Driving assist system for vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle driving assist system of the present invention detects a vehicle condition and a traveling environment of a subject vehicle; and calculates an extent of influence on the subject vehicle due to future changes in surrounding environment. The vehicle driving assist system then calculates the risk potential around the subject vehicle based on the extent of influence. Operation reaction force of an accelerator pedal is controlled according to the risk potential thus calculated.

1 . A driving assist system for a vehicle, comprising: 
 a state recognition device that detects a vehicle condition and a traveling environment of a subject vehicle;    a future state prediction device that predicts future driving conditions, the predicting including calculating at least one of a current degree of proximity to a preceding vehicle and an extent of influence on the subject vehicle due to future changes in surrounding environment, the calculating being based on detection results of the state recognition device; and    a risk potential calculating device that calculates risk potential around the subject vehicle based on the future driving conditions predicted by the future state prediction device and a driver's intentions.    
     
     
         2 . A driving assist system for a vehicle according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a reaction force calculating device that calculates an operation reaction force to be generated in a vehicle operating unit according to the risk potential calculated by the risk potential calculating device; and    a reaction force generating device that generates the operation reaction force calculated by the reaction force calculating device in the vehicle operating unit.    
     
     
         3 . A driving assist system for a vehicle according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the vehicle operating unit is an accelerator pedal;    the reaction force calculating device calculates the operation reaction force to be generated in the accelerator pedal; and    the reaction force generating device generates the operation reaction force in the accelerator pedal.    
     
     
         4 . A driving assist system for a vehicle according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a warning system that outputs a warning according to the risk potential calculated by the risk potential calculating device.    
     
     
         5 . A driving assist system for a vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the risk potential calculating device estimates the driver's intentions from acceleration and deceleration of the subject vehicle to calculate the risk potential.    
     
     
         6 . A driving assist system for a vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the risk potential calculating device estimates the driver's intentions from acceleration and deceleration of the subject vehicle and the preceding vehicle to calculate the risk potential.    
     
     
         7 . A driving assist system for a vehicle, comprising: 
 a state recognition means for detecting a vehicle condition and a traveling environment of a subject vehicle;    a future state prediction means for predicting future driving conditions, the predicting including calculating at least one of a current degree of proximity to a preceding vehicle and an extent of influence on the subject vehicle due to future changes in surrounding environment, the calculating being based on detection results of the state recognition means; and    a risk potential calculating means for calculating risk potential around the subject vehicle based on the future driving conditions predicted by the future state prediction means and a driver's intentions.    
     
     
         8 . A vehicle, comprising: 
 a vehicle operating unit;    a state recognition device that detects a vehicle condition and a traveling environment of a subject vehicle;    a future state prediction device that predicts future driving conditions, the predicting including calculating at least one of a current degree of proximity to a preceding vehicle and an extent of influence on the subject vehicle due to future changes in surrounding environment, the calculating being based on detection results of the state recognition device    a risk potential calculating device that calculates risk potential around the subject vehicle based on the future driving conditions predicted by the future state prediction device and a driver's intentions;    a reaction force calculating device that calculates an operation reaction force to be generated in the vehicle operating unit according to the risk potential calculated by the risk potential calculating device; and    a reaction force generating device that generates the operation reaction force calculated by the reaction force calculating device in the vehicle operating unit.    
     
     
         9 . A method for calculating risk potential, comprising: 
 detecting a vehicle condition and a traveling environment of a subject vehicle;    predicting future driving conditions by calculating at least one of a current degree of proximity to a preceding vehicle and an extent of influence on the subject vehicle due to future changes in surrounding environment based on the vehicle conditions and the traveling environment having been detected; and    calculating the risk potential around the subject vehicle based on the predicted future driving conditions and a driver's intentions.