DRIVING ASSISTANCE APPARATUS AND DRIVING ASSISTANCE METHOD

• US 20110118939A1
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kitahama, Kenichi, Kawamata, Shinya
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/08 Interaction between the driver and the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/28 non-mechanical , e.g. following a line or other known markers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/025 Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation B62D1/28 takes precedence

Abstract

Traveling environment information, which is information on a traveling environment around a vehicle, is obtained. If the automation level of the vehicle, which is set according to the traveling environment information, is decreased, the driving assistance level is decreased in a stepwise manner to execute a driving assistance control.

Claims

1. A driving assistance apparatus characterized by comprising:

surrounding environment information obtaining means for obtaining traveling environment information that is information on a traveling environment around a vehicle;

driving assistance means for performing a driving assistance operation that assists a driver of the vehicle in driving the vehicle; and

driving assistance control means for controlling the driving assistance means so that the driving assistance operation is performed according to the obtained traveling environment information, and for executing a control so that a level of the driving assistance operation is gradually changed if the level of the driving assistance operation is changed.

2. The driving assistance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving assistance control means sets a reliability degree of the obtained traveling environment information, and executes a control so that the level of the driving assistance operation is changed according to the set reliability degree.

3. The driving assistance apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the driving assistance control means executes a control so that the level of the driving assistance operation is changed in a stepwise manner if the level of the driving assistance operation is gradually changed.

4. The driving assistance apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the driving assistance control means executes a control so that the level of the driving assistance operation is gradually decreased if the level of the driving assistance operation is decreased.

5. The driving assistance apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the driving assistance control means executes a control so that the level of the driving assistance operation is decreased as the reliability degree of the traveling environment information is set to decrease.

6. The driving assistance apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein if it is predicted that the vehicle will enter an area where the reliability degree of the traveling environment information is set to a low value, the driving assistance control means executes a control so that the level of the driving assistance operation is decreased before the vehicle enters the area.

7. The driving assistance apparatus according to claim 4, wherein if it is determined that a time period, in which the level of the driving assistance operation will remain decreased, is shorter than a predetermined time period when it is predicted that the level of the driving assistance operation will be decreased, the driving assistance control means executes a control so that the level of the driving assistance operation is not decreased.

8. The driving assistance apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising

sensed speed adjustment means for increasing a speed of the vehicle sensed by an occupant of the vehicle if the level of the driving assistance operation performed by the driving assistance means is decreased according to the traveling environment information.

9. The driving assistance apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the driving assistance control means executes a control so that the level of the driving assistance operation is gradually increased if the level of the driving assistance operation is increased.

10. The driving assistance apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the driving assistance control means executes a control so that the level of the driving assistance operation is increased according to a state of a driving operation performed by the driver of the vehicle if the level of the driving assistance operation is increased.

11. The driving assistance apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein:

the driving assistance means executes a plurality of the driving assistance operations; and

the driving assistance control means selects the driving assistance operation whose level is to be increased, from among the plurality of the driving assistance operations, according to a state of a driving operation performed by the driver of the vehicle.

12. The driving assistance apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of the driving assistance operations include an operation that assists the driver in operating a steering wheel, an operation that assists the driver in operating an accelerator, and an operation that assists the driver in operating a brake.

13. The driving assistance apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the driving assistance control means executes a control so that a driver'"'"'s load relating to a driving operation is increased, as the level of the driving assistance operation is increased.

14. A driving assistance method characterized by comprising:

obtaining means for obtaining traveling environment information that is information on a traveling environment around a vehicle;

performing a driving assistance operation that assists a driver of the vehicle in driving the vehicle;

setting a reliability degree of the obtained traveling environment information;

performing the driving assistance operation whose level corresponds to the set reliability degree; and

gradually changing the level of the driving assistance operation if the level of the driving assistance operation is changed.

15. A driving assistance apparatus characterized by comprising:

surrounding environment information obtaining means for obtaining traveling environment information that is information on a traveling environment around a vehicle;

driving assistance means for performing a driving assistance operation that assists a driver of the vehicle in driving the vehicle; and

driving assistance control means for controlling the driving assistance operation performed by the driving assistance means according to the obtained traveling environment information, and for increasing a level of the driving assistance operation according to a state of a driving operation performed by the driver of the vehicle.