Hyundai Working On World’s First AI-Based Cruise Control Tech

Hyundai has announced the development of the world’s first Machine Learning-based Smart Cruise Control (SCC-ML), a technology that takes into account the driver’s patterns (behavior/tendencies) and applies them to how the system should behave in traffic.

The tech works by incorporating artificial intelligence within the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, which is planned for implementation in future Hyundai Group products.

“The new SCC-ML improves upon the intelligence of the previous ADAS technology to dramatically improve the practicality of semi-autonomous features,” stated Hyundai Group VP, Woongjun Jang. “Hyundai Motor Group will continue the development efforts on innovative AI technologies to lead the industry in the field of autonomous driving.”

According to Hyundai, Smart Cruise Control enables an essential feature and core technology for ADAS, specifically maintaining distance from the vehicle ahead while traveling at a driver-selected speed. By combining AI and SCC into a system capable of learning, SCC should then be able to autonomously drive in an identical pattern as the driver.

These patterns are represented by certain driver behaviors, such as the distance one keeps from the preceding vehicle and acceleration. Without machine learning technology, creating such a personalized cruise control system would have been impossible.

“For instance, even the same driver may accelerate differently in high-speed, mid-speed and low-speed environments depending on circumstance, but detailed fine-tuning was not available. Therefore, when Smart Cruise Control was activated and the vehicle operated differently than they prefer, drivers, sensed the difference, resulting in a reluctance to use the technology because it made them feel anxious and unstable.”

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The driving pattern information is regularly updated using sensors, reflecting the driver’s latest driving style. It’s also important to note that SCC-ML is programmed in such a way that it can avoid learning unsafe driving patterns, thus increasing its reliability and safety.

With the addition of Highway Driving Assist (an upcoming tech from Hyundai featuring automatic lane change assist), SCC-ML will achieve Level 2.5 autonomy.