Predictive adaptive cruise control

Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control can be considered a certain development stage of autonomous driving. The basis of its function is the classic cruise control, which can only maintain the speed set by the driver. Most drivers are familiar with this function and use it. Classic cruise control, however, cannot react to changes in traffic, such as a slower vehicle ahead, and continues to maintain the set speed. If the driver does not intervene in time, there is a risk of collision. This is why the adaptive cruise control was developed, which automatically adjusts the speed according to the current traffic situation.

From the perspective of active safety, adaptive cruise control is a more advanced assistant that autonomously monitors and evaluates the situation ahead of the vehicle. Adaptive cruise control automatically adjusts the speed to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. Some systems even allow for smooth deceleration to a complete stop and then resume driving without the driver’s intervention.

Modern technology allows for pushing the boundaries even further, leading to the creation of predictive adaptive cruise control. This system not only reacts to events ahead of the vehicle but also partially predicts what’s coming. How does it achieve this? Predictive adaptive cruise control uses data from a multifunction camera and navigation system, allowing it to adjust speed in advance. This ensures a smoother passage through corners or automatically slows down when entering a town to avoid exceeding the speed limit.

How does predictive adaptive cruise control work in practice?

Its operation is similar to that of adaptive cruise control, with the difference being that a regular adaptive cruise control only slows down when it detects a slower vehicle ahead. If no vehicle is detected, it simply maintains the set speed and does not take into account approaching turns or intersections.

Predictive adaptive cruise control, however, works differently – it knows where you are and what lies ahead on the road, without the need to have the route entered into the navigation system. If the vehicle with predictive cruise control activated approaches a turn, it first alerts the driver via the digital instrument cluster. If the driver does not respond, the system automatically slows down to a speed it deems safe for the turn, and after passing the turn, it accelerates back to the original set value.

As already mentioned, predictive adaptive cruise control represents a certain intermediate stage toward autonomous driving, which will continue to improve in the future. However, its interventions are still clearly managed by electronics. The vehicle’s responses may sometimes seem insufficient, other times exaggerated or too slow. Most drivers eventually cannot resist and intervene in the driving process – otherwise, they might feel like they’re in driving school…