Comments On The Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)

[scottrod]

Ok, so the hell-a-thon is over. Drove the 219,000 mile Accord to the dealer in New Jersey from Dayton Ohio on Friday, and the EX35 back home yesterday. It was 630 miles each way. Yeesh. Anyway, thought I would comment on the Intelligent Cruise Control system.

When I was looking for an EX, I didn't necessarily want/need the Tech Package, but as this was a birthday present for the wife, the color and interior was most important and the tech package came along for the ride, as it were.

It took me about 250 miles of playing with the ICC to figure out the parameters and how they work, i.e., how far away does the car in front of you have to be before it gets "sensed” for each of the 3 distance options, how does that effect the ICC braking response, where is the transition between distance and cruise setting if you're both close to the commanded cruise speed (which can cause "hunting", but you just have to bump the command speed a mile per hour or so), if someone pulls in front of you but is accelerating, how does this effect response, how fast do they have to be accelerating to get what response, what response do you get when the person in front brakes, all that stuff...

It then took me about another 250 miles to understand how the designers meant for it to work. That is, how to put the system to its best use.

It works fine on the freeway for keeping you safe, but where it really shines is in heavy interstate city traffic. Check this out. I was able to navigate for 30 minutes through Akron, moving in and out of lanes, taking on/off ramps, moving from 35 mph to 78 mph by only playing occasionally with the distance bars. My feet never touched the accelerator or the brake the whole time!!

It was truly amazing. I maintained good distances, felt safe, and optimized time traveled using the ICC system. I was laughing out loud it was so unique and effective. It truly changes the manner in which you drive. You can approach driving in a totally different and unique way by using the other cars around you to to optimize the drive for any given road speed and congestion condition. You don’t try to AVOID the cars around you, you USE the cars around you. It’s just too cool.

The system is certainly not as smooth as when a human is doing the distance measuring and throttle/brake response, as the ICC has its limits of interpretation of what the car in front of you is doing, but it was not offensive by any means and a lot of fun watching the system do its thing. For the driver, it's just a little dance with the distance bar switch on the steering wheel that makes it work. You can set the cruise speed for say, 78 mph and let the ICC do the rest (combined with using the distance bar switch, that is).

I've read a few posts from those who have the tech package and found the ICC gimmicky, I would say give it another chance, some time, and try it in the manner I've explained. Again, it took me several hours of focused study and practice to get the hang of it and to see how it should be used, but now that I've got it (or "get it"), it's there for good. Like riding a bike.

And it rocks. I'm so glad the car I bought had it installed, and I can't believe I almost passed up on it; I find it makes the EX truly special.
Modified by scottrod at 2:17 PM 3/29/2009

[jmess]

One unforgivable and extremely annoying feature off ICC is slowing down when you go around minor corners. Dumb cruise control doesn't do this and that is why I always use it.

[gloa2000]

I wanted the Tech PKG when i decided to go with an EX35 but i finally realized my daily commute doesnt have any HWY driving and my parking space at work/home is straight in and straight out. I am sure EX has lots of toys to play around but since i did not lease this vehicle, i had to think about those toys might cost me more later to repair. but I totally ENVY you! These days I feel like I need more toys to keep me in this seat.

[scottrod]

One unforgivable and extremely annoying feature off ICC is slowing down when you go around minor corners. Dumb cruise control doesn't do this and that is why I always use it.

I guess I didn't notice this. Will look for it next time I go for a spin.

[SteveTheTech]

I guess I didn't notice this. Will look for it next time I go for a spin.

Great right up The ICC is the best feature of the new tech packages. The integration has improved over it inception in '02. Beginning with the 09 FX 50S and EX the ICC has advanced to Zero MPH ICC which allows you to "theoretically" use it in traffic. The reaction time of the ICC is interesting and you need to get used to it, it's much faster than most peoples.

[dividedhighw]

I have to agree with jmess on the slowdowns around minor corners, but what bothers me equally is ICC's behaviour of charging up to a slower moving vehicle at full-speed, only to slam on the brakes (instead of sensing the fast closing speed and easing up on the throttle to match speed at the selected following distance).

To explain more fully, no matter how many bars you set, ICC will charge almost up to the preset distance at full speed, then brake to keep the distance. I would prefer that the ICC ease up on the throttle instead of braking, to match the obstruction's lower speed. If you change lanes, or that slower vehicle changes lanes (or exits the highway), ICC can speed up again.

ICC can "see" how fast the distance is closing on something and knows its own vehicle speed. It takes only simple math to predict how much throttle to apply at any point in time. The only time it should brake is if it predicts that zero throttle won't slow down the car in time. For example, when you're on ICC in the left lane approaching 2 (or more) cars in the right lane, and one of them pulls out into your lane unexpectedly.

Didn't you experience this, scottrod?

Also, doesn't it seem (to other drivers or highway patrol) that you're driving erratically when your brake lights mirror these acceleration/deceleration sequences due to ICC?

Steve, I'd be interested to know if the new-improved ICC addresses this at all, and if so, if it can be retrofitted to our '08 models.

Cheers,David

[SteveTheTech]

I've read the entire ICC section of the ESM for the 08 EX and cannot find any legitimate reasoning for this phenomenon.

Keep in mind how the sensor works and the fact that there is very little autonomy integrated into this system, that goes for the 08. The 09 with DCA, IBA and ICC allow for zero-speed cruise operation, along with active distance control features. It's really wild stuff, other technophiles check out Nissan Tech Library

The 08 model ICC uses an infrared laser and a receiver with two Fresnal type lenses aimed for maximum accuracy (output) and concentration (input) these are mounted on a powerful electromagnet (I don't know the exact reasoning for it, increased detection range seems). It can only do so much so if the car it is detecting shifts direction or an altered refraction signal is detected letting off the accelerator may be programmed safety logic. Nissan has their heart in the right place when the design advanced technology like this, unlike Lexus who likes to bring new technology out before it's fully developed.

Some interesting future projects