Bosch has launched the second generation of its Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) driver assistance system, which automatically detects vehicles in front, determines speed and maintaining a safe distance on all road types – and not just motorways as in the first generation.
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The new system, which Bosch says will appear in production vehicles from 2004, has been reduced in size by two thirds compared to its predecessor allowing easier integration into the front of the vehicle and features an expanded radar detection range of plus or minus 8 degrees from the centre of the front axle, doubling the “vision” of the previous unit.
This extended “view” enables a far better reading of the actual state of the traffic. For instance, the new unit will “see” a vehicle through a corner earlier and for longer, and it will also detect and react sooner to vehicles cutting in front after overtaking.
The improved technology also extends the range of operating speeds and from 2005, ACC will work from 0mph and be capable of controlling the movement of a vehicle in stop/go traffic conditions, and ultimately city traffic conditions.
The heart of the ACC system is the sensor control unit, which houses the radar sensor and control unit. The radar sensor detects vehicles up to a distance of 150 metres ahead, while the control unit calculates their speed and distance from the vehicle. The electronic stability programme (ESP) sensors work in conjunction with ACC supplying information on the direction of travel, and choosing the relevant course of action.
By controlling the engine and braking system, ACC matches speed to the other vehicles. Once the road ahead is clear, the vehicle is allowed to accelerate to the speed pre-selected by the driver.
Bosch plans to extend ACC into safety systems as part of a wider “Predictive Safety System” in 2005. If ACC identifies a critical traffic situation, the brake pads will be made to lightly touch the brake discs and the brake servo unit set to respond to a possible emergency braking manoeuvre. Braking time will therefore be reduced by vital fractions of a second. Other developmental stages of the predictive safety system will contain functions to warn the driver of the threat of collisions and even to undertake automatic emergency braking action.
