idea: form a car train
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Pittsburgh
There's already something along the lines of this in development-adaptive cruise control is the name I heard. It's basically the same as cruise is now, but the system can also control the brakes and maintains the same distance from the car in front of it. This system won't steer for you, but it seems like a good alternative to setting the cruise a little too high & creeping up on the car in front of you, or kicking it on & off for whatever reasons.
And the best part of this, being part of a car train would be pretty cool because then I would finally be able to get a nap instead of having to pay attention to driving! Just kidding guys, please don't lynch me...
And the best part of this, being part of a car train would be pretty cool because then I would finally be able to get a nap instead of having to pay attention to driving! Just kidding guys, please don't lynch me...
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Joined: Oct 2006
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i agree with everyone but i think we'll only get 1/2 the gains unless we're physically connected. make sense or not?
if we were all following eaching other with the "adaptive cruise control" it'd still be a chain reaction of one car hitting the brakes in an emergency and the rest taking a few milliseconds to follow. with a physical connection, the car a mile behind is instantly applying the brakes even though it has no idea whats going on
if we were all following eaching other with the "adaptive cruise control" it'd still be a chain reaction of one car hitting the brakes in an emergency and the rest taking a few milliseconds to follow. with a physical connection, the car a mile behind is instantly applying the brakes even though it has no idea whats going on
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
There are obvious benefits to the train idea, less congestion, better traffic flow, better combined fuel usage. But to make it work properly drivers would pretty much have to release all control to the system when travelling on designated highways. All vehicles would have to travel at the same speed, no faster or slower, or congestion develops and there's no point. The vehicles don't even need to be coupled if everybody runs the same speed, cars can be slotted into the gaps where necessary. On the surface it's a great idea, but given the hugh variety of cars on the road in various states of tune and repair, it would be nearly impossible to institute safely.
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,816
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
Originally Posted by weeds
There's already something along the lines of this in development-adaptive cruise control is the name I heard. It's basically the same as cruise is now, but the system can also control the brakes and maintains the same distance from the car in front of it. This system won't steer for you, but it seems like a good alternative to setting the cruise a little too high & creeping up on the car in front of you, or kicking it on & off for whatever reasons.
And the best part of this, being part of a car train would be pretty cool because then I would finally be able to get a nap instead of having to pay attention to driving! Just kidding guys, please don't lynch me...
And the best part of this, being part of a car train would be pretty cool because then I would finally be able to get a nap instead of having to pay attention to driving! Just kidding guys, please don't lynch me...
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