Obstacle device for vehicle driving experience

An obstacle device for vehicle driving experience is provided which includes a support arm (3) disposed outside a path (P) of a vehicle (V), a support rod (4) supported on the support part (3) and capable of swinging back and forth along the path (P), and an obstacle (5) attached to a tip of the support rod (4) and positioned within the path (P) of the vehicle (V), swing control means (30) being provided between the support part (3) and the support rod (4), the swing control means (30) making resistance to a return swing of the support rod (4) from a forward swing position to a rear larger than resistance to swinging of the support rod (4) to a front due to collision of the vehicle (V) with the obstacle (5). Thus, during vehicle driving experience, even if the vehicle collides with the obstacle, it is possible to mitigate the collision impact effectively and to place the obstacle at a fixed position easily and quickly after the collision.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an obstacle device for vehicle driving experience that includes an obstacle disposed within a path of a vehicle, wherein in order to give experience of various types of functions of a vehicle such as an automobile the vehicle is made to travel toward the obstacle.

BACKGROUND ART

There is an automobile that is equipped with an obstacle handling system such as a collision mitigation brake system (ref. Patent Publication 1), which warns a driver by applying a tensioning force to a seat belt of a subject vehicle or automatically operating a brake when it detects a relative speed and distance with respect to an obstacle such as a vehicle preceding the subject vehicle while traveling and determines that the degree of obstruction exceeds a predetermined value, but it is very rare to actually experience the functions of the system on a normal road. However, for peace of mind and safe driving it is useful for a driver to experience the functions of the above-mentioned system.Patent Publication 1: Japanese Patent No. 3046186

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Conventionally, in order for a driver to experience the functions of the system, a plurality of blocks made of an impact absorbing material so that even if a vehicle collides therewith the vehicle is not damaged and a large impact is not given to the driver are stacked on a path of the vehicle as an obstacle in a safe place such as a test course, and the driver experiences the functions of the system by driving the vehicle equipped with the system toward the obstacle. In this case, it is preferable for the driver to carry out sudden braking and stop the vehicle in front of the obstacle when automatic braking for mitigating collision damage operates, but depending on the driver the vehicle often collides with the obstacle. In such a case, since it is necessary to immediately stack the plurality of blocks made of an impact absorbing material to assemble the obstacle and provide driving experience for the next driver, it takes time to carry out the assembly procedure and it is difficult to quickly provide many drivers with driving experience.

The present invention has been accomplished in the light of such circumstances, and it is an object thereof to provide an obstacle device for vehicle driving experience that, during vehicle driving experience, even if a vehicle collides with an obstacle, enables the collision impact to be mitigated effectively and enables the obstacle to be easily and quickly placed at a fixed position after the collision.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to attain the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an obstacle device for vehicle driving experience comprising a support part that is disposed outside a path of a vehicle, a support rod that is supported on the support part and is capable of swinging back and forth along the path, and an obstacle that is attached to a tip of the support rod and positioned within the path of the vehicle, wherein swing control means is provided between the support part and the support rod, the swing control means making resistance to a return swing of the support rod from a forward swing position to a rear larger than resistance to swinging of the support rod to a front due to collision of the vehicle with the obstacle.

