ESP - Stability Program
Content
Nowadays, one of the main components of the active safety of a vehicle is the ESP electronic stability control system. Since the early 2010s, its presence has been mandatory in all new cars that are sold in the European Union, the United States and Canada. The main task of ESP is to keep the car on a safe path while driving and prevent the risk of skidding to the side.
The device and principle of operation of the ESP
ESP is a high performance intelligent active safety system that works closely with the powertrain and transmission control system. It is actually a control superstructure and is inextricably linked with the anti-lock braking system (ABS), brake force distribution (EBD), anti-slip control (ASR), as well as the electronic differential lock (EDS) function.
Structurally, the ESP mechanism includes the following components:
- a microprocessor controller that receives signals from multiple sensors;
- an accelerometer that controls the steering while driving;
- speed sensors, acceleration and others.
That is, at any moment of the vehicle's movement, ESP with high accuracy controls the speed of the car, the direction and angle of rotation of the steering wheel, the mode of operation of the propulsion unit and other parameters. After processing all the pulses received from the sensors, the microprocessor side compares the received current data with those that are initially put into the program. If the vehicle's driving parameters do not match the calculated indicators, ESP characterizes the situation as "potentially dangerous" or "dangerous" and corrects it.
Electronic stability control starts working at the moment when the on-board computer signals the possibility of loss of control. The moment the system is turned on is determined by the traffic situation: for example, in a situation of entering a turn at high speed, the front pair of wheels can be blown off the trajectory. By simultaneously braking the inner rear wheel and lowering the engine speed, the electronic system straightens the trajectory to a safe one, eliminating the risk of skidding. Depending on the speed of movement, the angle of rotation, the degree of skidding and a number of other indicators, ESP selects which wheel needs to be braked.
Direct braking is carried out through ABS, or rather through its hydraulic modulator. It is this device that creates pressure in the brake system. Simultaneously with the signal to reduce brake fluid pressure, ESP also sends pulses to the powertrain control unit to reduce speed and reduce torque on the wheels.
Advantages and disadvantages of the system
In the modern automotive industry, ESP has not in vain earned a reputation as one of the most effective car safety systems. It allows you to really productively smooth out all the driver's mistakes in critical situations. At the same time, the response time of the system is twenty milliseconds, which is considered an excellent indicator.
Vehicle safety experimenters call ESP one of the revolutionary inventions in this field, comparable in effectiveness to seat belts. The main purpose of the stability system functionality is to provide the driver with maximum control over handling, as well as tracking the accuracy of the ratio of steering turns and the direction of the car itself.
According to the specialists of FAVORIT MOTORS Group of Companies, today the road stability system is installed on almost all car models. ESP is available both on fairly expensive models and on quite affordable ones. For example, one of the most budget models of the famous German manufacturer Volkswagen, the Volkswagen Polo, is also equipped with an active ESP security system.
Today, on those cars that are equipped with an automatic transmission, the stability control system can even make changes to the functionality of the transmission. That is, in the event of a risk of skidding, ESP simply shifts the transmission to a lower gear.
Some experienced drivers, after driving a modern car equipped with ESP, say that this system makes it difficult to feel all the capabilities of the car. Occasionally, indeed, such situations arise on the roads: when, in order to quickly exit a skid, you need to squeeze the gas pedal as much as possible, and the electronic unit does not allow this to be done and, on the contrary, lowers the engine speed.
But a number of vehicles today, especially for experienced drivers, are also equipped with the option to force the ESP to turn off. And on high-speed and racing cars of serial production, the system settings imply the personal participation of the driver himself to get out of drifts, turning on only in those cases when the traffic situation can become really dangerous.
Whatever the reviews of car owners about the system of exchange rate stability, at the moment it is ESP that is the main element in the field of active car safety. It is designed not only to quickly correct all the mistakes of the driver, but also to provide him with the greatest possible comfort and controllability. In addition, young drivers can use ESP without having the skills of emergency braking or extreme driving - just turn the steering wheel, and the system itself will “figure out” how to get out of the skid in the safest and smoothest way.
Professional recommendations
Faced with different driving styles and driving styles, FAVORIT MOTORS experts recommend that drivers do not rely entirely on the capabilities of electronics. In some situations (very high driving speed or maneuverability restrictions), the system may not show optimal results, as the sensor readings will not be complete.
The presence of modern electronics and advanced security systems does not eliminate the need to follow the rules of the road, as well as driving carefully. In addition, the ability to actively control the machine will largely depend on the factory settings in the ESP. If any parameters in the system functionality do not suit you or simply do not match your driving style, you can adjust the ESP operating modes by contacting professionals directly.
FAVORIT MOTORS Group of Companies carries out all types of diagnostic and corrective work, and also replaces failed ESP sensors. The pricing policy of the company allows us to carry out a full range of necessary work at a reasonable cost and with a guarantee of quality for each operation performed.
