Abstract:
The present invention provides a vehicular adaptive cruise control system and method that can adapt in real-time to tire and road conditions, vehicular weight, dynamics of the host vehicle, as well as other factors, to offer improved collision avoidance and warning.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0124968 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 17, 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a cruise control system and method for a vehicle. 
     (b) Description of the Related Art 
     With increased number of vehicles and congestion on the roadways, the need for more intelligently designed safety mechanisms is greater than ever before. In particular, efforts have been directed to creating improved anti-collision systems and methods. While adaptive cruise control (ACC) systems can help ensure the safety and comfort of the driver and his passengers even under complex road conditions, conventional cruise control systems cannot reliably avoid a collision or for warning against a collision. 
     In conventional ACC systems, once a running speed is set on a host vehicle, the ACC system on the host vehicle takes in certain load conditions and the running speed of the preceding vehicle as detected by sensors and, based on these parameters, controls the throttle actuator or brake actuator to maintain the host vehicle at a fixed predetermined running speed. The host vehicle is equipped with a distance detection unit mounted at the front which sends its signals to a computer that calculates a relative velocity and relative distance from the preceding distance. The computer also executes an algorithm that calculates and sets a time gap for determining a safety distance to leave between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle based on the current running speed of the host vehicle. The safety distance is derived by multiplying the time gap by the current running speed of the host vehicle. 
     In this manner, if the relative distance and relative velocity indicate that the host vehicle is in danger of colliding with the preceding vehicle, the ACC system will apply the brakes and thereby control the vehicular distance to the preceding vehicle based on the predetermined time gap. When the threshold braking distance of the host vehicle as it corresponds to the current running speed thereof is less than the calculated safety distance, the ACC system operates the brake actuator or the throttle actuator until the distance from the preceding vehicle exceeds the predetermined safety distance. 
     Once the distance from the preceding vehicle exceeds the calculated safety distance due to the reduced running speed of the host vehicle, the ACC system will increase the running speed of the host vehicle to the original fixed running speed by recovering an engine torque. 
     One of the reasons for the imperfect anti-collision mechanisms of conventional ACC system is the manner by which the time gap is determined. As those of skill in the art will recognize, the time gap in conventional ACC systems cannot be readily modulated by a driver. Even in conventional systems that allow the driver to select the time gap to be one of three phases, Far, Med, and Close, the mechanism for control is such that it presents difficulty and danger for a driver attempting to adjust the time gap while driving. The simple fashion by which the time gap is determined is also a cause for concern. Assuming the predetermined time gaps of a host vehicle running at a speed of 100 km/h to be 2.0, 1.5, and 1.0 s, the distance from the preceding vehicle to be maintained would be 55 m, 42 m, and 28 m, respectively, using conventional ACC systems. The time gap is set with the assumption that the friction coefficient between each tire and a road is 1.0 and the maximum deceleration of the host vehicle is 9.8 m/s 2 . With these oversimplified conditions, the minimum braking distance for a host vehicle at a running speed of 100 km/h is 38 m and would appear well within the calculated safety distance of 55, 42, and 28 m. 
     Unfortunately, the assumption relied upon in conventional ACC system can be a fatal one as the friction coefficient between each tire and the road is not always 1.0. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the friction coefficient between each tire and the road can vary significantly depending on road/weather conditions. The friction coefficient between each tire and the road can also vary considerably due to the type of road surface, e.g. asphalt, concrete road, unpaved, etc.), thread design or degree of wearing on each tire. For example, the friction coefficient and the maximum deceleration for a vehicle on a concrete road with a new tire on a sunny day is about twice as large as the friction coefficient and the maximum deceleration for the same vehicle on an asphalt road with an old tire on a rainy day. 
     Conventional ACC systems fail to account for variations in the friction coefficient between each tire and the road when calculating the minimum safety distance. In addition, the maximum deceleration in the conventional ACC system is fixed to the value of 9.8 m/s 2 . As such, conventional ACC systems cannot be relied upon to provide the appropriate minimum safety distance and to avoid a collision between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle in an emergency. 
     The above information is provided only to enhance understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art with respect to the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an adaptive cruise control system and method for a vehicle having advantages of maintaining an appropriate safety distance between a host vehicle and a preceding vehicle. 
     An exemplary method for an adaptive cruise control of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: calculating a maximum friction coefficient of a road; calculating a minimum safety distance to a preceding vehicle based on the calculated maximum friction coefficient and a current running speed of a host vehicle; setting a reference safety index in accordance with the calculated minimum safety distance; calculating a current safety index in accordance with a relative distance to the preceding vehicle; and controlling a vehicular distance by comparing the current safety index with the reference safety index and accordingly operating an actuator. 
     The safety index may include a time gap that is defined as a time it would take the host vehicle to travel the minimum safety distance at the current running speed thereof. 