The support part corresponds to a support arm in an embodiment of the present invention, which is described later.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, the support part is disposed above the path of the vehicle, the support rod is hung from the support part via the swing control means, and the obstacle is attached to a lower end part of the support rod.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first or second aspect, the swing control means is formed by disposing in series a one-way clutch and a damper between the support part and the support rod, the one-way clutch allowing the forward swing of the support rod but restraining the rearward swing, and the damper generating a damping force for at least the rearward swing of the support rod.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the second or third aspect, a support post is standingly provided on a support platform placed outside the path of the vehicle, a support arm as the support part is connected to an upper end part of the support post, the support arm extending above the path of the vehicle, the support rod is detachably mounted on the tip of the support arm, and the support arm is arranged so that a state thereof can be changed between an extended state in which the support rod can be hung therefrom and a contracted state in which the support rod is stored on the support platform.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the second aspect, the obstacle is formed from a mounting plate connected to the lower end of the support rod and an obstacle main body, made of an impact absorbing material, mounted on the mounting plate so as to cover the mounting plate, radio wave reflection means is mounted on the mounting plate, the radio wave reflection means being covered by the obstacle main body, and the radio wave reflection means is disposed so as to reflect radio waves, transmitted by a radar of an obstacle handling system provided on the vehicle, toward the radar side.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the fifth aspect, the support rod is connected to the support part so that the support rod can also swing in a direction perpendicular to the path of the vehicle.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the fifth aspect, a stable block is provided so as to be connected to the obstacle, the stable block being disposed so as to have friction against the road surface.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the seventh aspect, the stable block is formed so as to be separable from the obstacle, and the obstacle and the stable block are connected via a connecting cord.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the fifth to eighth aspects, a target mark is displayed on a front face of the obstacle facing the vehicle on the path, the target mark having dimensions that can be recognized by a driver of the vehicle that is waiting at a distance and having a color that stands out from the surroundings.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the fifth aspect, a support post is standingly provided on a support platform placed outside the path of the vehicle, a support arm as the support part is connected to an upper end part of the support post, the support arm extending above the path of the vehicle, the support rod is detachably mounted on the tip of the support arm, and the support arm is arranged so that a state thereof can be changed between an extended state in which the support rod can be hung therefrom and a contracted state in which the support rod is stored on the support platform.

Effects of the Invention

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, when experiencing driving of a vehicle, even if the vehicle traveling on the path collides with the obstacle, since there is hardly any resistance from the swing control means to forward swinging of the support rod, the obstacle smoothly swings forward of the vehicle together with the support rod due to the impact force, and the impact force on the vehicle and the obstacle can be mitigated effectively. After the collision, the obstacle and the support rod attempt to make a return swing, but since the swing control means exhibits a comparatively large resistance to this return swing, the support rod either stops at the forward swing position or makes a gentle return swing, and it is possible to avoid an impact on the driver, the vehicle, and the obstacle due to the return swing.

After the collision, by pivoting the support rod so that the obstacle goes to a predetermined position on the path of the vehicle, it is immediately ready for experiencing driving for the next vehicle.

In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, the support rod and the obstacle swing within the path, and they do not interfere with operations of an operator supervising outside the path.

In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, when the support rod swings forward of the vehicle, the one-way clutch controls the forward swing smoothly, and when it swings rearward, the damper attenuates the rearward swing; it is therefore possible to reliably exhibit a desired function of the swing control means by the one-way clutch and the damper.

In accordance with the fourth aspect of the present invention, after the obstacle device for vehicle driving experience is used, the device can be arranged compactly on the support platform, and it is therefore possible to easily carry out moving and storage of the device.

In accordance with the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the driver drives the vehicle equipped with the obstacle handling system toward the obstacle, the obstacle handling system of the vehicle computes a relative speed and distance of the subject vehicle with respect to the obstacle from the conditions of transmission and reception of radio waves between the radar and the radio wave reflection means, and when it determines that the degree of obstruction exceeds a predetermined value, it warns the driver by applying a tensioning force to a seat belt of the subject vehicle or automatically operating a brake. Since the driver makes the vehicle approach the obstacle in this way, the driver can with certainty experience the functions of the obstacle handling system provided on the vehicle. Furthermore, the obstacle hanging down from above can be formed with a relatively small size that is sufficient to include the radio wave reflection means; if it is small the fear given to the driver will also be small, and it is possible to carry out a practice in which an emergency braking operation is carried out after the vehicle has been brought as close to the obstacle as possible.

Even when the driver makes the vehicle collide with the obstacle, the obstacle swings a long way forward of the vehicle together with the support arm while absorbing the impact force from the vehicle in the obstacle main body, which is made of an impact absorbing material, and it is thereby possible to effectively mitigate the impact force on the vehicle, its driver, the obstacle, the radio wave reflection means, etc.

Furthermore, in accordance with the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the vehicle collides obliquely with the obstacle and an impact component force in the lateral direction acts on the obstacle, the support rod swings without resistance in the lateral direction of the path to thus allow the impact component force to escape, and it is possible to suppress the imposition of a bending load on the support rod.

In accordance with the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the stable block placed in frictional contact with road surface is provided so as to be connected to the obstacle, it is possible by frictional resistance between the stable block and the road surface to prevent the obstacle and the support rod from swaying due to wind, and it is therefore possible to stably maintain the position of the obstacle, which is a driving target for the driver.

