Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Transforming the automotive industry

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. In this way we are decisively contributing towards increasing the autonomy of vehicle functions that can make the roads safer and driving on them even 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 ones and also camera systems to record a vehicle's surroundings and to compare the findings with vehicle data such as that denoting speed or acceleration. Depending on how they function, they inform or warn, intervene temporarily or perform a continuously automating function.

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, completely 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 stop monitoring driving tasks and the 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, drivers still have to remain in the driver's seat.

Level 5 - Autonomous Driving

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

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

Nothing can be achieved 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 these distances fluctuate. It can be located at the front or rear of a vehicle.

Radar sensor ("Radio Detection and Ranging"): This monitors the vehicle's surroundings by measuring distances from obstacles and their relative speeds.

Ultrasonic sensor: This monitors the vehicle's immediate surroundings and measures the distance from any obstacles.

Camera sensor and video sensor: These are the so-called image-based sensors that provide important visual 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). Assistance systems stopped being exclusive to premium and luxury class vehicles a long time ago. 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 onwards. 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 then 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 frequently. 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). – So there is lots to do for vehicle 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/light sensors, 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 per cent of applications in driver assistance systems, With more to come.

High-performance product portfolio from HELLA

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

Independent vehicle workshops need, on the one hand, the necessary expertise to be able to work professionally on driver assistance systems. One example of this would be the calibrating of sensor technology to the manufacturer's specifications. And on the other hand, 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 this transformation and also gets them ready for the autonomous driving of the future. And all this from a single source: starting with the right spare parts, through intelligent diagnostics and calibration options right up to effective training, product and assembly information:

with its comprehensive training programme, the HELLA Academy creates the prerequisites for professional work with assistance systems.
Diagnostic equipment and also the appropriate software and optical calibration equipment from HELLA Gutmann are all available for working with driver assistance systems and for the calibrating of sensors and cameras.
This enables professional and safe calibration at manufacturer level for all modern assistance systems.
Our completely free and easily accessible HELLA TECH WORLD also offers vehicle workshops valuable help when it comes to driver assistance systems: this is where automotive professionals will find comprehensive expert knowledge, practical help for specific problems and wide-ranging information on products in the shape of explanatory videos, technical details and installation instructions.