Abstract: In an inter-vehicle control apparatus, a controller performs acceleration control of an own vehicle, based on an actual inter-vehicle physical quantity and a target inter-vehicle physical quantity. A limiter sets a limit value for a target jerk during the acceleration control. A detector detects an occurrence of at least one of: an event in which the inter-vehicle distance becomes discontinuously shorter; and an event in which a target inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the target inter-vehicle physical quantity becomes discontinuously longer. A determiner determines a risk of collision with the preceding vehicle, based on an operation state of the preceding vehicle in relation to the own vehicle. When at least one of the events is detected, the limiter sets the limit value to a value based on the risk of collision such that change in deceleration of the own vehicle is kept lower as the risk of collision decreases.

Abstract: A vehicle driving control apparatus is provided for controlling an own vehicle to track a target vehicle. The vehicle driving control apparatus includes: (1) means for acquiring an actual relative speed of the target vehicle to the own vehicle; (2) means for setting a target acceleration of the own vehicle based on the product of a relative speed gain and the actual relative speed acquired by the acquiring means, the relative speed gain being normally set to a reference gain; (3) means for detecting occurrence of an event which causes the target acceleration set by the setting means to discontinuously change; and (4) means for correcting, upon detection of occurrence of the event by the detecting means, the relative speed gain so as to gradually increase the relative speed gain from a value that is less than the reference gain.

Abstract: A preceding vehicle selection apparatus estimates a curvature of a road on which an own vehicle is traveling, detects an object ahead of the own vehicle, and determines a relative position in relation to the own vehicle. Based on the curvature and the relative position, an own vehicle lane probability instantaneous value is determined. This instantaneous value is a probability of the object ahead being present in the same vehicle lane as the own vehicle. By a filter calculation on the instantaneous value, an own vehicle lane probability is determined. Based on the own vehicle lane probability, a preceding vehicle is selected. An inter-vehicle time required for the own vehicle to reach a detection position of the object ahead is calculated. Based on the inter-vehicle time, characteristics of the filter calculation are changed such that an effect of the own vehicle lane instantaneous value increases as the inter-vehicle time decreases.

Abstract: A preceding vehicle selection apparatus estimates a curvature of a traveling road on which an own vehicle is traveling, detects an object ahead of the own vehicle, and determines a relative position in relation to the own vehicle, for each object ahead. Based on the estimated curvature and the determined relative position, an own vehicle lane probability instantaneous value for each object ahead is repeatedly determined. An own vehicle lane probability is determined by performing a filter calculation on the calculated own vehicle lane probability instantaneous value. Based on the determined own vehicle lane probability, a preceding vehicle is selected. Characteristics of the filter calculation are set such that an object ahead associated with a preceding vehicle selected in a previous processing cycle is relatively less affected by the own vehicle lane probability instantaneous value than an object ahead associated with an object other than the preceding vehicle.

Abstract: In an inter-vehicle control apparatus, a controller performs acceleration control of an own vehicle, based on an actual inter-vehicle physical quantity and a target inter-vehicle physical quantity. A limiter sets a limit value for a target jerk during the acceleration control. A detector detects an occurrence of at least one of: an event in which the inter-vehicle distance becomes discontinuously shorter; and an event in which a target inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the target inter-vehicle physical quantity becomes discontinuously longer. A determiner determines a risk of collision with the preceding vehicle, based on an operation state of the preceding vehicle in relation to the own vehicle. When at least one of the events is detected, the limiter sets the limit value to a value based on the risk of collision such that change in deceleration of the own vehicle is kept lower as the risk of collision decreases.

Abstract: In an inter-vehicle control apparatus, a controller performs acceleration control of an own vehicle, based on an actual inter-vehicle physical quantity and a target inter-vehicle physical quantity. A limiter sets a limit value for a target jerk during the acceleration control. A detector detects an occurrence of at least one of: an event in which the inter-vehicle distance becomes discontinuously shorter; and an event in which a target inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the target inter-vehicle physical quantity becomes discontinuously longer. A determiner determines a risk of collision with the preceding vehicle, based on an operation state of the preceding vehicle in relation to the own vehicle. When at least one of the events is detected, the limiter sets the limit value to a value based on the risk of collision such that change in deceleration of the own vehicle is kept lower as the risk of collision decreases.

