SBIR-STTR Award

Successful brake system performance during long mountain descents is critical. Prior test events can fail to successfully replicate the severity of the extended down grade conditions, leading to recognition that definition of successful operational tests is required. Therefore the development of an updated test procedure and development of a Brake Fade Warning System, both of which rely on a number of technical objectives is described herein. The final solutions must accommodate a variety of brake systems and therefore must consider various vehicle platforms and the amount of energy required to bring the system to a successful and safe stop after completion of the extended down grade operations. New vehicle designs have substantially improved on vehicle sensor communication (SAE J1939) enabling integration of a brake fade warning system providing appropriate information to vehicle operators using the existing CAN architecture. A fully developed warning system would be applicable to commercial vehicle systems, improving safety by replacing the FHWA/FMCSR/ATA recommended brake snub approach. By developing this system with legacy DoD vehicles as well as new commercial vehicles and the associated technology in mind there is significant benefit to the conduct of this project.

Mountain descent test procedures that replicate conditions found in severe mountain environments are essential in identifying the limitations of current and future vehicle systems. Current tests have failed to reproduce these severe, realistic conditions resulting in deficiencies in overall vehicle performance. In Phase I a prototype Brake Fade Advance Warning System (BFAWS) and mountain descent road test procedure were developed and tested on grades local to NATC. Severe mountain grades across the U.S. were identified and analyzed in order to evaluate potential sites in which to base the final procedure on. Phase II will include the finalization of the road test procedure and BFAWS by performing the test at these sites. The finalization of the BFAWS will result in a highly modular and effective safety system applicable to variety of military that may have deficiencies due to up-armoring or off-road brake design and commercial fleets that repeatedly operate in mountainous environments. A laboratory test procedure will be developed based on the results of the completed mountain descent road test procedure and venue and will result in a cost effective solution to evaluating vehicle braking performance in severe mountain descent environments.