Abstract: The present invention has an object of determining feasibility of lowering a driving automation level of an automated driving vehicle, based on a driving load considering a relationship with surrounding vehicles. An automatic-driving-level lowering feasibility determination apparatus according to the present invention includes: a surrounding vehicle information obtainment unit obtaining surrounding vehicle information; a driving load calculator calculating, based on the surrounding vehicle information, a driving load value indicating a magnitude of a driving load on the subject vehicle; a driving-automation-level lowering feasibility determination unit determining feasibility of lowering a driving automation level of the subject vehicle, based on the driving load value; and an output controller outputting, to an automated driving control device, a result of the feasibility determined by the driving-automation-level lowering feasibility determination unit.

Abstract: An operation authority management apparatus manages switching between automatic operation and manual operation of a plurality of actuators (a steering actuator, an accelerator actuator, and a brake actuator) of a subject vehicle. In the operation authority management apparatus, a subject vehicle behavior prediction unit predicts a behavior of the subject vehicle. A determination unit determines, for each individual actuator, whether or not to permit switching of the actuator during the automatic operation to the manual operation on the basis of the behavior of the subject vehicle predicted by the subject vehicle behavior prediction unit. A notification unit notifies a driver of the subject vehicle of a determination result made by the determination unit.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to correct a travel plan of a vehicle so as to cause a self-vehicle to move to a relative position with lower travel risk. A travel plan correction device in accordance with the present invention includes a risk calculation section setting unit for setting a risk calculation section, a risk calculation unit for calculating a travel risk value, on the basis of a relative position between a target area and a surrounding vehicle and travel control information of the surrounding vehicle, a risk reduction section extraction unit for extracting a section whose travel risk value is lower than that at a traveling spot, out of the risk calculation section, as a risk reduction section, and a travel plan correction unit for correcting the travel plan so as to cause the self-vehicle to move to the risk reduction section.

Abstract: An automatic driving control plan creator creates a plan of an automatic driving section where a subject vehicle is automatically driven, and a plan of a driving switching preparation section for switching the subject vehicle from automatic driving to manual driving. A driving load calculator predicts, for each point of the driving switching preparation section, a driving load applied to a driver when the driver manually drives the subject vehicle. A driving switching permission determiner extracts, from the driving switching preparation section, a switching-inhibited section that is a section where switching from automatic driving to manual driving is not permitted, on the basis of the predicted driving load at each point. A driving switching preparation section compensator changes a start point of the driving switching preparation section so as to lengthen the driving switching preparation section in accordance with the length of the switching-inhibited section.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a technology of determining whether a driver is prepared for transfer of driving authorization, and then determining whether transfer of driving authorization is acceptable or unacceptable. The present invention is intended for a driving authorization transfer determination device. The device includes a task request part that makes an output device inside the vehicle output a request for a task involving continuous speech or body movement for a predetermined period of time, a task acquisition part that acquires an accomplishment result of the task from an input device inside the vehicle, a transfer determination part that determines whether the transfer is acceptable or unacceptable based on the accomplishment result of the task, and a determination result output part that outputs a determination result of the transfer determination part to the automated driving controller.

Abstract: In a peripheral-information determining apparatus, a peripheral-information acquiring unit acquires peripheral information indicating circumstances around a subject vehicle, from a peripheral-information detector that detects the circumstances around the subject vehicle. An intention estimating unit estimates, from person movement information, an intention of a person around the subject vehicle or an instruction of an indicator around the subject vehicle. The person movement information is included in the peripheral information, and is a piece of information that indicates a movement of the person, or a movement of the indicator that imitates a person's movement. A controller controls a travel controller or an outward-notification apparatus on the basis of the peripheral information and an estimated result that is obtained from the intention estimating unit. The travel controller controls the traveling of the subject vehicle.

