November 2019

perform a calibration. The tool is able to save as an A4 report what you have done, and you can print it off through wi-fi or send it via email straight off the tool. Rob added: "That is just one of the advantages of MAHLE digital ADAS. We have connection to the manufacturers, it is very fast, when we identify a new vehicle we put it onto the tool we can have it on the tool within four weeks. We have changed it massively. We have made a difficult task easy, straightforward and professional as well. When we have demonstrated this in garages, they have told us they could charge £975 for an hour, work which with other assemblies could take the best part of a day. When we say you can do it in 10 minutes, we mean you can drive in, set it up, do the calibration and drive off in 10 minutes." Parting thoughts Aftermarket has seen a number of ADAS systems up-close over the last year. It is always interesting to see how a support system is worked on by different companies, from different angles, as they all work towards providing what they hope is the definitive system that will set the bar. They all have their own strengths. MAHLE's digital offering, which eschews the need for storing innumerate boards, certainly does makes a powerful case for itself. Whether or not technicians can really perform effective ADAS alignments without training is another question, but one that will be answered as workshops take up the system and see for themselves. NOVEMBER 2019 AFTERMARKET 57 www.aftermarketonline.net that the camera is in the alignment in which it will drive down the road. By doing this we establish the safest possible calibration." Referring to the TechPRO handtool, Rob was shown which direction to go in: "We have some preliminary messages on the scantool as we enter into the ADAS function with it. You want to do it on a fairly level floor, with a neutrally loaded car as well. Another thing that our tool recommends, and that is very important as well, is that you clear all system faults in there as well. You don't want to build upon an issue, you want to rectify things." Targets are required for alignment, but as discussed, these are digital: "Behind the windscreen of this car is the camera array for this vehicle, and it is looking for a representative image it can calibrate from. Previous generation ADAS used to go on a drive cycle. Current technology can't do this – it needs a known image without any variables. Most manufacturers have transitioned over from drive cycle calibration to this. "That car might have different target calibration boards going forward for a saloon version, for a coupe version, for a estate and a convertible because every vehicle dynamically is different. While we have over 200 applications on the tool today, going forward, in five or ten years we could have well over 500, such is the pace of development. In 10 years time we could have getting close to 1,000. Garages could be looking at 90 physical targets in three years, if they want to keep up with us. We don't have any physical targets as they are all embedded in the monitor." Tablet and PC Commenting on how the TechPRO tablet works with the system, Rob said: "The TechPro diagnostic tablet seems to be talking to the monitor, but it is actually talking to a mini PC behind the monitor. This controls what is on the screen. We have to establish some values and set them, so we can work out and display the target. It is a bespoke target, unique to the vehicle, and the position. We choose the make/model, then the ADAS option. We have a list of conditions which need to be met before you proceed, which is part of the code of practice. Then there is a mini screen with step by step guidance for the technician showing where the target goes." Back to the physical matter of the car and the screen. According to Rob, it is easier than you might imagine, and easier than with systems using physical targets: "You get the assembly generally in front of the vehicle. We are using the lasers on the wheel targets to tell the computer where the vehicle is in relation to it. This is one of the reasons we can run in a smaller space than a analogue system. If we are a little bit closer, all that happens is that the computer scales the calibration image down. The camera does not know it is closer." "We have sent the values to the mini PC and has noted the exact calibration on that car in that position. Not just the distance though, left to right has also been compensated for. We then have another value shown to set the screen height. The cameras work out where it is. When the tool stops communicating with the target, it keeps that preset and goes into diagnostic mode with the car and tells it to learn that image. "On some cars we have to go in and physically clear the old image. For example, on some cars in the Renault group you do that. You use the diagnostic tool and you go in and delete the original calibration setting before we can acquire the new image and save it. Then we just press the play button.” On use, Rob said: "When we have presented this to some groups, they have been amazed about how easy this is to use. They said 'what about IMI training for this?' We have said the training is within the tool. All you have to do is follow the guidance. We don't need to provide a lengthy one- day training course in order to Below: MAHLE Aftermarket's ADAS solution, including TechPRO tablet Above: MAHLE/ BrainBee's Rob Hawker makes a quick adjustment