Adaptive Cruise Control Sistem

Mentally, driving is a highly demanding activity - a driver must maintain a high level of

concentration for long periods and be ready to react within a split second to changing

situations. In particular, drivers must constantly assess the distance and relative speed

of vehicles in front and adjust their own speed accordingly.

Those tasks can now be performed by Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system, which is

an extension of the conventional cruise control system.

Like a conventional cruise control system, ACC keeps the vehicle at a set constant

speed. The significant difference, however, is that if a car with ACC is confronted with

a slower moving vehicle ahead, it is automatically slowed down and then follows the

slower vehicle at a set distance. Once the road ahead is clear again, the ACC accelerates

the car back to the previous set cruising speed. In that way, ACC integrates a vehicle

harmoniously into the traffic flow.

Department of Mechanical Engineering | VVCE, Mysore

Adaptive Cruise Control

CRUISE CONTROL

Cruise Control is a system which is capable of maintaining the speed of a car at a

desired level. The conventional the basic systems are capable of taking over the throttle

once the driver activates Cruise Control and sets the desired speed.

In most of the cars, the cruise control buttons are mounted on the steering wheel, just

like the audio control buttons, whereas in older car models a separate lever is provided

similar to the ones used for windscreen wipers and headlights. The basic ones are often

equipped with four buttons: on, off, resume and coast whereas the newer current

systems are offered with one or two controls only but are way too convenient. Once

enabled the new ones only ask the driver to set the maximum and minimum cruising

speeds after which it takes over the controls and the same gets disabled as soon as the

driver presses the throttle, brake or clutch pedal.

This feature is very useful for long drives where the roads are fairly good and high

speed cruising is possible. The driver can set the car’s cruise control system close to the

speed limit of the road and just relax with his foot off from the accelerator and brakes,

the car will maintain the speed set on the cruise control system using the arrangements

(car’s computers, activators etc.) which are provided in the car.