4th
January 2012 - Bendix
Celebrates 1 Million ABS-6 Braking Systems on the Road
ABS-6 Family Includes ABS,
Automatic Traction Control, and Full-Stability Systems
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC,
the North American leader in the development and manufacture of
leading-edge active safety and brake system technology, recently marked
a major milestone with delivery of its millionth Bendix® ABS-6 braking
system. The Bendix ABS-6 braking system is installed on Class 6, 7, and
8 airbrake tractor-trailers, trucks, motorcoaches, and specialty
heavy-duty vehicles.
Introduced in late 2004, the Bendix ABS-6
family includes three types of braking systems: the standard Bendix
ABS-6 antilock braking system, the premium system with Bendix® Smart ATC™
(automatic traction control), and Bendix® ABS-6 Advanced with ESP®
Electronic Stability Program (Bendix® ESP®). Bendix ABS-6 braking
systems are available from most major truck manufacturers, including
International®, Kenworth, Mack, Peterbilt®, and Volvo; coach
manufacturers, such as Prevost®; and a variety of specialty vehicle
manufacturers.
“Reaching this milestone is a testament
to the capability of the technology that the Bendix and Knorr-Bremse
team developed,” said Kevin Romanchok, product line director for
electronics at Bendix. “The ABS-6 family has not only proven itself to
be the premier heavy-duty air-brake system, but it also enabled the age
of robust active safety with electronic activation of the brakes with
Bendix ABS-6 Advanced with ESP (Bendix ESP) full-stability technology.”
The Bendix ABS-6 braking system consists
of wheel speed sensors, ABS pressure modulator valves, and an electronic
control unit (ECU). The ABS-6 ECU monitors individual wheel-turning
motion during braking and adjusts or modulates the brake pressure at the
wheel end. When excessive wheel slip or wheel lock-up is detected, the
ECU activates the pressure modulator valves to automatically reduce the
brake pressure at one or more of the wheel ends.
By these actions, the ABS system helps to
maintain the vehicle’s lateral stability and steering ability during
heavy brake applications, as well as during braking on slippery
surfaces. In addition to the ABS function, ABS-6 premium systems provide
an automatic traction control feature. Bendix® ABS-6 Premium with Bendix®
Smart ATC™ can improve vehicle traction during acceleration and lateral
stability while accelerating through curves. The system employs engine
torque limiting, where the ECU communicates with the engine’s
controller, and/or differential braking, where individual wheel brake
applications are used to improve vehicle traction.
Bendix® ABS-6 Advanced with ESP®
Electronic Stability Program is an ABS-based fullstability system. The
system includes automatic traction control and enhances vehicle
stability both by reducing engine throttle and applying vehicle braking,
based on actual vehicle dynamics. Unlike roll-only systems,
full-stability technology addresses both roll and directional stability.
Full-stability systems recognize and mitigate conditions that could lead
to rollover and loss-of-control situations sooner on dry surfaces and in
a wider range of driving and road conditions, including snowy,
ice-covered, and slippery surfaces. As the market leader, Bendix was the
first North American brake system manufacturer to make a full-stability
solution widely available for the commercial vehicle market.
“The advancement of ABS systems to
deliver stability control is a significant event,” said Fred Andersky,
Bendix director of government relations. “Full-stability control is the
foundation of innovations, such as radar-based adaptive cruise control
with braking and collision mitigation braking. Understanding the value
of full stability, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is
considering rulemaking for ESP/ESC on tractors and motorcoaches.”
Bendix advanced safety technologies do
not replace the need for good drivers, safe driving practices, and
ongoing driver training. Visit www.bendix.com for more information.
About Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems
LLC
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a
member of the Knorr-Bremse Group, develops and supplies leading-edge
active safety technologies, energy management solutions, air brake
charging, and control systems and components under the Bendix® brand
name for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, and
other commercial vehicles throughout North America. An industry pioneer,
employing more than 2,700 people, Bendix is driven to deliver solutions
for improved vehicle performance, safety, and overall operating cost.
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems is headquartered in Elyria, Ohio, with
manufacturing plants in Acuña, Mexico; Bowling Green, Ky.; and
Huntington, Ind.
Source:
Bendix CV Systems Press Release