What is traction control on a car?

The technologies that KTM is introducing into more and more models of road and off-road motorcycles are impressive! But how does it all work? The plant has prepared a series of visual videos.

Off-road traction control

What? Off-road traction control?! What nonsense?! - said avid endurists after the presentation in the summer of 2021 of the new next-generation KTM EXC-F, equipped with a traction control system on the ground. They then applauded after the first off-road test: European journalists showed the highest percentage of accident-free riding since the beginning of the organization of KTM press tests - not a single test pilot fell on motorcycles with OTC enabled! On motorcycles with OTC disabled, the number of crashes was the same as on normal tests. You can read what it is here. Here's how it works in practice:

Cornering ABS and MSC

Motorcycle Stability Control (MSC) was introduced by KTM in late 2013 and appeared on base 2014 models. .

Traction control - what is it? Not every experienced motorist can answer this question easily and quickly. Nevertheless, this system, firmly established under different names in cars of various brands, is considered one of the most effective means of active safety, with which manufacturers pin a number of hopes in the field of reducing accidents on the roads.

We will try to understand what modern traction control is and understand how effective it really is.

What is traction control or DTC system

The question “what is traction control and why is it needed” is asked by many car owners. As is already clear from the title of the article, the traction control system and the DTC system are one and the same, since DTC stands for Dynamic Traction Control and is translated as “dynamic traction control”. This system serves to prevent loss of traction between the vehicle's wheels and the road surface by controlling the slippage of the drive wheels. This system allows you to feel more confident behind the wheel, especially on wet or icy surfaces. Special sensors that are installed on each wheel monitor the speed of rotation of the vehicle's wheels and if any of the wheels begins to slip, the DTC system reduces the torque transmitted to the wheels or brakes the wheel using electro-hydraulic actuators.

How the Traction Control system works.

So we’ve sorted out the general concepts, and now let’s talk about everything in more detail. How does the system understand that a wheel or several wheels have begun to slip? In fact, everything is very simple. If the sensor begins to transmit data to the electronic unit that the speed of one of the drive wheels has begun to increase sharply, then this means that it has lost traction with the road surface and something needs to be done about it. Here the electronic unit either reduces traction or brakes the wheel. In order to reduce cravings, the following methods are used:

the system may stop supplying an impulse to one of the spark plugs and the spark will disappear;
reducing the amount of fuel supplied to some or some cylinders;
closing the throttle valve (if it is electronic);
changing the ignition timing;
canceling gear changes on automatic transmissions.

Of course, as already mentioned, the system can not only electronically influence the situation, but also mechanically; special electro-hydraulic actuators are installed on the wheels, with the help of which the system can briefly slow down the slipping wheel, thereby also increasing the torque on the opposite wheel. end of the axle, wheel. On modern cars, the DTC system is a component of the DSC system - a dynamic stability control system. The Traction Control system can be disabled, but it is usually not disabled separately, but disabled together with the DSC system. The traction control system itself uses the same sensors as the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the emergency braking assistance system (Brake Assist), which means that cars with the DTC system installed also have these 2 auxiliary systems.

The ASR system and the nuances of its operation

ASR helps prevent loss of traction in a vehicle's wheels by using an electro-hydraulic system that controls the engine and brakes in adverse road conditions or if the driver uses excessive acceleration and the wheels begin to slip on the pavement. The ASR system helps the driver avoid making mistakes in adverse road conditions and helps the driver maintain control of the vehicle.

Professional drivers complain that ASR affects vehicle performance, but this standard equipment in high-performance vehicles helps beginners and drivers who often overestimate their ability to control the vehicle in adverse weather conditions, and restores driver control in unexpected circumstances.

ASR technology has been in most cars and motorcycles since about 1992. And it dates back to the early 1930s, when Porsche developed a limited-slip differential, which allows one wheel to spin slightly faster than the other to improve traction. The ASR system is closely related to ABS. The first users of ASR, which was already complemented by an ABS system, were BMW in 1979.

