The automotive market is in a state of rapid evolution. More new technologies have made their way into vehicles in the last decade than at any other point since the car was invented.
With safety and sustainability in mind, many of these new technologies aim to help the driver and vehicle occupants. Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and electric powertrains are more commonplace. With new regulations coming into play in various markets, their prevalence will only grow stronger.
But these are not systems that can be worked on without training. From a safety point of view, for both driver and technician, knowledge is essential. These new systems not only keep vehicles running, but do so while ensuring a safe and smooth drive into the automotive future.
ADAS technology not only helps the driver remain safe, but it also makes their driving life easier. It is also a step towards fully autonomous driving, utilising various sensors and onboard computers to detect issues or scenarios and control the car accordingly.
It is crucial for technicians to understand the functions that underpin ADAS. The system uses the principles of ‘sense, understand and act’. Electronic input sensors capture raw data about the vehicle’s environment, position and trajectory, while high-performance micro processing then combines and analyses the data in order to extract meaning from it.
This is then sent to the driver via warning lights or dashboard information, or the vehicle will take control of the situation itself, in automated circumstances.
As ADAS has evolved, so too has the number of sensors. Each sensor type has its own specific detection properties and capabilities, rendering them either more or less useful depending on the object and conditions.
