In recent years, Subaru has made a big splash in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to set itself apart from the competition. Subaru’s Eyesight system can reduce crashes by providing features like lane departure warnings, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. ADAS systems (and the vehicle sensors they rely on) can get bumped or moved out of alignment by things like collisions and windshield repairs. After they are moved out of position, Subaru Eyesight’s sensors need to be professionally calibrated. This opens the need nationwide for local ADAS calibration centers, where ADAS recalibrations can be performed in the right environment, with special equipment, by trained ADAS technicians. Read on to learn all about Subaru ADAS systems, sensors, and calibration.
What is Subaru Eyesight?
Subaru Eyesight is a driver assistance system that uses sensors to monitor the surroundings of your vehicle. Subaru Eyesight was first introduced in 2013, and it is available on many new Subaru models. Here is a breakdown of how Eyesight functions, its’ unique features, and the additional safety benefits it provides drivers.
How does Subaru Eyesight work?
Subaru Eyesight uses vehicle sensors, including two front-mounted cameras, to sense the environment around your vehicle. They can detect other vehicles, lane markings, and even traffic signs.
It is standard equipment on the following Subaru models with an automatic transmission:
- Ascent
- BRZ
- Crosstrek
- Forester
- Impreza
- Legacy
- Outback
- WRX
Below is a breakdown of the features Subaru Eyesight provides.
Subaru Eyesight ADAS Systems
The Eyesight ADAS system has many individual drivers assist technology features, including:
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control
- Lane Keep Assist
- Pre Collision Braking
- Pre-Collision Throttle Management
These programs are designed to be a second pair of eyes to help drivers avoid obstacles and keep them safe. In the event of a potential collision, the system will warn the driver before intervening.
While operating the vehicle with the Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control active, it is possible to remove your hands from the steering wheel briefly, but it will soon disengage without input from the driver. Subaru Eyesight is designed to help the driver, rather than do the driving for them.
These features can also be turned off to give the control back to the driver.
Subaru Adaptive Cruise Control
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) tells the vehicle what speed to travel at and then maintains that speed until settings are changed or ACC is disengaged. It then senses the road lines and vehicles ahead to keep at a constant speed while staying at a certain distance behind any preceding vehicle.
The distance between vehicles is set by the driver. Simply input it into the vehicle. It will then drive like normal with little assistance from the driver, only a hand to touch the steering wheel every now and then to show the driver is still attentive.
Subaru Lane Keep Assist
With Lane Keep Assist (LKA), a vehicle detects the lanes and where the vehicle should be in relation to the lane markings. It will then sense when the vehicle is starting to drift to one side or when it crosses over, and it will adjust itself. LKA ensures no one sways outside their lane accidentally.
Separately, a lane departure warning will alert the driver they are nearing the edge of the road, but it only gives a warning light instead of intervening.
Subaru Pre-Collision Braking
If the vehicle is coming up on something too quickly, Pre-Collision Braking uses braking force to mitigate an impact. This is extremely helpful in many situations, for example, when approaching stopped, unexpected traffic on the freeway.
Subaru Eyesight ADAS Sensors
ADAS sensors are what detect the lanes and objects around your vehicle. Uniquely in the ADAS market, Subaru vehicles are not equipped with a front radar. While most manufacturers utilize a forward radar, or a forward radar/camera combination, Subaru instead uses dual stereoscopic cameras mounted several inches apart, from the roof, and behind the windshield near the rearview mirror. These cameras perform all forward-facing ADAS duties like lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control.
Some things that could interfere with the camera sensors’ accuracy could be:
- Old windshield wipers
- Cracks in the windshield
- Getting in a collision
If the windshield wipers are old and do not clean the windshield properly, then it will leave streaks or excess water to distort the camera and cause it to not see clearly.
Cracking will also cause the same result if there are major cracks blocking the cameras. If there is a crack on your windshield, the glass needs to be replaced, so there is no discrepancy with the camera sensors.
Also, the slightest collision can cause the cameras to jolt out of position and call for a trip to the ADAS service center to be put back into place via ADAS calibration. If any of these problems are happening to your vehicle, be sure to keep the driver assist off, so it does not interfere with your driving.
Subaru ADAS Calibration
Subaru Eyesight is a great ADAS package that can help drivers in countless ways. With more than one million Subarus equipped with EyeSight out there on the road, it’s important to be familiar with this ADAS system’s capabilities. It’s also important to understand the role ADAS calibration plays in keeping Eyesight working as intended.
ADAS calibration sets sensors in the right position relative to the vehicle. It aligns them in the exact OEM-specific direction necessary to read the right part of the road and provide drivers with ADAS assistance at the right time. But a collision is not the only reason a vehicle will need ADAS calibration. This vital service needs to be performed on Subaru Eyesight sensors in several common situations like windshield replacement, wheel alignment, replacement or repair of suspension components, and anytime the ADAS cameras are repaired or replaced.
That’s where the Car ADAS Solutions team comes in. We are an innovator in the ADAS calibration services market. With our turnkey solutions, your very own local calibration center can be up and running in 45 to 60 days. Learn more.
