Electronic Brake-force Distribution

Basic Description

Like antilock braking systems (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) systems are designed to help prevent wheel lockup when braking. When a vehicle brakes, the braking force necessary to stop a wheel from turning may not be the same at each wheel. Factors such as the amount of weight over each wheel, external forces on the vehicle and the condition of the road surface determine the maximum braking force that can be applied to each wheel before it starts to skid. EBD systems monitor the forces applied to each wheel and distribute the braking force accordingly.

Brake force is adjusted using the same hydraulic modulator used by the antilock braking system. However, unlike ABS, EBD systems act before a skid is detected. If the EBD system notices that a wheel is in danger of slipping, it applies less force to that wheel while maintaining (or, if necessary, increasing) the force applied to the other wheels.

Sensors

Wheel speed sensor, weight sensor, brake-force sensor

Actuators

Hydraulic modulator, master cylinder, wheel brake cylinders

Data Communications

High-speed CAN bus

Manufacturers

Bendix, Bosch, Continental, Mitsubishi, Wabco

For More Information

[1] Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Wikipedia.

[2] How Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) Works, YouTube, Sep. 14, 2011.

[3] Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), YouTube, July 6, 2014.