How the ASR system works

Using Dynamic Traction Control

When driving calmly, it is better not to turn off the traction control, since in an extreme situation it will not help you. This system is turned off when they want to deliberately let the car skid, that is, “drift,” or in some other situations when more engine thrust is needed, but the electronics dampen it. When driving in sand, deep snow or mud, a little slipping and braking of the wheels helps improve traction, so there is no point in disabling the DTC system in these situations. Also, when driving at high speeds, on country roads, do not turn off the traction control system for your own safety. For a more complete understanding of the DTC system, watch the following video:

In the video, the first time the driver drives with the DTC system turned off and immediately skids when pressing the gas hard on a wet road, and the second time he drives with the DTC system turned on and does not skid, then everything repeats, i.e. This system allows you to maintain your trajectory even on poor, slippery surfaces.

Braking on slippery roads

A slippery road does not negate the principles of braking, but there are nuances here. On wet surfaces, grip is poor and braking force decreases. The shift of the center of mass from one wheel to the other is insignificant; both wheels have good contact with the road. This affects the braking distance, which can increase 4-5 times compared to a dry track. To stop properly, you need to use the rear brake more.

Algorithm

Start braking from the rear wheel.
Try to level the motorcycle.
Stabilize the motorcycle with both brakes.
Squeeze the brakes almost until the wheels lock.

How Dynamic Traction Control Works

We will try to understand what modern traction control is and understand how effective it really is.

Trulli and Glock are happy with the new rules

Purists have always said that traction control - the system that regulates power to the rear wheels to avoid slipping - is ruining the Formula One spectacle. But now the “good old days”, when auto racing masters demonstrated their ability to push a car to the limit of traction and beyond, are a thing of the past.

Now, since the beginning of 2008, the introduction of a standard electronic control module has made it possible to get rid of traction control, and the very first two races of the season presented us with an unforgettable performance - and no less dramatic moments can be expected from the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix.

In Toyota, the absence of traction control allows Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock to demonstrate a stunning combination of car control and high speed. Trulli has spent most of his career racing traction control cars but is known as a true artist behind the wheel, and the new rules give him the perfect opportunity to express his love for perfect lap times.

Jarno Trulli: “The ban on traction control is a good thing, because technology has begun to surpass the input of the pilot. It's good to take a step back and put the car at the mercy of the pilot. This is much more interesting and our contribution to the operation of the machine has become much greater. I like it because you have to be more sensitive and really control the car.”

For Glock, life without traction control became the norm after spending several seasons in Champ Car and GP2, learning to pilot powerful cars without the safety net of electronic aids.

Timo Glock: “Ultimately we are supposed to be the 22 best drivers on the planet and we have to be able to quickly adapt to driving without traction control. With traction control you can get close to the limit, but the right way is to give the driver more control over the car and we have done just that, so now the racing is more interesting. It’s more interesting for viewers to see more black stripes on the asphalt again.”

Team manager Richard Creegan also has no doubt that greater emphasis on driver skill and greater chance of exciting performances is a winning combination.

Richard Creegan: “It definitely made the racing more interesting and I think anything that puts the car back under the control of the drivers is good for the spectators. We've already seen this. Having to control such a powerful yet delicate machine gives much more power to the drivers. But these are professionals and they go to the track with the desire to win; they must show that they can handle it without traction control. There have been a lot of discussions about this, but my opinion is this: go out on the track, race and show what you can do - it all depends on the driver’s skill.”

ASR / Traction Control - what is it?

So, let's figure out what traction control is? In simple terms, this is a system that includes a clutch that redistributes torque between the driving wheels of the car, an anti-lock braking system that selectively brakes the wheels, as well as a set of sensors with a control unit that coordinates the actions of these devices to dampen car skidding and wheel slip.

In fact, today traction control combines the capabilities of anti-skid and anti-slip systems, although it was originally created as an effective tool to combat slippage.

It is a well-known fact that the first automobile brand to commercially introduce traction control in cars was the American company Buick, introducing a system called MaxTrac in 1971.

The operation of the system was aimed at preventing slipping of the drive wheels, and the control unit, using sensors, detected the slipping and sent a signal to reduce engine speed by interrupting the ignition in one or more cylinders, that is, it “choked” the engine.

This scheme turned out to be very tenacious and is used today by almost all automakers. However, at that time the traction control system did not have the function of dynamic vehicle stabilization.

Japanese engineers from the Toyota concern played a significant role in the development of the Traction Control system (abbreviated as TRC). It was they who were one of the first to come up with the idea of using the principles embedded in the system to stabilize the car in the event of an emergency.

