Default Cruise Control Behavior

[artificial_airspeed]

Let’s talk about default cruise control behaviors in our Lightning’s. My thoughts are based on my vehicle in its present state August 2024. My Lightning was fully updated all available modules via FDRS as of March 2024.

Cold Start Scenario: The truck has been sitting overnight on the charger, 1st startup of the day. All vehicle available driver aids are enabled in the configuration. The cruise control system is completely off, not armed (ready state w/o set speed), but completely off. Lane related driver aids are off.

• Most vehicles I’ve had in the past, the cruise control system wasn’t completely turned off every time the vehicle was turned off. Most vehicles return the cruise control system to an armed condition so it’s ready to set a speed when the vehicle is driven next time. Ford should consider implementing this convenient behavior.
  • Takeaway: If Cruise Control was in an armed state when the vehicle was turned off. Keep it in an armed state for the next drive cycle. If Cruise Control was off, leave it off. These are basic startup states, make it happen! The extra step of turning the system on and then setting a speed is minor but unnecessary.
    • Yes I know if you wait to engage cruise control until at speed, it will automatically set the speed. Armed startup states makes sense though right?
• Additionally, if Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) was turned off when the vehicle was turned off, don’t automatically turn it back on when the next drive cycle occurs. Leave it off. I’ll turn it on when needed. The default ON condition of the LKAS causes erratic behavior once cruise control is engaged. It always catches me off guard because it tries to grab the lane alignment and does something insensible and ignorant.
  • Takeaway: As a safety and sanity suggestion for Ford Drivers, always default the Lane Keeping Assist System to OFF at the end and beginning of a drive cycle. The system is erratic and unpredictable when engaged in a suboptimal lane position, poor road markings, or in-climate conditions. It is an easy command for the driver to turn on LKAS when ready.
• Blue Cruise Activation: There are several ways that I think this could be done better, in terms of user experience. The Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) button on the steering wheel could be cycled through for different levels of driver aids. As stated previously, the default startup state for a drive cycle should be OFF. Next, for a vehicle in motion…
  • 1st press of activation button on steering wheel: Standard Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS)
  • 2nd press: Lane Keeping Assist System with Lane Centering
  • Conditional Blue Cruise Activation, indicate to the drive that Blue Cruise is available and then 3rd press: Blue Cruise activates.
    • If Blue Cruise becomes unavailable, revert to next lowest level (lane centering).
    • If lane centering is unavailable, revert to lane keeping assist system (LKAS) base level.
    • If LKAS is unavailable, your truck is probably broken…..
• Cruise Control Tolerance: Implement a driver adjustable cruise control tolerance and tuning interface. I have seen this in Hyundai/Genesis vehicles. It was very nice to be able to tune the speed tolerance of the adaptive cruise control. Ford seems to go for a very strict enforcement of set Speed. Within 1 or 2mph above the speed limit, it’s engaging brakes/regen. Seems like unnatural driving behavior and inserts unpredictability for other vehicles & drivers around you.
  • Cruise Control tuning could include:
    • Above and Below Speed Tolerance how fast above or below the set speed is acceptable.
    • Reaction tuning, how aggressive is the response in maintaining a set speed.
      • Braking reaction - unless there is a vehicle avoidance factor, let’s be a little less aggressive with slamming on the brakes to make sure the vehicle isn’t more than 1mph over set speed… Smh Ford…
      • Acceleration, let’s calm down a little with that yeah? A little speed oscillation and variation is pretty normal when driving. It’s reasonable to expect this from everyone. Often I find my Lightning in a pattern of accelerating too much because it got behind on the set speed, but then the road elevation changes and it’s on the brakes too much to maintain within 1mph of the set speed.
    • Adaptive Cruise Distance tolerance - allow there to be some space gained and lost between the preceding vehicle without aggressively reacting to maintain that 1ft of set distance.

Open to feedback and suggestions from others experiences. I’m not a ‘my way is the highway’ kind of guy by any means. I do hold the opinion that Ford is an oddball in terms of the above behaviors.

@Ford Motor Company

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[artificial_airspeed]

I agree! That is a good point. Why even have OFF or ON. Why not just standby or active? It’s always in standby if it’s not active. What’s the point in ever turning it off anyways? Especially OFF as the default startup state. Standby makes more sense.

 

[Maquis]

Damned apostrophe’s!

 

[TaxmanHog]

I'll settle for 1.3 or 1.4, and switch it on/off as needed as originally designed.

 

[GoodSam]

Adaptive Cruise Distance tolerance - allow there to be some space gained and lost between the preceding vehicle without aggressively reacting to maintain that 1ft of set distance.

I just have the Adaptive Cruise Control in my 2022 XLT 312A and the distance keeping seems OK, even on mountain downhill.

I wish the lane keeping worked more continuously when there are breaks in the marked lanes for intersections and for curves in two lane roads. Does Blue Cruise have any difficulties with 2 lane road marking gaps or curves?

Improvements in Artificial Intelligence data analysis will probably be making these systems better in a few years. Is Ford grabbing our driving data in enough detail to understand the best way to control cruising?

 

[Heliian]

I have no issues with the current configuration. The buttons are all easily accessible on the steering wheel to configure it and there is a purpose to all of the functions.

I also think the driver aids work great at keeping distance and keeping the lane. Bluecruise works great too!

Regardless, you still have to drive the truck and pay attention to the road, it's not an autopilot.

 

[htobin]

I’m also pretty happy with the way it is. Lane centering took a little while getting used to and I do frequently turn it on and off, but use it a lot. My first experience with all this new automation but by in large feel it does improve safety

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