Patent attributes
An apparatus for controlling the distance between vehicles enables the distance to be controlled smoothly. A target vehicle speed determining section sets target vehicle speed based on the distance deviation between actual inter-vehicular distance and target inter-vehicular distance between host vehicle and preceding vehicle, and on the traveling speed of the preceding vehicle; calculates a temporary target vehicle speed based on traveling speed of the preceding vehicle and on the distance deviation; calculates a predicted arrival time for the host vehicle to reach the preceding vehicle based on the actual inter-vehicular distance and on the relative speeds between the two vehicles; and calculates a target vehicle speed limit value based on this predicted arrival time and on the traveling speed of the host vehicle, and sets as the target vehicle speed a value obtained by limiting the temporary target vehicle speed using this target vehicle speed limit value.
