Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Calibration

Automakers have been slowly adding Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, or ADAS, to vehicles in the last decade without a lot of fanfare, but the features, many of them standard in newer makes and models, make an enormous difference to your safety and the safety of passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers.

The locations of ADAS technologies on/in a vehicle are sometimes hard to identify. Your vehicle’s front windshield is an integral part of many ADAS technologies. After a windshield is replaced, it’s vital that your car’s front camera is calibrated. Unfortunately, not all auto mechanics or glass repair shops are equipped to calibrate your vehicle’s driver assist system. At Glass Doctor®, we pride ourselves on having the knowledge and technology necessary to calibrate your ADAS after installing a new windshield.

Read on to learn how Glass Doctor can calibrate your vehicle’s ADAS technologies.

What Are Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)?

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are built-in technologies designed to automate, adapt, or enhance already present safety systems. From adaptive cruise control, to automated breaking and motion-activated sensors, there are ADAS systems already prevalent in the marketplace and many more in the developmental stages.

What ADAS Features Exist in My Car?

ADAS runs the gamut from what we would now consider to be “everyday features”—like a dashboard backup camera—to the truly cutting-edge, like automatic parking.

Below is a list of the many ADAS technologies found in today’s models:

  • Adaptive cruise control (ACC)
  • Blind-spot monitor
  • Collision-avoidance system
  • Drowsy driver detection
  • Hill descent control
  • Intelligent speed adaptation, or intelligent speed advice (ISA)
  • Lane departure warning system
  • Parking sensor/park assist
  • Pedestrian detection system
  • Rear collision warning

For more information about specific ADAS systems, visit the Glass Doctor blog.

At Glass Doctor, we expect this list to grow and evolve in the future. In fact, both the US and EU are mandating that certain new vehicles be equipped with autonomous emergency-braking systems, backup cameras, and forward-collision warning systems.

Why Does My ADAS System Need to Be Calibrated After a Windshield Replacement?

If your vehicle has suffered damage and requires a new windshield, it’s vital that the front-facing camera that controls many of the car’s ADAS systems is calibrated. When your windshield is replaced, every millimeter counts. If the camera is even a couple of millimeters off-center, it will affect the entire system. Millimeters off-center can equal feet in the view of your camera. Functions like “lane keep assistance” and “lane departure warning” will malfunction, either overcorrecting or under correcting, causing dangerous driving conditions and increasing the potential for accidents.

It’s vital that every time your windshield is replaced or adjusted, that your vehicle’s front-facing camera is calibrated.

Glass Doctor Driver Assist Calibration

With new technology comes new responsibilities. The ADAS technologies in your car are only as good as the way they’re calibrated. Home to sensors and small cameras, a car’s windshield is a vital component of its ADAS system. The replacement of a front windshield can have a major impact on the function of a car’s safety system. Even the smallest change to the position of the forward-facing camera can result in a dangerous change in the system’s function.

At Glass Doctor, we’ve taken a proactive approach to vehicle technology advances and are proud to serve the needs of modern car owners.

How Do Glass Doctor Technicians Calibrate ADAS Systems?

At present, approximately 60 Glass Doctor locations offer ADAS calibration services using the industry’s latest technology. Calibration requires that our specialists work to mimic the conditions under which the car left the factory floor, including cargo weight, fuel amount, and tire pressure. The process for calibration follows four major steps:

  1. Pre-scan—Is the camera functioning normally? If not, the vehicle will need to be sent to a dealer for camera repair.
  2. Replacement—Glass Doctor Specialists will replace your windshield to meet AGSC (Auto Glass Safety Council) standards.
  3. Calibration—Calibration is divided into two processes, dynamic and static. Dynamic calibration requires driving the vehicle, while static calibration requires the vehicle be calibrated with a fixed target image in front of it at a specific distance.
  4. Post-scan—The final step to ensure the camera is functioning properly, post calibration.

Schedule Your ADAS Calibration

Glass Doctor technicians are proud to professionally service vehicles with ADAS technologies. If your car is equipped with ADAS technologies and you need a windshield replacement, you need Glass Doctor. Call 833-974-0209 or contact the Glass Doctor nearest you to learn about their ADAS calibration capabilities.