Project 2 Adaptive Cruise Control
Adaptive Cruise Control
AIM
- Developing Adaptive Cruise Control feature as per the Requirement Document using MATLAB Simulink by following all the MBD-related processes.
OBJECTIVES
- Developing Adaptive Cruise Control feature as per the Requirement Document using MATLAB Simulink.
- Follow all the MBD-related processes: Requirement Tagging & Traceability, SLDD creation, Configuration Parameter changes, Model Advisor check & Code Generation.
- In Configuration Parameters: enable “Support Floating Numbers” under Code Generation settings.
- Use Embedded Coder to generate the code.
- If choosing code generation, Storage class for Input signals: ImportedExtern; Storage class for Output signal: Export to File; Storage class for local signals: localizable; Storage class for calibration signals: Const.
- Choose sample time for all signals as 0.01s
THEORY
Adaptive Cruise Control:

General Overview:
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Adaptive Cruise Control Feature for passenger cars allows the host vehicle to adapt to the speed in line with the flow of traffic. Driving in heavy traffic or keeping a safe distance from the preceding vehicle calls for a high level of concentration. The Adaptive Cruise Control feature can reduce the stress on the driver by automatically controlling the vehicle speed & maintaining a predefined minimum distance to the preceding vehicle. As a consequence, the driver enjoys more comfort & can concentrate on the road a little better.
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A radar sensor is usually at the core of the Adaptive Cruise Control. Installed at the front of the vehicle, the system permanently monitors the road ahead. As long as the road ahead is clear, the cruise control feature maintains the speed set by the driver. If the system spots a slower vehicle within its detection range, it gently reduces speed by releasing the accelerator or actively engaging the brake control system. If the vehicle ahead speeds up or changes lanes, the cruise control automatically accelerates to the driver’s desired speed.
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Standard Adaptive Cruise Control can be activated from speeds of around 30 km/h (20 mph) upwards and supports the driver, primarily on cross-country journeys or on freeways. The cruise control stops & go variant is also active at speeds below 30 km/h (20 mph). It can maintain the set distance to the preceding vehicle even at very low speeds and can decelerate to a complete standstill. When the vehicle remains stopped longer, the driver needs only to reactivate the system, for example by briefly stepping on the gas pedal to return to cruise control mode. In this way, cruise control stops & go supports the driver even in heavy traffic and traffic jams.
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Since Adaptive Cruise Control is a comfort and convenience system, brake interventions and vehicle acceleration only take place within defined limits. Even with Adaptive Cruise Control switched on, it remains the driver’s responsibility to monitor the speed and distance from the vehicle in front.
MODEL DEVELOPMENT
Signals & Calibration Data List:
| Signal / Calibration Name | Signal Type | Data Type | Dimension | Min | Max | Initial Value | Units |
| CameraInput_LeadVehicle | Input | Uint8 | 1 | 0 | 255 | - | - |
| RadarInput_LeadVehicle | Input | Uint8 | 1 | 0 | 255 | - | - |
| CameraInput_DriveVehicle | Input | Uint8 | 1 | 0 | 255 | - | - |
| RadarInput_DriveVehicle | Input | Uint8 | 1 | 0 | 255 | - | - |
| Time_Gap | Input | Uint8 | 1 | 0 | 255 | - | - |
| Set_Speed | Input | Uint8 | 1 | 0 | 255 | - | - |
| Set_Gap | Input | Uint8 | 1 | 0 | 255 | - | - |
| CruiseSwitch | Input | Boolean | 1 | 0 | - | - | |
