For this article, ABRN interviewed nine different ADAS calibration equipment providers and/or manufacturers. Each was asked the same 17 frequently asked questions regarding ADAS calibration tooling and the systems they calibrate. More importantly, why is the need for investing in the proper tools no longer in question, but is instead a tremendous opportunity to be profitable? ADAS is here to stay, and it’s only going to be more prevalent as time goes by. Hopefully, we will dispel some myths and give you the confidence to advance your shop into the future and with a new revenue stream.
Is ADAS calibration going away?
Scott McKinney, senior product manager of Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, inc., said that not only is static ADAS calibration here to stay, but there will instead be an expansion of ADAS features and ADAS calibration as more technologies come into vehicles.
“If you have a backup camera, for example, that’s an ADAS feature,” he says. “All these ADAS features we expect will become mandated in the future. Like the airbag that achieved widespread adoption in vehicles years ago, we predict ADAS calibrations and semi-autonomous technologies will be vehicle staples in the future.”
Joffrey Starcher, sales manager of Texa USA, also says, “ADAS features are quickly becoming part of the standard safety features on vehicles and the technology will become more prevalent across all makes, models, and trim levels. Bosch is the only company that is simultaneously developing ADAS sensor technology along with recalibration equipment. As the largest supplier of sensors, Bosch knows what it takes to accurately calibrate ADAS systems, and we are partnering with many of the largest OEMs to develop the next generation of cameras, radars, and sensors.”
Will vehicles ever become "self-calibrating?"
McKinney continues, “We don’t really see self-calibrating vehicles on the horizon right now, because a technician is still required today to initiate the procedure for calibrations. Until there is more standardization in how calibration technology views road markings, objects, and other vehicles, it will make it very hard for a self-calibrating technology to complete a whole diagnostic process on its own. Technicians will not be going away any time soon.”
Ersin Asrak, ADAS tech support specialist of Autel North America, predicts self-calibrating ADAS may be a reality someday, but that introduction may be ten years away. “Technology is changing and becoming more and more advanced every year. So, I guess we just have to wait and see what the future holds for the automotive industry.”
Why can’t calibrations be done only dynamically?
According to Jordan Krebs, product manager-Americas, Wheel Alignment/ADAS, of Snap-On Diagnostics, "Dynamic calibrations are good for relearning an environment while driving under normal circumstances. However, if something gets on the sensor (like rain, snow, or mud) it's not going to read properly. If road conditions and other environmental factors are not sufficient, you may end up driving the customer’s car for 30-45 minutes (or more) until the vehicle tells the scan tool, 'OK, I've had enough information.' So, it makes more sense to have that static calibration." Krebs then adds, "I do see more vehicles moving to the hybrid-type system of calibration. A lot of that depends on what components the manufacturer was able to get ahold of to put into the vehicle, considering the current market and the chip shortages that the manufacturers are facing."
What ADAS equipment is the best for me/Do I need 'everything'?
When choosing a provider for ADAS calibration equipment, you should know that all aftermarket tooling must meet OEM requirements," Starcher says. "This goes back to the rules of R2R (the Right to Repair Act). However, when it comes to targets, Texa sizes them directly to the OEM targets. Not all ADAS calibration equipment providers do that. Some of them vary in size and color chosen." Starcher says, "Texa wouldn’t have gone this route if this wouldn’t allow them to meet the requirements for safety. Texa has 100% integrity with safety and works with the OEMs to provide safe solutions. We are continually evolving to always be in line with that of the OEM." Autel’s Asrak says which product is best for a shop depends on its usage. "We have one frame that's bigger, that's more stationary, and we also have the MA600 frame for some of the guys who don't have as much space, or they’re a mobile calibration business. We offer all the targets and all the radars for both systems."
How should the availability of technical support affect the purchasing decision?
Chad Schnitz, vice president, of Topdon, says technical support is key. "We still have our in-house tech support that people can call and ask basic questions," he says. “However, when it comes to more complicated systems with calibration issues, we have support staff in the field that is doing this every day. We don't want to do it for customers. We want to make sure they understand why we did it the way we did, so they can learn at the same time." Schnitz says, "To aid in technical support, we're developing a remote tool with virtual or augmented reality glasses, that they could use so we can see exactly what that technician sees or what the camera sees. We can see if there's a reflection on the windshield that's causing an issue. We can see if there is an obstruction behind the targets, causing them to mis-calibrate."
