Abstract: When a stereo image recognition device detects a vehicle ahead, a driving support apparatus extracts the vehicle ahead as a vehicle against which control should be performed, and performs driving support control based upon the information from the stereo image recognition device. When the stereo image recognition device does not detect the vehicle ahead, the driving support apparatus sets either one of the distance from the driving lane on which the vehicle travels and a start point of a curve ahead according to the configuration of the road ahead and a detection limit distance of the information of the vehicle ahead by the stereo image recognition device (front recognition device) as a threshold value IVC_L. When the vehicle ahead is present distant by more than the threshold value IVC_L, the driving support apparatus performs driving support control based upon the information by the inter-vehicle communication from a communication device.

Abstract: In a driving support apparatus for a vehicle, when a driver indicates the intension to turn by turning a turn signal switch on, vehicles traveling on a lane to which the driver intends to turn is detected based on images captured by monitoring cameras, a space to cut into between the vehicles is calculated, an entry start time of a subject vehicle is obtained based on a speed difference between a speed of the subject vehicle and a moving speed of the space to cut into, and, when the entry start time is reached, voice guidance instructing to start turning is output from an instruction unit.

Abstract: An information processing unit displays a pop-up window in a display area of a display unit when the own vehicle is in an area of a set distance or less away from an extracted intersection, when the own vehicle stops, when a brake switch is ON, and when a display request for an image of traffic conditions of vehicles at the intersection by the driver is recognized. If an accelerator operation is performed in a predetermined way after the pop-up window is displayed, the display of the pop-up window is finished.

Abstract: In a driving support apparatus for a vehicle, when a driver indicates the intension to turn by turning a turn signal switch on, vehicles traveling on a lane to which the driver intends to turn is detected based on images captured by monitoring cameras, a space to cut into between the vehicles is calculated, an entry start time of a subject vehicle is obtained based on a speed difference between a speed of the subject vehicle and a moving speed of the space to cut into, and, when the entry start time is reached, voice guidance instructing to start turning is output from an instruction unit.

Abstract: An information processing unit displays a pop-up window in a display area of a display unit when the own vehicle is in an area of a set distance or less away from an extracted intersection, when the own vehicle stops, when a brake switch is ON, and when a display request for an image of traffic conditions of vehicles at the intersection by the driver is recognized. If an accelerator operation is performed in a predetermined way after the pop-up window is displayed, the display of the pop-up window is finished.

Abstract: When a stereo image recognition device detects a vehicle ahead, a driving support apparatus extracts the vehicle ahead as a vehicle against which control should be performed, and performs driving support control based upon the information from the stereo image recognition device. When the stereo image recognition device does not detect the vehicle ahead, the driving support apparatus sets either one of the distance from the driving lane on which the vehicle travels and a start point of a curve ahead according to the configuration of the road ahead and a detection limit distance of the information of the vehicle ahead by the stereo image recognition device (front recognition device) as a threshold value IVC_L. When the vehicle ahead is present distant by more than the threshold value IVC_L, the driving support apparatus performs driving support control based upon the information by the inter-vehicle communication from a communication device.

Abstract: A base station is installed in a driver's house or the like where the precise position has been measured beforehand, includes a GPS antenna, a GPS receiver, and a wireless communication device, and functions to transmit various data to a vehicle serving as a moving station in a predetermined range. The vehicle has a GPS antenna, a GPS receiver, and a wireless communication device. When establishing communication between the base station and the moving station, if the current vehicle position generally matches any driving route created and stored in the storage unit earlier, automatic driving control is performed with the matching driving route serving as a target driving route. Conversely, if the current position of the vehicle matches no position on the driving routes created in the past even generally, the storage unit continuously stores the current driving route including the current position, as a new route to the destination.

Abstract: A vehicle serving as a moving station includes two GPS antennas disposed away from one another along the longitudinal direction within the vehicle. For automatic steering in the automatic-driving control mode, for a planning route with a small radius of curvature, the direction of the vehicle is estimated to be the direction passing through the positions of the front and rear portions of the vehicle. Otherwise, the direction of the vehicle is estimated to be the direction passing through the current position of the vehicle and the previous position thereof, approximately the length of the vehicle behind the current position. Driving of the vehicle is controlled based upon the current position of the vehicle and the planning route using the estimated direction of the vehicle. Thus, the direction of the vehicle is estimated with high precision appropriately corresponding to each driving situation, thereby enabling precise and stable driving control.

Abstract: A base station is installed in a driver's house or the like where the precise position has been measured beforehand, comprises a GPS antenna, GPS receiver, and wireless communication device, and functions to transmit various data to a vehicle serving as a moving station in a predetermined range centered on the wireless communication device. The vehicle has a GPS antenna, GPS receiver, and wireless communication device. When establishing communication between base station and moving station, if the current vehicle position generally matches any driving route created and stored in the storage means earlier, automatic driving control is performed with the matching driving route serving as a target driving route. Conversely, if the current position of the vehicle matches no position on the driving routes created in the past even generally, the storage means continuously store the current driving route including the current position, as a new route to the destination.

Abstract: A vehicle serving as a moving station includes two GPS antennas disposed away from one another along the longitudinal direction within the vehicle. For automatic steering in the automatic-driving control mode, for a planning route with a small radius of curvature, the direction of the vehicle is estimated to be the direction passing through the positions of the front and rear portions of the vehicle. Otherwise, the direction of the vehicle is estimated to be the direction passing through the current position of the vehicle and the previous position thereof, approximately the length of the vehicle behind the current position. Driving of the vehicle is controlled based upon the current position of the vehicle and the planning route using the estimated direction of the vehicle. Thus, the direction of the vehicle is estimated with high precision appropriately corresponding to each driving situation, thereby enabling precise and stable driving control.