Hi all, in one of the never ending threads on whether to get DSC or not, I did some digging in the literature on what it does, and how well it works. While this doesn't have tons of data on accident statistics (they are easy to find), it's the best description yet of what these systems do, and why. There are also graphs of lots of stuff, like individual brake force application, yaw rate and slip angle through an avoidence menuver.

If you are one that wonders what really happens in the guts of these systems, this 9 pages of stuff is well worth the read. (not much math either).

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd.../05-0471-O.pdf

Matt

ps, the more I read about these systems, the more appearent it is that they are truely lifesavers. There is one quote I came accross where the claim is made that electronic stability control provide the best reduction in accident fatalities since the introduction of the seat belt!

 

Great read. even through im one of those who perfer not to have the DSC Due to an accident that because of the DSC caused it to be worse that it could have been. In my case it was a Fluke Situation. The DSC will assist in 98% of all sliding accidents. Mine just happen to be in that 2%. Also on the second go around. The car was going to be use for Autox so i didnt want the extra wieght.

 

for DSC over ABS. There is a steering angle sensor, and two (I think) acceleromters to measure yaw. Total weight would be on the order of a pound or so.

Matt

 

I don't believe you are correct on the weight. Does this Electro Nanny look like a lightweight to you?
Doctor Smith is using an early Beta version of Ian Cull's track mode circuit.

 

I must say I was glad I had it on my trip out to Vegas this year. I was driving on I-70 west right before the change to 15, and hit a flash hail storm. In the matter of 100 feet the road turned to ice, and there were no places to stop. This would not have been such a problem had I been on all season or winter tires, but I had decided to make the drive on my Falken RT-615s. They are pretty much usless in conditions below 35 degrees.

I was traveling about 80mph when I hit the ice and let off to allow the car the slow itself. Once I was hit 40mph the car began to fish tail badly. I got on the gas to pull out of it but found I had 0 traction to straighten myself. I could modulate the throttle enough to keep it somewhat composed, but soon hit an uphill section that sucked all traction from the front wheels. This is when I decided to turn the DSC back on. It slowed me to about 20mph, but allowed me to creep up the hill. I don't think I would have made it without an LSD either. The ice/slush had been carved out by trucks to were the car was gaining and loosing traction intermittently on both sides. The LSD allowed the car to send traction to the correct wheel instead of spinning the one without traction.

All in all, DSC is a good thing. Don't let your ego get in the way of good technology. Even Formula 1 drivers use traction control (for now...).

-Brian

 

is the off button. That I could figure out. But how do you turn it back on?

Matt

 

Matt, that was the biggest problem with the early versions. Not reversible.

 

Not a single one of the DSC detractors has commented on the contents of the article.

Hmmmmmm.

Matt

 

Heck Doc, I'm not going to read it. I want to remain blissfully ignorant. Thanks for trying to save me from myself.