Over the past 15 years or so, there has been considerable interest within the automobile industry in dry electrically powered brake systems. This has been driven by a variety of different reasons, including the inherent compatibility with electronic higher level vehicle systems, a desire to remove hydraulic components and so simplify assembly and maintenance, improved passive safety (pedal), more flexibility in pedal design and feel, and simpler tuning of systems by means of software. While there is still no production system on the mass market, the trend toward more electric vehicles will only strengthen the motivation to introduce them.
In this chapter, we explain some of the benefits of dry brake‐by‐wire (
BBW
) systems in the context of current developments. We then introduce a selection of alternative approaches to the problem, both in terms of brake actuator construction and vehicle concepts. Next, we address the challenges facing any supplier or
OEM
who intends to introduce such a system. These help explain why there is still no such system on the market, despite many optimistic forecasts at the turn of the millennium. Some of the issues addressed during the development of the Siemens
VDO
electronic wedge brake (
EWB
) are then briefly discussed. Finally, we summarize the situation in some brief conclusions.
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