Brembo just launched the first fluid-free braking system to reach actual production cars. Called Sensify, the setup replaces every drop of hydraulic fluid and every traditional brake line with electric signals and motors at each wheel. Drivers still press a pedal, but the connection now runs through wires and software instead of pressurized liquid.
Sensors detect how hard and fast you press down on the pedal. Another sensor adjacent, stuck under the footwell, pushes back with the expected force, making everything seem normal. That input is converted into digital orders that are routed straight to small control units located near each wheel. There is no central master cylinder under the hood, and no fluid-filled tubes cluttering up the system and leaking or needing to be changed.
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Each wheel operates independently, with an electric motor whirring up at the corner, spinning a tiny mechanism that slams the brake pads directly onto the rotor. The software that controls the entire system combines data from wheel speed sensors, steering angle, yaw rate, and even the weather (if the car shares that information) to determine how much pressure to apply at any given instant. One tire might brake harder while the other takes it slowly in order to maintain the car straight on snowy roads or make a fast turn. The changes are made lightning quickly, faster than any hydraulic system could handle.
Older brakes simply applied the same amount of pressure to all four wheels at once via common fluid lines. The Sensify system, on the other hand, customizes every single command in real time, and the difference is particularly obvious on icy roads or when you’re really pushing the limits on a turn, where the car stays exactly where it’s intended to, rather than pushing out or fishtailing. Braking also feels smooth and quiet, with no abrupt, pulsing input via the pedal that previous ABS systems sometimes produce.
There are no bleed lines or reservoirs to top out, making maintenance much easier. The reduced total package reduces weight in the front of the car, which should result in improved handling and fuel efficiency. The parking brake function is incorporated directly into the motors, eliminating the need for additional cables or levers.
Brembo designed the entire Sensify platform to be easily integrated onto various car designs. Automakers can simply plug it into their current models or integrate it into larger software-defined systems that handle anything from simple cruise control to full-fledged self-driving. What is the best part? Updates can be delivered over the air, allowing you to adjust the pedal feel or add new safety features years after the automobile has left the manufacturer.
Mass production began in early May for a major worldwide manufacturer; we haven’t been told which one yet, and the model name is unknown (presumably owing to NDA agreements), but Sensify will be standard on all cars in that program. Brembo anticipates shipping hundreds of thousands of units per year once the first cars are available.
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