car cruise control sensor

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How Cruise Control Systems Work

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Cruise control is an invaluable feature on Ameri­can ­cars. Without cruise control, long road trips would be more tiring, for the driver at least, and those of us suffering from lead-foot syndrome would probably get a lot more speeding tickets.

­Cruise control is far more common on American cars than European cars, because the roads in America are generally bigger and straighter, and destinations are farther apart. With traffic continually increasing, basic cruise control is becoming less useful, but instead of becoming obsolete, cruise control systems are adapting to this new reality -- soon, cars will be equipped with adaptive cruise control, which will allow your ­car to follow the car in front of it while continually adjusting speed to maintain a safe distance.

In this article, we'll learn how a conventional cruise control system works, and then we'll take a look at adaptive cruise control systems that are under development.

What Cruise Control Does

Cruise control acceleration and deceleration, controlling the cruise control, adaptive cruise control.

The cruise control system actually has a lot of functions other than controlling the speed of your car. For instance, the cruise control pictured below can accelerate or decelerate the car by 1 mph with the tap of a button. Hit the button five times to go 5 mph faster. There are also several important safety features -- the cruise control will disengage as soon as you hit the brake pedal, and it won't engage at speeds less than 25 mph (40 kph).

The system pictured below has five buttons: On, Off, Set/Accel, Resume and Coast. It also has a sixth control -- the brake pedal, and if your car has a manual transmission the clutch pedal is also hooked up to the cruise control.

• The on and off buttons don't actually do much. Hitting the on button does not do anything except tell the car that you might be hitting another button soon. The off button turns the cruise control off even if it is engaged. Some cruise controls don't have these buttons; instead, they turn off when the driver hits the brakes, and turn on when the driver hits the set button.
• The set/accel button tells the car to maintain the speed you are currently driving. If you hit the set button at 45 mph, the car will maintain your speed at 45 mph. Holding down the set/accel button will make the car accelerate; and on this car, tapping it once will make the car go 1 mph faster.
• If you recently disengaged the cruise control by hitting the brake pedal, hitting the resume button will command the car to accelerate back to the most recent speed setting.
• Holding down the coast button will cause the car to decelerate, just as if you took your foot completely off the gas. On this car, tapping the coast button once will cause the car to slow down by 1 mph.
• The brake pedal and clutch pedal each have a switch that disengages the cruise control as soon as the pedal is pressed, so you can shut off the cruise control with a light tap on the brake or clutch.

The cruise control system controls the speed of your car the same way you do -- by adjusting the throttle position . But cruise control actuates the throttle valve by a cable connected to an actuator , instead of by pressing a pedal. The throttle valve controls the power and speed of the engine by limiting how much air the engine takes in (see How Fuel Injection Systems Work for more details).

In the picture above, you can see two cables connected to a pivot that moves the throttle valve. One cable comes from the accelerator pedal, and one from the actuator. When the cruise control is engaged, the actuator moves the cable connected to the pivot, which adjusts the throttle; but it also pulls on the cable that is connected to the gas pedal -- this is why your pedal moves up and down when the cruise control is engaged.

Many cars use actuators powered by engine vacuum to open and close the throttle. These systems use a small, electronically-controlled valve to regulate the vacuum in a diaphragm. This works in a similar way to the brake booster , which provides power to your brake system.

The brain of a cruise control system is a small computer that is normally found under the hood or behind the dashboard. It connects to the throttle control seen in the previous section, as well as several sensors. The diagram below shows the inputs and outputs of a typical cruise control system.

A good cruise control system accelerates aggressively to the desired speed without overshooting, and then maintains that speed with little deviation no matter how much weight is in the car, or how steep the hill you drive up. Controlling the speed of a car is a classic application of control system theory . The cruise control system controls the speed of the car by adjusting the throttle position, so it needs sensors to tell it the speed and throttle position. It also needs to monitor the controls so it can tell what the desired speed is and when to disengage.

The most important input is the speed signal; the cruise control system does a lot with this signal. First, let's start with one of the most basic control systems you could have -- a proportional control .

In a proportional control system, the cruise control adjusts the throttle proportional to the error, the error being the difference between the desired speed and the actual speed. So, if the cruise control is set at 60 mph and the car is going 50 mph, the throttle position will be open quite far. When the car is going 55 mph, the throttle position opening will be only half of what it was before. The result is that the closer the car gets to the desired speed, the slower it accelerates. Also, if you were on a steep enough hill, the car might not accelerate at all.

Most cruise control systems use a control scheme called proportional-integral-derivative control (a.k.a. PID control). Don't worry, you don't need to know any calculus to make it through this explanation -- just remember that:

• The integral of speed is distance.
• The derivative of speed is acceleration.

A PID control system uses these three factors -- proportional, integral and derivative, calculating each individually and adding them to get the throttle position.

We've already discussed the proportional factor. The integral factor is based on the time integral of the vehicle speed error . Translation: the difference between the distance your car actually traveled and the distance it would have traveled if it were going at the desired speed, calculated over a set period of time. This factor helps the car deal with hills, and also helps it settle into the correct speed and stay there. Let's say your car starts to go up a hill and slows down. The proportional control increases the throttle a little, but you may still slow down. After a little while, the integral control will start to increase the throttle, opening it more and more, because the longer the car maintains a speed slower than the desired speed, the larger the distance error gets.

Now let's add in the final factor, the derivative . Remember that the derivative of speed is acceleration. This factor helps the cruise control respond quickly to changes, such as hills. If the car starts to slow down, the cruise control can see this acceleration (slowing down and speeding up are both acceleration) before the speed can actually change much, and respond by increasing the throttle position.

Two companies are developing a more advanced cruise control that can automatically adjust a car's speed to maintain a safe following distance. This new technology, called adaptive cruise control , uses forward-looking radar , installed behind the grill of a vehicle, to detect the speed and distance of the vehicle ahead of it.

Adaptive cruise control is similar to conventional cruise control in that it maintains the vehicle's pre-set speed. However, unlike conventional cruise control, this new system can automatically adjust speed in order to maintain a proper distance between vehicles in the same lane. This is achieved through a radar headway sensor , digital signal processor and longitudinal controller . If the lead vehicle slows down, or if another object is detected, the system sends a signal to the engine or braking system to decelerate. Then, when the road is clear, the system will re-accelerate the vehicle back to the set speed.

The 77-GHz Autocruise radar system made by TRW has a forward-looking range of up to 492 feet (150 meters), and operates at vehicle speeds ranging from 18.6 miles per hour (30 kph) to 111 mph (180 kph). Delphi's 76-GHz system can also detect objects as far away as 492 feet, and operates at speeds as low as 20 mph (32 kph).

Adaptive cruise control is just a preview of the technology being developed by both companies. These systems are being enhanced to include collision warning capabilities that will warn drivers through visual and/or audio signals that a collision is imminent and that braking or evasive steering is needed.

For more information on cruise control, check out the links below.

Cruise Control FAQ

How does cruise control work, how does adaptive cruise control work, will adaptive cruise control stop the vehicle, when would you use cruise control, how useful is cruise control, lots more information, related articles.

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Demystifying Adaptive Cruise Control: A Comprehensive Guide

As an auto tech expert and self-driving car enthusiast, I often get asked about Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and how exactly it works to automatically adjust your car‘s speed. ACC is one of the coolest semi-autonomous technologies available today, making highway drives safer and less stressful. But it‘s also complex under the hood!

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll give you an in-depth look at ACC – how it works, different types, key benefits, limitations, and what the future holds for adaptive cruise and autonomous driving.

ACC 101 – Adjusting Speed to the Car in Front

ACC uses radar, laser sensors or cameras to monitor the vehicle ahead and adjust your speed accordingly to maintain a preset following distance. If the vehicle in front slows, so does your car – automatically! ACC reduces the constant manual braking and acceleration required in heavy traffic.

Here‘s a quick ACC capability comparison:

ACC delivers a major safety and convenience upgrade from old cruise control technology first introduced in the 1950s. Let‘s look under the hood at how ACC performs this speed adaptation trickery…

ACC Sensor Technology – Radar vs. Laser vs. Camera

ACC systems rely on forward-facing sensors to detect the speed and distance of vehicles ahead. Most ACC systems use radar (radio waves), while some premium vehicles use laser sensors or cameras paired with image processing. Here‘s how each sensor approach works:

Radar Adaptive Cruise Control

• Uses radio waves in the 24 GHz or 77 GHz frequency bands
• Excellent range (160m+) and unaffected by weather
• Distributed beam provides wide field of view
• Cannot identify shape and classification of objects
• Overall the most robust and widely adopted ACC technology

Laser Adaptive Cruise Control

• LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) laser sensors
• Very high resolution and accuracy
• Narrow, focused beam with longer range than radar
• Performance impacted by weather and dirt
• Limited adoption due to higher cost

Camera-Based Adaptive Cruise Control

• Uses front-facing camera and video processing
• Can visually identify vehicles braking ahead
• Shorter effective range with narrow field of view
• Limited use for ACC, better for lane centering

Radar ACC is the most common since it combines long range, wide scanning angle, with reasonable cost. However, some automakers like Toyota and BMW use both radar and cameras to complement each other.

