Abstract: A convoy travel system includes a plurality of vehicles and is configured such that the plurality of vehicles form a convoy and travel. The plurality of vehicles include a preceding vehicle and following vehicles configured so as to follow the preceding vehicle by means of automatic driving. The preceding vehicle is equipped with a steering information acquisition unit configured so as to acquire steering information pertaining to steering of the preceding vehicle, and a transmission unit configured so as to transmit the steering information to the following vehicles. The following vehicles are equipped with a reception unit configured so as to receive the steering information, and an automatic driving control unit configured so as to begin a steering angle control for avoiding a collision with an obstruction when the steering information indicates the execution of emergency steering for avoiding a collision with the obstruction.

Abstract: A travel assistance device configured to execute travel assistance when a plurality of vehicles form a vehicle group and travel in a line. The travel assistance device includes: a first control unit configured to, if there is lane-change instruction for the vehicle group, cause an end-of-line vehicle to change lanes, such vehicle being the vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles forming the vehicle group that is positioned at the end of the line; and a second control unit configured to, following the lane change of the end-of-line vehicle, allow a lane change for at least one vehicle that is other than the end-of-line vehicle and that is one of the vehicles forming the vehicle group.

Abstract: A convoy travel system includes a plurality of vehicles and is configured such that the plurality of vehicles form a convoy and travel. The plurality of vehicles include a preceding vehicle and following vehicles configured so as to follow the preceding vehicle by means of automatic driving. The preceding vehicle is equipped with a steering information acquisition unit configured so as to acquire steering information pertaining to steering of the preceding vehicle, and a transmission unit configured so as to transmit the steering information to the following vehicles. The following vehicles are equipped with a reception unit configured so as to receive the steering information, and an automatic driving control unit configured so as to begin a steering angle control for avoiding a collision with an obstruction when the steering information indicates the execution of emergency steering for avoiding a collision with the obstruction.

Abstract: A travel assistance device configured to execute travel assistance when a plurality of vehicles form a vehicle group and travel in a line. The travel assistance device includes: a first control unit configured to, if there is lane-change instruction for the vehicle group, cause an end-of-line vehicle to change lanes, such vehicle being the vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles forming the vehicle group that is positioned at the end of the line; and a second control unit configured to, following the lane change of the end-of-line vehicle, allow a lane change for at least one vehicle that is other than the end-of-line vehicle and that is one of the vehicles forming the vehicle group.

Abstract: A platooning system includes a vehicle control system installed in each of vehicles that include a manually-driven head vehicle. The vehicle control system controls a host vehicle such that the host vehicle follows a lead vehicle through wireless communication between the host vehicle and the lead vehicle. The vehicle control system is installed in the host vehicle and the lead vehicle. The vehicle control system includes a sensor that detects a state of the host vehicle, an actuator that adjusts a behavior of the host vehicle, and a controller that controls the host vehicle. The controller of the head vehicle physically notifies a driver of the host vehicle of a state of a subsequent vehicle by operating the actuator of the host vehicle when a state signal including information that indicates the state of the subsequent vehicle is received through the wireless communication.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for efficiently aggregating a polymer such as ECM together with cells. A method for preparing a polymer-loaded cell or cell aggregate, comprising adding a solution containing a polymer and at least one cell to a medium containing a swellable material to thereby aggregate the polymer together with the cell. A method for controlling the property and/or the function of a cell or a cell aggregate, comprising culturing the polymer-loaded cell or cell aggregate prepared by the above-described method. A method for culturing a cell or a cell aggregate, comprising: preparing a polymer capsule filled with a cell or a cell aggregate by adding a solution containing a polymer and at least one cell to a medium containing a swellable material to thereby aggregate the polymer together with the cell; and culturing the cell or cell aggregate within the capsule. For constructing 3D cell tissues, a method using U-bottom 96-well plates or the hanging-drop method is conventionally used.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique which enables organization of bone marrow cells by a simple method in a short period of time. A method for preparing a bone marrow cell aggregate, comprising adding a liquid containing a bone marrow cell population to a medium containing a swellable material and culturing the bone marrow cell population in the presence of the swellable material. A method for reassembling a bone marrow tissue, comprising adding a liquid containing a bone marrow cell population to a medium containing a swellable material and culturing the bone marrow cell population in the presence of the swellable material. According to common knowledge in the art, it has been considered difficult to reorganize once disintegrated bone marrow tissue without changing the cell composition (that is, without adding any adherent cell or extracellular matrix which will work as a “connecting material (binder)”). Indeed, it was impossible to aggregate bone marrow cells by conventional methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for efficiently aggregating a polymer such as ECM together with cells. A method for preparing a polymer-loaded cell or cell aggregate, comprising adding a solution containing a polymer and at least one cell to a medium containing a swellable material to thereby aggregate the polymer together with the cell. A method for controlling the property and/or the function of a cell or a cell aggregate, comprising culturing the polymer-loaded cell or cell aggregate prepared by the above-described method. A method for culturing a cell or a cell aggregate, comprising: preparing a polymer capsule filled with a cell or a cell aggregate by adding a solution containing a polymer and at least one cell to a medium containing a swellable material to thereby aggregate the polymer together with the cell; and culturing the cell or cell aggregate within the capsule. For constructing 3D cell tissues, a method using U-bottom 96-well plates or the hanging-drop method is conventionally used.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique which enables organization of bone marrow cells by a simple method in a short period of time. A method for preparing a bone marrow cell aggregate, comprising adding a liquid containing a bone marrow cell population to a medium containing a swellable material and culturing the bone marrow cell population in the presence of the swellable material. A method for reassembling a bone marrow tissue, comprising adding a liquid containing a bone marrow cell population to a medium containing a swellable material and culturing the bone marrow cell population in the presence of the swellable material. According to common knowledge in the art, it has been considered difficult to reorganize once disintegrated bone marrow tissue without changing the cell composition (that is, without adding any adherent cell or extracellular matrix which will work as a “connecting material (binder)”). Indeed, it was impossible to aggregate bone marrow cells by conventional methods.