How the active cruise of the year works. How does the cruise control system work and what is adaptive cruise control? What you will need for installation

November 4, 2017

In all modern cars, the operation of the engine is controlled by an electronic unit - it doses fuel, supplies a spark discharge and performs a lot of other functions. Thanks to this innovation, it became possible to introduce automated systems that help the driver drive vehicle. If you are thinking about buying a new car up to 5 years old, then you should first understand what cruise control is in a car and how electronics increase driving comfort.

Cruise Speed System Features

While driving, the driver must constantly press the accelerator pedal. During medium- and long-distance trips, this causes noticeable fatigue. Holding your leg in a tense state for a long time leads to pain in the muscles, knee or foot. the main task any cruise control system will save you from pressing the gas pedal and drive the car at a given speed.

A simplified principle of operation looks like this:

Having driven onto a country road or a bypass road within the city, the driver accelerates to cruising speed and turns on the electronic assistant button.
The system records the speed value and subsequently maintains it, despite changes in the terrain (slopes, rises, and so on). The driver takes his foot off the pedal and steers the car using the steering wheel only.
If you need to accelerate for a short time (for example, to overtake), just press the gas, perform a maneuver and release the pedal again. The car will return to its previous speed automatically.
To return to manual control, press the mode off button or touch the brake pedal. On a car equipped with a manual transmission, the automatic operation is stopped by either of the two pedals - clutch or brake.

Important nuance! The electronics that maintain cruising speed are activated after accelerating to 30 or 40 km/h, depending on the make of the car. The system does not help you move slowly.

Cruise control allows you to adjust the speed using buttons located on the steering wheel or lever. One press of the “+” button accelerates the car by 1–1.8 km/h (the amount of increase depends on the settings of the specific control unit). Accordingly, the “minus” key slows down the car in the same way.

The algorithm described above is used by a budget electronic system - passive cruise control, installed on most passenger cars. But there is another, more advanced version of the “assistant” - adaptive cruise control, which can maintain a distance from the car in front, “link” to road markings and even brake in front of an obstacle. The operation of both systems is discussed in more detail below.

Operating principle of passive cruise control

The simplest system for maintaining cruising speed includes the following main elements:

vacuum or electric drive for turning the throttle valve with a cable;
electronic control unit;
set of sensors;
control buttons located on the steering column switch or directly on the steering wheel.

Note. The number and type of sensors depends on the specific brand of car. Typically the kit includes a speed meter and limit switches for the brake and clutch pedals.

The controller, operating independently of the main engine control unit, is installed under the dashboard. The drive connected to the ECU is located next to the throttle valve and is connected to it by a cable. Cruise control on “mechanics” works according to the following algorithm:

The driver accelerates the car to cruising speed, turns on the automatic and releases the accelerator pedal.
The controller remembers the speed value and sends a command to the drive, which opens the throttle to the required angle.
When driving uphill, the sensor records the deceleration of the car and transmits information to the control unit. The ECU forces the drive to open the throttle more, the fuel supply increases and the car maintains its original speed.
On a descent, the picture is the opposite - the throttle closes as the car accelerates downhill.
If the driver accelerates or decelerates the vehicle using the buttons, the damper is rotated by the drive through a small angle.

On a manual transmission, the effect of cruise control is limited to the speed range of one gear. If for some reason (for example, a steep hill) the car slows down to 30–40 km/h, the system is automatically deactivated. The electronics operate in a similar way when pressing the clutch and changing gears, so the driver has to constantly resume its operation.

With an automatic transmission, using cruise control is much more convenient. Since the automatic transmission changes gears depending on the oil pressure in the torque converter, that is, on engine speed, switching occurs automatically during acceleration or deceleration of the car. Robotic boxes equipped with an electric drive receive a request to engage the next gear from the controller.

On vehicles equipped with an electronic gas pedal, the throttle is initially controlled by a vacuum or electric drive. After activating the mode, the ECU takes over control of the drive mechanism and maintains the course speed.

How the adaptive version works

Advanced electronic systems are installed on cars equipped with an automatic transmission or CVT. In addition to the elements listed above, adaptive cruise control involves an ultrasonic radar, a brake drive and several additional sensors mounted in the car’s body parts.

How active cruise control works:

At a certain speed exceeding 40–50 km/h (the exact value depends on the make and model of the car), the driver activates the automation and releases the gas pedal. You need to perform an additional action - set the distance to the obstacle or the car moving in front using a separate key. The number is reflected on the display of the on-board computer.
When the radar detects an approach to a vehicle, the ECU closes the throttle and slows down, and then adjusts to the speed of the object, maintaining the set distance.
If the front car brakes, the electronics will stop the car. To move away, the driver needs to press the accelerator or press the appropriate key.
If the vehicle ahead veers off the road, cruise control will accelerate your car to the initially set speed.

