Adaptive speed control method for a motor vehicle

Abstract

An adaptive speed control method for a motor vehicle includes the steps of: detecting (25) a vehicle preceding the motor vehicle; detecting (31) environmental characteristics affecting the braking distance of the motor vehicle; and determining (29) a safe distance between the motor vehicle and the preceding vehicle, including determining the braking distance associated with the environmental characteristics. An adaptive speed control system for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle comprising the system are also described. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig 2

Description

• detection (25) of a vehicle preceding said motor vehicle; • detection (31) of the characteristics of the environment impacting the braking distance of said motor vehicle; • determination (29) of a safety distance between said vehicle and the preceding vehicle comprising the determination of the braking distance associated with the characteristics of the environment. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental characteristics comprise at least one of a list comprising road surface conditions, weather around the vehicle, traffic, road type, and driver driving style. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the determination of the braking distance is correlated to the speed of the motor vehicle. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the determination of a safety distance comprises adding a safety margin to the determined braking distance. Method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, further comprising a step of displaying the safety distance on a touch screen of the dashboard of the motor vehicle. Method according to claim 5, further comprising a step of activating by touching the safety distance display screen. The method of claim 6, wherein the activating step comprises a step of selecting between predetermined safety distances and the determined safety distance. Computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium and / or executable by a processor, characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for implementing the method according to at least one of claims 1 to 7. System (3) for adaptive speed regulation of a vehicle au-

Claims

automobile (1) comprising: • a sensor (5) adapted to detect a vehicle preceding said motor vehicle; and • at least one sensor (11) adapted to detect characteristics of the environment impacting the braking distance of said motor vehicle; connected to • a controller (9) adapted to determine a safety distance between said vehicle and the preceding vehicle based on the determination of the braking distance associated with the characteristics of the environment.

10. A motor vehicle comprising a system according to claim 9.

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