What is Anti-locking Braking System (ABS) ?
Anti-locking braking system is a very important
technology that the road vehicles are equipped with today. ABS is pivotal when
it comes to avoiding locking up of wheels and uncontrollable skidding off of
the vehicle which occurs subject to certain conditions. Depending upon the
terrain the wheels are in contact with, the traction may differ on each wheel.
This results in a difference in the rotations of the wheels. With ABS
technology, there are sensors which detect this difference. Accordingly it
modifies the brake pressure on the wheel and is reduced if the wheel is
rotating slower that the others and increased if the wheel is rotating faster
to create an equilibrium.
The fundamental components in ABS are the sensors at
the wheels and the steering, valves and a pump to change the pressure of the
brakes as required and a controller which receives the signals from the sensors
and instruct the valves to be turned on or off as and when needed. There are
basically 5 types of ABS and they are bifurcated primarily on the basis of the
number of channels, that is, the number of valves that are distinctively
controlled and the quantity of speed sensors. They are:
- Four channel, four sensor ABS
- Three channel, four sensor ABS
- Three channel, three sensor ABS
- Two channel, four sensor ABS
- One channel, one sensor ABS
Four channels, four sensors is the most efficient
system since there is a sensor on every wheel and a separate valve to control
each wheel. The others are either used in vehicles like pick-up trucks or used
in the past.
There has been a lot of development upon the concept
of ABS and most modern electronic control systems are outcomes of further
transformation of this concept for better. ABS plays a very important role in
avoiding multiple car crashes and crashes due to vehicles running off road.
Apart from the traction control and effective braking on slippery surfaces, ABS
being a tested safety feature increases the resale value and decreases the
insurance costs. Sliding and skidding of cars is a very dangerous situation and
even experienced drivers have a hard time controlling the vehicle. ABS provides
safety is the trickiest of conditions and that is the reason for the importance
that this technology has received since its introduction to the world of
automobile.
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