Continental Develops MK C1 Brake Technology as Next Step to Automated Driving

The importance of brakes in tandem with the steering cannot be overemphasized even when it comes to automated driving. In fact, being able to stop on time is the most important aspect of active safety. In the case of an automated vehicle, the electronic brake system (EBS) must have the capability to apply the brakes when needed, even when the primary electronic brake system fails. That is why Continental has finetuned its electronic brake solution MK C1 in order to confirm to the requirements of highly automated driving.

Commenting on the new MK C1 system, Felix Bietenbeck, Head of the Vehicle Dynamics business unit at the Continental Chassis & Safety Division said that automated driving demands a lot from the braking system. He said that the MK C1 for highly automated driving takes brake technology to a new level so that it can meet new challenges.

The MK C1 is a good fit for automated driving as it is a by-wire system that offers particularly fast, precise and autonomous pressure build-up. To meet the requirements of braking redundancy, Continental combined the MK C1 with a derivative of the MK 100 ESC. When operated normally, the MK C1 unit provides all braking, stability and comfort functions. The hydraulic pressure simply passes through the MK 100 Hydraulic Brake Extension (HBE). The MK 100 HBE performs frequent self-tests to ensure 100 percent availability all time.

In the event that the primary EBS fails, the secondary EBS will provide the required braking function. Depending on the nature of the failure in the primary system, there are two alternative scenarios. If the failure is complete, , which is highly unlikely, the MK 100 HBE unit will brake the vehicle with the front wheels and provide an ABS function.

If it is the actuation and pumping functions of the EBS that fails with the control valves still intact, the MK 100 HBE unit will go into the cooperative brake mode. A part of its hydraulic pressure will be fed to the still functional MK C1 valves so that the rear brakes are activated. This innovative flexible split of functions ensures that there will be full autopilot braking function with slip controlled deceleration on both axles even when there is partial failure of one system.

“The principle of networking two EBS units is a complex and challenging task. It requires an outstanding system know-how, which Continental has”, Bietenbeck concluded.

The MK C1 is Continental’s latest innovative brake system that has been produced from 2016. It definitely contributes significantly to safety and energy efficiency when driving and enables 100 percent recuperation of braking energy, due to its “brake-by-wire” design. Other benefits of the technology include about 30 per cent reduction in weight and the availability of efficient braking dynamics in a compact unit. The innovative electronic brake system integrates the tandem master cylinder (TMC), brake booster and control systems (ABS and ESC) into one compact, weight-saving one box design module. The MK C1 unit needs only 150 ms (time-to-lock) to build up braking pressure and this is twice as fast as conventional braking systems.