In accordance with the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the stable block is connected to the obstacle via the connecting cord, regardless of the height adjustment of the obstacle the stable block can always be put in frictional contact with the road surface, thereby preventing the obstacle from swaying. Moreover, this stable block is restrained from moving far away from the obstacle by the connecting cord even when the vehicle collides with the obstacle, and resetting of the stable block can easily be carried out.

In accordance with the ninth aspect of the present invention, since a target mark that has dimensions that can be recognized by the driver of the vehicle waiting at a distance and has a color that stands out from the surroundings is displayed on the front face of the obstacle, it becomes easy for the driver to see the obstacle by means of the target mark, and it is possible to drive the vehicle accurately toward the obstacle without being misled by the surrounding landscape.

In accordance with the tenth aspect of the present invention, after the obstacle device for vehicle driving experience is used, the device can be arranged compactly on the support platform, and it is therefore possible to easily carry out moving and storage of the device.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SYMBOLS

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained below by reference to the attached drawings.

First, inFIG. 1, a vehicle V is equipped with the above-mentioned known obstacle handling system, and a radar45(see alsoFIG. 3) of the system is mounted on a front end face of the vehicle V. An obstacle device D for vehicle driving experience of the present invention is disposed at a position sufficiently distant from the vehicle V to the front on a path P of the vehicle V.

The obstacle device D for vehicle driving experience of the present invention includes a support platform1disposed outside the path P of the vehicle V, a support post2standingly provided on the support platform1, a support arm3connected to an upper end part of the support post2and extending above the path P of the vehicle V, a support rod4that is hung from a tip of the support arm3and is capable of swinging back and forth along the path P, and an obstacle5attached to a lower end part of the support rod4and disposed within the path P.

InFIG. 1toFIG. 4, the support platform1has a rectangular shape in plan view, a brake-equipped caster13is provided at four corners thereof, and a handle6for pushing by hand is fixedly provided on a rear part thereof on the side opposite to the path P of the vehicle V, the support platform1being capable of being moved by human power. A plurality of stays7for reinforcing the support post2are obliquely connected between the support platform1and the support post2.

InFIG. 4, the support post2has a horizontal arm portion2aprovided at the upper end, the horizontal arm portion2aextending in a lateral direction parallel to the path P, and a base part of the support arm3is connected, via a pivot shaft9(see alsoFIG. 1), to a pair of left and right brackets8projectingly provided on an upper face of the horizontal arm portion2a.

The support arm3is formed from a first arm half3ahaving on a base part a boss10that is rotatably supported on the pivot shaft9, and a second arm half3bfoldably connected to a tip of the first arm half3avia a joint pin11. The first arm half3ais formed from a pair of left and right arm members12and a cross member15that integrally connects the two arm members12to each other in the vicinity of the base parts thereof, and the boss10is formed integrally with the base parts. These arm members12are bent in a dog-leg shape on the base part side, the cross member15is disposed in front of the bent part, and a telescopic cylinder16is mounted between the cross member15and the support post2. This telescopic cylinder16has a built-in pneumatic pump; the telescopic cylinder16is extended by reciprocatingly operating a pump operation lever16a, and the telescopic cylinder16can be contracted by releasing the pressure from the telescopic cylinder16.

The distance between the two arm members12reduces in going toward the tips, and a bracket17is projectingly provided on top faces of these tips. On the other hand, a boss18disposed between the two brackets17is formed in the vicinity of the base part of the second arm half3b, and this boss18is rotatably connected to the bracket17via the joint pin11. In order to retain the first and second arm halves3aand3bin an extended state, as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 6, the pair of arm members12of the first arm half3ahave fixedly provided thereon a first stopper plate19supporting the top face of a tip of the second arm half3band a second stopper plate20supporting a bottom face of an intermediate section of the second arm half3b.

Extending the telescopic cylinder16pivots the first arm half3ato a horizontal direction as shown inFIG. 1, and in this process the second arm half3bcan be extended horizontally by pivoting it outward around the joint pin11. Conversely, if the telescopic cylinder16is contracted, the first arm half3acan be pivoted downward as shown inFIG. 2. In this process, the second arm half3bpivots around the joint pin11so as to move away from the first and second stopper plates19and20, is folded so as to be superimposed on the first arm half3a, and is stored on the support platform1. In order to retain this folded state, brackets41and42facing each other in that state are provided on the first and second arm halves3aand3b, and a connecting pin43is removably inserted thereinto (seeFIG. 2).

