BRIEF INFORMATION

Road condition sensor (RCS)

➔➔ Detects moisture on roads early and reliably day and night
➔➔ Enables warning to be given on wet roads in order to avoid aquaplaning
➔➔ Input variable for friction coefficient calculation in brake and control systems
➔➔ Robust measuring principle of airborne and structure-borne sound analysis in the
wheel well, tried and tested over many years

PRODUCT FEATURES

Application
The road condition sensor (RCS) is a sensor capable of providing an
input variable (wetness) for driver assistance systems.
If the sensor is positioned in the wheel arch (application-specific on each
front wheel arch cover), it measures the amount of water pooling on
the road. This information can be made available to the driver or to the
appropriate systems in order to draw attention to a possible aquaplaning
scenario. In this way, driving behaviour can be adapted so as to avoid
causing accidents.
Depending on customer requirements, different vehicle reactions
can be triggered whenever road moisture is detected:
➔➔ Warning given to driver when level of moisture on road / 
speed becomes critical
➔➔ Prediction of braking distance depending on road wetness
➔➔ Adjusting distance to the vehicle ahead on wet roads (ACC)
➔➔ Influence on control systems of longitudinal and transverse
dynamics

By measuring the wetness of the road at a constant driving speed, the

RCS gives an extension to the dynamic friction coefficient calculation
(e.g. ABS, ESP).
PRODUCT FEATURES

Design and function

When road moisture occurs, the sensor detects vibrations and noises from In order to fix the sensor to the wheel arch cover, its housing is connected
water swirling around in the wheel arch. Specific algorithms free the signal to a bracket. This can either be injected directly into the wheel arch by the
from disturbance variables and calculate the water film height. manufacturer or a special, separate fastening element can be used.

The signal is processed by the embedded electronics and software of the The sensor is mechanically robust against:
sensor and sent via a LIN interface (bidirectional) to the vehicle control unit ➔➔ Dirt / dust
(ECU). Details on the sensor communication can be customised. The RCS ➔➔ Ice / ice build-up
sensor can contribute to better driving stability by lowering, for example, ➔➔ Stones / impact of objects
the activation thresholds for ABS and traction control. The sensor signals ➔➔ Distortion of the wheel arch liner during driving (dynamic
can also be used to adjust the drive train control in order to ensure stability and fast)
during acceleration – especially when cornering.

If the road condition sensor is used for partially or highly automated

driving, the information about the degree of wetness can also be used to
dynamically adjust the distance to the vehicle in front.

FUNCTIONAL DIAGRAM
Dynamically adjusting distance to
Speed vehicle in front (acceleration and braking
behaviour)

Temperature
Sensor input
RPM 3 4
5
Wetness detection enables driving style
2 6
1
x1000rpm
7 to be adapted in order to counteract
BUS 0
Wet Dry
8
aquaplaning
Acceleration Control unit

Wetness Better driving stability through

Sensor output (Detection of spray water on the adjustment of the drive train stiffness
sensor contact surface)

Key

Required information

Optional information – if available, it can be used to improve performance during dynamic driving

FUNCTIONAL PRINCIPLE / STRUCTURE-BORNE SOUND RECOGNITION

Raw signal Sensitivity sound pressure

Sound pressure level
Signal

Time Frequency (Hz)

Wet
Dry
TECHNICAL DETAILS

Technical data Technical drawing

Operating voltage 9 – 16 V

±0.5
29.3±0.5
29.3 ±0.5
Operating temperature -40°C to +90°C

29.3
Current consumption ~ 20 mA at 12 V 23.63
23.63 ±0.3
23.63
±0.3
±0.3

±0.1
11.47±0.1
11.47 ±0.1
Ø30.4
Ø30.4 ±0.4
Ø30.4
±0.4
±0.4 30.52
30.52
30.52
Protection class IP 6K9K

11.47
54.15
54.15 ±0.5
54.15
±0.5
±0.5
Vmax 180 km / h* 12.91
12.91
12.91
Minimum detection limit
250 μm

22.25
22.25
22.25
(road wetness)
11 1 22 2 33 3

29.3 ±0.5

44.5
44.5
44.5
Interface LIN 2.1

Weight < 30 g
23.63 ±0.3
*The wetness detection has been validated by HELLA up to a speed of

11.47 ±0.1
Ø30.4
180 km / h. As wet roads pose a risk to life and ±0.4
limb, beyond this the 55.7
55.7 ±0.5
55.7 30.52
±0.5
±0.5
ultimate responsibility lies with the customer. The dryness detection
functions up to a speed of 300 km / h. 54.15 ±0.5
12.91 Pin assignment
22.25

1 2 3 1 UBAT
44.5

2 LIN
3 GND

55.7 ±0.5

Mounting in the wheel arch

The road condition sensor (RCS) may only be connected directly to the wheel arch via the bracket and the decoupling element.
A clearance of 10 mm to adjacent components must be guaranteed.

Illustration showing a bracket for the wheel arch

Clearance

Bracket
Sensor

Wheel arch Through hole

Mounting hole

Example showing cross section of the wheel arch through hole Optimum positioning of the road condition sensor (RCS) in the wheel arch

Ø35.63 Wheel arch cover

Ø32.79

Sensor position
Ø31 +0.1
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

Product image Description Part number

Road condition sensor (RCS) On request*

* The sensors must be specially applied to suit each vehicle model. All part numbers are therefore assigned on a customer-specific basis.

ACCESSORIES

Product image Description Part number

Fastening element On request

© HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA, Lippstadt J01656/01.20 Printed in Germany Subject to technical and price modifications.