Patent ID: 6397149
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: G05D

Abstract:
A processional travel control apparatus that allows processional travel with a leading vehicle driven by a driver and at least one succeeding vehicle automatically following the leading vehicle, while maintaining distances and directions between said vehicles by means of radar devices, said leading vehicle and each said succeeding vehicle constituting a group, wherein each of the vehicles comprises:a radar device provided with each of said leading and following vehicles; and a vehicle group identifying device for distinguishing said vehicle group from another vehicle group; said vehicle group identifying device preventing radio interference between said groups during processional travel; said apparatus further comprising: a control device for detecting the position of a traveling vehicle group; and an approach determining device for determining whether said vehicle group is approaching said other vehicle group so that radio interference will occur in communication using radar devices in the vehicle group, wherein when said approach determining device determines that the vehicle groups approach each other so that radio interference will occur, said vehicle group identifying device identifies the respective vehicle groups which approach each other when traveling in processions.