Abstract: According to the present invention, on the basis of the detected surrounding situation the movement of object bodies in the surrounding area is predicted as a future situation in the surrounding area. Candidates of direction from which a moving direction to be shown to the user is determined are extracted on the basis of the predicted future situation in the surrounding area. The extracted candidates are evaluated for movement easiness of the user in the surrounding area on the basis of the predicted future situation in the surrounding area and the detected situation of the user. Then, the moving direction to be shown to the user is determined on the basis of the evaluation and the extracted candidates. A direction corresponding to the determined moving direction is shown to the user in front of the user.

Abstract: According to the present invention, on the basis of the detected surrounding situation the movement of object bodies in the surrounding area is predicted as a future situation in the surrounding area. Candidates of direction from which a moving direction to be shown to the user is determined are extracted on the basis of the predicted future situation in the surrounding area. The extracted candidates are evaluated for movement easiness of the user in the surrounding area on the basis of the predicted future situation in the surrounding area and the detected situation of the user. Then, the moving direction to be shown to the user is determined on the basis of the evaluation and the extracted candidates. A direction corresponding to the determined moving direction is shown to the user in front of the user.

Abstract: Information is acquired that indicates a current road on which a vehicle is traveling. Information is acquired that relates to a plurality of branching roads that branch off from the current road at a branching point that lies ahead in the direction of movement of the vehicle. In a situation where route guidance is not being used, a determination is made as to whether or not there is a possibility that the vehicle will proceed on one of the branching roads that is of a different type from the current road, instead of on one of the branching roads that is of the same type as the current road and has an attribute that is of the same type as an attribute of the current road. If it is determined that there is a possibility that the vehicle will proceed on one of the branching roads that is of a different type, guidance is performed that informs the driver that the possibility exists.

Abstract: Information is acquired that indicates a current road on which a vehicle is traveling. Information is acquired that relates to a plurality of branching roads that branch off from the current road at a branching point that lies ahead in the direction of movement of the vehicle. In a situation where route guidance is not being used, a determination is made as to whether or not there is a possibility that the vehicle will proceed on one of the branching roads that is of a different type from the current road, instead of on one of the branching roads that is of the same type as the current road and has an attribute that is of the same type as an attribute of the current road. If it is determined that there is a possibility that the vehicle will proceed on one of the branching roads that is of a different type, guidance is performed that informs the driver that the possibility exists.

Abstract: Driving support apparatus, methods, and programs are provided for a hybrid vehicle whose driving power sources are an internal combustion engine and an electric motor operating with electric power supplied from an electric charger. The hybrid vehicle includes a hybrid control device for controlling the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. The apparatus, methods, and programs store travel history data of the hybrid vehicle, calculate a position of the hybrid vehicle, and determine whether a destination is set. If a destination is not set, the apparatus, methods, and programs predict a destination based on the travel history data, and calculate a degree of reliability of the predicted destination based on the travel history data. The apparatus, methods, and programs control the hybrid control device based on the calculated degree of reliability.