Description and functions of the active vehicle safety system

Unfortunately, even the most accurate and experienced motorist is not insured against the risk of getting into an accident. Realizing this, automakers are trying to do their best to improve the safety of the driver and his passengers during the trip. One of the measures aimed at reducing the number of accidents is the development of a modern active vehicle safety system, which reduces the risk of accidents.

What is active security

For a long time, the only means of protecting the driver and passengers in a car were only seat belts. However, with the active introduction of electronics and automation into the design of cars, the situation has changed radically. Now vehicles are equipped with a wide variety of devices, which can be divided into two main groups:

• active (aimed at eliminating the risk of an emergency);
• passive (responsible for reducing the severity of the consequences of an accident).

The peculiarity of active safety systems is that they are able to act depending on the situation and make decisions based on an analysis of the situation and the specific conditions under which the vehicle is moving.

The range of possible active safety functions depends on the manufacturer, equipment and technical characteristics of the vehicle.

Functions of systems responsible for active safety

All systems included in the complex of active safety devices perform several common functions:

• reduce the risk of road accidents;
• retain control of the vehicle in difficult or emergency situations;
• provide safety while driving both the driver and his passengers.

By controlling the directional stability of the vehicle, a complex of active safety systems allows you to maintain movement along the required trajectory, providing resistance to forces that can cause a skid or overturn of the car.

Main devices of the system

Modern vehicles are equipped with various mechanisms related to the active safety complex. These devices can be divided into several types:

• devices that interact with the braking system;
• steering controls;
• engine control mechanisms;
• electronic devices.

In total, there are several dozen functions and mechanisms to ensure the safety of the driver and his passengers. The main and most demanded systems among them are:

• anti-blocking;
• anti-slip;
• emergency braking;
• exchange rate stability;
• electronic differential lock;
• distribution of braking forces;
• pedestrian detection.

ABS

ABS is part of the braking system and is now found in almost all cars. The main task of the device is to exclude complete blocking of the wheels during braking. As a result, the car will not lose stability and controllability.

The ABS control unit monitors the speed of rotation of each wheel using sensors. If one of them begins to decelerate faster than the normalized values, the system relieves the pressure in its line, and blockage is prevented.

The ABS system always works automatically, without driver intervention.

ASR

ASR (aka ASC, A-TRAC, TDS, DSA, ETC) is responsible for eliminating the slipping of the driving wheels and avoids the car's skidding. If desired, the driver can turn it off. Based on ABS, the ASR additionally controls the electronic differential lock and certain engine parameters. Has different mechanisms of action at high and low speeds.

ESP

ESP (Vehicle Stability Program) is responsible for the predictable behavior of the vehicle and the preservation of the vector of motion in the event of abnormal situations. The designations may differ depending on the manufacturer:

• ENG;
• DSC;
• ESC;
• VSA, etc.

ESP includes a whole set of mechanisms that can assess the behavior of the car on the road and react to emerging deviations from the parameters set as the norm. The system can adjust the operating mode of the gearbox, engine, brakes.

BAS

The emergency braking system (abbreviated as BAS, EBA, BA, AFU) is responsible for effectively applying the brakes in the event of a dangerous situation. It can function with or without ABS. In the event of a sharp pressing on the brake, BAS activates the electromagnetic actuator of the booster rod. Pressing it, the system provides maximum effort and the most effective braking.

EBD

Brake force distribution (EBD or EBV) is not a separate system, but an additional function that expands the capabilities of ABS. EBD protects the vehicle from possible wheel locking on the rear axle.

EDS

The electronic differential lock is based on ABS. The system prevents slipping and increases the vehicle's cross-country ability by redistributing torque to the driving wheels. By analyzing the speed of their rotation using sensors, EDS activates the brake mechanism if one of the wheels is spinning faster than the others.

PDS

By monitoring the area in front of the vehicle, the Pedestrian Collision Prevention System (PDS) automatically brakes the vehicle. The traffic situation is assessed using cameras and radars. For the greatest efficiency, the BAS mechanism is used. However, this system has not yet been mastered by all car manufacturers.

Assistant devices

In addition to the basic functions of active safety, modern vehicles may also have auxiliary devices (assistants):

• all-round visibility system (allows the driver to control the "dead" zones);
• assistance when descending or ascending (controls the required speed on difficult sections of the road);
• night vision (helps to detect pedestrians or obstacles on the way at night);
• control of driver fatigue (gives a signal about the need for rest, detecting signs of motorist fatigue);
• automatic recognition of road signs (warns the motorist about the area of ​​action of certain restrictions);
• adaptive cruise control (allows the car to maintain a given speed without driver assistance);
• lane change assistance (informs about the occurrence of obstacles or obstacles that interfere with the lane change).

Modern vehicles are becoming more and more safer for drivers and passengers. Designers and engineers propose new developments, the main task of which is to help the motorist in an emergency situation. However, it is important to remember that road safety depends, first of all, not on automation, but on the attentiveness and accuracy of the driver. Using a restraint belt and complying with traffic regulations continue to be key to safety.