Making Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) A Standard Feature

A group of vehicle makers got together recently and discussed the future of automatic emergency braking (AEB) technology in their vehicles. This feature is designed to reduce the severity and frequency of collisions; but no matter how good it is, it will never prevent all accidents from happening. So what do you need to know in order to repair vehicles with AEB, and how do you know the system is functioning properly?

On September 11, 2015, Automotive News published an article on how "Automakers commit to making automatic braking standard." Per the article, A Broad Group Of Automakers Have Agreed In Principle To Equip All Their New Vehicles With Automatic Emergency Braking Technology As A Standard Feature In The Near Future."

The group -- which includes Audi, BMW, Ford/Lincoln, General Motors (GM), Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Toyota/Lexus, Volkswagen, and Volvo -- will work with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the next few months to hammer out details of the agreement and a timeline for implementing it across their lineups.

While the timetable for automatic emergency braking (AEB) as a standard feature has not been established, some vehicles are already equipped with this technology. Depending on the vehicle, this feature uses various sensors and cameras to detect an obstruction in the road and must be returned to proper operation after the repairs are completed. If any of the sensors or cameras are unbolted or moved, the corresponding system will most likely require calibration. In order to know when a particular system requires calibration and/or part replacement, always check vehicle maker service information. A health check of the system may also be required to verify that it is operating as intended because not all fault codes in these systems will turn on a malfunction indicator light (MIL).

Awareness is a big part of repairing vehicles with new safety system technology like AEB. If you don't know that the technology is out there, you won't know to look for it on the vehicle that you are repairing today. Identifying the system and parts will lead you to start asking yourself questions about how the vehicle is equipped and what it will take to repair the vehicle correctly.

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