The connecting structure between the support arm3and the support rod4is now explained by reference toFIG. 7andFIG. 8.

A control box21is secured by means of a bolt22to the tip of the support arm3, that is, a tip face of the second arm half3b. A bearing housing23disposed within the control box21is welded to an outer end wall of the box21, and a support shaft25disposed in a horizontal direction that is perpendicular to the path P of the vehicle V is rotatably supported by multiple rows of ball bearings24mounted on the bearing housing23. This support shaft25has opposite end parts projecting inside and outside the control box21, and axial movement of the support shaft25relative to the ball bearing24is restrained by a large diameter shaft portion25aprojecting outside the control box21and a nut27screwed around the support shaft25within the control box21.

A known rotary hydraulic damper29is provided in the interior of the control box21, a casing of the hydraulic damper29is fixed to the control box21, the support shaft25is connected to a rotor therewithin, and a fixed damping force is applied to rotation of the support shaft25.

Furthermore, outside the control box21, a swing lever26having its tip facing downward is detachably fitted onto the large diameter shaft portion25aof the support shaft25via a one-way clutch28.

Detachment of the swing lever26from the large diameter shaft portion25ais restrained by a knurled nut31screwed around the support shaft25, and this knurled nut31is prevented from becoming detached by means of a split pin32mounted at a tip of the support shaft25. An upper end part of the support rod4is connected to a lower end part of the swing lever26via a pivot shaft33disposed in a direction perpendicular to the support shaft25.

The one-way clutch28permits the support rod4to pivot forward toward the front of the path P of the vehicle V together with the swing lever26but inhibits rearward pivoting thereof, and a known type such as a ratchet type, a sprag type, or a roller type is used. Furthermore, by removing the split pin32and the knurled nut31, the swing lever26can be separated from the support shaft25together with the one-way clutch28.

The obstacle5and the structure for mounting it on the support rod4are now explained by reference toFIG. 4, andFIG. 9toFIG. 11.

As shown inFIG. 9andFIG. 10, the obstacle5is formed from an obstacle main body5amade of an impact absorbing material such as foamed urethane in a rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction when viewed from the front from the vehicle V side, a cross-shaped elastic mounting plate5bmade of a plate spring embedded in the obstacle main body5a, and radio wave reflection means34mounted on the elastic mounting plate5band embedded in the obstacle main body5atogether with the elastic mounting plate5b, a lower end part of the support rod4being joined by a bolt to an upper end part of the elastic mounting plate5b. The bolt-joined part is also embedded in the obstacle main body5a. The radio wave reflection means34is formed from a plurality of reflectors34ahaving a triangular pyramid-shaped concave reflecting face in the illustrated example, and one of the reflectors34ais secured to each of a total of four positions, that is, a middle part, left and right opposite end parts, and a lower end part of the elastic mounting plate5bin the illustrated example. The obstacle5is disposed within the path P so as to face the radar45attached to the front face of the vehicle V.

A target mark35is displayed on a central part of the front face of the obstacle main body5afacing the vehicle V on the path P, the target mark35as shown inFIG. 9having dimensions that can be recognized by the driver of the vehicle V that is waiting at a distance and having a color that stands out from the surroundings.

As shown inFIG. 4, a stable block36, which can be placed on a road surface, is connected to a back face of the obstacle5via a hook-and-loop fastener37. Furthermore, a length-adjustable connecting cord38is provided at the upper end of the stable block36in order to connect this to the support rod4.

Referring again toFIG. 2, some of the plurality of stays7reinforcing the support post2are provided with a belt39for lashing the support rod4in a raised state to the stay7when the support rod4is detached from the support arm3and placed on the support platform1together with the obstacle5.

As hereinbefore described, the one-way clutch28and the hydraulic damper29form swing control means30that makes resistance to a return swing of the support rod4from the forward swing position to the rear larger than resistance to swinging of the support rod4to the front due to collision of the vehicle V with the obstacle5.

The operation of this embodiment is now explained.

