Disclosed is a method for controlling the speed of a vehicle, the method comprising: determining a speed limit; determining an offset value based on (i) the speed limit, and (ii) a speed map, the speed map comprising a plurality of entries, each entry associating one of the offset values with a respective speed limit; and setting the speed of the vehicle according to the speed limit and the determined offset value.

Disclosed is a method for controlling the speed of a vehicle, the method comprising: determining a speed limit; determining an offset value based on (i) the speed limit, and (ii) a speed map, the speed map comprising a plurality of entries, each entry associating one of the offset values with a respective speed limit; and setting the speed of the vehicle according to the speed limit and the determined offset value.

A driving control method comprises: acquiring a destination of a vehicle; referring to a first map that includes identification information of a travel lane and a second map that does not include the identification information of the travel lane; calculating a route from a current position of the vehicle to the destination; when traveling along a first route included in the route and belonging to the first map, setting first driving control, while when traveling along a second route included in the route and belonging to the second map, setting second driving control with a lower level of autonomous driving than that of the first driving control; and creating a driving plan for the vehicle to travel along the route with contents of the set driving control. A driving control apparatus is based on the method.

Methods and systems are disclosed for determining sensor degradation by actively controlling an autonomous vehicle. Determining sensor degradation may include obtaining sensor readings from a sensor of an autonomous vehicle, and determining baseline state information from the obtained sensor readings. A movement characteristic of the autonomous vehicle, such as speed or position, may then be changed. The sensor may then obtain additional sensor readings, and second state information may be determined from these additional sensor readings. Expected state information may be determined from the baseline state information and the change in the movement characteristic of the autonomous vehicle. A comparison of the expected state information and the second state information may then be performed. Based on this comparison, a determination may be made as to whether the sensor has degraded.

An apparatus comprising an interface, a memory and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive sensor data samples during operation of a vehicle. The memory may be configured to store the sensor data samples over a number of points in time. The processor may be configured to analyze the sensor data samples stored in the memory to detect a pattern. The processor may be configured to manage an application of brakes of the vehicle in response to the pattern.

A travel assisting method for a vehicle which is executed by a processor, comprising: generating a vehicle speed command value based on vehicle information of a subject vehicle; calculating the vehicle speed command value at a predetermined time (a look-ahead time) ahead of a current time based on information of a feature existing ahead of the subject vehicle in a travelling direction, as a look-ahead vehicle speed command value; and controlling the subject vehicle based on the look-ahead vehicle speed command value. Further, a lighting state of a traffic light located around the subject vehicle is detected, and the look-ahead time is set based on the lighting state.

A travel assisting method for a vehicle which is executed by a processor, comprising: generating a vehicle speed command value based on vehicle information of a subject vehicle; calculating the vehicle speed command value at a predetermined time (a look-ahead time) ahead of a current time based on information of a feature existing ahead of the subject vehicle in a travelling direction, as a look-ahead vehicle speed command value; and controlling the subject vehicle based on the look-ahead vehicle speed command value. Further, a lighting state of a traffic light located around the subject vehicle is detected, and the look-ahead time is set based on the lighting state.

A method is provided for operating a materials handling vehicle comprising: monitoring, by a processor, vehicle acceleration in a direction of travel of the vehicle during a manual operation by an operator of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling in a first vehicle orientation; collecting and storing, by the processor, data related to the monitored vehicle acceleration; receiving, by the processor, a request to implement a semi-automated driving operation; calculating, by the processor, a maximum vehicle acceleration based on acceleration data comprising the stored data, wherein the data related to the monitored vehicle acceleration used in calculating the maximum vehicle acceleration comprises only the vehicle acceleration data in the direction of travel of the vehicle collected when the vehicle is traveling in the first vehicle orientation. Based at least in part on the maximum vehicle acceleration, controlling, by the processor, implementation of the semi-automated driving operation.

A driving assistance apparatus includes a controller programmed to perform a deceleration assistance process of assisting in decelerating a vehicle before the vehicle arrives at a deceleration object, and to control a display apparatus to display, in a first display area, first notification information for notifying an occupant of the vehicle of the deceleration object that is a target for the deceleration assistance process. When a first object and a second object that is different from the first object are both detected as the deceleration object and the second object is the target for the deceleration assistance process but the first object is not the target for the deceleration assistance process, the controller is programmed to control the display apparatus to display, in a second display area, second notification information for notifying the occupant of the first object, the second display area is different from the first display area.

A vehicle driving system to be provided in a vehicle includes a touch sensor and a control unit. The touch sensor is to be provided in the steering operation device and configured to measure a fluctuation in electrostatic capacitance. The control unit determines, based on information from the touch sensor, whether a driver of the vehicle is in a steering-holding state or in a non-steering-holding state. After a detection of a first fluctuation that is a fluctuation in the electrostatic capacitance occurring before a malfunction of the touch sensor, the control unit determines that the driver is in the non-steering-holding state even if the information from the touch sensor to the control unit indicates that the driver is in the steering-holding state.