Autonomous cruise control system
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Some modern vehicles have autonomous or adaptative cruise control (ACC) systems.
These use either a radar or laser setup to allow the vehicle to slow when approaching another vehicle and accelerate again to the preset speed when traffic allows.
laser-based systems are significantly lower in cost than radar-based systems; however, laser-based ACC systems do not detect and track vehicles well in non-ideal weather conditions nor do they track extremely dirty (non-reflective) vehicles very well.
Some systems also feature forward collision warning or Collision Mitigation Avoidance System, which warns the driver and/or provides brake support if there is a high risk of a rear-end collision.
Several Japanese manufacturers first offered ACC systems in the Japanese market in the late 1990s. These early systems did not apply the brakes and only controlled speed through throttle control and downshifting.
Mercedes-Benz was the first to offer a radar-based system in the US market, under the Distronic name, but similar adaptive systems are now offered by other manufacturers. For 2006, Mercedes-Benz refined the Distronic system to completely halt the car if necessary (now called 'Distronic Plus' and offered on their S-Class range of luxury sedans), a feature now also offered by Bosch as 'ACC plus' and available in the Audi Q7.
The system also goes under the names of active cruise control (ACC) , adaptive cruise control (ACC) or intelligent cruise control (ICC)
Toyota's Lexus vehicles were second to enter the US market with "DLCC" (Dynamic Laser Cruise Control). Other vehicles with adaptive cruise control include the Acura RL, Audi A6, Audi A8, Audi Q7, BMW 3 Series (called Active Cruise Control), BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series, Cadillac DTS, Cadillac STS, Cadillac XLR, Honda Legend, Infiniti M, Infiniti Q45, Jaguar XK-R, Jaguar S-Type, Jaguar XJ, Lexus LS430/460, Lexus ES-350, Nissan Primera T-Spec Models (called Intelligent Cruise Control),Mercedes-Benz S-Class, E55 AMG, CLS, SL, CL, Range Rover Sport, Toyota Sienna XLE (limited availability), Toyota Avalon, Volkswagen Phaeton, Volkswagen Passat, Renault Vel Satis and Volvo S80.
Radar-based systems are available on many luxury cars as an option for approx. 1000-2000 usd/euro. Laser-based systems are available on some near luxury and luxury cars as an option for approx. 400-600 usd/euro.
If one knows what to look for, one can visually spot a vehicle with ACC from a good distance. Since laser-based sensors must be exposed, the sensor (a fairly-large black box) is typically found in the lower grill offset to one side of the vehicle.
Radar-based sensors can be hidden behind plastic fascias; however, the fascias typically looks different from a vehicle without the feature. For example, Mercedes packages the radar behind the upper grill in the center; however, the Mercedes grill on such applications contains a solid plastic panel in front of the radar with painted slats to simulate the slats on the rest of the grill.
ACC technology is widely regarded as a key component of any future generations of smart cars, as a form of artificial intelligence that may usefully be employed as a driving aid.