| SetSwitch | Input | Boolean | 1 | 0 | - | - | |
| Acceleration_Mode | Output | Uint8 | 1 | 0 | 255 | - | - |
| LeadVehicle_Speed | Output | Uint8 | 1 | 0 | 255 | - | - |
| DriveVehicle_Speed | Output | Uint8 | 1 | 0 | 255 | - | - |
| LeadVehicle_Detected | Output | Uint8 | 1 | 0 | 255 | - | - |
Requirement 1– Lead Vehicle:
- Lead Vehicle is a vehicle that is driving on the road ahead of our drive vehicle. Two input signals (Signal Name: CameraInput_LeadVehicle & RadarInput_LeadVehicle).
- Ideally sensor fusion techniques will be deployed to process & analyze data from cameras & radar. For complexity reasons, let’s not adapt to any such algorithms.
- We can simply add both the radar & camera inputs & the corresponding output is read as Speed profile output (Signal Name: LeadVehicle_Speed).
- Speed data of the lead vehicle is critical in implementing the Adaptive Cruise Control algorithm.
Requirement 2 – Drive Vehicle:
- Drive Vehicle is the vehicle driven by the user & this is the vehicle that has an ACC algorithm in it.
- Like the Lead Vehicle, the Driver Vehicle algorithm also has 2 input signals (Signal Name: CameraInput_DriveVehicle, RadarInput_DriveVehicle) & one signal coming as an Input to this subsystem (Signal Name: Acceleration_Mode) – three inputs into this requirement in total.
- Like the above requirement, sensor fusion techniques will also be deployed here, for complexity reasons we are ignoring them.
- Two output signals come from this subsystem (Signal Name: DriveVehicle_Speed & LeadVehicle_Detected).
- Signal DriveVehicle_Speed is the summation of three input signals mentioned above & LeadVehicle_Detected is renamed from Input Signal RadarInput_DriveVehicle by mere use of Signal Conversion block.
Requirement 3 – Adaptive Cruise Control Algorithm:
- Adaptive Cruise Control feature has 3 major modes of operation: OFF Mode, STANDBY Mode & ON Mode. This particular requirement has to be implemented as state machine logic in Simulink.
- The input signals to this state machine system are (Signal Name: Time_Gap, Set_Speed, Set_Gap, CruiseSwitch, SetSwitch).
- Also, the output signals (Signal Name: DriveVehicle_Speed & LeadVehicle_Detected) from requirement-2 are fed back as an input signal into this state machine block.
- Additionally, the output signal (Signal Name: LeadVehicle_Speed) from requirement-1 is given as an input signal to this state machine block as well.
- Output from this subsystem is a signal (Signal Name: Acceleration_Mode) that governs the vehicular speed of the drive vehicle and automatically adjusts its speed & velocity to match the lead vehicle.
Requirement 3a – ACC OFF MODE state logic:
- This is the default state inside state machine logic. Output signal Acceleration_Mode is at value 0 in this state.
- This state is governed by the input signal CruiseSwitch.
- If CruiseSwitch is equal to 1, state ACC STANDBY mode will get activated. If CruiseSwitch is equal to 0, state ACC OFF mode will get activated, from either ACC ON mode or ACC STANDBY mode
Requirement 3b – ACC STANDBY MODE state logic:
- This is the second activated state inside state machine logic. Output signal Acceleration_Mode is at value 1 in this state.
- This state is governed by both input signals CruiseSwitch & SetSwitch.
- If CruiseSwitch is equal to 1, state ACC STANDBY mode will get activated. If CruiseSwitch is equal to 0, state ACC OFF mode will get activated, from either ACC ON mode or ACC STANDBY mode
- If SetSwitch is equal to 1, state ACC ON mode will get activated. If SetSwitch is equal to 0, state ACC STANDBY mode will get activated.
Requirement 3c – ACC ON MODE state logic:
This state will be activated when the input signal SetSwitch is equal to 1. There are 6 sub-states to this state logic: They are:
