What does ABS mean in cars?
1 Answers
ABS, short for Anti-lock Braking System, functions by automatically regulating the braking force during vehicle deceleration to prevent wheel lock-up. It maintains the wheels in a state of rolling with slight slippage (approximately 20% slip ratio), ensuring optimal tire-to-road adhesion. The ABS sensor is located on the inner side of the car tire and becomes visible when the vehicle is lifted. The ABS system primarily consists of four components: wheel speed sensors, electronic control unit (ECU), hydraulic unit, and ABS warning light. The wheel speed sensors monitor wheel motion, generating sinusoidal AC electronic pulse signals. These signals are processed by a modulator, converted into digital signals, and transmitted to the electronic control unit. The central electronic control unit (ECU) receives input signals from wheel speed sensors, calculates wheel speed, vehicle speed, and slip ratio based on these parameters. It then determines wheel conditions and issues control commands to the hydraulic unit. The hydraulic unit adjusts brake line pressure according to control commands through processes including pressure maintenance, pressure increase, and pressure reduction. The ABS warning light alerts the driver to system malfunctions. If the ABS warning light illuminates, it is advised to discontinue driving as it indicates a fault in the anti-lock braking system. During emergency braking, locked wheels may cause loss of vehicle control and skidding, preventing the driver from decelerating or adjusting the vehicle's trajectory, posing significant safety risks.
