From drum brakes to disc brakes, to auxiliary braking systems such as ABS and EBS, new braking technologies are emerging and electro-mechanical brakes are slowly starting to appear on the horizon.
Electromechanical Brake is short for Electromechanical Brake, which was first used in aircraft, such as the F-15 fighter jets, but later developed into vehicles. The most important feature of EMB is that it eliminates the need for air storage cylinders, brake chambers, hydraulic lines and other components, and realises a completely electronic signal transmission between the pedal signal and the actuator.
As we all know, traditional air brakes use air as the braking medium, which is pressurised to push the brake pads, and if the air pressure is insufficient, braking power cannot be obtained. In the case of oil brakes, the braking medium is brake fluid. When the brake pedal is depressed, the piston and sealed bowl of the brake master cylinder are pushed and the fluid is then transferred to the piston of each brake sub-pump via a push rod, thus pushing the brake pads to work.
When the brake pedal is depressed, the controller transmits an electronic signal to the motor and the actuator works, pushing the brake pads through its own rotation to decelerate or stop the vehicle.
With fewer components and a more simplified structure, this brings many advantages:
1. Easier installation and maintenance.
With fewer system components, the design composition is simpler and the installation space requirements are more relaxed, making it less difficult for vehicle owners to set up the system and simpler for subsequent maintenance and servicing.
2. The failure rate of the system is reduced.
The greater the number of parts, the higher the failure rate, after all, any problem with one part will trigger the whole body, from this point of view, the EMB system failure rate is also relatively smaller.
3. The weight of the vehicle is reduced.
The configuration is streamlined and the weight is reduced, which not only provides more compliant loading space for the vehicle, but also improves fuel economy and reduces engine load, making the fuel car more fuel efficient and the new energy vehicle has a longer electric storage range.
4. Braking efficiency is improved.
This point is mainly from the perspective of energy conversion and transmission. Whether it is an air brake or an oil brake, from the time the owner steps on the brake pedal to the time the brake pads are driven to brake, it needs to go through multiple system components and undergo multiple energy conversions and transmissions, the more times the energy is converted and transmitted, the higher the loss will be, affecting the final braking efficiency. Braking distance and optimal control of wheel slip.
5. Easy compatibility with other systems.
The EMB system's various commands are transmitted via electrical signals, which can be easily incorporated into the controller's local network bus, making it compatible with ABS systems, ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) and other electronic control functions.
In theory, the EMB system has a number of advantages, as it also eliminates the use of fluids and other media, which is more in line with environmental trends in the long run. However, from an objective point of view, EMB is not yet in mass production, but is more at the stage of research and development and concept, and there is still a lack of market data to support how effective it is in practice. In addition, the EMB system is not without its drawbacks, in terms of technology alone, there are many questions: 1:
1. The EMB system consumes a lot of electrical energy when it is in operation.
2. Although the failure rate of EMB systems is theoretically low, if there is a problem with the wiring or power supply, how should the braking system ensure braking performance?
3、Heat dissipation efficiency is a test for braking systems, and the EMB is no exception. When the vehicle is driven at high speed for a long time, or when there are long descents and other road conditions that require frequent braking, how will the heat generated by the EMB system be dissipated? And how to ensure its thermal stability?
4. Although the EMB system has a simple structure, there are inevitably some sophisticated electronic circuits, if the vehicle is used in complex working conditions, or often in and out of the working environment with magnetic fields, can the EMB system be free from interference?
5. The cost of the sensors, chips and circuits required in the EMB system is much higher than that of the existing gas and oil circuits, and in the current freight market environment, how many vehicle owners are willing to pay for them?
This shows that although the EMB system is high-sounding and seems to have advantages and prospects that traditional braking systems cannot match, it is still a paper exercise when it comes to practical applications, and I am afraid that we have to wait for actual feedback from the market.
