Abstract: A determination processor, when determining a driving action of a subject vehicle traveling on a route, determines a scene which the subject vehicle encounters. The determination processor extracts a plurality of events which the subject vehicle encounters when traveling on a first route, and rearranges the extracted plurality of events in the order of encounters with the subject vehicle.

Abstract: A drive planning processor plans a driving operation plan for a subject vehicle traveling on a route. The drive planning processor sets one or more candidate stop positions for the subject vehicle to make a stop, using determination results for relationships between the subject vehicle and a plurality of events which the subject vehicle encounters in a time-series manner when traveling on a first route. The one or more candidate stop positions are set for respective events. The drive planning processor plans a driving operation plan for a scene which the subject vehicle encounters using determination results for relationships between the subject vehicle and the plurality of events which the subject vehicle encounters at the candidate stop positions.

Abstract: A drive planning processor plans a driving operation plan for a subject vehicle traveling on a route. The drive planning processor determines an action for each of a plurality of events which the subject vehicle encounters in a time-series manner when traveling on a first route and plans a series of driving operation plan for a scene which the subject vehicle encounters using content of each action determined for each of the plurality of events.

Abstract: A control method allows an own vehicle to proceed through a specific intersection into which vehicles are permitted to proceed in the order that the vehicles arrive. The method includes setting a determination region within a lane other than a lane in which the own vehicle travels; determining whether the own vehicle reaches a certain position at the near side of the specific intersection; allocating a priority state to the determination region when the own vehicle reaches the certain position and allocating a non-priority state to the determination region in which the vehicle does not exist when the own vehicle reaches the certain position; changing the priority state of the determination region to the non-priority state when the vehicle no longer exists in the determination region; and allowing the own vehicle to proceed into the specific intersection when the determination region of the priority state is not present.

Abstract: The travel route calculation device includes a travel route calculation unit configured to calculate a travel route for a subject vehicle to arrive at a destination, a feature detection unit configured to detect a feature, and a distance measurement unit configured to measure a distance from the subject vehicle to the feature as a necessary recognition distance. the necessary recognition distance is necessary for the subject vehicle to recognize the feature when deciding an action of the subject vehicle. The travel route calculation device further includes a determination unit configured to determine difficulty in recognizing the feature, on the basis of a detection range of the feature detection unit and the necessary recognition distance. The travel route calculation unit calculates the travel route while avoiding a location at which recognition of the feature is determined to be difficult by the determination unit.

Abstract: A drive assist device for assisting a drive when a subject vehicle changes lanes comprises a position measurement unit configured to measure a position of the subject vehicle; a detection unit provided at the subject vehicle and configured to detect a surrounding situation of the subject vehicle; a database configured to store map information; and a setting unit configured to set a lane change location and a reference point on a travel route of the subject vehicle on the basis of the position of the subject vehicle and the map information. The reference point is located ahead of the lane change location in a travel direction of the subject vehicle. The setting unit sets, on the basis of a detection range of the detection unit and a position of the reference point, a point at which the subject vehicle should complete changing lanes, as a lane change completion point.

Abstract: The travel route calculation device includes a travel route calculation unit configured to calculate a travel route for a subject vehicle to arrive at a destination, an information acquisition unit configured to acquire information on an object, which affects recognition of a feature by the subject vehicle, as object information, and a distance measurement unit configured to measure a distance from the subject vehicle to the feature as a necessary recognition distance. The necessary recognition distance is necessary for the subject vehicle to recognize the feature when deciding an action. The travel route calculation device further includes a determination unit configured to determine difficulty in recognizing the feature, on the basis of the object information and the necessary recognition distance. The travel route calculation unit calculates the travel route while avoiding a location at which recognition of the feature is determined to be difficult by the determination unit.

Abstract: A control method allows an own vehicle to proceed through a specific intersection into which vehicles are permitted to proceed in the order that the vehicles arrive. The method includes setting a determination region within a lane other than a lane in which the own vehicle travels; determining whether the own vehicle reaches a certain position at the near side of the specific intersection; allocating a priority state to the determination region when the own vehicle reaches the certain position and allocating a non-priority state to the determination region in which the vehicle does not exist when the own vehicle reaches the certain position; changing the priority state of the determination region to the non-priority state when the vehicle no longer exists in the determination region; and allowing the own vehicle to proceed into the specific intersection when the determination region of the priority state is not present.

