Blended electrical/friction braking system with electric brake feedback monitor and method of use thereof

A blended electrical/friction braking system for use in a vehicle having an electric motor which can be operated to electrically brake one or more wheels of the vehicle and a friction brake for friction braking one or more wheels of the vehicle, the braking system comprising:

• a brake controller for monitoring a brake effort request and for allotting the brake effort request between a first brake effort request corresponding to a desired amount of electrical braking effort to be supplied by the electric motor during electrical braking and a second brake effort request corresponding to a desired amount of friction braking effort to be supplied by the friction brake;
• a drive control unit for producing from the first brake effort request a first signal corresponding thereto and for supplying the first signal to the brake controller;
• at least one sensor for sensing at least one electrical condition of the electric motor during electric braking;
• and
• a brake feedback monitor for monitoring the first signal, for converting the at least one sensed electrical condition into a second signal corresponding thereto, for comparing the first signal and the second signal and for terminating receipt of the first signal by the brake controller in response to a difference between the first signal and the second signal exceeding a predetermined difference, wherein the brake controller responds to the termination of the first signal thereat by allotting the incoming brake effort request entirely to the second brake effort request.