Knorr-Bremse GSBC Brake Control: Advanced Technology for Future Autopilot

“No one can predict the future, but it can be adequately prepared for the identified parts,” explains Dr. Patrick Mattes, head of the product center at Knorr-Bill Truck Dynamics. “This is a major challenge for all truck manufacturers to develop new models.” After all, manufacturers want to produce a series of models that do not require any major changes to the vehicle architecture for about 10 years. They will benefit when OEMs prepare their new models and take into account possible future system changes.

“The key point is that GSBC laid the foundation for the arrival of autonomous driving. At that time, manufacturers will no longer need to change the system layout of the vehicle; what they need to do is to configure the appropriate components.” – Knorr-Bremse Dynamic Control Division Product Center Dr. Patrick Mattes

Unified brake control for a variety of systems

The new Knorr-Bremse Global Extensible Brake Control System (GSBC) has made a decisive contribution to this. “We are a pioneer in autonomous driving systems,” said Frank Schwab, head of GSBC Technology. “Our new brake control system is easier to embed in the interaction of different vehicle systems, saving manufacturers a lot of time in chassis applications and installations.”

The ongoing development of truck brake control is one of the company's major international projects. A team of approximately 100 people has been working on GSBC's global work since 2016. “Now we are entering the decisive phase of the project,” said GSBC project manager Szabolcs Megyeri. “The pilot project with the Traton Group, which includes the Volkswagen, Mann and Scania brands, will begin at the end of 2021.”

Cross-regional cooperation

In addition to the core team in Schwebeldingen, Germany, experts in Hungary and India deal with many details. Patrick Mattes also pointed out that in cooperation with Bendix colleagues in the United States, Bendix has already started the GSBC and Volvo projects: "The projects in Europe and North America are progressing very smoothly."

What does GSBC do?

What exactly is GSBC? Jan Mayer, Director of Brake Control Project Management, first explained the basic tasks of brake control. “The driver's foot is on the brake pedal, and the electronic signal causes the brake control system to send compressed air through the line to the brake caliper, and then the caliper presses the brake disc. This is a highly complex operation, of course, there are many sensors that perform The machine and control work together to make the commercial vehicle safe to stop in various scenarios."

Currently, this task is performed by an EBS system that combines a variety of other functions. The next generation of GSBC development is closely following the current EBS7 and ABS8, combining these two previously independent system environments.

Szabolcs Megyeri highlights the outstanding features of the platform: “The GSBC is not just a device, it also contains many separate components.” With this control unit, the manufacturer can install various actuators, sensors and new modular system adjustments according to functional requirements. Device. “This is a huge advantage for GSBC, which can be extended for different vehicles and markets.” Truck manufacturers can therefore use the appropriate combination of modules to achieve all of the expected functions of EBS and ABS.

Modular System Platform GSBC: New generation of brake control combines a previously separate system environment

More money

Another benefit to the manufacturer is that the control unit is placed in the truck chassis rather than being placed in the cab as in previous products, and the number of individual components is reduced. “For example, the so-called yaw angle sensor can detect the risk of vehicle slippage and is now integrated into the control unit,” says Frank Schwab. “This reduces the need for additional cables and plugs. Other mounting locations, cable routing and pneumatic wiring are also simplified and standardized, which means that it will only be used in standard ABS systems or EBS with many additional features. Less adjustment is needed."

In addition to reducing components and thus reducing costs, GSBC uses new, faster-responding microcontrollers to improve performance.

Future Truck: Autopilot

However, for Patrick Mattes, the key point is that GSBC laid the foundation for the arrival of autonomous driving. “At that time, manufacturers would not need to change the architecture or system layout of the vehicle, they only need to deploy the appropriate components.”

Knorr GSBC laid the foundation for the arrival of autonomous driving

Team members in Europe and North America are already thinking about the future. Jan Mayer explained that GSBC's follow-up products integrate more components into the mechatronics unit. “Higher integration translates into further cost savings for customers. We plan to start mass production by the end of 2023” and start the next phase of rGSBC development. “This makes us a founding member of autonomous driving,” Mr. Mayer said. "r" stands for redundancy, the ability to seamlessly switch to a replacement system in the event of a system failure. The truck motion controller will also be integrated into the rGSBC, an operating system that can control the vehicle with additional sensors such as cameras, lidars and radar systems.

Products for all truck markets

The GSBC management team reported that customer interest is already high. “Many international truck manufacturer managers are accepting our invitation to visit Boxberg's test track and Swedish Arjeplog's winter test. “They are eager to learn an effective solution that will allow them to switch to rGSBC within a few years without having to be in the car. Redesign anything on it. ”

The core team at Schwebeldingen saw great potential. “GSBC is a global platform that enables Knorr-Bremse to actively contribute to and benefit from future transportation solutions.”

In particular, the Aldbach plant in Germany has played a leading role in the production of various components. “Follow-up we will be producing around the world, North and South America, Europe, India and China. This is another reason why GSBC exists in the name of “global”.”

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