This article presents various systems which help the driver control and drive his car, with special reference to automatic driving. These include cruise controllers and systems which keep the vehicle a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Computer simulations and test drives are used to ascertain the limitations of the control circuits and sensors designed to provide the information and the technology to do this. Longitudinal control of the vehicle seems to be possible using a cruise/distance control system which includes computer controlled braking with data being transmitted between cars in any one line of traffic. In lateral control, full driver support needs a certain infrastructure and highly developed sensors. Vehicle control is divided between the driver and his car, and there is continuous interaction between the two. The human driver will retain control over steering. However he will be supported in track control tasks by an automatic track controller. Much more work needs to be done on such systems before they can be considered to be safe.
Samenvatting