Braking Assistant (BAS), function - GF42.31-P-0001A

MODELS 129,140 as of 1.12.96, 210 as of 1.2.97, 170, 202 as of 1.6.97, 168 up to 28.2.01, 163, 203, 208, 209, 215, 220

Fig 1: Flow Chart - Brake Assist

Tests with normal drivers in a driving simulator and on the test track have shown that, in emergency braking situations, most drivers actually operate the brake pedal quickly enough but with insufficient force, above all in the initial phase of brake application.

A distinction is made between:

Hesitant brake application - the driver applies too little pedal force in the initial phase and increases it too slowly.
Insufficient brake application - the driver applies too little pedal force during the entire brake application.

To improve these situations, Brake Assist has been developed.

Fig 2: Brake Assist Graph

Task

"Brake Assist" BAS is an active safety system. It becomes active when the driver brakes very quickly in an emergency situation. The system detects whether an emergency braking situation exists on the basis of the speed at which the brake pedal is depressed. If this is the case, a solenoid valve opens in the brake booster and activates the full servo power.

If the driver releases the brake, this is detected and the solenoid valve closes again.

Advantages

Optimum deceleration reduces the risk of an accident in danger situations and thus provides vital support to the driver.
Supports the ABS by providing the greatest possible servo action.
ABS maintains full steerability even during BAS intervention.
Considerably reduces the braking distance in the case of hesitant or insufficient brake application.

Function overview

The normal brake booster amplifies the force of the driver's foot proportionally. If braking is not taking place, a vacuum created by the engine or by a vacuum pump exists in both chambers. A mechanical control valve in the brake booster operated by the force of the driver's foot allows air at atmospheric pressure to flow into the rear chamber when braking. The pressure difference existing between the two chambers and the amplification force created is therefore proportional to the force applied by the driver's foot. Amplification of the force of the foot takes place up to the point at which full atmospheric pressure exists in the rear chamber.

With the BAS brake booster, the basic version is expanded with the following parts:

BAS diaphragm travel sensor for measuring the brake pedal travel.
BAS solenoid valve for active implementation of braking force support.
BAS release switch to detect the end of the brake application.
BAS control module to measure the values and to control the BAS braking intervention.

In vehicles with engines 111, 112, 113, 605, 606, 611, 612, 613 and ESP, the BAS function is integrated in the ESP control module.

In models 163, 168, 203, 209, 215, 220 the BAS function is integrated in the ESP control module.

After the engine is started, a vehicle identification and self-check of the system takes place.

The BAS is ready to function if no fault is present and the vehicle has exceeded a speed of 8 km/h after driving off. Following this, BAS can be activated down to a speed of 3 km/h.

The actuating speed of the brake pedal and the vehicle speed are measured in the BAS control module (N48)/ ESP (N47-5). If the pedal speed is greater than the threshold value specified for the particular vehicle speed, a solenoid valve in the brake booster is activated and full servo force is achieved.

In the case of a defect, the BAS is not brought into use (indication by malfunction indicator lamp or multifunction display in the instrument cluster). The normal function of the brake booster is not affected by this.

Notes on testing electronic components and systems for damage resulting from an accident		AH42.00-P-0001-06A
Brake Assist (BAS), Driver Information	Models 129, 140, 163, 168, 170, 202 Model 208 up to 07/99, 210 up to 06/99	GF42.31-P-0001-01A
	Models 203, 215, 220 Model 208 as of 08/99, 210 as of 07/99	GF42.31-P-0001-01B
Brake Assist (BAS), arrangement of components		GF42.31-P-0001-02A
BAS brake application, function		GF42.31-P-2000A