DevSecOps

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This is a quick and dirty list of pros/cons that I experienced with BlueCruise in a 300 mile trip with a GTPE.

For part 2 of this review go here: https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...fter-a-300-mile-trip.10214/page-5#post-257948

First of all, I would like to preface this with the fact that I am someone who came from using similar technology in Audi and VW for years. Although neither of those brands have a hands free version, the combination of lane assist with adaptive cruise is very very similar (a single finger keeps it happy). The Audi's have sign recognition and will slow on corners etc. Many of the reviews that I've seen are based on never driving with any type of assisted driving features in the past. Being that I'm used to driving with them and drive about 20k miles a year, I feel this review is based on a lot of previous experiences. Lastly, I'm in technology for a living and have many years of AI/ML/DL experience. I'm someone who embraces technology.

The pros:
  • The overall keeping into the lane works as anticipated
  • It keeps a good distance and similar to the distances that I've experienced with other brands (configurable).
  • Braking and acceleration are on par with other brands
  • Eye tracking works well
  • Manual control over the speed works well without disengaging the entire system
  • Love the auto-resume for stop and go traffic.
The cons:
  • The disengagement of the system is very poor. In detail here's the issue ... The eye's on the road system prevents you from looking at the drivers display. If you look at the display for too long the system triggers an eye warning. So in other words, don't look at the display. But, and it's a big BUT, when the system wants to disengage for a corner or other reason it alerts you in the very display the car doesn't want you to look at. There's no audible alert or other notification that you need to resume control. If this was a hands on system like Audi/VW and other brands it wouldn't matter because your hands are still on the wheel. But that's just not the case here. For a video of this see part #2 here.
  • My biggest compaint - The BlueCruise system automatically changes the speed limit regardless of how you have your cruise control settings. In other words you'll be moving along at 70 and if the system reads a sign for a different limit it will then lower AND BRAKE to get to +1 the posted limit. Even if you have your cruise control to +5, it doesn't matter. If you have adaptive on it doesn't honor that either. For comparison Audi does this on drive, but not when in sport. When in drive, it will lower it but in proportion to how much it was over originally. So 10 over 70 would result in 10 over 25, 10 over 45, etc. (see update here: https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...ruise-after-a-300-mile-trip.10214/post-257210)
  • My second biggest complaint - There's an 80mph cap on BlueCruise. At 81mph it disengages. You are able to set your speed above that limit, so anything above 80 and you're on your own.
  • To piggy-back on the first issue, the disengagement for an emergency situation needs to be louder. The calm and quiet "bing bing" should be much more attention grabbing. The first issue was more in regards to corners. For this item I'm referring to the complete disengagement (red), which I had happen a couple times on bumpy bridge expansion joints. When my Audi disengages the alert sound is almost like a jump scare. After years of using it, it still makes me jump out of my seat.
  • One time the collision avoidance alert triggered while in BC, which was kinda strange. It was on a closing vehicle, but I'm not sure why the system triggered. It was probably a 20 mph difference so nothing it couldn't handle and in fact, it did handle it. I never took over from BC.
  • Some of the disengagements for corners, it should have been able to handle. The radius that it disengages for should not be that low.
-- Observation about range, charging and conditions *unrelated to BC* --

Today's journey was to pick up a few nieces and a nephew, all teens. On the way to get them two of us averaged 2.7 mi/kwh. After we picked up the kids we averaged only 2.1 mi/kwh on the way back.

We left at 100% charge and hit a DCFC a block away from them at 55% - A 45% change
We left the charger at 80% and got home at 18% - A 62% change

All 3 kids are about 120lbs (360 total). To list all the variables the temp difference was 6 deg lower on the return trip (70 vs 64). The return was at night vs day when we went down. It was in the central valley of California so there's no elevation changes. No prevailing winds either way, same speed cross winds both directions. Going there I had the vehicle on Unbridled and coming home on whisper.

If anyone is curious DCFC @ EA with plug and charge worked flawlessly. Stopped, plugged in, walked away. It was literally that easy. For a video of my experience at a DCFC go to part #2 here.

I see no way that this car will get the estimated 250 miles and even at full it only advises 220.

In conclusion:

Will I continue to use BC - Absolutely, but cautiously on bridges and sweeping corners
My experience with Plug and Change - Amazing
My experience with range - Less than desirable
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Mach-Lee

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-- Observation about weight *unrelated to BC* --

Today's journey was to pick up a few nieces and a nephew, all teens. On the way to get them two of us averaged 2.7 mi/kwh. After we picked up the kids we averaged only 2.1 mi/kwh on the way back.

We left at 100% charge and hit a DCFC a block away from them at 55% - A 45% change
We left the charger at 80% and got home at 18% - A 62% change

All 3 kids are about 120lbs. With this minor amount of added weight there was a huge impact. To list all the variables the temp differance was 6 deg lower on the return trip (70 vs 64). The return was at night vs day when we went down. It was in the central valley of California so there's no elevation changes. No prevailing winds either way, same speed cross winds both directions. Going there I had the vehicle on Unbridled and coming home on whisper.

