For almost a quarter of a century, passenger cars and trucks equipped with advanced safety systems, install traction control systems. From the name of this system it is clear that it prevents the car’s wheels from slipping at the right time. A car's traction control system is the second safety system after ABS (anti-lock braking system). These two latest systems work in pairs and prevent the wheels from blocking or spinning. Drivers who are interested in electronic safety systems often want to understand how traction control works.

The traction control system is abbreviated into English as Traction control system (TCS). German automotive engineers call it Antriebsschlupfregelung (ASR). These systems include a set of measures to prevent slipping on roads with insufficient grip.

The programs programmed into the car's brains are optional and can be turned off. But this must be done again every time after turning off the ignition. And not everyone does this.

Since the start of equipping cars with such systems, it has become much easier and safer to operate them. Other drivers have never turned off these systems during the entire time they used the car. It's so convenient! During your trip, you don’t need to worry about the car being driven off the road, for example, on ice after too much sharp pressing on the gas or brake pedal.

But true connoisseurs of a “clean” car, not strangled by security systems, turn off all electronic assistants in order to feel the soul and power of the car. But there are very few of them, one might even say a few.

The traction control system only works in conjunction with the anti-lock braking system, but not vice versa. That is, the anti-lock braking system can work without anti-skid, but anti-skid without anti-lock braking system can't work.

There are three main types of traction control systems. They are similar, but are used on different brands cars.

Antriebsschlupfregelung (ASR) system

ASR is the most common traction control system. It is installed by such flagships of the German and world markets as Mercedes, Volkswagen and Audi. The system tailored to these cars is of great help to beginners who cannot drive confidently on the road. The list of main functions includes instant differential locking, which makes it possible to feel a “loose” or “welded” differential. Through the differential lock, torque is controlled and adjusted. Electronic brain on-board computer processes information received from sensors on the hubs. After instantly comparing the speed and rotation of the drive and free wheels, the system decides to slow down, increase speed and stop fuel supply.

This system involves the use of three types of work. Control of the braking system of the driving wheels, engine traction control and combined, when two methods are used at once.

The ASR system has a threshold of influence on braking system. Usually this is 60 kilometers per hour. If this threshold is exceeded, the system will not affect the braking system to avoid dangerous situations. On high speeds This system only affects the engine.

Traction control system (TCS)

This system first began to be installed on Honda cars.

The TCS (Traction control system) system is translated from English as a traction control system. This electro-hydraulic system is needed to prevent loss of wheel-road traction when sliding. This system works using sensors that read the speed and rotation frequency (revolutions per second) of each wheel. If the system detects a sharp jump in the speed (revolutions) of one of the drive wheels, then the traction of that wheel is cut off. The system itself will turn on the traction to this wheel after equalizing the speeds. Further variation in the number of revolutions on each wheel will be corrected by reducing traction.

This system was used as an advanced system for the first time on Formula 1 cars in 1990 and was banned in 2008.

TRC (Traction Control) system

This security system is used mainly on expensive models of Honda and Toyota cars.

The operation of this system complements the others by preventing the car from skidding. The operating principle of this system involves reducing traction and torque to prevent dangerous situations. The operation of this system is noticeable when passing dangerous turns with slippery surfaces. Thanks to this system, a car with a driven front axle will not go off course even with a sharp release of gas in a turn. The TRC system is installed even on four-wheel drive vehicles, for example, Toyota RAV 4.

If this system works, the driver cannot influence the movement of the car by pressing the gas pedal, because the system blocks this action.

So, modern cars are stuffed with different electronic assistants and this, of course, has a positive effect on road situations, because thanks to such systems there are fewer accidents due to poor road grip, and drivers without winter driving experience are not afraid of icy roads.

Video

See how TRC works using Toyota as an example:

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What is a traction control system?

Traction control is the name given to the traction control system. modern cars, which is a secondary function of e. The main purpose of traction control is to ensure reliable adhesion of the wheels to the road surface.

Thanks to this system, the control process is greatly simplified while driving on wet asphalt, ice, off-road, as well as when performing various maneuvers: turns, bends, overtaking, advancing, turning around.

Principle of operation

The principle of operation is quite simple, but it was practically possible to implement it only in the early 70s. First installed on Buick cars back in 1971, its name sounded like Max-Trac.

