new cars in Germany are fitted with ESP®. Across Europe, an average of just under 40 percent of cars are fitted with the system", according to Meder. 
  
The basic function of ESP® remains that of increasing vehicle stability in situations where there is a risk of skidding. In 2005, Bosch began series production of a hardware variant, ESP® plus, in which a finer control of braking pressure makes it easy to implement extra safety and convenience functions. For example, if the driver suddenly takes his foot off the accelerator, "Electronic Brake Prefill" interprets this as a reaction to a dangerous traffic situation and as a precaution moves the brake pads into light contact with the brake discs. If the driver then really has to brake hard, maximum braking effect will be produced more quickly. ESP® plus also increases safety when driving in the rain: without the driver being aware of it, "Brake Disc Wiping" repeatedly brings the brake pads into light contact with the discs to remove the film of moisture on them. When the driver hits the brakes, there is no waste of precious time before full braking takes effect. Other new functions are also already making life easier for drivers of some cars: "Hill Hold Control", for example, prevents the car from rolling backwards unintentionally on a hill start. 
  
In 2006 Bosch will begin production of a third version, which will be fitted at first to cars of the executive and luxury classes. In ESP® premium, an even more powerful and efficient hydraulic system allows very rapid and at the same time especially quiet and imperceptible control interventions, through which all further appropriate extra functions can be realized. Thus ESP® premium can expand Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) into ACC "Stop & Go", for example, by using gentle braking actions, or perform an automatic emergency braking maneuver in situations where an accident can no longer be avoided. 
  
Further development of ESP® is strongly focused on networking it with other vehicle systems. A first application - the Active Steering system produced by Bosch-Joint-Venture ZF Lenksysteme GmbH - is already being fitted as standard by BMW. In this system, ESP® triggers steering interventions to enhance vehicle stability. In the first half of 2005, a steering assistance was also fitted to DaimlerChrysler's A- and B-class cars. In its CAPS (Combined Active and Passive Safety) project, Bosch is developing even more advanced safety and convenience functions by networking the braking systems with the passive safety systems and driver assistance systems. One focus of the development engineers lies on linking ESP® with information on the vehicle's environment coming from vehicle-mounted sensors. 

Source: Bosch