Cars, etc.

[Bob Zumbrunnen]

Sounds dicey to me. Though I admit there are certainly a lot of pitfalls to the existing hydraulic systems.

But I'd be worried about a computer interfering with my ability to modulate the brakes at the hairy edge. I have yet to encounter the ABS system that's as good as a well-tuned driver. And I'd worry about electrical or computer failure resulting in no brakes.

At least with hydraulics, it's very unlikely you're going to lose the brakes entirely because there are two separate systems usually going crosswise (front right and rear left on one and front left and rear right on the other) though they do share a reservoir in common.

I suppose it'd be relatively easy to include a strictly mechanical backup system, though. If the electric part fails, a mechanically attached rod at each pad takes over.