Abstract: A modular component bumper guard for protecting vehicles from damage caused by parking collisions. The guard includes a main body, two side pieces, two impact absorbing pads, and two straps. A “field of loops” on the vehicle side of the main body of the guard give the guard its adjustable in length and adjustable positioning properties. The guard is temporarily attached to a vehicle's bumper and wraps around its fenders to absorb the impact of colliding objects. It may be easily attached and detached from a vehicle with two or more bungee cords with hook fittings and/or two or more suction cups with handles. Impact absorbing pads secured solely by hook and loop fastener straps add an extra level of protection and potential customization.

Abstract: A bumper assembly having a transverse bumper body and at least one wing extension that is configured for pivotal movement relative to a side end of the transverse bumper body. Each wing extension has inner and outer surfaces and is moveable from a rest position to an impact position in response to an impact force acting within a horizontal plane. In the rest position, the outer surface of each wing extension is parallel or substantially parallel to the transverse axis, and in the impact position, the outer surface of the wing extension is positioned at an acute angle relative to the transverse axis. Each wing extension is configured to return to its rest position in response to removal of the impact force.

Abstract: A vehicle shield is provided according to the invention. The vehicle shield is constructed to avoid excessive hood flutter. The shield includes a vehicle shield region and an attachment region. The vehicle shield region is constructed for extending across at least a portion of a vehicle hood for protecting the vehicle hood. The attachment region is constructed for attaching the vehicle shield region to a vehicle. Also provided is a method of installing the shield to a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection device includes an airbag module, an actuator, and a controller. The airbag module includes an airbag and an inflator that allows the airbag to develop. The actuator attaches the airbag module to a vehicle, to cause a change in relative positional relation between the vehicle and the airbag module. The controller determines a collision mode of the vehicle, on a basis of one or more of input information used in prediction of the collision mode, input information upon a collision of the vehicle, and input information on an internal situation of the vehicle, and controls the relative positional relation between the vehicle and the airbag module. The airbag module allows the airbag to be developed in a state in which the change in the relative positional relation between the vehicle and the airbag module is caused by the actuator.

Abstract: Provided are an automatic alerting device and an automatic alerting method capable of producing an alert indicating that there has been a vehicle accident to those nearby the site of the accident. The automatic alerting device has: a state-detecting unit for detecting a vehicle state; an accident-determining unit for determining, on the basis of the vehicle state detected by the state-detecting unit, whether or not a vehicle accident has occurred; an alerting unit for producing an alert to the outside of the vehicle; and a control unit for controlling the alerting unit. The alerting unit has: an alarm that emits a sound to the outside of the vehicle; and a hazard lamp that emits light on the outside of the vehicle. When the accident-determining unit determines that there has been a vehicle accident, the control unit makes the alarm emit a sound and the hazard lamp emit light.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a releasable lockable lap bar assembly that optimizes the resistance against lap bar axle and lap bar connecting arm slippage. The invention involves the use of a plurality of splines on the end of the lap bar axle that is coupled within a stop sleeve in the distal end of the lap bar connecting arm. The stop sleeve also includes a plurality of splines aligned with an axis of the sleeve. The plurality of splines on the lap bar axle are aligned with a lap bar axis. When the splined end of the axle is inserted into the stop sleeve, the respective plurality of splines interdigitate to form a tight engagement of the lap bar axle and the connecting arm. Bolts in apertures of the stop sleeve can also be used to further prevent the lap bar axle from backing out of the sleeve.

Abstract: A passenger protection device includes an airbag case to be provided in an arm rest of a vehicle seat, and an airbag; wherein the airbag case has a passenger-side wall that is a cover that can rotate upward around its upper end; the device comprises support members that lie flat on a passenger-side surface of the cover and can assume an upright orientation; and if the vehicle collides at one side, the airbag is inflated and deployed outside the airbag case through the opening made in a passenger-side of the arm rest and pushes the cover, thereby rotating the cover upward, the support members may stand on the airbag case, supporting the cover rotated upward from back in an upright orientation.

