Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a steering assist device which can perform steering assist control having excellent capability to follow up a traveling path by increasing the steering amount in the steering control at a curve entrance. A steering assist device of the present invention is a steering assist device 1 for calculating a steering target value based on a shape of a traveling path on which a vehicle travels, and assisting steering according to the steering target value, wherein it is determined whether the vehicle is traveling a curve entrance of the traveling path, and when it is determined that the vehicle is traveling a curve entrance, a change in the steering target value is increased compared with the case of traveling a part of the path other than a curve entrance. As a result, a steering amount to turn the steering wheel can be increased at a curve entrance, and a delay in the turning of the steering wheel at a curve entrance can be suppressed.

Abstract: In a driving assistance system having an actuator (16) for steering steered wheels of a vehicle, a positional deviation detecting unit (9) detects a deviation of a position of the vehicle from a forward travel path of the vehicle based on information around the vehicle. A steering control variable determination unit (2) determines a steering control variable to cancel the deviation. If a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed detecting unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined speed, the steering control variable determined by a steering control variable determination unit (2) decreases with an increase of the vehicle speed under the condition that the deviation of the position of the vehicle from the forward travel path is same. The driving assistance system can reduce a driver's discomfort caused by the steering control through the actuator (16) when the vehicle is running at a high speed.

Abstract: A steering assist system for applying a steering torque reduces the influence of a time-dependent steering control amount on an assist steering torque when a predetermined driving operation by a driver is detected. Thus, the influence of the time-dependent steering control amount on the applied steering torque, which increases when the period of time over which actual moving state deviates from the target moving state increases is reduced when the driver makes the predetermined driving operation. Thus, it is possible to avoid the problem where steering feel degrades because the steering torque increases over time.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a steering assistance apparatus which can accurately detect a curve exit of a running path and perform steering assistance control with an excellent running path following capability. The steering assistance apparatus of the present invention is a steering assistance apparatus 1 for providing a steering mechanism with a steering torque such that a vehicle runs along a running path according to an image capturing the running path in front of the vehicle, which estimates a curve direction of the running path by processing the image, estimates a steering direction of a driver of the vehicle according to a steering operation of the driver, and determines that the vehicle is running through a curve exit according to a fact that the estimated curve direction and steering direction do not coincide with each other. This makes it possible to determine the curve exit of the running path accurately and perform appropriate steering assistance control.

Abstract: In deviation prevention support ECU 10 in driving operation support system 1, an applied torque by steering torque applier 17 is set based on a vehicle speed of a vehicle. The applied torque is set to increase with increase of the vehicle speed. An upper limit according to the vehicle speed is set for this applied torque. Furthermore, in a Start interval in application of the applied torque, a rate of increasing to reach a maximum is determined according to the maximum of the applied torque. In a close interval, the applied torque is decreased at a rate different from that in the Start interval, and the absolute rate of increasing the torque in the Start interval is set to be larger than the absolute rate of decreasing the torque in the close interval.

Abstract: A vehicle speed V is read (step S1), V is compared with a first threshold Vth1 (step S2), and, when V is not less than Vth1, a warning torque is set smaller with increase in V (step S3). When V is less than Vth1, V is further compared with a second threshold Vth2 (step S4), and when V is less than Vth2, the warning torque is set approximately in proportion to the vehicle speed (step S5); when V is not less than Vth2 and is less than Vth1, the warning torque is set at a predetermined constant value (step S6).

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a steering assistance apparatus which can accurately detect a curve exit of a running path and perform steering assistance control with an excellent running path following capability. The steering assistance apparatus of the present invention is a steering assistance apparatus 1 for providing a steering mechanism with a steering torque such that a vehicle runs along a running path according to an image capturing the running path in front of the vehicle, which estimates a curve direction of the running path by processing the image, estimates a steering direction of a driver of the vehicle according to a steering operation of the driver, and determines that the vehicle is running through a curve exit according to a fact that the estimated curve direction and steering direction do not coincide with each other. This makes it possible to determine the curve exit of the running path accurately and perform appropriate steering assistance control.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a steering assist device which can perform steering assist control having excellent capability to follow up a traveling path by increasing the steering amount in the steering control at a curve entrance. A steering assist device of the present invention is a steering assist device 1 for calculating a steering target value based on a shape of a traveling path on which a vehicle travels, and assisting steering according to the steering target value, wherein it is determined whether the vehicle is traveling a curve entrance of the traveling path, and when it is determined that the vehicle is traveling a curve entrance, a change in the steering target value is increased compared with the case of traveling a part of the path other than a curve entrance. As a result, a steering amount to turn the steering wheel can be increased at a curve entrance, and a delay in the turning of the steering wheel at a curve entrance can be suppressed.

Abstract: A steering assist system for applying a steering torque reduces the influence of a time-dependent steering control amount on an assist steering torque when a predetermined driving operation by a driver is detected. Thus, the influence of the time-dependent steering control amount on the applied steering torque, which increases when the period of time over which actual moving state deviates from the target moving state increases is reduced when the driver makes the predetermined driving operation. Thus, it is possible to avoid the problem where steering feel degrades because the steering torque increases over time.

Abstract: A vehicle speed V is compared with a threshold Vth; when V is less than Vth, TLC is set to an initial value t0; when V is not less than Vth, TLC is set shorter with increase in V. Then TLC is compared with a predetermined value t th, and when TLC is less than t th, TLC is replaced by t th being a lower limit. This improves compatibility between a reduction in an occurrence frequency of needless warnings and a guarantee of a deviation margin time.

