Bangkok--21 Oct--OASIS Media
- First Bosch ABS and ESP(R) event with test drives in Thailand
- Series production of the electronically controlled Bosch antilock braking system began in 1978
- 76 percent of all new vehicles produced worldwide were equipped with ABS in 2007
- Active Safety technologies are proven to increase traffic safety
Government authorities, representatives from automotive institutions and academic professors were invited to participate at the first ‘Bosch ABS and ESP(R) — vehicle safety’ event in Thailand.
Martin Hayes, Vice President of ASEAN Sales Original Equipment, Bosch Automotive (Thailand) Co., Ltd. states: “Existing and future vehicle technologies play an important role in making roads safer and providing vehicle occupants with optimal protection. In recent years we remark that the interest for crash avoidance technologies like ABS and ESP(R) has increased. ”. According to statistics of the Thai Bureau of Health Policy and Plan, road traffic accidents are one of the top five major causes of fatalities in Thailand.
The evolution of Active Safety Systems
Thirty years ago, in the summer of 1978, Bosch started series production of the ABS antilock braking system, laying the foundation for all active safety systems in motor vehicles. In critical driving conditions, the wheels of a vehicle may lock during braking, reducing the adhesion between tires and the road surface. This may mean that the vehicle becomes uncontrollable, since the vehicle no longer reacts to the steering input of the driver. In a vehicle equipped with ABS, wheel-speed sensors detect the speed of rotation of the wheels and relay this information to the ABS control unit. This calculates the degree of slip between the wheels and the road surface and detects whether any of the wheels are about to lock. If this is the case, the ABS intervenes to stabilize or decrease brake pressure. In doing so, it prevents the wheels from locking and the vehicle remains steerable, allowing the driver to avoid obstacles.
Critical driving situations can occur not only while braking, but also whenever there is a need to transfer strong longitudinal forces to the contact area between the tire and the ground: when starting off and accelerating, particularly on slippery roads, on hills, and when cornering. Based on ABS technology, the Traction Control System (TCS) was launched in 1986. By adding an engine management interface to the ABS, TCS prevents the wheels from spinning by reducing the drive torque at each driven wheel. TCS therefore provides a logical extension of ABS but in acceleration mode.
The Electronic Stability Programm ESP integrates ABS and TCS, but has the added feature of a “yaw torque control” — a functionality that prevents skidding. It is designed to help drivers maintain control of their vehicles in sudden maneuvers such as rapid steering and countersteering, sudden lane changes, and obstacle-avoidance maneuvers.
ESP? is always active. 25 times a second, it compares whether the driver’s steering input corresponds to the actual direction in which the vehicle is moving. If the vehicle moves in a different direction — either under steering or over steering — ESP? detects the critical situation and reacts immediately. To do this, it uses the vehicle’s braking system as a tool for “steering” the vehicle back on track. International Studies have estimated that ESP? reduces fatal single-vehicle crashes by between 30 to 50 percent among cars and 50 to 70 percent among SUVs. In Europe this amounts to 4 000 lives that could be saved every year — in the USA 10 000 lives thanks to ESP ?
ABS, TCS, and ESP were all introduced to the market by Bosch.
World Trend and Market Development
While in the beginning it was special equipment for luxury-class vehicles, ABS is meanwhile a world standard. In 2007, more than three quarters of all new vehicles produced worldwide were equipped with ABS. At world market leader Bosch alone, some 21 million braking control systems will roll off the production lines in 2008. In emerging markets ABS is increasingly on board. In Thailand, for example, 52% of vehicle production in 2007 has been equipped with ABS but there are still a very little percentage of vehicles in Thailand being equipped with ESP? as standard equipment, just 2% for the production in 2007.
In Europe, the U.S., and Japan, ABS is now a standard feature in vehicles, and the ESP(r) electronic stability program is increasingly replacing ABS in these regions. In 2007, a regulation was passed in the U.S. mandating the phased introduction of ESP(r) in all light vehicles up to 4.5 tons gross weight by model year 2012. In Australia the state premiers and territory chiefs announced in February 2008 to make ESP? mandatory as per December 2011 awaiting a Federal regulation. Likewise in May this year, the European Commission has submitted a similar ruling: ESP(r) shall become mandatory equipment for all new vehicles types from October 2012 and for all new vehicles by October 2014.
Initiatives for Thailand
Safety plays an important role through Bosch product development and also its various marketing activities. “During the recent Bangkok International Motor Show, Bosch has promoted the topic by presenting the ESP? Simulator for the visitors to have the first-hand experience for driving with and without ESP?. With today’s event, we hope we can promote the benefit and stimulate the thought for having required vehicle safety systems to be equipped in all vehicles. This will eventually help the country to save money from accidental loss. “Eco-car is a good start point to improve vehicle safety in Thailand.” added Steffen Allgoewer, Vice President — Sales and Marketing Chassis Systems Control Division.
Contact person for press inquiries:
OASIS Media Co., Ltd.
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Robert Bosch Limited
Ms. Yuparat Laotanapat
Corporate Communications Manager
Tel. 02 — 631 1879 ext. 160 ; Mobile 081 — 845 1596
E-mail : [email protected]