Vehicle running control apparatus and map information data recording medium

A vehicle running control apparatus controlling running of a vehicle, comprising:

• a set speed input means for inputting a set speed;
• an origination vehicle position detecting means for detecting a position of said origination vehicle;
• a map information getting means for getting map information including road attributes information and road structure information on the basis of an output from said origination vehicle position detecting means;
• a running environment recognizing means for recognizing a running environment, including a visible distance estimating means for estimating a visible distance of a driver on a road on the basis of at least one of road attribute, a width of a road, a radius of curvature, and a slope of descending or ascending road in said map information get by said map information getting means;
• and
• a vehicle running control means for computing a first running speed in accordance with said visible distance estimated by said running environment recognizing means, comparing said first running speed with said set speed set by said set speed input means, deciding an object running speed of said origination vehicle on the basis of at least one of said first running speed and said set speed when said set speed is higher than said first running speed, controlling running of said origination vehicle to keep said object running speed.

A vehicle running control apparatus controlling running of a vehicle without, comprising:

• a set speed input means for inputting a set speed;
• an origination vehicle position detecting means for detecting a position of said origination vehicle;
• a map information getting means for getting map information including road attributes information and road structure information on the basis of an output from said origination vehicle position detecting means;
• a vehicle running control means for deciding an object running speed of said origination vehicle on the basis of said origination vehicle position detected by said origination vehicle position detecting means and said map information get by said map information getting means, controlling running of said origination vehicle to keep said object running speed;
• and
• an origination vehicle position abnormal detecting means for detecting an abnormal condition of an output from said origination vehicle position detecting means,
• wherein all or part of functions of said running control apparatus is stopped when said origination vehicle position abnormal detecting means detects an abnormal condition of said origination vehicle position.

A vehicle running control system including a vehicle running control apparatus controlling running of a vehicle, and a vehicle driving apparatus controlled by said vehicle running control apparatus, wherein:

• said vehicle running control apparatus comprises,
• a set speed input means for inputting a set speed;
• an origination vehicle position detecting means for detecting a position of said origination vehicle;
• a map information getting means for getting map information including road attributes information and road structure information on the basis of an output from said origination vehicle position detecting means;
• a running environment recognizing means for recognizing a running environment, including a visible distance estimating means for estimating a visible distance of a driver on a road on the basis of at least one of road attribute, a width of a road, a radius of curvature, and a slope of descending or ascending road in said map information get by said map information getting means;
• and
• a vehicle running control means for computing a first running speed in accordance with said visible distance estimated by said running environment recognizing means, comparing said first running speed with said set speed set by said set speed input means, deciding an object running speed of said origination vehicle on the basis of at least one of said first running speed and said set speed when said set speed is higher than said first running speed, controlling running of said origination vehicle to keep said object running speed,
• and said vehicle driving apparatus is controlled in accordance with a control command from said vehicle running control apparatus to control a speed of said vehicle.

An automobile including a vehicle running control apparatus controlling running of an automobile, and a automobile driving apparatus controlled by said automobile running control apparatus, wherein:

• said automobile running control apparatus comprises,
• a set speed input means for inputting a set speed;
• an origination automobile position detecting means for detecting a position of said origination automobile;
• a map information getting means for getting map information including road attributes information and road structure information on the basis of an output from said origination automobile position detecting means;
• a running environment recognizing means for recognizing a running environment, including a visible distance estimating means for estimating a visible distance of a driver on a road on the basis of at least one of road attribute, a width of a road, a radius of curvature, and a slope of descending or ascending road in said map information get by said map information getting means;
• and
• a automobile running control means for computing a first running speed in accordance with said visible distance estimated by said running environment recognizing means, comparing said first running speed with said set speed set by said set speed input means, deciding an object running speed of said origination automobile on the basis of at least one of said first running speed and said set speed when said set speed is higher than said first running speed, controlling running of said origination automobile to keep said object running speed, and said automobile driving apparatus is controlled in accordance with a control command from said automobile running control apparatus to control a speed of said automobile.