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Through the decline in prices of semiconductor technology, automotive applications have boosted and can be characterized in technological leaps, the first example was the introduction of ABS in 1978 leading on to the equipment with ESC in 1995. In the next technological leap forward, the cross-linking of today's many and varied, largely stand-alone chassis control units, is envisaged. This technological leap forward in networking, the functional integration of brakes and steering, is described by the ESC II system.

This article reports on a Continental Teves compact class demonstration vehicle (the “30m-car”) that uses a control network of selected, in part newly developed chassis systems to show a solution helping “Mr. or Mrs. everyday driver” to shorten their entire stopping distance (normal reaction distance plus brake force build-up distance plus braking distance) in emergency braking situations. The car is fitted with special concept tires with magnetized sidewalls that communicate with the newly developed SWT (Sidewall Torsion) Sensor, a brake-by-wire electro-hydraulic brake system and an electronic chassis system with controllable airsprings and hydraulic shock absorbers. The driver’s reactions are monitored by accelerator and brake pedal sensors, an ACC distance sensor unit serves to monitor the traffic in front of the vehicle. All chassis subsystems were cross-linked within one control network.

Global Chassis Control (GCC) from Continental Teves, a logical development of the current Electronic Stability Control (ESC), aims to ensure the best possible levels of active safety, ride quality and driving pleasure under the given driving conditions, using the available configuration of electronically controlled chassis subsystems. The system makes the vehicle easier to control in extreme situations at the same time as maximizing ride comfort and ensuring more responsive handling.