Video - Toyota company explains how traction control works:

What distinguishes TRC from Toyota is its comprehensive approach to system design, which includes angular velocity sensors in the car’s wheels, monitoring the rotation speed of each wheel, and the use of comprehensive traction reduction methods.

In the first versions of passenger cars, traction was also reduced by “strangling” the engine, and in modern versions of the system installed on modern crossovers (for example, the popular Toyota RAV-4), a selective reduction in the speed of rotation of one or another wheel is carried out using a standard viscous coupling , which receives signals from the central control unit of the system.

In this case, the viscous coupling does not reduce the torque on the slipping wheel, but proportionally increases the amount of torque on the wheel that has better traction. In this “forceful” way, the car returns to the required trajectory and there is no danger of developing a skid, but in the direction opposite to the slippery surface.

How the system works

Sensors located on each wheel transmit information about the rotation speed of each wheel to the control unit. When a wheel starts to spin faster than others, the system detects slippage. To stabilize the car, the ECU can command the wheel to slow down or reduce the traction of the power unit.

Depending on the car model, traction control can turn off one or more spark plugs, change the advance angle, change the portion of fuel entering the cylinders, or close the throttle. This is how DTC reduces the car's traction so that it does not skid and fly off the road.

What is ASR / TRC (Traction Control System) in a car

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We will try to understand what modern traction control is and understand how effective it really is.

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ASR / Traction Control - what is it?

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In fact, today traction control combines the capabilities of anti-skid and anti-slip systems, although it was originally created as an effective tool to combat slippage.

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It is a well-known fact that the first automobile brand to commercially introduce traction control in cars was the American company Buick, introducing a system called MaxTrac in 1971.

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This scheme turned out to be very tenacious and is used today by almost all automakers. However, at that time the traction control system did not have the function of dynamic vehicle stabilization.

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Video - Toyota company explains how traction control works:

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Advantages and disadvantages of modern Traction Control Systems

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Modern traction control systems have a number of advantages and disadvantages. The first, of course, includes greater driving safety, because the system itself is capable of “recognizing” the risk of skidding and extinguishing its development.

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On the other hand, such “assistance” relaxes the driver, which can lead to less caution when driving on slippery surfaces. In addition, do not forget about situations where wheel slip is not evil, but, on the contrary, can be a driver’s assistant.

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By the way, this statement does not apply to fans of drifting and high-speed driving on race tracks, but to those drivers who often drive off-road or in deep snow. For example, traction control and anti-skid systems can play a cruel joke if you decide to overcome the “pull” of virgin snow.

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By artificially limiting the speed, the system is able to turn off the car’s engine at the most crucial moment, and such a “gift” will end in the search for a tractor. To avoid such unpleasant situations, almost all automakers provide the ability to disable traction control, for which a separate button is used on the car’s center console.

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As a rule, it is marked with a corresponding designation (on the same Toyota crossovers it is “TRC off”). Using the key, you can deactivate the system in order to successfully overcome a difficult area.

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VSC and TRC off errors

VSC stands for Vehicle Stability Control, translated from English as “Vehicle Stability System”. VSC works in tandem with TRC. If TRC Off and VSC light up together on a Toyota Avensis, this means that there are malfunctions in the sensors on the drive wheels, or there are problems with the engine or problems with the wiring.

It is necessary to diagnose the sensor information through the software at the service station using an OBD2 scanner.

Attention! Experts do not recommend clearing VSC and TRC OFF on Toyota Avensis or Auris by removing the terminal from the battery pack. If the problem was not a computer firmware glitch, it will repeat itself, and a minor malfunction will turn into a major overhaul of the entire machine.

On Toyota Avensis, the TRC Off and VSC lights usually light up as garlands. A third Check Engine light is added to these . These are common mistakes that are discussed by owners of Prado cars, Toyota Progress NC 300, on specialized forums.

The problem appears at different times of the year. The intensive occurrence of the error is due to the cold weather during the winter season, to which cars are not accustomed and the computer may malfunction. But often Toyota's TRC Off lights up when the fault is in the car itself.

