Abstract: A redundant system is mounted on a vehicle configured to autonomously travel. The redundant system at least includes a first power supply system and a second power supply system different from the first power supply system. The redundant system includes: an operation control main control device that performs a process to cause the vehicle to autonomously travel; and an operation control sub control device used instead of the operation control main control device when abnormality regarding the operation control main control device is detected. The operation control main control device is connected to the first power supply system and is not connected to the second power supply system. The operation control sub control device is connected to the second power supply system and is not connected to the first power supply system.

Abstract: A driving control method is performed to execute a lane-change control for controlling a host vehicle to autonomously change lanes from a first lane to an adjacent second lane using a processor of a driving control device that controls vehicle speed and steering of the host vehicle traveling in the first lane in an autonomous driving mode. The processor determines that the lane-change control can be executed upon determining that the other vehicle has been detected in a detection zone of the second lane, based on a detection result of a sensor. The processor determines that the lane-change control cannot be executed upon determining that the other has not been detected within the detection zone of the second lane. The processor outputs information regarding whether the lane-change control can be executed.

Abstract: In a drive control method for using a drive control device to control the operation of a host vehicle using at least two autonomous driving modes that have different levels of driving assistance. The drive control method includes shifting the autonomous driving mode from a first mode to a second mode in which the driving assistance level of the second mode is higher than the driving assistance level of the first mode upon detecting a preceding vehicle in front of a host vehicle while traveling in the first mode. In this drive control method, a detectable distance to the preceding vehicle for shifting to the second mode is greater than a followable distance to the preceding vehicle when following travel is permitted in the first mode.

Abstract: A vehicle environment recognizing apparatus comprises an image capturing device, a road shape calculating section and a straight road determining section. The image capturing device is configured to capture an image of a road on which a vehicle is traveling. The road shape calculating section is configured to calculate approximation lines that approximate a shape of the road in at two least regions that are located at different distances in front of the vehicle based on image data captured by the image capturing device. The straight road determining section is configured to determine whether the road on which the vehicle is traveling is straight based on a degree to which the approximation lines of the regions calculated by the road shape calculating section match one another.

Abstract: An imaging angle of an imaging unit disposed in a vehicle is estimated with a less computational load. An in-vehicle image recognizing device disposed in a vehicle recognizes a lane shape of a traveling lane in which the vehicle travels based on an image captured by a camera capturing an image of a traveling road around the vehicle. An imaging angle of the camera is calculated based on the recognized lane shape. It is determined whether or not there is a bias in the recognized lane shape, and the imaging angle of the camera is corrected using the imaging angle when it is determined that there is no bias.

Abstract: A vehicle environment recognizing apparatus comprises an image capturing device, a road shape calculating section and a straight road determining section. The image capturing device is configured to capture an image of a road on which a vehicle is traveling. The road shape calculating section is configured to calculate approximation lines that approximate a shape of the road in at two least regions that are located at different distances in front of the vehicle based on image data captured by the image capturing device. The straight road determining section is configured to determine whether the road on which the vehicle is traveling is straight based on a degree to which the approximation lines of the regions calculated by the road shape calculating section match one another.

Abstract: A p-type ZnSe bulk or film crystal of good quality has not been produced so far, although various improved methods based on MOCVD or MBE methods have been tried. Prior art required high pressure, high temperature or high vacuum to grow a p-type ZnSe crystal. This invention grows p-type ZnSe by an electrochemical deposition method. A zinc anode and a low-resistivity n-type ZnSe singlecrystalline substrate are immersed into a solution including zinc ions, selenium ions and acceptor ions. Direct current is sent from the zinc anode to the n-type ZnSe singlecrystalline substrate cathode. Selenium ions and zinc ions are attracted to the n-type ZnSe cathode. They are reduced and are deposited on the n-type ZnSe cathode. Deposited ZnSe film is a p-type semiconductor. A ZnSe semiconductor with a pn-junction is obtained.