Abstract: When a host vehicle enters a roundabout, a travel route of the host vehicle is communicated by a direction indicator to other vehicles surroundings the host vehicle. A controller computes a travel route over which a host vehicle and executes driving assist control so that the host vehicle travels along the travel route. In this driving assist method, whether or not the host vehicle has arrived at a roundabout is assessed. When the host vehicle is assessed to have arrived at a roundabout, a positional relationship between a host vehicle entrance for the host vehicle and a host vehicle exit for the host vehicle in the roundabout is assessed based on the travel route. When the host vehicle enters the roundabout, control of the direction indicator lights is performed in accordance with the positional relationship that was assessed.

Abstract: A driving control method comprises: acquiring a destination of a vehicle; referring to a first map that includes identification information of a travel lane and a second map that does not include the identification information of the travel lane; calculating a route from a current position of the vehicle to the destination; when traveling along a first route included in the route and belonging to the first map, setting first driving control, while when traveling along a second route included in the route and belonging to the second map, setting second driving control with a lower level of autonomous driving than that of the first driving control; and creating a driving plan for the vehicle to travel along the route with contents of the set driving control. A driving control apparatus is based on the method.

Abstract: A vehicle travel assistance method executed by a processor comprises: setting a travel lane in which a subject vehicle travels based on detection information of a sensor equipped in the subject vehicle, identifying a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of a subject vehicle based on detection information of a sensor, calculating, based on the detection information, a first evaluation value indicating a possibility that the subject vehicle can return to the travel lane from an adjacent lane adjacent to the travel lane after overtaking the preceding vehicle, calculating a shortening width of travel time shortened by overtaking the preceding vehicle based on the vehicle speed of the subject vehicle and the vehicle speed of the preceding vehicle, and determining whether or not to overtake the preceding vehicle based on the first evaluation value and the shortening width.

Abstract: A driving control method is provided in which a processor configured to control driving of a vehicle acquires detection information around a vehicle on the basis of a detection condition that can be set for each point; extracts events which the vehicle encounters, on the basis of the detection information; creates a driving plan in which a driving action is defined for each of the events on the basis of the detection information acquired in the events; executes a driving control instruction for the vehicle in accordance with the driving plan; and determines the detection condition on the basis of the content of the driving action defined for each of the events.

Abstract: A driving assist method minimizes an incidence of lane changing within a circulatory roadway. In this driving assist method, a recognition assessment processor assesses the travel of a host vehicle, calculates a travel route over which the host vehicle is to travel, and executes a driving assist control based on the travel route. The recognition assessment processor further assesses whether the host vehicle has arrived at a roundabout having a circulatory roadway to which three or more radial roadways are connected. When an assessment has been made that the host vehicle has arrived at the roundabout, a position of a host vehicle entrance and a position of a host vehicle exit are specified. Furthermore, an entrance position is set based on a positional relationship between the host vehicle entrance and the host vehicle exit.

Abstract: A driving control method is provided in which a processor configured to control driving of a vehicle acquires detection information around a vehicle on the basis of a detection condition that can be set for each point; sequentially extracts events which the vehicle encounters, on the basis of the detection information; arranges the extracted events in the order of encounters with the vehicle; creates a sequential driving plan in which a driving action is defined for each of the events on the basis of the detection information acquired in the events; executes a driving control instruction for the vehicle in accordance with the driving plan; and determines, on the basis of the content of the driving action defined for a first event which the vehicle encounters earlier, a second detection condition regarding at least one second event which the vehicle encounters after the first event.

Abstract: A travel assistance method for a vehicle, executed by the processor, comprising: detecting a road structure including a merging point where a merging lane and a merged lane merge, detecting a state of another vehicle traveling toward a merging point, setting, based on the road structure, a merging position relative to a traveling vehicle (other vehicle) traveling in the merged lane and a determination criterion for determining whether or not merging is possible at the merging position, and determining whether or not merging is possible based on the state of the subject vehicle, the state of the other vehicle and the determination criterion.

Abstract: A driving control method includes referring to map information including a first map that includes identification information of a travel lane and a second map that does not include the identification information of the travel lane; when calculating a route from the current position of a vehicle to a destination, calculating the route so as to achieve a predetermined relationship between a first travel cost for traveling along a first route that belongs to the first map and a second travel cost for traveling along a second route that belongs to the second map; creating a driving plan for the vehicle to travel along the route; and causing a vehicle controller to execute the driving plan.

Abstract: When a host vehicle enters a roundabout, a travel route of the host vehicle is communicated by a direction indicator to other vehicles surroundings the host vehicle. A controller computes a travel route over which a host vehicle and executes driving assist control so that the host vehicle travels along the travel route. In this driving assist method, whether or not the host vehicle has arrived at a roundabout is assessed. When the host vehicle is assessed to have arrived at a roundabout, a positional relationship between a host vehicle entrance for the host vehicle and a host vehicle exit for the host vehicle in the roundabout is assessed based on the travel route. When the host vehicle enters the roundabout, control of the direction indicator lights is performed in accordance with the positional relationship that was assessed.

Abstract: A driving assist method performs a lane change control to make a lane change to an adjacent lane. The method includes: detecting whether there is a request from the host vehicle to make a lane change to the adjacent lane; detecting whether there is any intention for another vehicle traveling in the adjacent lane to make a lane change towards the host vehicle lane upon detection of a presence of the lane change; establishing a lane-change-intending other vehicle as a designated vehicle for a place-swapping lane change upon detection of a presence of the intention for another vehicle to make a lane change towards the host vehicle lane; and setting the position of the designated vehicle traveling in the adjacent lane as a target lane change to be made by the host vehicle, and performing a lane change control based on the target lane change.

