Active drive assist system

• US 20050143895A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Kato, Tetuya
• Application Number:
  US11/019,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20050143895A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle

Abstract

When a preceding vehicle in a driving lane is adequately caught insight, a target vehicle speed is calculated by a calculated value based on an adequate vehicle-to-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle, and it is checked whether or not a gradient for determining whether the road on which the vehicle is running on a downhill road or an uphill road should be performed. If it is determined that the road is the downhill road or the uphill road, the target vehicle speed is corrected according to the gradient. The indicated vehicle speed and the actual speed are adequately adjusted according to the road gradient, and an adequate vehicle-to-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle is maintained to realize a consistent follow running.

Claims

1. An active drive assist system, comprising:

searching means for detecting a preceding vehicle in a driving lane;

estimating means for calculating a target vehicle speed of the vehicle based on a vehicle-to-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle;

deciding means for determining the road gradient of a road based on an information on a driving state of the vehicle; and

adjusting means for correcting the target vehicle speed according to the road gradient.

2. The active drive assist system according to claim 1, wherein:

the road gradient is determined by combining at least an engine output control state, a speed change state, and a braking state of the vehicle with each other.