Travel control apparatus, vehicle, travel control system, travel control method, and storage medium

A travel control apparatus that controls automated driving travel of a vehicle by making a transition between a plurality of control states based on a surrounding environment of the vehicle, the travel control apparatus comprising:

• a skill level acquisition unit configured to acquire a skill level of a vehicle occupant about automated driving;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the automated driving travel of the vehicle in one of the plurality of control states based on the surrounding environment of the vehicle sensed by a sensing unit,
• wherein in a case where it is determined, based on a result of sensing by the sensing unit, that a transition can be made from a first control state, one of the plurality of control states, to a second control state, which has a higher automatization rate of the automated driving travel than the first control state, the control unit controls performing an automated driving function in the second control state based on the skill level,
• wherein the skill level acquisition unit acquires the skill level based on an achievement ratio of requested tasks that is calculated from an output count of the requested tasks to the vehicle occupant and a count of appropriate actions taken by the vehicle occupant with respect to the requested tasks,
• the skill level based on the achievement ratio of the requested task is an index that changes dynamically in a time-based driving history,
• in a case where a proper action is taken for a requested task, the achievement ratio of the requested task is increased, and in a case where a proper action is not taken for the requested task, the achievement ratio of the requested task is decreased,
• wherein the requested task to the vehicle occupant contains at least one of a request for an action relating to enabling an operation of an automated driving function in the first control state and a request for an action relating to enabling an operation of an automated driving function in the second control state,
• the skill level acquisition unit determines whether the vehicle occupant has taken an appropriate action with respect to each request for an action and acquires the skill level in a form of the achievement ratio of the requested task that is calculated based on a result of the determination,
• in a case where the skill level of the vehicle occupant is higher than a threshold value, the control unit enables the operation of the automated driving function in the second control state, and
• in a case where the skill level of the vehicle occupant is equal to or lower than the threshold value, the control unit prevents the operation of the automated driving function in the second control state.

A travel control apparatus that controls automated driving travel of a vehicle by making a transition between a plurality of control states based on a surrounding environment of the vehicle, the travel control apparatus comprising:

• a skill level acquisition unit configured to acquire a skill level of a vehicle occupant about automated driving;
• and
• a control unit configured to control the automated driving travel of the vehicle in one of the plurality of control states based on the surrounding environment of the vehicle sensed by a sensing unit,
• wherein in a case where it is determined, based on a result of sensing by the sensing unit, that a transition can be made from a first control state, one of the plurality of control states, to a second control state, which has a lower level of requested task to the vehicle occupant than the first control state, the control unit controls performing an automated driving function in the second control state based on the skill level,
• wherein the skill level acquisition unit acquires the skill level based on an achievement ratio of requested tasks that is calculated from an output count of the requested tasks to the vehicle occupant and a count of appropriate actions taken by the vehicle occupant with respect to the requested tasks,
• the skill level based on the achievement ratio of the requested task is an index that changes dynamically in a time-based driving history,
• in a case where a proper action is taken for a requested task, the achievement ratio of the requested task is increased, and in a case where a proper action is not taken for the requested task, the achievement ratio of the requested task is decreased,
• wherein the requested task to the vehicle occupant contains at least one of a request for an action relating to enabling an operation of an automated driving function in the first control state and a request for an action relating to enabling an operation of an automated driving function in the second control state,
• the skill level acquisition unit determines whether the vehicle occupant has taken an appropriate action with respect to each request for an action and acquires the skill level in a form of the achievement ratio of the requested task that is calculated based on a result of the determination,
• in a case where the skill level of the vehicle occupant is higher than a threshold value, the control unit enables the operation of the automated driving function in the second control state, and
• in a case where the skill level of the vehicle occupant is equal to or lower than the threshold value, the control unit prevents the operation of the automated driving function in the second control state.

A travel control method for controlling automated driving travel of a vehicle by making a transition between a plurality of control states based on a surrounding environment of the vehicle, the travel control method comprising:

• acquiring a skill level of a vehicle occupant about automated driving;
• and
• controlling the automated driving travel of the vehicle in one of the plurality of control states based on the surrounding environment of the vehicle sensed by a sensing unit,
• wherein in a case where it is determined, based on a result of sensing by the sensing unit, that a transition can be made from a first control state, one of the plurality of control states, to a second control state, which has a higher automatization rate of the automated driving travel or has a lower level of requested task to the vehicle occupant than the first control state, performing an automated driving function in the second control state is controlled based on the skill level in the controlling,
• wherein the skill level is acquired in the acquiring based on an achievement ratio of requested tasks that is calculated from an output count of the requested tasks to the vehicle occupant and a count of appropriate actions taken by the vehicle occupant with respect to the requested tasks,
• the skill level based on the achievement ratio of the requested task is an index that changes dynamically in a time-based driving history,
• in a case where a proper action is taken for a requested task, the achievement ratio of the requested task is increased, and in a case where a proper action is not taken for the requested task, the achievement ratio of the requested task is decreased,
• wherein the requested task to the vehicle occupant contains at least one of a request for an action relating to enabling an operation of an automated driving function in the first control state and a request for an action relating to enabling an operation of an automated driving function in the second control state,
• in the acquiring, it is determined whether the vehicle occupant has taken an appropriate action with respect to each request for an action and the skill level is acquired in a form of the achievement ratio of the requested task that is calculated based on a result of the determination,
• in a case where the skill level of the vehicle occupant is higher than a threshold value, the control unit enables the operation of the automated driving function in the second control state, and
• in a case where the skill level of the vehicle occupant is equal to or lower than the threshold value, the control unit prevents the operation of the automated driving function in the second control state.