The acronym ADAS stands for Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems. These are the high-end safety features in your car that use cameras and sensors to assist you on the road and even help you avoid accidents. Blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and Ford Blue Cruise are some of the best examples.
The ADAS calibration process ensures proper alignment and operation of the integrated cameras and sensors. In simpler words, after any repair or replacement in your car, calibration is necessary to make sure everything is working as required.
Why Does ADAS Calibration Matter?
The ADAS system of your ride relies on sensors, cameras, and radar technology to monitor its surroundings. Whenever your vehicle undergoes any repairs, whether the routine ones like windshield replacement or bumper repairs, or the ones after a collision, it is highly common for cameras and sensors to get out of alignment.
Please keep in mind that even minor adjustments to your ride can affect the accuracy of ADAS functions.
If you ignore handling them, then the ADAS system could give you false warnings or, worse, not work at all. This is dangerous because, like other car owners, you may rely on the system to avoid accidents, but your negligence would prevent it.
Thus, to avoid such a misfortune from happening, proper calibration is a necessity. This process restores all your ride’s safety systems to their intended settings, ensuring they function in the right manner and keep you safe on the road.
Most of the time, a certified professional with specialized equipment must perform ADAS calibration. It is not something like contemplating an oil change dealership vs jiffy lube. While you can do the oil change yourself as a DIY project, you cannot recklessly make such a decision with ADAS calibration.
The Importance of Following a Calibration Checklist
If you wish to achieve optimal ADAS functionality, there is a comprehensive calibration checklist that you need to follow. This checklist ensures that you are following each step of the process in methodical order, minimizing the risk of errors or incomplete calibration.
Indeed, a professional is required to complete this process. However, as a responsible car owner, it would be wise if you made yourself familiar with the process. Exploring a comprehensive ADAS calibration guide like this one can provide you with a detailed understanding of the involved procedures and even help you talk about the matter with your mechanic on your next visit to the auto repair shop.
Below we have a detailed guide to the advanced driver-assistance systems assessment.
6 Steps ADAS Calibration Checklist Every Car Owner Should Know About
Automobiles are nothing but big pieces of machinery comprised of components like metals, wires, modern technology, and safety gadgets. Despite their sturdy build, especially when it comes to integrated technology, automobiles are internally as fragile as a child and require constant care to remain in excellent condition.
This is because even a small bump can knock safety devices like cameras and sensors out of alignment. Thus, you need to learn about the ADAS calibration process. It will help you communicate with your mechanic and inspect your ride periodically.
1. Pre-Calibration Preparation
Before starting the calibration process, you must ensure you have all the crucial details related to the vehicle, like its make, model, year, VIN, repair history, diagnostic scan, and manufacturer’s guidelines.
The technician needs these details to learn about your ride and its issues.
- Vehicle Information: Make, model, year, and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).
- Repair History: To understand the extent of repairs or replacements that may affect ADAS components.
- A diagnostic scan is required to identify any current or potential issues with ADAS components.
- Manufacturer Guidelines: Describe the vehicle manufacturer’s ADAS calibration requirements and specifications.
2. Environment Setup
Once the technician has familiarized themselves with all the crucial details about your ride, they will proceed to create an optimal environment to initiate the process. Indoor setup is the best for the process as it minimizes the interference of external factors like wind, sunlight, and other environmental variables.
Make sure they are providing a dedicated space for your vehicle with adequate lighting and a flat, level surface to position it and the evaluation equipment. During the process, make sure there are no obstacles or reflective surfaces that could affect sensor readings.
3. Equipment Setup
The next step is preparing and setting up the necessary calibration equipment. Make sure the auto repair shop uses your vehicle’s manufacturer-approved calibration tools to handle your ride’s ADAS system.
For each ADAS component requiring the process, position the calibration targets or patterns in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Additionally, use the alignment tools to guarantee precise target and assessment equipment placement in relation to the vehicle.
4. Sensor Calibration Procedures
There is a different calibration procedure for different ADAS sensors. Make sure the technician is following the precise process for each sensor.
- Radar Sensors – To ensure proper alignment with the radar sensors, position the radar calibration targets according to the specified distances and angles.
- Camera Systems – As per your manufacturer’s instructions, align the camera calibration targets to match the angles and distances of your vehicle’s camera housing.
- Laser Sensors – To ensure accurate sensor readings, we calibrate the laser sensors with reflective targets at specified distances and angles.
5. Post-Calibration Verification
Once the calibration process is complete, it’s time to carry out the post-calibration procedures.
- Functional Tests – The functional tests are performed to verify the proper operation of ADAS features present in your ride, like lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and more.
- Diagnostic Scan – A final diagnostic scan will confirm whether all the ADAS components are functioning correctly and if there are error codes present.
- Road Test – Conducting a road test as part of post-calibration verification is completely normal. Testing your ride under various driving conditions is to check whether the ADAS systems are responding accurately to real-world scenarios.
6. Documentation and Compliance
The final step on the checklist is to document all the calibration procedures performed, their results, and any adjustments made during the process. In addition, for warranty and liability purposes, maintain a compliance record that includes regulatory requirements and manufacturer recommendations for ADAS calibration.
Conclusion
A crucial procedure for preserving the functionality and safety of contemporary cars with sophisticated driver aid systems is ADAS calibration. By adhering to a thorough calibration checklist, automotive technicians can ensure the precise alignment and calibration of ADAS sensors and cameras in accordance with manufacturer standards. This methodical technique improves client happiness and trust in the caliber of car repairs and services, in addition to increasing vehicle safety.
Automobile repair facilities and technicians, committed to delivering exceptional service and ensuring optimal vehicle performance in today’s technologically advanced automotive industry, must implement a comprehensive ADAS calibration checklist. As a car owner, you must know the procedure to know this.