When the driver is to experience the functions of the obstacle handling system mounted on the vehicle V, the support platform1is first fixed beside the path P of the vehicle V, the connecting pin43is detached, the telescopic cylinder16is then extended, and pivoting the first arm half3aupward so as to be horizontal allows the second arm half3bto be pivoted outward around the joint pin11. In the course of this process, the swing lever26connected to the support rod4is mounted on the support shaft25by means of the knurled nut31and the split pin32as described above. After this mounting, further extending the telescopic cylinder16and making the first arm half3ahorizontal allows the second arm half3bto be supported by the first and second stopper plates19and20and become horizontal as well. In this way, when the support arm3formed from the first and second arm halves3aand3battains a horizontal state, the support rod4connected to the tip thereof attains a hanging-down state. In this process, if an operator applies a load to the support rod4in the vertical direction, the support rod4can easily be put in a vertical state by the action of the one-way clutch28and the hydraulic damper29disposed between the support arm3and the support rod4. Furthermore, finely adjusting the height position of the tip of the support arm3by operation of the telescopic cylinder16enables the target mark35of the obstacle5connected to the lower end part of the support rod4to be disposed at a position exactly opposite to the radar45of the vehicle V on the path P.

Subsequently, the stable block36placed in frictional contact with road surface is connected to the back face of the obstacle5via the hook-and-loop fastener37, and the connecting cord38extending from the stable block36is tied to the support rod4. This stable block36can stabilize the obstacle5at a fixed position by frictional resistance against the road surface and prevent the obstacle5and the support rod4from swaying due to wind.

In this case, it is preferable to give an appropriate degree of slack to the connecting cord38so that the position of connection of the stable block36to the obstacle5by the hook-and-loop fastener37can be adjusted. Adjustment of the position of connection of the stable block36to the obstacle5by the hook-and-loop fastener37is carried out in response to adjustment of the height of the obstacle5according to the height of the radar45of the vehicle V, and this adjustment enables the stable block36to be always put in frictional contact with road surface.

When the driver makes the vehicle V travel toward the obstacle5from a position sufficiently distant from the obstacle5while the obstacle5is set at a predetermined position as described above, the obstacle handling system of the vehicle V computes a relative speed and a distance of the vehicle V with respect to the obstacle5from the conditions of transmission and reception of radio waves between the radar45and the radio wave reflection means34and further computes a degree of obstruction, and when it is determined that the degree of obstruction exceeds a predetermined value, the driver is warned by applying a tensioning force to a seat belt of the vehicle V or automatically operating a brake. In this way, the driver can reliably experience the functions of the obstacle handling system mounted on the vehicle V by making the vehicle V approach the obstacle5.

In this process, since the target mark35having dimensions that can be recognized by the driver of the vehicle V waiting at a distance and having a color that stands out from the surroundings is displayed on the front face of the obstacle5, it becomes easy for the driver to see the obstacle5by means of the target mark35, and it is possible to drive the vehicle accurately toward the obstacle5without being misled by the surrounding landscape.

When the obstacle handling system of the vehicle V operates, it is desirable for the driver to immediately carry out sudden braking to thus stop the vehicle V in front of the obstacle5, but depending on the driver, the vehicle V might collide with the obstacle5as shown inFIG. 12. In this case, the obstacle5and the stable block36receive an impact force from the vehicle V, but since in this process the swing lever26connected to the support rod4is supported on the support shaft25of the support arm3via the one-way clutch28, swinging thereof in the direction of travel of the vehicle V is permitted, and since the obstacle main body5aof the obstacle5is made of a collision absorbing material, collision energy of the vehicle V is absorbed by the obstacle5smoothly swinging forward. It is therefore possible to suppress any damage not only to the vehicle V but also to the obstacle5and to greatly calm down any fear given to the driver of the vehicle V.

The obstacle5hanging down from the support arm3can also be formed in a relatively small size that is sufficient for including the radio wave reflection means34, and the fear given to the driver is less if it is small; it is therefore also possible to practice emergency braking by making the vehicle V come as close to the obstacle5as possible.

On the other hand, even if the stable block36mounted on the obstacle5is separated from the obstacle5as a result of detachment of the hook-and-loop fastener37by an impact force due to the frictional resistance against the road surface and the impact force from the vehicle V, it swings together with the obstacle5due to the presence of the connecting cord38between the support rod4and the stable block36, and it is thus possible to prevent the stable block36from being separated and thrown a long way off.

