The "Pedal Feel" in the Electronic Era: More Responsive or Softer?
With the advancement of electric vehicles (EV) and autonomous driving, braking systems are moving away from pure mechanics in favor of electronic solutions, namely Brake by Wire, which can be implemented with various architectures such as EBB and EMB.
This transition, although offering enormous advantages in terms of control and ADAS integration, raises a fundamental question for every driver: "Is the pedal feel different? Is it more responsive or softer?"
With Sensify, Brembo has redefined the concept of pedal feedback, transforming it into a customizable and intelligent experience.
What is Sensify and Why It Is Not Just a BBW
Sensify represents the most advanced evolution of the integrated braking concept, combining the principles of Brake-by-Wire with artificial intelligence and predictive management. It is not just a system that replaces hydraulic components; it is a platform that completely redefines the braking experience.
SENSIFY: the perfect synthesis between Brembo's expertise in designing cutting-edge braking systems and the integration of software and mechatronics.
Unlike traditional braking systems that apply the same pressure to all four wheels, SENSIFY continuously controls and supervises the braking action on each wheel independently, quickly and more precisely. This ensures maximum driving pleasure for the driver, comfort for the passengers, and safety for everyone, on board and on the road.
- Hybrid Integration (BBW, EBB, EMB): Sensify uses an optimized combination of electronic elements and intelligent actuators. The system's intelligence electronically manages the braking force on each wheel independently.
- The Key: Software and Sensors. The heart of Sensify is the advanced software, which processes data from numerous sensors to optimize pressure in real-time. This is crucial for managing regenerative braking (essential for EVs), and mechanical braking, ensuring a smooth transition that the driver almost does not perceive.
From mechanical to electronic: what really changes
In traditional systems, the pedal feel is linked to hydraulic pressure and vibrations generated by mechanical components. With Sensify, the pedal becomes an e-pedal: it no longer transmits hydraulic force but electrical signals to the system, which independently regulates braking on each wheel. This means: immediate response, without delays due to systems that rely on fluid pressure, and a more linear and controlled sensation.
Sensify turns this challenge into an advantage:
It is not just "Reactive" or "Soft," it is Adaptive: Sensify does not impose a single sensation.
Thanks to its electronic brain, it can calibrate the pedal response curve based on various factors:
- Driving Mode: It can offer a more responsive and immediate pedal for a clear control feeling (similar to high-performance traditional systems).
- Road Conditions: It can make the pedal more progressive and controllable on low-grip surfaces (wet or ice), where too abrupt braking is dangerous.
Driver Preference: The system has the potential to allow vehicle manufacturers to offer customization of pedal feel, just like steering or throttle response is personalized.
The result is an experience that is more consistent and optimal in every condition, offering the safety of Brembo's ABS/EBD systems with the ability to recover energy. The driver gets a braking sensation that is always extremely precise, eliminating the variability and inaccuracies typical of less advanced hydraulic systems.
Sensify uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to learn driving style and adapt pedal response to driver preferences.
Do you want a more responsive and sporty braking? Or a softer and more comfortable feedback for urban driving? The system stores the settings and reproduces them every time, ensuring total customization.
Comfort and absence of vibrations
One of the most appreciated advantages is the elimination of the typical ABS vibrations. Sensify offers a stable pedal, without jerks or noises, even during emergency braking. The result is a smoother and more relaxing experience, which reduces stress and increases driving pleasure.
Intelligent feedback
One of the possibilities of SENSIFY could be to provide the driver with information about the braking dynamics in progress, for example through a dashboard light that informs the driver when the system has entered ABS. This could be useful information for the driver in critical situations where it is good to know that the wheels are slipping, such as night driving on an unlit road, where braking begins on dry asphalt that then suddenly becomes icy.
Beyond the Pedal Feel: Additional Advantages for the Driver
The intelligence of Sensify not only enhances the pedal feel but also brings the expected benefits of modern electronic systems:
- Optimized Performance: Sensify ideally distributes the braking force on each wheel (evolved EBD), reducing stopping distances more effectively than a traditional system.
- Reduced Maintenance: In electric vehicles, the massive use of regenerative braking (intelligently managed by the system) drastically reduces the wear of pads and discs. The architecture of SENSIFY amplifies this effect.
- Maximum ADAS Safety: The advanced electronic architecture ensures that systems like AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) can intervene with minimal reaction times and maximum precision, regardless of the pressure exerted by the driver on the pedal.
The pedal feel with Sensify is not simply “different”: it is better, because it becomes responsive when needed, soft when desired, and above all customizable. It is the perfect synthesis of technology, safety, and driving pleasure: a step forward compared to traditional systems and the definitive answer to the question everyone asks about "by-wire" brakes.
SENSIFY changes the paradigms of braking. Combining artificial intelligence and software with mechatronic solutions, it offers an unprecedented level of control and the best driving experience.
SENSIFY redefines driving pleasure, ensuring total safety and comfort, offering peace of mind. Moreover, it is natively designed for electric and autonomous vehicles.
This highly flexible ecosystem is ready for the mobility of the future!