What is Brake Assist? (And how does it work?)
Brake Assist is an innovative braking technology found in most modern vehicles with anti-lock braking systems.
When an emergency occurs on the road and the driver has to press the brake pedal quickly to stop, Brake Assist automatically increases the brake pressure on the braking system. This allows the driver to slow down the vehicle faster.
Drivers often panic in emergency situations and don’t always press the brake pedal hard enough to slow down the vehicle. Brake Assist can detect this based on how hard and how fast you press the brake pedal.
If you press the pedal quickly and firmly, but not with enough pressure, Brake Assist will step in and apply more pressure to compensate.
Of course, the main purpose of Brake Assist is to reduce the chance of a collision on the road. The computer technology found in today’s cars is a big reason why Brake Assist is possible.
This technology is sometimes called Predictive Brake Assist or Emergency Brake Assist, and often works in conjunction with forward collision warning systems in modern vehicles. What it’s called depends on the type of braking system it’s used in. But it serves the same purpose in any braking system.
Your vehicle’s brake assist and anti-lock braking systems work together to make your braking even more effective. This combination not only provides emergency braking support, but also prevents the wheels from locking up in an emergency. This is useful in several possible emergency scenarios. For example, imagine you’re driving down the road and suddenly, out of nowhere, a deer jumps into your path. Your first instinct would be to put your foot on the brake pedal.
However, you might get nervous and not be able to press the pedal all the way. In this case, Brake Assist detects this and compensates for the extra pressure you’re not putting on the pedal.
How Brake Assist works
There are two types of Brake Assist: The classic type is the mechanical brake assistant, and the newer type is the electronic brake assistant. The difference between the two brake assist systems is how they detect emergency braking when you press the brake pedal.
Mechanical brake assistant
Early versions of brake assist were mechanical, not electronic. This means that they don’t have electronic sensors that detect the force and speed applied to the brake pedal.
Instead, mechanical brake assistants set a mechanical threshold. When the driver presses the brake pedal, it has to go through a certain point before the brake assist kicks in.
Electronic Brake Assist
The electronic brake assistant uses an electronic control unit. When the driver presses the brake pedal with a certain speed and force, the electronic control unit detects an emergency situation. This increases the system’s braking force and slows the vehicle further. Another advantage of this brake assistant is that it can remember and adapt to the driver’s braking habits.