With all of the advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) on many of today’s automobiles, it is extremely important to recalibrate these systems when repairs are done to your vehicle. At Wooster Glass Co., we are the first in Ohio to use the Autel IA-800 system for windshield calibration. The IA-800 is the latest technology for ADAS optical positioning.
What is ADAS?
ADAS stands for Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems, and the overall goal is to provide greater safety to drivers and passengers on the road. ADAS-equipped vehicles use cameras and sensors that feed data into a computer to alert drivers about any potential road hazards.
There are four kinds of ADAS systems used by vehicle manufacturers:
- Adaptive systems will change the vehicle’s behavior based on data from the environment around the car. An example is adaptive cruise control that will alter a vehicle’s speed.
- Automated systems will engage and initiate corrective behaviors when the driver is unable to do so in a timely and safe manner. An automated braking system is an example of this kind of system.
- Monitoring systems receive data from the environment around the vehicle through the use of sensors and cameras and will alert drivers if they need to take any corrective actions. Blind-spot monitoring is an example of this kind of system.
- Warning systems issue alerts to drivers if there are any potential hazards. A forward warning collision system is an example of this of ADAS system.
What are some of the features in ADAS-equipped vehicles?
If you watch television, then one of the most popular features you will see advertised is how one of these systems can help drivers park their cars. Here are just some of the ways auto manufacturers utilize ADAS in the vehicles they build:
- Adaptive Cruise Control: Where your typical cruise control keeps your vehicle driving at a consistent speed, adaptive cruise control is designed to keep your vehicle at a safe following distance. It will adjust your speed if the driver in front of you is moving slower than you.
- Automatic Emergency Braking: These systems are designed to alert drivers about a potential forward crash. If the driver does not take action to avoid or mitigate the crash, the AEB system will begin braking.
- Blind-Spot Monitoring: Through the use of sensors on side mirrors or rear bumper, this system will sound an alert when an object is detected in an adjacent lane.
- Forward Collision Warning: Similar to AEB, these systems provide alerts when you are getting close to the driver in front of you. The system will alert you to take corrective action or assist if your response time takes too long.
- Rear Collision Warning: Newer vehicles have rearview cameras, which helps avoid crashes while backing up. Though backing crashes do not tend to be severe, they can be deadly or critical if a child is behind the vehicle.
- Pedestrian Detection: Some forward collision warning systems are designed to detect pedestrians.
- Lane Departure Alerts: With these systems, cameras monitor lane markings on the road and detect when vehicles drift outside their lane of travel.
Do Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems work?
The answer is, “Yes,” according to a study from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute. ADAS-equipped vehicles do provide benefits, depending upon the safety features. These systems have not eliminated road accidents, but they have reduced the number of them by providing additional road safety features.
In looking at the highlights from their study, you can see forward collision warnings have reduced front-to-rear crashes, and when combined with autobraking, the results are even better.
Lane departure warning systems have reduced motor vehicle crashes by 11% and injury crashes of the same type by 21%.
Rear automatic braking and rearview cameras have helped with collision avoidance, too, as has blind spot detection.
What are features of the IA-800 optical positioning system Wooster Glass uses?
President Kathy Long and Vice President Pat Neyhart decided to invest in Autel’s IA-800 because it uses laser technology and six high-resolution cameras to deliver 3-dimensional adjustment for the most accurate frame centering and windshield calibration, which is critical for vehicle distance recognition and other safety benefits.
When a vehicle is involved in a crash, the windshield and frame need to be recalibrated so the safety technology employed by ADAS-equipped vehicles operate property.
Wooster Glass is a leader in windshield replacement and repair that services Wooster, Orrville, Millersburg, Ashland, Wayne County, Holmes County and beyond. With auto manufacturers equipping more vehicles with advanced driver-assistance systems, Wooster Glass wanted to go with the industry leader that offers the latest technology so that vehicle owners can be confident their windshields have been recalibrated properly and to the manufacturer’s exact specifications.
“Onboard cameras are a crucial component to gather data that enables the vehicle to know what lies ahead, particularly what dangers may be in front of your vehicle,” Neyhart said. “Any variance in the aiming of the camera could mean the vehicle may not recognize danger ahead.”
So, it is important the windshield is properly recalibrated after a crash or if it is replaced.
A key aspect of the Autel IA-800 System that Neyhart really appreciates is repeatability. Other systems relied on mechanical measurement with the glass tech putting pencil marks on the floor and taking measurements. This made it virtually impossible to recalibrate a windshield the same way twice.
The Autel system features two-wheel clamp targets and placement precision, and, when combined with the laser system, it ensures accuracy and repeatability.
Wooster Glass focuses on windshield calibration
Right now, Wooster Glass techs recalibrate those features involving windshield calibration, Neyhart said. The company invested in the complete Autel system, but Neyhart wants to focus on windshields first.
“In the future, we might expand to the other Advanced Driver-Assistance System features,” Neyhart said. “We’re dipping our feet into ADAS-equipped vehicles, and we want to make sure we are doing the windshields correctly.”
Wooster Glass works with all insurance companies. All you need to do is tell your insurance agent or claims representative you want Wooster Glass to do the work.
For more information about windshield calibration on ADAS-equipped vehicles, visit Wooster Glass at 419 S. Market St. in Wooster, call (330) 264-8652, or reach out to us on our Contact page.