Abstract: Information regarding a vehicle is acquired by a vehicle information acquisition unit provided in the vehicle, and an object to be avoided is detected by an avoidance-target object detection unit. On the basis of the vehicle information and the distance and angle of the object to be avoided, the location and amount of movement of the object to be avoided are calculated by a peripheral information recognition unit, and the calculation accuracy of the location and amount of movement of the object to be avoided are determined by a driving maneuver determination unit. On the basis of the calculation accuracy of the location and amount of movement of the object to be avoided, a driving maneuver for avoiding the object to be avoided is determined, and autonomous driving control is implemented in accordance with the driving maneuver that is determined.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for welding members formed of thermoplastic resin material, with high welding strength and small strength variations. A laser welding apparatus 1 brings a first member 2 formed of a transmissive thermoplastic resin that transmits a laser beam into contact with a second member 3 formed of an absorptive thermoplastic resin that absorbs the laser beam, and joins the thermoplastic resin members by melting their contact surfaces 4 with the laser beam. The laser welding apparatus 1 further comprises a laser beam generator 10 for irradiating the contact surfaces with the laser beam shone from the side of the first member 3 so as to melt at least one of the contact surfaces of the first member and the second member.

Abstract: Information regarding a vehicle is acquired by a vehicle information acquisition unit provided in the vehicle, and an object to be avoided is detected by an avoidance-target object detection unit. On the basis of the vehicle information and the distance and angle of the object to be avoided, the location and amount of movement of the object to be avoided are calculated by a peripheral information recognition unit, and the calculation accuracy of the location and amount of movement of the object to be avoided are determined by a driving maneuver determination unit. On the basis of the calculation accuracy of the location and amount of movement of the object to be avoided, a driving maneuver for avoiding the object to be avoided is determined, and autonomous driving control is implemented in accordance with the driving maneuver that is determined.

Abstract: A jig pallet for conveying a workpiece that is placed on it and has a portion to be worked. The jig pallet has a conveyance carriage (A) movable along a production line, a workpiece receiving member (B) provided on the conveyance carriage (A) and on which the workpiece is placed, a pressing mechanism (E) to be placed so as to face a peripheral section of a to-be-worked portion of the workpiece placed on the workpiece receiving member (B), and an opening/closing member (D) on which the pressing mechanism (E) is provided. When the opening/closing member (D) is closed, the pressing mechanism (E) presses a peripheral section of the to-be-worked portion of the workpiece from above, and when being opened, the pressing is released, enabling the opening/closing member (D) to be opened and closed, with one end of the conveyance carriage (A) functioning as the support point, and allowing the workpiece to be taken out.

Abstract: A fabrication line that utilizes a jig pallet that is commonly used in processing equipment to efficiently finish and assemble semifinished products of plural shapes. The jig pallet includes a holding member D for holding a semifinished product W and an opening/closing device G1 for opening and closing the holding member D, and allows the semifinished product W to be mounted and dismounted by opening and closing the holding member D with the opening/closing device G1. The jig pallet is transported to processing equipment M1, M2, and M3 to allow the semifinished product to be processed in the fabrication line. An opening/closing driving device G2 that engages the opening/closing device G1 to open and close the holding member is provided along the fabrication line.