Autel stresses its robust technical support as a competitive advantage. Asrak says, noting the company has 15 trainers across the country. "The trainers will assist shops with a new purchase for the first one to three months, and they can still contact Autel directly on the tech support line. We have a big team and it's still growing. A lot of them are ASE certified mechanics, and we offer that tech support Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time." Asrak says, "That support extends to more than just a phone call," he says. "When people are having trouble with calibrations, we like to go on with TeamViewer, and actually turn on the camera on their tablet. We'll look at the setup through the tablet. For instance, we'll look at the target in the background, the surroundings, the lighting for any glare reflecting off the windshield. That helps a lot, too."
Should a shop’s repair order history be considered when choosing ADAS equipment?
Emily Jackson, director of ADAS at Launch Tech USA, says a shop owner should consider the makes and models commonly serviced, and the top 100 parts replaced. “Don’t be afraid to contact the ADAS manufacturer to ask if they offer coverage for specific makes,” she says. “Every ADAS manufacturer has strengths with certain OEMs. Some will have gaps (like Range Rover, Porsche, etc.). This is particularly important if you specialize in certain makes/dealerships. Occasionally, additional tools must be purchased, so really doing the research on specific coverage ahead of time can avoid those hiccups.”
Ryan Gerber, product specialist at Hunter Engineering, agreed. "ADAS calibration, although tedious, is not very complicated. If you are careful to follow instructions accurately and are using the appropriate tooling, it should be straightforward. Having some vehicle system knowledge is a plus, too. There is no major training required although Hunter does offer training classes for technicians in ADAS calibration. Basically, even a 'B' or 'C' level technician is capable of accurate and successful ADAS calibrations. As long as they are careful and thorough."
"Of course, there is a level of understanding required to perform ADAS static calibrations," Texa’s Starcher says. "Most of it is learning to navigate the software in the scan tool. Even a person with no technical expertise can easily learn to perform static calibrations. Besides that, many systems exist on vehicles that rely on dynamic calibration instead of static. All you really must do is drive the vehicle under certain conditions to calibrate it. Depending on local conditions, almost anyone can do that."
Autel’s Asrak points out that some glass companies have done nothing but glass replacement for more than 30 years, and they've adapted well to ADAS calibration. "So, it's not always necessary to have the technical ability," he says. "But I would say it's better to have it when doing ADAS calibrations. There are situations that may occur when it could help to have some diagnostic skills or automotive background. It does come in handy at times. Also, sometimes you do need to know basic mathematics for measurements. For the most part, the tool will walk you through the calibration. You just must make sure you read carefully."
Can a technician be 'overqualified' or overconfident?
"There is an old poster in my office that I laugh at because it says, 'Your ego is not your amigo,'" Launch Tech’s Jackson says. “That is also true with calibrations. Many times, there is a connection issue, or a calibration failed because of an incorrect target for that model year. The targets are not always the same from model year to model year. Or sometimes the ignition “on” will time out (and shut off automatically) after 10 minutes. An overconfident tech may just continue with the calibration, and they can’t figure out why it failed because they weren’t paying attention to detail." Jackson adds, “If they were to just step back, they would realize something simple was actually the cause of the failed calibration. If you rush, it’s almost as if the vehicle knows it, and you will likely fail. Just take it step-by-step."
"Being overconfident frequently causes technicians to skip important steps," Hunter’s Gerber says. "This is never recommended at all in any situation of repair, but especially so in ADAS calibration. The factory procedure must be followed, otherwise, the calibration will fail, and time will be wasted. This, of course, takes away from profitability."
Is 'environment' an important factor?
