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DRIVER ASSISTANCE DEMYSTIFIED (part 1): STATIC OR DYNAMIC CALIBRATION
(Article taken from L’Automobile magazine, June 2023)
By Raynald Bouchard
Driver assistance systems have been attracting manufacturers’ interest for several years now. Welcome to the world of ADAS!
When a new vehicle is delivered to a customer, they are given instructions on how to operate the radio, GPS, seat adjustments, Bluetooth cellphone connection and fuel filler flap, among other things. But times have changed. The Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) uses cameras and state-of-the-art technology with different types of radar to help drivers take better control of their vehicles.
Often regarded as the greatest technological breakthrough affecting modern vehicles, ADAS comes with its share of challenges, starting with drivers’ misunderstanding of how it works, as well as harsh weather conditions such as those in Québec.
Static or Dynamic Calibration
Calibration is the only way to ensure that the system works properly. Calibration means programming parameters for the module, which implies that the repairer has explicit approval from each manufacturer.
First, there’s static calibration in the workshop: the radar or camera has the potential to probe a wider environment than its intended function. Static calibration also requires a suitable environment, whether for a blind spot radar or a lane departure camera.
The simplest method is dynamic calibration, which is already integrated into the final alignment procedure. What’s more, dynamic calibration has the advantage of counteracting the error caused by the chassis being offset from the wheels.
A Specialty Within a Specialty
The complexity and cost of the various systems mean that calibration technicians are developing a specialty. In the interests of profitability and lower repair costs for the customer, companies seem to want to develop into specialist ADAS centres. This is leading some of these specialist companies to advertise and offer their services to surrounding garages.
Moral and Legal Dilemma
The emergence of ADAS is aimed at alleviating the burden of driving, such as distractions, fatigue and the execution of a false maneuver by the driver in a critical situation. But what about pedestrians, cyclists and even older vehicles whose ability to communicate their position with other vehicles is non-existent? This raises a moral and legal dilemma. This dimension will be addressed in forthcoming articles in L’Automobile, which will cover, among other things, the vehicle-to-vehicle communication protocol, accessibility to cellular networks and, noteworthy, the investment required to set up a workshop space reserved for static calibration.
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