A vehicle driving assistance apparatus predicts (i) a first consumed energy amount corresponding to a consumed energy amount consumed by a driving apparatus of an own vehicle when executing a first following control and (ii) a second consumed energy amount corresponding to the consumed energy amount consumed by the driving apparatus of the own vehicle when executing the second following control. The apparatus executes the second following control when the second consumed energy amount is smaller than the first consumed energy amount. On the other hand, the apparatus executes the first following control when the second consumed energy amount is equal to or greater than the first consumed energy amount.

A deceleration support device in which an electronic control unit controls a speed reduction device to execute automatic deceleration control when an object that requires deceleration of a vehicle is detected and a braking/driving operation is not detected, and interrupt the automatic deceleration control when a driving operation is detected in a situation where the automatic deceleration control is being executed, and with an object that requires deceleration of the vehicle and does not prevent the vehicle from passing through a position of the object being defined as a specific object, the electronic control unit resumes the automatic deceleration control if it is determined that the object is not a specific object, but does not resume the automatic deceleration control if it is determined that the object is a specific object, when the driving operation is not detected in a situation where the automatic deceleration control is interrupted.

A deceleration support device in which an electronic control unit controls a speed reduction device to execute automatic deceleration control when an object that requires deceleration of a vehicle is detected and a braking/driving operation is not detected, and interrupt the automatic deceleration control when a driving operation is detected in a situation where the automatic deceleration control is being executed, and with an object that requires deceleration of the vehicle and does not prevent the vehicle from passing through a position of the object being defined as a specific object, the electronic control unit resumes the automatic deceleration control if it is determined that the object is not a specific object, but does not resume the automatic deceleration control if it is determined that the object is a specific object, when the driving operation is not detected in a situation where the automatic deceleration control is interrupted.

Disclosed herein is a vehicle predictive control method that includes determining a driving prediction horizon in front of a vehicle, dividing the driving prediction horizon into a plurality of steps, at least some of the steps corresponding to a sloped section being integrated into one step according to slopes, and applying a driving prediction model based on a relationship between states of vehicle speed, traction force, and braking force for each step and collectively computing the driving prediction model over the entire prediction horizon to calculate a control value for the vehicle.

Disclosed herein is a vehicle predictive control method that includes determining a driving prediction horizon in front of a vehicle, dividing the driving prediction horizon into a plurality of steps, at least some of the steps corresponding to a sloped section being integrated into one step according to slopes, and applying a driving prediction model based on a relationship between states of vehicle speed, traction force, and braking force for each step and collectively computing the driving prediction model over the entire prediction horizon to calculate a control value for the vehicle.

Systems and methods for distracted driving detection are described. A method includes receiving proximate vehicle data about a proximate vehicle proximate to the host vehicle. The method also includes estimating one or more baselines for a predetermined future time for the proximate vehicle from the proximate vehicle data. The method further includes comparing current kinematic data of the proximate vehicle data for the predetermined future time to the one or more baselines. The method includes generating distraction flags associated with the proximate vehicle based on the comparison. The method also includes controlling one or more vehicle systems of the host vehicle based on the generated distraction flags.

A vehicle speed controlling apparatus comprising a driving mode selector configured to receive a selection of a periodic-speed driving mode from a user, a driving strategy control unit including a speed profile generator configured to generate a periodic-speed driving speed profile with a period, an amplitude, and an average speed, and a driving assistance unit configured to output a required torque for a driving motor to follow the periodic-speed driving speed profile.

Path generation apparatus configured to generate target travel path of own vehicle traveling in travel lane, includes: external sensor mounted on own vehicle and configured to detect external situation centered on advancing direction of own vehicle; vehicle speed sensor configured to detect travel speed of own vehicle; and electronic control unit including processor and memory coupled to processor. Electronic control unit is configured to perform: setting target passing point on travel lane based on external situation; and generating target travel path from current location point of own vehicle to target passing point. Setting target passing point includes setting target passing point after predetermined time period when travel speed is equal to or higher than predetermined value, while setting target passing point to predetermined distance ahead from current location point when travel speed is lower than predetermined value.

Path generation apparatus configured to generate target travel path of own vehicle traveling in travel lane, includes: external sensor mounted on own vehicle and configured to detect external situation centered on advancing direction of own vehicle; vehicle speed sensor configured to detect travel speed of own vehicle; and electronic control unit including processor and memory coupled to processor. Electronic control unit is configured to perform: setting target passing point on travel lane based on external situation; and generating target travel path from current location point of own vehicle to target passing point. Setting target passing point includes setting target passing point after predetermined time period when travel speed is equal to or higher than predetermined value, while setting target passing point to predetermined distance ahead from current location point when travel speed is lower than predetermined value.

Autonomous driving system methods and devices which trigger vehicular actions based on the monitoring of one or more occupants of a vehicle are presented. The methods, and corresponding devices, may include identifying a plurality of features in a plurality of subsets of image data detailing the one or more occupants; tracking changes over time of the plurality of features over the plurality of subsets of image data; determining a state, from a plurality of states, of the one or more occupants based on the tracked changes; and triggering the vehicular action based on the determined state.