Cory Gunther
Premium Italian brake manufacturer Brembo recently announced what it hopes will be the next generation of automotive braking technology. It’s called ‘Sensify,’ an AI-powered brake system that does away with traditional brake fluids and hydraulics in favor of a brake-by-wire electronic system with several potential benefits.
Brembo says this all-new brake system offers more flexibility, precise control as it can apply pressure to each wheel individually, not to mention less maintenance, repairs, and moving parts. It almost sounds too good to be true.
According to the company, Sensify brakes “take you from a system that for decades has applied the same braking pressure on all four wheels at the same time to one that independently can manage the braking forces on each wheel.” Artificial intelligence, real-time data, and more can adapt to the driver’s needs or road conditions for optimal braking performance.
From the sounds of things, this could be the future of brakes in EVs, not to mention the company is testing the Sensify system in Tesla vehicles already. Plus, it could easily improve braking in ICE vehicles, alongside EVs.
As we all know, incorporating AI into vehicles is becoming more common by the day, especially with electric vehicles (EVs) from Tesla, self-driving modes, and more. Plus, AI algorithms control maps, drive or brake-assist options, or even lane-assist features already. However, in the future, Brembo wants to turn all that attention to a hugely important safety aspect of any vehicle — the brakes.
The Sensify system removes nearly all the hydraulic components from the brake system, plus there’s no longer a physical connection between the pedal and disk or drum brakes. Instead, the system reportedly uses predictive algorithms, sensors, and data tools that give it a “digital brain” capable of controlling each wheel independently with electromechanical controls. However, it’s worth noting the demo image shown above still has hydraulic front brakes and electronic systems for the rear.
Modern brakes such as anti-lock brake systems (ABS) haven’t changed drastically since arriving in the 1970s, and Brembo thinks having more information and knowledge about each wheel in real-time can give it an advantage when it comes to braking. Simply knowing how much pressure to apply to each wheel and when could be a game-changer. And if this cuts down on maintenance costs at the same time, that’s just a bonus.
In closing, the company states this technology should be ready for the automotive market sometime in 2024 and has already partnered with an unnamed manufacturer. That said, Brembo already works closely with GM on several vehicles, so that’s our first guess.
via The Verge