When VSC lights up together with TRC in a Toyota Avensis, problems can be:

with the engine, if the “Check Engine” light also comes on. Failure of the engine results in the following types of malfunctions that a driver without a scanner will notice: increased fuel consumption, decreased power while driving on flat terrain, difficulty shifting gears, sudden stops or jerking of the car;
damage to the wires going to the ABS sensors;
low tire pressure;
poor contact on the “stops”;
if the steering wheel has recently been replaced and calibration has not been performed.

Attention! Experts confirm that on Toyota Avenis and Auris, the lighting of the VSC and traction control lamps is a common glitch. It is recommended to check the connectors, wiggle them, disconnect them and insert them back.

Using traction control in real operation

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Despite the fact that many modern cars have a traction control option, not all drivers know how to use this system. Let's try to figure out how to use the traction control system using the example of a Toyota RAV-4.

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In normal driving mode, the “default” so to speak, the TRC system on Toyota is constantly activated. Its intervention in control is completely invisible at first glance, but when one or more wheels of the car hit a slippery section of the road, the system comes into action, “directing” the car in the desired direction and preventing the development of a skid.

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In practice, this can be noticed by the selective activation of the anti-lock brake system, which is accompanied by a characteristic crunch, as well as a decreasing response to the gas pedal. In addition, a corresponding indicator flashes on the dashboard, indicating that the system is activated.

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Insufficient lean in turns.

You won't want to scrape your knees on the pavement at first, but there's a reason why riders hang off their bikes in corners. Shifting your body weight toward the center of the turn reduces the motorcycle's lean angle required for a given speed. This gives more grip and ground clearance. You don't have to go to extremes, but moving your butt towards the corner will help you corner faster in the future.

In Toyota cars TRC OFF - what is this button and how to use it

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In order to disable the stabilization system, as already mentioned, the driver will need to press the button labeled “TRC off” on the center console of your Toyota. This should be done as consciously as possible - only if wheel slip is really a necessary condition.

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In addition to the above-mentioned off-road driving, it also makes sense to disable the traction control in cases where intensive acceleration of the car is necessary (for example, to overcome difficult sections on the road by “moving”).

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It is worth mentioning separately the fact that in the Toyota crossover TRC is not completely disabled, that is, pressing the “TRC off” key only briefly deactivates the system. In addition, the system automatically turns on when the speed reaches 40 kilometers per hour, as indicated by the inscription “TRC on” on the dashboard.

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Accordingly, if you need to turn it off again, the button will have to be pressed again. This precaution by the manufacturer is justified by safety standards, since today traction control is considered one of the most effective safety systems.

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Follow road markings.

Staying on “your” side of the road is a habit worth keeping on public roads, but definitely not on the track. Accurate cornering trajectories are a bit of an art that you can develop over time. On most track days it will make sense to concentrate on cornering through cones if there are any there.

Results

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As you can see, traction control is a truly easy-to-use safety system that makes the driver's life easier. The possibility of forced shutdown allows you to avoid situations where the operation of the TRC could negatively affect vehicle control.

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However, any electronics are only an assistant and in no way a guarantee of safety. Only the driver himself can make driving truly accident-free and competent.

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We analyze the so-called law on winter tires or when tires should be changed.

You may be interested in the diagram of the new M-11 Moscow - St. Petersburg highway.

Video - how the Traction Control System works:

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Keyless entry and start system
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Installation of a 220V engine preheater
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It is rightly stated that this system is a helper. However, it is worth noting and keeping in mind that this assistant can greatly benefit your safety. Namely, “strangling” the engine when it is necessary to accelerate in order to avoid an accident. A classic of the genre: different surfaces under the right and left wheels, you pass a traffic light and see that someone has started early and is driving towards you. You press the pedal, but the car accelerates far from what you want.

I don’t have such an assistant on my car, but I drove a car with track control, of course there is a difference, but if you don’t drive and drive carefully, then you can do without it.

It is important to note that this system is not a panacea! Ultimately, all its abilities are limited by traction. If the tire capabilities are no longer sufficient, then the system will not help.

Sergey, what you write refers to the very first examples of such systems - I myself saw how terribly they work on a snowy road. Now everything looks much more optimistic, it’s not so dull.

I had never heard of the track control system before, I wasn’t even interested in this issue. Until I got into an emergency on a snowy road. I am a very careful and law-abiding driver, so I don’t mess up while driving, but the ice was merciless. And TRC helped me out a lot, one might say prevented an accident. Be careful and careful while driving!

