Automotive technology linked to braking has seen several major advances in recent history since ABS brakes were first introduced in the mid 80s. We thought it would be pretty cool to put together somewhat of a 5-part history lesson that includes details about the stages of development and some in-depth info that you could use for pub ammo. Enjoy!
The ABS braking system helps prevent a vehicle’s wheels from locking up that would otherwise lead to the loss of steering control. The next major advance in automobile braking technology was the development of traction control which helps reduce slipping when a vehicle begins moving or when it loses traction on one wheel. This is common when high revs force the wheels to suddenly begin slipping. The traction control was considered an entirely ultra modern technology until the development of the electronic stability control (ESC) which is linked to the engine control unit (ECU) installed on modern vehicles.
The ESC helps improve several aspects besides the breaking. It controls each individual wheels’ tracking and braking. This results in improved stability, handling and steering control under any driving conditions. Since the electronic stability control is fully computerized it makes standalone ABS braking system look like outdated technology since the computer monitors all operations on the car constantly. It monitors and can respond to the driver’s actions and road conditions to help maintain control and stability of a vehicle while driving under most road conditions.
The sensors will compare the inertia of the vehicle with the direction of your steering. And if these two don’t match then “Thunderbirds are Go!”
In case a problem does occur while driving, the electronic stability control swings into action and takes the necessary counter measures to maintain the vehicles control and stability. This is achieved by including sensors to the suspension and braking system which are further linked to the ECU. A computer that monitors the levels and takes the required actions to maintain stability. The sensors will compare the inertia of the vehicle with the direction of your steering. And if these two don’t match then “Thunderbirds are Go!” The ESC does not take commands from a driver and instead initiates certain sequences to reduce engine power and simultaneously applying the required brakes on each wheel independently to counter the forces. All this happens without any intervention from the driver.
The ESC is currently the latest technology modern automobiles have installed but the future is destined to see even more advancements in automotive braking, stability and control. In the same way we consider older ABS brake system outdated today, the electronic stability control is also bound to be considered an inferior technology in the future with some improvements that you may have already heard of such as Automatic Emergency Brake Assist (ANB). We will also talk about this soon!
Stay tuned for Part 2 of 5 guys. Thanks for reading! Also, if you know of any instances where ESC has or has not helped a situation, we’d love to know about it in the comments below!