An RDM controller executes RDM control (steering suppression control). However, the RDM controller does not execute RDM control in cases in which lane changing has been determined to be possible by a LC determination section and a torque sensor has detected a steering input of a predetermined amount or greater.

An alert control apparatus that notifies a driver in advance of a transfer of control relating to a driving operation from an automatic driving function to the driver by controlling an alert device mounted on a vehicle, which is equipped with the automatic driving function, includes: an estimator that estimates an occurrence of a change execution situation that requires a lane change under a condition in which the driving operation of the vehicle is controlled by the automatic driving function; a determiner that determines a level of difficulty of lane change control based on a plurality of travel environment factors in the change execution situation; and a notification device that notifies the driver of a possibility of the transfer of the control together with a reason of the transfer of the control with a notification mode corresponding to the level using the alert device.

Provided is a route guidance apparatus and a route guidance method which are capable of appropriately performing route guidance on a road where a plurality of lanes exist on one side. The route guidance apparatus 12 or the route guidance method determines the timing of the automated or manual lane change based on the total required distance Dlcttl corresponding to the number of required lane changes Nlcn required for reaching the target lane 502tar from the current lane 502cur, and the remaining distance to the planned course change point Prc from the current position Pcur. When the timing of the lane change is reached, the timing of the automated lane change or the manual lane change is guided, or the automated lane change is performed.

The first yaw angle return control is started at a first start time when the first interruption condition is established. The actuator is controlled under the first yaw angle return control so that yaw angle at a first finish time becomes a value closer to yaw angle at the lane change start time compared with yaw angle at the first start time. The first finish time comes when a first control execution time passes from the first start time. The actuator is controlled under the second yaw angle return control so that yaw angle at a second finish time becomes a value closer to yaw angle at the lane change start time compared with yaw angle at the second start time. The second finish time comes when a second control execution time longer than the first control execution time passes from the second start time.

The invention relates to a lane change assistant for a vehicle comprising a sensor arrangement for calculating information relating to lanes and other road users. Provided is an arithmetic and logic unit for calculating movement paths for a first lane change and a subsequent second lane change to the original lane. The vehicle driver can accept or initiate the calculated lane changes. An actuator unit can then execute the lane changes calculated by the arithmetic and logic unit and initiated by the vehicle driver upon receipt of a signal from the arithmetic and logic unit.

In various examples, a trigger signal may be received that is indicative of a vehicle maneuver to be performed by a vehicle. A recommended vehicle trajectory for the vehicle maneuver may be determined in response to the trigger signal being received. To determine the recommended vehicle trajectory, sensor data may be received that represents a field of view of at least one sensor of the vehicle. A value of a control input and the sensor data may then be applied to a machine learning model(s) and the machine learning model(s) may compute output data that includes vehicle control data that represents the recommended vehicle trajectory for the vehicle through at least a portion of the vehicle maneuver. The vehicle control data may then be sent to a control component of the vehicle to cause the vehicle to be controlled according to the vehicle control data.

A method for operating a control device for the autonomous guidance of a motor vehicle, wherein a nominal speed is predetermined as a driving speed to be set by the control device and another vehicle driving in front more slowly than the nominal speed is detected by a detection device of the control device, wherein a speed difference of a driving speed of the other vehicle with respect to the nominal speed is greater than zero but smaller than a predetermined maximum value. In this case, an accumulator value is set to a starting value and a current speed value of the speed difference is detected and depending on the speed value, an advantage value is formed and the advantage value is added to the accumulator value. If the accumulator value meets a predetermined overtaking criterion, an overtaking signal is generated for allowing an overtaking maneuver.

An escape-path-planning system to operate an automated vehicle includes an object-detector and a controller. The object-detector is suitable for use on a host-vehicle. The object-detector is used to detect an other-vehicle in an adjacent-lane next to a present-lane traveled by the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the object-detector. The controller is configured to, in response to a lane-change-request, determine a first-route-plan that steers the host-vehicle from the present-lane to the adjacent-lane, determine a second-route-plan that steers the host-vehicle into the present-lane, initiate the first-route-plan when a forecasted-distance between the other-vehicle and the host-vehicle is greater than a distance-threshold, and cancel the first-route-plan and select the second-route-plan when the forecasted-distance between the other-vehicle and the host-vehicle becomes less than the distance-threshold after the first-route-plan is initiated. The second-route-plan is a pre-planned escape-path that is instantly available if needed that provides a smoother travel-experience for an occupant of the host-vehicle.

Four-wheel steering of a vehicle, e.g., in which leading wheels and trailing wheels are steered independently of each other, can provide improved maneuverability and stability. A first vehicle model may be used to determine trajectories for execution by a vehicle equipped with four-wheel steering. A second vehicle model may be used to control the vehicle relative to the determined trajectories. For instance, the second vehicle model can determine leading wheels steering angles for steering leading wheels of the vehicle and trailing wheels steering angles for steering trailing wheels of the vehicle, independently of the leading wheels.

A vehicle control system includes: an automated driving controller configured to execute one driving mode from out of a plurality of driving modes including an automated driving mode and a manual driving mode; a vehicle information collection section configured to collect information related to control history of one or both out of speed control and steering control performed based on operation by the occupant of the vehicle while the manual driving mode is being executed; and a driving characteristics derivation section configured to derive driving characteristics for each occupant of the vehicle based on information collected by the vehicle information collection section. The automated driving controller executes the automated driving mode by reflecting the driving characteristics for each occupant of the vehicle to the automated driving.