Real World ACC Performance

In optimal highway conditions, ACC works exceptionally well to adapt your vehicle‘s speed based on traffic ahead. However, ACC has limitations that require driver supervision:

Following distance – Most systems allow setting 1,2 or 3 second gap to car ahead. Younger drivers tend to prefer the risky 1 second gap!

Cut-ins – When a vehicle changes lane in front, ACC response can be delayed

Curves & hills – Around blind turns or over hills, performance drops as radar line-of-sight is lost

Bad weather – Heavy rain, snow, and fog degrade radar and laser sensor effectiveness

Bright light – Low sun angles and bright reflections can overwhelm camera sensors

Small objects – Most ACC systems have trouble consistently detecting motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians

While ACC has its limits, it‘s remarkably helpful day-to-day in reducing driver burden. But expect some occasionally quirky behavior so you‘re not caught off guard!

ACC Availability Across Vehicle Makes

ACC technology premiered in 1992, but only became popular on luxury cars in the early 2000s. ACC is now commonplace across all major auto brands:

And it‘s a standard feature on most luxury vehicles:

With so many automakers offering ACC, it‘s now an expected convenience feature for car buyers.

Comparing OEM Adaptive Cruise Systems

While ACC capabilities are similar across brands, there are some notable differences between automaker systems:

Mercedes-Benz Distronic

• Industry-leading ACC technology since introduced in 1998
• Uses long-range 77 GHz radar + stereo cameras
• Capable of full stop-and-go operation
• Automatically adjusts speed for curves and junctions

GM Super Cruise

• Camera + radar ACC combined with precision GPS mapping
• Enables hands-free driving on limited access highways
• Driver attention monitoring via face tracking camera

Nissan ProPilot Assist

• Budget ACC + lane centering system
• Smooth performance but more limited capability
• Delayed responses compared to premium systems

Toyota Dynamic Radar Cruise

• Lower speed operation down to 25mph
• Conservative speed adjustment when following
• Prone to leaving large gaps in traffic

Overall Mercedes sets the benchmark for ACC performance and capability in my opinion, with German automakers continuing to lead the way.

Adding ACC to Older Vehicles

You don‘t need to buy a new car to experience ACC convenience. There are aftermarket ACC systems available to add radar-based speed adaptation to older vehicles:

Comma Two : $1100 standalone ACC system powered by camera and radar sensors. Installs by connecting directly to vehicle CAN bus. Impressive capabilities given aftermarket nature.

Autocruise : $2500 ACC system requiring professional installation. Uses front camera and radar sensors. Provides ACC + lane centering.

RoadMate : $1800 radar-only ACC system. Easier self-install with OBDII plug-in. But limited braking capability.

Aftermarket systems provide a taste of ACC and advanced driver assist capabilities. But overall, OEM automaker ACC integration delivers a smoother and more reliable driver experience.

The Road to Fully Autonomous Driving

A key benefit of ACC systems is paving the way for fully autonomous self-driving vehicle (SDV) technology. The cruise control computers, radars, and cameras ACC relies on provide the foundational sensing and actuation building blocks for SDVs.

Here are some of the key ACC enhancements feeding into full autonomy:

Improved camera imaging – Higher resolution, HDR, night vision, wider field of view

Sensor fusion – Combining radar, camera and ultrasounds for 360 degree coverage

Tighter vehicle integration – Braking and steering authority expanded beyond ACC

Detailed 3D mapping – Ultra-precise maps enable self-driving without relying solely on sensors

V2X communication – Sharing intent and sensor data with nearby vehicles, infrastructure

Redundant systems – Backup sensors, computers, and actuators to maximize safety

The big challenge is mastering full self-driving in complex urban environments. While ACC handles long boring highway drives, crowded city streets require an entirely new level of autonomous driving expertise.

Optimizing ACC for the Future

As an auto tech expert, I see great potential ahead for ACC technology. But there are also improvements I‘d love to see:

Quicker reactions – Faster stopping when vehicle cuts in front

All speed operation – ACC availability even in start-stop traffic

Improved object detection – Identifying pedestrians, cyclists, animals

Left/right radar – Side-facing sensors to monitor blind spots

Personalization – Driver tailored ACC preferences and profiles

Intuitive controls – Simplifying overly complex ACC settings menus

Seamless transitions – Handoff between ACC, lane centering and parking systems

Driver monitoring – Alerts for distraction and loss of attention

With future refinement, ACC can move beyond just being a convenience feature and provide truly safe semi-autonomous driving.

Challenges Facing Consumer ACC Adoption

Despite the benefits of ACC, there are still barriers to mass consumer adoption:

Cost – Only available on higher trim models outside budget for many car buyers

Trust – Drivers underestimate capabilities and effectiveness of ACC

Complexity – Many settings overwhelm drivers new to the technology

Reliability – Sensor degradation and performance concerns over vehicle lifetime

Education – Lack of ACC training for consumers

Addressing these challenges will be key for ACC to transition from a luxury feature to a standard capability that drivers actually use day-to-day.

Testing and Validating Adaptive Cruise Systems

Before ACC systems hit the road, automakers put them through rigorous testing to ensure safety:

Hardware-in-the-Loop – Validating ACC sensor + ECU integration

Test track assessment – Repeated runs observing ACC capability in action

Scenario testing – Emulating cut-ins, curved roads, weather effects

Naturalistic driving – Recording ACC use in real uncontrolled driving

Simulation – Modeling ACC components and logic virtually

Public road testing – Validation in early prototype vehicles

Safety audits – Third-party review of ACC functionality

Months of testing provides confidence in ACC operation. But it‘s impossible to evaluate every edge case scenario an ACC system may encounter once on the road.

Insider ACC Troubleshooting Tips

To dig deeper into ACC, I connected with Sam who works on ACC radar sensor calibration at General Motors. He shared some pro tips on troubleshooting ACC issues:

"One problem we see is radar misalignment that prevents ACC from detecting vehicles ahead accurately. This can occur if the radar or front bumper gets even slightly shifted, say due to a minor collision. I recommend first visually inspecting the radar position and realigning if necessary. Also watch out for mud or snow buildup around the sensor which can block radio waves."

"Software bugs are another ACC gremlin, like incorrect gap distance or delayed braking. But these can often be remedied with an ECU update at the dealership. And make sure the windshield in front of the camera is squeaky clean for camera-based systems! Dirty glass is an easy pitfall."

So when ACC acts up, check for sensor obstructions, misalignment, and also ask your dealer to verify the latest software is installed.

I hope this ACC deep dive has helped shed light on how this clever technology works and what the future holds. Let me know if you have any other ACC questions!

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How Does Cruise Control Work?

Cruise control is awesome, be it regular or adaptive cruise. But, how does cruise control work, and can you trust it while driving?

We invented cars as means of transportation, to go faster and to go further. But the evolution of cars didn't stop there. Comfort has become a necessity, leading to the invention of features purely for driver convenience—features such as cruise control.

Cruise control lets you take your foot off the gas pedal without your car losing speed. With cruise control, you enter the speed, and then the car keeps cruising at that speed.

It's bliss for driving long distances on highways, but how does cruise control actually work?

What Is Cruise Control?

Cruise control is a driving assist that maintains a constant driving speed without your foot on the gas pedal. Cruise control has been around for a long time, but only in the past few years has it become more common in economy cars.

There are various types of cruise control mechanisms, and these usually work according to the type of throttle system in your car. However, some manufacturers take this feature to the next level with adaptive cruise control, automatically altering cruise speed.

Cruise control has evolved many times since it was first used in automobiles. As mentioned before, cruise control's working mechanism revolves around the throttle system. Right now, there are mostly two types of throttle systems in the cars you see out in the streets: the older cable throttle and the newer drive-by-wire throttle.

Cruise Control in Older Cars with Cable Throttle

Cable throttle systems use mechanical connections, and thus, the cruise control on these cars works mechanically as well.

In cars with cable throttle systems, the cruise control actuator is connected to the throttle body through a cable on one side. On the other side, the actuator is connected to a pump.

Most cruise control actuators in cable throttle bodies use a set of springs and rely on vacuum pressure. The pump connected to the actuator creates a vacuum that tightens the springs in the actuator and this, in turn, puts tension on the cable. This cable is connected to the throttle body, and when the actuator puts tension on the cable, the throttle body opens in response. This ultimately gives your car gas without the gas pedal being used.

Related: What Is an Immobilizer and Does My Car Have One?

Now remains the question of how a specific speed is set for the actuator. This all goes through the car's electronic control unit or ECU. You press a button in your car to activate cruise control, and the ECU powers the pump in just the right amount to put the right tension on the cable. Lo and behold your car drives without your foot on the gas pedal!

The ECU also takes info from the speed sensor to see if the current speed and the target speed match. If your car is going faster than it should, then the ECU will release some tension on the cable, and if it's going slower, it will increase the tension.