Abstract: In a preceding vehicle selection apparatus, for each object ahead, a relative position, a relative speed, and width information indicating a lateral width are determined. A lateral position of the object ahead with reference to a traveling direction of the own vehicle is corrected by using the width information of the object ahead. Based on the relative position of the object ahead of, which the lateral position has been corrected, an own vehicle lane probability is calculated for each object ahead. A preceding vehicle is selected from the objects ahead based on the calculated own vehicle lane probability. Based on a value of a correlated parameter that has correlation with error in the lateral position or error in the width information, a correction amount of the lateral position is reduced as error in the lateral position or error in the width information becomes large.

Abstract: A vehicle-installed apparatus detects relative positions of other vehicles which are running ahead of the host vehicle of the apparatus, and, for each of these other vehicles, derives a value of probability that the vehicle is located in the same travel path as the host vehicle. A signal indicative of the yaw rate of the host vehicle is utilized in deriving the probabilities, and is filtered to exclude a range of high-frequency signal components, with the excluded range being widened when it is judged that the yaw rate is varying excessively rapidly.

Abstract: A vehicle driving control apparatus is provided for controlling an own vehicle to track a target vehicle. The vehicle driving control apparatus includes: (1) means for acquiring an actual relative speed of the target vehicle to the own vehicle; (2) means for detecting occurrence of an event which causes the actual relative speed to discontinuously change; (3) means for setting a target acceleration of the own vehicle based on the product of a relative speed gain and a tracking relative speed when the own vehicle tracks the target vehicle, the tracking relative speed being normally set to the actual relative speed; and (4) means for correcting, upon detection of occurrence of the event by the detecting means, the tracking relative speed so as to gradually increase the absolute value of the tracking relative speed from a value that is less than the absolute value of the actual relative speed.

Abstract: An obstacle detection apparatus in a host vehicle derives the value of absolute speed of a target object such as a preceding vehicle, and the distance of the object from the host vehicle, and compares the absolute speed with a threshold value that is increased in accordance with increase in value of a parameter which adversely affects the accuracy of deriving the absolute speed of the target object, such as the distance of the target object from the host vehicle or the running speed of the host vehicle. A judgement as to whether the target object is stationary or in motion is made based on results of the comparison.

Abstract: A preceding vehicle selection apparatus detects an object ahead of the own vehicle, and determines a relative position and a relative speed in relation to the own vehicle for each object ahead. Based on detection results of the object ahead, a lateral movement speed of the object ahead is determined. Based on the calculated lateral movement speed, the lateral position of the object ahead with reference to a traveling direction of the own vehicle is corrected. Based on the relative position of the object ahead of which the lateral position has been corrected, an own vehicle lane probability for each object ahead is calculated. Based on the calculated probability, a preceding vehicle from the objects ahead is selected. Based on a distance to the object ahead, the lateral position of the object ahead is corrected such that an amount of correction in the lateral position decreases as the distance increases.

Abstract: A vehicle-installed apparatus detects relative positions of other vehicles which are running ahead of the host vehicle of the apparatus, and, for each of these other vehicles, derives a value of probability that the vehicle is located in the same travel path as the host vehicle. A signal indicative of the yaw rate of the host vehicle is utilized in deriving the probabilities, and is filtered to exclude a range of high-frequency signal components, with the excluded range being widened when it is judged that the yaw rate is varying excessively rapidly.

Abstract: A vehicle driving control apparatus is provided for controlling an own vehicle to track a target vehicle. The vehicle driving control apparatus includes: (1) means for acquiring an actual relative speed of the target vehicle to the own vehicle; (2) means for setting a target acceleration of the own vehicle based on the product of a relative speed gain and the actual relative speed acquired by the acquiring means, the relative speed gain being normally set to a reference gain; (3) means for detecting occurrence of an event which causes the target acceleration set by the setting means to discontinuously change; and (4) means for correcting, upon detection of occurrence of the event by the detecting means, the relative speed gain so as to gradually increase the relative speed gain from a value that is less than the reference gain.