Abstract: An automobile airbag door includes a base member, a cover member, which is bonded to the surface of the base member, and a tear line, which is formed in the back side of the base member. The tear line is configured to be a starting point of tearing when the base member is pressed by an airbag being deployed and inflated. The cover member includes a three-dimensionally knitted cushion layer bonded to the surface of the base member and a covering bonded to the surface of the three-dimensionally knitted cushion layer. The three-dimensionally knitted cushion layer is made of a double-raschel knitted fabric. The base member includes at least one projection that is formed on the surface of the base member and arranged to be adjacent to the tear line.

Abstract: A curtain airbag for a vehicle is configured to prevent a driver's neck from being broken by preventing a driver's head from being excessively rotated upon a crash of the vehicle in a state in which the driver's head contacts an airbag tube. The curtain airbag is also configured to prevent the driver's head from slipping through or between the curtain airbag and a driver airbag by removing a gap between the curtain airbag and the driver airbag when the driver's head moves forward during a crash of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnical actuator for a vehicle safety system comprising a cylinder (10) and a hollow piston (20) being displaceable relative to each other from an idle state to an activated state, wherein an igniter unit (30) being tightly connected to the hollow piston (20) is arranged inside the hollow piston (20). The invention excels by the fact that in the idle state the hollow piston (20) is received in the cylinder (10) and in the activated state it protrudes at least partially from the cylinder (10) so that the actuator has a larger total length in the activated state than in the idle state. The invention further relates to an actuator and a vehicle safety system comprising such actuator as well as to an actuating method.

Abstract: A seat belt buckle presenter assembly (10) has a guide track (40) and a buckle presenter assembly (20). The guide track (40) is anchored to a vehicle seat frame at a first end and a second end. The buckle presenter assembly (10) is secured to and mounted onto the guide track (40) and is movable along the guide track (40) from a stowed position at the first end to an extended position toward the second end. Preferably, the guide track (40) is inclined having the first end of the guide track (40) fixed lower than the second end.

Abstract: A fastening arrangement is disclosed for a safety belt of a rear seat row of a motor vehicle with a cross brace, which extends in the lateral direction. The fastening arrangement includes a tubular cross brace. The cross brace is provided with a mounting flange, on which a belt retractor is fastened and supported. The mounting flange is downwardly offset relative to an upper wall of the cross brace in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A system and a method for shutting down an illegally used vehicle involves a first control device of the vehicle receiving a vehicle shutdown command and a server connected to the first control device and which transmits the vehicle shutdown command to the first control device. The first control device requests confirmation of the vehicle shutdown command in an external authorization system before the shutdown of the vehicle and a second control device initiates the shutdown of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for controlling a charging connector anti-theft apparatus includes: verifying a connection between a socket of a vehicle and a charging plug included in a charging connector outside of the vehicle; locking the socket and the charging plug upon initiation of charging the vehicle; determining unlock conditions of the charging plug through communication with a smart-key; and outputting a warning sound or warning light upon reception of a separation signal indicating that the socket and the charging plug have been separated when the determined unlock conditions are not satisfied.

Abstract: A method and system for unlocking a reserved vehicle designed to encode an access code assigned by a remote server to a Morse code or pattern by a control box or a head unit provided in the reserved vehicle. The Morse code or pattern is generated in a form of a sound signal or a light signal with use of a vehicle horn or headlight. The Morse code or pattern in sound or light is detected by a pre-existing mobile device, typically, a smartphone of a user without requiring any specific access card or reader. The detected Morse code or pattern is decoded back to the access code or converted an FFT signal by the mobile device and is sent to the server for verification. When successfully verified, the server sends an unlock command to the reserved vehicle so that the user can gain access to the reserved vehicle.

Abstract: An automatic wiper control system for a vehicle window determines the presence of rainfall based on window vibrations. During a vehicle driving cycle, a controller measures the window vibrations with an accelerometer attached to the window. The controller calculates a psycho-acoustic metric based on the measured vibrations, wherein the metric can be comprised of Articulation Index, Sharpness, or Roughness. The calculated metric is compared to a threshold indicative of rain impacting the window. The wiper system is activated according to a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A heated wiper blade for motor vehicles includes an elongated flexible beam and a heating element extending along the beam. The heating element may be configured to provide increased heat at the central portion of the blade and at the opposite ends of the blade. The heating element is comprised of an electrical conductor material that varies the amperage drawn between hot and cold ambient temperature operation. The flexible beam may include curved end portions and a flat or reduced curvature central portion. The heating element is preferably covered and sealed off to prevent loss of heat energy.

