Maulana Azad National

Institute of Technology,
Bhopal (M.P.)

Department of Electronics and Communication

Engineering (ECE)
Report on ‘Vehicle Cruise Control System’
Submitted By:
P. Mani Deekshith [2211401201]
Manas Gupta [2211401202]
Deeksha Tandon [2211401203]
Swayam Sidgor [2211401204]
Tanishk Rathod [2211401205]
N Kiran Kumar Reddy [2211401206]
Ratan Lal [2211401207]
Vaishnavi Yadav [2211401208]
Branch and Section: ECE , Section-2
Subject: Control and Instrumentation Lab
Table of Contents
 Acknowledgement
 Introduction to Cruise Control
System
 History and Evolution
 Working
 Free Body Diagram and
Mathematical Modelling
 Simulink Block Diagram and Plot
from PID Tuner
 Scope Outputs for different Inputs
 Components and Functions
 Adaptive Cruise Control
 Advantages of Cruise Control
System
 Disadvantages of Cruise Control
System
 Conclusion
 Acknowledgement
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude and
appreciation to all the individuals who have
contributed to the successful completion of our
Control and Instrumentation Lab group project on
the topic ‘Vehicle Cruise Control System’.
We would also like to thank our teachers for their
guidance and support. Their expertise and
mentorship have been instrumental in shaping our
project and pushing us toward excellence.
We want to thank our fellow group members for
their hard work, dedication, and cooperation
throughout the project. Each team member
played a crucial role, bringing unique skills and
perspectives, greatly enriching our work.
We are truly grateful for the collaboration,
guidance, support, and resources provided.
Thank you all for making this project a fulfilling
and rewarding experience.
Introduction to
Cruise Control
System
It is a system that accurately maintains the speed
set by the driver without any external
intervention. It automatically controls the speed
of a car and only allows the vehicle to hit a speed
set by the driver. It does not allow the car to cross
that speed limit. This feature has become
common among modern vehicles.
A cruise control system in vehicles automates
speed management, allowing drivers to set and
maintain a specific speed without continuous
pedal input. Initially developed in the mid-20th
century to improve driving comfort and fuel
efficiency, cruise control has become a standard
feature in most vehicles. In recent years,
advancements have led to more sophisticated
systems, including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
and Autonomous Cruise Control.
 History and Evolution
The first version of cruise control appeared in the
early 1900s, in a Wilson-Pilcher car. The driver was
able to set the chosen speed using a lever on the
steering column. What we’d consider modern
cruise control came about in the late 1940s,
invented by a man named Ralph Teetor. Teetor,
who was completely blind, was one of the
foremost automotive engineers of his generation.
His invention, first called ‘Speedostat’, was
introduced in a Chrysler car as a luxury option. Its
surge in popularity led the brand to install a
‘Speedostat’ it in all its vehicles. It was officially
christened ‘cruise control’ by General Motors
when it began using it in its Cadillac vehicles.
Modern cruise control systems began to emerge
in the 1990s, with manufacturers incorporating
more advanced digital technology into the design.
Other systems such as LiDAR, radar, sonar and
camera-based solutions were soon added,
increasing the car’s ability to sense the oncoming
traffic.
Working of Cruise
Control System
By actively adjusting the car’s throttle, cruise
control works to maintain the speed of the car
without needing the driver to do anything. In
mechanical setups, the system activates the
throttle valve with a cable connected to an
actuator, which ensures the engine generates
enough power to maintain its current speed. In
newer cars, cruise control is completely electronic.
This can slow down or speed up depending on
what the target speed is. It also allows the driver
to increase or decrease their speed, usually using
buttons on the steering wheel.
The driver, of course, can decide when to use
cruise control. They are also in charge of what
speed the car will cruise at. After turning the
system on, the driver then must set the speed. To
deactivate the system, the driver must simply
press the brake or clutch pedal or cancel it using a
button that usually found on the steering wheel.
Free Body Diagram and
Mathematical Modelling
Free Body Diagram