Furthermore, since the support rod4and the swing lever26are connected to each other via the pivot shaft33, which is perpendicular to the support shaft25, even if the vehicle V collides obliquely with the obstacle5and an impact component force in the lateral direction acts on the obstacle5, the support rod4also swings around the pivot shaft33in the lateral direction without any resistance to thus allow the above impact component force to escape, and it is possible to suppress the imposition of a bending load on the support rod4in the lateral direction.

Moreover, since the obstacle5is connected to the support rod4via the elastic mounting plate5bembedded in the obstacle main body5a, and the radio wave reflection means34is mounted on the elastic mounting plate5b, the impact that the obstacle5receives from the vehicle V is absorbed by the obstacle main body5amade of an impact absorbing material and also by flexure of the elastic mounting plate5b, and it is possible to alleviate effectively the impact applied to the vehicle V, the support rod4, and the radio wave reflection means34.

Furthermore, since the support rod4hangs from the support arm3disposed outside and above the path P of the vehicle V, the support rod4and the obstacle5swing within the path P, and do not interfere with operations of the operator supervising outside the path P.

After the above-mentioned collision, when the obstacle5that has swung greatly forward of the vehicle V loses momentum and attempts to swing to the backward side, the one-way clutch28attains a locked state and prevents the support rod4from swinging back. However, since the hydraulic damper29for attenuating swinging of the support arm3is disposed between the support shaft25and the support arm3, regardless of the one-way clutch28being in a locked state, the hydraulic damper29permits the support rod4to swing back gently. Therefore, even if the vehicle V stops on the backward swing trajectory of the obstacle5, since the obstacle5comes into contact with the vehicle V with a soft touch, it is possible to suppress any adverse effect on the vehicle V and the obstacle5. Moreover, when the damping force of the hydraulic damper29is large and the support rod4stops at a forward swing position, after the vehicle V is moved from the collision position, the support rod4can be easily returned to the original vertical position by the operator applying thereto a swinging force in the direction that puts it back.

In this way, the support rod4goes back to a vertical state, and the stable block36that is in frictional contact with road surface is connected again to the obstacle5via the hook-and-loop fastener37, thus simply and quickly carrying out preparation for the next experience of driving.

After the obstacle device D for vehicle driving experience is used, as shown inFIG. 2, the support arm3is folded and stored on the support platform1, the support arm3is removed from the support rod4, the support rod4is placed on the support platform1together with the obstacle5, and the support rod4is lashed to the stay7by the belt39; furthermore, the connecting cord38is untied, the hook-and-loop fastener37is detached, and the stable block36is also placed on the support platform1, thus enabling the obstacle device D for vehicle driving experience to be put together compactly on the support platform1and thereby enabling moving and storage of the device D to be carried out easily.

Another embodiment of the present invention shown inFIG. 13is now explained. This embodiment has the same arrangement as that of the preceding embodiment except that a known friction damper129formed by combining a dish spring47and a multiple plate friction plate48is housed in a control box21instead of the rotary hydraulic damper29; portions inFIG. 13corresponding to those in the preceding embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and symbols, and duplication of the explanation is omitted.

Since the above-mentioned friction damper129also applies a damping force to rotation of a support shaft25in the same manner as the hydraulic damper29, after a vehicle V has collided with an obstacle5, the swinging back of a support rod4can be controlled so that it is gentle. The above-mentioned friction damper129therefore forms, in cooperation with a one-way clutch28, swing control means30that makes resistance to the return swing of the support rod4from the forward swing position to the rear larger than resistance to swinging of the support rod4to the front due to collision of the vehicle V with the obstacle5.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and may be modified in a variety of ways as long as the modifications do not depart from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, the support rod4having the obstacle5provided on the tip may be disposed horizontally or obliquely. Furthermore, the obstacle device for vehicle driving experience of the present invention may be used in applications other than those of the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, it may also be used when a driver of a vehicle traveling toward the obstacle5experiences sudden braking driving by carrying out sudden braking from a predetermined position and stopping the vehicle in front of the obstacle5. In this case, it is not necessary to provide the obstacle5with the radio wave reflection means34.