Vehicle Control Apparatus, Vehicle Control Method, and Vehicle Following Running System

A vehicle control method configured to be performed by a third vehicle in a vehicle following running system in which a first vehicle, a second vehicle subsequent to the first vehicle, and the third vehicle subsequent to the second vehicle carry out following running by being non-mechanically connected, the vehicle control method comprising:

• selectively acquiring first vehicle information including a first physical amount regarding a motion of the first vehicle and second vehicle information including a second physical amount regarding a motion of the second vehicle;
• determining a third physical amount regarding a motion of the third vehicle based on the vehicle information acquired selectively from the first vehicle information and the second vehicle information;
• and
• outputting an instruction for achieving the determined third physical amount to a braking/driving apparatus and a steering apparatus of the third vehicle.

A vehicle following running system comprising:

• a first vehicle;
• a second vehicle subsequent to the first vehicle;
• and
• a third vehicle subsequent to the second vehicle,
• the first vehicle, the second vehicle, and the third vehicle being configured to carry out following running by being non-mechanically connected,
• the first vehicle including
• a first vehicle motion state acquisition portion configured to acquire a first physical amount regarding a motion of this first vehicle, and
• a first communication control portion configured to transmit first vehicle information including the first physical amount,
• the second vehicle including
• a second vehicle motion state acquisition portion configured to acquire a second physical amount regarding a motion of this second vehicle, and
• a second communication control portion configured to transmit second vehicle information including the second physical amount,
• the third vehicle including
• a third communication control portion configured to be able to acquire the first vehicle information and the second vehicle information, and
• a control unit configured to
• selectively receive the first vehicle information and the second vehicle information,
• determine a third physical amount regarding a motion of the third vehicle based on the vehicle information acquired selectively from the first vehicle information and the second vehicle information, and
• output an instruction based on the determined third physical amount to a braking/driving apparatus and a steering apparatus of the third vehicle.