We managed to avoid slipping in the following way:

• sensors constantly analyzed the angular speed of the wheels;
• information was sent to the electronic control unit;
• as soon as there was a discrepancy between the amount of fuel-air mixture supplied? , the speed of vehicle and the speed of rotation of one of the wheels (simply put, you are accelerating, but the car does not accelerate due to slipping), traction control is activated by reducing spark formation in one of the cylinders.

Later the system was radically improved and it was used on Mercedes-Benz S-Class in 1987. Its name in German sounded like Antriebsschlupfregelung, or ASR.

The components of traction control are:

• sensors are installed on each of the wheels and monitor their rotation speed, as well as sudden increases or decreases in speed caused by slipping;
• ECU (Electronic Control Unit or electronic control unit) - processes incoming data from sensors and, in the event of signals about a sharp increase in the number of revolutions, sends electrical impulses to actuators;
• Automatic Traction Control (ATC) valves - block wheels that are spinning.

Electric valves are embedded in the main pipes through which the brake fluid circulates. As soon as an impulse arrives electronic unit control, the valve opens, allowing the required volume of liquid to pass through, and then closes sharply to preserve high pressure, necessary to actuate the working cylinder rod and press the friction pads to the brake disc of the car. Traction control is also connected to the return pump brake fluid and the car's ignition system.

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As you can see, the idea is simple, although its implementation requires the presence of fast processors capable of processing large amounts of information within short periods of time.

Using the traction control system in practice

It is enough to go to the official website of any car manufacturer to make sure that such auxiliary systems today they are widely used - in the description of the configuration you can see so many abbreviations (TCS, BAS, ESC, EBD, ETC, VVT, A-TRC, Hill-Start, Down-Start and so on) that you need to take an English dictionary or search for a long time in definitions of certain functions on the Internet.

However, they all make driving easier and more fun.

Traction control has found wide application:

• passenger cars and cargo motorized vehicles;
• Formula 1 racing cars - they skid less on sharp turns, the speed increases accordingly, the number of accidents decreases, and new records appear;
• motorcycles - first installed on the BMW K-1, then used on Ducati and Kawasaki Concours-14;
• SUVs - traction control is often installed together with differential locking (there are also models where TCS is used independently without locking), such a solution was first implemented in 1993 on the RangeRover - ABS together with TCS, according to engineers, significantly increased handling on difficult routes, and without differential locking.

Unfortunately, on cars domestic production There are no such innovations yet. For example, on a luxury station wagon LADA Largus There is only ABS. But the Granta Lux has ABS, Brake-Assist and EBD. We hope that the new LADA Vesta equipment will be closer to modern requirements.

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The abbreviation TCS stands for Traction control system and stands for traction control system or traction control system. This system has a history of more than 100 years, during which it was first used in a simplified form not only on cars, but also on steam and electric locomotives.

The deep interest of automakers in the TCS system appeared only in the second half of the 60s of the twentieth century, which was due to the arrival of electronic technologies in the auto industry. Opinions on the use of the Traction Control System are not clear, but despite this, the technology has taken root and has been actively used by all leading automakers for about 20 years. So, what is TCS in a car, why is this system needed and why is it so widely used?

Electro-hydraulic traction control system TCS is included among the systems active safety vehicle and is responsible for preventing slipping of the drive wheels on wet and other surfaces with reduced traction. Its task is to stabilize, level the course and improve traction with the road surface in automatic mode on all roads, regardless of speed.

Wheel slippage occurs not only on wet and frozen asphalt, but also during sudden braking, starting from a standstill, dynamic acceleration, cornering, and driving on sections of roads with different grip characteristics. In any of these cases, the traction control system will react accordingly and prevent an emergency situation.

The effectiveness of the Traction control system is evidenced by the fact that after its testing on high-speed Ferrari cars, it was adopted by Formula 1 teams and is now very widely used in motorsport.

How the TCS system works

TCS is not a fundamentally new and independent introduction, but only complements and expands the capabilities of the well-known ABS - an anti-lock braking system that prevents wheel locking during braking. The traction control system successfully uses the same elements that ABS has at its disposal: sensors on the wheel hubs and the system control unit. Its main task is to prevent the drive wheels from losing traction with the road, with the support of hydraulics and electronics that control the braking system and the engine.

