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Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is considered by many to be the most important safety feature on vehicles since the seatbelt. At the very least, it has reduced fatal crashes by 35%. This blog post will explain a little bit about how it works.
Yaw Rate Control
The yaw rate of a vehicle is the rotation of the vehicle around a vertical axis. This physics term describes the dangerous situation that occurs when the car skids around a turn. This sensor measures the steering wheel angle (where the driver intends the car to go) and at what rate the car is actually rotating to get there. Yaw Rate Control uses the functions of the Anti-Lock Brake System to correct the vehicle’s trajectory.
In essence, it corrects a probable loss in steering control. In addition to controlling the brakes individually, it can also modify the transmission and throttle output to slow the car down and increase torque in cooperation with the brakes to correct the path of the car.
Because of its effectiveness, ESC is now required to be standard on all vehicles from 2012 and beyond. It is known by several different names across the range of manufacturers, including the following:
- Electronic Stability Program (Dodge, Ford, Hyundai, Jeep, Suzuki)
- Dynamic Stability Control (Land Rover, Mazda)
- Vehicle Stability Assist (Honda, Acura, Hyundai)
- StabiliTrak (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, Pontiac, Saturn)
- Vehicle Dynamics Control (Subaru, Fiat, Infiniti, Nissan)
- Precision Control System (Oldsmobile)
