Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems has replaced its ACom Pro diagnostic tool for vehicle safety systems with ACom AE, an upgraded version that supports Bendix' GSBC (Global Scalable Brake Control) and GSAT (Global Scalable Air Treatment) technologies. ACom AE will continue to assist technicians by providing detailed information to minimize downtime has an “updated look and feel,” according to the company, and is supported by Cojali and modeled on its Jaltest diagnostic software. It can be downloaded at https://bendixacom.cojali.com
“With Bendix GSBC and GSAT now available on North American vehicles, it’s crucial to equip maintenance teams with the proper tools to keep trucks operating safely,” said TJ Thomas, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions – Controls. “As newer electronic control units—ECUs—have been incorporated into Bendix systems over the years, ACom has evolved to support them, and this is the next step in that development.”
Customers can no longer purchase ACom Pro, which launched in 2019, and support for the software will end Aug. 31, 2025, or when the user’s current license expires. To check the exact date, customers should log into the platform and go to Application Settings> Registration Menu.
What are GSBC and GSAT?
GSBC is Bendix’s electropneumatic braking system (EBS), or brake-by-wire, a replacement for purely pneumatic antilock brakes which has been in use in Europe for two decades. According to Bendix, benefits of EBS include:
- Smoother, more consistent braking, especially at low speeds
- The driver doesn’t have to change the brake pedal pressure under different load conditions
- Fewer components and a simplified installation
- Faster and more precise identification of diagnostic problems
- No technician retraining is needed
- Redundant, pneumatic braking remains available
- Allows automated driver-assist features to activate braking much more frequently
GSAT, meanwhile, is a modular compressed air braking control system that can evolve with changes to regional environmental regulations and provides more flexibility at the OEM-install level.
What’s staying the same?
The updated version will operate much like Acom Pro, aside from the additional support of GSBC and GSAT.
“Bendix ACom AE assists the technician when diagnosing and troubleshooting all our tractor and trailer electronic products and provides features that technicians have come to expect, like DTC reporting and bi-directional communication that enables configuration, calibration, and testing,” Thomas said. “It’s also compatible with RP-1210-C adapters. And as a subscription service, ACom AE will be updated approximately three times per year with no additional charge.”
After the technician connects to the vehicle, ACom AE will detect and gather active and inactive DTCs from Bendix and R.H. Sheppard ECUs, as well as key vehicle ECUs, like the engine and transmission, Bendix explained. This list should then help the tech eliminate guesswork and diagnose issues faster and more efficiently.
Bendix ACom AE will continue to support:
- Bendix Fusion/Wingman advanced driver assistance systems
- Bendix ABS
- Automatic traction control (ATC)
- Stability control
- BlindSpotter side object detection system
- iSense air disc brake pad wear sensing
- SmarTire Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Users can toggle between English, French, and Spanish on the platform.
