ADAS Calibration 101

Many new cars come with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These advanced safety systems use sensors and cameras, tied into the cars computer system, to collect data for safety warnings.  ADAS involves functions like: 

1. Automatic Emergency Brake 

2. Forward and Rear Collision Warning 

3. Adaptive Cruise Control 

4. Night Vision System 

5. Blind Spot Detection 

6. Around View Monitoring 

7. Lane Keeping Assist 

8. Lane Departure Warning 

9. Parking Assist 

In new vehicles, ADAS sensors are set in factory positions and must remain in their precise positions.  As AAA explains, “… 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.”  Certain events, such as having a windshield replaced, causes these cameras and sensors to come out of alignment.  

Many things.  In addition to having  a windshield replaced, collisions, car repairs, wheel alignments and even with the passage of time, normal wear and tear of a car can cause the ADAS to come out of alignment.

Calibration (also known as “recalibration”), is the precise physical alignment, testing, and electronic aiming of sensors using specialized equipment.  Calibration not only tells the sensors where to look, but also indicates their positions relative to the entire vehicle so that the ADAS can operate properly.  If the cameras and sensors used for the ADAS are not calibrated or aligned property, the ADAS system will fail to operate correctly.

1. Static Calibration

Most vehicles start with static calibration.  Very specific requirements must be met to properly perform a static calibration.  Static calibration requires special tools and equipment in a controlled environment with unobstructed space around the vehicle, no reflective surfaces, no direct sunlight, a level floor surface, neutral floor and wall colors, uniform lighting and a minimum of 30’ of open space.  Because of these requirements and the high cost of the equipment, many vehicle repair facilities are unable to properly perform static calibrations.  

2. Dynamic Calibration

Some vehicles require only dynamic calibration and some require both static and dynamic calibration.  Dynamic calibration requires driving the vehicle for a certain distance at specified speeds while connected to an ADAS scan too.  The required driving conditions vary from vehicle to vehicle and only a static pre-scan can verify the type(s) of calibration needed for a particular vehicle.   

 It depends.   A calibration can take anywhere from a few minutes up to an hour or more.

Many things.  Collision repair facilities often point to the windshield as the cause of calibration failure.  However, the research shows that:

• 50% of blind spot calibrations fail because of deformation to a panel (e.g., quarter panel).
• Bumper repairs, even excess paint that is too close to the sensor can cause a blind spot calibration to fail.   In fact, bumper stickesrs and excess paint are common causes of calibration failure because the added mil thickness blocks the sensitivity of the sensor.
• Failure to replace a bracket in an ordinary vehicle repair can cause a calibration to fail.
• Broken or corroded sensors and cameras can cause a calibration to fail.
• According to Repairer Driven News, "collision repairers' failure to perform fundamental operations like measuring vehicles or correct repairs is contributing to a high failure rate during the calibration stage."

Because of the amount of misinformation circulating about calibrations, learn the facts vs. fiction before you schedule a calibration with your vehicle repair service provider.