Design and Control of an Upper-Wedge-Type Electronic Brake

An electronic wedge brake (EWB) uses the wedge principle to provide a self-reinforcement mechanism, resulting in reduced current to the actuation motor. However, this mechanism can lead to an unstable open-loop system. In this study, an upper-wedge moving-type EWB is developed and a control algorithm is proposed to follow the target clamping force and to prevent jamming of the EWB system using the push—pull control of the actuator. The performance of the EWB is evaluated using a dynamometer and a simulator. Based on testing and simulation, the clamping force and braking time of the proposed EWB are shown to be satisfactory with respect to the required braking deceleration.