     In a further embodiment, the calculating the maximum friction coefficient of the road includes: calculating a brake gain; calculating a traction force applied on each tire; calculating a normal force applied on each tire; calculating a friction coefficient of the road on which the host vehicle is running; detecting tire and road information; calculating a slip ratio and detecting a gradient thereof; and estimating the maximum friction coefficient based on the friction coefficient and the gradient of the slip ratio. 
     The maximum friction coefficient increases with an increasing slip ratio of the tire. However, if the slip ratio is excessive, the maximum friction coefficient decreases with an increasing slip ratio. 
     The brake gain may be calculated from a brake pressure and an angular velocity of each wheel. The brake pressure is applied by a brake actuator. 
     The traction force may be calculated from a transmission torque and the brake gain. 
     The transmission torque may be calculated from a torque converter torque and the angular velocity of each wheel. 
     The torque converter torque may be calculated from an engine torque, a carrier speed, and a gear condition. 
     Furthermore, the engine torque may be calculated from a degree of throttle opening and an engine speed. 
     The normal force may be calculated from an entire vehicular weight and dynamics of the host vehicle. 
     The tire information includes information of the brake gain, the traction force, the normal force, and a tire effective radius. 
     The tire effective radius is defined as a distance between the road and a center of each wheel. 
     The road information includes a wheel speed of each wheel, the current running speed of the host vehicle, and the slip ratio of each wheel. 
     The wheel speed of each wheel may be detected by an angular velocity detector mounted on each wheel. 
     The current running speed of the host vehicle may be detected by a vehicular speed detector mounted on an output shaft of a transmission. 
     The slip ratio may be calculated from the angular velocity of each wheel, the current running speed, and the tire effective radius. 
     An exemplary system for an adaptive cruise control of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a friction coefficient calculator for calculating a friction coefficient of a road; a slip ratio calculator for calculating a slip ratio between the road and each tire; a vehicular distance detector for detecting a current vehicular distance to a preceding vehicle; a slip ratio gradient detector for detecting a gradient of the slip ratio based on the friction coefficient and the slip ratio, the slip ratio gradient detector receiving a signal of the friction coefficient from the friction coefficient calculator and a signal of the slip ratio from the slip ratio calculator; a maximum friction coefficient calculator for calculating a maximum friction coefficient between the road and each tire based on the gradient of the slip ratio, the maximum friction coefficient calculator receiving a signal of the gradient of the slip ratio from the slip ratio gradient detector; a minimum safety distance calculator for calculating a minimum safety distance corresponding to the current running speed of the host vehicle based on the maximum friction coefficient, the minimum safety distance calculator receiving a signal of the maximum friction coefficient from the maximum friction coefficient calculator; a safety index calculator for calculating a reference safety index and a current safety index corresponding to the minimum safety distance and the current vehicular distance to the preceding vehicle respectively, the safety index calculator receiving a signal of the minimum safety distance from the minimum safety distance calculator and a signal of the current vehicular distance from the vehicular distance detector; a processor for comparing the current safety index with the reference safety index and generating a control signal thereby, the processor receiving a signal of the reference safety index and the current safety index from the safety index calculator; and an actuator for controlling the current running speed of the host vehicle, the actuator receiving the control signal from the processor. 
     The present ACC system may comprise a processor, memory and associated hardware and software as may be selected and programmed by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the teachings of the present invention contained herein. 
     The friction coefficient calculator may include: a traction force calculator for calculating a traction force applied on each tire; and a normal force calculator for calculating a normal force applied on each tire. 
     The slip ratio calculator may include: a tire effective radius detector for detecting a distance between the road and a center of each tire; an angular velocity detector mounted on each wheel for detecting an angular velocity thereof; and a vehicular speed detector for detecting the current running speed of the host vehicle. 
     The traction force calculator may include: a brake gain calculator for calculating a brake gain based on brake pressure and the angular velocity of each wheel; and a transmission torque calculator for calculating a transmission torque based on a torque converter torque and the angular velocity of each wheel. 
     The angular velocity detector may include an angular velocity sensor mounted on each wheel. 
     The vehicular speed detector may include a vehicular speed sensor mounted on an output shaft of the transmission. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an adaptive cruise control system for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a block diagram for calculating traction force in an adaptive cruise control system for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a flowchart of an adaptive cruise control method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a flowchart for estimating the maximum friction coefficient in an adaptive cruise control method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a graph of the change in estimated maximum friction coefficient over time as determined by an adaptive cruise control method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention as a vehicle moves from a wet road surface to a dry road surface. 
         FIG. 6  is a graph showing the friction coefficient and slip ratio for various road conditions. 
       
