MAHLE Aftermarket UK recently unveiled the TechPRO ADAS solution, which allows garages to adjust and calibrate driver assistance systems quickly and easily – using just a digital calibration panel. PMM was invited to the launch to find out more.
The new system from MAHLE stems from the need to save technicians valuable time and money, with the tool being continuously updated online and expanded to cover more vehicles.
With TechPRO ADAS, the company has aligned itself with the direction of technological development currently driving the aftermarket; digital solutions. The multi-brand tool provides workshops with a solution that keeps up with the latest trends in ADAS calibration due to continuous software updates. What’s more, with this equipment, garages can offer professional adjustment of driver assistance system sensors and cameras, opening up a potential new revenue stream.
How to kit out the garages of the future
Whether they use radars, cameras or ultrasonic sensors, more and more late-model cars have high-tech driver assistance systems, known as ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems).
“In upcoming years, both the number of driver assistance systems and the percentage of passenger cars and trucks equipped with these systems are expected to grow significantly. This will greatly change the way that workshops work,” explained Olaf Henning, Corporate Executive Vice President MAHLE Group and General Manager Aftermarket.
Bringing in digital calibration
For service and repair work, workshops must re-adjust radar sensors and camera systems to ensure that assistance systems continue to function reliably. They need to be precisely calibrated to the geometric axis of the vehicle. Even minimal deviations can cause a failure of the assistance system.
“With our TechPRO ADAS, we make this job easier for workshops,” continued Olaf. “Unlike the tools already on the market, only one digital calibration panel is needed to precisely adjust the radar sensors and cameras. Updates are installed automatically to give workshops a solution that is optimally adapted to handle new developments in the field of driver assistance systems.”
Investment and operating costs
Multi-brand workshops have always faced challenges with the calibration of different manufacturer systems, because the sensors vary depending on the vehicle model. In the past, this led to high investment and operating costs, as it required a number of different calibration panels, suitable working areas and long calibration times.
This is where TechPRO ADAS comes in. It supports workshop professionals with a system that uses just one digital calibration panel, thereby reducing calibration time and keeping space requirements to a minimum. This, in turn, lowers the cost of acquisition and ongoing operations.
Calibration panel adapts automatically
Developers at MAHLE have redesigned the entire process, identifying technical and process-related solutions. TechPRO ADAS interacts with the digital calibration panel to produce precise results quickly.
To recalibrate an assistance system, the garage technician just connects the TechPRO diagnostic tool to the appropriate control units using the onboard diagnostics. The calibration panel is set up according to the manufacturer’s directions and is adjusted automatically. Next, the diagnostic tool shows exactly what needs to be done and guides the technician through every step of the calibration process.
Solution for future models and systems
The system is continuously updated and can be used for vehicles that have one or more driver assistance systems retrofitted over time. Garages can also use the equipment for new assistance systems, without needing to buy additional, vehicle-specific calibration panels. The ADAS tool is a supplemental solution for the TechPRO vehicle diagnostics system or Connex BT that MAHLE also produces.
The calibration system covers many European makes that are equipped with driver assistance systems, and market coverage is being continuously expanded. Part of the parcel is that garages should be able to rely on TechPRO ADAS to keep up with new vehicle models and all the technical developments in the field of assistance systems.
