Abstract: A hybrid electronic control unit sets a target vehicle speed for constant-speed driving based on setting operation of an auto cruise switch by a driver. When the target vehicle speed is set, the required torque is set such that the vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed sensor becomes the target vehicle speed. When the required torque is set, a constant-speed driving torque map, indicating the required torque with respect to a torque command value by accelerator operation or brake operation by the driver using the required torque, and a positive maximum torque and a negative maximum torque, which the vehicle can output, is set. Further, the required torque changes using the constant-speed driving torque map according to the torque command value. In the hybrid electronic control unit, by increasing followability of torque change when changing the vehicle speed from the constant-speed driving, controllability is improved and drivability is improved.

Abstract: A first convergent computation section 25 for deriving a running locus by a convergent computation such as to achieve a first constraint condition based on a target passing time ts and a road boundary of a road D and a running locus deriving section 26 for deriving a running locus by a convergent computation of an evaluation function J3 for preferring a predetermined driving condition in a state achieving the first constraint condition are provided, a running locus is convergently computed such as to satisfy the first constraint condition set according to the target passing time ts and the road boundary of the road D, and a running locus is derived by convergently computing an evaluation function J3 for preferring a predetermined driving condition in a state satisfying the first constraint condition.

Abstract: A vehicle control device generates a speed pattern alternately repeating an acceleration travel pattern having a section accelerating a host vehicle and an inertia travel pattern having a section with an acceleration driving force of zero and a deceleration braking force of zero with respect to the wheels of the host vehicle. The speed pattern is generated by reducing speed of the host vehicle in front of any one position of an intersection of the road on which the host vehicle travels and an exit leading to the road. The intersection and the exit may encounter another vehicle, and may include a traffic flow of other vehicles on a road with a host vehicle. Matching a proved speed by reducing vehicle speed of a speed pattern with a position of an intersection or an exit, the host vehicle may cooperate with traffic flow to improve fuel efficiency.

Abstract: A steering control device for a vehicle includes a steering characteristic setting unit setting the range of a steering manipulation angle corresponding to a tire angle in a predetermined range (near an induction target tire angle for guiding to a target locus), which is determined on the basis of the target locus upon vehicle traveling, to be wider than the range of a steering manipulation angle corresponding to a tire angle outside of the predetermined range. A reduction gear ratio of a steering mechanism in the predetermined range increases.

Abstract: A vehicle running control system includes: a speed pattern creating unit that creates a speed pattern according to a target traveling path, a running control unit that controls running of the vehicle based on the speed pattern, a first speed condition correcting unit that correct speed conditions in a direction from a start position of the running control toward an end position of the running control on the target traveling path, and a second speed condition correcting unit that correct speed conditions in a direction from the end position of the running control toward the start position of the running control on the target traveling path.

Abstract: Disclosed is a travel control device for easily achieving a target acceleration/deceleration even by a manual operation of a driver. A travel control device for controlling at least acceleration/deceleration of a vehicle includes acceleration/deceleration characteristic setting means for setting the range of an accelerator operation amount or a brake operation amount corresponding to an induced target acceleration/deceleration greater than the range of an accelerator operation amount or a brake operation amount corresponding to an acceleration/deceleration other than the induced target acceleration/deceleration.

Abstract: Provided is a vehicle control device which generates a speed pattern of a vehicle and controls traveling of the vehicle based on the speed pattern, including: rear vehicle travel situation checking means for checking a travel situation of a rear vehicle which travels behind the vehicle; wave-like travel speed pattern generating means for generating a wave-like travel speed pattern where acceleration travel and free run travel are alternately repeated based on the travel situation of the rear vehicle; and control means for controlling the traveling of the vehicle based on the wave-like travel speed pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle control device that generates a speed pattern of a vehicle in a predetermined traveling section and controls the vehicle on the basis of the speed pattern. The vehicle control device includes average traffic flow vehicle speed acquiring means for acquiring an average traffic flow vehicle speed in the predetermined traveling section, optimal low fuel consumption speed pattern generating means for generating a speed pattern which is optimized to reduce the fuel consumption of the vehicle in the predetermined traveling section on the basis of the average traffic flow vehicle speed, and control means for controlling the vehicle on the basis of the optimal low fuel consumption speed pattern.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a travel locus generating method and a travel locus generating device for generating a travel locus in consideration of a fuel consumption characteristic. The present invention is a travel locus generating device that generates a future travel locus of a vehicle and is characterized by including a restriction condition calculating means for performing a convergence calculation of restriction conditions including at least a condition of a road boundary and an evaluation function calculating means for deriving a travel locus by a convergence calculation using an evaluation function, which includes at least evaluation of a variance of speed, in a state where the restriction conditions of the restriction condition calculating means are satisfied.

