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Mercedes introduces a new brake by wire system
in its new SL + E series of cars. A single computer
does all the braking for you and in fact there
is no mechanical linkage between your foot and those
brake calipers.
Great Idea or Great Danger?
The good:
This type of brake system works very well with ESP
as the electronic is in charge of all braking actions
in fact ESP is integrated into it.
The brakes can react quicker to human inputs and they
will always be able to brake to their maximum performance.
This type of brake system does away with the disadvantage
of very large brake discs, ie. they work well when cold
as the computer will appy huge force to get its braking
performance. The brake feel is artificial and thus
constant with hot or cold brakes.
On rainy days SBC will apply the brakes
very lightly once in a while to keep
the brakes warm and to keep the pads dry
giving the system better response time
during wet and cold weather.
(We all know that water will not accumulate on a rotating disc...)
The Bad:
There is no mechanical linkage between your foot and
the brakes, a total electronic failure will leave
your car without working brakes.
According to US law, civilan electronics may not
generate any interference but must be subject to
interference from other sources. Thus by definition
Mercedes may not use chips that are EMP or electromagnetic
interference resistant. This cause that would be a military
technology. Thus... happy riding on days of with strong
solar activity... OK there is a shielded box...
SBC will hide away the actual state of the brakes, ie they
will brake to their max until they reach the point of total
failure. You won't feel that fading... until your brakes
are fried, cause SBC will brake as hard as it can to maintain
brake performance...
There is only one SBC computer, there is no redundant system.
Opinion:
Another technology no one needs that costs lots of
money and that creates more problems that it solves.
In fact a potential killer that should not have
received road use approval.
Regards,
Coolknight
posted by 212.77.3...
, Fri, 22 Mar 2002 14:55:52
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