electronic stability program (ESP)

The electronic stability program( ESP) is one of the driver assistance systems( DAS) and supports the driver in critical driving situations. ESP, a trademark of Daimler AG, controls the vehicle's behavior and intervenes in exceptional situations, such as when there is a risk of skidding, rolling over, oversteering, or veering out of the lane.

The ESP system controls the so-called yaw rate, which is the rotation around the vertical axis. To do this, it compares the vehicle behavior with the vehicle control system and, in the event of strong deviations, regulates the vehicle stability in fractions of a second or initiates dedicated braking processes by braking wheels individually or together.

The entire ESP system is a control system that uses sensors to query engine speeds, acceleration and braking torques, lateral acceleration, steering settings and some engine data, 150 times a second, compares this data with the driving behavior and intervenes via actuators in the braking process and in engine and transmission control.

The critical vehicle situations mentioned can be controlled by braking individual wheels or axles at lightning speed, throttling the engine output or controlling the traction control system.