What is an Anti-Lock Brake System?


What is an Anti-Lock Brake System?

August 5, 2019

Have you ever wondered how vehicles are engineered to keep us safe from harm? Besides seatbelts and airbags, the anti-lock brake system (ABS) is one key feature you should consider.


Whenever you’re going to rent a vehicle from a car leasing company in Singapore, see if it’s equipped with an ABS. It prevents a car’s wheels from locking during braking, allowing the driver to handle the steering wheel with better control to avoid a potential collision.


Brief History


The idea of an ABS was conceptualised as early as 1908 when the “Slip Prevention Regulator for Rail Vehicles” was first introduced. 


However, it was only until 1920 when the concept of ABS garnered more attention with the help of Gabriel Voisin, a French automobile and aircraft pioneer. The Frenchman handled experimentations regarding hydraulic braking pressure on his personal aircraft brakes to avoid slippage.


Fast forward to the early 1950s to late 1960s, electronic anti-lock systems were mainly used for aircraft and other aviation vehicles. 


As for the modern ABS, it was introduced as a computerised system for the 1971 Imperial, an automobile by the Chrysler Corporation.


Soon after it was proven to be reliable, the ABS became popular with other car brands such as Ford, Cadillac, Nissan, and Toyota. Decades later, other companies followed the trend and incorporated ABS features into their vehicles as well.


How does it work?


Nowadays, all vehicles are required to have ABS features. This is definitely important if you want to manoeuvre safely.


In summary, an ABS works by prevents the wheels from locking up to avoid uncontrollable skidding and slipping. This makes the car easier to control at high speeds, as it helps the driver manage the vehicle on slippery surfaces. This is essential for places where it’s usually rainy.


An ABS has four main componentsthe speed sensors, valves, Electronic Control Unit (ECU), and Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU).



1. Speed Sensors – These monitor the acceleration and deceleration of each wheel. Speed sensors are composed of an exciter and wire coil to generate pulses of electricity. 


2. Valves – While the ABS is currently functioning, the valves regulate air pressure to the breaks. As a result, the valves control the pressure being transferred from the master cylinder to the brakes.


3. Electronic Control Unit (ECU) – This amplifies, receives and filters sensor signals to accurately calculate the wheel’s acceleration and rotational speed. As the ECU analysed data, it receives a signal from the sensors in the circuit to control brake pressure.


4. Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) – The HCU receives signals from the ECU to release the brakes as the ABS is set into motion. In addition, the HCU increases hydraulic pressure to reduce braking power, thus controlling the brakes.



Now that you’ve understood the key concept of ABS systems, ensure your vehicle is equipped with an ABS. While all cars are required to have an ABS system, it’s still possible to rent or purchase a vehicle without it.


For quality vehicles with safety and precision in mind, visit CL Leasing, a car rental company in Singapore. Contact us at 67697117 for more details regarding our vehicles for leasing.