Discover the characteristics of this useful electronic system.
Technological evolution has made great strides in the automotive field and among the accessories capable of making life on board more comfortable there is undoubtedly the cruise control. Let's find out what it is and how it works.
| INDEX |
| What is cruise control? |
| How does it work? |
| Adaptive cruise control and non-adaptive cruise control: the differences |
| Cruise control with brake function: is it safe? |
| The highway is cruise control |
| Cruise control in the city |
| Cruise control and autonomous driving |
| Can cruise control be added to an automatic transmission? |
What is cruise control?
With the cruise definition controlmeans an electronic device through which it is possible to set a predefined driving speed. Cruise control reveals itself Very comfortable on long highway trips because by setting the speed foreseen by the Highway Code, the right foot can be rested without having to keep it constantly on the accelerator pedal since the car's control unit will carry out this task.
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Cruise control: how it works
Il cruise operation controlit's pretty simple to understand. On the steering wheel of a car equipped with this device, or on a lever positioned on the steering column, there are buttons through which set the cruise control. To activate the device, press the "SET" button and then press the "+" and "-" buttons until the desired speed is displayed on the on-board computer. If you want to regain control of the accelerator, simply press the brake pedal, while if you want to overtake you can press the gas pedal and once the maneuver has been completed, the cruise control will go back to working autonomously.
Adaptive cruise control and non-adaptive cruise control: the differences
What we have talked about so far is the "standard" cruise control, but the cruise control adaptive. This definition indicates a device which, in addition to allowing you to set the preferred driving speed, gives you the possibility of also establish the distance to maintain from the vehicle in front. The adaptive cruise control, therefore, moderates acceleration according to the distance of the vehicle in front thanks to the presence of a frontal radar which detects the actual distance between the two vehicles.
Cruise control with brake function: is it safe?
Il cruise control adaptive also provides the brake function, i.e. the car reduces speed in the event of obstacles encountered on the trajectory. Of course, finding yourself driving a car that performs this function autonomously for the first time can be astounding, but thanks to the progress made by technology in recent years, it can be affirmed that the cruise control is safe and in any case the driver is allowed to resume control by simply pressing the brake or clutch pedal.
The highway is cruise control
As mentioned briefly above, theutility of the cruise controlit is especially appreciated on the highway. Anyone who is forced to travel important distances every day knows that right foot fatigue constantly on the gas is a problem of no small importance. Thanks to the cruise control, the limb can instead be rested, leaving it to the car to maintain a constant cruising speed without any intervention on the part of the driver.
Cruise control in the city
If it is true that cruise control is especially appreciated on the motorway, it is equally true that the most recent devices offer great comfort even in the city. In fact, these can also be equipped with thecolumn march functionwhich allows you to completely stop the vehicle when you are in a queue and to restart automatically as soon as the vehicle in front resumes moving forward.
Cruise control and autonomous driving
If we talk about cruise control, autonomous driving also immediately comes to mind. Currently the cars equipped with this device, together with other ADAS, are classified as cars with a Level 2 of autonomous driving. However, if one thinks of autonomous driving itself, there is still a long way to go. Some manufacturers, such as Tesla, are already advanced in testing this device, but the complications related to the regulation in the various countries risk delaying the entry into production of cars equipped with autonomous driving.
Can cruise control be added to the automatic gearbox?o
If you want to fully enjoy cruise control, the best thing is to combine this device with a car equipped with an automatic gearbox. However, it is also possible to install this component aftermarket as well. To verify that the installation is feasible and economically convenient, the machine must be equipped with an automatic gearbox, an electronic accelerator and set up forinstallation cruise control. In older vehicles it is not advisable to carry out this modification because it would involve a high expense, while on modern cars it will be possible to choose between a cruise control offered for sale by the manufacturer or a universal model.
Things to know
What is cruise control?
Cruise control is an electronic device with which a predefined driving speed can be set. The cruise control proves to be very convenient on long motorway journeys because by setting the speed set by the Highway Code, the right foot can be rested.
How do I use cruise control?
On the steering wheel of a car equipped with this device, or on a lever positioned on the steering column, there are buttons for setting the cruise control. To activate it, press the "SET" button and then the "+" and "-" buttons until the desired speed is displayed on the on-board computer. If you want to regain control of the accelerator, just press the brake pedal.
Cruise control is especially useful on the highway. Anyone who is forced to travel important distances every day knows that right foot fatigue constantly on the gas is a problem of no small importance. Thanks to the cruise control, the limb can instead be rested, leaving it to the car to maintain a constant cruising speed without any intervention on the part of the driver.
What is adaptive cruise control?
The adaptive cruise control is a device which, in addition to allowing you to set the driving speed, also makes it possible to establish the distance to be maintained from the vehicle in front. The adaptive cruise control, therefore, moderates acceleration according to the distance of the vehicle in front thanks to the presence of a frontal radar which detects the actual distance between the two vehicles.
What is the difference between cruise control and autonomous driving?
Currently cars equipped with cruise control, together with other ADAS, are classified as cars with a Level 2 of autonomous driving. If one thinks of autonomous driving itself, however, there is still a long way to go, because the complications associated with regulations in the various countries risk delaying the entry into production of cars equipped with autonomous driving.
