Portable terminal and vehicle control system

A portable terminal that is operated by an operator to operate a vehicle and that performs wireless communication with the vehicle, the portable terminal comprising:

• a sensor configured to detect an inclination direction and an inclination angle of the portable terminal;
• a touch panel that includes a display screen and that is configured to detect a touch by the operator on the display screen;
• and
• a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:
• select one operation mode of the portable terminal between a first operation mode and a second operation mode based on orientation information indicating an orientation of the portable terminal, wherein
• the first operation mode and the second operation mode respectively correspond to a first holding method and a second holding method, the first holding method and the second holding method being orientations in which the operator holds the portable terminal;
• generate travel control information for travel control of the vehicle based on a tilting operation, in a case where the first operation mode is selected, the tilting operation being an operation of tilting the portable terminal;
• and
• generate the travel control information based on the tilting operation and a touch operation in a case where the second operation mode is selected, the touch operation being an operation of touching the display screen at a predetermined position, wherein
• the portable terminal is in a plate shape having a longitudinal direction, a short-length direction, and a thickness direction;
• the first holding method corresponds to holding one end of the portable terminal in the short-length direction with one hand of the operator;
• the second holding method corresponds to holding both ends of the portable terminal in the longitudinal direction with both hands of the operator;
• in a case where the first operation mode is selected, the processor is further configured to:
• control steering of the vehicle according to the tilting operation about a rotational axis parallel to the longitudinal direction, and
• control a speed of the vehicle according to the tilting operation about a rotational axis parallel to the short-length direction;
• and
• in a case where the first operation mode is selected, the processor is further configured to:
• control the steering of the vehicle according to the tilting operation about a rotational axis parallel to the thickness direction of the portable terminal, and
• control the speed of the vehicle based on the touch operation;
• wherein the processor is configured to hold the selected first operating mode or the selected second operating mode in a case where the touch on the touch panel is continued.