Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Transforming the automotive industry

Driver assistance systems (ADAS) are electronic aids designed to make driving safer and more comfortable. Vehicle workshops have the important task of maintaining them and recalibrating them after they are replaced.

OE expertise for the aftermarket - HELLA is actively shaping megatrends such as autonomous driving. As an original equipment manufacturer, we are at the forefront of driving the transformation of mobility forward, so we are decisively contributing towards increasing the autonomy of vehicle functions that can make the roads even safer and more comfortable. As a wholesale partner and the workshop's friend, we are transferring our OE expertise and turning our partners in the aftermarket into experts in dealing with driver assistance systems.

How driver assistance systems work

Assistance systems use, for example, sensors such as ultrasonic and radar sensors and camera systems to record the vehicle's surroundings and compare it with vehicle data such as speed or acceleration data. Depending on how they function, they inform or warn, intervene temporarily or perform a continually automating function.

For more safety on the road - ADAS solutions from HELLA

As an electronics expert with original equipment and diagnostic expertise, HELLA offers a broad product portfolio in the independent aftermarket - including for the important area of advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS for short. After all, the safety of all road users is paramount. HELLA has three highlights in its portfolio that are essential for ADAS: the 24 GHz rear radar sensor, the parking aid with ultrasonic sensors and the rain/light sensor. All three components make a decisive contribution to greater safety on the road.
Thanks to HELLA's electronics expertise and HELLA Gutmann's diagnostic know-how, you get combined ADAS solutions from a single source. You can find all relevant information in the video.

The five levels of autonomous driving

Level 0 - No Driver Assistance

The driver is fully responsible and constantly manages all aspects of driving. No system required.

Level 1 - Assisted Mode

Level 1, called assisted driving, is already a reality in many cars today. Assistance systems, such as Adaptive Cruise Control or Lane Keeping Assist, provide support for certain driving tasks.

Level 2 - Partially Automated

At the second level, called partially-automated driving, cars can temporarily perform certain driving tasks themselves, without any driver intervention. The driver must constantly keep an eye on the traffic

Level 3 - Highly Automated

At the third level, highly automated cars can handle certain driving tasks independently without human intervention, but only for a limited period of time. The driver may temporarily turn away from the driving task and traffic.

Level 4 - Fully Automated

At the fourth level, fully automated driving, the driver can completely relinquish control of the vehicle, becoming a passenger. However, they still have to remain in the driver's seat.

Level 5 - Autonomous Driving

The fifth level is the final stage of autonomous driving. The vehicle is completely guided by the system at this level. There is no longer a driver, only passengers.

Powerful sensors are what makes driver assistance systems possible in the first place.

Nothing can be done without a high-performance sensor system. These are the most important sensors:

Lidar sensor ("Light Detection and Ranging"): The lidar sensor measures distances from obstacles and how this changes. It can be located at the front or rear of a vehicle.
Radar sensor ("Radio Detection and Ranging"): Monitors the vehicle's surroundings by measuring distances from obstacles and their relative speeds.
Ultrasonic sensor: Monitors the vehicle's immediate surroundings and measures the distance from any obstacles.
Camera sensor and video sensor: These are image-based sensors that provide important optical information about the vehicle's surroundings. For example, they detect distances and obstacles.

Growing importance for the aftermarket

An increasing number of vehicles are equipped with more and more advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). A long time ago, assistance systems stopped being exclusive to premium and luxury class vehicles. Even small cars can now be ordered with numerous driver assistance systems and, in Europe, many assistance systems will even be mandatory for newly developed vehicles from 2022. These include Intelligent Speed Assist, Emergency Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and a warning system to detect drowsiness and loss of attention. From 2024, all new cars must be equipped with additional systems. The systems have been on the aftermarket for a long time: Independent workshops are having to deal with them more and more often. After all, they also have to be maintained, adjusted and sometimes recalibrated. And the development is far from over: experts estimate that the production of radar systems will increase from 18 million units in 2020 to 138 million units in 2040 (source: Strategy Analytics, 2021). - Lots to do for car workshops!

High-performance product portfolio from HELLA

Modern sensor technology and high-performance software: Driver assistance systems pave the way for autonomous driving. HELLA products already enable the third stage of the five levels of autonomous driving. As one of the leading original equipment manufacturers for driver assistance systems, we offer a particularly wide range of products, with high-performance sensors such as rain/lightsensors, tyre pressure sensors, wheel speed sensors and radar sensors. We are also very well positioned when it comes to automated driving. HELLA products already cover around 60 percent of applications in driver assistance systems, and counting.

This is what automotive workshops need so that they can work with assistance systems

Independent workshops need the necessary expertise to be able to work professionally on driver assistance systems, for example to calibrate to the manufacturer's specifications. Workshops also need suitable equipment for diagnostics and calibration.

HELLA: Your strong partner for working with assistance systems

The increase in driver assistance systems brings greater complexity. HELLA enables wholesalers and independent workshops to successfully master the transformation and also gets them ready for the autonomous driving of the future. And all this from a single source: from the right spare parts, intelligent diagnostics and calibration options to effective training, product and assembly information.

With a comprehensive training programme, the HELLA Academy creates the prerequisites for professional work with assistance systems.
Diagnostic equipment and the appropriate software and optical calibration equipment are also available from HELLA Gutmann, for working with driver assistance systems and for calibrating sensors and cameras.
This enables professional and safe calibration at manufacturer level for all modern assistance systems.
Our completely free and accessible HELLA TECH WORLD also offers vehicle workshops valuable help with driver assistance systems: Here, automotive professionals will find comprehensive expert knowledge, practical help for specific problems, and comprehensive information on products with explanatory videos, technical information and installation instructions.