A machine includes: an axle having wheels mounted to it; a brake system configured to provide service braking to the wheels; a brake pedal operatively connected to the brake system to provide a braking power to the wheels in proportion to the position of the brake pedal; a pedal sensor operatively connected to the brake pedal to sense the position of the brake pedal; a retarder system configured to selectively slow the wheels down; a speed sensor operatively connected to the machine to detect a speed associated with the machine; a controller operatively connected to the speed sensor, brake pedal position sensor, and retarder system wherein the controller is configured to operate the retarder system based on signals received from the speed sensor and brake pedal position sensor. A method for providing an indication to an operator may also be included.

A rollover predictor judgment device for a combination vehicle includes a lateral acceleration sensor, a yaw rate sensor, an articulate angle sensor, and a judgment device in a form of a retarder controller. The judgment device judges that the combination vehicle is in a rollover predictor status when a first lateral acceleration calculated based on a detection value of the lateral acceleration sensor is a first threshold or more or when a second lateral acceleration calculated based on a detection value of the yaw rate sensor and a detection value of the articulate angle sensor is a second threshold or more.

A rollover predictor judgment device (30) for a combination vehicle (1) includes a lateral acceleration sensor (26), a yaw rate sensor (27), an articulate angle sensor (23), and a judgment device in a form of a retarder controller (32). The judgment device judges that the combination vehicle is in a rollover predictor status when a first lateral acceleration calculated based on a detection value of the lateral acceleration sensor (26) is a first threshold or more or when a second lateral acceleration calculated based on a detection value of the yaw rate sensor (27) and a detection value of the articulate angle sensor (23) is a second threshold or more.

A machine includes: an axle having wheels mounted to it; a brake system configured to provide service braking to the wheels; a brake pedal operatively connected to the brake system to provide a braking power to the wheels in proportion to the position of the brake pedal; a pedal sensor operatively connected to the brake pedal to sense the position of the brake pedal; a retarder system configured to selectively slow the wheels down; a speed sensor operatively connected to the machine to detect a speed associated with the machine; a controller operatively connected to the speed sensor, brake pedal position sensor, and retarder system wherein the controller is configured to operate the retarder system based on signals received from the speed sensor and brake pedal position sensor. A method for providing an indication to an operator may also be included.

A method for determining a continuous braking power for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, the method having the steps: determining an ambient temperature; determining a speed, wherein the speed is representative of the speed of the vehicle, in particular the commercial vehicle; determining a thermal emission per unit time of a friction braking device on the basis of the ambient temperature and the speed; and determining the continuous braking power of the friction braking device on the basis of the thermal emission per unit time.

A method of diagnosing a speed brake fault, where the method includes receiving a position signal from the at least one position sensor, determining a variation in the position signal relative to a reference position and diagnosing a fault in the speed brake system based on the variation.

A method of diagnosing a speed brake fault, where the method includes receiving a position signal from the at least one position sensor, determining a variation in the position signal relative to a reference position and diagnosing a fault in the speed brake system based on the variation.

Disclosed are a control method for a hydraulic retarder, and a control system. The method includes: acquiring a slope of a downhill road segment ahead of a vehicle; determining whether an absolute value of the slope is greater than an absolute value of a slope for which a braking force is not required; if so, predicting a required braking force and oil amount for the vehicle at a steady speed; predicting, according to the oil amount, oil filling time and a distance between the vehicle and an origin of the above road segment at the start time of oil filling of the hydraulic retarder; in the case that the actual distance of the vehicle is equal to a predicted distance, starting oil filling; and upon the vehicle reaching the origin of the road segment, starting braking. The present disclosure can lower wear of brake pads and reduce vehicle running costs.

Disclosed are a control method for a hydraulic retarder, and a control system. The method includes: acquiring a slope of a downhill road segment ahead of a vehicle; determining whether an absolute value of the slope is greater than an absolute value of a slope for which a braking force is not required; if so, predicting a required braking force and oil amount for the vehicle at a steady speed; predicting, according to the oil amount, oil filling time and a distance between the vehicle and an origin of the above road segment at the start time of oil filling of the hydraulic retarder; in the case that the actual distance of the vehicle is equal to a predicted distance, starting oil filling; and upon the vehicle reaching the origin of the road segment, starting braking. The present disclosure can lower wear of brake pads and reduce vehicle running costs.

A method and a system having a sensor for detecting legs of a person in a monitored zone having protected fields and for releasing a function of a vehicle, having a control and evaluation unit for evaluating the protected fields, wherein the sensor is configured to generate at least two protected fields, wherein a first protected field detects at least a part of a first leg of the person, wherein a second protected field detects at least a part of a second leg of the person, the control and evaluation unit is configured to determine whether at least a part of a first leg of the person was detected in the first protected field and at least a part of a second leg of the person was detected in the second protected field, and to transmit at least a release signal to the vehicle and thus to release the function when at least a part of a first leg of the person was detected in the first protected field and at least a part of a second leg of the person was detected in the second protected field, wherein the sensor is a time of flight sensor wherein at least one light transmitter transmits a light signal and at least one light receiver receives a signal reflected or remitted by the person, and the control and evaluation unit is configured to evaluate the received signal on the basis of the time of flight and to form object determination signals.