Patent ID: 7937219

Claim:
A steering assist system determining a steering direction according to a vehicle running condition and generating an assist torque for a steering operation, the steering assist system comprising: an obstacle position measurement means for measuring a distance from, and a lateral position of, a forward obstacle; a collision determination means for determining risk of collision based on measurements of the distance from, and the lateral position of, the forward obstacle taken with the obstacle position measurement means; a recommended steering direction determination means for determining a recommended steering direction based on the measurements of the lateral position of the forward obstacle taken with the obstacle position measurement means; a first torque setting means for setting a first assist torque command value; a second torque setting means for setting a second assist torque command value that is smaller than the first assist torque command value set by the first torque setting means; and a selection means for selecting such that, after the collision determination means determines that the risk of collision is high, a steering assist torque is generated by the first assist torque command value set by the first torque setting means and, after a predetermined period of time elapses after a driver has started steering or the steering assist torque generated by the first assist torque command value has been generated, the steering assist torque is generated by the second assist torque command value set by the second torque setting means.