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   &lt;Legend of Reference Numerals for Elements Appearing in the Drawings&gt; 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                   10: friction coefficient calculator 
                   11: brake gain calculator 
                 
                 
                   12: traction force calculator 
                   13: normal force calculator 
                 
                 
                   14: tire effective radius detector 
                   15: slip ratio calculator 
                 
                 
                   16: vehicular distance detector 
                   17: angular velocity detector 
                 
                 
                   18: vehicular speed detector 
                   19: slip ratio gradient detector 
                 
                 
                   20: maximum friction coefficient 
                   21: minimum safety distance 
                 
                 
                       calculator 
                       calculator 
                 
                 
                   22: safety index calculator 
                   23: processor 
                 
                 
                   24: actuator 
                   25: transmission torque calculator 
                 
                 
                   26: torque converter table 
                   27: engine map 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     As illustrated by the embodiment in  FIG. 1 , an adaptive cruise control system for a vehicle includes a friction coefficient calculator  10  for calculating a friction coefficient; a slip ratio calculator  15  for calculating a slip ratio between a road and each tire; a vehicular distance detector  16  for detecting a current vehicular distance to a preceding vehicle; a slip ratio gradient detector  19  for detecting a gradient of the slip ratio based on the calculated friction coefficient and the slip ratio; a maximum friction coefficient calculator  20  for calculating a maximum friction coefficient between the road and each tire; a minimum safety distance calculator  21  for calculating a minimum safety distance based on the calculated maximum friction coefficient and the current running speed of a host vehicle; a safety index calculator  22  for calculating a reference safety index and a current safety index corresponding to the minimum safety distance and the current vehicular distance to the preceding vehicle respectively; a processor  23  for comparing the reference safety index with the current safety index and generating a control signal thereby; and an actuator  24  for controlling the current running speed of the host vehicle corresponding to the control signal received from processor  23 . 
     The friction coefficient calculator  10  calculates the friction coefficient between the road and each tire based on a traction force that is applied horizontally on each tire and a normal force that is applied vertically on each tire. The friction coefficient calculator  10  outputs a signal of the friction coefficient to the slip ratio gradient detector  19 . The friction coefficient calculator  10  can either include a traction force calculator  12  and a normal force calculator  13  or, in the alternative, take as inputs values generated by calculators  12  and  13 . 
     The traction force calculator  12 , as shown in greater detail in  FIG. 2 , can include a brake gain calculator  11  and a transmission torque calculator  25  or, in the alternative, take as inputs values generated by calculators  11  and  25 . The traction force calculator  12  calculates the traction force that is applied horizontally on the tire of each wheel FL (“front left”), FR (“front right”), RL (“rear left”), and RR (“rear right”) from a brake gain K B  and a transmission torque T S . The traction force calculator  12  outputs a value of the traction force to the friction coefficient calculator  10 . 
     The brake gain calculator  11  calculates the brake gain K B  from a wheel speed that is detected by an angular velocity detector  17  mounted on each wheel and a brake pressure that is applied by a brake actuator. The brake gain calculator  11  then outputs a value of the brake gain to the traction force calculator  12 . 
