Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus performs a following travel mode in which an own vehicle travels while following a followed vehicle ahead of the own vehicle. The apparatus includes a surrounding object detection section that acquires detection information regarding a surrounding object, a space determination section that uses the detection information to determine presence/absence of a free space located laterally to an own lane, a setting condition determination section that determines whether a first other vehicle having entered the own lane from the free space or a second other vehicle traveling ahead of a preceding vehicle having entered the free space from the own lane meets a setting condition for setting the first or second other vehicle as the followed vehicle, and an automated driving control section that sets the first or second other vehicle as the followed vehicle to perform the following travel mode if the setting condition is met.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thermoelectric element with a higher thermoelectric performance than that of a conventional thermoelectric element. This fabrication method includes the steps of: (a) preparing a thermoelectric material having a predetermined composition; and (b) applying extruding pressure to the thermoelectric material in a first direction to extrude it through a die having, in an area which is not less than half of a deforming area of the thermoelectric material in the first direction, a maximum strain rate within +30% of an average strain rate so as to plastically deform the thermoelectric material into an extruded product of the thermoelectric material.