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The real question is how close will this let you get? Drafting has been shown to significantly help with power usage and, with the car's computer watching the vehicle in front, why not follow very closely? If by chance a state trooper took exception, I'm sure that a quick explanation would clear up the misunderstanding.
Because using ACC doesn't change braking distance, and your question is a perfect example of how people are going to stupidly rely on this feature thinking that it is a substitute for having common sense and a basic understanding of physics. If you are drafting a big rig and that big rig slams on his brakes because of something up ahead, you think ACC is going to miraculously save your butt when you are following less than a car length behind? You don't need ACC in this instance, as the big rig itself will prove to be a sufficient stopping force for your vehicle. Unfortunately, by the time your S comes to a complete stop, you and all of the occupants in your vehicle will likely be dead.
But hey, you saved 10 Wh/mi.
Why you mad tho?
I'm pretty sure if a truck slams on its brakes, the Tesla could probably stop quicker anyway.
The main thing to consider is reaction time, which if the ACC system is good, it won't be an issue.
Also having had ACC in my 4 previous cars, 1 car length is the minimum it will let you get in terms of distance. (most of the time I ride with 2-3 car lengths at least)
AmpedRealtor is right....the Model S cannot override the laws of physics. Reaction time will help but depending on other factors such as how fast both vehicles are going, distance between vehicles, etc if you draft too close with ACC on you will lose
Don't agree. If the ACC is well designed it will prevent you from getting too close to the vehicle in front of you even you try to do it, unless you switch off the ACC of course. When the ACC is on it overtakes the will of the driver if such a will doesn't respect the safety rules.
Does ACC use brakes? On most cars it can only decelerate... on Model S it might be able to use regen as well but that would not be significant enough to brake strongly.
Does ACC use brakes? On most cars it can only decelerate... on Model S it might be able to use regen as well but that would not be significant enough to brake strongly.
Don't agree. If the ACC is well designed it will prevent you from getting too close to the vehicle in front of you even you try to do it, unless you switch off the ACC of course. When the ACC is on it overtakes the will of the driver if such a will doesn't respect the safety rules.
if the logic is setup that way then of course you will not encounter the situation. I believe the scenario we were commenting on was the one where you can set the distance otherwise
I was reading a summary of a study that suggested a well-designed system would need to be tolerant of high volume situations and speed variations and actually allow temporary close distances at times to allow merges.
No the distante is set by the ACC according to your speed, the weather conditions and the road situation.
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Don't think so. If I was the designer of an ACC system I wouldn't tolerate anything but that the specs to guarantee your safety were respected. The ACC has got to be efficient.
If you're designing ACC you have to take into account the people behind you and normal human behavior. If you want safe following distance you can set a nice interval of 4s, but what do you want your car to do when a bunch of people merge or change into your lane? Do you want it to slow down immediately? Or do you want it to allow time for those drivers to get up to speed or pull off while still ensuring that you'll not get very close? Because if you want it to slow down you're going to be braking a lot and the people behind you, who have anticipatory abilities slower but more advanced than ACC are going to be annoyed at the excessive braking at every entrance and exit.
It doesn't mean that ACC would allow a setting of less than 2s, but it's not as simple as having it maintain a minimum 2s at all times.