How does cruise control work?

While driving on an open road for a long time, it would be pretty tiring to keep pressing the accelerator pedal. Cruise control is a feature that helps reduce such fatigue drivers would feel while driving a long distance. The system imitates the way human drivers drive. But instead of pressing the accelerator pedal, it uses an actuator to control the throttle and helps your car continue cruising at the same speed. 

The cruise control system used in older cars is connected to the accelerator through a cable to maintain the gas pedal in a certain position to keep the pre-set speed. Whereas the system in newer cars electronically manages the speed through a program without a cable. Instead, a computer connected with various sensors and throttle controls operates the feature through a wireless system. This newer technology can automatically adjust the speed based on how fast the vehicle ahead is going while maintaining a safe distance. It dramatically reduces drivers’ fatigue since drivers do not have to press and release the accelerator pedal repeatedly. Drivers will find the system particularly useful on highways or roads with traffic jams during rush hour.

Adaptive cruise control is an advanced version of the existing cruise control system. With the conventional system, the vehicle cruises at the speed previously set by the driver without the need to keep pressing the accelerator pedal. On the other hand, the adaptive cruise control system does the same; however, it can also calculate the speed of the car ahead of you by using the data from radar sensors and automatically adjust the speed of your vehicle to keep a safe following distance between the vehicles. If the vehicle ahead slows down, the system detects the reduction of speed and operates the controls to decelerate your car. If the car in front of you changes to another lane, the system gives the engine a signal to accelerate and reach the initially set speed.