How Does Adaptive Cruise Control Work
How Does Adaptive Cruise Control Work? Adaptive Cruise Control is one of the most exciting advancements in automotive technology, offering drivers a more relaxed and safer driving experience. It builds on traditional cruise control systems, adding sensors and sophisticated algorithms to automatically adjust the vehicle’s speed to maintain a safe following distance from the car ahead. Let’s dive into how this innovative system works and its benefits.
What Is Adaptive Cruise Control?
Adaptive cruise control systems vary in sophistication from carmaker to carmaker and sometimes even model to model. They also vary in name. However, the feature holds a safe preset speed while maintaining a safe following distance from the traffic before it. ACC essentially makes commuting and road trips so much easier. Depending on the system, here’s what else the feature can do:
- Set the distance. Most systems allow you to set the following distance within parameters like one, two, or three cars.
- Stop the vehicle in traffic. Some ACC systems will bring the car to a complete stop if the traffic before it stops. However, they won’t self-accelerate when traffic begins moving again.
- Stop and start in traffic. Some systems will bring the vehicle to a complete stop and then automatically accelerate as the flow of traffic resumes.
- Work at low speeds in city traffic. Other systems use an add-on called traffic-jam assist designed to fully function in low-speed stop-and-go traffic found on city streets or logjammed highways.
- Slow down at curves. Moreover, there are ACC systems capable of working with your vehicle’s GPS mapping to anticipate approaching curves, slowing the car going into the curve if it determines the preset speed is too high.
- Adjust to speed-limit variations. Some systems working in conjunction with traffic-sign recognition or GPS will adjust the speed according to speed-limit variations.
- Appear in head-up display. The ACC will show up in your view for vehicles equipped with head-up display.
How Adaptive Cruise Control Works
Adaptive cruise control works by using a series of sensors in and all around your vehicle to see the other vehicles on the road. The sensors can determine when a vehicle is getting too close to you and signal to your system that you have to slow down or adapt to a change in scenario.
The cruise control tool will automatically slow you down if someone ahead of you slows down. When that person speeds back up, the cruise goes up to its set speed. This feature makes driving on the highway simpler and less annoying. This technology is powerful, and it’s beginning to show up on more vehicles as standard features, too.
The Maximum Speed you can set on adaptive cruise control varies depending on the vehicle’s make and model. Generally, ACC systems allow you to set speeds up to the vehicle’s maximum speed limit or slightly below it, often up to around 110-130 mph for high-end vehicles. However, it’s essential to check the specific details in your vehicle’s owner’s manual for the precise speed limits applicable to your car.
Benefits and Limitations of Adaptive Cruise Control
Warming up to ACC required a long time for us. Early systems didn’t allow for presetting the maintained following distance. Consequently, a vehicle six or seven car lengths ahead of you moving into your lane became almost an airbag-deploying event. However, as ACC systems evolved and improved, we became more accustomed to them.
Pros
- Reducing driver stress. No question, the number one benefit of ACC is allowing the driver to relax a bit. The system assumes the responsibility of slowing and accelerating to adjust to traffic flow. It doesn’t mean the driver gives up control, but the system assumes the workload of keeping pace with the traffic flow.
- Stop and go. With more intelligent systems, ACC assumes complete control of braking and accelerating. In other words, it can bring the vehicle to a full stop and then accelerate as the flow of traffic resumes. Some systems will disengage after stopping and leaves it to the driver to push the “Resume” button or tap the accelerator to get moving again. However, more sophisticated systems will accelerate themselves from a complete stop.
- Easy to use. For drivers not able to read a car manual before setting out on the highway, you can fiddle with the ACC system and pick it up with little practice.
Cons
- Not autonomous. Regardless of an ACC system’s sophistication, the driver must stay engaged. ACC can’t read the minds of vehicles around it. It only reacts to what other cars do. Anticipating the actions of other drivers remains your responsibility.
- No stop and go. ACC systems that don’t offer a full stop will slow the vehicle but require the driver to bring it to a full stop when the flow of traffic stops. Even if an ACC system does bring the vehicle to a full stop, it may still require the driver to re-engage the system to get back under way.
- No lane change. An ACC system itself can’t change lanes automatically to maintain the preset speed. Therefore, if you’re not paying attention as the driver, you may find your vehicle is going several miles an hour below the set speed. This is because your vehicle has gradually pulled up behind a slow-moving car, and you have steadily slowed to its pace. This is another reason you should stay engaged.
How To Use Adaptive Cruise Control
When you want to use this advanced technology to help you drive more safely while on the highway or in another situation where you will have to remain at the same speed for an extended period, to use the technology, simply press the cruise control button and set your vehicle at a level that you’re comfortable with.
Once you do that, the car will do much of the work for you. If the vehicle in front of you slows down, your vehicle will slow itself down automatically. This is the major benefit of adaptive cruise control, and it can save you from lots of maneuvering when sitting in traffic or another dull situation. This isn’t something standard cruise control is capable of offering, and that’s one of the best reasons to opt for adaptive cruise control. Buying a vehicle with this useful technology will help keep you safer on long drives.
The Technology Behind ACC
Adaptive cruise control typically uses radar in a frequency band that doesn’t compete with police radar and doesn’t trigger radar detectors. For full-range ACC, some automakers use two radars, one for close range out to about 100 feet and a second that sees out to about 600 feet, or about 6-7 seconds at highway speeds. Partial ACC is usually a single unit, while some full-range ACC implementations are now able to use a single radar as well. Early ACC units were a competing mix of laser on some cars and radar on the others. Radar won out because it works better in bad weather and costs came down to be competitive with laser. It also provides unassisted automatic braking at low speeds if a pedestrian or stopped car gets in your path.
Is Adaptive Cruise Control Worth It?
We say yes. This is particularly true if you do a lot of highway driving. Moreover, the more sophisticated systems with full stop and start or a low-speed traffic-jam feature work great for city driving. Typically, ACC gets included in a trim level or some sort of optional driver-assistance package on new cars. You will rarely find it listed as a stand-alone option.
What Automakers Have Adaptive Cruise Control?
More than a dozen automakers in North America are selling cars with adaptive cruise control. Typically, it starts on higher-end models and works its way down the line. Full-range ACC or stop-and-go ACC costs around $2,000-$2,500.
- Audi
- BMW
- Bentley
- Buick
- Cadillac
- Chevrolet
- Chrysler
- Dodge
- Ford
- Honda
- Hyundai
- Jaguar
- Land Rover
- Lexus
- Lincoln
- Porsche
- Toyota
- Subaru
- Volvo