Some cars use valves instead of pumps to create the vacuum in the cruise control actuator. In that case, the ECU is responsible for opening and closing that valve.

Keep in mind that there are various types of cruise control actuators, and not all use springs, though most do.

Cruise Control in Newer Cars with Drive-By-Wire Throttle

The cruise control system in newer cars with drive-by-wire throttle bodies is entirely electronic. Since there are no mechanical parts involved, the ECU gets the current speed and decreases or increases it to reach the target speed.

In these cars, the ECU talks directly to the electronic control module (ECM). The ECM is responsible for controlling the throttle body to accelerate or decelerate. Once you set your preferred speed, the ECU grabs that and sorts it out with the ECM and just like that, your car drives at your preferred speed.

How Does Adaptive Cruise Control Work?

Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is an advanced form of cruise control that takes in information from sensors other than the speed sensor to determine the ideal speed in real-time.

ACC talks to proximity sensors such as radar and lidar, speed sensors, and a combination of cameras to take in the other vehicles on the road and the road itself. Once the signals are received and processed, ACC determines the safe distance and speed.

This system then alters the speed accordingly, reducing your car's speed if you're getting too close to another car in front or if you're nearing a turn. Once the road is clear, ACC accelerates the car to the target speed you have set.

In some cars, ACC can even trigger the brake systems to decelerate the car quickly in case the car in front suddenly brakes or a hazard appears.

Related: How Does Adaptive High Beam Assistance Work?

Cruise Control in Motorcycles

Unlike cars, motorcycles don't have gas pedals. They have gas handles instead. Unfortunately, holding a gas handle for a long duration is much more frustrating than holding a gas pedal. This nuisance has called for a technology similar to cruise control in function but different in design: throttle lock.

Throttle lock functions similarly to cruise control in cable throttle cars, except it skips the actuator and the ECU and directly deals with the throttle body.

Throttle lock works by locking the throttle cable and maintaining a constant amount of tension on the cable. This keeps the motorcycle cruising at a steady speed.

The simplicity of the throttle lock has a catch. Throttle lock doesn't check in with the speed sensors to see if it's going any faster or slower than the target speed, so it only works well on flat roads.

When to Use (and Not to Use!) Cruise Control

Use cruise control on straight roads with little traffic. As a safety measure, braking will disengage cruise control, and on a road with lots of vehicles, you'll need to brake often.

Cars naturally decelerate when you take your foot off the gas pedal, but that won't be the case when you have cruise control activated. It might be too late by the time you hit the brakes when you use cruise control on a crowded road.

This also goes for roads with lots of turns and twists. Entering a sharp turn with high speed is often dangerous. Put the turns behind you and once you have a straight road, engage the cruise control.

Though the point of cruise control is to make your ride more comfortable, it's prone to make you a bit too comfortable. Falling asleep behind the wheels with cruise control engaged is likelier to happen. Albeit this time, the car won't decelerate and will keep going.

Related: Standalone vs. Integrated Car Navigation Systems: What's the Best Option?

Adaptive cruise control solves most of the limitations that come with ordinary cruise control systems, but it still isn't flawless. Adaptive cruise control relies on your car's sensors to decide the appropriate speed, and these sensors can get blocked in bad weather. Snow, mud, rain, and other natural hazards can get in the way of your car's sensors and make the adaptive cruise control less reliable.

Adaptive cruise control has limited access to the braking system, and it won't be able to stop a head-on collision. Use the brakes yourself and remember that cruise control is only a driver assist feature, not an autopiloting system.

With this in mind, please take full control of your vehicle in bad weather and tricky roads. Don't trust the cruise control, be it normal or adaptive.

Cruising with Control

The cruise control system was first strictly found on high-end luxury cars, but now even economy cars are often equipped with this feature. This system makes driving long trips much easier, as you don't have to keep your foot on the gas pedal for hours.

Though cruise control makes things easier, it doesn't mean that you should use cruise control all the time. There are times where you need to take things into your own hands.

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Cruise Control: How it Works, Types and Everything You Should Know

Learn how to effectively use cruise control in your vehicle. follow our simple instructions to optimize your driving experience.

Cruise control is a popular feature in modern vehicles that can make driving more comfortable and less stressful. There are several types of cruise control systems that drivers can choose from, depending on their driving conditions and preferences. Standard cruise control is the most basic system, which allows the driver to set a constant speed that the vehicle will maintain. Adaptive cruise control, on the other hand, uses sensors to detect the distance and speed of vehicles in front of the car, adjusting the vehicle’s speed accordingly to maintain a safe following distance.

Intelligent cruise control goes even further, using artificial intelligence to learn the driver’s behaviour and adjust the speed of the vehicle before the driver takes action. Stop-and-go cruise control is ideal for use in heavy traffic and can bring the vehicle to a complete stop if necessary, while speed limiters are designed to limit the maximum speed of the vehicle. Each type of cruise control system has its own advantages and disadvantages, and drivers should choose the one that best suits their needs.

What Is Cruise Control

Cruise control is a system within a vehicle that enables drivers to establish and sustain a specific speed without having to continuously press the accelerator pedal. The system uses electronic sensors to track the vehicle’s speed and automatically regulate the throttle and brakes to maintain the predetermined speed. Cruise controle is generally employed during extended trips on highways, where sustaining a constant speed can decrease driver tiredness and boost fuel economy. It is a common feature in modern automobiles, trucks, and other types of vehicles.

How it Works

Cruise control works by using a combination of electronic sensors, servos, and control algorithms to maintain a vehicle’s speed without requiring the driver to continuously press the accelerator pedal. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how cruise controle works:

• The driver activates cruise control by pressing a button or flipping a switch on the dashboard or steering wheel.
• The system uses electronic sensors to measure the vehicle’s speed and other factors such as throttle position, engine load, and road grade.
• The driver sets the desired speed by pressing a button or using a lever. The speed is usually displayed on the dashboard.
• Once the speed is set, the cruise controle system takes over and maintains the speed by sending signals to the throttle and brakes as necessary.
• If the vehicle encounters an incline or decline, the cruise control system adjusts the throttle to maintain a constant speed.
• If the driver needs to slow down or stop, they can deactivate the cruise control by pressing the brake or clutch pedal, or by turning off the system using the control button.

In some modern cars, the cruise control system is enhanced with additional sensors and algorithms that enable it to adapt to the surrounding traffic and road conditions. These advanced systems are known as adaptive cruise control, intelligent cruise control, or active cruise control.

How To Use Cruise Control

Cruise control is a feature commonly found in modern vehicles that allows the driver to maintain a constant speed without having to keep their foot on the accelerator pedal. Here’s how to use cruise control:

• Locate the cruise control button : The button is typically located on the steering wheel or dashboard. Check your owner’s manual if you’re having trouble finding it.
• Activate cruise control : Once you’ve found the cruise control button, press it to turn on the system. You should see a light on the dashboard indicating that cruise control is active.
• Accelerate to your desired speed : Using the accelerator pedal, accelerate to the speed you want to maintain.
• Set the speed : Press the “set” or “res” button on the steering wheel to set the speed. The vehicle will maintain this speed until you cancel cruise control or apply the brakes.
• Adjust the speed : To increase or decrease your speed, use the “+” or “-” buttons on the steering wheel.
• Cancel cruise control : To turn off cruise control, press the “off” or “cancel” button on the steering wheel, or press the brake pedal.
• Resume cruise control : If you cancel cruise control but want to resume it at the previous speed, press the “resume” button on the steering wheel.

Note: Always remember to pay attention to the road and adjust your speed as needed. Do not rely solely on cruise control while driving.

Advantages Of Cruise Control

• Reduces driver fatigue : With cruise control engaged, the driver does not have to maintain constant pressure on the accelerator pedal. This can help reduce driver fatigue, particularly during long trips.
• Conserves fuel : Cruise control helps maintain a consistent speed, which can result in better fuel efficiency. This is because the vehicle is not accelerating and decelerating as frequently, which can waste fuel.
• Helps avoid speeding tickets : Cruise control can help drivers avoid speeding tickets, as they can set the desired speed and avoid accidentally exceeding the speed limit.
• Improves safety : Maintaining a consistent speed with cruise control can help reduce the likelihood of sudden braking or acceleration, which can improve safety on the road.
• Enhances driving experience : Cruise control can make driving more comfortable and less stressful, particularly in heavy traffic or on long trips.

Disadvantages Of Cruise Control

• Limited use : Cruise controle is best suited for use on highways or other roads with minimal traffic and few curves. It may not be appropriate for use in heavy traffic or on winding roads, as it may not respond quickly enough to changing driving conditions.
• Increases risk in hazardous conditions : Using cruise controle in hazardous conditions such as rain, ice, or snow can be dangerous. The driver may not be able to react quickly enough to changing conditions, and the vehicle may lose traction or spin out of control.
• Can lead to complacency : Relying too heavily on cruise controle can lead to complacency and inattention while driving. The driver may become less aware of their surroundings or less attentive to the road.
• May cause speed variations : Cruise controle may cause speed variations due to changes in road elevation, wind, or traffic conditions. This can be a problem if the driver is not paying attention and fails to adjust the speed manually.
• May reduce driver engagement : Using cruise controle for extended periods of time may reduce driver engagement and enjoyment of the driving experience.

