Have you recovered from Steer by Wire yet? Hopefully, yes. Steer by Wire is new to cars but it has been used in aviation for years. In the case of the Tesla Cybertruck it has advantages over older mechanical systems and also has built-in redundancy. But, how about Brake by Wire?
According to the The Electric Viking it looks like it is on the way to at least one major auto maker. We don’t know who yet but it is likely one of the US big three. His video talks about how it works and goes on the address both safety considerations and advantages.
While this is a new concept the idea isn’t really new. Brakes on trailers have been electric for decades. The can take one of three forms:
- A “control lever” that the vehicle driver actuates to apply the trailer brakes
- An electric sensor that senses the brake pedal being depressed and sending an electric signal to the trailer brakes
- A system that senses the car/truck slowing down and sending an electrical signal to the trailer brakes
None of these systems are redundant but they have been in operation since at least the 1950s so it seems like we are ready for electric brakes on vehicles.
