What is ADAS in a Car?

Automobiles revolutionized how humans get around, transport goods, and opened distance travel to nearly everyone. The upsides of cars are obvious, but safety has always been a huge concern that manufacturers continue to work on improving. After all, cars are big, heavy, and travel at high speeds. Accidents caused by human error take lives every single day. Modern vehicles employ a range of systems meant to help drivers stay safe on the road.

Enter Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, also known as ADAS. The acronym ADAS encompasses technology ranging from anti-lock brakes to lane departure assistance. In this article, we’re going to dive into the history of ADAS systems, how they work, and what the future holds for driver assistance technology.

History of ADAS

Driver assistance technology is nothing new. As far back as the 1970s, anti-lock braking systems (ABS) were developed and offered on vehicles. While ABS is a mechanical system rather than an electrical one, it can still be viewed as one of the first driver assistance technologies. Before ABS, the driver needed to modulate the brake pedal in order to prevent locking up the brakes. If the brakes did lock up, the car would skid and the driver could lose control. Advancements in technology have led to some pretty impressive systems like adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, and more. 

How Does ADAS Work?

Modern ADAS systems rely on a range of advanced sensors that are able to detect and react to the environment around the car, far faster than a human can. There are two distinct types of ADAS, passive and active. 

Passive ADAS

As the name implies, passive ADAS does not directly impact how your vehicle operates. Passive systems help you, as the driver, make safe decisions while you drive. Here are some examples of passive ADAS:

  • Rear View Camera
  • Parking Assistance
  • Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
  • Blind Spot Detection
  • Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) 
  • Traction Control System (TCS)
  • Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
  • Front Collision Warning

While these systems are not making any decisions for you, they help keep you safe on the road no matter what conditions you are driving in. 

Close-up of backup camera screen in car interior as vehicle backs out of parking spot

Active ADAS

Active ADAS is a more modern development in driver assistance technology. Unlike passive systems, active ADAS can do things like apply the brakes, adjust cruise control speed on the fly, and even park your car for you. Here are some examples of active ADAS:

  • Emergency Braking
  • Adaptive Cruise Control
  • Emergency Steering
  • Lane Keeping/Centering
  • Traffic Jam Assistance
Cruise control switch in luxury vehicle interior

The Future of ADAS

The technology continuously being developed to improve the safety of cars today could eventually lead to self-driving vehicles. ADAS systems are taking more and more control of vehicles on the road with every passing model year, slowly pushing us toward autonomous driving. While we are still a ways off from this, the advancements being made now are helping to keep us safer on our daily commutes. 

Wrapping Up

This article is meant to serve as an overview of ADAS. In the coming months, we will be taking some deeper dives into specific systems, going over how they work, and the types of services, recalibrations, and repairs ADAS-equipped cars will need. 

ADAS Services at Sun Automotive.

Driver assistance technology requires advanced tools and training to service correctly. At Sun Automotive, we are preparing for the future by investing in the required tools and educating our technicians on ADAS, so we can continue to serve you, no matter how advanced vehicles become. 

With four locations, two in Eugene, one in Springfield, and another in Junction City Oregon, Sun Automotive is your go-to local repair shop. Give us a call or schedule an appointment online today!