New programme aims to raise ESP profile
Britain’s car dealership staff are undergoing a major training programme in a bid to raise awareness of the safety benefits of ESP among drivers. Created by Robert Bosch, the programme – which also highlights the advantages of other active safety systems in vehicles – is billed as one of the largest road safety commitments of its kind undertaken by an automotive components supplier in Europe. With just 1% of UK drivers claiming to have knowledge of ESP, the programme, called ESPerience, aims to improve car dealers’ understanding and knowledge of the benefits of ESP, which are in turn being communicated to new car buyers. Once the attributes of ESP were explained to survey respondents, 67% not only said they would consider the technology in a new vehicle purchase, but they would also consider paying for its installation.

Bosch UK marketing manager for chassis systems David Fulker says: “Our research has shown that 97% of the British public expects manufacturers, and in particular dealer sales staff, to inform them of the safety options available on new vehicles at the point of purchase. “As a result, the first stage of the programme has been offered to the dealer networks of major vehicle manufacturers before becoming more widely available to motorists. It is these sales people who have the ability to convince a buyer to purchase ESP as a factory-fitted extra over the latest alloy wheels or in-car entertainment system.”

Max Mosley, chairman of the European New Car Assessment Programme, who estimates the cost of the technology at as little as £200 a car, was quoted in The Times earlier this year as saying: “If all cars were ESP-equipped, that horrific death toll could have been reduced by at least 30%, which is why we need urgent action to promote the use of ESP in all new cars.”

The question is how to raise awareness among drivers. In promoting a tax break for a safer car – they already exist for environmentally-friendly cars – Mr Mosley said: “By offering tax breaks, nations would dramatically increase public awareness of ESP and the safety benefits it offers.” The Bosch survey of 1,000 motorists highlighted that British drivers had a good awareness of passive safety systems such as airbags (89%) and seatbelts (76%), but only 18% identified ABS as an active safety system.

Other key findings included:

• 70% of respondents had been involved in an emergency braking situation
• 38% of motorists had been in a situation where they skidded
• Drivers feel poorly informed about safety systems
• 84% of respondents said that safety systems should be made compulsory by law
• More than half of respondents would be prepared to pay for safety
• Almost 50% of respondents do not know what ABS does
• With the exception of ABS, all other active safety systems are hardly known in the UK

How ESP works
ESP supports the driver in nearly all critical driving situations and is in effect a “super brain” which takes milliseconds to provide steering assistance and keep a vehicle on the road. It comprises the functions of the antilock braking system (ABS) and the traction control system (TCS) and detects vehicle skidding almost instantly and actively counteracts it. ABS and TCS provide effective support in assisting vehicle braking and acceleration in the direction of travel. ESP supports the driver in movements transverse to the direction of travel.

By means of a steering-angle sensor, which detects the position of the steering wheel, the system determines the direction of travel desired by the driver. At the same time, sensors record the vehicle’s rotary movement around its vertical axis, as well as lateral accelerations. From this data, the control unit calculates the actual movement of the vehicle, comparing it 25 times per second with the driver’s desired direction. If the values do not correspond, ESP reacts instantly without any action on the part of the driver. It reduces engine power to restore vehicle stability and, if required, brakes individual wheels. The resulting rotary movement of the vehicle counteracts the skidding movement and the car remains safety on the road. Bosch developed ESP in conjunction with Mercedes-Benz, and the S-Class, launched in 1995, was the first vehicle in the world to be equipped with the technology.

In recent years, Bosch has refined the system and supplemented it with additional functions such as Hill Hold, a starting traction control system for gradients; a Hill Descent Control, which maintains a regular speed while descending a steep hill and is typically installed in SUVs; Roll-Over Mitigation, which reduces the danger of a roll-over; the Trailer Sway Control, which reduces the risk of heavy trailers swaying while being towed by cars; the Load Adaptive Control, which identifies the actual vehicle weight in light commercial vehicles and adjusts the ESP actions accordingly; and Traffic Jam Assist, which allows the car driver with automatic transmission to take their foot off the accelerator and thereby allow the braking system to initiate a slow deceleration. And Bosch plans to add other functions to ESP over the next few years, with the main focus on networking the passive safety systems with predictive driver assistance aids into a Combined Active and Passive Safety (CAPS) systems package (see panel overleaf).

