Patent ID: 6546327
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: B60T

Abstract:
A running control apparatus that controls a running state of a vehicle based on a relative positional relationship between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle running ahead of the vehicle in a preset area, comprising:a control system that determines a probability that an object detected in the preset area is in a same lane as the vehicle; and a braking system which actuates a brake that retards rotation of a wheel of the vehicle when the relative positional relationship between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle indicates that the vehicle should be decelerated, wherein the relative positional relationship between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle indicating that the vehicle should be decelerated includes a state in which the determined probability is equal to or greater than a preset probability, wherein the braking system actuates the brake to retard rotation of the wheel of the vehicle if a degree of a necessity to decelerate the vehicle, which is determined based on the relative positional relationship between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle, is higher than a preset degree.