Vehicle control device, vehicle control method, and vehicle control system

Abstract

The amount of traffic on the road is greatly affected by both an inter-vehicle distance and a vehicle speed. When the amount of traffic increases and is more than a threshold value, an ECU and an ACC control the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed such that the amount of traffic is a predetermined value equal to or more than the threshold value. In this way, it is possible to effectively suppress traffic congestion.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 : A vehicle control device comprising:
 information acquiring unit for acquiring information related to the amount of traffic on a road on which a host vehicle travels; and   traveling control unit for, when the amount of traffic related to the information acquired by the information acquiring unit is more than a first threshold value, controlling an inter-vehicle distance between the host vehicle and other vehicles traveling on the road and the speed of the host vehicle such that the amount of traffic is equal to or more than a second threshold value.   
     
     
         17 : The vehicle control device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the traveling control unit changes the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed at which the amount of traffic is equal to or more than the second threshold value, depending on the number of other vehicles which can communicate with the host vehicle.   
     
     
         18 : The vehicle control device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the information acquiring unit acquires information related to the number of other vehicles which cannot communicate with the host vehicle between the host vehicle and other vehicles which can communicate with the host vehicle, and   the traveling control unit changes the inter-vehicle distance at which the amount of traffic is equal to or more than the second threshold value, depending on the number of other vehicles which cannot communicate with the host vehicle between the host vehicle and other vehicles which can communicate with the host vehicle related to the information acquired by the information acquiring unit.   
     
     
         19 : The vehicle control device according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the traveling control unit changes the first threshold value, depending on a region including the road.   
     
     
         20 : The vehicle control device according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein the information acquiring unit acquires information related to the amount of traffic in each lane of the road, and   the traveling control unit controls at least one of the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed on the basis of the amount of traffic in each lane of the road related to the information acquired by the information acquiring unit.   
     
     
         21 : A vehicle control method comprising:
 a step of acquiring information related to the amount of traffic on a road on which a host vehicle travels; and   a step of, when the amount of traffic related to the acquired information is more than a first threshold value, controlling an inter-vehicle distance between the host vehicle and other vehicles traveling on the road and the speed of the host vehicle such that the amount of traffic is equal to or more than a second threshold value.   
     
     
         22 : The vehicle control method according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein, in the step of controlling the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed such that the amount of traffic is equal to or more than the second threshold value, the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed at which the amount of traffic is equal to or more than the second threshold value are changed depending on the number of other vehicles which can communicate with the host vehicle.   
     
     
         23 : The vehicle control method according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein, in the step of acquiring the information related to the amount of traffic on the road on which the host vehicle travels, information related to the number of other vehicles which cannot communicate with the host vehicle between the host vehicle and other vehicles which can communicate with the host vehicle is acquired, and   in the step of controlling the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed such that the amount of traffic is equal to or more than the second threshold value, the inter-vehicle distance at which the amount of traffic is equal to or more than the second threshold value is changed depending on the number of other vehicles which cannot communicate with the host vehicle between the host vehicle and other vehicles which can communicate with the host vehicle related to the acquired information.   
     
     
         24 : The vehicle control method according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein, in the step of controlling the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed such that the amount of traffic is equal to or more than the second threshold value, the first threshold value is changed depending on a region including the road.   
     
     
         25 : The vehicle control method according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein, in the step of acquiring the information related to the amount of traffic on the road on which the host vehicle travels, information related to the amount of traffic in each lane of the road is acquired, and   in the step of controlling the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed such that the amount of traffic is equal to or more than the second threshold value, at least one of the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed is controlled on the basis of the amount of traffic in each lane of the road related to the information acquired.   
     
     
         26 : A vehicle control system comprising:
 information acquiring unit for acquiring information related to the amount of traffic on a road on which a plurality of vehicles travel; and   traveling control unit for, when the amount of traffic related to the information acquired by the information acquiring unit is more than a first threshold value, controlling an inter-vehicle distance between at least two of the vehicles traveling on the road and the speed of at least one of the vehicles such that the amount of traffic is equal to or more than a second threshold value.   
     
     
         27 : The vehicle control system according to  claim 26 ,
 wherein the traveling control unit changes the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed at which the amount of traffic is equal to or more than the second threshold value, depending on the number of vehicles which can communicate with each other.   
     
     
         28 : The vehicle control system according to  claim 26 ,
 wherein the information acquiring unit acquires information related to the number of vehicles which cannot communicate with each other between the vehicles which can communicate with each other, and   the traveling control unit changes the inter-vehicle distance at which the amount of traffic is equal to or more than the second threshold value, depending on the number of vehicles which cannot communicate with each other between the vehicles which can communicate with each other related to the information acquired by the information acquiring unit.   
     
     
         29 : The vehicle control system according to  claim 26 ,
 wherein the traveling control unit changes the first threshold value, depending on a region including the road.   
     
     
         30 : The vehicle control system according to  claim 27 ,
 wherein the information acquiring unit acquires information related to the amount of traffic in each lane of the road, and   the traveling control unit controls at least one of the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed on the basis of the amount of traffic in each lane of the road related to the information acquired by the information acquiring unit.