Area451 Cruise Control Installed

[letsgoskatepool]

cc helps me stay inside the speed limit

[SmartieParts]

Yeah, I can't say I've ever gotten a speeding ticket while cruising.

They should make a cruise that reads the speed signs and adjusts accordingly

- Steven

[John_H]

GPS units are available that report speed limit. Whether there's a way to get that info out of the GPS other than visually is uncertain. If I'm 2 seconds behind someone when the speed limit changes and the cruise control speeds me up, however, I might not be so happy.

[SmartieParts]

That's what bumpers are for? Kidding.

I was joking, but it is an interesting idea. Those GPS speed limits are often not correct and less correct (or absent) the further you get from major centres. For example where I am, it states the limit is 90kph everywhere, which pretty fast to be blowing through a 30kph school zone! And once I'm on the highway, it says 0kph in some places and 140kph in others (neither are correct). That's using a TomTom.

But that aside, it's an excellent point. That information certainly could be ported to the cruise (not easily, but possible) and then you'd even have information such as turns. But as you said, it can't rely only on that. So now we need a Lidar or FLR (forward looking radar) system to detect the cars ahead of us.

There is work on this field already. They call it "adaptive cruise control" and some extremely expensive cars already have it. They also control the brakes. I don't think they read speed signs though That was my idea!

- Steven

[John_H]

The truly integrated cruise control (not yet available):
GPS with elevation information
Visual speed limit sign, vehicle, & traffic light detection
Driven database to "remember" limits/conditions
adjust speed and gear for best mileage
(always within +/- defined speed range for target speed)
integrated accelerometers and fuel flow sensor to update performance info
(including temporary effects like rain & wind)

If this level of features were executed, it would be simple to also integrate lane-change warning detection, improved turn-signal shutoff, selective video recording for accidents (including license plate reader & recall for nearby vehicles).

Ah, the joys of imagining what "could be."

Oh - I'd add cellular connections for very remote garage door status/control (did I leave that open?), alarm status/control, remote video images from car to external user, remote access to car location (poor-man's lojack).

[SmartieParts]

I'm sure that's on Area 451's "to do" list

[fmaxwell]

Originally Posted by babybenz

i just use my right foot cruise control equals laziness

And how often do you hop in your car to go less than 5 miles rather than get on a bicycle and pedal? How often do you drive a mile rather than walk? Laziness is all relative.

Ever driven 900+ miles in less than 24 hours? I have and I know how tired and sore a person's right leg can get on long trips. My friend has had to endure multiple knee surgeries and is currently recuperating from one. I don't think that he's lazy when he uses a cruise control.

[WilyB]

Originally Posted by SmartieParts

They should make a cruise that reads the speed signs and adjusts accordingly - Steven

The 2009 BMW 7-series reads road signs, including speed and directions and project the information on the Head-Up Display (HUD).

[SmartieParts]

That's cool! Lame at the same time... but cool. I say lame because it is information the driver can already see just fine, presented for him to see in a different way. All that does is encourage people to not wear their glasses So that seems like a case of cool technology used for no reason... for now. Later on, that will develop into something more useful.

Neat!

- Steven

[saronian]

Originally Posted by SmartieParts

Yeah, I can't say I've ever gotten a speeding ticket while cruising.

They should make a cruise that reads the speed signs and adjusts accordingly

- Steven

I got one once in a Honda with cruise set to 67 in a 65 zone. CHP said I passed him going 85. Huh? Turns out nothing's foolproof even if you're not the fool. Watch out for the CHPs on I5.