A device for setting a target vehicle that sets a target vehicle to be subjected to driving assistance control of a host vehicle includes: a detection signal acquisition device capable of acquiring a first detection signal representing an object by an image, and a second detection signal representing the object by a reflection point; and setting control unit, which determines whether to set a forward object as a target vehicle, wherein if a movement history is not associated with the forward object, and a combination history is associated with the forward object, then as a selection threshold of a first determination parameter for determining whether to set the forward object as the target vehicle, a selection threshold is used such that the forward object is less likely to be selected as the target vehicle than with the selection threshold which would be used if a movement history is associated with the forward object.

A device for setting a target vehicle that sets a target vehicle to be subjected to driving assistance control of a host vehicle includes: a detection signal acquisition device capable of acquiring a first detection signal representing an object by an image, and a second detection signal representing the object by a reflection point; and setting control unit, which determines whether to set a forward object as a target vehicle, wherein if a movement history is not associated with the forward object, and a combination history is associated with the forward object, then as a selection threshold of a first determination parameter for determining whether to set the forward object as the target vehicle, a selection threshold is used such that the forward object is less likely to be selected as the target vehicle than with the selection threshold which would be used if a movement history is associated with the forward object.

A vehicle control apparatus capable of executing control to cause a vehicle to automatically follow a preceding vehicle, includes a determination unit configured to determine, based on internal information of the vehicle, whether to request an increase of a cruising speed of the preceding vehicle during automatic following to the preceding vehicle, and a request transmission unit configured to transmit an increase request for requesting to increase the cruising speed of the preceding vehicle in a case in which the determination unit determines to request the increase of the cruising speed.

A method for distance control of a subject vehicle in relation to a front vehicle. The method includes setting, by an adaptive cruise control of the subject vehicle, an automatic distance control mode, wherein: a front object in front of the subject vehicle is detected by an environmental detection system of the subject vehicle, the front object is recognized as the front vehicle, and a distance to the front vehicle is regulated to an adaptive cruise control (ACC) target distance. The method further includes establishing that a safe following driving situation is present based on at least one criteria being met. The method additionally includes outputting, to a driver upon establishing that the safe following driving situation is present, a display signal, and setting, upon input of a confirmation signal by the driver, an automatic distance control platooning mode.

A driving support ECU performs an inter-vehicle-distance control and a following-travel steering control. When a front vehicle has been specified as both of a inter-vehicle-distance target vehicle and a following-travel steering target vehicle, and there is a potential cutting-in vehicle which is another vehicle having a possibility of cutting in between an own vehicle and a front vehicle, the driving support ECU newly specifies the potential cutting-in vehicle as the inter-vehicle-distance target vehicle and then, newly specifies the potential cutting-in vehicle as the following-travel steering target vehicle, in the cutting-in period.

A device for setting a target vehicle that sets a target vehicle to be subjected to driving assistance control of a host vehicle includes: a detection signal acquisition device capable of acquiring a first detection signal representing an object by an image, and a second detection signal representing the object by a reflection point; and setting control unit, which determines whether to set a forward object as a target vehicle, wherein if a movement history is not associated with the forward object, and a combination history is associated with the forward object, then as a selection threshold of a first determination parameter for determining whether to set the forward object as the target vehicle, a selection threshold is used such that the forward object is less likely to be selected as the target vehicle than with the selection threshold which would be used if a movement history is associated with the forward object.

A driving support ECU performs an inter-vehicle-distance control and a following-travel steering control. When an inter-vehicle-distance target vehicle and a following-travel steering target vehicle are the same specific other vehicle as each other, and there is a potential cutting-in vehicle between an own vehicle and the specific other vehicle, the driving support ECU newly specifies the potential cutting-in vehicle as the inter-vehicle-distance target vehicle at a first time point in a cutting-in period and newly specifies the potential cutting-in vehicle as the following-travel steering target vehicle at a second time point in the cutting-in period.

A vehicle control apparatus capable of executing control to cause a vehicle to automatically follow a preceding vehicle, includes a determination unit configured to determine, based on internal information of the vehicle, whether to request an increase of a cruising speed of the preceding vehicle during automatic following to the preceding vehicle, and a request transmission unit configured to transmit an increase request for requesting to increase the cruising speed of the preceding vehicle in a case in which the determination unit determines to request the increase of the cruising speed.

A device for setting a target vehicle that sets a target vehicle to be subjected to driving assistance control of a host vehicle includes: a detection signal acquisition device capable of acquiring a first detection signal representing an object by an image, and a second detection signal representing the object by a reflection point; and setting control unit, which determines whether to set a forward object as a target vehicle, wherein if a movement history is not associated with the forward object, and a combination history is associated with the forward object, then as a selection threshold of a first determination parameter for determining whether to set the forward object as the target vehicle, a selection threshold is used such that the forward object is less likely to be selected as the target vehicle than with the selection threshold which would be used if a movement history is associated with the forward object.

A roundabout detecting arrangement is disclosed configured to detect presence of a roundabout ahead of a vehicle hosting the arrangement. The arrangement includes a preceding vehicle monitoring unit configured to monitor at least one of a lateral movement and a heading direction of a vehicle preceding the host vehicle, and further configured to generate a first signal representative thereof. The arrangement also includes a processing unit configured to detect presence of the roundabout by processing the first signal. The present disclosure also relates to an adaptive cruise control arrangement and a method of detecting the presence of a roundabout.