The system will respond to a stationary obstacle by braking until it comes to a complete stop. You must understand that simply turning on the cruise is not enough control; you need to monitor the road situation yourself. The radar coverage range is 150–200 m and at high speed this distance may not be enough for braking. When approaching a static obstacle, the driver must take control.

In business class cars and above, adaptive cruise control is often combined with other useful systems - recognition of road markings and signs, collision avoidance and automatic high beam control.

In the car. Meanwhile, this is an old system that previously could only maintain the speed of the car, and the driver did not have to hold the gas pedal. This system provided additional convenience and comfort when driving on highways and highways. As a result of using cruise control, the driver becomes less tired behind the wheel. Also, in theory, this helps reduce fuel consumption, since the engine runs evenly when using the system, and its speed does not jump.

Why do you need cruise control in a car?

This system is needed to provide additional convenience when traveling long distances. For example, if a driver needs to get from one city to another, covering 500-600 kilometers, then in a car without this system he will have to hold the gas pedal for 5-6 hours (depending on the speed), which is actually equal to holding right foot in an awkward position. During the entire journey, you want to change the position of your leg, but you can’t do this. It seems like a small thing, but holding the gas pedal for 5-6 hours is actually very difficult.

By activating the cruise control function in the car, the driver can allow himself to release the gas pedal. The system will supply fuel to the combustion chambers not through the gas pedal, but through special pneumatic drives. The driver will be able to regulate the speed using buttons located on the steering wheel (usually there are 5 buttons).

System management

Now that we understand what it is - cruise control in a car, we can figure out how it works. Typically, to control this system there are 5 buttons on the steering wheel:

On/Off button that activates and deactivates the system.
Switch for fixing the speed mode and increasing the speed. That is, after accelerating to the required speed, the driver can use a switch to fix the current speed and release the gas pedal. Subsequent presses of this button will increase the speed by 1 km per hour.
If, while using cruise control, the driver had to suddenly accelerate or brake by pressing the gas or brake pedal, the parameters of this system are reset. To quickly activate cruise control and return to the previously set speed, the driver needs to press the Resume button.
Coast speed reduction button. Each press of the button reduces the speed by 1 km. In some models, the step of decreasing and increasing speed is 1.5 km.
The Cancel button deactivates the system.

Depending on the car model, this system may be represented by other buttons; the speed increase and decrease steps may differ. But the principle looks exactly as described above.

Kinds

There are several types of cruise control in a car. What does passive or active type mean? In the first case, the driver can only set the speed of the car. However, the second type involves the use of complex electronic devices that scan the space in front of the car, which opens up additional possibilities for controlling the vehicle depending on driving conditions.

Passive type (PPC)

As we have already found out, passive cruise control allows you to maintain a given speed, which is convenient for long trips over long distances. Due to the constant speed of the engine, fuel savings are ensured.

The control is turned off when the driver lightly presses the gas pedal. The design of such a system has a special pneumatic drive that regulates the flow of air-fuel mixture into the combustion chamber through a throttle valve. This eliminates the need to use the gas pedal.

Active (or adaptive) type

Adaptive cruise control is an advanced version of the active type. In addition to the ability to maintain the speed limit without pressing the gas pedal, cars with adaptive cruise control can calculate the distance to the car in front, and also reduce or increase speed depending on the situation on the road. That is, if the system determines that the distance to the car in front is decreasing, then the system slows down the speed. The speed is reduced until the gap between the cars, in the opinion of the system, becomes optimal. If the sensor no longer sees an obstacle ahead, the car picks up speed and maintains this speed limit.

Safety

The adaptive cruise control system on the car is quite smart; it provides not only comfort when driving on highways and highways, but also the safety of the driver, who may be too relaxed on the road.

In addition, this system can perform not only emergency braking, but also evasive maneuvers. This greatly increases driving safety, and often such systems have saved people's lives and the integrity of the vehicle itself in various driving situations.

Note that adaptive (or active) cruise control is closely related to the operation of the ABS and ESP systems (stabilization and anti-traction systems), and if at least one of them stops working, then cruise control cannot be activated either.

Dynamic type

In addition to adaptive and passive cruise control, there is also dynamic cruise control. It is one of the varieties of the passive type. A special feature of this system is the control of engine operation, which saves fuel and engine life.