Types Of Cruise Control

Modern vehicles offer various types of cruise control systems to assist drivers in maintaining a steady speed. Here are some of the most common types of speed control.

1. Standard Cruise Control

Standard cruise control is the most basic form of speed control system that has been around for several decades. It allows the driver to set a desired speed and maintain it without having to keep their foot on the accelerator pedal. Once activated, the system uses electronic sensors to monitor the speed of the vehicle and automatically adjusts the throttle to maintain a constant speed.

With standard cruise controle, the vehicle will maintain the set speed regardless of changes in the road conditions, such as uphill or downhill slopes or curves. To deactivate the system, the driver can either apply the brakes or turn off the cruise control switch. Standard cruise controle can be found on many vehicles, from entry-level models to high-end luxury cars.

While it can help reduce driver fatigue and improve fuel economy on long drives, it requires the driver to remain attentive and adjust the speed manually if necessary. Therefore, it is important for drivers to use it responsibly and not rely solely on the system to maintain a safe driving experience.

Advantages of Standard Cruise Control

• Reduced driver fatigue : By allowing the driver to set a constant speed and not having to keep their foot on the accelerator pedal, standard cruise control can help reduce driver fatigue and make long drives more comfortable.
• Improved fuel efficiency : Maintaining a constant speed using cruise controle can improve fuel efficiency by reducing unnecessary acceleration and deceleration, resulting in lower fuel consumption.
• Avoiding speeding tickets : Standard cruise control helps drivers avoid unintentionally exceeding the speed limit, which can result in costly speeding tickets.
• Easier driving in heavy traffic : When driving in heavy traffic, using cruise controle can help reduce stress and allow drivers to focus on other aspects of driving, such as changing lanes and looking out for other drivers.
• Consistent speed : By maintaining a consistent speed, standard cruise controle can provide a smoother driving experience, especially on long, open roads where it can be challenging to maintain a constant speed manually.

Disadvantages Of Standard Cruise Control

• Limited functionality : Standard cruise control can only maintain a constant speed and does not adjust the speed based on traffic or road conditions. As a result, drivers must be attentive and make manual adjustments if necessary, especially in situations such as steep hills, winding roads, or heavy traffic.
• Reduced control : By taking over the throttle, standard cruise controle can reduce the driver’s control over the vehicle, particularly in emergency situations that require quick acceleration or deceleration.
• Safety risks : Standard cruise controle may pose a safety risk in some situations, such as when driving on wet or icy roads, where sudden changes in road conditions could cause the vehicle to skid or lose control.
• Increased fuel consumption : In some cases, standard cruise controle can actually increase fuel consumption, particularly in stop-and-go traffic, where frequent acceleration and deceleration can lead to higher fuel consumption than maintaining a constant speed.
• Maintenance and repair costs : If the cruise controle system malfunctions, it can be costly to repair or replace.

2. Adaptive Cruise Control

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is an advanced form of speed control that uses sensors and radar to detect the distance between the driver’s car and the vehicle ahead, unlike other types of cruise control systems. This type of cruise control automatically adjusts the speed of the vehicle to maintain a safe following distance and can even bring the vehicle to a complete stop if necessary.

The system uses sensors and radar to detect the distance between the driver’s car and the vehicle ahead. If the vehicle ahead slows down or stops, the ACC system automatically applies the brakes to slow down or stop the car, maintaining a safe distance. When the road clears or the vehicle ahead moves faster, the ACC system accelerates the car to the driver’s set speed or the maximum speed limit.

Some ACC systems also come with collision warning systems that alert the driver if the car gets too close to the vehicle ahead. Some systems can also detect pedestrians, animals, or other obstacles and apply the brakes if necessary.

Advantages Of Adaptive Cruise Control

• Enhanced safety : By automatically maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, adaptive cruise control can help reduce the risk of rear-end collisions, making it a valuable safety feature.
• Reduced driver fatigue : Adaptive speed control can reduce driver fatigue by taking over the task of maintaining a safe following distance, especially in heavy traffic.
• Increased convenience : ACC can make long drives more comfortable and less stressful, as the driver doesn’t have to constantly adjust the speed.
• Fuel efficiency : By maintaining a constant speed and reducing unnecessary acceleration and deceleration, adaptive cruise control can help improve fuel efficiency.

Disadvantages Of Adaptive Cruise Control

• High cost : ACC systems are more expensive than traditional cruise control systems.
• Limited functionality : ACC may not work in all driving situations, such as on winding roads or in heavy rain or snow.
• Over-reliance : Drivers may become too reliant on the ACC system and neglect to pay attention to the road and other vehicles, which can lead to accidents.
• Complex operation : ACC systems can be complex and difficult to operate, requiring drivers to understand how the system works and how to use it correctly.

3. Intelligent Cruise Control

Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), also known as Active Cruise Control (ACC), is an advanced form of cruise controle that uses sensors and cameras to detect the distance and speed of the vehicles ahead. ICC not only maintains a safe distance from the vehicle ahead but also adjusts the speed of the vehicle to match the flow of traffic.

The system uses a forward-facing camera and sensors to detect the speed and distance of the vehicle in front of the driver. If the vehicle ahead slows down or speeds up, ICC automatically adjusts the speed of the driver’s car to maintain a safe following distance. Unlike regular speed control, ICC can also bring the car to a complete stop and resume driving when the vehicle ahead starts moving again.

ICC systems can also recognize lane markings and keep the car centred within the lane, providing additional safety and convenience benefits. Some ICC systems can even detect and respond to pedestrians and other obstacles, providing an added layer of safety.

Advantages Of Intelligent Cruise Control

• Increased safety : By automatically adjusting the speed and maintaining a safe following distance, ICC can help prevent accidents and reduce the risk of collisions.
• Reduced driver fatigue : ICC can reduce driver fatigue and make long drives more comfortable, especially in heavy traffic.
• Improved fuel efficiency : By maintaining a constant speed and reducing unnecessary acceleration and deceleration, ICC can help improve fuel efficiency.
• Enhanced convenience : ICC can make driving more convenient and less stressful, as the system takes care of maintaining a safe distance and speed.

Disadvantages Of Intelligent Cruise Control

• High cost : ICC systems can be expensive, especially in luxury cars.
• Complex operation : ICC systems can be complex and difficult to operate, requiring drivers to understand how the system works and how to use it correctly.
• Limited functionality : ICC may not work in all driving situations, such as on winding roads or in heavy rain or snow.
• Over-reliance : Drivers may become too reliant on the ICC system and neglect to pay attention to the road and other vehicles, which can lead to accidents.

4. Stop-and-Go Cruise Control

Stop-and-Go Cruise Control is an advanced form of speed control, Unlike other types of cruise controle systems. It can maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, even in stop-and-go traffic. This type of cruise controle is designed to help drivers reduce stress and fatigue when driving in heavy traffic conditions. The system uses sensors and cameras to detect the distance and speed of the vehicle ahead.

When traffic slows down or comes to a stop, the Stop-and-Go Cruise Control system automatically applies the brakes to bring the car to a complete stop. When the traffic ahead starts moving again, the system automatically accelerates the car to follow the flow of traffic.

Stop-and-Go speed control systems can help reduce the stress and fatigue of driving in heavy traffic, as the system takes care of maintaining a safe distance and speed. Some systems also have the ability to recognize and respond to pedestrians and other obstacles, providing an added layer of safety.

Advantages Of Stop-and-Go Cruise Control

• Reduced driver fatigue : Stop-and-Go Cruise controle can reduce driver fatigue and make long drives in heavy traffic more comfortable.
• Increased safety : By automatically adjusting the speed and maintaining a safe following distance, Stop-and-Go Cruise controle can help prevent accidents and reduce the risk of collisions.
• Enhanced convenience : Stop-and-Go speed control can make driving in heavy traffic more convenient and less stressful, as the system takes care of maintaining a safe distance and speed.
• Improved fuel efficiency : By maintaining a constant speed and reducing unnecessary acceleration and deceleration, Stop-and-Go Cruise controle can help improve fuel efficiency.

Disadvantages Of Stop-and-Go Cruise Control

• Limited functionality : Stop-and-Go speed control may not work in all driving situations, such as on winding roads or in heavy rain or snow.
• High cost : Stop-and-Go speed control systems can be expensive, especially in luxury cars.
• Complex operation : Stop-and-Go speed control systems can be complex and difficult to operate, requiring drivers to understand how the system works and how to use it correctly.
• Over-reliance : Drivers may become too reliant on the system and neglect to pay attention to the road and other vehicles, which can lead to accidents.

