Nissan Debuts First Navigation-Enabled Cruise Control with Distance Control Assist

Nissan Navigation-Enabled Cruise Control

By Brian Potter
December 14, 2007 5:36 PM
Filed Under: Japanese, Nissan, Technology

Certainly, intelligent radar-based cruise control systems that maintain distances from vehicles ahead aren't anything new. But Nissan has developed one that integrates with the on-board navigation system which utilizes route information. As a result, the Intelligent Cruise Control system can adjust vehicle speed in anticipation of an approaching curve. Then, as it clears the curve onto a straight road, the system gradually resumes to its original speed.

Also, a new feature of the Distance Control Assist alerts the driver to slow down, despite the accelerator being engaged, and allows the accelerator pedal to push back against the foot suggesting to the driver to release the accelerator. And in more serious situations, the system will also alert the driver through message and audio warnings, assisting the driver to engage the brakes.

The Intelligent Cruise Control system plus Distance Control Assist can be controlled separately via steering wheel controls and the system also has the ability to operate in full speed range starting at zero. Earlier intelligent radar based systems have speed limitations in the range of 5 to 100 km/h.

Source: Nissan

Press Release (Click to expand)

NISSAN DEBUTS WORLD'S FIRST DISTANCE CONTROL ASSIST AND
NAVIGATION-ENABLED INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL
- New Technologies Available on Fuga in December -

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. will introduce two pioneering technologies with its new Fuga, set for release in Japan this month - the world's first Distance Control Assist and navigation-enabled Intelligent Cruise Control systems.

Nissan's pioneering Distance Control Assist system helps control the distance between two vehicles under various traffic conditions, from congested urban roads to high-speed expressways. The improved Intelligent Cruise Control system integrates route-information via the on-board navigation system to monitor the vehicle's cruising speed to match actual road conditions i.e. the sharpness of the next curve on the road.

1. World's First Distance Control Assist
The Distance Control Assist system determines the following distance of the driver's vehicle, as well as the relative speed of both vehicles, using a radar sensor installed in the front bumper.

When a vehicle approaches close to the vehicle ahead and the accelerator is not engaged, the system activates the brakes to decelerate smoothly. Alternately, if the accelerator is engaged, the acceleration actuator is activated through a "push back" mechanism to help the driver to release the pedal.

In a situation where the vehicle ahead slows down or brakes, requiring the driver to respond by braking, the system instantly alerts the driver through message and audio warnings. Simultaneously, the system pushes back the accelerator to assist the driver to switch to the brakes.

2.Enhanced Intelligent Cruise Control
The Intelligent Cruise Control system operates using information from a radar sensor installed in the front bumper. When following a vehicle ahead, the system controls following distance appropriately, using the driver's preset speed is the maximum limit. With no vehicle ahead, the vehicle cruises at the constant driver preset speed.

The new system features several pioneering technologies:

Full-speed range following function
Previous systems functioned only within the range of approximately 5-100 kilometers per hour, whereas the new system functions across the full-speed range, starting from zero. The system is capable of activating the brakes in order to stop the vehicle under the certain traffic conditions.

World's first use of navigation map data
Utilizing route-information fed through the on-board navigation system, the Intelligent Cruise Control system can modulate the vehicle-speed in anticipation of the next curve on the road. When approaching a curve, the system gradually decelerates, and as it clears the turn onto a straight road, the system seamlessly resumes to its original speed.

When both the Distance Control Assist and Intelligent Cruise Control are installed, the driver can select either function setting, using a wheel-mounted switch according to different driving conditions.

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