WOW 26

WOW 26 - ESP/ ESC and Traction

Good Afternoon Friends,
Yesterday, we talked about ABS (Antilock Braking System). Today we shall discuss on ESP (Electonic Stability Program) AKA ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and Traction.

Electronic Stability Program/ Control:
Like ABS, ESP is also designed to improve vehicle's handling, particularly at the limits where the driver might lose control of the vehicle. Say, you are using only ABS and have avoided collision with a vehicle. ESP determines how stable your vehicle is after your steer away. At times, when we steer a lot towards a side, the vehicle tends to capsize. ESP prevents this.

ESP enhances Driver control and helps maintain directional stability under all conditions.

ESP compares the driver's intended direction in steering and braking inputs, to the vehicle's response, via lateral acceleration, rotation (yaw) and individual wheel speeds. ESC then brakes individual front or rear wheels and/or reduces excess engine power as needed to help correct understeer (plowing) or oversteer (fishtailing).
Traction Control:
* In road cars, Traction Control is used mainly as a safety feature in high-performance cars, which would otherwise need very sensitive throttle input to keep them from spinning when accelerating, especially in wet or snowy conditions. It is also used in off-road vehicles to enhance traction on loose surfaces.
* In race cars, Traction Control is used as a performance enhancement, allowing maximum traction under acceleration without wheel spin. When accelerating out of turn, it keeps the tyres at the optimum slip angle.
On road, Traction is generally combined with ABS. This gives the vehicle a better grip of the road. Very useful for slippery roads.

ABS, Traction Control and ESP when combined together in a single package gives the driver safety, stability and control over the vehicle. Bikers, listen up; ABS and Traction control are available for Bikes too. Not sure about ESP though.

Check these videos from YouTube to understand more about ABS, Traction Control and ESP.
Link 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3m24bjkfg0 (5 mins 33 secs)
Link 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR1SSxpKitE (9 mins 37 secs)


Danish :)

WOW 25

WOW 25 - ABS

Good Afternoon Friends,

Today let us go and explore the motoring world. A section that was never touched in WOW till date. Most of us drive, the most important thing while driving is to have the control over the vehicle that you drive (i.e., to Drive and not be Driven). When the control is lost, accidents happen. Today I am going to discuss something which helps us have control over our vehicle (steer our vehicle) even when we apply brakes. That is called Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).

ABS when combined with a few other safety features like Traction Control and ESP gives us a whole lot control and improves our driving. Today I will concentrate on ABS.

When we apply our brakes, for a vehicle w/o ABS, the wheel gets locked and we will be unable to steer the vehicle just because our wheels are locked. With ABS, the wheels do get locked (to brake) but it has complete control over it. i.e., The wheels does not remain locked till the moment we take our legs off the brake pedal. The ABS controls the brake and it knows well when to slow down (lock) and when to accelerate (unlock) the wheels providing us with the ability to steer away.

A typical anti-lock system can apply and release braking pressure up to 20 times a second.

With such kind of system, we know that we always remain safe.

Check out the flash from http://www.bosch.com/assets/en/company/innovation/theme03.htm to see a graphical representation of ABS @ work.

Also check out this 53 seconds video from YouTube which demonstrates ABS @ work.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq4DDMMoomU&feature=player_embedded

Looks like this edition of WOW turned up the enthu in a few motorists.

Danish :)