A LOW COST INTELLIGENT

ELECTRONIC
CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM

H.ASHOK ABHIRAM

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

SIDDHARTH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
BASIC IDEA
 In the present paper cruise control in vehicles is
realized with the help of a miniature
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM that operates the cruise
control module to manipulate the position of throttle
with the help of an actuator, in order to limit the
speed of the vehicle. The design is of vital importance
in two aspects.
 1. To control the speed of the vehicle in accident
prone regions, high traffic zones and congested areas
in cities. The system should be capable of reducing
the vehicle speeds in those regions although the
driver doesn’t pay attention.
 2. To avoid the skidding of vehicles while negotiating
a curved path.
INTRODUCTION
 Cruise or speed control systems are designed to
allow driver to maintain a constant speed without
having to apply continual foot pressure on the
accelerator pedal.
 An electronic system frequently fitted to modern
vehicles is a cruise control system, or vehicle speed
control system, which keeps a vehicle's speed
constant on long runs and therefore may help
prevent driver fatigue.
 Cruise control can be effectively realized using electronic
components rather than mechanical components
CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM
 An automobile cruise control system is an outer
speed control loop that ”takes over" control of the
throttle - normally exercised by the driver through the
accelerator pedal - and holds the vehicle speed steady
at a set value. 
 When engaged, the cruise control components adjust
the throttle position to maintain the desired vehicle
speed. The cruise control is disengaged whenever the
brake pedal is depressed. Cruise control can be
effectively realized using electronic components rather
than mechanical components
Vehicle Speed Control 
Principles of operation and implementation

 The block diagram below shows the main elements of a typical cruise
control system (vehicle speed control system)

cruise control: "proportional + integral" type of closed loop control system

Speed
error
Proportional to
error signal
Vs Speed
Throttle Engine+Tran
actuator s-mission

Vr Prop to integral
of error signal

Vehicle speed
sensor

Vs=Set Speed Vr=Road Speed

CONTROL ACTION
 A signal proportional to road speed is fed back and
compared with a set speed reference to give a speed
error signal that is used to control throttle position, and
hence engine power, so as to change the speed to
reduce the speed error signal to zero.

 Most cruise control systems are functionally very similar

and appear to be of the "proportional + integral" type
of closed loop control system.
WORKING PRINCIPLE
 There will be a transmitter installed near the region where speed is
to be controlled. It transmits the information of speed which is set
by the user and the receiver installed in the vehicle will respond to
that signals and control the speed. The speed is controlled by
manipulating the throttle position with the help of electronic
controller.
 The speed limit (kmph) in a particular region is fed to the
transmitter module as digital input through a keyboard (set by the
traffic authority).
 The comparator output signal is given to the cruise controller that
controls the position of the throttle, which in turn limits the speed
of the vehicle.
 If the speed of the vehicle is less than the speed limit, then the
comparator output will be low and does not trigger the controller
and hence no control action on the throttle position .
 If the speed of the vehicle is greater than the speed limit , then
the comparator output will be high and controller will take control
action on the throttle position and hence the speed is limited.
TRANSMITTER SECTION
(Installed at the place where vehicle speed is to be controlled)

Antenna

FM Transmitter

Signal
conditioning
circuit

Digital to
Analog
converter

Set value of Digital

speed limit Input
(kmph)

Block diagram of Electronic Cruise controller

Department of Electrical Engineering, SIET
TRANSMITTER

 Parts List
R1,R4, R6 = 10K, R2 = 1M, R3 = 100K, R5 = 100 ohm, R7 = 1K
Q1,Q2 = 2N3904
C1,C2 = 0.1uF ,C3 = 0.01uF, C4 = 4-40pF, C5 = 4.7pF
L1 = 0.1uH
RECEIVER SECTION
( Part of the Vehicle)

Antenna

FM Receiver

Signal
conditioning
circuit

Electronic
Comparator cruise
controller

Signal
Servo
conditioning
circuit
Throttle
Position
Vehicle speed
sensor

Block diagram of Electronic Cruise controller

Department of Electrical Engineering, SIET
RECEIVER

50MHz Receiver based on MC3372

COMPARATOR
SAMPLE AND HOLD CIRCUIT FOR SPEED REFERENCE PURPOSES:

 Operational amplifier based comparator circuitry is the Electronic

control module whose action is based on the error difference between
the set value of speed (from the transmitter) and the vehicle speed
output from speedometer and controls the servo unit. The servo unit is
used to control the vacuum , which in turn controls the throttle.
Electronic cruise control uses an controller to
operate a servo that controls the position of the
throttle

Chain

Clutch release switch Throttle

Brake release switch

Controller
Servo
Speedometer(sensor)

Throttle
Turn signal mode switch Plate

Feedback

 The comparator output signal is given to the cruise

controller that controls the position of the throttle, which
in turn limits the speed of the vehicle.
THE SERVO
Controlled by the signal from the electronic controller

 The speed limit is fed to the transmitter module and hence by

electronic controller module we can effectively control the speed of the
vehicle in the restricted and accident prone regions.
 The servo is controlled by the controller, which in turn controls the
amount of vacuum sent to the inside of the servo. Depending upon
the vacuum, the servo will be either engaged or disengaged.
A cruise control circuit with vacuum and electrical system
(courtesy of General Motors Corporation)
SKIDDING OF VEHICLE ON
CURVED ROADS

Fnet  Fcentripetal

mv 2
mg tan  
r

v  rg tan 
HOW TO AVOID SKIDDING
 The best way to avoid skidding of vehicle while
negotiating a curve is to maintain the speed well
below the velocity .

v  rg tan 

 The transmitter module is installed near the curved

lanes and the speed is set, in order to control the
vehicle speed and hence we can effectively control
speed of the vehicle.
LIMITATIONS OF THE DESIGN
 The automobile engine compartment is a
particularly unfavorable environment in which to expect
sensitive electronics to operate reliably.
 Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) levels can be high.
 Presence or absence of extreme cold/ heat, moisture, pollution,
road salt etc. may play a significant role here,a speed sensor or
its wiring may fail.
 Spurious control signals may derive from many sources
including :
 RF noise at the input;
 false signals from a malfunctioning cruise control module.
 the capability of the driver is regarded as a critical safety factor
- e.g. the slogan "Don't drink and drive" - not so cruise
control systems which are currently classified as non-safety-
critical. 
CONCLUSION
 In spite of its limitations, the cruise control system with
the above electronic design can efficiently work to
control the speeds in traffic zones, avoids skidding of
vehicle and will be a effective control measure for long
distance journey by safeguarding driver as well as
outsiders.
 The design considered can be implemented with a low
cost communication system. Hence the overall system
cost is reduced.
 The FM modulation used does not depend on line-of-
sight and geographical structures unlike IR-
communication), hence we can able to bring down the
velocity of vehicle well beyond the set value before
reaching the area of interest.
REFERENCE
 Society of Automotive Engineers,INC
www.sae.org
 A Handbook of “Automotive
Technology” by Jack Erjavec.