The necessity of ADAS calibration is the question collision repairers are being made to ask more often as vehicle technology advances. Now, the experts are here to help.
The new ADAS code is aimed at helping workshops make more informed and safer decisions.
The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association brought the industry together at the recent Autocare Convention in Brisbane, and the AASRA team was thrilled to be one of the many exhibitors at this pre-eminent biennial event. Thousands of technicians and workshop owners attended the world-class technical training and business education sessions, the highly interactive trade show, and the extensive opportunities to network.
Of particular interest to AASRA was the discussion about the all-makes repair model, and how best to leverage Australia’s Motor Vehicle Information Sharing scheme to enhance diagnostic and repair capabilities.
Dovetailing into this was the launch of the national ADAS – Industry Code of Conduct, (the Code) a practical, sector-specific guide on how to manage one of the most critical safety issues in modern vehicle repair: calibration of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
AAAA Director of Government Relations and Advocacy Lesley Yates, has been a vocal advocate for the ADAS Code.
“The Code is a vital step in ensuring vehicle safety systems continue to function as intended throughout a vehicle’s life,” she says.
“ADAS isn’t just a feature or an optional extra, it’s the foundation of future automotive technology. It’s the beginning of the next technological revolution.”
So, what does the new Code cover?
The ADAS Service and Repair Technical Working Group, consisted of specialists from collision and mechanical workshops, tyre and suspension specialists, and automotive glass and equipment suppliers. It developed the appropriate ADAS validation protocols, identified existing gaps in skills, tools and processes, ensured regulatory alignment, and now supports the implementation by providing guidelines training and resources.
With ever-increasing vehicle complexity and the need for calibration, ADAS equipped vehicles require more precision that ever before to ensure the vehicle is returned to the owner with all the inter-connected systems operating as they should.
By now we are all aware of the diverse array of sensor technologies – such as cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors, LiDAR and infrared sensors – that underpin ADAS, although understanding how they all “hang together” and the importance of getting it right is still a work in progress.
The Code identifies several scenarios when ADAS calibration should be conducted, and it highlights that ADAS functionality requires a combination of visual inspections, professional licensed diagnostic tools and equipment, and in some cases, road testing.
The ADAS protocol
The Code defines 10 key areas of focus for successful ADAS calibration:
- Workshop preparation
- Testing and diagnosis of ADAS
- Pre- and post-scanning
- Repairing ADAS
- Collision repairs
- Best practice for windscreen replacement
- Mobile paint/touch-up/bumper repairs
- Mobile ADAS service providers
- Tyre and wheel alignment
service and repair - A summary of the key steps
ADAS technical working group chair Craig Baills says the code was a timely collaboration bringing together experts to achieve some clarity for the industry:
“ADAS is not going away, in fact it’s becoming even more prevalent in newer vehicles with close to 50 percent of vehicles expected to have ADAS by 2030,” Baills says.
“ADAS is evolving at a significant rate which the industry must embrace, and the ADAS Code is designed to help workshops and repairers fully understand best practices when carrying out ADAS calibrations and repair work. It is a living Code that will most likely be adapted as the industry evolves and will continue to ensure that all repairers can correctly repair and calibrate ADAS systems to correct operation as the vehicle manufacturer intended.”
The importance to collision repair
The ADAS protocol dedicates a separate section related to collision repair, highlighting the importance of the technology to this sector of the industry. Here is a summary:
ADAS sensor calibration
This is required whenever a sensor, radar or ADAS components’ alignment is disrupted due to vehicle collisions or damage, including cosmetic and minor collisions.
Modern collision repairs frequently involve sensor replacements and calibrations. To ensure accuracy, automotive manufacturers recommend that service providers conduct a pre-repair diagnostic scan before any repairs begin and a post-repair scan after completing the job. This ensures that all system issues have been resolved, calibration has been successfully completed, and vehicle control systems are functioning correctly.
This is a precision process that is often complex and time-consuming. Some sensors require static calibration in a workshop, while others necessitate dynamic calibration during a road test. Many require a combination of both.
Surround-view camera calibration
With many modern vehicles being equipped with 360-degree cameras it is important to ensure the correct operation and calibration of these components post repair. This is necessary after replacing a camera, grille, door mirror, bumper cover, or other mounting components that impact the location and mounting of these cameras. Typically performed indoors using large, patterned mats positioned around the vehicle, noting that some systems require an additional dynamic road test after static calibration.
Steering angle sensor calibration
Required after airbag deployment, structural repairs, or wheel alignments. The calibration process involves centring the steering wheel and using diagnostic equipment to initiate and reset the steering angle sensor to zero degrees.
Repairing and recalibrating ADAS after a frontal collision
A frontal collision is among the most severe types of crashes, often impacting multiple ADAS components. Proper repairs and calibrations are crucial to restoring system functionality. Key ADAS components affected in a front-end collision include adaptive cruise control, which uses radar sensors to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles; forward collision warning systems which use radar and front-facing cameras to detect objects in front of the vehicle and apply the brakes automatically; and lane-keep assist systems that utilise a camera mounted near the windscreen to track lane markings, which, depending on the manufacturer’s specifications, may require static or dynamic calibration.
Since frontal collisions impact multiple ADAS components, thorough post-repair scanning and calibration are necessary to restore safe vehicle operation.
NWG’s general manager ADAS, Rob Mildenhall was another expert who contributed to the work.
“The ADAS code has brought a uniform approach to repairers of ADAS, confirming that environment, equipment and training are non-negotiable elements to conducting safe and proper calibration of the ADAS,” Mildenhall says. “The Code working group ensured there was industry-wide consensus on the importance of conducting these repairs in accordance with OEM guidelines and standards.”
Tying it all together
The Code was designed by the industry, for the industry, fundamentally to ensure that all independent repairers deliver a safe and proper repair. This ties in nicely to the very reason that AASRA exists: to ensure compliance with the Motor Vehicle Information Sharing scheme, by facilitating the flow of genuine and current manufacturer service and repair information.
AASRA executive officer, Joe McFadries summed it all up by saying: “Successful diagnosis, repair and calibration of ADAS relies on access to current manufacturer data, systems and processes. AASRA provides the most up to date access to 34 participating brands representing 87 percent of the Australian carparc. Put more simply: with an AASRA subscription you will find the information you need for 9 out of every 10 cars that come into your workshop.”
For more information on the Code, or download a copy, visit: www.aaaa.com.au/adas-code/
For more information about AASRA, visit: www.aasra.com.au
The author acknowledges that the information reproduced from the ADAS – Industry Code of Conduct is the intellectual property of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association.