5. Speed Limiter

A speed limiter is a type of speed control system that is designed to limit the maximum speed of a vehicle. Unlike other types of cruise control systems, which maintain a set speed, a speed limiter prevents a vehicle from exceeding a certain speed limit.

Speed limiters can be installed in vehicles as a safety feature, particularly in commercial vehicles like trucks and buses. These vehicles are often required by law to have speed limiters installed, as they can help prevent accidents caused by excessive speed. In addition, speed limiters can help improve fuel efficiency and reduce wear and tear on the vehicle’s engine and brakes.

There are two main types of speed limiters :

Hard limiters : These limiters prevent a vehicle from exceeding a certain speed limit, typically set by the manufacturer. Once the limit is set, it cannot be exceeded, even in emergency situations. Soft limiters : These limiters allow the vehicle to exceed the set speed limit in certain situations, such as when overtaking or accelerating to merge onto a highway. However, the limiter will still prevent the vehicle from exceeding the maximum speed limit.

Advantages Of Speed Limiter

• Increased safety : Speed limiters can help prevent accidents caused by excessive speed, especially in commercial vehicles.
• Reduced fuel consumption : By limiting the maximum speed of a vehicle, speed limiters can help improve fuel efficiency.
• Reduced wear and tear : Speed limiters can help reduce wear and tear on a vehicle’s engine and brakes, extending the life of the vehicle.
• Compliance with regulations : In some countries, commercial vehicles are required by law to have speed limiters installed.

Disadvantages Of Speed Limiter

• Limited functionality : Speed limiters may not be effective in preventing all types of accidents or speeding violations.
• Reduced driver control : Some drivers may feel uncomfortable with a speed limiter installed, as it restricts their ability to control the vehicle’s speed.
• Maintenance costs : Speed limiters may require maintenance and calibration, which can be costly.

It’s important to remember that cruise control is not a substitute for attentive driving. Drivers should always remain aware of their surroundings and be ready to take control of the vehicle at any time. Additionally, drivers should not use speed control in certain situations, such as in heavy traffic, on wet or slippery roads, or when driving in mountainous terrain. Overall, it can be a helpful tool for long-distance driving on open roads, but drivers should always use it with caution and be aware of its limitations.

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Cruise Control Explained – All You Need to Know

Cruise control has come a long way since first invented and patented by Ralph Teetor in 1950, who originally named it the “Speedostat”. Chrysler Corporation was the first manufacturer to offer the groundbreaking mechanism as an option on several of its luxury vehicle models nine years later. Today, cruise control is rapidly becoming the standard on all new vehicles, providing drivers with increased convenience on their daily drive.

As you’re learning how to operate a vehicle , understanding cruise control will help increase your comfort behind the wheel and knowledge of driving.

What is Cruise Control?

Cruise control is an electronic device within your vehicle that controls the speed of your vehicle. It allows the driver to maintain a constant speed of 25 mph without holding their foot on the accelerator. Although the feature has been around for 70 years, automotive manufacturers continue to improve upon the technology to provide drivers with increased comfort, luxury, and convenience whenever they’re behind the wheel.

Different Types of Cruise Control

There are 3 types of cruise control systems.

• Speed Limiter
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Semi-autonomous Cruise Control

What is a Speed Limiter?

A speed limiter will limit how fast the driver can accelerate behind the wheel. All modern vehicles contain a standard speed limiter capping speed between 120 mph and 180 mph depending to protect the vehicle’s engine and discourage reckless driving. However, an additional limiter can be added as an option in many European-made cars, as well as Tesla, Ford, and Nissan. Drivers are still required to keep their foot on the pedal to keep their vehicle in motion, but will not be able to accelerate past a predefined speed limit.

What is Adaptive Cruise Control?

Adaptive cruise c ontrol uses sensors around the vehicle’s exterior to maintain speed while keeping a safe following distance from the car ahead. The system will slow you down and speed you up as the flow of traffic fluctuates throughout your commute, removing a lot of the stress from daily driving. However, adaptive cruise control may not work well in bad weather or protect you from sudden movements, so you will want to always keep your full attention on the road.

What is Semi-autonomous Cruise Control?

Luxury automakers such as Tesla and Audi are implementing the newest rendition of cruise control on their latest vehicle models – Semi-autonomous Cruise Control. It works largely the same as adaptive cruise control, but assists drivers with lane guidance and steering. There are several variations of semi-autonomous cruise control that include additional convenience features for the driver.

How to Use Cruise Control – 6 Step Guide

These are the steps to using cruise control effectively.

• Observe weather conditions
• Build speed
• Engage cruise control
• Set cruise control
• Watch the road and steer
• Brake to disengage

1 – Observe weather conditions

As mentioned, cruise control may become inconsistent in rainy, snowy, or otherwise hazardous conditions. If you must drive in this situation, it may be a better idea to do so manually. Cruise control works best on a clear day with constant traffic flow.

2 – Build speed

Accelerate to your desired speed as you prepare to activate cruise control. US highways have posted speed limits between 55 mph and 75 mph. Do not attempt to set cruise control when you are traveling over the speed limit.

3 – Engage cruise control

Once you’ve reached your desired speed, engage the cruise control. This step will vary widely based on your vehicle make and model, however, many cruise control settings are accessible from the steering wheel controls. Check your owner’s manual for further information.

4 – Set cruise control

After turning on cruise control, you’ll need to set your desired speed. Many systems set the cruise control at the current speed, while others require you to manually set one. You can increase and decrease this speed as needed without interrupting the mechanism.

5 – Watch the road and steer

Watching the road is essential when cruise control is engaged. Cruise control is not a substitute for a human driver and will require supervision at every step. If you are using a semi-autonomous system, you will not need to steer but will need to keep at least one hand on the wheel for safety measures.

6 – Brake to disengage

When cruise control is no longer needed, or you need to quickly make a maneuver, simply apply pressure to the brakes to disengage the system. Once deactivated, you will be in full control of your vehicle once again.

When NOT to Use Cruise Control

While cruise control is a convenient feature for modern drivers, it is not perfect for all circumstances. In fact, utilizing the system can be quite dangerous if you’re not careful. Be sure not to use cruise control under these conditions.

Heavy Traffic

Heavy, or stop-and-go traffic is not ideal for safely using cruise control. When engaging cruise control on the highway, ensure your lane is clear and there are no vehicles stopping ahead.

Wet or Icy Conditions

You need to be driving slowly while on wet and icy roads. While cruise control keeps a constant, predetermined speed, it takes away a lot of the manual control needed to stay safe when it’s raining or snowing.

City Driving

While driving through the city, you’ll face a number of stop lights and stop signs that will require manual braking. This action will automatically disengage cruise control.

Winding Roads

Winding roads require more attention than straight, flat streets. Cruise control systems, even adaptable cruise control, may not always detect these streets correctly, causing accidents.

Fatigued Driving

Driving while fatigued is never a good idea, but even less so while using cruise control. Utilizing the system may add to your fatigue, as you give your vehicle more control of the journey. If you’re even the least bit tired, you should never turn on cruise control.

As you can see, cruise control is a great way to relieve much of the stress that comes with everyday driving. The constant rate of speed can also drastically improve fuel efficiency for longer drivers. Cruise control has had a positive impact on the driving industry for 70 years and shows no signs of disappearing anytime soon.

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How to Use Cruise Control Safely

Everything you need to know for safe, stress-free driving with your car's cruise-control system.

Its Job Is to Maintain Speed

Cruise control's primary function is to maintain the speed of your choosing, relieving you of needing to keep your foot on the throttle. Virtually all cars on the road today rely on an electronic control module—a computer—to monitor the vehicle's speed and to readjust it as needed to hold the speed you've chosen regardless of the road's gradient.

Know the Controls

You operate cruise control by either a stalk on the steering column or several buttons on the steering wheel. These include an on-off switch; a "set" button to select the speed you want the car to maintain; and buttons or switches marked "+" and "—" that increase or decrease the speed after it has been set, often in 1-mph increments. A "cancel" button disengages the cruise-control system without shutting it off entirely, allowing the car to coast. (Cars with stalk-operated cruise control have a "cancel" position that you move the stalk to in order to disengage the system.) A "resume" function or button brings the car back to its previously set speed. Braking or depressing the clutch at any time will also cancel cruise control. Should you need to make a quick pass, you can always override the preset speed by simply pressing down further on the gas pedal.

Adaptive Cruise's Added Features

Many newer cars offer what's known as adaptive cruise control, sometimes also called active cruise. It works in the same way as conventional cruise systems and additionally relies on front-mounted radar , cameras, or sensors to detect the presence of vehicles directly ahead in your lane. This enables adaptive cruise-control systems to maintain a set distance from the vehicle in front no matter how it varies its speed.

Adaptive systems allow you to adjust how closely your vehicle follows the one ahead but are programmed so that they always maintain at least a safe minimum following distance. Some of these systems also have the ability to brake and even come to a complete stop in city traffic and, depending on the vehicle, automatically accelerate without the driver pressing the gas pedal when traffic starts to move again.

