An overall weight (m.sub.tot) of a rail vehicle (100) is estimated by obtaining a power signal (P.sub.m) indicating an amount of power produced by a set of drive units (101, 102, 103) to accelerate the rail vehicle (100) between first and second speeds (v.sub.1; v.sub.2). Then, the following steps are executed: (a) obtaining wheel speed signals indicating respective rotational speeds (.sub.1, .sub.2, .sub.3) of the wheel axles in the driving subset of the wheel axles (131, 132, 133); (b) producing an acceleration control signal (A1) to a specific drive unit (101) in the set of drive units such that this drive unit applies a gradually increasing traction force to a specific wheel axle (131) of the wheel axles in the driving subset of the wheel axles (131, 132, 133); (c) repeatedly determining, during production of the acceleration control signal (A1), an absolute difference (|.sub.1.sub.a|) between the rotational speed of the specific wheel axle (131) and an average rotational speed (.sub.a) of the wheel axles (132, 133) in the driving subset of the wheel axles except the specific wheel axle; and in response to the absolute difference (|.sub.1.sub.a|) exceeding a threshold value; (d) determining a parameter (.sub.m) reflecting a friction coefficient (.sub.e) between a pair of wheels (121a, 121b) on the specific wheel axle (131) and a pair of rails (191, 192) upon which the rail vehicle (100) travels. Steps (a) to (c) are repeated for each of the wheel axles in the driving subset of the wheel axles, and based thereon, a respective fraction (m.sub.1, m.sub.2, m.sub.3) of the overall weight (m.sub.tot) carried by each of wheel axles in the driving subset of the wheel axles (131, 132, 133) is estimated.

An electronic mechanical brake comprising: a pedal sensor for sensing a stepping force corresponding to a driver's intention to brake; a center controller for issuing a braking command corresponding to the stepping force and for securing braking redundancy based on a first controller and a second controller; a plurality of wheel controllers for receiving a braking command from the center controller and generating a braking force based on the received braking command using electronic mechanical brakes respectively disposed on a right front wheel, a left front wheel, a right rear wheel, and a left rear wheel; a plurality of wheel speed sensors respectively connected to the plurality of wheel controllers to measure the speed of the right front wheel, the left front wheel, the right rear wheel, and the left rear wheel; and a communications unit including a first communication line for transmitting and receiving signals between the center controller and the plurality of wheel controllers and a second communication line for securing communication redundancy with the first communication line, wherein the plurality of wheel controllers perform backup braking when an error occurs in either or both of the center controller and the communications unit.

An electronic mechanical brake comprising: a pedal sensor for sensing a stepping force corresponding to a driver's intention to brake; a center controller for issuing a braking command corresponding to the stepping force and for securing braking redundancy based on a first controller and a second controller; a plurality of wheel controllers for receiving a braking command from the center controller and generating a braking force based on the received braking command using electronic mechanical brakes respectively disposed on a right front wheel, a left front wheel, a right rear wheel, and a left rear wheel; a plurality of wheel speed sensors respectively connected to the plurality of wheel controllers to measure the speed of the right front wheel, the left front wheel, the right rear wheel, and the left rear wheel; and a communications unit including a first communication line for transmitting and receiving signals between the center controller and the plurality of wheel controllers and a second communication line for securing communication redundancy with the first communication line, wherein the plurality of wheel controllers perform backup braking when an error occurs in either or both of the center controller and the communications unit.

A method for determining a trailer brake magnitude for a trailer brake system of a trailer being towed by a vehicle includes determining connection of a trailer to a vehicle, determining at least one trailer parameter relating to a size, shape or a weight of the trailer, and determining a trailer braking magnitude as a function of the at least one trailer parameter.

A method for determining an optimum or maximum-permissible speed of a rail vehicle, dependent on a thermal state of at least one friction element of at least one friction brake of includes detecting at least one parameter which characterizes a current operating situation of the rail vehicle, determining or estimating a first influence on the thermal state of the at least one friction element based on the current operating situation of the rail vehicle, determining or estimating a second influence on the thermal state of the at least one friction element, determining the optimum or maximum-permissible speed of the rail vehicle in such a way that an allowed friction-element maximum temperature of the at least one friction element is not exceeded, or the allowed friction-element maximum temperature of the at least one friction element is substantially obtained, at the at least one friction element under the first or second influence.