Abstract: A driving control apparatus of the present invention has a driving road keeping device for providing a torque to a steering mechanism so as to keep a vehicle traveling at a predetermined position on a driving road; a driving road departure warning device for issuing a warning of a departure from the driving road on the basis of a position of the vehicle relative to the driving road; and a setting device for setting a need or no need for execution of a control of the driving road keeping device or the driving road departure warning device. Where the setting device sets a need for execution of the control, the control of the driving road keeping device is executed when an activation condition of the driving road keeping device is met and when a cruise control device is active.

Abstract: Lane width information Winf acquired by a traffic lane detector is retrieved (step S1); when a value of the lane width information Winf is within a predetermined range of change amount relative to a lane width output Wout_old at a previous time step, i.e., not less than (Wout_old+Wdec) nor more than (Wout_old+Winc), Winf is used directly as the lane width output Wout (steps S5?S9?S11?S8); when the value of lane width information Winf is off the predetermined range, i.e., less than (Wout_old+Wdec), (Wout_old+Wdec) is outputted as the lane width output value Wout (steps S5?S9?S10?S8); when the value of lane width information Winf exceeds (Wout_old+Winc), (Wout_old+Winc) is outputted as the lane width output Wout (steps S5?S6?S8).

Abstract: An apparatus for warning deviation from a lane has a deviation evaluation ECU 1. The deviation evaluation ECU 1 has a deviation evaluator 14 for performing an evaluation on a deviation by comparing a future position of a host vehicle with a lane future position. Before this deviation evaluation, a mask processor 13 determines whether a yaw angle of the host vehicle and a lateral position of the vehicle relative to a driving lane exceed their respective thresholds preliminarily determined. When either one or the both are not more than the thresholds, the mask processor 13 performs a mask process, without performing the deviation evaluation. A deviation evaluator 14 performs the deviation evaluation when the yaw angle and the lateral position relative to the driving lane both exceed their respective thresholds.

Abstract: A vehicle speed V is compared with a threshold Vth; when V is less than Vth, TLC is set to an initial value t0; when V is not less than Vth, TLC is set shorter with increase in V. Then TLC is compared with a predetermined value t th, and when TLC is less than t th, TLC is replaced by t th being a lower limit. This improves compatibility between a reduction in an occurrence frequency of needless warnings and a guarantee of a deviation margin time.

Abstract: In a driving assistance system having an actuator (16) for steering steered wheels of a vehicle, a positional deviation detecting unit (9) detects a deviation of a position of the vehicle from a forward travel path of the vehicle based on information around the vehicle. A steering control variable determination unit (2) determines a steering control variable to cancel the deviation. If a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed detecting unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined speed, the steering control variable determined by a steering control variable determination unit (2) decreases with an increase of the vehicle speed under the condition that the deviation of the position of the vehicle from the forward travel path is same. The driving assistance system can reduce a driver's discomfort caused by the steering control through the actuator (16) when the vehicle is running at a high speed.

Abstract: Lane width information Winf acquired by a traffic lane detector is retrieved (step S1); when a value of the lane width information Winf is within a predetermined range of change amount relative to a lane width output Wout_old at a previous time step, i.e., not less than (Wout_old+Wdec) nor more than (Wout_old+Winc), Winf is used directly as the lane width output Wout (steps S5?S9?S11?S8); when the value of lane width information Winf is off the predetermined range, i.e., less than (Wout_old+Wdec), (Wout_old+Wdec) is outputted as the lane width output value Wout (steps S5?S9?S10?S8); when the value of lane width information Winf exceeds (Wout_old+Winc), (Wout_old+Winc) is outputted as the lane width output Wout (steps S5?S6?S8).

Abstract: When an integral calculation of a physical quantity representing a state of a controlled system is performed, two integral calculations, that is, a positive-integral calculation and a negative-integral calculation are performed. In this way, differentiated information can be obtained, depending on the control conditions. A selection of which one of the integral value obtained by the positive-integral calculation and the integral value obtained by the negative-integral calculation is used, is made on the basis of an actual control value and a desired control value when control is performed so that a value representing the state of the controlled system becomes equal to the desired control value. In this way, a control parameter which has been judged to include a phase delay is removed. Thus, the phase delay in the overall control can be suppressed, and an appropriate steering assist control can be performed, for example.

Abstract: A vehicle speed V is read (step S1), V is compared with a first threshold Vth1 (step S2), and, when V is not less than Vth1, a warning torque is set smaller with increase in V (step S3). When V is less than Vth1, V is further compared with a second threshold Vth2 (step S4), and when V is less than Vth2, the warning torque is set approximately in proportion to the vehicle speed (step S5); when V is not less than Vth2 and is less than Vth1, the warning torque is set at a predetermined constant value (step S6).

Abstract: A driving control apparatus of the present invention has a driving road keeping device for providing a torque to a steering mechanism so as to keep a vehicle traveling at a predetermined position on a driving road, a setting device for setting a need or no need for execution of a control of the driving road keeping device, and a cruise control device for controlling a driving force or speed of the vehicle so as to keep the vehicle in a predetermined driving state. A need or no need for execution of the control of the driving road keeping device is determined based on a setting state of the setting device and a control state of the cruise control device. A display indicating that the control of the driving road keeping device is ready is presented when the control of the driving road keeping device is in an executable state upon a state change of either the setting state of the setting device or the control state of the cruise control device.

Abstract: A vehicle speed V is compared with a threshold Vth; when V is less than Vth, TLC is set to an initial value t0; when V is not less than Vth, TLC is set shorter with increase in V. Then TLC is compared with a predetermined value t th, and when TLC is less than t th, TLC is replaced by t th being a lower limit. This improves compatibility between a reduction in an occurrence frequency of needless warnings and a guarantee of a deviation margin time.