Abstract: A method for generating or updating map data including coordinate information of a plurality of landmarks disposed along a road, includes: by a vehicle-side device, uploading index information, indicating that the map data needs to be updated to the server in associated with a road segment in which the vehicle is traveling when a predetermined event occurs in a situation where the vehicle is traveling; by the server, determining whether the map data for the road segment needs to be updated based on the index information provided by the vehicle-side device; and by a server, setting an update flag indicating that the map data needs to be updated for the road segment when determining that the map data needs to be updated.

Abstract: A map generation system provides to: acquire an image of the vehicle's environment from the imaging device; analyze the image to calculate the position of a feature on the road; upload map information including the position of the feature to a server; and statistically determines the coordinates of individual features in the uploaded map information. The features include a reference mark whose absolute coordinates are determined. The coordinates of the features other than the reference mark are corrected so as to match the observation coordinates of the reference mark corresponding to the absolute coordinates of the reference mark.

Abstract: A map server acquires a position coordinate and a category of a POI. The map server sets a notice area at a predetermined distance backward from the POI in a traveling direction along a road. The map server distributes map data to a vehicle. The map data is a data set including a position of the notice area, a condition of a vehicle affected by the POI, and a category of the POI. The vehicle recognizes presence of the POI based on a fact that the vehicle has passed through the notice area indicated in the map data, and creates a control plan according to the category of the POI.

Abstract: A map server includes a difficult place setting unit, a distribution map generation unit, and a distribution processing unit. The difficult place setting unit identifies, based on a cancel point report from a vehicle, a difficult place which is a point where vehicle control involving a driving support or automatic driving is highly likely cancelled. The distribution map generation unit generates, as a map of a difficult place area related to the difficult place, distribution maps respectively including map information denser than a map of a normal area that is an area other than the difficult place area. The distribution maps of the normal area, which does not include detailed map information, contributes to a reduction of data amount in an entire map distribution scheme, when, for example, distributing map data over the network.

Abstract: A traffic signal recognition device recognizes a traffic signal present around a vehicle. The device acquires a position of the vehicle, and acquires a position of the traffic signal registered in map data based on the acquired position of the vehicle. The device acquires a position of a lighting device detected using an image frame captured by an in-vehicle camera. The device determines whether the lighting device corresponds to the traffic signal based on a difference between the acquired position of the traffic signal and the acquired position of the lighting device.

Abstract: An entry point and an exit point are specified in a non-lane section. A lane definition line is searched to be continuous in a longitudinal direction of the road from the entry point to the exit point. A virtual lane marking line is generated to connect between the lane marking line on an entry side and the lane marking line on an exit side, based on the lane definition line detected as a search result. A travelling track is generated as a trajectory on which a vehicle is scheduled to travel, based on the virtual lane marking line.

Abstract: A map generation system provides to: acquire an image of the vehicle's environment from the imaging device; analyze the image to calculate the position of a feature on the road; upload map information including the position of the feature to a server; and statistically determines the coordinates of individual features in the uploaded map information. The features include a reference mark whose absolute coordinates are determined. The coordinates of the features other than the reference mark are corrected so as to match the observation coordinates of the reference mark corresponding to the absolute coordinates of the reference mark.

Abstract: A method for generating or updating map data including coordinate information of a plurality of landmarks disposed along a road, includes: by a vehicle-side device, uploading index information, indicating that the map data needs to be updated to the server in associated with a road segment in which the vehicle is traveling when a predetermined event occurs in a situation where the vehicle is traveling; by the server, determining whether the map data for the road segment needs to be updated based on the index information provided by the vehicle-side device; and by a server, setting an update flag indicating that the map data needs to be updated for the road segment when determining that the map data needs to be updated.