Question

Identify and describe three automatic control systems in a modern automobile (besides criuse control)

Answer 1

1) Anti-lock braking system -

• The vehicle skids, the wheels lock and driving stability is lost so the vehicle cannot be steered;

• If a trailer or caravan is being towed it may jack-knife;

• The braking distance increases due to skidding;

• The tyres may burst due to excessive friction and forces being concentrated at the points where the locked wheels are in contact with the road surface;

2) Traction control systems -

• prevent drive wheels from wheelspinning during starting or –accelerating on a wet or icy surface.

• avoid reduction of either steering response in frontwheel-drive (FWD) / vehicle stability on rear-wheeldrive (RWD) vehicles. TCS operates  

• to maximize adhesion to the road surface during acceleration  

• Same sensors as in ABS

  • The actuation uses fuel, ignition and driven wheel braking action

3)  Electronic damping control -

• The primary function of a shock absorber –control vehicle movement against roll during turning and pitch during acceleration or braking. –Requires hard suspension

• secondary role –To prevent vehicle vibration caused by a poor road surface. –Requires a soft suspension

• Electronic damping control (EDC) used to attain these twin objectives

• altering the characteristics of spring and oil-filled damper arrangement –difficult and expensive

• Simple option - Suspensions with at least three settings; ‘soft’, ’medium’ and ‘firm’

• OR electronically controlled suspension systems using air, nitrogen gas and hydraulic oil as a suspension agent.