Provided is an automatic operation assistance system comprising: a telematics center (1) that gives notification to a connected car (2) in accordance with a request that originated from the connected car (2), the notification pertaining to the traveling environment of the connected car (2) from which the request originated and a sensor evaluation value matching an external field sensor (22a); and the connected car (2) that changes, on the basis of the sensor evaluation value notified from the telematics center (1), a process for reflecting recognition data of each external field sensor (22a) of the connected car on an automatic operation control of the connected car.

A vehicle control system includes an automated driving control unit that automatically controls at least one of acceleration/deceleration and steering of a subject vehicle, the automated driving control unit performing automated driving control in any one of a plurality of modes with different degrees of automated driving, and an interface control unit that receives an operation of an occupant of the subject vehicle and restricts an operation with respect to an interface device on which predetermined information is output, according to the mode of automated driving performed by the automated driving control unit, and when the change to the mode of the automated driving in which the degree of automated driving decreases is performed in a state in which the restriction is relaxed or released, the interface control unit causes a state of the interface device to return to a state before the restriction is relaxed or released or performs a predetermined notification before a predetermined time at which the change of the mode of the automated driving is performed.

A vehicle control device includes a specific scene determination unit, a specific operation determination unit, a function-off unit, and a threshold value setting unit. The specific scene determination unit is configured to determine whether the vehicle is in a specific scene. The specific operation determination unit is configured to determine whether a driver of the vehicle performed a specific operation. The function-off unit is configured to turn off at least one of functions of the automated driving when the specific scene determination unit determines that the vehicle is in the specific scene and the specific operation determination unit determines that the driver performed the specific operation. The specific operation includes an operation on the accelerator pedal with a depression amount exceeding an accelerator threshold value. The threshold value setting unit is configured to set the accelerator threshold value depending on a scene where the vehicle is traveling.

A travel controller identifies a current lane on which a vehicle is traveling in a first lane zone traveled by the vehicle and including lanes, and detects a non-lane zone within a predetermined distance ahead of a current position of the vehicle. The non-lane zone lacks lanes and lies between the first lane zone and a second lane zone including fewer lanes than the first lane zone. Of the lanes included in the second lane zone, the travel controller identifies a lane having a start point whose distance from an end point of the current lane is the shortest, and preferentially selects, as a route in the non-lane zone, a route connecting the end point of the current lane and the start point of the lane identified in the second lane zone.

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for generating a transition variability index related to autonomous driving. In this regard, a first transition variability index is calculated. The first transition variability index is indicative of a first degree of variability in relation to transition of vehicles from respective autonomous levels while traveling proximate a first spatial reference point. Furthermore, a second transition variability index is generated. The second transition variability index is indicative of a second degree of variability in relation to transition of vehicles from respective autonomous levels while traveling along proximate a second spatial reference point. Updating of transition data associated with one of the first and second spatial reference points relative to another one of the first and second spatial reference points is then prioritized based on a comparison between the first transition variability index and the second transition variability index.

An information processing apparatus installed in a vehicle includes a driving control section and a preparation control section. The driving control section executes automated driving of the vehicle. The preparation control section executes, when the automated driving is being executed by the driving control section, preparation control which is control that stops at least a part of the automated driving and makes the driver perform a preparation switching to driving by the driver of the vehicle.

A vehicle control system includes an operation detector configured to detect that an operation element has been operated by an occupant, an automated driving controller configured to execute automated driving control, a switching controller configured to switch a driving mode to one of a plurality of driving modes including a first driving assistance mode and a second driving assistance mode, and an output controller configured to cause an information outputter to output prescribed information when the driving mode is switched from the second driving assistance mode to the first driving assistance mode. The switching controller continues the second driving assistance mode until it is detected that the operation element has been operated after the prescribed information is output and switches the driving mode to the first driving assistance mode by cancelling the second driving assistance mode when it is detected that the operation element has been operated.

A method for managing a hand-over from an Automated Driving System (ADS) to driver of vehicle, where ADS includes ADS feature being associated with first set of pre-cautionary constraints out of plurality of pre-cautionary constraints imposed by Pre-cautionary Safety (PCS) module while ADS feature controls vehicle. The method includes obtaining request to deactivate ADS feature, and providing partial control of vehicle to driver in order to enable manual driver operation of vehicle based on obtained request. The method includes monitoring manual driver operation of vehicle for a time period, and evaluating monitored manual driver operation of vehicle against second set of pre-cautionary constraints during time period. Then, based on evaluation, the method includes deactivating second set of pre-cautionary constraints upon expiry of time period if manual driver operation passes evaluation, or providing control of vehicle to ADS if manual driver operation fails evaluation.

A travel control apparatus controls automated driving travel of a vehicle by making a transition between a plurality of control states based on a surrounding environment of the vehicle. The travel control apparatus includes a skill level acquisition unit configured to acquire a skill level of a vehicle occupant about automated driving, and a control unit configured to control the automated driving travel of the vehicle in one of the plurality of control states based on the surrounding environment of the vehicle sensed by a sensing unit.

A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to determine, for a host vehicle operating in a first operation mode, a first operation mode transition location based on a time to transition the host vehicle from the first operation mode to a second operation mode, a current speed of the host vehicle, and a distance from the host vehicle to an operation mode transition boundary location, to determine a second operation mode transition location that is a specified distance from the first operation mode transition location, the specified distance based on the current host vehicle speed, to transition from the first operation mode to the second operation mode upon reaching the first operation mode transition location, and to transition from the second operation mode to the first operation mode when the second operation mode transition location is between a current location of the host vehicle and the operation mode transition boundary location.