How Cruise Control Systems Work HowStuffWorks
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Due to the road gradient, an additional opposing force will act on the vehicle, which will cause a slowdown. In this case, the driver didn’t adjust the engine torque (input) function of vehicle speed drop (output), or road gradient (disturbance). The cruise control takes its speed signal from a rotating driveshaft, speedometer cable, wheel speed sensor from the engine's RPM, or internal speed pulses produced electronically by the vehicle. Most systems do not allow the use of the cruise control below a certain speed - typically around 25 or 30 mph (40 or 48 km/h).
Cruise control safety tips
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. 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.
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For a given position of the accelerator pedal, the engine will generate a certain amount of torque which will be applied to the wheels. If the road is straight (no gradient) the vehicle speed will stabilize at a constant value. The driver sets a maximum speed similar to what one would do with normal cruise control. A radar sensor located in the front end of the car locates traffic ahead of it and locks on to the car ahead.
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When the cruise control is engaged, the throttle can still accelerate the car, but once the pedal is released, it will slow down the vehicle until it reaches the previously set speed. To use cruise control, you can typically press buttons on your steering wheel to activate the system, set your speed, adjust your speed up or down within the system, and deactivate the system. Using cruise control lets you set a speed for your car to maintain even if you take your foot off the gas. Cruise control can also prevent speeding and increase fuel efficiency by limiting unnecessary acceleration and braking.
Will cruise control apply the brakes?
There are several variations of semi-autonomous cruise control that include additional convenience features for the driver. As you can see, the total input traction force is adjusted function of the road gradient. The feedforward component manages to compensate partially the road gradient change but not completely.
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For example, some cars have a combined button to set the initial speed and accelerate. Others have fine-tuning buttons that you can click to increase or decrease your speed by a set amount, often one mph. Overall, the future of cruise control technology holds promise for creating a more seamless and enjoyable driving experience, with a focus on safety, comfort, and sustainability. It's like having an extra set of eyes on the road, making highway driving a breeze.
How to set cruise control
In a closed loop control system, the input is adjusted function of the output of the system. This means that any disturbances affecting the system will be compensated by the input. In engineering, control systems are classified as open loop or closed loop. The closed loop control system is also know as a feedback control system. Another inventor named Harold Exline, working independently of Riley, also invented a type of cruise control that he first installed on his car and friends' cars.
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When engaging cruise control on the highway, ensure your lane is clear and there are no vehicles stopping ahead. 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. By feeding the output vehicle speed back to the input calculation, we are closing the loop of the control system. The road gradient is set to rise at 20 s up to a value of 2 ° and ramped down back to zero at 40 s. The input, disturbance and output are saved in the Scilab workspace and plotted using Scilab instructions.
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Does cruise control use more gas?
The input traction force is kept constant for the whole duration of the simulation. For a given traction force of 300 N, the vehicle will cruise at a constant speed of 55 kph. In order to achieve a constant vehicle output speed, the initial condition of the integrator block is set at 15.28 m/s (55 kph). The driver must manually bring the vehicle up to speed and use a button to set the cruise control to the current speed. Speed control existed in early automobiles such as the Wilson-Pilcher in the early 1900s. Adaptive cruise control is just a preview of the technology being developed by both companies.
According to Scientific American, cruise control in cars has been around since the early 1900s, but it’s changed over time. Early versions were mechanical, using a second throttle lever mounted to the steering wheel. 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.
If you've ever wondered how cruise control works, what the pros and cons of using it are, how it's developed since its introduction, and/or when to use it, this is just the piece for you. Cruise control systems, even adaptable cruise control, may not always detect these streets correctly, causing accidents. 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.
As autonomous vehicles become more sophisticated, cruise control technology is evolving to support higher levels of automation. For example, some autonomous vehicles are equipped with advanced cruise control systems that can navigate complex traffic scenarios, merge onto highways, and even change lanes autonomously. Typically, you can operate the functions of the cruise control system on today’s new cars using buttons located on the steering wheel.
We can have an open loop control system which can adjust it’s input based on known disturbances. Knowing or measuring the amplitude and type of disturbance, the input signal can be modified in such a way that it compensate for the changing output. In other cars with a manual transmission, pressing the clutch pedal simply pauses the cruise control system a moment, allowing drivers to complete their gearshift. When they’ve released the clutch, the cruise control picks up where it left off — no additional button press required. With adaptive cruise control, the vehicle will also automatically slow down and speed up to maintain a safe position in traffic.
Using forward-pointed sensors, cameras, or both, adaptive cruise control maintains your preset speed while constantly monitoring the vehicle in front of you. However, the kicker is, it automatically slows and accelerates to maintain a predetermined following distance. More sophisticated adaptive cruise control systems can bring your car to a full stop If necessary. Even more advanced systems will automatically get your vehicle moving again once the car ahead travels forward, though sometimes with the tap of the gas pedal. 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.
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