The initial roots of the traction control system in bikes date back to 1971 when a computer system was deployed to detect rear wheel spin in high-power rear-wheel drive cars which were stuck only with the option of a limited slip differential. This mechanical element excels in rotating shafts at different speeds, while still allowing some wheel spin to occur. However, they were notoriously unreliable.
Understanding the Basics
Mechanically, TCS (Traction Control System) computes the necessary torque required to be transmitted by the clutch and sends the torque command to
the clutch controller while ensuring minimal wheel slippage. The market size for this safety tech is expected to reach $44.14 billion by 2025. This growth is
linked to the rise in demand for safety applications in vehicles globally.
Traction Control is a standard safety feature in modern cars and motorcycles. Some models also have the option of switching off the system.
How it Works
The basic working mechanism is similar to the Anti-lock braking system (ABS). That’s because both ABS and TCS use a similar set of sensors.
However, ABS focuses on maintaining traction while decelerating while TCS maintains traction while the vehicle is accelerating. If one wheel is
rotating faster than the other, then for the system, it is a loss of traction. In such an instance, the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) steps up and
brings down the momentum of the skidding wheel. The system also cuts the engine power to effectively control the slipping wheel.
In its earlier iterations, the traction control system was used to cut the fuel supply to the engine the moment a loss in grip was detected
at any wheel; this caused the cylinder to misfire on certain occasions, resulting in abrupt jerks. Modern ECUs, however, have a different approach.
The moment the system detects traction loss; in a matter of milliseconds, the ECU limits the throttle response even if you try hard. It also tends
to be smoother as compared to a direct cut in fuel supply.
That’s because modern traction control systems utilise several complex sensors which are controlled by a set of ECU functions. Each OEM has
its proprietary tech for this safety feature. In general, the sensors include: -
• Gyroscope
• Bank angle sensor
• Throttle position sensor
• Gear Position sensor
• Vehicle speed sensor
• Hydraulic Modulator
Modern-day ECUs collect data from these sensors, including leaning angle, gravitational force and the real-time traction available from both wheels and raw data for the current position of the motorcycle. Additionally, the Ride-by-Wire technology also feeds data to the ECU for a more precise TCS calibration.
Tech with Dual Purpose
In street naked bikes in India with traction control, such as the
TVS Apache RTR 310, the tech also offers another crucial
feature - wheelie control. The ECU, with support from all the sensors and actuators, detects the wheel spin difference
because of the wheelie and infers if the front wheel has lost contact with the ground and commands a torque reduction.
A part of the Race Tuned Dynamic Stability Control (RT-DSC) offered in the TVS Apache RTR 310, this system also uses
an IMU unit to know the bike is not leaned over in the corner and also measures the pitch angle to evaluate how high
the front wheel is going. Similar to the traction control system, the wheelie control function uses inputs from several
sensors and reduces the engine torque to limit the height of the wheelie.
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