Patent ID: 7424352

Claim:
A driving situation detection system, comprising real curve radius arithmetic means, reference vehicle model and observer means, a differentiator unit, model curve radius arithmetic means, and an assessment unit, wherein: the real curve radius arithmetic means calculates a real curve radius and a cornering direction of a running vehicle; the reference vehicle model and observer means includes a linear reference model of the vehicle and a state space observer for estimating variable which cannot be measured directly, and calculates a vehicle body side slip angle of the vehicle using the linear reference model and the state space observer; the differentiator unit differentiates the vehicle body side slip angle to calculate a vehicle body side slip rate; the model curve radius arithmetic means calculates a model curve radius and an algebraic sign of the model curve radius based on the vehicle body side slip rate and a yaw rate; and the assessment unit generates assessment information about a driving situation of the vehicle by comparing the model curve radius and the real curve radius of the vehicle, wherein the model curve radius arithmetic means determines the model curve radius by the following equation: r model = v β ′ + ψ ′ where rmodel represents the model curve radius, v represents the vehicle's center of gravity velocity, β′ represents the vehicle body side slip rate determined using the linear reference model, and ψ′ represents the yaw rate determined with the linear reference model.