How does adaptive cruise control work?

How Smart Cruise Control Works

Similar to other advanced driving assistance systems, Smart Cruise Control also uses modern technology that is built into the vehicle to help keep the driver safe. In this case, Smart Cruise Control uses either a laser or radar that is usually installed next to the camera located at the front or on the front bumper of your vehicle. These radars or lasers are used to help determine the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Once the driver selects the set speed and distance between the 2 vehicles, the Smart Cruise Control system will automatically maintain the set conditions and adjust accordingly based on the surrounding traffic conditions. For example, if the vehicle ahead happens to slow, then your vehicle will also detect the change in speed and also slow down. The same would apply if the vehicle in front of you were to speed up.

Aside from Smart Cruise Control, there is an additional system called Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go. The SCC with Stop and Go does everything that Smart Cruise Control does, with an adjacent feature that recognizes that the vehicle ahead has stopped or has suddenly started moving forward once again. Once it is safe to do so, your vehicle will start to accelerate back to the pre-set speed and distance based on the current driving situation. Just like other advanced driving assistance systems, these features may vary by the vehicle model, so please check the specification page of the vehicle model and your owner’s manual.

While Cruise Control and Smart Cruise Control share the same name, the two systems are quite different. Both systems allow the driver to continue driving at the designated pre-set speed so the driver doesn’t have to keep their foot on the pedal. However, the driver needs to stop the vehicle when using Cruise Control since the vehicle is unable to adjust the speed nor stop on its own. Once the driver presses on the brake pedal, the Cruise Control system will be released and will need to be re-activated to function once again. With this type of system, it is ideal for those driving for long periods of time, on less crowded roads, such as in the United States. But is inefficient in places such as Korea, where there is a lot of stop-and-go type of traffic. 

In cases such as the latter, Smart Cruise Control is best. It not only maintains the set speed but also retains the set distance between vehicles, and has the capability of adjusting according to the changes in your driving environment. Moreover, if Smart Cruise Control is partnered with Stop and Go, the vehicle will be able to do everything that Smart Cruise Control can do while stopping and starting based on the current flow of traffic.