Maxaret

Introduced in the early 1950s, Maxaret was rapidly taken up in the aviation world, after testing found a 30% reduction in stopping distances, and the elimination of tyre bursts or flat spots due to skids.

The system was entirely mechanical and worked by measuring the relative speed of two spinning disks.

As soon as the drum started spinning again and reached the (slowing) speed of the flywheel, the valve was released and the brakes re-applied.

[1] Aircraft have a much lower ratio of tyre contact patch to vehicle weight than automobiles and operate at much higher speeds.

In early testing on the Avro Canada CF-100, the Maxaret allowed landings to be safely made on runways covered in ice.

With Maxaret, they simply applied full braking as soon as they touched down, knowing that the system would prevent skids.

[citation needed] There were numerous applications of the Maxaret to various vehicles, including experimental fits to a Royal Enfield Super Meteor and some production use on semi-trailers.

Most noticeable to the general public was its use on the Jensen FF, the British sportscar that introduced ABS, all-wheel drive and a traction control system.

[6] In this case the system had an undesirable side-effect; the relief valve fed directly into the master pump, and caused the brake pedal to drive back towards the driver when it actuated.