Impact Windshield

Static calibrations should never be performed outdoors

Important things to know about static calibrations:There are two types of calibrations performed on vehicles equipped with forward-facing cameras which are central to features such as lane departure warning systems, adaptive cruise control, accident avoidance and so forth: Static and Dynamic. For informative purposes, let’s focus primarily on the static method of calibrating these systems.

A static calibration involves placing a target stand at a precise distance from the front of the vehicle, centered and squared in reference to the vehicle’s position. It’s “static” in that the vehicle is not in motion, unlike a “dynamic” calibration (more on that in another article). A target stand will hold one or more targets at a specific height and distance along a horizontal axis. The camera, when placed into a diagnostic calibration mode (different from normal highway operation) looks for geometric patterns which are printed on the targets to accurately aim the camera.

Most foreign manufacturers currently use the static method to calibrate these systems, although there are a few exceptions among a handful of makes and models. Every auto manufacturer employing the static method states unequivocally that this type of calibration must be performed indoors in a controlled environment. What makes a distinction between a controlled, indoor environment to that of performing a static calibration outdoors?

Lighting. Targets utilize geometric patterns which are black and white in color; the white material has a certain degree of reflectiveness. Too much light, and even ambient light from a window or door, can “wash out” or blur the lines between colors, therefore distorting shapes. This confuses the software, and calibration will fail. In our shop, we had to lower lighting levels to avoid wash-out, and blocked ambient light penetrating through windows and doors; even structures which reflect light had to be obscured. There is simply no reliable way, so far discovered, of controlling light, reflected light, and so on, when attempting a static calibration outdoors, typically performed by a mobile service technician.

A level surface must be provided for the vehicle and target stand, relative to each other. Again, this is key for setting accurate distance and placements of targets. A driveway or street may appear level to the naked eye, but in reality, variations in surface plane occur far and away more than compared to a concrete surface which has been verified level across all axises. Our shop has a dead level floor which lends itself perfectly to static calibrations.

The background area behind and to the side of the target stand must be free from any object which projects a pattern, even a disjointed pattern geometrically. In our shop, we had to obscure a large roll-up bay door because it is one large pattern, as well as a normal entry door which projects a rectangular shape. All of this and other examples represent background “noise” which can further distract software from accurately aiming a camera. There is simply no reliable way to provide such control in an outdoors setting.

A controlled environment is one in which even atmospheric conditions are controlled; a static calibration performed outdoors is subject to breezes or gusts of wind which can alter positioning of target stands, if not the targets themselves. Our indoor facility completely sets environmental conditions for a successful static calibration to be performed.

Tire pressures must be set to manufacturer specifications to further enhance the level of the car positioned on a level surface. Our shop is equipped with an air compressor for this purpose, along with a digital air pressure gauge to verify tire pressure. Will a mobile technician be so equipped?To demonstrate how important this is, even a subtle change such as switching tire size or wheel size from factory settings, or altering suspension heights, may render a calibration unsuccessful. Extra weight from trunk stowage or other areas in the vehicle must be removed. A reputable facility should ask a vehicle owner if any such alteration has occurred prior to attempting a calibration. Some diagnostic providers such as Bosch, in use by our shop, require a measurement of wheel arch heights; these values are then entered in real time during calibration setup, so that the software may adapt to slight variations of suspension height which are within specified tolerance.

Fuel tanks must be topped off to create an ideal rear to front camera angle influenced by the vehicle suspension. While fuel tanks aren’t topped off at or from the factory, manufacturers have means to simulate the weight of a full tank and response of the vehicle suspension.

Once a car is set to diagnostic calibration mode, the software demands a great deal of power from the vehicle battery. To compensate for this and to prevent battery drainage below 12 volts, battery support aka a battery charger must be used. So great is the power demand that the diagnostic program may “rob” or “starve” other system modules of power, resulting in phantom or bogus trouble codes appearing in follow-up diagnostic trouble code (DTC) scans or even during the initial scan itself if there is a voltage drop. Our facility provides such battery support. Is a tech attempting a mobile-based static calibration so equipped?

The bottom line is this: manufacturers who set these standards aren’t just creating them as mere suggestions! It’s done ultimately with safe operation of the vehicle contributing to the overall safety of you, the driver, and any other vehicle occupants. One should only trust their safety and that of loved ones to approved procedures as set forth by the Original Equipment Manufacturer. NO auto manufacturer so far discovered has approved an alternate method to all the above. Trust your windshield replacement to those who’ve invested not only in the proper equipment and reputable diagnostic firm, but also who’ve invested in a facility to provide every preset condition required by the vehicle manufacturer. In short, static calibrations should NEVER be performed outdoors.

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Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.