Quote:
Originally posted by MGNiko
Since I don't have my Vette yet, what is active handling? How about the traction control? And Comp mode?
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Active handling: Computes an "ideal" trajectory for the car based on a real-time computer model. Inputs include speed, steering wheel angle, yaw rate, lateral acceleration, thottle position, wheel speed, brake input. Calculates what the car should be doing. Compares that to what the sensors *say* it's doing. The computer knows the car is past it's limit when the projection differs from the actual. When this happens, AH kicks in and manages both the throttle and individual wheel brakes to help you control the car.
I think that a similar system installed in Porsche's can actually *increase* throttle if necessary. I've never been sure if I really liked that idea. Luckily, Corvette's only decrease throttle.
How does it work? Think of a motorized canoe. No rudder. There's an oarsman in front and one in back. They steer by putting their paddles in the water, individually or together. Wanna swing the nose to the right? Have the rear oarsman drop his paddle in the water on the right side. Wanna swing the rear to the left? Have the front oarsman drop his paddle in the water on the right (I think I got that 'right').
When your car's in a slide or drift, it's a lot like that canoe. Minor applications of "paddle" can be quite effective in helping to steer the car. The cool thing is, the computer does what a driver could never do, manage all 4 brakes independently.
A few really good drivers probalby don't benefit from AH, and maybe even get slowed down a bit. But for the vast majority of Corvette drivers, it's a tremendous driver "augmentation".
Traction Control: Compares the speed of the front and rear wheels. The computer knows a rear tire is spinning whenever either rear wheel speed exceeds the front wheel speed. The computer may apply the rear brakes, or reduce the throttle, or both, until the spinning wheel returns to the right speed.
Drive the car on a snowy hill with the summer tires. The TC will manage the throttle all the way down to 0 and stall the engine.
You left off Antilock Brakes. You probably already know what this is. But on the Corvette, the ABS is integrated with the TC and AH. In fact, it's the ABS that makes it possible to even have this kind of TC and AH. It's the ABS, and it's ability to apply or reduce brake force to any wheel in any amount, that makes it all possible.
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