Snap-on’s Krebs points out that the environment is mostly specified by the OEMs themselves. “They do have specific lighting conditions and space requirements. Some OEMs require up to eight meters in front of the vehicle to be open, four meters on either side of the vehicle to be open (and forward), six meters behind the vehicle to be open. That's a massive space for most shops.” He mentions that lighting is a big factor, as well. "Too dark, the vehicle camera or sensor can't see the target. Too bright, and the target’s wiped out or the camera gets blinded." Krebs says, "It’s the same thing if you're going to be outdoors. The sun is a massive source of Infrared light, and all sorts of other light sources are in there." He adds another important fact regarding floor slope. "We need the floors to be level to make sure that the vehicle is level, and make sure the cameras are level."
Are there size requirements for a workspace?
Topdon’s Schnitz points out that clear space in front of that vehicle is required to perform lane departure warning or forward-facing camera calibrations. "It needs to be about eight feet in front of the vehicle by about ten feet wide (5 feet on either side of centerline). And, when we look at the tool and the instructions on the tool, it will tell you the size of a clear span box that you need to have in front of the vehicle," he says. "I've been able to do a lane departure warning calibration while the car is parked between a two-post-lift. We just must make sure that the camera can't see the two posts." Schnitz adds that some other calibrations require more space surrounding the vehicle. "If you have a system that you're trying to do a complete around-the-car calibration (around view), that monitors corner millimeter radar from that aspect, most manufacturers require a 30-foot wide by 40-foot-long clear space with no obstructions. Ford has 32-foot-long panels that go down the side of the truck," he says. "So, if you're trying to do a Ford truck you must have, not only that width but also that depth. My recommendation as a minimum is a 30 ft. by 40 ft. space to be able to put that car in."
Can calibrations be conducted outdoors?
Nelson Vargas, head of ADAS Support/Systems at Opus-IVS, cautions that calibrations shouldn’t be conducted outdoors unless the level of the floor can be verified. He says, “Having a tarp set up outside, you may be able to accommodate the OEM specs. Like a shed set up, where you have good lighting and, it meets the recommended specs. However, it’s not going to be too easy.”
Vargas' co-worker, Victor De La Torre, ADAS technician, added, "Picture alignment specs… 'GREEN' means 'within spec,' but it doesn’t eliminate tire wear or vehicle pull, necessarily."
Autel’s Asrak says that the environment in which calibration takes place will affect the setup of the equipment. He says, "Sometimes it is a little bit more difficult outdoors, but it can be done. If they have a canopy or they're doing it under some type of awning, and there are not too many objects in the background that might distract the camera from doing a calibration, it is doable.” He adds, "We have a lot of customers that do it outdoors and it works fine. I actually have a friend that does mobile calibrations (he and his buddy), and they have two Sprinter vans. They're very successful working outdoors, surprisingly."
How about the return on investment?
Thinkcar’s Alexander suggests that ADAS calibration is a specialized service that should capitalize upon. But “It depends on the shop. Deciding not to outsource is the biggest step in ensuring ROI,” he says. “ADAS is not going away so there is certainly money to be made. Keeping the calibrations in-house will certainly allow you to be profitable.” He mentions just how rapidly the equipment can pay for itself. “Being vocal about the tooling and advertising in your locale will certainly generate opportunities for revenue. For instance, just consider the vehicles on the road today with ADAS capabilities. When a wheel alignment is necessary, in most situations so too is ADAS calibration.”
Hunter's Gerber estimates the tool would pay for itself in less than a year, with an average 6–9-month payoff. “Considering about 80% of all cars on the road today are equipped with some sort of ADAS system, it’s a no-brainer that there is money to be made and the return on investment will be easily realized," he said. He adds that the number of vehicles utilizing ADAS systems is going to continue to grow in time. “ADAS saves lives, and safety is of the utmost importance,” he says. The cost of calibrations can vary depending on the region and vehicle/system being addressed. “On average, I’d say the cost of a typical static calibration is around $230. But with an investment of about $30k in ADAS calibration equipment, and with that average $230 charge, to perform one ADAS static calibration per day would yield you $41k in a year."
“Consider this scenario: The average cost of an ADAS static calibration is between $350-$500,” says Texa’s Starcher. “The cost of an ADAS system is about $30k. If financed (and considering a monthly payment of $500), You would only have to perform about two calibrations per month to cover the cost of the equipment.” Starcher points out that those numbers don’t include the services performed by advertising in the shop’s locale. “There is plenty of room for profit. If it were known throughout your area, that you have the tooling, now you are talking about some real profits, he says. “It’s also important to consider that every car out there will eventually need ADAS calibrations because every car out there will have ADAS systems of some sort. This is the direction the industry is heading in.”