In addition, to encourage the take-up of ESP by more manufacturers and introduction of the technology into cheaper models, Bosch has this year launched ESP Plus, which sees various aspects of ESP functionality built into a cost-efficient package. In unveiling the all-new Saab 9-3 Sportwagon at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, the Swedish manufacturer announced that when UK deliveries start in September, they will feature new generation Saab-tuned ESP and ESP Plus and all 2.8 V6 Turbo variants will include ESP Plus, with Hill Start Assist for manual gearboxes, to prevent roll-back.

The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Safety-first pioneers
Two new safety-first systems developed by Bosch are being pioneered in the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class and B-Class and the Audi A6 respectively. The two Mercedes’ models – the B-Class enters UK showrooms this winter (see Manufacturers Round-up, pages 47 - 62) – are the first production vehicles to feature Bosch’s new steering assist system.

In a joint development with DaimlerChrysler, the new system supports the driver in making optimal steering inputs in critical driving situations by either enhancing or reducing assistance by the power steering system, thereby guiding the driver to an optimal steering wheel lock. Steering assist, which utilises ESP and electric power steering by upgrading the software, supplements the stabilising effect of ESP and counteracts skidding at a very early stage.

Steering assist evaluates ESP sensor data on the actual driving mode, identifies critical situations and thus determines the optimal steering lock. If the actual steering by the driver does not concur with the calculated values, a corrective steering moment is added to the normal power support. The driver will thus intuitively adjust the steering angle to the calculated value. The consequences are quicker and more accurate steering moments and the car stays safely on track. A Bosch spokesman says: “Many drivers are too late or too timid in their steering movements when the rear-end breaks out and then they tend to overreact. Steering assist supports the driver in relieving the critical situation through correct steering manoeuvres.”

The technology is also beneficial in case of emergency braking, if the car has one side on a slippery surface and the other side on a dry road. Even with ABS operating, the driver must keep the car on track with mild steering movements. Steering assist is designed to support a driver in these situations, but not dictate to the person behind the wheel. Meanwhile, the A6 heralds the debut of Bosch’s new driver assistance system, Predictive Brake Assist, which helps drivers in the event of an imminent accident by preparing the brake system for emergency braking. The technology is being installed as an additional function of the new A6’s Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system, which recognises vehicles driving in front up to a distance of 200 metres, measures their speed and keeps the desired safety distance, thus transforming it from a convenient feature into a safety feature.

The Audi A6 – World Car of the Year 2005

“Even in critical traffic situations, only some 30% of drivers will initiate a full braking action”

The technology is the first stage in Bosch’s Predictive Safety Systems product line-up – systems with preventative effect – which will be launched in 2006 and give an early warning to drivers in critical traffic situations. It is also part of the Combined Active and Passive Safety (CAPS) concept offering enhanced safety to motorists by linking safety systems – such as ESP, ACC and airbags – together. While unnoticed by the driver, Predictive Brake Assist builds up preventative brake pressure by placing the brake pads on the brake disks as a matter of precaution and setting the hydraulic brake assistant into a state of “alert”. If the driver actually brakes, they get the fastest possible brake response with optimal deceleration and the shortest possible stopping distance. When there is no braking action, the “alert” status is cancelled.

The Bosch spokesman says: “About one third of all car accidents are due to collisions with other vehicles or obstacles on the road. Even in critical traffic situations, only some 30% of drivers will initiate a full braking action. Most drivers are much too hesitant. In this case, the Preventative Brake Assist function helps to prevent accidents or lessens the severity of impact to a large degree.”