Abstract: Electric-mechanical-brake (EMB) pad drag is determined from measurements (which can include estimations) of EMB voltage, EMB actuator temperature, and either EMB current or EMB motor speed during an open-loop apply of the EMB pad and during an open-loop release of the EMB pad. An open-loop EMB actuator efficiency is calculated when certain conditions of the same measurements apply, whereupon the EMB actuator efficiency is calculated using at least the apply or release EMB current and a corresponding apply or release preselected (such as a nominal) EMB current or is calculated using at least the apply or release EMB motor speed and a corresponding apply or release preselected (such as a nominal) EMB motor speed.

Abstract: A method for detecting a contact point of a brake mechanism. The brake mechanism includes an actuator controlled by a motor. The method includes the steps of establishing a parameter of the motor and a derivative of the parameter and, if the parameter has passed a previous value under no load conditions and the amplitude of the derivative of the parameter has passed a predetermined threshold, responsively establishing a zero position of the motor.