As Featured in the E6x LCI: Notes

The Adaptive Brake Assistant has been carried over from the E6x LCI. This function is included automatically if the customer orders the ACC Stop&Go option, or in some countries, the ACC option.

Adaptive Braking Assistance offers the greatest benefit in situations where the vehicle is following another vehicle. If the vehicle in front brakes hard, it is detected by the long-range radar sensor. The two subfunctions of

• precharging the brake system (also known as the "brake readiness" function) and
• lowering the threshold for the hydraulic Brake Assistant

assist the driver to perform the braking operation to best effect and thus in the best case to avoid a rear-end collision with the vehicle in front.

In the F01/F02, this function is no different from the function implemented in the E6x LCI. The long-range radar sensor gathers data on the road users ahead of the vehicle. The data are supplemented by data relating to the driving status of the customer's vehicle, and both types of data are used as a basis for calculating a collision avoidance rate of deceleration. This is the rate of deceleration at which the driver would have to brake in order to avoid a collision with the vehicle in front. If the calculated collision avoidance deceleration is above a stored threshold value, the brake system begins to precharge and the activation threshold for the hydraulic Brake Assistant is reduced.

All sensor-related and processing functions of Adaptive Braking Assistance are computed in the long-range radar sensor. However, the computed output variables have to be transmitted to the DSC control unit because that is where they are put into action. To make this possible, the ICM control unit acts as a gateway between the local CAN and the FlexRay.

In the DSC control unit, there are still more conditions that need to be fulfilled before these two subfunctions can be carried out. (Example: road speed must be higher than a defined minimum speed.)

However, the Adaptive Braking Assistance technology also has limits and cannot react fast enough in situations such as other road users cutting in right in front of the vehicle. Driving with care and anticipation remains the fundamental imperative even with Adaptive Braking Assistance!