Abstract: A windshield wiper comprising: a connector, an adapter, a steel blade, a rubber blade, a retainer, a retainer cover, and a sleeve; the connector having a third slot and a spring plate; the steel blade having holes disposed; the steel blade passing through the third slot, so that the steel blade is coupled with the third slot, and the spring plate is coupled with the holes; the connector and the adapter have multiple engaging components, so that the connector can combine together with the adapter by snap-fit connection. Therefore, the windshield wiper of the present invention has simple structure and secure assembly, not only reducing the production cost, but also easing maintenance.

Abstract: A connection arrangement to connect a wiper blade to a wiper arm is disclosed. A connection element includes an upper part formed to fasten the connection element to the wiper arm, on which upper part a lower part formed to hold a basic body of the wiper blade is mounted to be pivotable around a rotational axis. A slider encloses the wiper arm in an end region, where the slider is able to move along the wiper arm from an assembly position into a functional position securing the connection element. A securing element prevents a movement of the slider into the assembly position during a pivot movement of the lower part around the rotational axis by a first value and allows the movement of the slider into the assembly position if the lower part is pivoted by a second value which is greater than the first value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade assembly for the windows of a motor vehicle, comprising a longitudinal support (10) intended to receive a pressure application vertebra (20) and a wiper blade (30) and a wiper accessory (40) carrying a device (42a, 42b) for distributing and projecting a washer liquid wherein the accessory is intended to be assembled with the longitudinal support (10). According to the invention, the longitudinal support (10) comprises means for fixing said accessory (40) on said support.

Abstract: A steering brake locking system for a vehicle, such as an agricultural tractor, has at least first and second adjacent steering brake pedals, and a locking pin arranged to selectively lock the pedals together. The locking pin and at least a portion of the first and second pedals are formed from a conductive material, such that an electrically conductive path is formed between the first and second pedals through the locking pin when the pin is used to lock the pedals together. The locking status of the pedals can be determined by measuring the electrical conductivity between the first and second pedals.

Abstract: A brake device includes: a battery connected to a power supply line; a fluid pressure unit driven by power from the supply line and applies fluid pressure to a brake; an alternator that receives power from a vehicle engine and generates power at a voltage higher than a charged voltage of the battery; a capacitor that stores the power generated by the alternator; and a DC/DC converter that converts the voltage of the capacitor to a predetermined value and supplies the converted voltage to the supply line. When the vehicle will potentially collide with a forward obstacle, an output of the DC/DC converter is set at a target higher than an output voltage in a normal state before brake actuation, or if output of the DC/DC converter cannot be set at the target voltage, the alternator is driven to connect a generation voltage of the alternator to the supply line.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for multiple brake actuator operation under load cell failure. In various embodiments, a system for multiple brake actuator operation comprises a controller, a load cell in communication with the controller, a current sensor in communication with the controller, and a position sensor in communication with the controller and configured to measure a rotational speed of a motor shaft.

Abstract: Described herein is a vehicle system configured to identify and mitigate a risk associated with one or more hazards that may impact a vehicle. The vehicle system may include a service provider computer configured to maintain information related to one or more hazards. In some embodiments, a hazard may be identified based at least in part on its being located within the vicinity of a vehicle. In some embodiments, the service provider computer may generate a mitigation strategy to reduce or eliminate the risk posed by the identified hazard. The mitigation strategy may include one or more actions to be taken by a processor device within the vehicle. Upon being provided with a mitigation strategy, the processor device may execute one or more of the actions in the mitigation strategy without human interaction.

Abstract: A method and control system for controlling an electromechanical actuator (1, 2) of a brake system for motor vehicles, in which a measured actual value, of a controlled variable is intended to be set to a specified target value. A first actuator speed target value is determined on the basis of the target value and the actual value by a first controller (19,20), and wherein a manipulated variable for the electromechanical actuator (I, 2) is determined on the basis of the first actuator speed target value and a second actuator speed target value. The second actuator speed target value is determined on the basis of the target value and a specified relationship (30, 40) between the controlled variable and a variable corresponding to a position of the electromechanical actuator.