For example, when climbing a hill, the system slows down and slows down, which protects the motor from unnecessary loads. Also, the speed is reduced if any problems occur with the engine and when the car enters turns. After passing the turn, the previous speed is restored.

Now we have figured out what it is - cruise control in a car. Let's determine its main advantages and disadvantages.

pros

The advantages of this system are obvious to every driver. First of all, it is comfortable driving and reduces stress on the back due to the absence of the need to keep your foot on the gas pedal. Some drivers note fuel economy as an advantage of such a system. In theory, savings are achieved by ensuring uniform operation of the engine and the absence of differences in fuel injection. In addition, if adaptive cruise control is installed, it also provides additional safety for the vehicle.

Flaws

The main disadvantage is the high cost of the system. Cars with cruise control systems are expensive and unaffordable for most consumers. However, cars with conventional passive systems are already available to the middle class of consumers.

If you believe the reviews of some drivers who actively use this system, there is no fuel economy at all, and in some cases there is even increased consumption. Another serious drawback is the unsafe use of the system due to the fact that the driver may become too relaxed while driving the car. Constantly keeping your foot on the gas pedal, you won’t be able to relax much.

The next disadvantage is the inability to use the system on roads with frequent descents and turns, as well as on highways with heavy traffic flow. There is no need to talk about using the system in the city at all.

Many drivers do not recommend using this system on the roads after or during rain, since the driver needs to feel the car when braking. Otherwise, it may lead to an accident. This system is suitable only for those drivers who often travel from city to city. In city driving, the function is practically useless, since in the city there are no long sections of the highway where it would be possible to maintain a stable speed for a long time.

Conclusion

Now we finally understand what it is in a car - cruise control. Such a system is really useful and necessary - it should be in every car. Gradually, such systems appear in middle-class and even budget-class cars, but so far these are just passive varieties. In addition, this system can be installed even on a car in which this technology is not provided by the manufacturer. Special installations are sold in car dealerships.

We can put an end to this. We figured out what it is - cruise control in a car. Technology is useful in a number of cases, but you should not get carried away with it, since the driver must not lose concentration on the road.

Cruise control is a device that controls the speed of a vehicle. Installed on cars with any transmission (manual and automatic).
There are two types of cruise control - Passive and Adaptive.

Passive Cruise Control (PCC) maintains a constant vehicle speed (set by the driver). Very convenient in long trips when your foot gets tired of constantly holding the gas pedal. The set speed remains unchanged until the driver changes it himself by pressing the brake or gas pedal (for example, when overtaking another car or during forced braking).
In this case, Cruise Control is turned off, but as soon as the driver releases the brake or gas pedal, it again sets the set speed and maintains it until the next “intervention” by the driver. You can change Cruise Control settings while driving.

Adaptive cruise control(ACC - Adaptive Cruise Control) is an advanced version of passive cruise control. ACC prevents you from approaching the vehicle in front within a specified distance. If the vehicle in front slows down, ACC activates the brake system. The operation of ACC is very similar to the operation of the City Safety system, with the only difference being that City Safety operates at speeds up to 30 km/h. Unlike passive, adaptive cruise control depends on the operation of the ABS and ESP braking safety systems. If any of these systems is faulty, ACC is switched off, warning the driver with a signal on the display.

There are two types of adaptive cruise control - laser and radar. Laser ones are the most affordable, but have a significant drawback: the laser loses its properties in bad weather and does not “see” a dirty car well. The ACC radar type is much more expensive and, accordingly, much more efficient, so for now it is installed only on luxury cars and expensive sports cars. However, you should not trust ACC entirely. There are times when ACC may mistakenly detect the presence of a vehicle ahead, so the driver should always keep their eyes on the road.

When did the first Cruise Control appear?

The first car equipped with this system appeared in 1958. It was a Chrysler Imperial. The system used on this car read the rotation speed of the propeller shaft and controlled the flow of fuel into the combustion chamber through a solenoid. Later, systems began to appear that controlled the fuel supply by measuring the speed of rotation of the wheels and reading the speedometer.
or engine speed level.

Adaptive Cruise control appeared much later - in 1999 on Mercedes-Bens cars. In 2006, the so-called Full Adaptive Cruise Control appeared, capable of completely “tying” your car to the one in front, i.e. This system is capable of stopping and accelerating the vehicle to the speed of the vehicle in front.

Based on site materials

Cruise control on manual For many it may seem like something fantastic, but if you try, You can install such an additional function on your own car. The only thing you should think about right away is whether or not you need cruise control on your car? After all, although in general this additional function greatly simplifies the process of driving a car, it also has its drawbacks.

