Speed control method and system

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A method of vehicle speed control whereby a following vehicle maintains a substantially pre-determined separation from a lead vehicle, the method comprising repeatedly:
determining from the following vehicle the separation distance of the lead vehicle and following vehicle; determining from the following vehicle the speed of the lead vehicle; determining from the following vehicle the relative location of the lead vehicle; and controlling the speed of the following vehicle to substantially match the determined speed of the lead vehicle when said following vehicle reaches said determined relative location; wherein the method is automatically enabled upon operation of autonomous speed control of the following vehicle at a following vehicle speed less than a prescribed value, and wherein, at a following vehicle speed above the prescribed value, the autonomous speed control operates to maintain the following vehicle a prescribed distance behind the lead vehicle.