By SEMA Garage staff
At the 2023 SEMA Show, the SEMA Garage announced its all-new advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) research white paper, "ADAS functionality and aftermarket modifications - 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500," which highlights groundbreaking research in the field of lifted vehicles equipped with ADAS.
Utilizing objective, data-driven ADAS testing and analysis methods, as defined by NHTSA, the team at SEMA Garage has been able to effectively determine how a lifted vehicle responds differently to camera and radar ADAS functions.
"For several years now, we've introduced ADAS to the aftermarket industry as an educational topic. In 2022, we decided that it was time to take the next step and put the education into practice. We developed a state-of-the-art ADAS Recalibration Center inside of our SEMA Garage Detroit facility, designed with the guidance of our partners from the collision repair industry," said Luis Morales, director of vehicle technology at SEMA Garage. "However, the recalibration portion only answers part of the question. We needed to dig deeper and dynamically measure the ADAS performance of the modified vehicle. Thanks to our partnerships, we have now started to answer more of the complete question and develop future pathways for our industry."
ADAS Functional Effects of Lifting a Vehicle
Vehicles equipped with certain aftermarket modifications shall be considered to need recalibration of the original equipment ADAS sensors. Any change in tire diameter, rake angle or vehicle ride height could affect sensor readings and necessitate calibration of an ADAS system. Modifying vehicles, whether lifted or lowered, may affect ADAS functionality and the SEMA Garage ADAS Technology Center is intended to be one of the members' tools to fully understand the ADAS function resulting from modifying vehicles with modern vehicle technology cameras and radar sensors.
To collect the most precise data, the SEMA Garage tested and shows results for a stock vehicle equipped with a 2-in. level kit, 3.5-in. and 6-in. lift kits, tested against requirements for:
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Lane Keep Support (LKS)
- Crash Imminent Braking (CIB) = Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Traffic Jam Assist (TJA)
- Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Project Background
The SEMA Garage research project was the first known of its kind in the aftermarket. While it must be emphasized that the test performed, and the results recorded and explained herein are only a subset of the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) System Confirmation and Performance Evaluation tests, and were only run on one vehicle model, they are a first step in understanding the relationship between aftermarket modifications and ADAS functionality, allowing for some initial findings to be drawn.
The hypothesis being tested during this research was: if typical aftermarket modifications are made to a 2022 Chevy Silverado, then original equipment ADAS functionality will not be significantly affected. Based on the results of the research, there is sufficient evidence to support this claim for this vehicle. After all the aftermarket modifications were implemented to the test vehicle, the vehicle retained its ADAS functionality.
The SEMA Garage ADAS Research Center
The SEMA Garage ADAS Research Center is available to help SEMA member manufacturers develop products from start to finish.
"The automotive industry is currently in an evolution state, ranging from advanced powertrains and fuels, safety systems, and user experiences. Five years ago, we recognized a need for our members in product development, as it relates to ADAS. When we were designing our second SEMA Garage, in Detroit, the integration of the ADAS Technology Center was vital to their success," said Mike Spagnola, SEMA president and CEO. "It's an exciting time for all, especially for those within the Specialty Equipment Market Association. SEMA members develop aftermarket products that directly integrate with this advancing technology."
Modifying vehicles, whether lifted or lowered, may affect ADAS functionality, and the SEMA ADAS Technology Center is intended to be one of the members' tools to fully understand the ADAS function resulting from modifying vehicles with modern vehicle technology cameras and radar sensors.
"The SEMA Garage develops the services and technologies to support our members' needs," said Mike Mohacsi, vice president of SEMA Garage. "ADAS is the next progression of safety standards, similar but different to Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS), backup camera and electronic stability control (ESC). We take our members' product development seriously and support them with new technologies like ADAS."
The following are actions that you can take now:
- Understand ADAS functionality and how modifications can successfully be incorporated, as well as any limitations. This can involve product- or model-unique engineering as well as vehicle testing.
- Familiarize yourself with current NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) guidelines.
- Consider future federal motor vehicle safety standards for Automatic Emergency Breaking and Pedestrian AEB.
- Engage product design and development with ADAS Testing.
- Review vehicle dynamics engineering considerations.
- Understand design FMEAs (failure mode and effect analysis)
- Conduct subjective testing (i.e. test drives)
- Conduct objective testing (i.e. data from test tracks)
- Support Installers with information necessary to be compliant with vehicle OEM ADAS functionality.
"Change to vehicle safety has arrived and will continue to evolve. The Aftermarket must take action to prepare for the continued changing landscape," said Mike Muller, ADAS engineer. "The technology is here. Utilizing the existing cameras and radars on vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has indicated their Notice of Public Rule Making process to make Automatic Emergency Breaking required on every new vehicle sometime in the near future. The ADAS testing, data and results conducted by the SEMA Garage follow these pending NHTSA Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards."
The full ADAS white paper is available for download here: semagarage.com/services/vehicleadas
To learn more about the SEMA Garage Detroit and the ADAS Technology Center, contact: adas@sema.org or (909) 610-2030
More Resources:
The information contained herein is for testing performed on, and specific to, the 2022 Chevy Silverado vehicle acquired. The results should not be interpreted in any way to conclude the specific modifications are representative of the outcome(s) that might occur for identical/like or other modification of any other vehicle (including the Silverado).