     The transmission torque calculator  25  includes an engine map  27  and a torque converter table  26 . The transmission torque calculator  25  calculates a transmission torque T S  from a torque converter torque T t  and the wheel speed of each wheel. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the engine map  27  detects an engine torque T net  based on a degree of throttle opening and an engine speed, and outputs a signal of the engine torque T net  to the torque converter table  26 . The torque converter table  26  detects a torque converter torque T t  based on the engine torque T net , a gear condition, and a carrier speed. The torque converter table  26  outputs the value of the torque converter torque T t  to the transmission torque calculator  25 . 
     In addition, the transmission torque calculator  25  calculates a transmission torque T S  from the torque converter torque T t  and the wheel speed of each wheel, and outputs a signal of the transmission torque T S  to the traction force calculator  12 . The traction force calculator  12  calculates the traction force applied on each tire based on the transmission torque T S  and the brake gain K B . 
     The normal force calculator  13  calculates a normal force that is applied vertically on each wheel based on the total vehicular weight, including weight of the driver, passengers, and cargo, and dynamics of the host vehicle. The normal force calculator  13  outputs the value of the normal force to the friction coefficient calculator  10 . 
     The slip ratio calculator  15  includes a tire effective radius detector  14 , the angular velocity detector  17 , and a vehicular speed detector  18 . The slip ratio calculator  15  calculates a slip ratio of each wheel based on the wheel speed of each wheel, the current running speed of the host vehicle, and a tire effective radius, as determined by any of various algorithms known in the art. The slip ratio calculator  15  outputs the value of the slip ratio to the slip ratio gradient detector  19 . 
     The tire effective radius detector  14  detects a tire effective radius that is defined as a distance between the road and a center of each wheel based on the normal force applied on each wheel. The tire effective radius detector  14  outputs the value of the tire effective radius to the slip ratio calculator  15 . 
     The angular velocity detector  17  includes an angular velocity sensor mounted on each wheel. The angular velocity detector  17  estimates a wheel speed of each wheel from the angular velocity of each wheel, and outputs the value of the wheel speed to the slip ratio calculator  15 . 
     The vehicular speed detector  18  includes a vehicular speed sensor mounted on an output shaft of the transmission. The vehicular speed detector  18  detects the current running speed of the host vehicle according to the rotational speed of the output shaft of the transmission. The vehicular speed detector  18  outputs a signal of the current running speed to the slip ratio calculator  15 . 
     The vehicular distance detector  16  detects a relative distance and a relative velocity between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle. The vehicular distance detector  16  outputs the relative distance and the relative velocity to the safety index calculator  22 . 
     The slip ratio gradient detector  19  analyzes the friction coefficient received from the friction coefficient calculator  10  and the slip ratio received from the slip ratio calculator  15 , the values of which are determined according to one of various algorithms known in the art. Through numerical analysis, the slip ratio gradient detector  19  detects a gradient of the slip ratio as illustrated by the slip ratio graph of  FIG. 6 , and outputs the value of the gradient of the slip ratio to the maximum friction coefficient calculator  20 . 
     The maximum friction coefficient calculator  20  calculates a maximum friction coefficient between the road and each tire according to an initial gradient of the slip ratio and the friction coefficient. The maximum friction coefficient calculator  20  outputs a signal of the maximum friction coefficient to the minimum safety distance calculator  21 . 
     The maximum friction coefficient calculator  20  calculates the maximum friction coefficient according to the relation between the slip ratio and the friction coefficient. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the maximum friction coefficient increases with an increasing slip ratio. However, if the slip ratio is excessive, the maximum friction coefficient decreases with an increasing slip ratio. 
     Generally, the maximum friction coefficient of a dry road is estimated to be 1.0, and therefore the maximum deceleration thereof is determined to be 9.8 m/s 2  by equation 1 under this condition.
 
