Abstract: A control method and a control apparatus for a vehicle are provided which allow a subject vehicle to start moving at an appropriate time during automated travel control in which the subject vehicle is controlled to make a stop without depending on a brake operation performed by the driver. The control method includes executing the automated travel control in which the subject vehicle is controlled to make a stop without depending on the braking operation performed by the driver, and when detecting a stop of a preceding vehicle during execution of the automated travel control, presenting start-moving command information for reminding the driver of a start-moving command for the subject vehicle.

Abstract: A display control method includes displaying the detection state of a detector on a display device using an agent displayed on the display device. The detector detects a surrounding object. This method further includes determining the detection state of the detector on the basis of the detection result of the detector and setting the facial expression of the agent on the basis of the detection state of the detector.

Abstract: A control method and a control apparatus for a vehicle are provided which allow a subject vehicle to start moving at appropriate timing during automated travel control in which the subject vehicle is controlled to make a stop without depending on a brake operation performed by the driver. The control method includes executing the automated travel control in which the subject vehicle is controlled to make a stop without depending on the braking operation performed by the driver, and when detecting a stop of a preceding vehicle during execution of the automated travel control, presenting start-moving command information for reminding the driver of a start-moving command for the subject vehicle.

Abstract: A display control method includes displaying the detection state of a detector on a display device using an agent displayed on the display device. The detector detects a surrounding object. This method further includes determining the detection state of the detector on the basis of the detection result of the detector and setting the facial expression of the agent on the basis of the detection state of the detector.

Abstract: The vehicular notification device comprises luminescent devices provided on the roof of a vehicle and a notification control device configured to control the luminescent devices to emit light when a person existing around the vehicle is detected. The luminescent devices are provided so as to extend in the vehicle's front-back direction on both sides in the vehicle's width direction of the roof.

Abstract: The vehicular notification device comprises luminescent devices provided on the roof of a vehicle and a notification control device configured to control the luminescent devices to emit light when a person existing around the vehicle is detected. The luminescent devices are provided so as to extend in the vehicle's front-back direction on both sides in the vehicle's width direction of the roof.

Abstract: A travel control device comprises a detection unit configured to detect a travel state of a subject vehicle, a determination unit configured to determine a travel scene of the subject vehicle, a storage unit configured to store presentation information to be presented to a user in each travel scene, a presentation unit configured to present the presentation information corresponding to the travel scene to the user, an input unit for the user to input response information, and a control unit configured to control travel of the subject vehicle on the basis of the response information. The storage unit stores a priority level when presenting the presentation information. The presentation unit presents the presentation information of which the priority level is highest to the user when an actual travel scene of the subject vehicle falls under travel scenes corresponding to two or more items of the presentation information.

Abstract: A travel control device comprises a detection unit configured to detect a travel state of a subject vehicle, a determination unit configured to determine a travel scene of the subject vehicle, a storage unit configured to store presentation information to be presented to a user in each travel scene, a presentation unit configured to present the presentation information corresponding to the travel scene to the user, an input unit for the user to input response information, and a control unit configured to control travel of the subject vehicle on the basis of the response information. The storage unit stores a priority level when presenting the presentation information. The presentation unit presents the presentation information of which the priority level is highest to the user when an actual travel scene of the subject vehicle falls under travel scenes corresponding to two or more items of the presentation information.

Abstract: An inter-vehicle distance maintenance supporting system for a host vehicle can include an obstacle detector that detects the obstacle present ahead of the host vehicle, an inter-vehicle distance detector that detects the inter-vehicle distance between the host vehicle and the obstacle, a confidence factor computing device that computes the confidence factor for taking the obstacle as a preceding vehicle ahead of the host vehicle based on the state of the obstacle detected by the obstacle detector, a confidence factor correcting part that corrects the confidence factor based on the relative-position relationship between the host vehicle and the obstacle, and a reaction force controller that applies a reaction force on the accelerator pedal based on the inter-vehicle distance and the confidence factor.

Abstract: A headway distance maintenance supporting system may include an obstacle detector, a controller configured for determining an operation reaction force to be generated in a driving operation equipment, and an operation reaction force generator for generating the operation reaction force in the driving operation equipment. The controller is configured for controlling the operation reaction force based on the status of a detected obstacle. The operation reaction force comprises a principal operation reaction force and an auxiliary operation reaction force, the auxiliary operation reaction force being no greater than the principal operation reaction force. The controller is configured for generating the auxiliary operation reaction force before a generation of the principal operation reaction force in the driving operation equipment.

