Editor's note: This feature is the first in FenderBender's monthly Executive Q&A Series, new for 2025 and exclusive to FenderBender.
This month, we talk with the state of ADAS technologies and how to calibrate them with Pete Liebetreu, Hunter Engineering Co.’s VP of marketing .
1. As ADAS features are increasingly commonplace and numerous on everyday vehicles, has Hunter Engineering Company found the collision repair industry has a greater understanding of the need for ADAS calibration and at least a basic knowledge of what is required for calibration?
This is such a complicated question. The collision industry understands more than it did a few years ago, but there is still so much misinformation and confusion that more doesn’t always seem better.
Forward-thinking repair facilities are getting involved and getting informed. Unfortunately, the insurance industry has not universally been as informed about the need for these services. The more knowledgeable repair facilities are better equipped to get paid by proving need than those less knowledgeable.
Hunter is committed to expanding the information and training available in the marketplace through local ADAS training sessions, a huge library of ADAS training on the Hunter Learning YouTube channel, on Hunter.com/adas, and on https://www.hunter.com/adas-learning-tool.
2. Have evolving technologies changed what is required to calibrate ADAS, either for the equipment or procedures? Have OEMs standardized any of these procedures so that how I calibrate a Honda this morning is similar to how I calibrate a Ford this afternoon? Or are there still unique requirements and procedures? Perhaps Hunter has been able to simplify this through standardization?
There is little or no standardization among automakers. They even name the individual ADAS features differently!
Hunter equipment does add a layer of standardization for the technician, though, by automating many of the model-specific layout steps that need to occur on static ADAS procedures in particular. Static procedures are the ones with targets, which are all different. So, a Honda and a Ford might not be the same procedure, but they will feel similar using Hunter equipment. Guided procedures in the software also provide that sense of standardization that isn’t present if you just compared two different OEMs’ service documentation. We also do similar streamlining of guided procedures for dynamic procedures using a scan tool.
3. The technology exists for an OEM to allow its vehicles to self-calibrate or dynamically calibrate, which may suggest the need to calibrate using static targets could be only a stopgap one. Yet, we’ve heard of a myriad of reasons why this is not likely or feasible in the near future, and those who are adding calibration centers show no signs of slowing. Can you explain why that is?
Self-calibration, dynamic calibration and static calibration each have their advantages, and there may be a future where a vehicle can use multiple systems. Static solves the problem of long or impossible test drives in urban environments or poor weather conditions. It also solves a risk for the repair facility. Dynamic or self-calibration sounds like the solution until you run into the exceptions just noted. All cars are capable of static calibrations, because that’s how they’re originally calibrated at the factory.
This is primarily an automaker-by-automaker decision, trying to balance the tradeoffs. Hunter’s role is to reduce the tradeoffs on the static side and add flexibility. Hunter also provides the most comprehensive documentation that the procedure was performed correctly. This is something that other procedures are lacking.
It will be very interesting to see how the automakers respond to the new crop of aftermarket tools to simplify static calibrations.
4. Besides equipment, what should I ensure my shop has for a calibration environment? What does Hunter recommend as a minimum size, and is it essential to have a perfectly level floor, or are there workarounds for this?
This depends a little on what you’re trying to accomplish. As a collision center, you’re likely to want to be able to service all sensors all around the vehicle. That will be more demanding than a glass repair or alignment shop that focuses on dynamic procedures and forward-facing static procedures.
For a do-it-all approach, 24’ x 34’ can handle virtually any procedure. You can always position the car flexibly in that space to maximize the room. You also want to pay attention to the environment. Diffuse lighting without patterns of black and white in the background is required for camera procedures. Keeping large metal objects (like poles or workbenches) out of the calibration area is important for radar procedures.
You should also invest in alignment technology, as it’s often paired with ADAS work and vice versa. A flush-mounted alignment rack will increase your flexibility in vehicle positioning and improve your ability to maximize the ROI of your space investment. Of course, Hunter’s Ultimate ADAS is a wheel aligner in addition to being a sophisticated ADAS placement tool.
Regarding floor level, Ultimate ADAS takes care of that, too. Because we measure the ADAS fixture placement via time-of-flight lasers and compare that with the vehicle position in space, we can remove all but the most extreme level demands. No other procedure or equipment on the market can do this.
5. ADAS calibration is an important task, but with modern equipment, is it now something a low-level technician can perform? Or is this best tackled by an “A” tech?
Perhaps not a first-line tech, but it is designed to be familiar for any technician skilled enough to perform wheel alignments. It’s certainly a major step away from the “A tech” OEM procedure approach.
6. What kind of ROI can a shop expect from a typical Hunter ADAS calibration equipment investment?
Hunter’s goal is always to provide fast, efficient ROI for our customers. ROI can vary by area, expertise, car count and other factors. A shop can research their own ROI using Hunter’s ADAS page at Hunter.com/adas-equipment/ultimate-adas/?#roi. For a busy shop also performing wheel alignments, the ROI can be as little as four months. A local Hunter Business Consultant can also help you refine the ROI for your business. Just enter your ZIP code on Hunter.com to find your local rep.
