ADAS Calibrations

ADAS stands for Advanced Driver Assistance System and it is the precise physical alignment and testing system for many new vehicles. Electronic aiming sensors collect data to inform the system what it needs to know in order to keep those features operating properly. 

According to AAA, “… a sensor on the car that is out of alignment by a fraction of an inch or even one degree will be aimed at an area significantly off axis 50 or more feet down the road.” In other words, millimeters matter.  

When a brand new vehicle is manufactured, the ADAS sensors are put in specific positions to be able to read its surrounding environment, and then notify the central system what it needs to know. During the recalibration process the sensors are told where they need to look, based on the original factory settings

Vehicles equipped with ADAS features will either need a Static Calibration, Dynamic Calibration or both. The primary difference between these two calibration types is that Static calibrations are performed in a stationary position. Specific conditions are needed to be met for a Static Calibration such as the size of space (aprox 30’ x 50’), level/finished floor, uniform color and lighting and an open space with no reflections nor direct sunlight. It utilizes stationary targets specific to the particular vehicle being calibrated. 

A Dynamic Calibration is performed by actually driving the vehicle with an ADAS scan tool connected to the vehicle's main computer. Certain conditions typically need to be met during the process depending on who manufactured the vehicle. 

There are various reasons why a vehicle could be out of calibration. Anytime the airbag is deployed, the windshield is replaced, a vehicle alignment is performed, a change in suspension, or anytime a vehicle is involved in an accident–a calibration is highly recommended.

There are a few different types of sensors that your vehicle can potentially possess: Front Facing Camera, Steering Angle, Forward Radar or Rear Radar Sensors. The Front Facing Camera Sensors are the sensors that Clear Results Glass focuses on primarily, because those are the ones that are affected by the replacement of windshields. Because those camera sensors are located in the windshield near the rearview mirror, it is common for us to have to calibrate them. 

The different types of features located in the Front Facing Camera include, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Automatic High Beams, Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Lane Keeping Assist. The easiest way to know if you have a Front Facing Camera is to look at the windshield from the outside focusing on the top, Center where the rear view mirror is and look for a triangle type shape  with a small lens at the top. 

Adaptive Cruise Control: automatically adjusts a vehicle's speed depending on the flow of traffic. It speeds the car up to a pre-set speed when there are no cars at a certain distance ahead of you, and it also slows down the car when it detects cars ahead of you as you get to a certain distance to them. Ideal for highway use. 

Automatic Emergency Braking: Also known as Forward Collision Alert,  which uses sensors to detect whether the driver is in the process of hitting another vehicle or other objects on the road. This application can measure the distance of nearby traffic and alert the driver to any danger. Some emergency braking systems can take preventive safety measures such as tightening seat belts, reducing speed, and engaging adaptive steering to avoid a collision.

Lane Departure Warning System: The system uses a front-mounted camera located in the upper portion of the windshield to confirm whether the vehicle is within the white (or yellow) lane markers of the traveling lane. The system visually monitors the left and right side lane markers of the traveling lane. If there is a risk of the vehicle leaving the traveling lane unintended, the system flashes an indicator and sounds a warning chime.  Another name for this system is Lane Keep Assist.