Abstract: A headway distance maintenance supporting system may include a running controller for performing constant headway distance control, a deceleration controller for performing deceleration support control, a transitional state detector for detecting transitional states of said given vehicle based on the running environment of said given vehicle or the operations performed by the driver. The system controller is configured such that when said transitional state detector detects that the transitional state of said given vehicle is a prescribed transitional state, said running controller is controlled such that said constant headway distance control is released, and said deceleration controller is controlled such that said deceleration support control can be performed.

Abstract: The vehicle is kept at a standstill even when an operation for ending adaptive cruise control is performed while the adaptive cruise control is on and the vehicle stop-maintenance control is on. When a vehicle comes to a stop while the adaptive cruise control is on, vehicle stop-maintenance control, preferably using electronic brake control, is carried out. When an operation for ending the adaptive cruise control is performed by the driver during this state, only the adaptive cruise control ends while the vehicle stop-maintenance control remains active.

Abstract: A vehicle headway distance control apparatus is provided with a first deceleration control system for controlling the deceleration of a vehicle according to a distance between the host vehicle and a preceding obstacle, and a second deceleration control system, which is different from the first deceleration control system and which controls the deceleration of a vehicle according to the same distance. A driver operable selection section is configured to allow a driver to arbitrarily turn “on” and “off” each of the first and second deceleration control systems, but prohibit simultaneously operation of both of the first and second deceleration control systems.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a vehicle to follow a preceding vehicle. A stop-holding device maintains a stopped state automatically when the vehicle is stopped, and the stop-holding device is in an enabled state or a disabled state. A control state for following the preceding vehicle is changed, at least in part, according to a set state of the stop-holding device.

Abstract: An inter-vehicle distance maintenance supporting system for a host vehicle can include an obstacle detector that detects the obstacle present ahead of the host vehicle, an inter-vehicle distance detector that detects the inter-vehicle distance between the host vehicle and the obstacle, a confidence factor computing device that computes the confidence factor for taking the obstacle as a preceding vehicle ahead of the host vehicle based on the state of the obstacle detected by the obstacle detector, a confidence factor correcting part that corrects the confidence factor based on the relative-position relationship between the host vehicle and the obstacle, and a reaction force controller that applies a reaction force on the accelerator pedal based on the inter-vehicle distance and the confidence factor.

Abstract: A headway distance maintenance supporting system may include a running controller for performing constant headway distance control, a deceleration controller for performing deceleration support control, a transitional state detector for detecting transitional states of said given vehicle based on the running environment of said given vehicle or the operations performed by the driver. The system controller is configured such that when said transitional state detector detects that the transitional state of said given vehicle is a prescribed transitional state, said running controller is controlled such that said constant headway distance control is released, and said deceleration controller is controlled such that said deceleration support control can be performed.

Abstract: A headway distance maintenance supporting system may include an obstacle detector, a controller configured for determining an operation reaction force to be generated in a driving operation equipment, and an operation reaction force generator for generating the operation reaction force in the driving operation equipment. The controller is configured for controlling the operation reaction force based on the status of a detected obstacle. The operation reaction force comprises a principal operation reaction force and an auxiliary operation reaction force, the auxiliary operation reaction force being no greater than the principal operation reaction force. The controller is configured for generating the auxiliary operation reaction force before a generation of the principal operation reaction force in the driving operation equipment.

Abstract: A vehicle headway distance control apparatus is provided with a first deceleration control system for controlling the deceleration of a vehicle according to a distance between the host vehicle and a preceding obstacle, and a second deceleration control system, which is different from the first deceleration control system and which controls the deceleration of a vehicle according to the same distance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a vehicle to follow a preceding vehicle. A stop-holding device maintains a stopped state automatically when the vehicle is stopped, and the stop-holding device is in an enabled state or a disabled state. A control state for following the preceding vehicle is changed, at least in part, according to a set state of the stop-holding device.

Abstract: The vehicle is kept at a standstill even when an operation for ending adaptive cruise control is performed while the adaptive cruise control is on and the vehicle stop-maintenance control is on. When a vehicle comes to a stop while the adaptive cruise control is on, vehicle stop-maintenance control, preferably using electronic brake control, is carried out. When an operation for ending the adaptive cruise control is performed by the driver during this state, only the adaptive cruise control ends while the vehicle stop-maintenance control remains active.