Is Full-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control Autonomous Driving?
2 Answers
Full-speed adaptive cruise control is not autonomous driving. It is a system where the vehicle automatically detects vehicles ahead on the road and controls the speed to maintain a safe distance from the preceding vehicle, while steering still requires manual control. It allows the vehicle's cruise control system to adjust speed according to traffic conditions, unlike traditional cruise control which only maintains a constant vehicle speed. During driving, the distance sensor installed at the front of the vehicle continuously scans the road ahead, while the wheel speed sensor collects speed signals. Full-speed adaptive cruise control can free the driver's feet, better alleviate driving pressure, and to some extent improve the vehicle's fuel economy.
As a frequent commuting driver, I often use full-speed adaptive cruise control on highways to pass the time. It automatically adjusts speed to maintain distance and can even start from zero to handle traffic jams, making my hands much more relaxed and reducing fatigue by half. However, it is definitely not autonomous driving—I still need to keep a close eye on the road while using it, as it doesn't handle steering or sudden situations like a bicycle suddenly crossing. If I'm not careful, the risk of accidents increases significantly. Compared to true autonomous systems like Tesla's FSD, ACC is much simpler, only managing acceleration and deceleration without lane-changing or traffic light recognition. I recommend everyone read the manual before trying it, understand its limitations, and not rely too much on it. Safety and regulations should always be the core of driving.