I see no way that this car will get the estimated 250 miles and even at full it only advises 220.
120 lbs shouldn't make a noticeable dent. I think it was the wind. Looking at weather data, there was a NW wind 15-25 mph in the central valley this past evening from about 4-8 PM whereas wind was less than 10 mph earlier in the day (a difference of +30 MPH going back). That will defiantly impact your range. Other factors are traffic, i.e. were you following other cars in their slipstream vs. not much traffic in the evening and getting full wind, in addition to traveling at a faster speed with less traffic. Heat use could also be a factor, in auto at 64Āŗ outside it would use some heater. Headlights at night would also add to the consumption slightly.
 
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120 lbs shouldn't make a noticeable dent.
120ea x 3

I think it was the wind. Looking at weather data, there was a NW wind 15-25 mph
Per windy, the wind was the same mph from the west (4pm vs 7pm). I traveled N-S and S-N on I-5 and HWY 99. It's possible it was wind, but I'm not too convinced.

Other factors are traffic, i.e. were you following other cars in their slipstream vs. not much traffic in the evening and getting full wind, in addition to traveling at a faster speed with less traffic. Heat use could also be a factor, in auto at 64Āŗ outside it would use some heater.
Speed was the same both ways (BC set to 80), there was more traffic going down so possibly a slight gain for lower speeds while in traffic. Climate use according to the car was 1% on the way home and 6% on my way there.

Per the logs... 40kw used to get there 51kw to get back.
 
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120ea x 3

Per windy, the wind was the same mph from the west (4pm vs 7pm). I traveled N-S and S-N on I-5 and HWY 99. It's possible it was wind, but I'm not too convinced.

Speed was the same both ways (BC set to 80), there was more traffic going down so possibly a slight gain for lower speeds while in traffic. Climate use according to the car was 1% on the way home and 6% on my way there.

Per the logs... 40kw used to get there 51kw to get back.
OK, FWIW I ran +360 lbs through my consumption model and I only got -3% range or 8 miles less range. This assumes driving perfectly flat, but if you were going uphill then it would matter more, but not 28% more like you saw. ABRP will show the elevation profile if you map your route.

FYI Windy is based off forecast models rather than real-time data which can vary significantly from the actual conditions. You can turn on actual weather station wind readings however. But you still have to be careful because many personal weather stations (labeled madis) are improperly sited in wind-sheltered locations so will not read the true wind speeds that you would find on an open highway. Try to focus on the airport stations for better wind readings.

A 15 MPH headwind at 80 MPH will increase your consumption 30% which would explain your results. Drag increases with the square of speed so losses increase quickly above 75 MPH. So just be aware driving when it's windy can reduce your range significantly. Even slowing down 5 MPH can make a fair difference (10%).

That's what I saw: https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/KMOD/date/2021-10-8
 

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So even if you have Intelligent Cruise Control turned off, BlueCruise limits you to 1 mph over the speed limit? That sounds annoying.
 


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Still, this scares me for east coast winter range on the GT line...
 

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So even if you have Intelligent Cruise Control turned off, BlueCruise limits you to 1 mph over the speed limit? That sounds annoying.
That's what I would like to know.
@DevSecOps is your cruise control setting (in the settings menu) set to "Intelligent" or "Adaptive"? Really hope BlueCruise doesn't automatically and only use "Intelligent".
 
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OK, FWIW I ran +360 lbs through my consumption model and I only got -3% range or 8 miles less range.
I bring them home Sunday and will update my findings. I'm not suggesting that it was 100% weight, but that was the most obvious to me. Either way, i was very surprised at the degree of change.

Thatā€˜s got to be a bug
I can understand why they do this for BC because the car is in total control. Going into construction zones etc. I just think if it's going to be forced it should be proportional to your desired speed above the limit.

I will say, it's very, very annoying.
 

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I am curious about the disengagement con. So you canā€™t disengage it by simply using the steering wheel cancel button? Or turn it off using the cruise off button?
 
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So you canā€™t disengage it by simply using the steering wheel cancel button? Or turn it off using the cruise off button?
That will disengage the entire BC system and all forms of cruise. Lane assist will remain on.
 

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I can understand why they do this for BC because the car is in total control. Going into construction zones etc. I just think if it's going to be forced it should be proportional to your desired speed above the limit.

I will say, it's very, very annoying.
I can understand the max speed for BlueCruise. But not that it forces you into Intelligent Cruise Control with a 1 mph tolerance. That can be really dangerous if it misreads a sign. Thatā€˜s why I donā€™t use Intelligent Cruise on the highway.
 

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Iā€™m confused. You said the car automatically changed your speed. Thatā€™s Intelligent cruise not Adaptive. Adaptive cruise wonā€™t change the speed you are going even if you enter a different speed limit zone. Adaptive just holds your set speed and maintains a set time difference from the vehicles in front of you.
Right, but heā€™s saying that BlueCruise essentially forces you into Intelligent Cruise Control with a 1 mph tolerance. That seems nuts to me.
 

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I can understand why they do this for BC because the car is in total control. Going into construction zones etc. I just think if it's going to be forced it should be proportional to your desired speed above the limit.

I will say, it's very, very annoying.
That would definitely be annoying. Maybe one day I, too, will have BlueCruise and can be annoyed by it ?
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