Education Technology


Adaptive Cruise Control

Activity Overview

Basic cruise control is where the car's computer automatically adjusts the throttle so that the car maintains a constant speed. Adaptive cruise control responds to the car's surrounds, in particular slowing down or accelerating as applicable when the vehicle in front changes it's speed. In this activity students will program the TI-Innovator Rover to respond accordingly when a vehicle or object in front of it changes position.

Objectives

Students use basic commands (coding) to communicate with sensors and drive motors using the TI-Innovator Rover. Students learn how to make the motors respond based on information from an ultrasonic ranger mounted on Rover. Through practical experience, students also learn that measurements, particularly those from sensors, are not exact, just like the real world around us.

Vocabulary

Mathematics Coding
  • Formula
  • Logic
  • Approximate
  • Variable
  • While / EndWhile
  • If / Then
  • RV Forward
  • Read RV Ranger

About the Lesson

Students use the ultrasonic motion sensor on the front of Rover to determine the distance to objects in front and adjust Rover's speed accordingly, creating adaptive cruise control.