Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store

ABS Full Form

Reviewed by:
ffImage
hightlight icon
highlight icon
highlight icon
share icon
copy icon
SearchIcon

ABS Brake Full Form

ABS long form is Anti-lock Braking System. It is a safe anti-skid braking system that is being used in aircraft, cars, bikes, buses, and trucks. An anti-lock braking system (full form of ABS brake) operates by preventing the wheels of the vehicles from locking up during braking. It maintains tractive contact with the road surface and allows the driver to maintain full control over the vehicle. Anti-lock Braking System(full form ABS) is an automated system. It works on the principle of threshold braking and cadence braking - the techniques that were used by the expert drivers, far before the spread and use of ABS. 


(image will be uploaded soon)


ABS History

The first proper recognition of the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS system full form) came with Karl Waessel (German engineer). His system for modulating braking power was officially patented in the year 1928. 

1950 - The anti-skid system of Dunlop Maxaret was used in aviation in the UK in aircrafts such as Avro Vulcan and Handley Page Victor, English Electric Lightning, etc.

1958 - An experiment was performed on a Royal Enfield Super Meteor Motorcycle by the Road Research Laboratory to test the anti-lock braking system of Maxaret. It was found that the anti-lock brakes are very effective and can reduce accidents.

1960 - In the late 1960s, the first sully electronic anti-lock braking system was developed for the aircraft Concorde. 

Fun Fact - The modern Anti-lock Braking System (ABS braking system full form) was invented by Mario Palazzetti in the Fiat Research Center and was known as “Mister ABS”. Then, the system was known as Antiskid. Later, the patent was sold to Bosch and was renamed as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS brake full form).

1969 - Ford introduced an ABS named “Sure Track” in the rear wheels of Lincoln Continental Mark III and Ford Thunderbird. 

1971 -

  • “Trackmaster” rear wheel only Anti-lock Braking System (full form of ABS brake) was introduced by General Motors on their rear-wheel-drive Cadillac models. 

  • American car Imperial became the first car with a 4 wheel computer-operated anti-lock braking system (ABS in car full form).

  • Toyota introduced electronically operated and controlled anti-skid brakes in Toyota Crown.

  • Fiat Veicoli Industriali developed the "Anti Slittamento" system, which was a truck application and installed in their truck 691N1.

1976 - The Westinghouse Air Brake Company developed the anti-locking braking system on commercial vehicles followed by electronic braking systems (EBS) for heavy-duty vehicles. 

1978 - Mercedes-Benz W116 used an electronic four-wheel multi-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS) from Bosch in the year 1978.

1982 - In the year 1982, Honda introduced electronically controlled multi-channel ALB (Anti Locking Brakes) for the second generation of Prelude.

1985 - The European Car of the Year 1986, Ford Scorpio was introduced in the year 1985 with a Teves electronic system throughout the range as standard.

1987 - Mercedes - Benz has started using ABS as standard equipment in all its automobiles since the year 1987.

1988 - BMW K100 was introduced with an electro-hydraulic ABS. It was the first motorcycle with an electro-hydraulic ABS.

1993 -  Lincoln became one of the first automobile companies to provide standard four-wheel anti-lock brakes and dual-airbags on all of their vehicles.

(image will be uploaded soon)

ABS Operations

The controller of the anti-lock brake is known as Controller Anti-lock Brake (CAB). The ABS includes a central Electronic Control Unit (ECU), four-wheel speed sensors, two (at least) hydraulic valves within the brake hydraulics. The Electronic Control Unit (ECU) monitors the rotational speed of each wheel. If the ECU detects wheels rotating slower than the speed of the vehicle, the condition which indicates impending wheel lock, it actuates the valves to reduce hydraulic pressure to the brake at the affected wheel, thus reducing the braking force on that wheel and the wheel then turns faster. Similarly, if the ECU detects the wheel rotating faster than the speed of the vehicle, it increases the hydraulic pressure to the brake, reapplying the brake force, slowing down the hill. If there is any fault in the ABS, the ABS sign will be on in the instrument panel of the vehicle until the issue is resolved.

Components of ABS

There are four components of the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS full form): Wheel Speed Sensors, valves, pump, and a controller. 

Speed Sensor - The speed sensor determines the acceleration and the deceleration of the wheel. They use a magnet, a Hall effect sensor, or a toothed wheel, and an electromagnetic coil to generate the signal. 

(image will be uploaded soon)


Valves - There is a valve in the brake line of each brake that is controlled by the Anti-lock braking system (ABS in car full form). The valves have three positions:

  • Position 1 - In this position, the valve is open, the pressure from the master cylinder is passed right through to the brake.

  • Position 2 - In this position, the valves block the line, isolating the brake from the master cylinder.

  • Position 3 - In this position, the valve releases the pressure (some) from the brake.

Issues in the valve system may occur if the valve is clogged.

Pump - In an anti-lock braking system (full form of ABS brake), the pump is used to restore the desired amount of pressure to the hydraulic brakes after the valves have released it. 

Controller - The controller receives the information from each individual speed sensor. If a wheel loses traction, the signal is sent to the controller. The controller then limits the brake force (commonly known as EBD) and activates ABS.

(image will be uploaded soon)

ABS Brake Types

ABS use different schemes depending on the type of brakes in use. They are differentiated by the number of valves that are individually controlled and the number of speed sensors. These are:

  • Four-channel, four-sensor ABS

  • Three-channel, four-sensor ABS

  • Three-channel, three-sensor ABS

  • Two-channel, four-sensor ABS

  • One channel, one sensor ABS


ABS on Bikes (Motorcycles)

The anti-lock braking system (ABS bike full form), on motorcycles, prevents the wheels of a powered two-wheeler from locking in braking situations. With the help of ABS, the rider can maintain stability during braking and helps in decreasing the stopping distance. The first ABS for motorcycles was introduced in the year 1988 with BMW K100 series bikes.


(image will be uploaded soon)


ABS Laws and Regulations

The laws and regulations associated with anti-lock braking systems (car ABS full form) are as follows:

  • An anti-lock braking system (ABS long form) is mandatory for all passenger cars sold in the EU since 2004.

  • In the US, the NHTSA has mandated ABS in conjunction with ESC (Electronic Stability Control) under the provisions of FMVSS 126 as of September 1, 2012.

FAQs on ABS Full Form

Q1. What is ABS full form?

Ans - ABS brake full form is Anti-lock Braking System.

Q2. What are ABS, ESC, and TCS?

Ans - ESC is Electronic Stability Control. ECS is an evolution of the modern ABS concept. In this, a minimum of two additional sensors is added to help the system work. The additional sensors are a steering wheel angle sensor and a gyroscopic sensor. The gyroscopic sensor detects the direction taken by the car and when it does not match with the steering wheel sensor reports, the ECS will break the individual wheel or wheels. TCS is Traction Control System. It is a secondary function of ESC on the production of motor vehicles.

Q3. Is ABS effective?

Ans - A study in 2004 found that the ABS has :

  • Increased the risk of run-off-road crashes by 35% and

  • Decreased the risk of multiple vehicle crashes by 18%

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “ABS works with your regular braking system by automatically pumping them. In vehicles not equipped with ABS, the driver has to manually pump the brakes to prevent wheel lockup. In vehicles equipped with ABS, your foot should remain firmly planted on the brake pedal, while ABS pumps the brakes for you so you can concentrate on steering to safety.”