Abstract: A seal structure for sealing a penetrated portion through which a rotary shaft passes between a cover member and the rotary shaft. A seal member is fitted onto the rotary shaft in a manner that the rotary shaft can rotate relative to the seal member, and the elastic buffer member is provided for connection between the seal member and the cover member at the penetrated portion. The seal structure can keep sealing performance by reducing the influence of movements such as vibration and thermal expansion of the cover member and the influence of process tolerance of the cover member on the sealing performance of the seal member attached to the penetrated portion between the cover member and the rotary shaft penetrating the cover member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for welding members formed of thermoplastic resin material, with high welding strength and small strength variations. A laser welding apparatus 1 brings a first member 2 formed of a transmissive thermoplastic resin that transmits a laser beam into contact with a second member 3 formed of an absorptive thermoplastic resin that absorbs the laser beam, and joins the thermoplastic resin members by melting their contact surfaces 4 with the laser beam. The laser welding apparatus 1 further comprises a laser beam generator 10 for irradiating the contact surfaces with the laser beam shone from the side of the first member 3 so as to melt at least one of the contact surfaces of the first member and the second member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for laser welding two members made of thermoplastic resin material whereby high welding strength can be achieved and strength variations can be reduced. A first member 2 comprised of a transmissive thermoplastic resin that transmits a laser beam is brought into contact with a second member 3 comprised of an absorptive thermoplastic resin that absorbs a laser beam. Contact surfaces 4 are melted with a laser beam so as to join the two members. At least the contact surfaces 4 of the two members are pre-heated by a pre-heating means 20 at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the contact surfaces. The contact surfaces 4 are then irradiated with a laser beam R generated by a laser beam generator 10 that is shone from the side of the first member so as to melt at least one of the contact surfaces of the two members.

Abstract: A guide system terminal device is provided to facilitate group operation vehicles. The guide system terminal device has a transceiver that receives the traveling environment information from another vehicle, such as for the turn signal, vehicle speed, running position, a road change judgment module that judges course changes by the other vehicle based on the traveling environment information of the other vehicle, and a user interface that outputs the judgment result obtained by road change judgment module. For example, the road change judgment module judges a left/right turn to have occurred when the blinker information acquired by turn signal sensor lasts longer than a prescribed time, and when the maximum value of the change in vehicle speed exceeds a prescribed level.

Abstract: A jig palette for conveying a workpiece that is placed on it and has a portion to be worked. The jig palette has a conveyance carriage (A) movable along a production line, a workpiece receiving member (B) provided at the conveyance carriage (A) and on which the workpiece is placed, a pressing mechanism (E) to be placed so as to face a peripheral section of the to-be-worked portion of the workpiece placed on the workpiece receiving member (B), and an opening/closing member (D) on which the pressing mechanism (E) is provided. When the opening/closing member (D) is being closed, the pressing mechanism (E) presses a peripheral section of the to-be-worked portion of the workpiece from above, and when being opened, the pressing is released, enabling the opening/closing member (D) to be opened and closed, with one end of the conveyance carriage (A) functioning as the support point, and allowing the workpiece to be taken out.

Abstract: A vehicle information processing system 100 conducts wireless communications between a preceding vehicle 200 and a succeeding vehicle 201, and exhibits information on a winker operation of the preceding vehicle 200 to a driver of the succeeding vehicle 201, and includes vehicle-mounted apparatuses 1 in the preceding and succeeding vehicles, of which one 1 in the preceding vehicle 200 wirelessly transmits information on a winker operation of the preceding vehicle, and the other 1 in the succeed vehicle 201 receives the wirelessly transmitted information on the winker state, and exhibits same to a driver of the succeeding vehicle 201, while the apparatus 1 in the succeeding vehicle 201 estimates a relationship between the preceding vehicle 200 and the succeeding vehicle 201, judges whether an exhibition liming of the information on the winker state is to be hastened or delayed based on an estimation result, and exhibits the information on the winker state at the judged timing.

Abstract: A fabrication line that utilizes a versatile jig pallet that can be commonly used in processing equipment to efficiently finish and assembly of the production of semifinished products of plural shapes is disclosed. The jig pallet comprises a holding member for holding a semifinished product W and an opening/closing device G1 for opening and closing the holding member D, and allows the semifinished product W to be mounted and dismounted by opening and closing the holding member D by means of the opening/closing device G1. The jig pallet is transported to processing equipment M1, M2, and M3 to allow the semifinished product to be processed in the fabrication line. An opening/closing driving device G2 engaging the opening/closing device G1 to drive the holding member D to open and close is provided along the fabrication line.