Is it possible to install cruise control on a manual transmission: let’s look at the technical nuances.

Those car enthusiasts who are wondering whether there is cruise control on a manual transmission have most likely encountered this function only on cars with an automatic transmission. Indeed, this additional function is mainly used only on cars with automatic transmission, which normally have the ability to install it.

In this case, the procedure for connecting the device will be practically no difficulty, since the car owner will only have to install it in the place provided by the manufacturer.

As for cars operating on a manual transmission and on which the possibility of installing cruise control was not provided, then on them can be installed manually universal device.

IMPORTANT! When purchasing cruise control for a car with a manual transmission, give preference to German manufacturers whose devices are highly reliable. This will allow you to avoid unexpected breakdowns of the cruise control due to overloads, which may occur due to incomplete compatibility with the car.

Technically, a similar procedure involves the additional installation of a bracket and an additional cable to the accelerator pedal, with the help of which it will be possible to control the speed of the car. Cruise control on the mechanics also involves installing a device control button at the bottom of the deflector.

However, often this button turns off after each press on the pedal (for example, when overtaking), which is why you have to activate the cruise control again.

Will cruise control work fully on a manual transmission?

The operation of cruise control on a manual transmission is practically no different from its operation when installed on a car with an automatic transmission.

However, in this case there may also be one drawback: when trying to drive uphill with cruise control turned on, the driver will not be able to automatically shift to a lower gear.

Because of this, if the driver is driving in 5th gear of a manual transmission, then without additional pressing of the gas pedal he is unlikely to be able to completely overcome the entire climb.

In such a situation, another feature of cruise control appears - if the vehicle speed decreases (which happens when it is impossible to drive onto a slope), the device automatically turns off at 40 km/h, so the driver will in any case have to resort to mechanical control of the gas pedal.

IT IS IMPORTANT! If your cruise control device has a buttonRES, you can reset the speed by double-clicking on it. If it is absent, you can reduce the speed by pressing the gas pedal and fixing the new speed using the cruise control start button.

The process of connecting cruise control to a manual transmission when it is not provided by the manufacturer.

Before proceeding with the installation of cruise control, the car owner must make sure that all technical components of his “iron horse” are in working order, and also install good tires on the car. This is due to the fact that in the presence of such malfunctions it is very dangerous to allow the car to drive under automatic control. If everything is in order, the driver will not endanger himself by driving on cruise control.

What you will need for installation

To complete the work, it is important to prepare in advance:

IMPORTANT! If your car has an accelerator pedal position sensor, then you will need to purchase an additional bracket for it, which you will also have to install yourself.

Installation process

In general, the entire work of installing cruise control on the mechanics will take you no more than an hour, however, you should set aside time to check the operation, as well as eliminate possible malfunctions. In general, the work consists of the following sequential actions:

We check the operation of the cruise control. To do this, we recommend that you drive along an empty road where there is no traffic. It is rational to do a test activation of the device at low speed (but above 40 km/h), while being prepared for the need to control the accelerator pedal if the device suddenly does not work.

Is it worth using cruise control on a car: advantages and disadvantages of the function.

Principle of operation The functions of cruise control are that the device system automatically maintains the speed set by the driver, without requiring mechanical action of the foot on the gas pedal.

To activate cruise control, the driver just needs to press the device button, and immediately after that he will be able to take his foot off the pedal and enjoy the car’s smooth speed, which will not change even if the road terrain changes.

But this does not mean that the driver will not be able to use the pedals when overtaking or stopping is necessary. All this is quite possible, and even more - after forced acceleration or braking, the car will still return to the same speed that was set on the cruise control.

THIS IS INTERESTING!Modern cruise control systems are equipped with more than one function on/off button. In addition, a button can be installed SET , pressing in pairs will allow the driver to double the speed of the car as quickly as possible, without touching the gas pedal with his foot.

In general, the advantages of this additional function on a car with a manual transmission include the ability to relieve stress from the leg during a long trip that does not require dynamic control of the car. Thus, when driving out onto a long and unloaded highway, the driver really gets the opportunity to rest.

However, the operation of manual cruise control is rational only if the car owner constantly travels out of town onto uncrowded roads. In urban conditions, there is practically no point in installing cruise control, since the driver will constantly press the pedals with his feet.

We hope you were able to answer the question for yourself whether it is worth installing this additional function on your car, and you can clearly explain to others what cruise control is on a manual and how to install it.

