This summer Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems unveiled the features of its “advanced” antilock brake system (ABS) products, which it expects will become available from OEMs beginning late next year.
The new product line has been jointly engineered by Bendix and its German parent, Knorr-Bremse, and specifically tailored for the North American truck market.
The advanced ABS will serve as the platform to make two new stability systems available: the Bendix Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and the Bendix Roll Stability Program (RSP).
ESP will be recommended for all power units as it will “address the full range of driving conditions.” Bendix said ESP will be “especially critical for tractors pulling trailers with its ability to apply brakes to individual wheel ends… to counteract “trailer” push during maneuvers that may lead to loss of control or jackknifes on low to high friction surfaces.”
RSP, which Bendix says is a subset of ESP, will engage brakes on all axles “to reduce vehicle speed below the critical roll threshold during maneuvers such as exit ramps and obstacle avoidance on dry high friction surfaces.” The company says RSP will be “an alternative primarily for high coefficient of gravity straight trucks.”
Bendix says all advanced features of its next-generation ABS will be accomplished through the use of familiar ABS components and systems, without the need to convert vehicles to a full electronically controlled brake system (ECBS).
Fleets will have the option of selecting “an affordable base ABS product and avoid paying for ECBS on vehicles where it's not needed, and still benefit from stability performance similar to that of ECBS.” www.bendix.com