Abstract: An electric brake system includes a plurality of electric brake devices. A control device of each electric brake device includes: an abnormality determination section that determines whether there is abnormality in supply of power from a power supply device to the electric brake device; and a redundant function control section that, when the abnormality determination section has determined that there is abnormality in supply of power, controls the braking force by using an auxiliary power supply in accordance with a predetermined condition. The redundant function control section controls the braking force by using the auxiliary power supply at least when a desired braking force cannot be output even with all the electric brake devices for which the abnormality determination section has determined that there is no abnormality in supply of power, as the predetermined condition.

Abstract: A braking control system for an aircraft having braking wheels, the braking control system being configured to receive input of signals from sensors representative of a plurality of measured aircraft parameters, and to output a plurality of brake commands to brakes associated with the braking wheels, wherein the braking control system includes a health monitoring system for determining the operability and/or reliability of the sensor signals and/or of the braking wheels, and a task manager for automatically self-reconfiguring the braking control system so as to change the manner in which the braking control system utilises the input signals in the event that the health monitoring system judges a failure of one or more of the braking wheels or sensor signals. Also a method for operating an aircraft having a plurality of braking wheels.

Abstract: According to the embodiments described herein, a smart notification system can include a vehicle, a mobile communication device, and a wearable processing device. A wearable processor or the wearable processing device, a mobile processor of the mobile communication device, a vehicular processor of the vehicle, or a combination thereof can execute machine readable instructions to monitor ambient conditions of the vehicle with a sensor. A notification can be provided upon a wearable display of the wearable processing device. The notification can be indicative of the ambient conditions of the vehicle. A command can be detected with physical input of the wearable processing device. A command signal can be received with vehicle communication hardware of the vehicle. The command signal can be indicative of the command detected by the physical input of the wearable processing device.

Abstract: In a method for controlling a vehicle with a drive system comprising a power unit configuration adapted to provide output for the vehicle's operation, and further comprising a planetary gear and a first and second electrical machine, connected to components in the planetary gear via their rotors, a locking means is moved from a locked position, in which two of the planetary gear's components are locked together, so that the three components of the planetary gear rotate with the same speed, to a release position, when the vehicle is driven with the locking means in a locked position, by carrying out the following method steps. The power unit configuration is controlled in order to achieve torque balance between the components that are locked together by the locking means, and such locking means are moved into a release position, when said torque balance prevails.

Abstract: Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein relate to controlling engine operating points and power for full throttle command in an off-highway vehicle, such as a diesel electric haul truck, to increase fuel efficiency. In one example, a system includes an engine and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a target engine horsepower and associated target engine speed, command the engine to operate at a first engine speed above the target engine speed, adjust a load placed on the engine to reach the target engine speed, and command the engine to operate at a second engine speed to reach the target engine horsepower.

Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system includes a plurality of power sources coupled to a final drive of the vehicle propulsion system. A controller is programmed to determine a desired power demand from the power sources and operate a number of the power sources to produce the desired power demand. The controller identifies a least efficient power source of the power sources and controls the least efficient power source to produce power at an optimum operating point of the least efficient power source. The controller also identifies a power output of the least efficient power source corresponding to the optimum operating point, compares the power output of the least efficient power source to the desired power demand, identifies a remaining power demand from the comparison, and controls another power source to produce the remaining power demand.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for controlling an engine unit in a vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine unit, a transmission unit adapted to selectively couple with the engine unit and also configured to transmit the power generated by the engine unit, a first motor generator coupled with the transmission unit, an output unit, a power switching device, a second motor generator configured to drive at least one of front and rear wheels, and a power battery that is respectively connected to the first motor generator and the second motor generator. The method includes: acquiring an operating mode of a vehicle and an operating parameter of the vehicle; and controlling an engine unit according to an operating parameter and an operating mode to start or stop.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a navigation system of a hybrid motor vehicle having a combustion engine and an electric motor that is fed from an associated battery. In this method, an efficiency route enabling a maximum utilization of the electric motor is determined by the navigation system, where at least one item of efficiency information is considered in the determination of the efficiency route. The efficiency information is provided dynamically by a drive control device of the motor vehicle and is dependent on the current operating state and/or the current operating prediction.