Assumptions
 The car is moving on a flat road with zero slope.
 Drag force is calculated using Stoke's law where Fd
is directly proportional to v.
Mathematical modelling
N = mg , Fe - Fd = ma
Fe is directly proportional to throttle position & input
Fe = k1 (input to throttle), Fd = k2×v
k1 (input) - k2 × v = ma
m × dv/dt = - k2 ×v + k1 (input)
dv/dt = -k2×v/m + k1/m (input)
Hence, the final equation is: dv/dt = -k2×v/m + k1/m
Components and Functions
 Speed Sensor: The speed sensor is a crucial
part of the cruise control system as it is
responsible for detecting the current speed of the
vehicle. This information is then relayed to the
control module, which uses it to maintain a
consistent speed set by the driver. The speed
sensor is typically located near the transmission or
wheel hubs, where it can accurately measure the
rotational speed of the tires.
 Throttle Actuator: The throttle actuator plays
a vital role in the cruise control system by
adjusting the throttle position to maintain a
constant speed. When the control module signals
the throttle actuator to increase or decrease the
throttle opening, it responds accordingly to ensure
that the vehicle maintains the desired speed. This
component is crucial for smooth acceleration and
deceleration while cruising on the highway.
 Control Module: The control module serves as
the brain of the cruise control system and controls
the throttle actuator. It processes this information
to adjust the throttle position and maintain the
desired speed set by the driver.
Adaptive Cruise
Control
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is an active safety
system that automatically controls the
acceleration and braking of a vehicle. It is
activated through a button on the steering wheel
and cancelled by driver’s braking and/or another
button.
By monitoring other vehicles and objects on the
road, adaptive cruise control enables a safe and
comfortable driving experience. It does so by
helping the driver keep a steady vehicle speed at a
given moment. The driver can set their preference
regarding certain factors, such as the distance to
the car in front, driving mode – for example,
economical, sporty or comfortable – and others.
Together with information about speed limits,
road curvature, accidents data and more, these
choices influence the automatically selected
speed.
Advantages of Cruise
Control System
 Good Fuel Economy: When we apply
pressure to the gas pedal, it burns fuel. Cruise
control keeps the gas pedal in one position so
that we are not inadvertently consuming
more fuel than we need to. This helps to
optimize our fuel economy.

 Better Driving Comfort: If we are going on

a long drive, it can get tiring to have to keep
our foot on the gas pedal for several hours on
end. This is what a lot of drivers experience
when they’re driving for long stretches on the
highway. With cruise control, we can rest our
foot on the floor as the vehicle keeps moving
at one steady speed. This will also lower our
chances of dealing with fatigue as well.

 Avoids Speeding: A good way to avoid

speeding is by setting the cruise control to the
posted speed limit (or slightly over). Then we
don’t have to worry about violating the
speeding laws.
Disadvantages of Cruise
Control System
 Potential inattentiveness: Some drivers
may pay less attention to the road, thinking
that cruise control is doing all the work.
However, we need to remember, cruise
control only manages speed. We still need to
steer, brake, and stay alert.

 Inefficiency in city driving: Cruise control is

ideal for highways, but it’s less effective in the
city. City driving often involves frequent stops,
sudden speed changes, and navigating around
other vehicles or pedestrians. Cruise control
can’t handle these complexities, so manual
control is better in these situations.

 Risks in adverse weather: Cruise control is

not recommended in bad weather conditions,
like rain, snow, or icy roads. These situations
require delicate control over your vehicle,
something cruise control can’t provide. Using
it in such conditions can increase the risk of
losing control or hydroplaning.
 Conclusion
In this project, we explored the design,
implementation, and performance of a Vehicle
Cruise Control System (VCCS), a fundamental
feature in modern automotive technology aimed
at enhancing driver comfort and safety. We gained
insights into the underlying principles of cruise
control, including speed monitoring, throttle
control, and the feedback mechanisms that
maintain a steady vehicle speed even with varying
road conditions.

Our prototype demonstrated the successful

application of PID (Proportional-Integral-
Derivative) control, effectively maintaining the
desired speed with minimal oscillation and
adapting to different driving scenarios. We
observed that a well-tuned PID controller is crucial
for balancing speed accuracy, system
responsiveness, and fuel efficiency.Overall, this
project allowed us to understand the importance
of cruise control. The VCCS not only improves
driving comfort but also contributes to overall
road safety, fuel efficiency, and environmental
sustainability.
Simulink Block Diagram

Plot from PID Tuner

Scope Outputs for different Inputs
Unit Step Input

Scope Output
Unit Ramp Input

Scope Output