Abstract: A running plan creating apparatus for creating a running plan including position information of a vehicle at each time comprises road information acquiring means for acquiring road information concerning a running path for the vehicle to run, action predicting means for predicting positions and speeds of other vehicles running about the vehicle at each time by utilizing the road information, characteristic information acquiring means for acquiring characteristic information in each of the other vehicles, risk degree estimating means for estimating respective degrees of risk of the other vehicles by utilizing the characteristic information, risk degree distribution setting means for setting a risk degree distribution at each time on the running path by utilizing the road information and the positions and degrees of risk of the other vehicles, and running plan creating means for creating the running plan of the vehicle by utilizing the risk degree distribution.

Abstract: An ECU that integrally controls a vehicle travel control system includes an initial travel plan producing section which produces an initial travel plan including a decelerating interval in which an engine of a vehicle is stopped to decelerate the vehicle, a travel plan reconfiguring section which reconfigures the initial travel plan produced by the initial travel plan reconfiguring section, and a travel control section which controls travel of the vehicle based on a travel plan. When a non-stop state of the engine occurs while the vehicle is traveling, the travel plan reconfiguring section reconfigures the initial travel plan so that target deceleration in the decelerating interval in the initial travel plan is reset to new target deceleration that is larger deceleration.

Abstract: A steering control device for a vehicle includes a steering characteristic setting unit setting the range of a steering manipulation angle corresponding to a tire angle in a predetermined range (near an induction target tire angle for guiding to a target locus), which is determined on the basis of the target locus upon vehicle traveling, to be wider than the range of a steering manipulation angle corresponding to a tire angle outside of the predetermined range. A reduction gear ratio of a steering mechanism in the predetermined range increases.

Abstract: A vehicle travel control apparatus that controls state of travel of a vehicle by adjusting output of the vehicle relative to amount of operation of an operation member includes: a vehicle travel state detection portion that detects the state of travel of the vehicle; and an output adjustment portion that, when the amount of operation of the operation member increases, adjusts degree of increase in the output of the vehicle to a degree that is greater if amount of increase in the amount of operation of the operating member is smaller, based on the state of travel of the vehicle, and that, when the amount of operation of the operation member decreases, adjusts degree of decrease in the output of the vehicle to a degree that is greater if the amount of decrease in the amount of operation is smaller, based on the state of travel of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle travel control apparatus that controls state of travel of a vehicle by adjusting force that acts on the vehicle includes: an acting force adjustment portion that adjusts the force that acts on the vehicle, according to the state of travel of the vehicle; an operating state detection portion that detects an operating state of an operation member that is operated to control the state of travel of the vehicle; and an adjustment degree alteration portion that alters degree of adjustment made by the acting force adjustment portion, according to the operating state of the operation member.

Abstract: A vehicle running control system includes: a speed pattern creating unit that creates a speed pattern according to a target traveling path, a running control unit that controls running of the vehicle based on the speed pattern, a first speed condition correcting unit that correct speed conditions in a direction from a start position of the running control toward an end position of the running control on the target traveling path, and a second speed condition correcting unit that correct speed conditions in a direction from the end position of the running control toward the start position of the running control on the target traveling path.

Abstract: A running pattern calculating apparatus and running pattern calculating method that stores road information; predicts a running state when the vehicle will travel on a road, based on the stored road information; divides the road into a plurality of sections based on the predicted running state and sets an evaluation function for each road section; and calculates a running pattern of the vehicle that will travel on the road, based on the evaluation function set for each road section.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a travel locus generating method and a travel locus generating device for generating a travel locus in consideration of a fuel consumption characteristic. The present invention is a travel locus generating device that generates a future travel locus of a vehicle and is characterized by including a restriction condition calculating means for performing a convergence calculation of restriction conditions including at least a condition of a road boundary and an evaluation function calculating means for deriving a travel locus by a convergence calculation using an evaluation function, which includes at least evaluation of a variance of speed, in a state where the restriction conditions of the restriction condition calculating means are satisfied.

Abstract: Disclosed are a vehicle control device and a vehicle control method capable of performing appropriate traveling control while exhibiting the capability of a control system. Feedback control is performed according to a traveling target set in advance. At the time of the feedback control, when a vehicle traveling trace is deviated, when a tire friction circle is exceeded, or when a vehicle acceleration or a jerk exceeds a set value, if a control deviation exceeds a set value, a traveling target is regenerated. This enables appropriate traveling control while sufficiently exhibiting the capability of the control system until the control deviation exceeds the set value. When the control deviation exceeds the set value, a traveling target is regenerated, such that traveling control appropriate for the traveling environment can be performed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a travel control device for easily achieving a target acceleration/deceleration even by a manual operation of a driver. A travel control device for controlling at least acceleration/deceleration of a vehicle includes acceleration/deceleration characteristic setting means for setting the range of an accelerator operation amount or a brake operation amount corresponding to an induced target acceleration/deceleration greater than the range of an accelerator operation amount or a brake operation amount corresponding to an acceleration/deceleration other than the induced target acceleration/deceleration.

Abstract: A travel control device which controls vehicle travel by feedback control so that the vehicle travels according to a travel plan is characterized by including: a control item determining unit that determines a prioritized control item for every position of a target locus in the travel plan; a control gain determining unit that sets a control gain of the determined prioritized control item to be higher than those of other control items; and a travel plan correction unit that includes the determined control gain in the travel plan.