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List of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and their function

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Review of acronyms and abbreviations for driver assistance functions and autonomous vehicles

Acsystème has been working on driver assistance systems for motor vehicles since 2009. We are involved in developing the software aspect of these systems by designing, coding and validating the control-command algorithms using the MBD (model-based design) approach. Marouane Benaziz described our approach well in the article “Design and validate AD/ADAS function with ease”. During the many years we have spent developing driver assistance systems, we have been confronted with numerous terms: ACC, AEB, TPMS, ALKS, etc.

The table below lists these different acronyms and provides a description. One of the difficulties is to distinguish between acronyms specific to a particular manufacturer (or equipment supplier) and those common to the entire automotive world. The aim of this article is to concentrate on the generic acronyms.

As the development of ADAS functions is still in full swing, this table will of course continue to evolve. We will try to add to it and correct it regularly so that it remains up to date. If you notice any inaccuracies or additional acronyms to be added, please do not hesitate to contact us!

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Acronym: ABS

Signification: Antiblockiersystem (German)

Definition: a safety system designed to prevent the wheels from locking during braking, thereby enabling the vehicle to maintain control of its trajectory when braking, for example to carry out an evasive manoeuvre. Mandatory in Europe from 2004.

Acronym: ACC

Signification: Adaptive Cruise Control

Definition: a system similar to cruise control, but with an additional function that automatically reduces the vehicle’s speed to maintain a predefined safe distance from the vehicle in front. This system is based on the use of radar to measure the distance and approach speed of the vehicle in front.

Acronym: AD

Signification: Autonomous Driving

Definition: the autonomous vehicle is equipped with a system that allows the vehicle to drive without the intervention of the driver. The SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) distinguishes 3 levels of autonomy for motor vehicles:

level 3: in certain circumstances, the system assumes control on its own, but the driver is likely to have to regain control,
level 4: in certain circumstances, the system provides control without the driver needing to regain control of the vehicle,
level 5: the system performs all driving tasks in all circumstances.

Acronym: ADAS

Signification: Advanced Driver Assistance System

Definition: automotive driver assistance systems aim to increase safety and/or assist the driver in certain driving tasks using sensors (radar, camera, etc.), actuators and on-board algorithms. These systems generally act on longitudinal behaviour (acceleration and braking), lateral behaviour (steering) and driver information systems. The SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) distinguishes between level 1 (longitudinal or lateral assistance) and level 2 (longitudinal and lateral assistance). Note: level 0 corresponds to no assistance, and assistance levels 3 to 5 correspond to autonomous vehicles.

Acronym: AEBS

Signification: Automatic Emergency Braking System

Definition: system designed to brake automatically when a collision with a vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist or other obstacle is detected. Be careful not to confuse Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) with Emergency Brake Assist (EBA). This system will be compulsory in Europe from 2022.

Acronym: AFS

Signification: Adaptive Front-lighting System

Definition: a system that automatically turns the headlight beam to the right or left depending on the direction the vehicle is facing when cornering.

Acronym: ALC

Signification: Adaptive Light Control

Definition: a system that automatically adjusts the headlight beam according to oncoming traffic and the vehicles in front.

(same as AHBC – Adaptive High Beam Control)

Acronym: ALKS

Signification: Automated Lane-Keeping Control

Definition: level 3 autonomous driving system whose operation is governed by an international agreement defined by the UN. This system will be able to drive autonomously on motorways (with pedestrians and cyclists prohibited and physical separation between the two directions of traffic) and, in its current form, at a maximum speed of 60 km/h. During the autonomous driving phases, additional screens will allow the driver to watch videos, check emails, etc., but these will be automatically suspended as soon as the driver has to resume driving (at the end of the motorway, for example). If the driver does not resume driving within a set time (10 seconds), the vehicle will automatically come to a halt by means of a minimal-risk manoeuvre.

Acronym: APS

Signification: Automatic Parking System

Definition: system designed to automate the driver’s actions during a parking manoeuvre. This system generally works for parallel and overlapping parking. There are 3 levels of assistance: hands-free (longitudinal control by the driver), hands-free braking (accelerator management by the driver) and fully automatic.

(same as PA: Parking Assistance)

Acronym: BSW

Signification: Blind Spot Warning

Definition: system that detects the presence of an object (vehicle, cyclist, etc.) in the blind spot and warns the driver with an audible or visual alert to avoid a possible accident.

