First BlueCruise Oddities

[Citizen0]

11 months and 23k miles in and I’ve never had any major issues with BlueCruise… until yesterday. I am aware of the limitations and capabilities of the system and know when to “watch out“ for oddities, like some lane drift beside on/off ramps on the interstate. I basically have a 25 miles daily commute (round trip) for work that‘s 95% mapped interstate travel.

The weather was fine yesterday, but full BlueCruise would never kick on. It was always the ”steering assist” mode, but not hands free. Fine, that happens sometimes. But then the truck randomly decided the actual speed limit on the interstate was only 35 and started slowing down. This was completely out of the blue (lol) and on the interstate where I’ve been 20 times a week for the last 11 months. So I reset it back to 70. A few miles later it then decides again that the speed limit was not 70, but 45 this time.

I’ve noticed some slight problems with where the automatic speed sign recognition acts strange on other roads. For instance one highway always triggers an increase from 45 to 55 about 1/4 mile before the actual sign. I believe that must be embedded GPS data in the maps data rather than based on any visual feedback from the cameras, but I’m not 100% about that. I’ve also noticed there is sometimes a lag in speeding up for a quarter of a mile or so after a few speed limit signs (but not all) as well.

I just turned if off and drove home. I have no idea what was happening, or why, but it was strange.

I love BlueCruise. I have probably driven more miles with BlueCruise than without. But when little things like this happens it does make me question the entire system. What if the weird lag happens to the steering side of things instead of breaking and acceleration? I am vigilant driving and paying attention, but the whole point of DAS is safety and convenience. I will continue to use it daily, but it has given me some pause for concern.

Has anyone else had similar experiences?

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[thedadlegend]

Are you sure it’s not the setting to adjust speed to posted signs? I found it was incorrectly slowing at times so I disabled that, now acts more like regular cruise control.

 

[Citizen0]

I’m positive. This is on Interstate 75 with no construction that has never had any issues in the last 11 months. Nothing has changed with the interstate. No new signage at all. This was BlueCruise making a decision with no known inputs for the change.

The thing is I’m confident the problem will be “resolved” when I drive that route again on Monday. I’m in IT. I have been doing IT for 27 years. I know software goes wonky and there are so many bugs in everything that we’ve been conditioned just to “roll with it”. But having a PC crash is one thing. Having BlueCruise crash or perform unexpectedly is another entirely. I also know this isn’t a “Ford” problem as much as an industry-wide problem (looking at you Tesla). I haven’t heard anything one way or the other with any other manufacturers’ systems (SuperCruise, VW, everyone else).

I know this is a single incident/data point and it will make me far more cautious in the short term, but stuff like this is why the general public is hesitant to try new things. Realistically we’re all beta testers for a new system, and I’m good with that. First gen product and all that. Heck I’m super excited being on the cutting edge. Dog knows I run beta software on nearly everything I use b/c I need to be ready for “what’s next” for my clients. I just wish there was an easy and clear way to provide feedback when errors occur, else there is no way Ford can correct these problems or let us know that they are aware of the problems.

 

[Amps]

Has anyone else had similar experiences?

Are you sure it’s not the setting to adjust speed to posted signs?

I’m positive.

Don't be so sure. If it doesn't happen next time, it will happen in another spot someday. The system uses OCR to read speed limit signs, not mapping. It doesn't even use a reference table to check against ridiculous OCR readings, like reading 85 in a 35 mph zone in a state that has no 85 mph speed limits, etc.

Settings>Driver Assistance>Cruise Control> Adaptive Cruise Control>Speed Sign Recgnition

Turn it off or read the little info blurb with its pretty color representation of what it does. It will take you on a wild ride doing the opposite of what you experienced. I turned it off for awhile. Now, I leave it on and have my left thumb ready to hit the raised "Dump (Cancel) Button" after a few attempts at 85 near a 35 mpg sign. Even that is an imperfect solution when 1PD is on and you suddenly dump the cruise control.

 

[thedadlegend]

I’m positive.

OK, you could just disable the setting and see how it works for you.

 

[Citizen0]

Whether they document it anywhere or not, something else interacts with the Speed Sogn Recognition system. I know of three spots where it will change speeds incorrectly on highways with no signs on either side of the road. After the first two times I pulled over and looked for anything it could have read as a number.

I’m also in complete agreement that there should be some kind of check against a DB (like Apple and Google maps uses, probably Ford too) that should limit automatic speed adjustment to the lower of the two (DB vs OCR).

The feature is really helpful, so I leave it on and will continue to do so. It just needs some tweaking and updating from real-world feedback.

 

[TheBigBezo]

I would wipe down your cameras, they can get dirty and when they are, the truck will struggle. I find that keeping them clean helps it read speed limits correctly and keeps Bluecruise happy.

 

[The Weatherman]

11 months and 23k miles in and I’ve never had any major issues with BlueCruise… until yesterday. I am aware of the limitations and capabilities of the system and know when to “watch out“ for oddities, like some lane drift beside on/off ramps on the interstate. I basically have a 25 miles daily commute (round trip) for work that‘s 95% mapped interstate travel.

