Abstract: A follow distance control apparatus controls a follow distance without giving an uncomfortable feel to a driver during a deceleration control regardless of a selected control mode. A front-vehicle running ahead of an own-vehicle is detected by a sensor such as a radar. A deceleration apparatus, which decelerates the own-vehicle, is controlled by a controller based on an output signal of the sensor. The controller controls the deceleration apparatus according to selected one of a short distance control mode and a long distance control mode. In the short distance control mode, an actual value of the following distance is controlled to be shorter. In the long distance control mode, the actual value of the following distance is controlled to be longer.

Abstract: A curve's radius of a road on which a vehicle shall run is estimated based on actual speed, yaw rate, and steering angle of the vehicle. Accordingly, during a transition state of the vehicle, the curve's radius can be estimated with the actual yaw rate taking into account the actual steering angle that can reflect more accurately turning behavior of the vehicle than the actual yaw rate. Therefore, errors in the estimation of the curve's radius due to response delay of the actual yaw rate can be easily reduced even though the yaw rate is used for such estimation.

Abstract: A vehicle speed detecting apparatus wherein the speeds of vehicle wheels are detected by wheel speed detecting devices, and the vehicle running speed is estimated by a vehicle speed estimating device, on the basis of the detected wheel speeds, and according to a predetermined estimation rule. The vehicle speed estimating device includes a noise detector for detecting a noise included in any one of the detected wheel speeds, and a rule changing device for changing the estimation rule depending upon whether the noise is included in the detected wheel speed or speeds.

Abstract: A partially or entirely exposed metal portion of a club head body is formed with a foundation layer on the surface thereof by means of electroplating, and the foundation layer is covered with a non-electrolytic nickel-boron plating. Moreover, this non-electrolytic nickel-boron plating has a chromate film applied to the surface thereof by using a chromate treatment. The foregoing foundation layer comprises a first electrolytic nickel plating for preventing rust of the head body and a second electrolytic nickel plating for improving the close contact of the non-electrolytic nickel-boron plating with the foundation layer.