The Driver's Crucial Question: "Are These Electronic Brakes More Reliable Than Traditional Ones?"
When it comes to innovation in the automotive sector, the biggest concern for those accustomed to robust hydraulic systems is reliability. The idea that braking is managed by software and sensors (as in BBW, EBB, EMB systems) can raise doubts.
When it comes to safety, the question is inevitable: can electronic brakes really be more reliable than traditional systems? With Sensify, Brembo has introduced a technology that not only answers this question but redefines the very concept of reliability.
Why Sensify is different
Sensify is not an incremental evolution, but a revolution. The system abandons traditional hydraulic logic to adopt an intelligent electronic architecture, governed by algorithms and sensors that independently control each wheel.
Reliability in every scenario
In track and road tests, Sensify has demonstrated its ability to maintain trajectory even in the most critical braking situations, such as in curves or on low-adhesion surfaces. The electronic management eliminates the typical "jerks" of ABS intervention, providing a sensation of total control and reducing the risk of skidding. Furthermore, the ability to automatically adapt to grip conditions increases overall safety.
Maintenance and sustainability
Another aspect that impacts reliability is the reduction of components subject to wear. Sensify eliminates the brake tube and minimizes the use of fluid, simplifying the architecture and decreasing the likelihood of mechanical failures. This translates into lower maintenance costs and greater system longevity, as well as a reduced environmental impact thanks to optimized braking and the possibility of integrating energy regeneration.
Updates and artificial intelligence
Reliability is not static: Sensify is designed to evolve. Thanks to connectivity and over-the-air updates, the software can be improved over time, integrating new features and optimizations. In this way, the system always remains aligned with the most advanced standards of safety and performance.
The Secret of Reliability: Total Redundancy
In traditional brakes, reliability is based on the integrity of the hydraulic circuit. A tube failure or fluid loss means a drastic reduction or loss of braking force. Sensify, being an intelligent and electronic system, addresses the risk with a new approach: hardware and software redundancy.
1. Multiple Circuits and Independence
- Unlike a traditional system with two hydraulic circuits that share components (such as the brake pump), Sensify is designed with redundant architectures at the level of critical components:
- Double Intelligence: The system has multiple control units that continuously monitor the system's status. If the main unit fails, the secondary (or backup) unit instantly takes over.
- Wheel-by-Wheel Braking: Since Sensify can control braking on each wheel individually, a potential issue with a single actuator (the component that brakes a wheel) does not compromise the effectiveness of the rest of the vehicle.
2. Continuous Monitoring (Active Self-Diagnosis)
A traditional system "waits" for the driver to notice a problem (spongy pedal, fluid loss).
Sensify is in constant self-diagnosis:
Predictive Tests: SENSIFY relies on software logic that can perform excellent real-time monitoring by continuously analyzing the performance of actuators, sensors, and the software itself. Sensify can predict a potential failure or performance degradation before it even occurs.
Immediate Intervention: In case of malfunction, Sensify does not just signal an error, but immediately compensates by redistributing the braking force among the functioning wheels, maintaining the maximum possible stopping capacity.
Overcoming the Limits of Previous Electronic Systems
The question of reliability is often linked to the early experiments of electronic systems (such as some early implementations of BBW) that required a complex and expensive hydraulic backup circuit.
The transition from traditional hydraulic systems to modern electronic braking systems, like Sensify, introduces significant advantages in terms of reliability and safety thanks to specific design features.
First of all, the absence of fluid in future EMB (Electro-Mechanical Brake) systems is a crucial factor: by eliminating hydraulic fluid, the intrinsic risks associated with its nature are nullified, such as component corrosion, liquid boiling (vapor lock) in case of extreme overheating, the formation of air bubbles that make the pedal spongy, and most importantly, the danger of leaks that compromise the entire braking system.
Furthermore, the electronic control of systems like EBB (Electro-Hydraulic Brake Booster) and iBS (Integrated Braking System) ensures unprecedented operational readiness. This digital control ensures that advanced safety systems, such as AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking), are always ready to intervene, with extremely rapid and predictable reaction times, surpassing the mechanical latency of hydraulic systems.
Finally, the integration with IBS/IBC (Integrated Brake Control) consolidates functions that were previously managed by separate modules (servo assistance, ABS, and stability control) into a single compact unit. This unification not only optimizes space and weight but significantly reduces the number of separate components and their connections, thus decreasing potential failure points and improving the overall integrity of the system.
Yes, next-generation electronic brakes like Sensify can be considered more reliable than traditional systems. Not only for their precision and speed of response, but also for their adaptability, reduction of critical components, and continuous evolution through software. It is a technology that transforms braking from a simple mechanical action to an intelligent ecosystem, opening a new era for road safety.