maximum deceleration=friction coefficient×acceleration of gravity   (Equation 1)
 
     The minimum safety distance calculator  21  calculates a minimum safety distance to the preceding vehicle based on the current running speed of the host vehicle and the maximum friction coefficient. 
     The safety index calculator  22  calculates a reference safety index and a current safety index corresponding to the minimum safety distance and the vehicular distance to the preceding vehicle respectively. The safety index calculator  22  outputs the value of the reference safety index and the current safety index to the processor  23 . 
     The safety index can be indicated in various forms, e.g. by distance or time, but a time gap is widely used as the safety index. The time gap is defined as the time it would take the host vehicle to travel the minimum safety distance at the current running speed thereof. 
     The processor  23  compares the reference safety index with the current safety index and accordingly operates the actuator  24  to control the vehicular distance from the preceding vehicle when the current safety index is less than the reference safety index. 
     The actuator  24  decelerates the current running speed of the host vehicle to ensure the minimum safety distance is maintained from the preceding vehicle. Generally, a brake actuator or a throttle actuator is used as the actuator  24 . 
     An exemplary method for an adaptive cruise control of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is explained as follows. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , an ACC system operates while the host vehicle is at a running state in step S 105 . When a driver sets a vehicular running speed of the host vehicle at step S 110 , the safety index calculator  22  calculates a reference safety index which corresponds to the vehicular running speed thereof at step S 115 . The reference safety index enables the host vehicle to ensure the minimum safety distance is maintained away from the preceding vehicle under a dry road condition, wherein the maximum friction coefficient is 1.0. 
     The maximum friction coefficient calculator  20  then calculates a maximum friction coefficient of a road according to road surface and tire conditions, and outputs the value of the maximum friction coefficient to a minimum safety distance calculator  21  at step S 120 . As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the present invention can find application in vehicles having any number of tires. Each tire may have a different friction coefficient. The ACC system accounts for this variation between the tires by taking the highest friction coefficient to calculate the minimum safety distance. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a process of calculating the maximum friction coefficient is explained in detail as follows. 
     An angular velocity of each wheel is detected by an angular velocity detector  17  mounted thereon, and a brake gain K B  is calculated from brake pressure of a brake actuator at step S 205 . 
     Subsequently, a traction force that is applied horizontally on each wheel is calculated from the brake gain K B  and a transmission torque T S  at step S 210 . A normal force that is applied vertically on each wheel is calculated according to an entire vehicular weight and the dynamics of the host vehicle at step S 215 . Then, the friction coefficient of the road is calculated from the relation of the traction force and the normal force at step S 220 . 
     After that, tire and road information is detected at step S 225 . The tire information includes the brake gain K B , the traction force of each wheel, the normal force of each wheel, and a tire effective radius. The tire effective radius is defined as a distance between a center of each wheel and the road. The brake gain K B  is calculated from the angular velocity of each wheel and the brake pressure. The traction force that is applied horizontally on each wheel is calculated from a transmission torque T S , and the normal force that is applied vertically on each wheel is calculated from the total vehicular weight and dynamics of the host vehicle. 
     In addition, the road information includes the wheel speed of each wheel, the current running speed of the host vehicle, and the slip ratio of each wheel. The wheel speed is detected by the angular velocity detector  17  mounted on each wheel, and the current running speed of the host vehicle is detected by the vehicular speed detector  18  mounted on an output shaft of a transmission 
     After the road and tire information is detected, a gradient of the slip ratio is detected from the friction coefficient and the slip ratio at step S 230 . Then, the maximum friction coefficient is calculated from the gradient of the slip ratio at step S 235 . 
     After the maximum friction coefficient between the road and each tire is calculated, the maximum deceleration is calculated from the maximum friction coefficient and the current running speed of the host vehicle at step S 125 . Subsequently, the minimum safety distance from the preceding vehicle is calculated corresponding to the maximum deceleration at step S 130 . 