The system helps out when overtaking in slushy snow, and even with a central parapet made of snow. The car no longer tosses from side to side so much!

I first became acquainted with this system back in the 90s, when it was standardly installed on E-class Geldings. It helped a lot at high speeds on the highways, especially when it was freezing. The car went through slippery sections in turns and overtaking as if on rails. However, you should not overestimate the capabilities of automation; it is designed only to assist in control, and not to completely eliminate the possibility of an emergency situation. Some people forget about this and sometimes they do this on the road! By the way, I tried it myself in the winter at night in an empty parking lot of a shopping center - you just need to let the car skid with ASR on.

When buying - for example, a used car with traction without adaptation to Russian conditions, especially ascent and descent during icing + if poor camber and balancing and torque are difficult to determine by the system. Moreover, you can’t forget about the automatic transmission - the controls are different everywhere and traction also depends on the human factor, regardless of the brand of the car. But in any case, it is effective in any case.

I've heard a lot about the control system of modern cars against skidding on slippery roads. With such a system, I just got a car, I have not yet understood the delights of driving with it, but I began to feel more confident behind the wheel. Is it correct?

TCS in a car: what is it?

The abbreviation TCS stands for Traction control system and stands for traction control system or traction control system. This system has a history of more than 100 years, during which it was first used in a simplified form not only on cars, but also on steam and electric locomotives.

The deep interest of automakers in the TCS system appeared only in the second half of the 60s of the twentieth century, which was due to the arrival of electronic technologies in the auto industry. Opinions on the use of the Traction Control System are not clear, but despite this, the technology has taken root and has been actively used by all leading automakers for about 20 years. So, what is TCS in a car, why is this system needed and why is it so widely used?

Traction control

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Post edited by Lev: June 14, 2009 - 21:55

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IT cannot not exist. On Omega it is always there.

As for traction, you need to connect a computer and watch. Everything will become clear immediately.

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Why is TCS needed?

The electro-hydraulic traction control system TCS is one of the car's active safety systems and is responsible for preventing slipping of the drive wheels on wet and other surfaces with reduced traction. Its task is to stabilize, level the course and improve traction with the road surface in automatic mode on all roads, regardless of speed.

Wheel slippage occurs not only on wet and frozen asphalt, but also during sudden braking, starting from a standstill, dynamic acceleration, cornering, and driving on sections of roads with different grip characteristics. In any of these cases, the traction control system will react accordingly and prevent an emergency situation.

The effectiveness of the Traction control system is evidenced by the fact that after its testing on high-speed Ferrari cars, it was adopted by Formula 1 teams and is now very widely used in motorsport.

Motorcycle stability system

The average person's reaction time is approximately ¾ of a second, or 750 milliseconds. The reaction time of a trained racer is measured to be about 270 milliseconds. What does this mean in practice? This means that Marc Marquez can prevent the emergency situation in which he finds himself, but, from a statistical point of view, you most likely cannot.

That is why modern motorcycles are equipped with traction control and other assistance and active safety equipment. Of course, they also have their limitations, including in terms of reaction time. Changing the output power of the engine involves changing the amount of mixture passing through the intake tract through the open valves into the combustion chamber, then a spark occurs, a flash occurs, the exhaust valves open, and the exhaust gases leave the combustion chamber. The thrust impulse created by the flash is transmitted by the crankshaft through the gear or chain drive of the primary gear to the gearbox, and then through the chain or cardan to the wheel and the contact patch with the asphalt. Each of these steps is short, but together the system has a significant and quite measurable latency, probably a couple of hundred milliseconds. This delay smoothes out jerks that occur both when power increases (opening the gas) and when decreasing (closing the gas or intervention of assistance devices), but this applies to gasoline motorcycles. What about electric ones?

In the new Zero SR/F, the delay between changing the throttle position and changing the traction of the rear wheel (and therefore changing the forces in the contact patch) is about 60 milliseconds. And even Marquez does not have the same reaction speed as the electronic filling of an electric bike.

Zero SR/F

How the TCS system works

TCS is not a fundamentally new and independent introduction, but only complements and expands the capabilities of the well-known ABS - an anti-lock braking system that prevents wheel locking during braking. The traction control system successfully uses the same elements that ABS has at its disposal: sensors on the wheel hubs and the system control unit. Its main task is to prevent the drive wheels from losing traction with the road, with the support of hydraulics and electronics that control the braking system and the engine.

