Cruise Control Hack

[GTGuy]

Has anybody ever hacked the cruise control on the Prius? Instead of having to flick the cruise handle up and down to get to the speed I wat I thought that hacking the system to allow input from a knob would be useful. I was thinking of mounting the knob/dial on the armrest, sort of like in the position where BMW has the iDrive knob. Also, I was thinking of mounting a small LCD readout to show the speed at which cruise it set.

[Dozzer]

A better hack for the cruise would be one to adjust how "agressive" it is in maintaining the set speed.. so on hills it doesn't floor it to maintain speed..

Or better yet a mod to make it a dynamic cruise that uses a laser to measure the distance and rate of distance change to the vehicle in front.. but that would be a "monster" mod to do..

[Sheepdog]

better would a cruise that centers on MPG not a set speed even up hill.

I have one. it's called "me"

[ken1784]

A better idea is automatic P&G system.

Ken@Japan

[dwreed3rd]

Originally Posted by Sheepdog

better would a cruise that centers on MPG not a set speed even up hill.

I have one. it's called "me"

I forget which car he mentioned, but our son said that one of the new cars, it may have been BMW, has some kind of setting that you can select economy or power.

[Jack66]

What about the PRIBOT? Meet Pribot: The Self-Driving Prius! - GoodCleanTech

[dwreed3rd]

Originally Posted by Sheepdog

better would a cruise that centers on MPG not a set speed even up hill.

I have one. it's called "me"

I assume you are being facetious. If you have ever watched an instant MPG gauge, you realize the wild flucuations that the MPG goes through to maintain speed. Since one directly affects the other, if you try to maintain MPG, this would result in wild flucuations in speed, not a safe driving practice. An adjustment for the agressiveness of CC could be feasible, but would have to take ihe topography into consideration. Obviously the agressiveness would have to be greater on the Blue Ridge Parkway through Virginia than on an interstate through Oklahoma. CC will drop below the minimum and cancel on a, downhill followed by an immediate transition into an uphill, if is not agressive enough. At some point "The Law of Diminishing Returns" applies and except for the quests of the hypermilers, the results does not justify the means. It is, however, always good to explore new possibilities.

[dwreed3rd]

Originally Posted by Sheepdog

better would a cruise that centers on MPG not a set speed even up hill.

I have one. it's called "me"

Maintaining a constant speed will give you a better overall mpg than trying to improve MPG by allopwing you speed to vary significantly. Whenever you allow the car to slow to maintain a lower MPG, it will, overall, take more enery to accelerate back to your desired speed than it would to maintain a constant speed. That's why I use my CC on the Avalon anytime I can over the 35mph minimum. Of course, the exception would be allowing it to slow significantly when cresting a hill and gaining the speed back on the down side of the hill, but this is an exception, which I may do occassionally, but only if there is no one behind me.

P.S. The pulse and glide on the Prius may also be an exception as a result of efficient use of the ICE.

[jammin012]

Originally Posted by dwreed3rd

I forget which car he mentioned, but our son said that one of the new cars, it may have been BMW, has some kind of setting that you can select economy or power.

1983 Toyota Camry

[dapastaguy]

How abouit a hack that keeps the cruise on like a normal car? I hate having to puch the button every day, ebery other car I've had cruise in, even some toyotas, always had an on that stayed on