The ADAS technology in today's vehicles is impressive -but it's a preview of what's coming. The next decade will bring significantly more sophisticated driver assistance systems, deeper integration between safety features, and ultimately, the early stages of semi-autonomous vehicles arriving in collision shops. Shops that understand the direction of the technology will be better positioned to adapt their processes, training, and partnerships ahead of the curve.
Level 2+ and Level 3 Autonomy Are Coming to Production
Several automakers have already introduced Level 2+ systems -sometimes called "hands-free driving" -that allow extended periods of automated highway driving with limited driver supervision. Level 3 systems, which allow the driver to disengage from driving tasks under specific conditions, are beginning to appear in production vehicles. These systems rely on sensor fusion across cameras, radar, and lidar, with redundant systems that must all be calibrated correctly. When these vehicles are repaired, the calibration requirements will be significantly more complex than today's systems.
Sensor Fusion Means More Calibration Points
As vehicles move toward higher autonomy levels, the number of sensors requiring calibration per vehicle increases. Current ADAS-equipped vehicles may have three to five sensors requiring calibration after a typical collision repair. Future vehicles will have significantly more -including lidar sensors that require their own specialized calibration procedures. The complexity and revenue opportunity associated with calibration will grow substantially as the vehicle fleet evolves.
The OEM Service Information Landscape Is Changing
Automakers are continuously updating repair procedures as they learn more about how their systems behave in real-world repair environments. Staying current with OEM service information -and working with calibration partners who maintain current software subscriptions for all major manufacturers -is essential for ensuring that calibrations performed today meet tomorrow's legal standard of care.
The Shops That Invest Now Will Win Later
The shops that are building ADAS calibration capability -whether in-house or through reliable mobile partnerships -are building the infrastructure they'll need for the vehicles of the next decade. The investment in process, training, and documentation now creates the foundation for handling increasingly sophisticated vehicles as they arrive in the market. In ADAS, as in collision repair generally, the shops that stay ahead of the technology are the ones that thrive.