Semi-Autonomous Cruise Control

Finally, the newest, most advanced cruise control systems, such as such as Nissan ProPilot Assist, Subaru EyeSight, and Audi Traffic Jam Assist, are semi-automated driving assistants that combine adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist, which self-steers the car gently to keep it in lane if you let it wander out—although you can only take your hands off the wheel for a few seconds before the system sounds alarms and then shuts off.

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Most of these systems also can autonomously negotiate only the most gentle curves on the interstate. Some semi-autonomous systems, such as those from Tesla and Mercedes-Benz , can do more, including steering the car into the adjacent lane while keeping enough distance from other cars.

Follow These Safety Rules

No matter which type of cruise control your car has, the guidelines for using it effectively and safely are the same:

• Always remain alert and aware of other traffic, and be ready to take control and brake or steer around obstacles, inattentive drivers, or emergency situations.
• Think of even the most advanced adaptive and semi-autonomous cruise control systems as "dumb." They are programmed by humans and may react unpredictably in certain, unforeseen conditions. (See previous point: "remain alert.") Rain, snow, and fog can obscure radar signals and confuse cameras or sensors, sometimes disabling adaptive cruise control entirely. As with conventional cruise control, with an advanced cruise system you must always be prepared to take full control at a moment's notice.
• Cruise control is still best suited for use on highways and in light traffic. If your vehicle has conventional (not adaptive) cruise control, be sure to leave adequate spacing between your car and those ahead, and be prepared to disengage the system by braking or tapping "cancel" as you creep up on other vehicles or get into heavy traffic.
• Do not use cruise control in slippery conditions, including snowy or icy roads or rain-soaked roads awash in deep puddles. Most cruise systems will attempt to maintain your speed until you intervene, and on slippery roads that could cause you to momentarily lose traction, upsetting the car and potentially precipitating an accident.

Treat cruise control as a simple labor-saving convenience, however—but one that must be monitored—and you'll enjoy many miles of comfortable, stress-free travel.

Clifford Atiyeh is a reporter and photographer for Car and Driver , specializing in business, government, and litigation news. He is president of the New England Motor Press Association and committed to saving both manuals and old Volvos.

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What is Cruise Control?

Cruise control is one of those features that most of us cannot live without, but have you ever wondered how cruise control works? How is it able to keep the speed you have set, even when climbing up a hill?

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It isn’t black magic, but a system of various mechanical and electrical parts that work together. We’ll be taking a closer look at the standard cruise control system fitted to most vehicles. Plus, we’ll dive into the latest advances in cruise control technology, such as adaptive cruise control.

The Ins and Outs of Basic Cruise Control

Cruise control begins with a set of buttons on the steering wheel that allows the driver to turn the system on and off, set the desired speed, and either increase or reduce speed.

The driver sets the speed by pushing the accelerator pedal until the desired speed is reached and hits the ‘Set’ button. Depending on the age of the vehicle, there are a couple of different ways the cruise control system keeps the set speed. Older models use a cable that is hooked up to the throttle, which controls the speed of a vehicle, and an actuator, which moves the cable back and forth. The actuator itself is controlled by the vehicle’s ECU (engine control unit), which monitors the speed you have programmed and the speed of the vehicle from wheel sensors.

Say you set the cruise control to 70 mph. The ECU monitors the speed of the vehicle and makes sure the vehicle gets up to the set speed and stays there. If all of a sudden the vehicle starts climbing a hill and the speed decreases, the ECU will see this and have the actuator pull the cable to open up the throttle and get the vehicle back up to speed. Once up the hill, the ECU tells the actuator to let out the cable and reduce the throttle. This works the same when the ECU detects the vehicle going faster than the set speed (if you're going downhill, for instance). The ECU will alert the actuator to let out the cable to reduce the throttle. In modern vehicles, the throttle is controlled is controlled by electric motors instead of a cable, but the basic process remains the same.

Adaptive Cruise Control

For a number of years, a big problem with cruise control was that it didn't work well in traffic. You had to constantly turn it off because a car cut you off or traffic slowed down. Plus, there was always the issue of causing an accident if you became distracted while it was on.

However, automakers had a solution in the form of adaptive cruise control, or automatic cruise control. Adaptive cruise control uses a sensor – either radar or laser – to monitor the road and detect vehicles. The driver sets a speed and a distance they want between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them. If the system detects a vehicle within that distance, it will notify the ECU to slow the vehicle down to keep the set distance between the two vehicles. The ECU will keep the vehicle at a lower speed until the vehicle in front speeds up or changes lanes.

In 1999, Mercedes-Benz was the first to introduce an adaptive cruise control system. Other auto manufacturers would soon follow. At the beginning, there were two systems available: radar and laser. Laser systems were used by many automakers, as they were slightly cheaper than radar. But laser systems had a number of issues, such as not being able to reliably detect a vehicle in rain or snow. You also had to make sure the sensors were clean. After a few years, radar systems got down to the same price as laser systems, and many automakers began to switch.

Subaru's EyeSight system (Subaru of America, Inc.)

What’s in Store for the Future?

Cruise control is going to be playing a key role for autonomous vehicles. Adaptive cruise control systems will be used to monitor vehicles in front to keep a safe distance. Even though we are still a ways off from autonomous vehicles, various technologies have trickled down to current models.

One example is Subaru 's EyeSight system, which uses stereoscopic cameras instead of radar for adaptive cruise control. Camera systems can offer a longer range (about 87 yards in front of the vehicle) than radar systems. Newer adaptive cruise control systems can also bring the car to a full stop if necessary. Subaru has recently updated their system with new color cameras. This helps the system better recognize certain objects, such as a vehicle’s stop lights.

Other manufacturers, such as BMW , have implemented automatic stop-and-go driving into their systems. Say you’re driving on the freeway and you come to a traffic jam where no one is moving. The system is able to recognize this and bring the vehicle to a full stop. Once traffic starts moving, the system will automatically accelerate back to the speed you set.

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Adaptive Cruise Control with Sensor Fusion

This example uses:

• Automated Driving Toolbox Automated Driving Toolbox
• Embedded Coder Embedded Coder
• Model Predictive Control Toolbox Model Predictive Control Toolbox
• Simulink Control Design Simulink Control Design
• Simulink Simulink

This example shows how to implement a sensor fusion-based automotive adaptive cruise controller for a vehicle traveling on a curved road using sensor fusion.

In this example, you:

Review a control system that combines sensor fusion and an adaptive cruise controller (ACC). Two variants of ACC are provided: a classical controller and an Adaptive Cruise Control System block from Model Predictive Control Toolbox.

Test the control system in a closed-loop Simulink model using synthetic data generated by the Automated Driving Toolbox.

Configure the code generation settings for software-in-the-loop simulation, and automatically generate code for the control algorithm.

Introduction

An adaptive cruise control system is a control system that modifies the speed of the ego vehicle in response to conditions on the road. As in regular cruise control, the driver sets a desired speed for the car; in addition, the adaptive cruise control system can slow the ego vehicle down if there is another vehicle moving slower in the lane in front of it.

For the ACC to work correctly, the ego vehicle must determine how the lane in front of it curves, and which car is the 'lead car', that is, in front of the ego vehicle in the lane. A typical scenario from the viewpoint of the ego vehicle is shown in the following figure. The ego vehicle (blue) travels along a curved road. At the beginning, the lead car is the pink car. Then the purple car cuts into the lane of the ego vehicle and becomes the lead car. After a while, the purple car changes to another lane, and the pink car becomes the lead car again. The pink car remains the lead car afterward. The ACC design must react to the change in the lead car on the road.

Current ACC designs rely mostly on range and range rate measurements obtained from radar, and are designed to work best along straight roads. An example of such a system is given in Adaptive Cruise Control System Using Model Predictive Control (Model Predictive Control Toolbox) and in Automotive Adaptive Cruise Control Using FMCW Technology (Radar Toolbox) . Moving from advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) designs to more autonomous systems, the ACC must address the following challenges:

Estimating the relative positions and velocities of the cars that are near the ego vehicle and that have significant lateral motion relative to the ego vehicle.

Estimating the lane ahead of the ego vehicle to find which car in front of the ego vehicle is the closest one in the same lane.

Reacting to aggressive maneuvers by other vehicles in the environment, in particular, when another vehicle cuts into the ego vehicle lane.

This example demonstrates two main additions to existing ACC designs that meet these challenges: adding a sensor fusion system and updating the controller design based on model predictive control (MPC). A sensor fusion and tracking system that uses both vision and radar sensors provides the following benefits:

It combines the better lateral measurement of position and velocity obtained from vision sensors with the range and range rate measurement from radar sensors.

A vision sensor can detect lanes, provide an estimate of the lateral position of the lane relative to the ego vehicle, and position the other cars in the scene relative to the ego vehicle lane. This example assumes ideal lane detection.

