A vehicle congestion determination device includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a first information indicating an occurrence of traffic congestion based on a first threshold value and a second information indicating the occurrence of traffic congestion based on a second threshold value as an allowable condition for starting an autonomous driving operation during the traffic congestion; and a control unit configured to integrate the first information and the second information and execute a first algorithm for determining the occurrence of the traffic congestion based on the first threshold value and a second algorithm for determining the occurrence of the traffic congestion based on the second threshold value.

A driving assist method and a driving assist device is provided for controlling a transmission ratio of a continuously variable transmission, which steplessly shifts gears and outputs an engine rotation speed. The driving assist method and a driving assist device continuously performs downshifting until an upshift occurs, when the transmission ratio of the continuously variable transmission is controlled so that the engine rotational speed increases in conjunction with an increase in a vehicle speed and the upshift will be performed after the vehicle has accelerated.

One object is to enable a preparation period for switching between modes in automated driving to be provided for a vehicle occupant. A vehicle control system includes an automated driving control unit that automatically controls at least one of acceleration/deceleration and steering of a host vehicle, the automated driving control unit performing automated driving control in any one of a plurality of modes having different degrees of automated driving, a detection unit that detects a state of an occupant in the host vehicle, an output unit that outputs notification information on the automated driving control, and a notification condition changing unit that changes a notification condition for outputting the notification information according to the state of the occupant detected by the detection unit.

The present teaching relates to method, system, and medium, for presenting a warning to a driver. An instruction indicating an upcoming change in an operating mode of the vehicle is obtained, wherein the instruction specifies a set of tasks to be completed by the driver and a task duration associated with each task. Information of a current state of the driver is obtained and used to determine a warning to be used to alert the driver to perform the change, wherein the warning includes warning content and indication of at least one media to be used to deliver the warning content. A warning schedule is generated to comprise a set of warnings, each warning corresponding to one task, and arranged in an order based on an order of the tasks. The warning schedule is transmitted so that each warning of the set of warnings is executed.

A driver monitoring system includes an automated driving controller that allows hands-off operation in which a driver releases hands from a steering wheel of a vehicle, and controls an automated steering driving in which the vehicle is automatically steered, and a request notification controller that notifies a hands-on request for prompting the driver of the vehicle to perform a hands-on operation to hold the steering wheel, or a surrounding confirmation request for prompting the driver to perform a surrounding confirmation operation to confirm a surrounding condition. During the automated steering driving, the request notification controller is configured to notify the hands-on request or the surrounding confirmation request again when an elapsed time from notification of the hands-on request or the surrounding confirmation request exceeds a criterion time.

A device for controlling autonomous driving of a vehicle includes: a communication device that supports communication with a data storage system for automated driving (DSSAD); a detector that detects travel environment information of the vehicle; and a processor that predicts a possible event by utilizing at least one of event data recorded in the DSSAD or the travel environment information, and performs an operation support service for the possible event.

According to an embodiment, a drive control device includes a generation unit configured to generate autonomous driving control information to control a behavior of a mobile object using autonomous driving; a prediction unit configured to predict a behavior of the mobile object when switching from the autonomous driving to manual driving; a determination unit configured to determine a difference between the behavior of the mobile object controlled by the autonomous driving control information and the behavior of the mobile object when the switching to the manual driving is made; an output control unit configured to output information that prompts a driver of the mobile object to select the autonomous driving or the manual driving, when the difference is present; and a power control unit configured to control a power unit of the mobile object using the autonomous driving or the manual driving.

A handover notification arrangement is configured to provide a handover notification in a driver environment of a vehicle having autonomous driving capabilities. The handover notification arrangement includes a road information arrangement configured to acquire road information representative of an upcoming road section at which the autonomous driving is likely to become at least partially disabled. The handover notification arrangement further includes a processing unit configured to calculate an estimated time available for autonomous driving and configured to calculate an uncertainty estimate of the estimated time available for autonomous driving. The handover notification arrangement is configured to cause the output unit to provide the handover notification such that the handover notification is provided earlier in cases of high uncertainty estimates than in cases of low uncertainty estimates. The present disclosure also describes a vehicle and a method of providing a handover notification.

This disclosure relates to a system and method for transitioning vehicle control between autonomous operation and manual operation. The system includes sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to the vehicle and its operation. During autonomous vehicle operation, the system gauges the level of responsiveness of a vehicle operator through challenges and corresponding responses. The system determines when to present a challenge to the vehicle operator based on internal and external factors. If necessary, the system will transition from an autonomous operation mode to a manual operation mode.

The disclosure provides an early notification system to alert a driver of an approaching unsafe autonomous or semi-autonomous driving zone so that a driver may switch vehicle to a non-autonomous driving mode and navigate safely through the identified location. In response, to a determination of an upcoming unsafe autonomous or semi-autonomous driving zone, the driver or system may take appropriate actions in response to the early notification.