An electronic parking brake system including: an electronic parking brake provided to generate a clamping force on a wheel of a vehicle; and a controller configured to estimate a weight of the vehicle based on a wheel pressure and a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle at a time of service braking during driving, determine a clamping force required for parking based on the estimated weight of the vehicle during a parking operation, and operate the electronic parking brake to generate the determined clamping force.

A road condition detection device, to be coupled to the wheel of a vehicle, is provided with: an electrostatic charge variation sensor, to provide a charge variation signal indicative of an electrostatic charge variation associated with the rotation of the wheel; and a processing unit, coupled to the electrostatic charge variation sensor to receive the charge variation signal and furthermore for receiving a rotation speed signal indicative of the rotation speed of the wheel. In particular, the processing unit jointly processes the rotation speed signal and the charge variation signal to detect a road condition of a wet road condition and a dry road condition.

In a method for estimating the locking pressure in the brake system of a multi-axle vehicle during a dynamic axle-load transfer, the locking pressure is ascertained during the axle-load transfer and the wheel normal force is ascertained at two points in time during the axle-load transfer and the locking pressure is ascertained therefrom at the later point in time.

In a method for estimating the locking pressure in the brake system of a multi-axle vehicle during a dynamic axle-load transfer, the locking pressure is ascertained during the axle-load transfer and the wheel normal force is ascertained at two points in time during the axle-load transfer and the locking pressure is ascertained therefrom at the later point in time.

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.

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.

Apparatus for estimating a grip factor of at least one wheel comprising: a control unit configured to process a current slip angle of said wheel; a storage unit, within which, in a consultation table, a plurality of grip curves correlating a plurality of values of a steering parameter comprising the rack force with a plurality of values of the slip angle are recorded; along a same curve, the value of the grip factor remains unchanged; wherein the control unit is configured to cyclically estimate at least one raw value of the grip factor of said at least one wheel based on the position of a current condition within the consultation table, as a function of the current slip angle and of the current rack force.

An electric disc brake system for a trailer. The brake system employs a caliper assembly that is attached to the trailer with floating fasteners, wherein the caliper assembly straddles an axle mounted rotor positioning an inner and outer brake pad adjacent to the rotor. A screw drive assembly is attached to the caliper. The assembly includes an electric motor coupled to a piston by a threaded shaft. The screw drive assembly converts rotation of the electric motor into linear motion to movement of the piston, wherein the inner and outer brake pads engage the rotor based upon the amount of pressure applied by the piston. A controller reacts to the pressure applied to a brake pedal to cause the electric motor to rotate in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

An electric disc brake system for a trailer. The brake system employs a caliper assembly that is attached to the trailer with floating fasteners, wherein the caliper assembly straddles an axle mounted rotor positioning an inner and outer brake pad adjacent to the rotor. A screw drive assembly is attached to the caliper. The assembly includes an electric motor coupled to a piston by a threaded shaft. The screw drive assembly converts rotation of the electric motor into linear motion to movement of the piston, wherein the inner and outer brake pads engage the rotor based upon the amount of pressure applied by the piston. A controller reacts to the pressure applied to a brake pedal to cause the electric motor to rotate in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

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.