The TCS system operation process is as follows:

• The control unit constantly analyzes the rotation speed and degree of acceleration of the drive and driven wheels and compares them. A sudden acceleration of one of the drive wheels is interpreted by the system processor as a loss of traction. In response, it acts on the braking mechanism of this wheel and performs forced braking in automatic mode, which the driver only states.
• In addition, TCS also affects the engine. After a signal about a change in wheel speed is received from the sensors in the ABS control unit, it sends data to the ECU, which issues commands to other systems that force the engine to reduce traction. Engine power is reduced due to ignition delay, cessation of spark formation or reduction of fuel supply in some cylinder, and in addition, the throttle valve may close.
• The latest traction control systems can also affect the operation of the transmission differential.

The capabilities of TCS systems are determined by the complexity of their design, based on which they make adjustments to the operation of only one of the vehicle systems or several. With multilateral participation, the traction control system can use different mechanisms to influence the road situation, including the most suitable system for the given conditions.

Opinions and facts about TCS

Although many experienced drivers note that the traction control mechanism somewhat reduces the performance of the car; for an inexperienced car enthusiast, the Traction control system is an indispensable assistant, especially when control over the road situation, for example during bad weather, is lost.

If desired, TCS can be turned off with a special button, but before that it’s worth remembering once again the list of benefits that become unavailable when turned off:

• easier start and good overall handling;
• high safety when cornering;
• skid prevention;
• reducing risks when driving on ice, snow and wet asphalt;
• slowing down tire wear.

The use of a traction control system also has some economic benefits, since it reduces fuel consumption by 3-5% and increases engine life.

Hai! Not only the "Biker's Dictionary" of the site includes all sorts of know-how from the world of two- and three-wheeled vehicles. In the "Moto News" section you will be able to find a lot of fresh information.

TCS or Traction control system of a motorcycle - this is an electronic system for the timely prevention of complete or partial loss of wheel traction with the road surface thanks to hydraulic control of the bike slipping process.

It not only greatly simplifies management iron horse on wet and sandy sections of the road, but prevents from time to time loss of speed, as well as the rider falling.

Thanks to special sensors in real time automatic system monitors wheel speed. Having detected the obvious beginning of the slipping process, the system automatically reduces this torque.

TCS is widely used in motorcycle racing. It is used in the bikes of most sports competitions on the planet. The Traction control system works quite interestingly, using a variety of methods to reduce wheel speed. Thus, the sparking process in at least one of the cylinders can be automatically stopped. In addition, the above effect is often achieved by reducing the amount of fuel supplied to the cylinders. Cover is most effective electronic system throttle valve or timely change in the ignition timing of the fuel mixture.

The TSC (or ASR) system gets its name from the English terms Traction Control or anti-slip regulation. In Russian this is called a traction control system. Essentially a secondary function of ABS. The system's task is to prevent wheels from slipping on slippery surfaces. When starting the car from a standstill or suddenly applying gas while driving. As practice shows, a fairly powerful car is capable of turning the wheels in both second and third gear while driving, if the wrong tires are selected or the asphalt is wet.

How does the system work?

In case the sensors angular velocity rotation of the wheel registers slipping, the system, depending on the settings, can reduce the fuel supply and reduce engine torque, or slow down the slipping wheel, or do both at the same time. The system is especially useful on slippery surfaces. It can also prevent wheels from slipping when adding gas in turns, thereby preventing skidding from developing. rear axle on rear-wheel drive vehicles and demolition of the front on front-wheel drive vehicles. The system also helps when starting uphill on slippery surfaces, a visual demonstration in the video.

Story

The first examples of the system appeared in Europe on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in 1987, and earlier in the USA, on Buick in 1971 and Cadillac in 1979. For a long time was an exclusive option for expensive and powerful cars, is now widely used as part of the ESP system.

Advantages and disadvantages

The system has a positive effect on the vehicle's stability and safety, especially on slippery surfaces, preventing the driver from pressing the gas too hard to cause a critical situation. But it can do a bad job when driving through deep snow, sand or mud, “strangling” the engine just at the moment when the car needs maximum gas in order to slip out of an unstable surface. Therefore, if you need to drive through sand or snow (at low speed), Traction Control should be turned off in advance.