REDUNDANT PARKING BRAKE APPARATUS FOR A VEHICLE AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME

A redundant parking brake apparatus is provided for a vehicle having components of a parking brake system. The redundant parking brake apparatus comprises a first parking brake controller arranged to (i) monitor a first signal indicative of a request to apply parking brakes of the vehicle, and (ii) provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brakes in response to receiving the first signal. The redundant parking brake apparatus also comprises a second parking brake controller arranged to (i) initiate a timer counter in response to receiving the first signal, and (ii) provide one or more control signals to be applied to components of the parking brake system to apply the parking brakes when the timer counter has reached a predetermined count.