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Home >> Mercedes Benz >> 2021 >> E450 Base, 2D Convertible >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Engine Performance >> Engine Control Systems >> Throttle Control, Speed Control Systems - 238 Chassis >> Basic Knowledge >> Active Brake Assist With Cross-Traffic Function, Function - GF30.30-P-3341FH
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Active Brake Assist With Cross-Traffic Function, Function - GF30.30-P-3341FH

Model 238 

Up To Model Year 2021 

With Code 23P (Drive package) 

G15466877Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ USA

Function requirements, general 

Active Brake Assist with intersection function, general points 

The Active Brake Assist with intersection function assesses the traffic situation in front of the vehicle and continuously determines the risk potential for a rear-end collision or for a collision with a vehicle intersection its path. In critical accident situations Active Brake Assist with intersection function initiates appropriate measures geared towards avoiding a collision or - at the least - reducing the possible consequences of a collision. Furthermore, there is a distance warning function contained therein which advises the driver about a vehicle driving immediately ahead which is too close. An optical and acoustic warning is issued before any possible collisions with vehicles or stationary obstacles on the vehicle's own lane.

The Active Brake Assist with intersection function can also provide support in the case of possible collisions with intersection traffic at intersections. The pedestrian detection can prevent a collision with pedestrians or reduce the severity of the impact. If the driver does not actuate the brake hard enough in a hazardous situation, the situation-related brake servo assistance automatically increases the brake pressure to ensure effective emergency braking, if necessary up to emergency braking. The brake application which is metered according to the situation is also makes the greatest possible braking distance available for the traffic to the rear.

In the vehicle speed range from 7 to 250 km/h, the Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function is activated in a possible danger situation. In the case of stationary obstacles, the Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function is only activated when the own vehicle speed is a maximum of 100 km/h. For pedestrians and crossing vehicles, the maximum vehicle speed may be 72 km/h. It is controlled by the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit which actively intervenes in the brake system.

The Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function warning level can be selected and set using the operating level in the head unit. For navigation in the operating menu the following options are available:

The head unit sends the status of the Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function via the user interface CAN, electronic ignition lock control unit and the suspension FlexRay to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit.

The driver can select the following operating modes:

Illustration of the principle of Active Brake Assist with intersection function with one stationary or significantly slower vehicle on one's own lane 

G15466878Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ USA

IMPORTANT After autonomous emergency braking up to vehicle standstill the vehicle remains stalled.

The Active Brake Assist with intersection function consists of the following subfunctions:

Distance warning 

Radar sensor system/stereo multifunction camera detection ranges, shown on model 238.3 

G15466879Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ USA

The short and long range radar sensor operates according to the pulse modulated Doppler radar concept, which enables the distances and speeds of individual objects (e. g. vehicles) to be measured independently of each other.

The short and long-range radar sensor sends corresponding information via the suspension FlexRay to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit.

Persons and crossing objects are detected by the MFK stereo camera and the front and long range radar sensor.

The stereo multifunction camera is located in the upper area of the windshield and supplies the following data:

IMPORTANT The stereo multifunction camera consists of two high-resolution mono cameras and an integrated control unit for evaluation and a plausibility check of the supplied picture data. The laterally offset location of the two mono cameras creates a difference in perspective (parallax displacement) between the left and right optical path. The distance to the object ahead and other variables such as the height, sized and scope or the speed of movement thereof are calculated on the basis of the differences between the image data.

The stereo multifunction camera sends corresponding data via the the suspension FlexRay to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit.

If the radar sensor system or stereo multifunction camera detects objects on one's own lane (vehicle speed range from 7 to 250 km/h) or crossing objects and pedestrians (vehicle speed range from 7 to 72 km/h), the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit outputs a static or collision-critical distance warning.

Static distance warning (not for code 494 (USA version)) :

Output of the static distance warning takes place purely optically.

In standard operating mode, the static distance warning (at a vehicle speed of 30 km/h) is triggered if the vehicle's time interval from the preceding vehicle falls below 0.8 s (e.g. in moving traffic). The DISTRONIC warning lamp lights up in the IC.

The Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit sends the corresponding request via the suspension FlexRay, electronic ignition lock control unit and the user interface CAN to the instrument cluster.

Collision critical distance warning:

Output of the collision-critical distance warning takes place optically and acoustically.

If a moving or stationary obstacle in the radar sensor system or stereo multifunction camera detection range is classified as accident-critical at a vehicle speed of 7 km/h to 250 km/h, or a crossing obstacle at a vehicle speed of 7 km/h to 70 km/h, the DISTRONIC warning lamp lights up and the instrument cluster speaker additionally outputs an intermittent warning tone.

The warning is switched off again automatically one the situation is no longer critical.

The Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit sends the corresponding request to actuate the instrument cluster speaker via the suspension FlexRay, electronic ignition lock control unit and the user interface CAN to the instrument cluster. The instrument cluster directly actuates the instrument cluster speaker.

