Autonomous cruise control

A cruise control system for a vehicle including:

• a) means for setting the cruise control system at a desired speed for the vehicle selected by a driver of the vehicle;
• b) means responsive to a target ahead of the vehicle for continuously determining distance of the target from the vehicle and closing rate of the vehicle on the target;
• c) means for validating a target by comparing the distance between the target and the vehicle and determining that the target is within a predicted range based upon a previous detection of the target, and only validating the target upon three consecutive determinations that the target is within the predicted range;
• and
• d) means responsive to the distance and the closing rate for tracking the target and reducing the speed at which the cruise control system is set when the vehicle is closing on a valid target.

A method of changing a set speed in a cruise control for a vehicle to avios a target ahead of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• a) determining range of the target from the vehicle;
• b) validating a target by comparing the distance between the target and the vehicle and determining that the target is within a predicted range based upon a previous detection of the target, and only validating the target upon three consecutive determinations that the target is within the predicted range;
• c) determining an actual closing rate of the vehicle on the target;
• and
• d) determining, based on the range and the actual closing rate, a set speed for the cruise control that will maintain a selected minimum distance between the vehicle and the target.