Abstract: An automatic driving control plan creation unit creates a plan of an automatic driving section in which a subject vehicle is automatically driven, and a plan of a driving switching preparation section for switching the subject vehicle from automatic driving to manual driving. For each point in the driving switching preparation section, a driving load calculation unit calculates a driving load applied to a driver when the driver manually drives the subject vehicle. A driving switching permission determination unit permits switching of the subject vehicle from automatic driving to manual driving at a point where the driving load is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, and does not permit switching of the subject vehicle from automatic driving to manual driving at a point where the driving load is equal to or larger than the threshold value. A permission standard relaxation unit makes the driving load difficult to exceed the threshold value.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to implement, at a low hardware cost, a device that changes an autonomous driving control parameter whose step size is variably set. An autonomous driving control parameter changing device according to the present invention includes, a gesture operation acquisition unit that acquires information on a gesture operation for moving the operation target icon, a parameter changing unit that changes the autonomous driving control parameter in an increase or decrease direction defined in association with a movement direction in which the operation target icon is moved, and a step size setting unit that variably sets a step size based on a predetermined condition, the step size corresponding to an amount of change in the autonomous driving control parameter made by the parameter changing unit per occurrence of the gesture operation, and the change operation screen includes a display of the step size.

Abstract: A display control apparatus controls a display used in a vehicle which can travel with automatic driving. The display control apparatus includes an information acquirer and a controller. The information acquirer acquires information of a travel control plan generated by an automatic driving control device of the vehicle. The controller acquires a future position which is a position of the vehicle after an elapse of a predetermined time from a current position of the vehicle from a future movement of the vehicle planned by the travel control plan, and controls the display so that a user is visually provided with the future position of the vehicle by overlapping a vehicle object which is a display object imitating a vehicle shape with a landscape relating to the future position which is acquired.

Abstract: An object of the present invention to provide a notification control apparatus and a method for controlling notification that achieve display to a notification target with improved accuracy. A notification control apparatus in the present invention includes the following: an attribute detecting unit that detects an attribute of an object located around a subject vehicle; an input recognizing unit that recognizes an input message entered by the driver of the subject vehicle; a message converting unit that converts, in accordance with the attribute detected by the attribute detecting unit, the input message recognized by the input recognizing unit into a notification message indicating the same meaning as the input message; and a road projection controller that controls projection of the notification message converted by the message converting unit onto at least part of a road located around the object.

Abstract: A plurality of sections in a planned travel route include a first basic section for a first automatic driving level, a second basic section for a second automatic driving level lower than the first automatic driving level, and a change preparation section and a main section in the first basic section. An information output control device controls an information output system so as to perform information output in accordance with an output structure allowed in a current section, among a plurality of types of output structures each determined by a combination of output information, an output format, and an output destination device. Allowed output structures for the change preparation section include part of not-allowed output structures for the main section and also include at least part of allowed output structures for the second basic section.

Abstract: An operation authority management apparatus manages switching between automatic operation and manual operation of a plurality of actuators (a steering actuator, an accelerator actuator, and a brake actuator) of a subject vehicle. In the operation authority management apparatus, a subject vehicle behavior prediction unit predicts a behavior of the subject vehicle. A determination unit determines, for each individual actuator, whether or not to permit switching of the actuator during the automatic operation to the manual operation on the basis of the behavior of the subject vehicle predicted by the subject vehicle behavior prediction unit. A notification unit notifies a driver of the subject vehicle of a determination result made by the determination unit.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a technology of accurately identifying a device that a driver desires to operate out of on-board devices, and supporting operation of the device. An operation support device of the present invention includes a line of sight direction acquisition unit, a characteristic behavior acquisition unit, a device identification unit, and a display controller. The device identification unit is configured to identify at least one on-board device out of a plurality of on-board devices mounted in the vehicle as an operation target device that the driver desires to operate, based on a line of sight direction and a characteristic behavior. The display controller is configured to cause a display device mounted in the vehicle to display an operation screen of the operation target device.

