Vehicle emergency braking system and method

1 . A vehicle emergency braking system, comprising:

one or more electric hydraulic pumps that generate hydraulic pressure;

one or more hydraulic cylinders mounted on an undercarriage of a vehicle and electrically connected to the one or more electric hydraulic pumps configured to extend and retract, wherein, when the braking system is activated, the one or more electric hydraulic pumps deliver high-pressure hydraulic fluid to the one or more hydraulic cylinders via hydraulic hoses to extend the one or more hydraulic cylinders and move one or more brake pads outward to make contact with a road surface, and wherein, when the braking system is deactivated, hydraulic pressure is reduced to retract the one or more hydraulic cylinders and move the one or more brake pads away from the road surface;

the one or more brake pads disposed on an extendable end of the one or more hydraulic cylinders, wherein each brake pad comprises:

a base member;

a plurality of protruding points extending from and connected to the base member;

a plate cover configured to secure the plurality of protruding points while allowing the points to extend beyond the plate cover surface; and

a plurality of grooves formed in the plate cover and positioned between the protruding points to prevent debris buildup;

a control switch electrically connected to the one or more electric hydraulic pumps and configured to selectively extend and retract the one or more hydraulic cylinders in response to input from a user in distinct selectable operating modes including a first mode to rapidly deploy the brake pads to completely stop the vehicle and in a second mode to slightly touch down the brake pads on a road surface to stabilize the vehicle and allow it to gain traction, wherein the control switch is configured to provide precise electric hydraulic pressure control to achieve the first mode rapid deployment and the second mode slight touch down without compromising vehicle steering control during emergency conditions;

a power source; and

wherein the vehicle emergency braking system defines a hydraulic actuation circuit comprising the electric hydraulic pumps, hydraulic cylinders, hydraulic hoses, and hydraulic fluid, and the vehicle braking system is devoid of pneumatic or compressed-gas actuation components for extending and retracting the hydraulic cylinders.

2 . The vehicle emergency braking system of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more hydraulic cylinders is encased in a cylinder housing assembly.

3 . The vehicle emergency braking system of claim 2 , wherein the cylinder housing assembly comprises an inner cylinder housing unit and an outer cylinder housing unit.

4 . The vehicle emergency braking system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more hydraulic cylinders are mounted near a rear axle of the vehicle.

5 . The vehicle emergency braking system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more electric hydraulic pumps is a vehicle power steering pump.

6 . The vehicle emergency braking system of claim 1 , wherein the power source is the vehicle battery.

7 . The vehicle emergency braking system of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more brake pads is substantially rectangular with dimensions of about 10 inches by 8 inches.

8 . A method of braking a vehicle in an emergency, the method comprising:

providing the vehicle emergency braking system of claim 1 ;

detecting a loss of traction by the vehicle;

selectively engaging the one or more brake pads of the vehicle emergency braking system in response to the user input via the control switch by either rapidly deploying the one or more brake pads in the first mode by extending the brake pads towards a roadway surface until making contact with the roadway surface, or slightly touching down the brake pads in the second mode to stabilize the vehicle and allow it to gain traction, wherein engaging the brake pads comprises actuating the electrically driven hydraulic pump to deliver high-pressure hydraulic fluid through hydraulic hoses to the hydraulic cylinders to extend the hydraulic cylinders and move the brake pads outward to make contact with the roadway surface;

applying pressure from the brake pads in contact with the roadway surface until the vehicle regains traction or comes to a complete stop; and

disengaging the one or more brake pads of the vehicle emergency braking system in response to the user input via the control switch, wherein disengaging comprises reducing hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic actuation circuit to retract the hydraulic cylinders so that the one or more brake pads retract towards the vehicle undercarriage until the one or more brake pads are no longer in contact with the roadway surface.

9 . The method of braking a vehicle in an emergency of claim 8 , further comprising the step of detecting a loss of traction by the vehicle.