US Patent 12091009 Vehicle control device and vehicle control method

A vehicle control device includes an inter-vehicle distance determination unit that determines an inter-vehicle distance, and a following control unit that performs a following control with respect to a preceding vehicle on the basis of the inter-vehicle distance determined by the inter-vehicle distance determination unit. The following control includes a first control state, and a second control state in which a burden on the driver is lighter than in the first control state, or in which a degree of automation is higher than in the first control state. A minimum value of the inter-vehicle distance that can be determined by the inter-vehicle distance determination unit in the second control state is greater than a minimum value of the inter-vehicle distance that can be determined by the inter-vehicle distance determination unit in the first control state.