Resources

After purchasing a vehicle, buyers may modify it to change its performance or appearance, such as changing its height or adding bull bars and extra lights. Modifications can affect the operation of ADASs such as advanced emergency braking and lane keep assist, resulting in lower risk reduction factors. The research sought to find out the extent to which modification of vehicles with ADAS has created problems in other jurisdictions, and how any such problems have been addressed elsewhere.

The researchers found that ADAS performance is altered when vehicle ride-height is changed, because the software’s sensor has a different frame of reference. The researchers expect effects to increase with height but needed more data to define ride-height limits. They also found that adding accessories may block sensors’ field of view. Overall, effects varied between vehicles, but small changes didn’t affect vehicle performance. More test data is required to investigate this issue.

Keywords:

ADAS performance, rake angle, recalibration, ride height

Authors:

M McCarthy, TRL Limited, United Kingdom
A Deans, TRL Limited, United Kingdom