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Scientists at the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), formerly Austrian Research Center, focused on investigating electro mechanical brakes (EMB) for automobiles. Research showed that EMBs can address brake distribution with regenerative and friction braking ("blending") at hybrid and electric cars due to the ability of the EMBs to be actuated as required (and do not automatically produce brake force at pedal activation). The target was to develop an EMB with low actuation force and energy that is simple and reliable, rolls back to disengage when power is off and acts as a parking brake. Several solutions were considered (with and without self-amplification). A pivotal mechanism with very high transmission ratio using eccentricity emerged as a favorable solution. Vienna Engineering (VE) took over and assumed the research during 2010. VE revealed that non-linear behavior facilitated low actuation forces at high braking torque and can use a controlled amount of self-amplification.

The electro-mechanical brake (EMB) of Vienna Engineering (VE) uses a highly non-linear mechanism to create the high pressing force of the pad. The advantage is that the pad moves very fast when the pad pressing force is low and moves slower with increasing pressing force. The normal force in EMBs is often controlled by observing mechanical deformation to conclude to stress or force, commonly using strain gauges. It causes costs of the gauge itself and attaching them to e.g. the caliper and a sensitive amplifier. The full gauge equipment goes into the safety-related brake control system. The faintest damage (e.g. stone impacts, heat) gets the vehicle to the repair shop making expensive replacement necessary. To avoid the costs of the force measurement in the safety related system VE took the electrical motor measurements from the very beginning of the brake development for EMB control.