Abstract: A vehicle driving control apparatus is provided for controlling an own vehicle to track a target vehicle. The vehicle driving control apparatus includes: (1) means for acquiring an actual relative speed of the target vehicle to the own vehicle; (2) means for detecting occurrence of an event which causes the actual relative speed to discontinuously change; (3) means for setting a target acceleration of the own vehicle based on the product of a relative speed gain and a tracking relative speed when the own vehicle tracks the target vehicle, the tracking relative speed being normally set to the actual relative speed; and (4) means for correcting, upon detection of occurrence of the event by the detecting means, the tracking relative speed so as to gradually increase the absolute value of the tracking relative speed from a value that is less than the absolute value of the actual relative speed.

Abstract: In an inter-vehicle control apparatus, a controller performs acceleration control of an own vehicle, based on an actual inter-vehicle physical quantity and a target inter-vehicle physical quantity. A limiter sets a limit value for a target jerk during the acceleration control. A detector detects an occurrence of at least one of: an event in which the inter-vehicle distance becomes discontinuously shorter; and an event in which a target inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the target inter-vehicle physical quantity becomes discontinuously longer. A determiner determines a risk of collision with the preceding vehicle, based on an operation state of the preceding vehicle in relation to the own vehicle. When at least one of the events is detected, the limiter sets the limit value to a value based on the risk of collision such that change in deceleration of the own vehicle is kept lower as the risk of collision decreases.

Abstract: In a preceding vehicle selection apparatus, for each object ahead, a relative position, a relative speed, and width information indicating a lateral width are determined. A lateral position of the object ahead with reference to a traveling direction of the own vehicle is corrected by using the width information of the object ahead. Based on the relative position of the object ahead of, which the lateral position has been corrected, an own vehicle lane probability is calculated for each object ahead. A preceding vehicle is selected from the objects ahead based on the calculated own vehicle lane probability. Based on a value of a correlated parameter that has correlation with error in the lateral position or error in the width information, a correction amount of the lateral position is reduced as error in the lateral position or error in the width information becomes large.

Abstract: A preceding vehicle selection apparatus estimates a curvature of a traveling road on which an own vehicle is traveling, detects an object ahead of the own vehicle, and determines a relative position in relation to the own vehicle, for each object ahead. Based on the estimated curvature and the determined relative position, an own vehicle lane probability instantaneous value for each object ahead is repeatedly determined. An own vehicle lane probability is determined by performing a filter calculation on the calculated own vehicle lane probability instantaneous value. Based on the determined own vehicle lane probability, a preceding vehicle is selected. Characteristics of the filter calculation are set such that an object ahead associated with a preceding vehicle selected in a previous processing cycle is relatively less affected by the own vehicle lane probability instantaneous value than an object ahead associated with an object other than the preceding vehicle.

Abstract: A preceding vehicle selection apparatus detects an object ahead of the own vehicle, and determines a relative position and a relative speed in relation to the own vehicle for each object ahead. Based on detection results of the object ahead, a lateral movement speed of the object ahead is determined. Based on the calculated lateral movement speed, the lateral position of the object ahead with reference to a traveling direction of the own vehicle is corrected. Based on the relative position of the object ahead of which the lateral position has been corrected, an own vehicle lane probability for each object ahead is calculated. Based on the calculated probability, a preceding vehicle from the objects ahead is selected. Based on a distance to the object ahead, the lateral position of the object ahead is corrected such that an amount of correction in the lateral position decreases as the distance increases.

Abstract: A preceding vehicle selection apparatus estimates a curvature of a road on which an own vehicle is traveling, detects an object ahead of the own vehicle, and determines a relative position in relation to the own vehicle. Based on the curvature and the relative position, an own vehicle lane probability instantaneous value is determined. This instantaneous value is a probability of the object ahead being present in the same vehicle lane as the own vehicle. By a filter calculation on the instantaneous value, an own vehicle lane probability is determined. Based on the own vehicle lane probability, a preceding vehicle is selected. An inter-vehicle time required for the own vehicle to reach a detection position of the object ahead is calculated. Based on the inter-vehicle time, characteristics of the filter calculation are changed such that an effect of the own vehicle lane instantaneous value increases as the inter-vehicle time decreases.