Abstract: It is determined whether or not an automatic transmission is in a pre-gear shift state determined in advance prior to a power-ON gear shift in which torque-down control is performed. When the automatic transmission is in the pre-gear shift state, since a required free capacity is secured in a capacitor, torque-down control of a second motor generator is performed in a gear shift, and even if surplus power is generated in a power supply circuit due to the torque-down control, the surplus power can be quickly absorbed using the capacitor. Since a required free capacity is secured in the capacitor by determining whether or not the automatic transmission is in the pre-gear shift state, a predetermined free capacity does not need to be secured constantly, normal capacitor storage control focusing on drivability or the like can be performed normally, and use restriction of the capacitor is minimized.

Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle, noise occurrence caused in a rectangular wave control of a motor is restricted when a motor running mode is selected with a converter boosting limit applied. A motor controller for a hybrid vehicle mounted with an internal combustion engine and a motor as power sources is provided. The motor controller includes a converter capable of boosting a voltage supplied from a power supply device; an inverter which converts an output voltage of the converter to an AC voltage and applies the AC voltage to the motor; and a control unit which controls the inverter to drive the motor by switching between two or more control modes.

Abstract: A system includes a hybrid power train comprising an internal combustion engine and electrical system, which includes a first and second electrical torque provider, and an electrical energy storage device electrically coupled to first and second electrical torque provider. The system further includes a controller structured to perform operations including determining a power surplus value of the electrical system; determining a machine power demand change value; in response to the power surplus value of the electrical system being greater than or equal to the machine power demand change value, operating an optimum cost controller to determine a power division for the engine, first electrical torque provider, and second electrical torque provider; and in response to the power surplus value of the electrical system being less than the machine power demand change value, operating a rule-based controller to determine the power division for the engine, first, and second electrical torque provider.

Abstract: A method for at least partially automatically controlling, in particular automatically parking a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, includes predicting the movement of the vehicle, detecting the position of a body outside the vehicle, predicting a possible spatial and/or time-related contact area between the vehicle and the body on the outer shell of the vehicle, measuring a structure-borne sound in the predicted spatial and/or time-related contact area and issuing a warning signal the control unit if a previously specified criterion is met by the measured structure-borne sound signal.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to methods and apparatus for predicting traffic conditions and controlling a host vehicle based on the predicted conditions for travel along a path. The methods and apparatus can perform the following: accessing current path data relevant to a location and speed the host vehicle; detecting data, from a vehicular communications network, from a merging vehicle intending to merge into the path of the host vehicle; detecting data, from the vehicular communications network, of preceding traffic in the path of the host vehicle; determining a speed and location of the merging vehicle from the data transmitted over the vehicle communications network; determining a speed and location of preceding traffic on the path of the host vehicle from the data transmitted over the vehicular communications network; and predicting whether the speed of the preceding traffic or the speed of the merging vehicle will slow down during the merge.

Abstract: A lane departure prevention apparatus according to an embodiment includes a torque control section that outputs a torque control signal indicating to make an actuator generate automatic steering torque for preventing a vehicle from departing from a lane in which the vehicle is running; a driver steering torque detection section that detects driver steering torque, which is applied to a steering wheel of the vehicle by a driver; and a control stop determination section that determines whether or not the automatic steering torque is made zero by comparing a first cancel threshold value for determining sudden steering operation by the driver and a second cancel threshold value lower than the first cancel threshold value with the driver steering torque detected by the driver steering torque detection section.

Abstract: As a rate of deceleration that is generated by an accelerator pedal of a user's own vehicle increases, a following vehicle inter-vehicular distance threshold, which is compared with a following vehicle inter-vehicular distance and serves as a reference for issuing a notification (illumination of a brake lamp) to a following vehicle, is made greater. Consequently, a notification controller notifies the following vehicle more quickly as the rate of deceleration of the user's own vehicle becomes larger.

Abstract: A vehicle engine system includes a combustion engine configured to provide a propulsion torque to satisfy a propulsion demand in response to a driver input. The engine system also includes a controller programmed to receive data indicative of at least one upcoming driving event, and issue a command to impart a predetermined velocity profile based on the upcoming driving event. The predetermined velocity profile is arranged to optimize a performance attribute of the combustion engine and preempt the driver input.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a start-stop feature on a vehicle powered at least in part by an internal combustion engine include receiving, at an electronic control unit (“ECU”) of the vehicle, an indication that the vehicle is in line at a drive-thru; determining, by the ECU, a number of startstop events anticipated during the drive-thru; determining, by the ECU, an approximate stop time for each of the number of start-stop events; determining, by the ECU, that a battery of the vehicle has enough remaining charge to power a plurality of vehicle components during implementation of the start-stop feature; implementing, by the ECU, the start-stop feature in which the internal combustion engine is turned off for at least a portion of the time when the vehicle is stopped

