Table Of Content
Cruise control is still the more prolific of speed controls offered on today’s new cars, but adaptive cruise control has started gaining ground. But, what exactly is adaptive cruise control, and how does it work? In essence, not only did the 1999 S-Class introduce the driver-aid technology adaptive cruise control (ACC), but it also set the cornerstone of the foundation for self-driving vehicles. While fully autonomous vehicles are still in the developmental stages, the integration of cruise control technology is a big step toward creating safer and more efficient transportation systems.
The Future of Cruise Control Technology
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is the latest type of cruise control that’s becoming widely available in cars. ACC maintains your speed but incorporates sensors to measure the distance to the car ahead. Once you set a distance, the ACC adjusts your speed to ensure you stay at that distance — usually a car length or two. General Motors’ Super Cruise system is available in select Cadillac models and provides hands-free driving assistance on compatible highways. It uses LiDAR map data, high-precision GPS, and a driver attention system to ensure safety.
Cruise control vs adaptive cruise control: Key differences
Comparison: GM Super Cruise vs. Tesla Autopilot - TopSpeed
Comparison: GM Super Cruise vs. Tesla Autopilot.
Posted: Sat, 13 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Here’s a rundown of the terms the various carmakers use for ACC, even those that simply call it adaptive cruise control. One minute you’re driving your car and everything seems fine, and the next moment you hear a strange noise coming from your car as you accelerate. Keith Barry has been an auto reporter at Consumer Reports since 2018. He focuses on safety, technology, and the environmental impact of cars. Previously, he led home and appliance coverage at Reviewed; reported on cars for USA Today, Wired, and Car & Driver; and wrote for other publications as well. Keith earned a master’s degree in public health from Tufts University.
Driver Assistance Technologies - NHTSA
Driver Assistance Technologies.
Posted: Tue, 02 Jan 2024 14:43:34 GMT [source]
Browse Best Cars
We recommend consulting your car’s owner’s manual to decode the cruise control buttons and their operation for your specific vehicle. Here’s a list of the driver-operated functions provided by the cruise control buttons and toggles. Some controls perform multiple functions, depending on how they are used.
Fatigued Driving
However, cruise control didn’t evolve much beyond the first system that found its way into the 1958 Chrysler Imperial. While wheel alignment and balance both contribute to a smoother ride, the services are quite different. A wheel alignment makes sure your tires contact the road in the correct way... [8] “Everything You Need to Know about Cruise Control,” Dave Johnston, mycarmakesnoise.com/electronics/cruise-control-guide (accessed July 11, 2023).
– Set cruise control
The basic concept of cruise control, of course, is centered more around what the specific vehicle is doing, rather than what's on the road around it. Adaptive cruise control like the kind found in some Acura vehicles, however, is a little more sophisticated. Cruise control is a feature provided as standard on a wide range of vehicles; it's one of those functions that some drivers adore and others barely use. While the feature doesn't take over from the driver by any means, it can significantly ease their burden. Self-driving cars are becoming increasingly intelligent, but whether they'll ever be ubiquitous and fully capable remains unclear.
The system is a servomechanism that takes over the car's throttle to maintain a steady speed set by the driver. Simple to use, all you need to do is turn on the system in your vehicle, reach your desired cruising speed, and set it. The system then assumes control of the accelerator, maintaining the set speed until the driver engages the brake.
Accelerating with the cruise control system in a car is like using the pedal in terms of acceleration rates and should feel familiar. Slowing down is akin to taking your foot off the gas and won’t slow the car as fast as applying the brake. When decelerating using the cruise control, give yourself adequate time to change speeds or use the brakes to slow down and hit the “set speed” button again. Cruise control is a feature on some vehicles that allows the driver to take their foot off the accelerator while the onboard computer maintains the vehicle’s speed.
The invention of cruise control can be traced back to the late 1940s and early 1950s, when engineer Ralph Teetor developed the first-speed control system. This innovative feature was designed to help drivers maintain a steady speed, reduce fatigue while driving, and improve fuel efficiency. Over the years, cruise control technology has undergone significant advancements, leading to the development of sophisticated systems like adaptive cruise control. 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.
However, the major difference between adaptive cruise control and a self-driving system is, ACC is simply a component of a driverless system. That is to say, ACC provides automatic braking and acceleration in a self-driving system that also includes steering, and sometimes automatic lane changing. These features are usually activated using a button on the steering wheel with the image of a car next to a speedometer with an arrow pointing at it. A conventional cruise control system does not automatically keep a set distance away from the car in front, and it is indicated by a similar logo without the car next to the speedometer. A tip to know if your car has adaptive cruise control or regular cruise control is to look for the “gap distance” button, which usually shows a symbol of a car with horizontal distance bars in front. This button will determine how much space your car leaves between its front bumper and the rear of the car it is following.
This can be beneficial for the driver, as it reduces the need to repeatedly adjust the accelerator pedal. Additionally, it may help to improve fuel efficiency and emissions by reducing the amount of time the engine spends idling. However, cruise control is not without its drawbacks – it can lead to overuse of the brakes and increased wear on the tires, and it may not be suitable for all road conditions.
You can resume the previously canceled speed by tapping on the RES button. With the activated cruise control system, you can override the speed of the car by pressing the accelerator pedal. But once, you take the foot off the accelerator pedal, the cruise control reduces the speed until it reaches the last SET speed. This vacuum actuator also pulls the cable connected to the accelerator pedal and actuates the throttle butterfly valve.
It’s important to balance the use of cruise control with active driving engagement, ensuring that safety is always the top priority. 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.
If conditions are right to use cruise control in your car, turn on the system. Modern cruise control is electronic and uses a computer to control your car’s speed. According to Scientific American, cruise control in cars has been around since the early 1900s, but it’s changed over time.
No comments:
Post a Comment