Abstract: An object of the present invention to provide a notification control apparatus and a method for controlling notification that achieve display to a notification target with improved accuracy. A notification control apparatus in the present invention includes the following: a notification message acquiring unit that acquires a notification message for a notification target located around a subject vehicle; a gesture operation recognizing unit that recognizes a gesture of the driver of the subject vehicle; a road projection location determining unit that determines, on the basis of the gesture recognized by the gesture operation recognizing unit, a location for projecting the notification message acquired by the notification message acquiring unit onto a road; and a road projection controller that controls projection of the notification message onto the location determined by the road projection location determining unit.

Abstract: An object of the present invention to provide a notification control apparatus and a method for controlling notification that achieve display to a notification target with improved accuracy. A notification control apparatus in the present invention includes the following: an attribute detecting unit that detects an attribute of an object located around a subject vehicle; an input recognizing unit that recognizes an input message entered by the driver of the subject vehicle; a message converting unit that converts, in accordance with the attribute detected by the attribute detecting unit, the input message recognized by the input recognizing unit into a notification message indicating the same meaning as the input message; and a road projection controller that controls projection of the notification message converted by the message converting unit onto at least part of a road located around the object.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a technology of determining whether a driver is prepared for transfer of driving authorization, and then determining whether transfer of driving authorization is acceptable or unacceptable. The present invention is intended for a driving authorization transfer determination device. The device includes a task request part that makes an output device inside the vehicle output a request for a task involving continuous speech or body movement for a predetermined period of time, a task acquisition part that acquires an accomplishment result of the task from an input device inside the vehicle, a transfer determination part that determines whether the transfer is acceptable or unacceptable based on the accomplishment result of the task, and a determination result output part that outputs a determination result of the transfer determination part to the automated driving controller.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to correct a travel plan of a vehicle so as to cause a self-vehicle to move to a relative position with lower travel risk. A travel plan correction device in accordance with the present invention includes a risk calculation section setting unit for setting a risk calculation section, a risk calculation unit for calculating a travel risk value, on the basis of a relative position between a target area and a surrounding vehicle and travel control information of the surrounding vehicle, a risk reduction section extraction unit for extracting a section whose travel risk value is lower than that at a traveling spot, out of the risk calculation section, as a risk reduction section, and a travel plan correction unit for correcting the travel plan so as to cause the self-vehicle to move to the risk reduction section.

Abstract: The present invention has an object of determining feasibility of lowering a driving automation level of an automated driving vehicle, based on a driving load considering a relationship with surrounding vehicles. An automatic-driving-level lowering feasibility determination apparatus according to the present invention includes: a surrounding vehicle information obtainment unit obtaining surrounding vehicle information; a driving load calculator calculating, based on the surrounding vehicle information, a driving load value indicating a magnitude of a driving load on the subject vehicle; a driving-automation-level lowering feasibility determination unit determining feasibility of lowering a driving automation level of the subject vehicle, based on the driving load value; and an output controller outputting, to an automated driving control device, a result of the feasibility determined by the driving-automation-level lowering feasibility determination unit.

Abstract: An automatic driving control plan creation unit creates a plan of an automatic driving section in which a subject vehicle is automatically driven, and a plan of a driving switching preparation section for switching the subject vehicle from automatic driving to manual driving. For each point in the driving switching preparation section, a driving load calculation unit calculates a driving load applied to a driver when the driver manually drives the subject vehicle. A driving switching permission determination unit permits switching of the subject vehicle from automatic driving to manual driving at a point where the driving load is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, and does not permit switching of the subject vehicle from automatic driving to manual driving at a point where the driving load is equal to or larger than the threshold value. A permission standard relaxation unit makes the driving load difficult to exceed the threshold value.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to implement, at a low hardware cost, a device that changes an autonomous driving control parameter whose step size is variably set. An autonomous driving control parameter changing device according to the present invention includes, a gesture operation acquisition unit that acquires information on a gesture operation for moving the operation target icon, a parameter changing unit that changes the autonomous driving control parameter in an increase or decrease direction defined in association with a movement direction in which the operation target icon is moved, and a step size setting unit that variably sets a step size based on a predetermined condition, the step size corresponding to an amount of change in the autonomous driving control parameter made by the parameter changing unit per occurrence of the gesture operation, and the change operation screen includes a display of the step size.