Are you planning a long road trip? Or do you have an urgent order due that will require your driver to drive for a long duration? Driving over long periods can be both challenging and dangerous. Accidents frequently occur when tired drivers drift out of their lane and collide with another vehicle. But what if we told you there’s a helpful hand waiting to warn you anytime you nod off or drift out of your lane? Here is where ADAS and ADAS calibration come in. It is a rapidly developing necessity in the automotive industry.
Advanced driver assistance systems are standard in new cars (ADAS). Sensors in these enhanced safety systems collect information about the vehicle’s surroundings. Sensors capture information that can be used to issue safety alerts. For the sake of driver safety, ADAS can even use sensor data to determine whether to temporarily manage a vehicle’s braking or steering. Vehicle ADAS sensors, like other sensors, are only as precise as they are configured to be.
This blog will describe the ADAS calibration system and provide a comprehensive overview of the issue.
What is the ADAS Calibration System?
An advanced driver assistance systems calibration entails precisely aligning these embedded sensors in your vehicle. A dynamic calibration technique requires the technician to drive your vehicle, whereas a fixed calibration process uses a specialized gear to calibrate the ADAS while your vehicle is stationary.
Every manufacturer requires you to adjust your ADAS during the following scenarios:
- Replacement of the windshield
- Collision
- Tire replacement or riding height change
- ADAS lights are lit or flashing
Why is ADAS Calibration Important?
According to the Road Transport and Highways report, during the year 2020, 3,66,138 road accidents were recorded in India which caused a loss of 1,31,714 lives and injured 3,48,279 people in India.
The potential to prevent car accidents makes automotive ADAS calibration even more important. Among the various ADAS applications that aid drivers with safety-critical functions to decrease car accidents and save lives are automatic emergency braking, pedestrian warning, surround view, parking assist, driver fatigue detection, and gaze detection.
The front-facing camera positioned behind the windshield is one of the major aspects of ADAS, and it must be in functional order for ADAS to function effectively. Without ensuring that the camera is functional, the ADAS will be unable to perform its functions properly, which might constitute a major safety risk. It doesn’t take much for these sensors to malfunction.
When you are in immediate danger, you must be warned quickly to take the proper action, such as stopping the car. However, if the ADAS is not functioning effectively, the signals and alarms may be delayed, and you may be unable to stop the car on time. As a result, calibrating the windscreen is critical.
You, as the driver, are not the only one in danger here. Other drivers and passengers may be put at risk if your ADAS diagnostics aren’t working properly.
What are the Different Types of ADAS Calibration?
There are two kinds of ADAS calibration you can do: static calibration and dynamic calibration. The type you select will be determined by the OEM repair instructions for that make and model.
- Static Calibration
- Static calibration is conducted within a store while the car is parked.
- The first step is to locate the thrust line and position the car in front of the ADAS device that will be used to conduct the calibration.
- To accurately recalibrate, all ADAS tools require a sequence of targets (unique to OEM specifications) that the sensors should be able to read.
- It is critical that the vehicle is at a suitable distance from the targets and that the targets are at the correct height, among other factors.
- Different ADAS tools will have different setup techniques, but this step must be completed correctly every time to achieve an accurate outcome.
- Dynamic Calibration
- Some automobiles only require a dynamic calibration.
- However, many devices involve static calibration and dynamic calibration as the final stage in the ADAS calibration procedure.
- Dynamic calibration necessitates driving the vehicle at specific speeds and conditions while attached to an ADAS scan tool — but this is not a test drive.
- While the dynamic calibration method differs depending on the OEM, some criteria are required. Driving on well-indicated routes, following one or more cars, avoiding curvy roads, and driving at authorized speeds are some examples.
How is ADAS Calibration Done?
Since ADAS cameras and sensors are located in highly precise sections of the windshield, any displacement can make calibration difficult or impossible.
Sadly, there is no do-it-yourself way of calibrating these systems. Because of the ADAS’s intricacy, sophisticated computers and specialized specialists are needed to adjust these systems. Disconnecting the negative cable from the battery (black cable) for 60 seconds may reset the car’s computer and key ADAS capabilities in some situations. However, this is only a temporary solution. Always seek professional assistance to check that your safety features are functioning properly.
Requirements to Calibrate the System
ADAS Calibration has the following requirements:
- It is required that a calibration space of at least 10 meters wide by 15 meters long be available. This comprises the size of the vehicle as well as the length of the floor required to execute static sensor calibrations.
- The floor should be perfectly level. A minor inclination along the space’s floor could cause miscalibration of camera or radar systems, messing with the vehicle’s reflexes.
- When it comes to the calibration space’s lighting, it is critical to ensure that there is equally dispersed light throughout the workstation. Minor elements like shadows, reflective surfaces, or even garage doors could impede accurate sensor calibration.
- Similar to lighting, reflections and shadows cast on the shop’s walls could similarly affect calibration accuracy. That is why the walls of the shop must be one solid color so that the sensors can locate the car within the facility. Wall coatings should also be free of any patterns that could be mistaken for calibration targets and confound sensors.
NOTE: It is crucial to emphasize, however, that ADAS is here to help you. It is NOT your substitute driver. As a result, you must maintain constant attention to the road when driving.
FAQ
Can ADAS be self-calibrated?
Sadly, there is no do-it-yourself way of calibrating these systems. Because of the ADAS’s intricacy, sophisticated computers and specialized specialists are needed to adjust these systems
Is it necessary to recalibrate ADAS after replacing the windshields?
Yes, in general, ADAS calibration is required when a windshield is replaced.
What are the examples of ADAS calibration?
Several ADAS sensors are included in modern automobiles, albeit not all of them require calibration. To help you learn, here are some of the most common ADAS sensors that require calibration.
- Sensors for Steering Angle
They indicate which way the steering wheel is being rotated. Setting your steering angle sensor is critical for obtaining a correct zero-point calibration. Typical calibration needs include straightening the wheels and zeroing out the steering angle with a scan tool.
- Sensors for front-facing cameras
Front-facing ADAS cameras identify automobiles, pedestrians, and impediments in your vehicle’s forward vision and are often installed on the inside of the windshield near the rearview mirror.
Can ADAS be calibrated using only one method?
No, there are various methods to calibrate the different sensors of the vehicles.
How long does ADAS calibration take?
Calibration typically takes 30 to 45 minutes and is performed at the same time as window replacement.