The weather was fine yesterday, but full BlueCruise would never kick on. It was always the ”steering assist” mode, but not hands free. Fine, that happens sometimes. But then the truck randomly decided the actual speed limit on the interstate was only 35 and started slowing down. This was completely out of the blue (lol) and on the interstate where I’ve been 20 times a week for the last 11 months. So I reset it back to 70. A few miles later it then decides again that the speed limit was not 70, but 45 this time.

I’ve noticed some slight problems with where the automatic speed sign recognition acts strange on other roads. For instance one highway always triggers an increase from 45 to 55 about 1/4 mile before the actual sign. I believe that must be embedded GPS data in the maps data rather than based on any visual feedback from the cameras, but I’m not 100% about that. I’ve also noticed there is sometimes a lag in speeding up for a quarter of a mile or so after a few speed limit signs (but not all) as well.

I just turned if off and drove home. I have no idea what was happening, or why, but it was strange.

I love BlueCruise. I have probably driven more miles with BlueCruise than without. But when little things like this happens it does make me question the entire system. What if the weird lag happens to the steering side of things instead of breaking and acceleration? I am vigilant driving and paying attention, but the whole point of DAS is safety and convenience. I will continue to use it daily, but it has given me some pause for concern.

Has anyone else had similar experiences?

Wonder if there has been issue with the mapped data:

 

[Ekiehn]

11 months and 23k miles in and I’ve never had any major issues with BlueCruise… until yesterday. I am aware of the limitations and capabilities of the system and know when to “watch out“ for oddities, like some lane drift beside on/off ramps on the interstate. I basically have a 25 miles daily commute (round trip) for work that‘s 95% mapped interstate travel.

The weather was fine yesterday, but full BlueCruise would never kick on. It was always the ”steering assist” mode, but not hands free. Fine, that happens sometimes. But then the truck randomly decided the actual speed limit on the interstate was only 35 and started slowing down. This was completely out of the blue (lol) and on the interstate where I’ve been 20 times a week for the last 11 months. So I reset it back to 70. A few miles later it then decides again that the speed limit was not 70, but 45 this time.

I’ve noticed some slight problems with where the automatic speed sign recognition acts strange on other roads. For instance one highway always triggers an increase from 45 to 55 about 1/4 mile before the actual sign. I believe that must be embedded GPS data in the maps data rather than based on any visual feedback from the cameras, but I’m not 100% about that. I’ve also noticed there is sometimes a lag in speeding up for a quarter of a mile or so after a few speed limit signs (but not all) as well.

I just turned if off and drove home. I have no idea what was happening, or why, but it was strange.

I love BlueCruise. I have probably driven more miles with BlueCruise than without. But when little things like this happens it does make me question the entire system. What if the weird lag happens to the steering side of things instead of breaking and acceleration? I am vigilant driving and paying attention, but the whole point of DAS is safety and convenience. I will continue to use it daily, but it has given me some pause for concern.

Has anyone else had similar experiences?

Have you cleaned your cameras? Maybe a bug, it is coming into summer. When the cameras can't see clearly there seems to be some confusion between that and all other sensors. I get this much often when rain first starts or more precisely misty rain as opposed to a downpour... just a thought...

 

[Citizen0]

I have. I routinely check the one near the hood emblem, the ones on the front mirrors, and make sure the windshield is clean.

 

[Barridale]

Don't be so sure. If it doesn't happen next time, it will happen in another spot someday. The system uses OCR to read speed limit signs, not mapping. It doesn't even use a reference table to check against ridiculous OCR readings, like reading 85 in a 35 mph zone in a state that has no 85 mph speed limits, etc.

Settings>Driver Assistance>Cruise Control> Adaptive Cruise Control>Speed Sign Recgnition

Turn it off or read the little info blurb with its pretty color representation of what it does. It will take you on a wild ride doing the opposite of what you experienced. I turned it off for awhile. Now, I leave it on and have my left thumb ready to hit the raised "Dump (Cancel) Button" after a few attempts at 85 near a 35 mpg sign. Even that is an imperfect solution when 1PD is on and you suddenly dump the cruise control.

The system does not use OCR. It uses here, technology.

 

[G-Zeus]

Were you using the built-in navigation map, or your phone's navigation? My built-in navigation sometimes loses connection to the GPS satellites, and it has no clue where I am unless I reset the system. If the system can't read an actual speed sign, and instead tires to go off of mapped data, maybe it thinks you are somewhere you are not?

 

[ivan256]

It's amazing to me that you haven't had any problems until now. I've been watching mine carefully since another post a few weeks back, and the speed limit detection makes an error on almost every road near me. Well over 90%.

It's right most of the total distance, but almost every road will have a section where it's wrong for a quarter mile or so until the next sign.

I wouldn't be too worried about it from a safety perspective, since BlueCruise seems to err on the side of being extra cautious. But personally, I set the speed manually. I want to exceed the speed limit to barely keep up with traffic most of the time anyway.

 

[Citizen0]

I do have to say until recently it has worked remarkably well, other than a few known spots. I’m considering pulling the negative battery terminal to let the system fully restart. It’s had some freezes with the last frame of an animation overlayed on the live view, and Sync has required multiple restarts, one or twice daily. I’ll first see how Sparky does tomorrow and if still wonky, restart ‘em.

 

[Citizen0]

Also I’ve always been curious if other BkueCruise users have problems at the same spot. Would be interesting to see if it’s truck specific, or something else.

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