Cruise control is a system that ensures uniform movement of the vehicle at a given speed. For cars with an automatic gearbox, this option is often installed as standard. If a car with an automatic transmission was produced without cruise control, its subsequent installation does not present any particular difficulties.

It is somewhat more difficult, but quite possible, to install cruise control on a car with a manual transmission. This will require the installation of additional electronic devices, components or mechanisms.

Is it possible to install cruise control on a manual?

The answer to this question is relevant, first of all, from the point of view of the feasibility of such an installation. In principle, installing the electronic part of cruise control does not cause any particular difficulties. In some cases, it is possible to improve and modify the throttle valve assembly and its drive mechanism. It is more difficult to coordinate mechanical modules if there is such a need.

The problem is optimizing the speed mode of cruise control, which ensures minimal fuel consumption. The fact is that when the terrain changes, for example, when driving down a positive slope, the cruise control of cars with an automatic transmission sends a signal to shift to a lower gear while simultaneously opening the throttle. Cruise control on a manual car is not capable of controlling throttle response by controlling the transmission. The control system can open the valve “to the bald spot”, but sometimes this is not enough to maintain the required speed.

From this point of view, in mountainous terrain, using cruise control on cars with a manual gearbox does not make sense. Firstly, it will not perform its functions. Secondly, fuel consumption will be too high.

How does manual cruise control work?

In what cases is its use justified?

The installation and use of a cruise control system on vehicles with a manual gearbox is justified in the following situations:

the vehicle is operated on flat (in the geographical sense) terrain;
vehicle operation involves long trips on highways High Quality low and medium traffic intensity;
speed on the highway is at least 60 kilometers/hour (this allows you to save fuel in high, constantly engaged gears).

Activation

Cruise control is activated when the expected cruising speed is reached. If the speed limit is set to 60 kilometers/hour on the selected section of the route, the highest gear or the one preceding it is set, depending on the power and torque of the engine, as well as the model of the manual gearbox.

If the car has a diesel engine, which has better torque characteristics at low engine speeds, it is advisable to install a higher gear. In this case, a more economical driving mode will be provided.

Gasoline engines require high revs to achieve acceptable torque characteristics, so at medium speeds it is better to set the second to last gear. For example, if there are five of them in a manual transmission, then when driving at cruising speed, 4th gear is set.

When activating the cruise control mode at speeds above 80 km/h, it is advisable that the maximum gear is engaged. The exception is when the car has a manual transmission with 6 or more gears.

Shutdown

In cars with automatic transmission, cruise control is deactivated when you press the accelerator or brake pedal in automatic mode. A similar arrangement for turning it off can be used in systems with manual transmission. Considering the peculiarities of using manual cruise control, the clutch pedal, an additional shutdown button, or pressing the activation button again can also be used.

Video - how to install cruise control on a manual (Mitsubishi Lancer X):

Installation as optional equipment

To install cruise control, you can purchase a set of additional equipment. Various models are developed for many car brands.

Drivenge Lada Priora MT— the equipment set is optimized for installation on Lada Priora cars with manual transmission. This device is certified by the manufacturer and has a warranty period of 3 years.

Drivenge Lada Priora MT has three preset modes:

sport;
drive;
economy

There is no need to explain their purpose - everything is very clear. The cruise control is activated by pressing the button, and turned off by pressing the brake or clutch pedal or pressing the activation button again.

The main feature of the device is that there is no need to install additional mechanical devices. The block emulates the accelerator pedal. Essentially, the device works instead of the driver, automatically making a decision to increase or decrease the “gas”. The driver's right foot can rest until the time comes to press the brake when traffic is obstructed or the road situation changes.

Functionality:

speed adjustment with discretization of 1 km/h using buttons;
memory of the last set speed;
automatic shutdown of cruise mode using the clutch or brake pedal;
selection of booster pedal modes (sport-economy-drive);
possibility of updating software by connecting to a computer;
saving user modes in eeprom.

The package includes:

Control block;
steering column controller;
wires with special clips for connection to standard electrical wiring without stripping or soldering;
clamps for fastening harnesses, electrical tape;
installation and operating instructions.

Almost any car enthusiast can install additional equipment, even without special electrical installation skills.

The cost of such a kit starts from 7,000 rubles, installation – from 1,500.

More expensive kits are available for other car models. For example, Jet-Cruise Kia Soul MT (for cars younger than 2014) will cost from 11,000 rubles. Its kit includes a special key fob, with the help of which modes are programmed and activation is activated. To connect, just connect the device to the gas pedal plug.

The device is certified and can be installed on warranty vehicles.

It might be useful to read: