A vehicle drive assist apparatus includes: an external environment recognizer; a vehicle-speed adjustment switch that adjusts a set vehicle speed for constant-speed travel control; and a vehicle speed controller that increases or decreases the set vehicle speed by a unit vehicle speed every time the switch is tapped, calculates a target acceleration rate based on a basic acceleration characteristic, and adjusts a vehicle speed to the set vehicle speed by using the target acceleration rate. When the set vehicle speed is so as to increase in response to the tapping and the set vehicle speed is above or equal to a speed limit, the controller calculates a first target acceleration rate until the vehicle speed reaches the speed limit based on a high acceleration characteristic, and calculates a second target acceleration rate after the vehicle speed reaches the speed limit based on the basic acceleration characteristic.

An approach to setting a cruise control speed based on identifying a vehicle operator and analyzing metadata associated with the vehicle operator. The identity of the vehicle operator and any passengers is determined based on identity sensors in the vehicle or by manual identity entry. Metadata, associated with the vehicle operator, is retrieved from the metadata database, located either locally or remotely. The metadata is analyzed based on factors such as the current route and the identity of any passengers. The cruise control speed is set based on the results of the analysis. Any changes to the setting are updated in the metadata database.

This vehicle speed control device includes: a driving force command generation unit that generates a driving force command FcmD on the basis of the actual vehicle speed V of the vehicle and a vehicle speed command Vcmd; an accelerator control unit that generates an opening degree command AC for the accelerator pedal on the basis of the driving force command Fcmd; a brake control unit that generates an opening degree command BK for the brake pedal on the basis of the driving force command Fcmd; and a step change control unit that selects, on the basis of the driving force command Fcmd, whether to perform an acceleration control mode in which the opening degree command AC is input to the drive robot, or a brake control mode in which the opening degree command BK is input to the drive robot.