(same as BLIS: BLind spot Information System)

Acronym: CC

Signification: Cruise Control

Definition: a system that allows the driver to set a cruising speed for the vehicle, even without using the accelerator pedal.

Acronym: EBA

Signification: Emergency Brake Assist

Definition: Brake Assist aims to increase braking power in an emergency to reduce the stopping distance. Detection of the emergency situation is based on the way the driver depresses the brake pedal. This system is sometimes combined with automatic activation of the hazard warning lights.

(same as BAS: brake assist system).

Acronym: ESP

Signification: Electronic Stability Program

Definition: a system designed to correct a vehicle’s trajectory when it is in danger of losing its stability due to a sudden jerk in the steering wheel or braking on a bend. To perform this function, ESP analyses several sensors (wheel rotation speed, steering wheel angle, yaw rate and transverse acceleration) and acts individually on the braking level of each wheel.

Acronym: HOD

Signification: Hands-Off Detection

Definition: system designed to detect that the driver is keeping his hands firmly on the steering wheel. This function is essential for level 2 lateral control functions, where the driver is likely to have to resume driving at any moment. Failure to detect the driver’s hands on the wheel will generate a cascade of alerts (visual then audible) that can lead to the vehicle being brought to a halt (MRM).

Acronym: ISA

Signification: Intelligent Speed Assistance (ou Intelligent Speed Adaptation)

Definition: system designed to alert the driver or automatically reduce speed when it is detected that the legal speed limit has been exceeded. Knowledge of the current speed limit can be based either on the use of tables and the vehicle’s GPS position, or on analysis of road signs. The system will be compulsory in Europe from 2022.

Acronym: LCA

Signification: Lane-Centering Assist

Definition: system designed to keep the vehicle in the centre of its lane. The driver must keep his hands on the wheel, as he must be able to resume manual driving if the lines disappear, for example. This system, which provides lateral control of the vehicle, is generally coupled with an ACC system (longitudinal control). Unlike the LDW and LKA systems, which are active safety functions by default, the LCA system is a driving assistance system that requires action from the driver to activate.

(same as autosteer)

Acronym: LDW

Signification: Lane Departure Warning

Definition: a system that alerts the driver when he or she crosses a line unintentionally, i.e. without using the direction indicator. This alert can be a sound or a vibration at the driver’s seat.

(same as LWS: Lane Warning System)

Acronym: LKA

Signification: Lane-Keeping Assist

Definition: a system designed to reduce the risk of accidents by giving a slight tug on the steering wheel if the driver unintentionally leaves his lane. The LKA system is the active version of the LDW system.

Acronym: MRM

Signification: Minimum Risk Manœuvre

Definition: procedure designed to stop the vehicle automatically if the driver does not resume driving at the system’s request. This system is sometimes extended to detect driver discomfort.

Acronym: SL

Signification: Speed Limiter

Definition: a system that allows the driver to set a vehicle speed not to be exceeded independently of the accelerator pedal. If the driver attempts to exceed the speed set, the accelerator pedal becomes inactive. However, if necessary, pressing hard will allow the driver to exceed the set speed limit.

Acronym: TJA

Signification: Traffic Jam Assist

Definition: level 2 driver assistance system (at any moment the driver is likely to have to resume driving and must therefore keep his or her hands on the wheel) combining the ACC (longitudinal control) and LCA (lateral control) systems to make driving easier in dense traffic. The ACC system is then adapted to operate at very low speeds and to manage the stopping and restarting of the vehicle.

Acronym: TPMS

Signification: Tyre Pressure Monitoring System

Definition: automatic tyre pressure monitoring system that checks tyre pressure and indicates to the driver whether the tyres are under-inflated (or over-inflated) by means of a warning light.

Acronym: TSR

Signification: Traffic Sign Recognition

Definition: traffic sign recognition system (speed limits, etc.)

Acronyme anglais: V2X

Signification: Vehicle To Everything

Définition: a vehicle’s communication system with other vehicles, infrastructure and pedestrians. V2X therefore includes V2V (Vehicle to Vehicle), V2I (Vehicle to Infrastructure), V2P (Vehicle to Pedestrian) and V2N (Vehicle to Network).

Sébastien Saliou and Marouane Benaziz, June 2024

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S01E08: Use clipboard for table transfer by Stéphanie LESCARRET