Antilock Control - Traction Control and Stability Assist: Description and Operation

Anti-Lock Control - Traction Control and Stability Assist





The stability assist recognizes critical driving conditions, such as panic reactions in dangerous situations and stabilizes the vehicle by individually braking each wheel and engine control intervention without the need to actuate the brake or the accelerator pedal.

The stability assist adds a further function known as Electronic Stability Program (ESP) to the Anti-lock Brakes (ABS), Traction Control System (TCS) and the Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). Whereas the ABS/TCS function controls wheel slip during braking and acceleration (longitudinal dynamics), the active yaw control stabilizes the vehicle about its vertical axis.

Sensors measure the position of the steering wheel, the pressure in the brake master cylinder, the yaw velocity (Yaw rate) and the acceleration transverse to the vehicle (Lateral acceleration). This makes it possible to compare the driver's intention with the momentary vehicle behavior so that in the event of the vehicle becoming unstable the stability assist system can initiate the appropriate corrective action.