- LeadVehicle_Detected_Follow (Default)
- LeadVehicle_Not_Detected
- LeadVehicle_Detected_Resume
- LeadVehicle_Not_Detected_Resume
- LeadVehicle_Speed_lessthan_Set_Speed
- LeadVehicle_Speed_equal_Set_Speed
Requirement 3c (i) – LeadVehicle_Detected_Follow (ACC ON MODE):
- This is the default substate inside the ACC ON MODE state. Output signal Acceleration_Mode is equal to 2.
- Condition to transit from LeadVehicle_Detected_Follow to LeadVehicle_Not_Detected; Input signal condition LeadVehicle_Detected == 0.
- Condition to transit from LeadVehicle_Detected_Follow to LeadVehicle_Speed_lessthan_Set_Speed; Input Signals condition (LeadVehicle_Detected == 1) && (LeadVehicle_Speed < Set_Speed) || (Time_Gap < Set_Gap).
Requirement 3c (ii) – LeadVehicle_Not_Detected (ACC ON MODE):
- Output signal Acceleration_Mode is equal to 1.
- Condition to transit from LeadVehicle_Not_Detected to LeadVehicle_Detected_Follow; Input signals condition [(LeadVehicle_Detected==1) && (DriveVehicle_Speed == Set_Speed) && (LeadVehicle_Speed >= Set_Speed) && (Time_Gap >= Set_Gap)]
- Condition to transit from LeadVehicle_Not_Detected to LeadVehicle_Speed_lessthan_Set_Speed; Input signals condition [(LeadVehicle_Detected == 1) && (LeadVehicle_Speed < Set_Speed) || (Time_Gap < Set_Gap)]
Requirement 3c (iii) – LeadVehicle_Detected_Resume (ACC ON MODE):
- Output signal Acceleration_Mode is equal to 3.
- Condition to transit from LeadVehicle_Detected_Resume to LeadVehicle_Detected_Follow; Input signals condition [(DriveVehicle_Speed == Set_Speed) && (LeadVehicle_Speed >= Set_Speed) && (Time_Gap >= Set_Gap)]
- Condition to transit from LeadVehicle_Detected_Resume to LeadVehicle_Not_Detected_Resume; Input signal condition LeadVehicle_Detected==0.
- Condition to transit from LeadVehicle_Detected_Resume to LeadVehicle_Speed_equal_Set_Speed; Input Signal condition [(DriveVehicle_Speed < Set_Speed) && (LeadVehicle_Speed > DriveVehicle_Speed) && (Time_Gap >= Set_Gap)]
Requirement 3c (iv) - LeadVehicle_Not_Detected_Resume (ACC ON MODE):
- Output signal Acceleration_Mode is equal to 1.
Requirement 3c (v) - LeadVehicle_Speed_lessthan_Set_Speed (ACC ON MODE):
- Output signal Acceleration_Mode is equal to 4.
- Condition to transit from LeadVehicle_Speed_lessthan_Set_Speed to LeadVehicle_Not_Detected; Input signal condition [(LeadVehicle_Detected == 0) && (DriveVehicle_Speed == Set_Speed)]
- Condition to transit from LeadVehicle_Speed_lessthan_Set_Speed to LeadVehicle_Speed_equal_Set_Speed; Input signals condition [((LeadVehicle_Speed*1.25>=DriveVehicle_Speed) && (LeadVehicle_Speed * 0.75<=DriveVehicle_Speed)) && (DriveVehicle_Speed < Set_Speed) && ((Time_Gap<=1.25*Set_Gap) && (Time_Gap >=0.75*Set_Gap))]
Requirement 3c (vi) - LeadVehicle_Speed_equal_Set_Speed (ACC ON MODE):
- Output signal Acceleration_Mode is equal to 5.
- Condition to transit from LeadVehicle_Speed_equal_Set_Speed to LeadVehicle_Not_Detected_Resume; Input signal conditions is [(LeadVehicle_Detected == 0) || (DriveVehicle_Speed <= Set_Speed)]
- Condition to transit from LeadVehicle_Speed_equal_Set_Speed to LeadVehicle_Detected_Resume; Input signal conditions [(DriveVehicle_Speed < Set_Speed) && (LeadVehicle_Speed > DriveVehicle_Speed) || (Time_Gap >= Set_Gap)]
- Condition to transit from LeadVehicle_Speed_equal_Set_Speed to LeadVehicle_Speed_lessthan_Set_Speed; Input signals conditions [(LeadVehicle_Speed<Set_Speed) && (LeadVehicle_Speed<DriveVehicle_Speed) || (Time_Gap == 0.75*Set_Gap)]
PROCEDURE
Data Dictionary creation: (Highway_Assistant.sldd)
- The very first thing that we will do is create a Simulink Data Dictionary using the given Signal and Calibration Data List.
- A new Simulink data dictionary is created and updated signals & calibration Data List as per our requirements.
The following is the SLDD file:

