Electro-hydraulic Braking System for Autonomous Vehicles

−Reducing the number of traffic accidents is a declared target of most governments. Since dependence on driver reaction is the main cause of road accidents, it would be advisable to replace the human factor in some driving-related tasks with automated solutions. In order to automate a vehicle it is necessary to control the actuators of a car, i.e., the steering wheel, accelerator, and brake. This paper presents the design and implementation of an electro-hydraulic braking system consisting of a pump and various valves allowing the control computer to stop the car. It is assembled in coexistence with the original circuit for the sake of robustness and to permit the two systems to halt the car independently. This system was developed for installation in a commercial Citroën C3 Pluriel of the AUTOPIA program. Various tests were carried out of its correct operation, and an experiment showing the integration of the system into the longitudinal control of the car is described.