The TCS system operation process is as follows:

The control unit constantly analyzes the rotation speed and degree of acceleration of the drive and driven wheels and compares them. A sudden acceleration of one of the drive wheels is interpreted by the system processor as a loss of traction. In response, it acts on the braking mechanism of this wheel and performs forced braking in automatic mode, which the driver only states.
In addition, TCS also affects the engine. After a signal about a change in wheel speed is received from the sensors in the ABS control unit, it sends data to the ECU, which issues commands to other systems that force the engine to reduce traction. Engine power is reduced due to ignition delay, cessation of spark formation or reduction of fuel supply in some cylinder, and in addition, the throttle valve may close.
The latest traction control systems can also affect the operation of the transmission differential.

Braking too early.

Try to be precise and consistent when braking, and aim to initiate braking at the correct point in the corner. Braking too early and then quickly accelerating to adjust the bike's lean is a classic mistake for almost any new rider. Later, as your speed increases, you will brake more harshly.

Opinions and facts about TCS

Although many experienced drivers note that the traction control mechanism somewhat reduces the performance of the car, for the inexperienced car enthusiast the Traction control system is an indispensable assistant, especially when control over the road situation, for example during bad weather, is lost.

If desired, TCS can be turned off with a special button, but before that it’s worth remembering once again the list of benefits that become unavailable when turned off:

easier start and good overall handling;
high safety when cornering;
skid prevention;
reducing risks when driving on ice, snow and wet asphalt;
slowing down tire wear.

The use of a traction control system also has some economic benefits, since it reduces fuel consumption by 3-5% and increases engine life.

Traction control system

Traction control system

(APS),
Traction control system
(
TCS
) is an electro-hydraulic vehicle system designed to prevent loss of traction by controlling slipping of the drive wheels.

This system greatly simplifies driving on wet or wet roads. Using sensors, the rotation speed of the wheels is monitored in real time, and if one of them begins to slip, the system calculates the best option for restoring traction. Widely used in auto racing, the Ferrari team was the first to use it in Formula 1 in 1990. Later it became widely used in regular production cars, and in 2008 it was banned in Formula 1.

What is traction control system?

The traction control system, or APS for short, is also called “traction control (PBS)”; in English you can also see two names for this technology - Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and Traction control system (TCS), in German it is called Antriebsschlupfregelung (ASR) .

Traction control is a secondary safety feature that works with the ABS anti-lock braking system on cars, trucks and SUVs. This electro-hydraulic system of the car simplifies driving on wet roads (it prevents the wheels from losing traction with the road by constantly monitoring the slipping of the drive wheels of the car). Depending on the car manufacturer, traction control technology has the following names (types):

ASR - installed on cars from companies such as Mercedes (as well as ETS), Volkswagen, Audi.
ASC - installed on BMW cars.
A-TRAC and TRC - on Toyota cars.
DSA - available on Opel cars.
DTC - installed on BMW vehicles.
ETC - installed on Range Rover vehicles.
STC - on Volvo cars.
TCS - installed on Honda vehicles.

Without taking into account the large number of items, traction control systems are similar in design and operating principle, so let's look at the operating principle of the most common of them, namely ASR, installed in Mercedes, Volkswagen or Audi cars.

Operating principle

Using angular velocity sensors installed on the wheel hubs, the electronic unit monitors the rotation speed of the wheels as the vehicle accelerates. If a sharp increase in the speed of rotation of the drive wheel is detected (loss of traction and slipping occurs), the electronic control unit takes measures to reduce traction and/or slow down the wheel that has slipped. To reduce thrust, the following methods can be used (depending on the implementation of the system):

Stopping sparking in one or more of the cylinders.
Reducing fuel supply to one or more cylinders
Throttle cover for systems with electronic throttle control.

At the same time, to restore traction and increase torque on the opposite wheel relative to the differential, the wheel that has lost traction is briefly braked using electro-hydraulic actuators.

The system partially uses the same mechanisms as the anti-lock braking system and the emergency braking assistance system (Brake Assist), so often cars equipped with traction control are also equipped with these systems.