A solution for the dropout problem in adaptive cruise control range sensors

Abstract

At the transition from a tangent section to a curved section, it is possible for a following vehicle with adaptive cruise control in car-following mode to lose track of the lead vehicle. This occurs because the lead vehicle enters the curve and its path diverges from the axis of the following vehicle, yet the following vehicle does not yet have lateral acceleration information that would induce its range sensor to bend according to the curvature of its own path. This is a temporary situation, but one that could have an impact on cruise control safety and appropriate algorithms. In this paper, the conditions of time and distance that produce this circumstance are derived. Examples are given using typical values of roadway and vehicle parameters. Finally, some conclusions regarding possible solutions are offered. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.