An advanced MPC controller adds the ability to react to more aggressive maneuvers by other vehicles in the environment. In contrast to a classical controller that uses a PID design with constant gains, the MPC controller regulates the velocity of the ego vehicle while maintaining a strict safe distance constraint. Therefore, the controller can apply more aggressive maneuvers when the environment changes quickly in a similar way to what a human driver would do.

Overview of Test Bench Model and Simulation Results

Get a list of systems that are open now so any systems opened during this example can be closed at the end, then open the main Simulink model.

The model contains two main subsystems:

ACC with Sensor Fusion, which models the sensor fusion and controls the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle. This component allows you to select either a classical or model predictive control version of the design.

A Vehicle and Environment subsystem, which models the motion of the ego vehicle and models the environment. A simulation of radar and vision sensors provides synthetic data to the control subsystem.

To run the associated initialization script before running the model, in the Simulink model, click Run Setup Script or, at the command prompt, type the following:

The script loads certain constants needed by the Simulink model, such as the scenario object, vehicle parameters, and ACC design parameters. The default ACC is the classical controller. The script also creates buses that are required for defining the inputs into and outputs for the control system referenced model. These buses must be defined in the workspace before model compilation. When the model compiles, additional Simulink buses are automatically generated by their respective blocks.

To plot the results of the simulation and depict the surroundings of the ego vehicle, including the tracked objects, use the Bird's-Eye Scope . The Bird's-Eye Scope is a model-level visualization tool that you can open from the Simulink toolstrip. On the Simulation tab, under Review Results , click Bird's-Eye Scope . After opening the scope, click Find Signals to set up the signals. The following commands run the simulation to 15 seconds to get a mid-simulation picture and run again all the way to end of the simulation to gather results.

The Bird's-Eye Scope shows the results of the sensor fusion. It shows how the radar and vision sensors detect the vehicles within their sensors coverage areas. It also shows the tracks maintained by the Multi-Object Tracker block. The yellow track shows the most important object (MIO): the closest track in front of the ego vehicle in its lane. We see that at the beginning of the scenario, the most important object is the fast-moving car ahead of the ego vehicle. When the passing car gets closer to the slow-moving car, it crosses to the left lane, and the sensor fusion system recognizes it to be the MIO. This car is much closer to the ego vehicle and much slower than it. Thus, the ACC must slow the ego vehicle.

In the following results for the classical ACC system, the:

Top plot shows the ego vehicle velocity.

Middle plot shows the relative distance between the ego vehicle and lead car.

Bottom plot shows the ego vehicle acceleration.

In this example, the raw data from the Tracking and Sensor Fusion system is used for ACC design without post-processing. You can expect to see some 'spikes' (middle plot) due to the uncertainties in the sensor model especially when another car cuts into or leaves the ego vehicle lane.

To view the simulation results, use the following command.

In the first 11 seconds, the lead car is far ahead of the ego vehicle (middle plot). The ego vehicle accelerates and reaches the velocity set by the driver (top plot).

Another car becomes the lead car from 11 to 20 seconds when the car cuts into the ego vehicle lane (middle plot). When the distance between the lead car and the ego vehicle is large (11-15 seconds), the ego vehicle still travels at the driver-set velocity. When the distance becomes small (15-20 seconds), the ego vehicle decelerates to maintain a safe distance from the lead car (top plot).

From 20 to 34 seconds, the car in front moves to another lane, and a new lead car appears (middle plot). Because the distance between the lead car and the ego vehicle is large, the ego vehicle accelerates until it reaches the driver-set velocity at 27 seconds. Then, the ego vehicle continues to travel at the driver-set velocity (top plot).

The bottom plot demonstrates that the acceleration is within the range [-3,2] m/s^2. The smooth transient behavior indicates that the driver comfort is satisfactory.

In the MPC-based ACC design, the underlying optimization problem is formulated by tracking the driver-set velocity subject to enforcing a safe distance from the lead car. The MPC controller design is described in the Adaptive Cruise Controller section. To run the model with the MPC design, first activate the MPC variant, and then run the following commands. This step requires Model Predictive Control Toolbox software. You can check the existence of this license using the following code. If no code exists, a sample of similar results is depicted.

In the simulation results for the MPC-based ACC, similar to the classical ACC design, the objectives of speed and spacing control are achieved. Compared to the classical ACC design, the MPC-based ACC is more aggressive as it uses full throttle or braking for acceleration or deceleration. This behavior is due to the explicit constraint on the relative distance. The aggressive behavior may be preferred when sudden changes on the road occur, such as when the lead car changes to be a slow car. To make the controller less aggressive, open the mask of the Adaptive Cruise Control System block, and reduce the value of the Controller Behavior parameter. As previously noted, the spikes in the middle plot are due to the uncertainties in the sensor model.

To view the results of the simulation with the MPC-based ACC, use the following command.

In the following, the functions of each subsystem in the Test Bench Model are described in more detail. The Adaptive Cruise Controller with Sensor Fusion subsystem contains two main components:

Tracking and Sensor Fusion subsystem

Adaptive Cruise Controller subsystem

Tracking and Sensor Fusion

The Tracking and Sensor Fusion subsystem processes vision and radar detections coming from the Vehicle and Environment subsystem and generates a comprehensive situation picture of the environment around the ego vehicle. Also, it provides the ACC with an estimate of the closest car in the lane in front of the ego vehicle.

The main block of the Tracking and Sensor Fusion subsystem is the Multi-Object Tracker block, whose inputs are the combined list of all the sensor detections and the prediction time. The output from the Multi-Object Tracker block is a list of confirmed tracks.

The Detection Concatenation block concatenates the vision and radar detections. The prediction time is driven by a clock in the Vehicle and Environment subsystem.

The Detection Clustering block clusters multiple radar detections, since the tracker expects at most one detection per object per sensor.

The findLeadCar MATLAB function block finds which car is closest to the ego vehicle and ahead of it in same the lane using the list of confirmed tracks and the curvature of the road. This car is referred to as the lead car, and may change when cars move into and out of the lane in front of the ego vehicle. The function provides the position and velocity of the lead car relative to the ego vehicle and an index to the most important object (MIO) track.

Adaptive Cruise Controller

The adaptive cruise controller has two variants: a classical design (default) and an MPC-based design. For both designs, the following design principles are applied. An ACC equipped vehicle (ego vehicle) uses sensor fusion to estimate the relative distance and relative velocity to the lead car. The ACC makes the ego vehicle travel at a driver-set velocity while maintaining a safe distance from the lead car. The safe distance between lead car and ego vehicle is defined as

Longitudinal velocity of ego vehicle

Relative distance between lead car and ego vehicle (from the Tracking and Sensor Fusion system)

Relative velocity between lead car and ego vehicle (from the Tracking and Sensor Fusion system)

In the classical ACC design, if the relative distance is less than the safe distance, then the primary goal is to slow down and maintain a safe distance. If the relative distance is greater than the safe distance, then the primary goal is to reach driver-set velocity while maintaining a safe distance. These design principles are achieved through the Min and Switch blocks.

In the MPC-based ACC design, the underlying optimization problem is formulated by tracking the driver-set velocity subject to a constraint. The constraint enforces that relative distance is always greater than the safe distance.

For more information on MPC design for ACC, see Adaptive Cruise Control System Using Model Predictive Control (Model Predictive Control Toolbox) .

Vehicle and Environment

The Vehicle and Environment subsystem is composed of two parts:

Vehicle Dynamics and Global Coordinates

Actor and Sensor Simulation

The Actors and Sensor Simulation subsystem generates the synthetic sensor data required for tracking and sensor fusion. Before running this example, the Driving Scenario Designer app was used to create a scenario with a curved road and multiple actors moving on the road. The roads and actors from this scenario were then exported to the MATLAB function ACCTestBenchScenario.m . To see how you can define the scenario, see the Scenario Creation section.

The motion of the ego vehicle is controlled by the control system and is not read from the scenario file. Instead, the ego vehicle position, velocity, yaw angle, and yaw rate are received as inputs from the Vehicle Dynamics block and are packed into a single actor pose structure using the packEgo MATLAB function block.

The Scenario Reader block reads the actor pose data from the scenario variable loaded in the workspace. The model runs ACCTestBenchScenario.m to load the scenario into the workspace at the start of simulation. You can also load the scenario by clicking the Run Scenario Script button in the model. The block converts the actor poses from the world coordinates of the scenario into ego vehicle coordinates. The actor poses are streamed on a bus generated by the block. In this example, you use a Vision Detection Generator block and Radar Detection Generator block. Both sensors are long-range and forward-looking, and provide good coverage of the front of the ego vehicle, as needed for ACC. The sensors use the actor poses in ego vehicle coordinates to generate lists of vehicle detections in front of the ego vehicle. Finally, a clock block is used as an example of how the vehicle would have a centralized time source. The time is used by the Multi-Object Tracker block.

Scenario Creation

The Driving Scenario Designer app allows you to define roads and vehicles moving on the roads. For this example, you define two parallel roads of constant curvature. To define the road, you define the road centers, the road width, and banking angle (if needed). The road centers were chosen by sampling points along a circular arc, spanning a turn of 60 degrees of constant radius of curvature.

