What are the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems?

ADAS is a group of connected electronic systems that work together to help ensure your safety on the road. This is done by alerting you of potential problems and even automatically preventing a collision.

Each component of your vehicle’s ADAS will fall under one of the following categories:

• Automated – Automatically respond, take over, and perform emergency safety functions to prevent a collision.
• Adaptive – Based on data about the surrounding environment, changes or adaptations are made to ensure safety.
• Monitoring – Make corrections as needed based on input from cameras, sensors, and other components that monitor the surrounding area and the driving of the vehicle.
• Warning – When a potential safety issue in your driving or those driving around you is detected, these components will alert you.

Different Types of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

• Lane Keep Assist: This handy system is intended to keep the vehicle in the centre of its lane. It notifies the driver if it inadvertently departs or changes lanes without indication. What's more, should the vehicle continue to drift, the system initiates a corrective steering response to bring the vehicle back within its lines.
•   Lane Departure Warning System: One of the first ADASs offered on the market, this system alerts the driver when the vehicle unintentionally leaves a detected lane when the turn signal has not been activated. This type of warning is delivered by a vibration through the driver’s seat or steering wheel.
•   Forward Collision Alert: The FCA is an alert system that informs the driver (visually and/or audibly) that the distance of the vehicle ahead is too short and that there is a risk of collision.
•   Collision Mitigation Braking System: This system offers the same functions as the collision alert. It triggers a visual and/or audible warning enabling the driver to take the necessary measures. However, this system goes a step further. In the event that the system detects an impending collision, the vehicle will automatically apply the brakes to avoid it.
•   Adaptive Cruise Control: Cruise control is an excellent feature.  Nevertheless, at some point, especially when coming across a little highway congestion, you’re going to have to use the brakes and then reset it. But not anymore with this ADAS! Adaptive cruise control automatically adapts the speed of your vehicle to keep a safe distance with the vehicle in front of it.

How does an ADAS work?

These systems work in part thanks to a camera mounted to the windshield. This means that your windshield takes on an even more important role than before (if protecting you and reinforcing the rest of your car weren’t enough...). These cameras rely 100% on a precise installation and calibration to ensure they are accurately detecting the environment outside your car.

If installed improperly, they won’t work as they should or worse, could become a safety hazard to the driver. That’s why it is crucial to recalibrate the camera after a windshield repair or windshield replacement.

What is the ADAS Calibration Process?

Depending on the specific type of vehicle, one of two different calibration processes will be used to meet the manufacturer specifications, either dynamic calibration or static calibration.

In the dynamic process, the technician will actively inspect and calibrate the sensors based on live feedback that is received, while the vehicle is moving. Our experienced ADAS experts know how a car responds in different situations, which can be affected by even the smallest changes.

With this static process, calibrations are made using specialized targets and tools while your vehicle is parked in a controlled environment. Static calibrations can be more time-consuming and slightly more difficult due to specific conditions that have to be recreated to properly calibrate the systems’ components.

But, optimal calibration can be reached using either of these processes. For your vehicle’s ADAS calibration, we will always follow the manufacturer’s specific guidelines

Is ADAS Calibration covered by my insurance after a windshield installation?

In many instances, it is. If you have full coverage car insurance, which includes glass coverage, recalibration of the front-facing camera(s), and any associated motion sensors, you will usually be covered.