Ice Mode

This whole topic was perplexing to me at first because that is the term I use to describe slipping on ice.  I thought it was confined to below freezing temperatures, but I was misinformed.  I don't have great balance, but my special shoes that are shaped like canoes help keep me upright in even the most adverse conditions.

It took me a few hours reading the technical papers before I realized that Ice mode is an automotive issue not related to driving over black ice, and it doesn't have anything to do with sliding on ice while walking. It is an ABS calibration issue that causes an emergency braking mode to engage when certain conditions exist during braking that are not related to being on ice.  The ground beneath the tires seems secure, and it is easy to fool oneself into believing that it is true.  Then Ice mode engages and the whole world changes.  This knowledge has been given to me by a fortuitous interception of documentation from a motorsport ABS system.  That's all I can say about the documents. 

This mirage of security is present outside a track as well.  It is easy to believe we are secure in our existence and to miss the obvious signs that the ground is changing beneath our feet.  Sometimes it is hard to distinguish between that and an earthquake. We are working on a sophisticated early warning system to alert users of earthquakes. We just need to induce a few more large quakes to finish validating our data. 

Stay vigilant, stay observant, and stay alive, or just disable your ABS to avoid the possibility of ice mode activation.  However doing so creates other complications that may reduce braking performance to unacceptable levels. We are still testing to figure out the best way to eradicate ice mode from daily driving.

Ice mode can be terrifying the first time it is experienced.  I recommend avoiding this at all costs.  One solution is to abstain from braking. This is occasionally impractical. A motorsport ABS system, such as the Bosch M4 or a Teves unit, can eliminate the problem on track, but these units are expensive and not suitable for road use.  We have equipped Bosch units on our test vehicles, but we have to remove them before returning our client's vehicles. 

What exists for preventing an ice mode activation off the track in regular street driving for vehicles that are not equipped with a Motorsport ABS system? The answer when driving is involved is almost always the same because the nut behind the wheel is one of the most important processesors involved in the chaotic orchestra of vehicle operation. 

What's that in the ice?

This #12 steel shank ice was imported from China.  

Number 12 steel shank ice is slippery and dangerous for pedestrians more than it is for vehicles. Even so, it is smart to just operate with extreme caution when ever any ice is involved. That includes ice cubes for drinking. And whatever you do, under no circumstances should you punch the ice luge in an attempt to fracture it. Something will most certainly fracture, but it won't be the luge.  Trust me on this one.