A device and a method for decelerating a vehicle having a front-loading device has a brake system and sensors for measuring the mass and the center of gravity of a load. An electronic evaluation and control unit evaluates the sensor data to determine a maximum brake deceleration in forward travel, in order to prevent the vehicle tilting about the front axle. At least one sensor of the brake system generates a sensor signal in an emergency braking situation for triggering an emergency braking operation, in which the delimitation or reduction of the effective brake pressure in the wheel brake cylinders of the front axle is canceled and, with the exception of an ABS control operation, the full brake pressure is introduced in a controlled manner by way of a primary brake valve into the wheel brake cylinders of the front axle.

Systems and methods are disclosed for estimating slipperiness of a road surface. This estimate may be obtained using an image sensor mounted on a vehicle. The estimated road slipperiness may be utilized when calculating a risk index for the road, or for an area including the road. If a predetermined threshold for slipperiness is exceeded, corrective actions may be taken. For instance, warnings may be generated to human drivers that are in control of driving vehicle, and autonomous vehicles may automatically adjust vehicle speed based upon road slipperiness detected.

A trailer braking system comprises a vehicles having a continuously-variable hydrostatic transmission, and a trailer coupled for towing by the vehicle and having an associated braking system operable from the vehicle. The vehicle transmission includes a first pressure sensor arranged to measure a fluid pressure at a predetermined point within the transmission, and a rotation sensor arranged to determine a rotation direction of a predetermined component in a driveline of the vehicle. A control unit coupled to the first pressure sensor and rotation sensor determines when a PUSH condition exists based on a particular combination of pressure and rotational direction, and operates the trailer brakes in response. One or more back-up systems to confirm the existence of a PUSH condition may be provided.

An electropneumatic control module for an electronically controllable pneumatic brake system for a vehicle combination with a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle includes a pneumatic reservoir input, which is connectable to a compressed-air reservoir, a trailer control unit, which has a trailer control valve unit with one or more electropneumatic valves, a trailer brake pressure port and a trailer supply pressure port, an immobilizing brake unit, which has a spring-type actuator port for a spring-type actuator for a tractor vehicle and an immobilizing brake valve unit with one or more electropneumatic valves, and an electronic control unit for controlling the trailer control valve unit and the immobilizing brake valve unit. The trailer control unit has a first relay valve, which has a relay valve working input connected to the reservoir input, a relay valve output connected to the trailer brake pressure port, and a relay valve ventilation output.

An electropneumatic trailer control-valve unit for a vehicle, including a storage port for coupling a store of compressed air for a trailer, a brake-pressure port, a brake-pressure pilot-control unit configured to output at least one first control pressure, a brake-pressure main-valve unit configured to receive the at least one first control pressure and to output a brake pressure at a brake-pressure port, a trailer operating-pressure port configured to receive a trailer operating pressure, and a pneumatically switched trailer protection valve with a protection-valve control port which is connected to the trailer operating-pressure port for receiving the trailer operating pressure, wherein the trailer protection valve switches from a first switching position into a second switching position if the trailer operating pressure exceeds a predetermined first threshold value, and wherein the trailer operating pressure is a supply control pressure.

A brake system for a utility vehicle includes: an electronic brake controller unit, a pneumatic parking brake circuit with at least one spring energy cylinder, a parking brake valve to control a parking brake pressure in the parking brake circuit, and at least one 3/3-way valve arranged in a pneumatic line of the parking brake circuit between the parking brake valve and at least one of the spring energy cylinders. The 3/3-way valve is actuable by the electronic brake control unit, and is configured to ventilate the pneumatic line between the 3/3-way valve and at least one of the spring energy cylinders to a predefined pressure, so as to cause the at least one of the spring energy cylinders to allow a brake, which is assigned to the spring energy cylinder, to pass into engagement.

An electronically controllable pneumatic brake system includes a service brake control module for controlling a first and a second service brake circuit, and a trailer control module with a trailer brake pressure connection point for connection to a trailer brake pressure coupling head. The trailer control module outputs a trailer brake pressure via the trailer brake pressure connection point. Upon a malfunction of the first and/or second service brake circuit, the first service brake pressure is controlled depending on the trailer brake pressure; and the second service brake pressure is controlled depending on the trailer brake pressure specified by the trailer control module; and/or the parking brake pressure is controlled directly or depending on the trailer brake pressure specified by the trailer control module. Upon a malfunction of the trailer control module, the trailer brake pressure is controlled depending on the first service brake pressure.

A trailer brake module includes a brake output driver configured to be connected to a power supply, a flyback diode, and a MOSFET arranged between the power supply and the flyback diode. The MOSFET is in series with the flyback diode.

Systems and methods are disclosed for estimating slipperiness of a road surface. This estimate may be obtained using an image sensor mounted on a vehicle. The estimated road slipperiness may be utilized when calculating a risk index for the road, or for an area including the road. If a predetermined threshold for slipperiness is exceeded, corrective actions may be taken. For instance, warnings may be generated to human drivers that are in control of driving vehicle, and autonomous vehicles may automatically adjust vehicle speed based upon road slipperiness detected.

A brake system for a transportation vehicle, a transportation vehicle having a brake system, and a method for operating a brake system. The brake system has two control units, wherein the respective control unit actuates a respective brake circuit of the brake system, which includes two of four service brakes and one of two electric parking brakes of the brake system. In response to a defect in one of the brake circuits, the control unit of the other brake circuit actuates the respective brakes of the other brake circuit, to carry out trailer combination stabilization of a trailer combination having the transportation vehicle and a trailer coupled to the transportation vehicle; and/or to steer the transportation vehicle in the case of a defect in a steering system of the transportation vehicle based on a steering command of a control device for autonomous driving.