Abstract: A braking force control system includes: a brake device and at least one electronic control unit. The brake device is configured to generate a braking force commensurate with a brake operation amount of a driver. At least one electronic control unit is configured to execute vehicle speed control for controlling a speed of a vehicle to a target speed by controlling a driving force and a braking force. The electronic control unit is configured to cause the brake device to generate an actual braking force corresponding to a total value of an additional braking force and an operational braking force when brake operation is performed during execution of the vehicle speed control. The additional braking force corresponds to a controlled braking force required by the vehicle speed control. The operational braking force is required through the brake operation.

Abstract: A control apparatus of a powertrain with a centrifugal pendulum absorber, includes an engine formed with a plurality of cylinders, a drive force transmission shaft for receiving an engine output torque, a centrifugal pendulum absorber for reducing a variation in the output torque, a connect-disconnect mechanism, an engine controlling module for shifting an engine operating state between an all-cylinder operation and a reduced-cylinder operation, and a connection controlling module. The connection controlling module shifts a connecting state of the connect-disconnect mechanism to a first state when the engine is in the all-cylinder operation, and shifts the connecting state to a second state in which the connection is tighter than the first state when the engine is in the reduced-cylinder operation. In response to issued requests to shift the engine operating state, the connection controlling module shifts the connecting state, and the engine controlling module shifts the engine operating state.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a transmission gear shift in a vehicle having a driveline and an electric motor operable to output torque to the driveline includes applying a negative motor torque to the driveline to reduce driveline oscillations resulting from the transmission gear shift. The negative motor torque is based on vehicle conditions occurring after the transmission gear shift has begun and before the transmission gear shift is complete.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method for determining responsiveness of a driver of a vehicle to feedback regarding driving behaviors. The system may include a sensor configured to generate output signals conveying first driving behavior information, which may characterize operation of the vehicle by the driver. The system may include one or more processors configured to obtain the first driving behavior information. The one or more processors may effectuate provision of feedback defined by feedback information based on the first driving behavior. The sensor may be configured to output signals conveying second driving behavior information, which may characterize operation of the vehicle by the driver during and/or subsequent to the provision of the feedback. The one or more processors may be configured to obtain the second driving behavior information and assess responsiveness of the driver to the feedback based on the second driving behavior information.

Abstract: The system described herein provides a sensor-based assessment of attention interruptibility. In a driving scenario, this system solves a persistent safety issue with regard to dangerous interruptions as they increase driver workload and reduce performance on the primary driving task. Being able to identify when a driver is interruptible is critical for building systems that can mediate these interruptions. The present invention utilizes sensor data collected from wearable devices and on-board diagnostics which can be used as input to build a machine learning classifier that can determine driver interruptibility in real-time.

Abstract: Based on a steering control input, a measured value of the steering control attribute and a measured value of the traction control attribute received by a steering application, determining: a first setpoint value of the steering control attribute; a target steering angle of the steered wheel of the vehicle. Based on receiving, by a traction application executing on the vehicle control module of the vehicle: a traction speed control input to control the traction wheel of the vehicle, and the target steering angle, from the steering application, determining, by the traction application: a second setpoint value of the traction control attribute.

Abstract: A user's portable electronic device can learn configuration preferences from a first environment, such as the user's car, and when the user visits another similar environment, such as a rented automobile, those configuration preferences can be imported into the visited environment and used to automatically configure the environment according to the imported preferences.

Abstract: A drive support apparatus includes a positioner determining a current position of a subject vehicle, a road determiner determining a currently-traveled road of the subject vehicle by map-matching the current position on a link of a road map, a node determiner determining a first intersection node on the currently-traveled road, a priority determiner determining whether the currently-traveled road is a priority road at the first intersection node against an intersecting road, a drive support controller performing a suppressed drive support control when the priority determiner determines that the currently-traveled road is a priority road, and an area setter setting a determination-kept-unchanged (D-K-U) area based on the intersection node. Based on the above, the drive support apparatus can accurately determine whether a current situation is a drive support suppression situation in which the drive support to a driver should not be provided.