Optical warning messages in instrument cluster 

G15466880Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ USA

This is shown inversely on the IC, i. e. the distance warning readiness indicator is hidden when the distance warning function is active. If the distance warning function is deactivated, the distance warning readiness indicator and the "OFF" lettering are shown.

Brake force boosting 

If the driver then reacts to the collision-critical distance warning with emergency braking, the Active Brake Assist with intersection function provides support for the best possible utilization of the braking distance to the obstacle. Brake force boosting is available in a vehicle speed range from 7 km/h to 250 km/h.

IMPORTANT Emergency braking is defined over the current vehicle deceleration and the change in wheel speed.

The change in the wheel speeds (deceleration of the vehicle) tells the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit that the driver wishes to brake. The Electronic Stability Program control unit reads in the signals from the rpm sensors directly and sends this information via the suspension FlexRay to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit.

The Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit uses the data from the short and long range radar sensor and the stereo multifunction camera, calculates the required braking torque and transmits the request via the suspension FlexRay to the Electronic Stability Program control unit which reacts by directly activating the traction system hydraulic unit.

IMPORTANT If a collision is unavoidable, occupant protection measures are taken in addition to intervention by the brake system.

If actuation is discontinued or the intensity of brake pedal operation by the driver decreases significantly, the driver actuates the accelerator pedal or evades the collision, brake force boosting for driver brake application is reduced, and brake force boosting is canceled.

Brake force boosting can react to stationary obstacles up to a vehicle speed of approx. 100 km/h and to crossing obstacles up to approx. 72 km/h.

Additional function requirements for autonomous braking 

Autonomous brake application 

If the driver does not react to the collision-critical warning, the Active Brake Assist with intersection function initiates autonomous partial braking. To do this, the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit calculates the corresponding braking torque while taking account of the following driving dynamics input factors:

The Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit sends the corresponding request via the the suspension FlexRay to the Electronic Stability Program control unit which then directly actuates the traction system hydraulic unit.

If the driver reacts with maximum full-stop braking, situation-based brake force boosting supports the driver to make optimal use of the braking distance up to the obstacle.

IMPORTANT Emergency braking is only triggered if the driver and the front passenger have their seat belts on.

IMPORTANT Parallel to this the Electronic Stability Program control unit evaluates the currently requested braking torque and initiates appropriate measures for OCCUP.PROT.SYS, if necessary.

Additional function requirements for emergency braking in the case of pedestrians crossing in front of the vehicle 

Emergency braking for crossing pedestrians 

If a crossing pedestrian is detected by the radar sensor system or by the MFK stereo the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit issues a static or collision-critical distance warning.

IMPORTANT Details about this are described under distance warning.

If the driver then reacts to the collision-critical distance warning with emergency braking, the Active Brake Assist with intersection function provides support for the best possible utilization of the braking distance to the obstacle.

IMPORTANT Emergency braking is defined over the current vehicle deceleration and the change in wheel speed.

The change in the wheel speeds (deceleration of the vehicle) tells the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit that the driver wishes to brake. The Electronic Stability Program control unit reads in the signals from the rpm sensors directly and sends this information via the suspension FlexRay to the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit.

The Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit uses the data from the short and long range radar sensor and the stereo multifunction camera, calculates the required braking torque and transmits the request via the suspension FlexRay to the Electronic Stability Program control unit which reacts by directly activating the traction system hydraulic unit.

If the driver does not react to the collision-critical warning, the Active Brake Assist with intersection function initiates autonomous partial braking. To do this, the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit calculates the corresponding braking torque while taking account of the following driving dynamics input factors:

The Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit sends the corresponding request via the the suspension FlexRay to the Electronic Stability Program control unit which then directly actuates the traction system hydraulic unit.

If the driver reacts with maximum full-stop braking, situation-based brake force boosting supports the driver to make optimal use of the braking distance up to the obstacle.

IMPORTANT Emergency braking is defined over the current vehicle deceleration and change.

IMPORTANT Emergency braking is only triggered if the driver and the front passenger have their seat belts on.

IMPORTANT Parallel to this the Electronic Stability Program control unit evaluates the currently requested braking torque and initiates appropriate measures for OCCUP.PROT.SYS, if necessary.

Additional function requirements for the traffic jam emergency braking function 

Traffic jam end emergency braking function 

If the radar sensor system and the stereo multifunction camera detect a traffic jam scenario without any option to avoid it (e. g. due to vehicles on the neighboring lanes or due to guardrails), the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit issues a static or collision-critical distance warning.

IMPORTANT Details about this are described under distance warning.

Furthermore the Active Brake Assistant with intersection function initiates early emergency braking. The Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive control unit calculates the respective braking torque while taking account of driving dynamics input factors and sends the corresponding request via the the suspension FlexRay to the Electronic Stability Program control unit which then directly actuates the traction system hydraulic unit.

IMPORTANT Parallel to this the Electronic Stability Program control unit evaluates the currently requested braking torque and initiates appropriate measures for OCCUP.PROT.SYS, if necessary.

  Electrical function schematic of Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function   PE30.30-P-2073-97DCA 
  Overview of system components for driver assistance systems   GF54.00-P-9998FH