Electronic stability control (ESC)

This term is part of the following categories: Safety, Technology, Sensors and Vehicle system.

Version: 5.0, Release date: April 2023

Definition: Vehicle system that continuously monitors steering and vehicle direction and compares intended direction to the vehicle’s actual direction and intervenes by applying the brakes independently to each of the wheels to correct loss of control much faster than a typical human driver

NOTE Also referred to as dynamic stability control (DSC) and other proprietary names. Intended direction is determined by measuring steering wheel angle; the vehicle’s actual direction is determined by measuring lateral acceleration, vehicle rotation and individual road wheel speeds.

Previous versions:

Version: 3.0, Release date: October 2020

Definition: Vehicle system that continuously monitors steering and vehicle direction and compares intended direction to the vehicle's actual direction and intervenes by applying the brakes independently to each of the wheels to correct loss of control much faster than a typical human driver.

NOTE: Also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC). Intended direction is determined by measuring steering wheel angle; the vehicle’s actual direction is determined by measuring lateral acceleration, vehicle rotation and individual road wheel speeds.

Version: 2.0, Release date: June 2020

Definition: Vehicle system that continuously monitors steering and vehicle direction and compares intended direction to the vehicle's actual direction and intervenes by applying the brakes independently to each of the wheels to correct loss of control much faster than a typical human driver.

NOTE: Also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC). Intended direction is determined by measuring steering wheel angle; the vehicle’s actual direction is determined by measuring lateral acceleration, vehicle rotation and individual road wheel speeds.