     After that, the reference safety index, which was set under the assumption that the friction coefficient between the road and each tire is 1.0, is adjusted so as to correspond with the minimum safety distance at step S 135 . To elaborate, the reference safety index is set under the assumption that the friction coefficient between the road and each tire is 1.0 at the step S 115 , but if the maximum friction coefficient calculated based on the actual conditions of the road surface and of each tire is less than 1.0, the reference safety index that is set at the step S 115  would not be effective to ensure the minimum safety distance is kept. As such, the reference safety index of the present invention can be modified to reflect the actual tire and road conditions. 
     After the reference safety index is modified as described above, the presence of a preceding vehicle is checked at step S 145  using one of various methods known in the art. If no preceding vehicle is detected, the ACC system enters speed control mode at step S 150 , and a predetermined speed is maintained by modulating a throttle actuator control at step S 155 . 
     However, if a preceding vehicle does exist, the relative distance in consideration of the relative velocity between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle is detected by the vehicular distance detector  16 , and a current safety index in accordance with the relative distance is calculated at step S 160 . Then, the processor  23  compares the reference safety index with the current safety index at step S 165 . 
     If the current safety index is greater than or equal to the reference safety index, the ACC system enters a speed control mode at step S 150 , and it maintains the predetermined running speed by performing a throttle actuator control at step S 155 . 
     However, if the current safety index is less than the reference safety index, that is, there is a risk of colliding with the preceding vehicle and the ACC system will give off a collision warning signal to the driver and perform a vehicular distance control at step S 170 . 
     The vehicular distance control is performed by a braking control or an engine torque decelerating control, wherein the relative distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle is controlled so as to exceed the minimum safety distance by decelerating the current running speed of the host vehicle at step S 175 . 
     The following example is put forth so as to provide those of ordinary skill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how the methodology of the present invention works and is not intended to limit the scope of what is regarded as the invention. 
     EXAMPLE 
     The circumstances under which the time gap is used as the safety index will hereinafter be described in detail. The minimum safety distance given a dry road surface where the maximum friction coefficient is 1.0 is about 38 m if the host vehicle is running at a speed of 100 km/h. In contrast, the minimum safety distance given a wet road surface where the maximum friction coefficient is 0.7 is about 56 m under the same conditions. Therefore, even if a driver sets the reference time gap to be 1.5 seconds in order to maintain the distance between the vehicles in excess of 41 m (1.5 sec×vehicular speed (100 km/h)=41 m), the reference time gap may be modified to 2.02 seconds in order to prevent a collision between the vehicles because the actual minimum safety distance under the above conditions is 56 m (2.02 sec×100 km/h=56m). 
     On the other hand, if the relative distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle is 45 m when the host vehicle is running at a speed of 100 km/h, the current time gap is 1.62 seconds (1.62 sec×100 km/h=45 m). The ACC system will therefore control the vehicular distance from the preceding vehicle until the current time gap is the same as the reference time gap, 2.02 seconds. 
     As described above, the ACC system according to the present invention calculates the maximum friction coefficient between the road and each tire according to the condition of the road and tire in real-time, and calculates the actual minimum safety distance in accordance with the estimated maximum friction coefficient and the current running speed of the host vehicle. The reference safety index is then modified accordingly based on the actual minimum safety distance. 
     In addition, the ACC system according to the present invention is designed to give off a warning signal to the driver should a collision be likely and automatically decelerate the current running speed if the current safety index according to the relative distance to the preceding vehicle is less than the modified reference safety index. Safety and reliability is thereby enhanced by the adaptive ACC system and method of the present invention. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, material, composition of matter, process, process step or steps, to the objective, spirit and scope of the present invention. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims appended hereto.