Autel’s Asrak added that some vehicles will yield more profit as they require added calibrations. “Regarding calibrations, some are charging from $100 to $300 or more. Sometimes it varies depending on the complexity of the calibration and what's involved, especially with a dual calibration [static and dynamic]. “I don't think there's any real set guideline to how much they're supposed to be charging,” he says.
Can alignment racks accommodate ADAS calibrations?
“Some alignment systems can allow for ADAS calibrations, but many do not,” says Launch Tech’s Jackson.” So, after the alignment is carried out, you’d want to move the vehicle to a different area for ADAS calibration.”
Snap-on’s Krebs says, “The way our system works is completely bay-independent. So, if your floor, alignment rack, or whatever you're trying to use is less than 4 degrees off level, you can put it anywhere in the shop that you want so that you have space for it.” He offers some unique characteristics of the Snap-on TruePoint ADAS calibration system. “With Tru-Point, we don't care if you're on a rack and two feet in the air. We don't care if you're over a pit; we don't care where you are. If we can see all four wheels, we can build that base plane and we can position the TruePoint anywhere that you want it.” Krebs indicates the system’s ability to account for height differences, eliminating any math required for the technician performing the calibration. “You can pull the vehicles into the alignment bay (to start out) and do the check and do the ADAS calibration. If the alignment is out, then bring the vehicle back into spec,” he says.
Some of our contributors added a few very important FAQs of their own, along with their responses to them. These represent common myths among technicians and shop owners alike.
Other FAQs:
“If I don’t unplug the device, do I still have to perform a calibration?”
Opus-IVS’ De La Torre mentioned that at times ADAS components are displaced from their mounting location for unrelated repairs. “In a shop scenario, if repairs were performed near the [ADAS] module, and the module is unbolted, or the bracket was replaced and the module was set aside, or an exterior panel that covers it was painted or replaced, the chances are it's going to need a calibration,” he says. “Now all those scenarios I just mentioned did not require you to unplug that camera or module. You're going to find it in the service procedure. It's going to tell you “If it's moved, damage near it, or you painted the outer panel, you must perform a re-aiming or calibration procedure.”
Must I perform calibration if no DTCs are set?
“A DTC will only appear if the vehicle is reporting an issue. “However, a recalibration may be required even if a DTC was not reported,” says Bosch’s McKinney. He points out that proper wheel alignment is crucial to proper ADAS calibration. “For instance, a wheel alignment may change the thrust angle of a vehicle and will impact how an ADAS camera is monitoring the area around a vehicle. The Bosch ADS scan tool used with the DAS3000 provides the OE calibration requirements so that the technician can confirm if calibration is required, even if there are no DTCs.”
Can I forgo the ADAS calibration if my customer agrees to sign a waiver?
Launch Tech’s Jackson explains the fallacy regarding a customer sign-off or waiver of calibration. “You don’t have the ability to sign off for any of the other occupants of that vehicle, or anyone else that drives the vehicle in the future,” she says. None of that absolves you of the responsibility for the subsequent owners (assuming a sale or trade-in of the vehicle takes place).”
Is ADAS equipment portable?
Schnitz, of Topdon, points out that portability is a factor to consider with ADAS calibration equipment. “We talked about how you are going to use the ADAS equipment, but we didn't necessarily talk about where you're going to use it,” he says. “Calibration and portability may be a factor to some technicians. And that must be considered when you're buying a system. ‘Am I going to only use it in my location, or is this something that I have to load up into a van?’ There are some systems that are weigh 400-500 lbs. and you're not getting in out of a van very easily, so that must be a consideration as well. ‘Where am I going to use it?’”
As a result of speaking with the contributors to this article, many myths have been dispelled. It should be quite clear that ADAS calibration equipment is a worthy investment for any shop looking to secure its position in the future. ADAS is not going away nor is it something we should shy away from. With a very rapid return on investment realized, ADAS calibration will likely become a very profitable revenue stream for any shop that adapts to this technology and capitalizes on it.
