Commercially available

PRINCIPLE

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) technology improves the function of standard cruise control by automatically adjusting the vehicle speed and distance to the vehicle ahead.

EXPLANATION

This is achieved using a long range radar sensor, a signal processor and longitudinal control of the vehicle.

If the vehicle ahead slows down, or if another object is detected, the ACC adjusts vehicle speed and headway accordingly without any action on the part of the driver.

Once the road is clear, the system will re-accelerate the vehicle back to the set speed. As with standard cruise control, the driver can override the system at any time. The current ACC systems are mainly comfort functions with a limited speed range.  ACC with full speed range function will make the systems safer and even more convenient to use. If needed, the system will slow the vehicle down to a standstill, using its full braking power, instead of turning off at a certain speed as is presently the case. This system will also recognise when the car in front starts to move again and will announce this to the driver, usually by acoustic signal.

Then the vehicle will accelerate automatically to the pre-selected speed while maintaining the correct distance to the vehicle ahead and adjust to the tempo of the traffic.

The system detects sudden decelerations in the spinning of each wheel, and reduces the pressure on that brake until it again detects acceleration. It can do this very quickly, before the tyre can actually significantly change speed. The result is that the tyre slows down at the same rate as the vehicle, with the brakes keeping the tyres very near the point at which they will start to lock up. This gives the system maximum braking power.

Choose your car technology

• During ITS Lyon 2011, Hungary signed the eCall Memorandum of Understanding
• From April 7, 2011 eSafety is called iMobility