ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) have become an integral feature for building new vehicles. Many vehicles in 2022 will have some form of camera, blind-spot detection, lane-changing radar, and more features that provide a safe road experience. These features help create a safe environment for drivers and pedestrians. As with any vehicle, the ADAS system needs upkeep and requires calibration when there is a change to the car. The evident changes are windshield replacement and repairs, but ADAS sensors and radars also need calibration after any maintenance to the vehicle. Annual maintenance such as wheel alignments, new wheels, and sensor fixes require ADAS calibration to guarantee the sensors read the road correctly.
Why is it important to calibrate the ADAS system?
The biggest reason is safety! When the cameras are not focused and aligned correctly, they can give false readings when a vehicle backs up, changes lanes, or detects collisions. It goes without saying how dangerous this can be, so calibrating a vehicle’s ADAS system to OEM standards is a MUST when getting vehicle maintenance.
What is Static Calibration?
Static calibration is done in the shop with targets. The targets are set up with specific manufacturer OEM settings, and the ADAS system is put into a learning mode to read the marks. The vehicle will read the targets and align the cameras to the precise placement they need to be pointing to on the road. After the ADAS system is calibrated, a final post-testing report is done to confirm the system is back to OEM settings and ready to be driven.
What is Dynamic Calibration?
Dynamic calibration is when the ADAS system is put into a learning mode while driving to align with the sensors and radars in the vehicle to match the road signs and markers. This is typically done after the static calibration test to ensure the vehicle is ready for the road.
ACR’s process for calibrating ADAS systems in vehicles includes:
- Pre-testing Report using the OBD2 to see the existing condition of the ADAS system and other issues related to the vehicle.
- Ensure the vehicle has OEM settings: this includes the original tire size, gas levels, and suspension.
- Perform static and/or dynamic testing depending on the vehicle.
- Post-testing Report using the OBD2 to ensure the vehicle’s ADAS system is running properly.
The Equipment
Technology is constantly evolving and improving for ADAS features, so the equipment used to calibrate the system must also evolve. ACR uses multiple tools to scan and calibrate a vehicle’s ADAS system to ensure the driver is safe on the road.
The first piece of equipment used on a vehicle brought in for repairs is the OBD2 (On-Board Diagnostics) scanner. It scans the vehicle’s computer system for the serial number to gather information on the model’s OEM settings. It also checks the internal computer system for “fault codes,” which show what has been flagged as needing repairs.
Before setting up the equipment for the calibration process, the team uses tire sensors to find the vehicle’s center. The tire sensors are a new piece of equipment ACR has acquired to make the calibration process more accurate. Beforehand, this step was measured by hand.
The second big piece of equipment used is the MaxiSys ADAS calibration frame. It holds the computer and uses targets to perform the Static test for calibrating the vehicle to OEM settings.
Watch the video below to learn more about the new ADAS equipment in the shop and how it is used to recalibrate an ADAS system and make driving safer.