ACC Adaptive Cruise Control

The familiar yellow Technical Instruction series from Bosch have long proved one of their most popular instructional aids. The "Bosch Yellow Jackets" provide a clear and concise overview of the theory of operation, component design, model variations, and technical terminology for the entire Bosch product line, and give a solid foundation for better diagnostics and servicing.

Bosch ACC Adaptive Cruise Control (click to see excerpt)

Bosch technical literature is clearly written and illustrated with photos, diagrams and charts, these books are equally at home in the vocational classroom, apprentice's toolkit, or enthusiast's fireside chair. If you own a car, especially a European one, you have Bosch components and systems.

ACC function. The main application for ACC is in light to relatively heavy traffic conditions (click to enlarge)

Introduction to ACC Adaptive Cruise Control

Mentally, driving is a highly demanding activity - a driver must maintain a high level of concentration for long periods and be ready to react within a split second to changing situations. In particular, drivers must constantly assess the distance and relative speed of vehicles in front and adjust their own speed accordingly.

Those tasks can now be performed by Bosch's electronic Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system, which is an extension of the conventional cruise control system.

Like a conventional cruise control system, ACC keeps the vehicle at a set constant speed. The significant difference, however, is that if a car with ACC is confronted with a slower moving vehicle ahead, it is automatically slowed down and then follows the slower vehicle at a set distance. Once the road ahead is clear again, the ACC accelerates the car back to the previous set cruising speed. In that way, ACC integrates a vehicle harmoniously into the traffic flow.

Of course, the driver can always override the automatic control system at any time. When the accelerator is pressed, the vehicle responds in the normal way. And when the accelerator is released, the ACC adjusts the vehicles speed back to the set cruising speed. A brief press of the brake pedal is enough to deactivate the ACC.

This publication in the "Bosch Technical Instruction" series provides comprehensive information about the system structure, its components and method of operation, and the different approaches to this interesting topic.