Adaptive cruise control, system optimisation and development for motor vehicles

Conventional cruise control systems fulfil the function of automatic speed control. A desired speed is selected by the driver, and a control system op erates on the throttle to maintain this desired speed. When traffic density is moderate or high, the driver is faced with having to adjust the set spe ed regularly in order to maintain a comfortable distance from preceding veh icles and will frequently have to brake, disengaging the cruise control. Th us conventional cruise control can become a source of irritation when used in moderate or heavy traffic. If a distance sensor is added to a convention al cruise control system, then it is possible to add distance keeping to th e basic speed control function. This forms the basis for adaptive cruise co ntrol, which can be further improved if a limited authority braking system is incorporated. Use can then be made of both throttle and brake actuators to control the distance and relative velocities between a vehicle and a pre ceding target vehicle.