Solver configuration parameter:
- Solver type: Fixed
- Solver: discrete (no continuous states)
- Sample time: 0.01

Code generation Parameters:
- System target file: ert.tlc (Embedded Coder)

Designing MATLAB Simulink Model:


Requirement 1– Lead Vehicle:
- Lead Vehicle is a vehicle that is driving on the road ahead of our drive vehicle. Two input signals (Signal Name: CameraInput_LeadVehicle & RadarInput_LeadVehicle).
- Ideally sensor fusion techniques will be deployed to process & analyze data from cameras & radar. For complexity reasons, let’s not adapt to any such algorithms.
- We can simply add both the radar & camera inputs & the corresponding output is read as Speed profile output (Signal Name: LeadVehicle_Speed).
- Speed data of the lead vehicle is critical in implementing the Adaptive Cruise Control algorithm.

Requirement 2 – Drive Vehicle:
- Drive Vehicle is the vehicle driven by the user & this is the vehicle that has an ACC algorithm in it.
- Like the Lead Vehicle, the Driver Vehicle algorithm also has 2 input signals (Signal Name: CameraInput_DriveVehicle, RadarInput_DriveVehicle) & one signal coming as an Input to this subsystem (Signal Name: Acceleration_Mode) – three inputs into this requirement in total.
- Like the above requirement, sensor fusion techniques will also be deployed here, for complexity reasons we are ignoring them.
- Two output signals come from this subsystem (Signal Name: DriveVehicle_Speed & LeadVehicle_Detected).
- Signal DriveVehicle_Speed is the summation of three input signals mentioned above & LeadVehicle_Detected is renamed from Input Signal RadarInput_DriveVehicle by mere use of Signal Conversion block.

Requirement 3 – Adaptive Cruise Control Algorithm:
- Adaptive Cruise Control feature has 3 major modes of operation: OFF Mode, STANDBY Mode & ON Mode. This particular requirement has to be implemented as state machine logic in Simulink.
- The input signals to this state machine system are (Signal Name: Time_Gap, Set_Speed, Set_Gap, CruiseSwitch, SetSwitch).
- Also, the output signals (Signal Name: DriveVehicle_Speed & LeadVehicle_Detected) from requirement-2 are fed back as an input signal into this state machine block.
- Additionally, the output signal (Signal Name: LeadVehicle_Speed) from requirement-1 is given as an input signal to this state machine block as well.
- Output from this subsystem is a signal (Signal Name: Acceleration_Mode) that governs the vehicular speed of the drive vehicle and automatically adjusts its speed & velocity to match the lead vehicle.

Requirement Tagging:
- Requirements can be a tag to subsystems with word files.
- Selecting requirements - Link to selection in Word
Model Advisor Check:
- Model Advisor Check on Modelling Standards for MAAB.

- Model Advisor Check completed with 9warnings and 134 checks Passed
- some warnings are acceptable but the notable part is that there is not a single Failed result.
Model Advisor Report:
- Model Advisor report can be generated, we can choose the format HTML, PDF, or Word format

- The following is the Model Advisor Report.
- Then after a successful check, we will Generate a Code.
Code generation:
- By using the Embedded Coder app we can generate code and build our model.


Code Generation Report:

- Successfully conducted model build and generated code. The generated codes and files can be seen in the current directory.
Conclusion
- The Adaptive cruise control is designed according to the requirements. The code is generated by using an embedded coder. The model is checked for the MAB test using Model Advisor and a report is added. The requirement blocks are linked to selection in the Word document.
- There are many advancements in Adaptive cruise control like turn by turn ACC, the vehicle automatically changes the speed according to the road condition, traffic, turning, and slope. It has some limitations, it is not advisable to use ACC in Bad weather conditions such as heavy rain, storm, or foggy and snowy road. These weather conditions may affect the sensor output which may lead to serious damage to the vehicle and driver.
Further Developments in Adaptive Cruise Control:
- Manufacturers continue to make improvements to their adaptive cruise control systems. Cooperative cruise control, for example, is an extension of the ACC system that allows vehicles to communicate with their neighbors, modulating speeds and improving traffic flow. Predictive systems monitor vehicles in other lanes and anticipate the actions of those vehicles, adjusting for the possibility of a sudden lane change or mechanical failure.
- Adaptive cruise control is a great feature that improves both safety and convenience. By removing the burden of speed control from the driver, these systems allow humans to concentrate on other aspects of driving that require a clear head and decision making. As manufacturers continue to refine these systems and add new features to them, the safety benefits will only increase.