As ADAS Solutions USA continues to provide our customers with critical ADAS insights, we recommend taking a few minutes to visit the links below from a recent article in Autobody News. This article highlights a newly released whitepaper (also linked below) on the importance of accurate ADAS calibrations.
Please feel free to CONTACT US with any questions about these critical topics.
Excerpts:
* ADAS sensors require precision: ADAS sensors (cameras, radars, etc.) are finely tuned devices, and even a slight misalignment can throw them off. Industry experts note that if a sensor’s aim is off by just one degree or a few millimeters, the error is magnified at a distance where the sensor could be looking several feet off target by the time it’s 50+ feet down the road.7,11 In practical terms, a one-degree misalignment can render an entire ADAS system ineffective and dangerous.11 For example, a forward camera that’s a hair off may “see” the road incorrectly, missing lane markings or vehicles that are actually in its path.
*The cost of skipping calibration: Besides the safety risk, failing to calibrate ADAS after a collision repair can have legal and financial repercussions (explored more in Section 6). The important point for drivers is this: whenever your vehicle undergoes body work or repairs that involve ADAS components (cameras, radars, suspension, etc.), insist on a calibration. It often requires specialized equipment and expertise, but it is not an “extra”, it is part of returning your car to safe operating condition. As one automotive glass expert put it, even a quick windshield swap now takes hours because the cameras must be calibrated; skipping that step is simply not an option.10 Safety systems that aren’t calibrated are safety systems in name only
*Real-world tragedies to avoid: While specific crash investigations are still catching up to this new technology, safety experts widely acknowledge the risk. Not only did many drivers experience ADAS glitches after the initial repair, but some had to return multiple times to get the systems fixed.6 In other words, an improper calibration can turn into a frustrating cycle of repeat visits, and worse, the car is on the road in the meantime, potentially without effective crash avoidance. Despite these headaches, the IIHS notes most drivers still value the technology and want it in their next car,6 they just want it to work correctly. This highlights a critical responsibility on repair shops: once a vehicle is repaired from collision damage, the ADAS must be recalibrated to factory specs (using proper tools and procedures) to restore its safety function. Skipping this step or doing it wrong isn’t just an inconvenience, it directly puts lives at risk. Case study – miscalibration leading to missed warnings: Imagine a car that’s been repaired but its forward-facing camera wasn’t calibrated. In testing scenarios, the outcomes have been dire. In a controlled study conducted at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) and commissioned by Burke Porter, an Ascential Technologies brand, a vehicle was intentionally put in an “improperly calibrated” state (camera slightly misaimed and radar mis-mounted, simulating common post-repair mistakes). poorly calibrated AEB system, for example, “may fail to engage or engage too late, resulting in a collision.”9 There have been anecdotes of drivers assuming their ADAS would save them, only to find out (too late) that a sensor was misaligned from a previous minor crash. This creates a false sense of security in which the driver might follow too closely or not brake in time, expecting the car to intervene, but the car’s “eyes” are effectively blinded.9 Manufacturers and insurers fear a scenario where someone is injured in a crash that could have been avoided had the ADAS been properly recalibrated after an earlier repair. It’s worth noting that modern cars will often self-diagnose major miscalibrations and flash a dashboard warning, but not always. Subtle misalignments can go undetected by onboard diagnostics and still dramatically impair performance.12
