Patent ID: 8204642
Filing Date: 2012-06-19
Classification: B60G,B60W,G01C

Abstract:
1. A driving assistance apparatus capable of being mounted on a subject vehicle and providing driving assistance for a driver of the subject vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a nearby vehicle dimension acquisition means for acquiring an exterior dimension of a nearby vehicle running near the subject vehicle; a running state information acquisition means for acquiring running state information indicating a running state of the nearby vehicle; a space formation means for forming a nearby vehicle virtual solid which is three-dimensional using the exterior dimension of the nearby vehicle and for forming a virtual three-dimensional space associated with a moving locus of the nearby vehicle virtual solid by following a vehicular swept path of the nearby vehicle included in the running state information acquired by the running state information acquisition means; a subject vehicle dimension acquisition means for acquiring an exterior dimension of the subject vehicle; a passing determination means for forming a subject vehicle virtual solid which is three-dimensional using the exterior dimension of the subject vehicle and for determining whether the subject vehicle virtual solid is capable of passing through the virtual three-dimensional space; and a notification control means for providing a notification to the subject vehicle of a determination result from the passing determination means as to whether or not the subject vehicle virtual solid which is three-dimensional is capable of passing through the virtual three-dimensional space.