Brake-by-Wire Technology for Low-Speed and Autonomous Vehicles — A New Frontier in LSV Safety

Введение

In recent years, Brake-by-Wire Technology for Low-Speed and Autonomous Vehicles has emerged as a pivotal enabler for smarter, safer mobility. As low-speed vehicles (LSVs) and autonomous transport platforms proliferate in urban, campus, and industrial settings, traditional mechanical braking systems face limitations in control precision, integration, and energy recuperation. This article unpacks how Brake-by-Wire (BBW) systems are revolutionizing braking in these contexts, highlights key technological pathways, examines challenges, and forecasts how this evolution may reshape future mobility.

I. Why Brake-by-Wire Matters in Low-Speed & Autonomous Mobility

1.1 The Need for Enhanced Braking Control

With the growth of autonomous and semi-autonomous низкоскоростные транспортные средства, braking demands shift. In complex environments—tight turns, variable road surfaces, pedestrian zones—traditional mechanical or hydraulic brakes may lag in responsiveness. The Brake-by-Wire Technology for Low-Speed and Autonomous Vehicles paradigm offers finer, faster, and more adaptive control, critical to safety and ride comfort.

1.2 Integration with Autonomy & Electronic Chassis

Modern ЛСВ increasingly integrate electronic control across steering, throttle, and suspension. Brake-by-Wire seamlessly aligns with this architecture: an electronic braking interface (rather than mechanical linkage) allows the brake system to coordinate with autonomous driving logic, stability control, anti-lock systems (ABS), and regenerative braking. The reviewed LSV-BBW paper underscores this convergence as a pathway to more efficient and holistic control.

1.3 Energy Efficiency & Regenerative Synergies

One advantage of BBW is more precise pressure modulation per wheel, which supports regenerative braking more effectively. By coordinating friction and regeneration, the Brake-by-Wire Technology for Low-Speed and Autonomous Vehicles framework maximizes energy recovery without compromising braking performance. In low-speed, stop-and-go scenarios common to LSV usage, this synergy contributes to efficiency gains.

II. Core Architectures: Electro-Hydraulic vs Electro-Mechanical

2.1 Electro-Hydraulic Brake (EHB) Systems

The EHB architecture is a hybrid: it replaces the vacuum booster in a traditional hydraulic braking chain with an electronic actuator, while retaining hydraulic lines. This makes EHB a transitional solution. According to the review, EHB remains the dominant BBW variant in LSV research due to compatibility with existing hydraulic infrastructure and safer fallback modes.

Typical EHB systems include components such as a pedal simulator valve, control ECU, hydraulic actuator, and safety/fail-safe valves. Control strategies often adopt PID, fuzzy logic, or disturbance rejection controllers to precisely regulate wheel pressure. The review points out that EHB designs must carefully manage pressure dynamics, solenoid valve actuation, and redundant safety paths.

2.2 Electro-Mechanical Brake (EMB) Systems

In contrast, EMB systems eliminate hydraulic fluid lines entirely, using motor-driven actuators (e.g. screw, gear, or electromagnetic systems) to directly apply brake force. As the BBW review elaborates, EMB promises reduced system weight, modular design, elimination of fluid leakage, and tighter integration with electronic control systems.

However, EMB faces obstacles: ensuring sufficient clamping force, reliability, response time, redundancy in case of failure, and regulatory acceptance. The review notes that EMB in LSV applications is not yet mature commercially but is a key direction for future brake innovation.

2.3 Fault Tolerance, Redundancy, and Control Strategies

Whether EHB or EMB, safety and reliability are paramount. The review dedicates a section to fault diagnosis, redundancy (e.g. dual or triple redundant modules), sensor failure mitigation, and fallback modes. Robust control strategies (sliding modes, adaptive observers, fault-tolerant control) are essential to make BBW viable for real-world LSV deployment.

III. Challenges, Limitations & Research Gaps

3.1 Safety Certification and Regulatory Hurdles

One major barrier is that EMB/BBW systems must satisfy stringent safety certifications, especially for road usage. Regulators are cautious about fully replacing mechanical or hydraulic linkages. For ЛСВ and autonomous shuttles to adopt Brake-by-Wire Technology for Low-Speed and Autonomous Vehicles, extensive validation, redundancy, and fail-safe modes are required.

3.2 Reliability Under Environmental Stress & Aging

Electronic components, wiring, actuators, and sensors must endure temperature shifts, moisture, wear, and potential faults. Ensuring consistent braking performance over the life cycle is nontrivial. The reviewed paper emphasizes the need for robust fault-tolerant algorithms, hardware redundancy, and self-diagnosis strategies.

3.3 Cost, Complexity & Integration

Compared to conventional brakes, BBW systems introduce additional cost (actuators, sensors, ECUs) and software complexity. Integrating with existing vehicle platforms, scaling for volume, and managing maintenance or repair will be challenges, especially in the cost-sensitive LSV segment.

IV. Outlook & Future Directions

4.1 Toward Fully Autonomous Braking Systems

As autonomous driving matures, braking must transition from human actuation to fully electronic control. Brake-by-Wire Technology for Low-Speed and Autonomous Vehicles will likely become standard in geo-fenced autonomous shuttles, campus transporters, and smart mobility pods.

4.2 EMB Commercialization and Hybrid Architectures

EMB systems will gradually mature, starting in controlled environments or closed circuits. Hybrid approaches combining EHB fallback for safety with EMB main actuation may serve as transitional architectures.

4.3 AI-Driven Adaptive Braking

Future BBW systems may incorporate machine learning or model predictive control to adapt braking behavior to road conditions, vehicle load, and driver profiles. This elevates the role of electronic control in autonomous vehicle braking systems.

4.4 Broader Adoption in LSV & Micro-Mobility Sectors

As cost, safety certification, and user confidence improve, BBW may spread into various micro-mobility forms (neighborhood EVs, autonomous carts, last-mile shuttles). The review suggests that BBW is a linchpin for intelligent, safe, and efficient LSV ecosystems.

Вывод

At present, numerous enterprises, including the Тайруи Группа, are vigorously developing new energy low-speed vehicles.The Brake-by-Wire Technology for Low-Speed and Autonomous Vehicles field represents a pivotal evolution in vehicle control systems, especially for the emerging class of ЛСВ and autonomous micro-mobility platforms. By enhancing control precision, enabling stronger integration with autonomy, and improving energy recovery, BBW stands to transform braking from a mechanical function into an orchestrated electronic subsystem. Challenges remain—in safety, cost, reliability—but ongoing research, richer fault-tolerant designs, and regulatory alignment could bring this vision into real-world deployment. As the mobility landscape shifts, the vehicles that adopt advanced BBW systems may stand at the vanguard of the next generation of smart, efficient transport.