Abstract:
A method of cruise control whereby a following vehicle can be caused to travel at a target speed, subject to maintaining a pre-determined distance from a leading vehicle in substantially straight travel, the method comprising: determining by means of measuring means a separation distance of the leading vehicle and following vehicle and maintaining the pre-determined separation distance from the leading vehicle; determining by means of deviation detection means a deviation of the leading vehicle from a substantially straight path and an instant location of the deviation; and preventing automatic acceleration of the following vehicle until reaching said instant location in dependence on the detection of a deviation.
Abstract:
Autonomous cruise control is provided to permit one vehicle to follow another at a predetermined separation regardless of gradient. A system and method is disclosed which continually determines the separation distance of the vehicles, the speed of the leading vehicle and the location of the leading vehicle, to the intent that the following vehicle computes the required speed upon reaching the instant location of the lead vehicle.