The present disclosure is directed to controlling state transitions in an autonomous vehicle. In particular, a computing system can initiate the autonomous vehicle into a no-authorization state upon startup. The computing system can receive an authorization request. The computing system determines whether the authorization request includes a request to enter the first or second mode of operations, wherein the first mode of operations is associated with the autonomous vehicle being operated without a human operator and the second mode of operations is associated with the autonomous vehicle being operable by a human operator. The computing system can transition the autonomous vehicle from the no-authorization state into a standby state in response to determining the authorization request includes a request to enter the first mode of operations or into a manual-controlled state in response to determining the authorization request is a request to enter the second mode of operations.

An operation device for an autonomous vehicle includes a touch panel configured to display at least one of a start button and a deceleration button, and a notification button on the same screen. The autonomous vehicle is autonomously drivable. The start button is a button for starting driving of the autonomous vehicle in an autonomous drive mode. The deceleration button is a button for decelerating the autonomous vehicle during the autonomous drive mode. The notification button is a button for performing notification to an outside of the autonomous vehicle.

A vehicle control apparatus including circuitry configured to set a driving performance request in the given environments; determine whether driving performance of each of plural driving functions of a driver satisfies the driving performance request; and identify the driver's driving function that does not satisfy the driving performance request. On condition that an insufficient function is identified or the driving performance request is not satisfied, to realize the driving performance request, the circuitry is configured to perform at least one of controlling the vehicle such that the vehicle performs the identified insufficient function instead and providing the driver with an appropriate information so that the identified insufficient function close to a level of the driving performance request.

A vehicle control apparatus operates in various modes, e.g., a normal mode in which plural travel functions of a vehicle are controlled by plural driving functions of a driver; an automatic mode in which all driving functions are performed by the vehicle; an optimization mode in which, when a temporary reduction of driving performance of any of the plural driving functions of the driver is detected, physical stimulation and/or information that makes the driver recognize the temporary reduction of the driving performance is provided to the driver; and an assistance mode in which, when a chronic reduction of the driving performance of any of the plural driving functions of the driver is detected, information on assistance with execution of the driving performance is provided to the driver.

A vehicle driving support system evaluates the ability of a driver based on the driving operation of the driver for each of a plurality of driving-related functions possessed by the driver to drive the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle driving support system determines whether the ability of the driver is less than a predetermined standard for each of the driving-related functions and is not improved from then on, based on the past evaluation result of the ability of the driver. When determining that the ability of the driver is less than the predetermined standard for at least a part of the driving-related functions and is not improved from then on, the vehicle driving support system performs substitution control that causes a vehicle to perform the part of the driving-related functions instead so as to perform driving even if the driver does not exert the ability.

A driving assistance device, including an automated driving switch; an emergency button; and a controller configured to provide either automated driving in which travel is performed along a current travel path of a host vehicle or automated stopping in response to manipulation by a driver of the automated driving switch or of the emergency button.

Vehicles may have the capability to navigate according to various levels of autonomous capabilities, the vehicle having a different set of autonomous competencies at each level. In certain situations, the vehicle may shift from one level of autonomous capability to another. The shift may require more or less driving responsibility from a human operator. Sensors inside the vehicle collect human operator parameters to determine an alertness level of the human operator. An alertness level is determined based on the human operator parameters and other data including historical data or human operator-specific data. Notifications are presented to the user based on the determined alertness level that are more or less intrusive based on the alertness level of the human operator and on the urgency of an impending change to autonomous capabilities. Notifications may be tailored to specific human operators based on human operator preference and historical performance.

A vehicle control device includes a first inputter, a second inputter, a mode controller configured to, when the first inputter is operated by a user, determine a driving mode of a vehicle as a first mode, and when the second inputter is operated by the user in the first mode, switch the driving mode from the first mode to a second mode, and a driving controller configured to control at least one of a steering and speed of the vehicle, and the driving controller is configured to control a steering and speed of the vehicle and prohibit change of a path of the vehicle when the driving mode is the first mode, and control a steering and speed of the vehicle and change of the path of the vehicle is allowed when the driving mode is the second mode.

A driving handover control device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. In a case in which driving is handed over from a first state in which a vehicle is traveling by remote driving by a first driver from outside the vehicle or by occupant driving by the first driver in the vehicle, to a second state in which the vehicle travels by the remote driving or the occupant driving by a second driver who is different from the first driver, the processor is configured to cause transition from the first state to a third state in which the vehicle is caused to travel by automatic driving, and then cause transition from the third state to the second state.

A gaze target detector includes a line-of-sight detector, a relative speed data acquiring unit, a relative position data acquiring unit, a curvature calculator, a threshold adjuster, and a gaze determination unit. The line-of-sight detector detects the line of sight of an occupant in a vehicle. The relative speed data acquiring unit acquires a relative speed between the vehicle and a gaze target at which the occupant is gazing. The relative position data acquiring unit acquires a relative position between the vehicle and the gaze target. The curvature calculator calculates the curvature of a traveling track of the vehicle. The threshold adjuster adjusts a threshold based on at least one of the relative speed, the relative position, or the curvature. The threshold is used to determine the gaze target. The gaze determination unit determines the gaze target as a gaze event based on the threshold adjusted.