Automatic traction control

Automatic traction control has gone from being a high-end option to a feature that is now included on even some base model vehicles.

Car manufacturers use the technology and hardware of the automobiles antilock brake system to control the traction of the tires as well as vehicle stability.

The vehicle's antilock brake system pumps the brakes when a wheel attempts to go into a locked condition. This same ABS system is at the heart of the automatic traction control system.

When a drive wheel is sensed to be slipping against the road surface as compared to vehicle speed and the speed of the other wheels, The ATC system will apply the brakes to slow that wheel down.

Why automatic traction control

These factory standard traction systems also work especially well when hard acceleration is needed on a slippery wet road. ATC is also very helpful on all wheel drive vehicles and 4x4.

If one of these types of vehicles loses traction at one wheel this could hamper the drivers over all control.

Most traction systems will have separate electronic control modules to not only monitor the inputs but also to control the outputs of the system.

During road operation, the traction system uses this module to monitor the wheel speed sensors. If a wheel enters a loss of traction scenario the computer applies braking force to the wheel that is spinning faster than the others.

Types of traction control sysytems

Keep in mind that some vehicle manufacturers deploy different types of systems for antilock brakes, and ATC.

Some of these control systems use separated hydraulic valve units and control modules for the ABS and ATC.

While other manufacturers will integrate both systems into one hydraulic control unit and a single control module.

As you could imagine having the system together will hold down the manufacturing costs as well as adding a level of reliability.

And for the most part these systems are very reliable as proven by car manufacturer reports on this subject.

But on an integrated system if a hydraulic valve needed to be replaced I would imagine that this would be a very expensive car part on most vehicles.

The systems have been well received and found to be an extremely helpful aid in over all driving safety.

As these technologies become more efficient and less expensive we will see more of them deployed on both expensive and low cost automobiles.

We may even see the day when they are standard equipment or required by the government on all vehicles.



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