What does ABS mean on a car?
2 Answers
ABS, short for Anti-lock Braking System, functions by automatically controlling the braking force during vehicle braking to prevent wheel lock-up. It maintains the wheels in a state of rolling and sliding (with a slip ratio of around 20%), ensuring maximum traction between the tires and the road surface. The ABS sensor is located on the inner side of the car tire and can be seen by lifting the vehicle. The ABS system primarily consists of four components: wheel speed sensors, the electronic control unit (ECU), the hydraulic unit, and the ABS warning light. The wheel speed sensors detect the motion state of the wheels and generate sinusoidal electronic pulse signals. These signals are then processed by a modulator, converted into digital signals, and transmitted to the electronic control unit. The electronic central control unit (ECU) receives input signals from the wheel speed sensors. Using these parameters, it calculates the wheel speed, overall vehicle speed, and slip ratio. Based on the slip ratio, it determines the wheel condition and issues control commands to the hydraulic unit. The hydraulic unit adjusts the pressure in the brake lines according to the control commands. The adjustment process includes pressure maintenance, pressure increase, and pressure decrease. The ABS warning light alerts the driver to any system malfunctions. If the ABS warning light illuminates, it is advisable not to continue driving. An illuminated ABS light indicates a malfunction in the vehicle's anti-lock braking system. During emergency braking, if the wheels lock up, the vehicle may skid uncontrollably, making it difficult for the driver to decelerate or adjust the vehicle's trajectory, posing significant safety risks.
When I first started driving, I didn't know what ABS was. Later, after checking some materials, I found out it stands for Anti-lock Braking System, which translates to the anti-lock braking system. Simply put, it's a device that prevents the wheels from completely locking up during emergency braking. I remember last winter when the road was icy, a wild cat suddenly darted out in front of me. When I slammed on the brakes, I clearly felt the pedal vibrating rapidly under my foot, the wheels didn't skid, and I could still steer to avoid it. This is because ABS can perform more than ten brake pulses per second, keeping the tires gripping the road. It's especially useful on slippery surfaces, not only preventing skidding accidents but also reducing braking distance by about 20%. Nowadays, most cars come standard with this feature, making it a lifesaving device.