You define all the vehicles in the scenario. To define the motion of the vehicles, you define their trajectory by a set of waypoints and speeds. A quick way to define the waypoints is by choosing a subset of the road centers defined earlier, with an offset to the left or right of the road centers to control the lane in which the vehicles travel.

This example shows four vehicles: a fast-moving car in the left lane, a slow-moving car in the right lane, a car approaching on the opposite side of the road, and a car that starts on the right lane, but then moves to the left lane to pass the slow-moving car.

The scenario can be modified using the Driving Scenario Designer app and exported and saved to the same scenario file ACCTestBenchScenario.m . The Scenario Reader block automatically picks up the changes when simulation is rerun. To build the scenario programmatically, you can use the helperScenarioAuthoring function.

Generating Code for the Control Algorithm

Although the entire model does not support code generation, the ACCWithSensorFusionMdlRef model is configured to support generating C code using Embedded Coder software. To check if you have access to Embedded Coder, run:

You can generate a C function for the model and explore the code generation report by running:

You can verify that the compiled C code behaves as expected using software-in-the-loop (SIL) simulation. To simulate the ACCWithSensorFusionMdlRef referenced model in SIL mode, use:

When you run the ACCTestBenchExample model, code is generated, compiled, and executed for the ACCWithSensorFusionMdlRef model. This enables you to test the behavior of the compiled code through simulation.

Conclusions

This example shows how to implement an integrated adaptive cruise controller (ACC) on a curved road with sensor fusion, test it in Simulink using synthetic data generated by the Automated Driving Toolbox, componentize it, and automatically generate code for it.

• record | roadBoundaries
• Vision Detection Generator | Driving Radar Data Generator | Detection Concatenation | Multi-Object Tracker | Adaptive Cruise Control System (Model Predictive Control Toolbox)
• drivingScenario

Related Topics

• Adaptive Cruise Control System Using Model Predictive Control (Model Predictive Control Toolbox)
• Automotive Adaptive Cruise Control Using FMCW Technology (Radar Toolbox)
• Autonomous Emergency Braking with Sensor Fusion
• Forward Collision Warning Using Sensor Fusion
• Highway Lane Following

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2008 Subaru Tribeca repairs by problem area

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Brakes and Traction Control (6%)

Suspension and Steering (19%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (30%)

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2008 Subaru Tribeca Repair Histories

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Lada Granta

10 most popular cars in Russia (PHOTOS)

In Russia, every third resident has their own vehicle. At the beginning of 2021, 45 million passenger cars were registered in the country. Almost a third of these are made by the Russian car company LADA. Toyota is currently the second most popular brand, with over four million cars in the country— the RAV4 and Camry are the most popular models. Next come Hyundai and Kia with over two million cars each in the country.  

Compared with the United States and most of Europe, where around two out of three residents have their own vehicle, the car market in Russia is still relatively open and continues to develop. Russia imposes rather large customs duties on imported cars in order to force international car companies to produce their vehicles inside the country. As a result, many foreign car manufactures have localized their production in Russia and in some cases even modified their car models to accommodate Russian road conditions and people's tastes.  

Russians prefer low-budget crossovers and sedans. Hatchbacks and station wagons are less common, and small electric cars are generally an unusual sight (there are just 11,000 electric cars in the country, and 9,000 of them are the Nissan Leaf). 

"Russians are not interested in hatchbacks because of the lack of association with a high position in society," says Alexey Kozhukhov, an automotive marketing expert. He notes that in the Soviet period, a long Volga sedan was considered a high-class car and a symbol of power, and that these associations have been passed on to subsequent generations. 

Manufacturers have created economy-class sedans and SUVs that are specifically catered to the Russian market. According to the Association of European Businesses , in the first half of 2021 around 45% of new cars sold were crossovers. 

Best selling cars in Russia in 2021

1. lada granta.

The simplest and cheapest car on the Russian market, the Granta is assembled at the AvtoVAZ plant in Togliatti. Some typical customer reviews state that the car is “reliable and without problems” or that “I didn’t have big illusions and got what I expected.” A sedan without air conditioning costs 560,000 rubles ($7,800), and the LUXE version with a heated windshield, cruise control and an automatic transmission costs 780,000 rubles ($11,000). 

2. Lada Vesta

Lada’s latest model, the Vesta, is designed to be a sedan and crossover, although there is also a sports version. The car meets most consumers’ needs but is cheaper than foreign brands. “When I bought it, I understood that it was AvtoVAZ and there might be problems ahead, but the desire to buy this beauty simply prevailed, and I only wanted a new car in this budget,” one Russian driver writes , adding that he didn’t want to buy a used car. 

The simplest model with a manual transmission, air conditioning and airbags sells for 795,000 rubles ($11,200), while the most expensive “Sport” version costs 1.2 million rubles ($17,000).

3. Hyundai Creta 

This crossover is one of the most inexpensive cars in its class in Russia. Its price ranges from 1.2 million rubles ($17,000) to about 2 million rubles for the top version ($28,000). “Many Creta owners with a 1.6-liter engine complain about the sluggish dynamics. I wasn't looking for a racing car, so the car is fine for me. My priority was AWD, which fully justified itself. Now I can go to nature any time and not worry about getting stuck on a dirt road,” writes one driver from the Urals. 

Hyundai also was also the first car manufacturer in Russia to offer online sales directly from the factory without the dealer.

4. Hyundai Solaris 

The Solaris is a version of the Accent that was localized specifically for Russia in 2010 and is produced in St. Petersburg. Russian drivers seem quite satisfied with the model, which is a budget sedan that is resistant to temperature changes and harsh weather conditions and is generally reliable. “I wanted to use it for at least five years without looking under the hood,” wrote one driver about why he chose this model. 

The Solaris ranges in price from 890,000 rubles ($12,500) to 1.3 million rubles ($18,300) for the top configuration.

5. KIA Rio 

The KIA Rio has also been produced in St. Petersburg since 2011, and, like the Solaris, only comes in a sedan model, which is more popular among local customers. The design and technical characteristics of the Russian Rio are slightly different from versions sold in other countries. Many drivers note that it has good heating and the ability to start at minus 30 Celsius. As a result, the car has become one of the best-selling models in the country. It ranges in cost from 950,000 ($13,400) to 1.3 million rubles ($18,300)

6. Volkswagen Polo 

All Polo models sold in Europe are hatchbacks, but in Russia Volkswagen opted to modify this legendary model to produce what has become one of the most popular sedans in Russia. “The car is a car. The trunk is huge and comfortable. There is quite a lot of space in the cabin, both in front and behind. The driving is not bad, better than other cars of this class,” writes one owner. 

The Polo Sedan is assembled at a factory in Kaluga (about 200 km from Moscow). The cheapest model costs 1 million ($14,100), while the most expensive version goes for 1.9 mln rubles ($26,800). 

7. Lada Niva 

The first Soviet SUV is still in production and has a loyal customer base for its combination of being extremely cheap and strong for off-road driving. Many Russians use it to get to their remote dachas. 

The simplest version costs 660,000 rubles ($9,300). The most expensive version is called the Niva Travel (formerly the Chevrolet Niva), costs 993,000 rubles ($14,000) and is equipped with a snorkel in case the car is overtaken by water in severe road conditions. And there is no automatic transmission! “Its passion is dirt roads, super suspension, it ‘swallows’ holes in the roads, you don't notice irregularities,” wrote a driver from the Amur Region in the Far East. However, customers note that the interior is not particularly comfortable and that the car consumes a lot of fuel.

8. Škoda Rapid PA II

This is another economy class sedan that has won the hearts of many Russian drivers. “The new Rapid is comfortable to drive, there is a lot of automation,” says one owner from St. Petersburg. They go on to write : “Turn the steering wheel and hit the gas, and switch on cruise control on a high-way, and the car will do everything else by itself.” 

The Škoda Rapid is assembled at a plant in Kaluga. The simplest version costs 990,000 rubles ($14,000) and already includes a media system with a touch screen and Bluetooth. The most expensive version costs 1.4 million rubles ($19,700).

9. Renault Duster 

Renault cars are assembled in Moscow. For a long time, the most popular Renault model was the Logan sedan, but this year the Duster SUV took that title. "Who can imagine a life that is no longer just being in a hurry," one driver jokes about driving the car. "The Duster is a family car. The car is enough to cheerfully stay in traffic" writes another.

The price of the simplest model with a manual transmission starts at 1 million rubles ($14,300), while the most expensive 4x4 version is twice as much.

10. Lada Largus VP 

The only wagon model in this list is also produced by the Russian company AvtoVAZ. Largus is a fairly budget car that is popular not only among dacha enthusiasts, but also for commercial purposes. “The main plus is the suspension and stability on the road,” writes a driver from Tyumen (Siberia), “No need to worry about driving the highway on Largus in winter.” All versions are equipped with a manual transmission and cost from 780,000 ($11,000) to 978,000 rubles ($13,700).

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