Abstract: When a host vehicle enters a roundabout, a controller computes a travel route over which a host vehicle and executes driving assist control so that the host vehicle travels along the travel route. In this driving assist method, an exiting illumination area, where a direction indicator light indicating that the host vehicle is to exit a roundabout is to be illuminated based on the travel route. While the host vehicle is traveling on the roundabout, an assessment is made as to whether or not the host vehicle has arrived at the illumination area. When the host vehicle is to exit the roundabout and the host vehicle is assessed to have arrived at the illumination area, control is performed to determine to illuminate the direction indicator light that indicates the host vehicle is to exit the roundabout.

Abstract: A travel assistance method for a vehicle, executed by the processor, comprising: detecting a road structure including a merging point where a merging lane and a merged lane merge, detecting a state of another vehicle traveling toward a merging point, setting, based on the road structure, a merging position relative to a traveling vehicle (other vehicle) traveling in the merged lane and a determination criterion for determining whether or not merging is possible at the merging position, and determining whether or not merging is possible based on the state of the subject vehicle, the state of the other vehicle and the determination criterion.

Abstract: A vehicle travel assistance method executed by a processor comprises: setting a travel lane in which a subject vehicle travels based on detection information of a sensor equipped in the subject vehicle, identifying a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of a subject vehicle based on detection information of a sensor, calculating, based on the detection information, a first evaluation value indicating a possibility that the subject vehicle can return to the travel lane from an adjacent lane adjacent to the travel lane after overtaking the preceding vehicle, calculating a shortening width of travel time shortened by overtaking the preceding vehicle based on the vehicle speed of the subject vehicle and the vehicle speed of the preceding vehicle, and determining whether or not to overtake the preceding vehicle based on the first evaluation value and the shortening width.

Abstract: A driving assist method minimizes an incidence of lane changing within a circulatory roadway. In this driving assist method, a recognition assessment processor assesses the travel of a host vehicle, calculates a travel route over which the host vehicle is to travel, and executes a driving assist control based on the travel route. The recognition assessment processor further assesses whether the host vehicle has arrived at a roundabout having a circulatory roadway to which three or more radial roadways are connected. When an assessment has been made that the host vehicle has arrived at the roundabout, a position of a host vehicle entrance and a position of a host vehicle exit are specified. Furthermore, an entrance position is set based on a positional relationship between the host vehicle entrance and the host vehicle exit.

Abstract: A driving control method is provided in which a processor configured to control driving of a vehicle acquires detection information around a vehicle on the basis of a detection condition that can be set for each point; sequentially extracts events which the vehicle encounters, on the basis of the detection information; arranges the extracted events in the order of encounters with the vehicle; creates a sequential driving plan in which a driving action is defined for each of the events on the basis of the detection information acquired in the events; executes a driving control instruction for the vehicle in accordance with the driving plan; and determines, on the basis of the content of the driving action defined for a first event which the vehicle encounters earlier, a second detection condition regarding at least one second event which the vehicle encounters after the first event.

Abstract: A driving control method is provided in which a processor configured to control driving of a vehicle acquires detection information around a vehicle on the basis of a detection condition that can be set for each point; extracts events which the vehicle encounters, on the basis of the detection information; creates a driving plan in which a driving action is defined for each of the events on the basis of the detection information acquired in the events; executes a driving control instruction for the vehicle in accordance with the driving plan; and determines the detection condition on the basis of the content of the driving action defined for each of the events.

Abstract: A driving control method comprises: acquiring a destination of a vehicle; referring to a first map that includes identification information of a travel lane and a second map that does not include the identification information of the travel lane; calculating a route from a current position of the vehicle to the destination; when traveling along a first route included in the route and belonging to the first map, setting first driving control, while when traveling along a second route included in the route and belonging to the second map, setting second driving control with a lower level of autonomous driving than that of the first driving control; and creating a driving plan for the vehicle to travel along the route with contents of the set driving control. A driving control apparatus is based on the method.

Abstract: A driving control method includes referring to map information including a first map that includes identification information of a travel lane and a second map that does not include the identification information of the travel lane; when calculating a route from the current position of a vehicle to a destination, calculating the route so as to achieve a predetermined relationship between a first travel cost for traveling along a first route that belongs to the first map and a second travel cost for traveling along a second route that belongs to the second map; creating a driving plan for the vehicle to travel along the route; and causing a vehicle controller to execute the driving plan.

Abstract: A method of assisting a driver of a vehicle includes obtaining a feature of a road to be traveled by the vehicle with a sensor and/or a GPS system. A parameter is selected to assist a driver of the vehicle in driving a segment of the road based on the feature of the road. The parameter includes information on the location of a boundary along the road and a preferred trajectory to be driven along the road. A controller determines whether a current trajectory of the vehicle while travelling the road is deviating from the preferred trajectory of the vehicle along the road. A feedback operation is provided to assist the driver in guiding the vehicle nearer to the preferred trajectory based on the selected parameter.

Abstract: A method of assisting a driver of a vehicle, the method includes obtaining a location of a road boundary relative to the vehicle using a sensor, selecting, via a controller, a parameter to assist a driver of the vehicle when approaching the location of the road boundary based on a condition, determining, via the controller, based on the location of the road boundary whether the vehicle will be a predetermined distance from the road boundary, and providing a feedback operation to assist the driver in avoiding the road boundary based on the selected parameter.