Vehicle guiding system

Claim 2

A vehicle guiding system for enabling a plurality of vehicles to run in a platoon, the system comprising: (a) sensor means installed on a front running vehicle in the platoon, the sensor means detecting a relative displacement of the front running vehicle from a base line of a road; (b) calculation means installed on the front running vehicle the calculation means calculating, on the basis of the detected relative displacement, control variables for enabling the front running vehicle to run along the base line; (c) transmitting means installed on the front running vehicle, the transmitting means transmitting the control variable data from the calculation means to a vehicle following the front running vehicle; (d) receiving means installed on the following vehicle, the receiving means receiving the control variable data from the transmitting means; (e) storage means installed on the following vehicle, the storage means storing the control variable data received via the receiving means; (f) control means installed on the following vehicle, the control means determining a correction amount on the basis of the received control variable data when the following vehicle reaches a position where the front running vehicle transmitted the control variable data, and controlling the following vehicle on the basis of the correction amount; and (g) signaling means which is installed along the road, detects a vehicle running alone and notifies the presence of the vehicle to a base station, wherein the base station guides a lead vehicle in front of the vehicle running alone, and enables the lead vehicle to function as the front running vehicle.

Claim 3

The vehicle guiding system as in claim 1, wherein the signalling means detects the vehicle running alone when no vehicle is present within a predetermined distance in front of such a vehicle.

Claim 4

A vehicle guiding system for enabling a plurality of vehicles to run in a platoon, the system comprising: (a) sensor means installed on a front running vehicle in the platoon, the sensor means detecting a relative displacement of the front running vehicle from a base line of a road; (b) calculation means installed on the front running vehicle, the calculation means calculating, on the basis of the detected relative displacement, control variables for enabling the front running vehicle to run along the base line; (c) transmitting means installed on the front running vehicle the transmitting means transmitting the control variable data from the calculation means to a vehicle following the front running vehicle; (d) receiving means installed on the following vehicle, the receiving means receiving the control variable data from the transmitting means; (e) storage means installed on the following vehicle, the storage means storing the control variable data received via the receiving means; (f) control means installed on the following vehicle, the control means determining a correction amount on the basis of the received control variable data when the following vehicle reaches a position where the front running vehicle transmitted the control variable data, and controlling the following vehicle on the basis of the correction amount; (g) evaluating means which is installed along the road and evaluates levels of traffic congestion, and (h) command output means for issuing a command for reducing a distance between the front running vehicle and the following vehicle when the evaluating means recognizes heavy traffic, wherein the control means of the following vehicle reduces the distance in response to the command.

Claim 5

A vehicle guiding system for enabling a plurality of vehicles to run in a platoon, the system comprising: (a) sensor means installed on a front running vehicle in the platoon, the sensor means detecting a relative displacement of the front running vehicle from a base line of a road; (b) calculation means installed on the front running vehicle, the calculation means calculating, on the basis of the detected relative displacement, control variables for enabling the front running vehicle to run along the base line; (c) transmitting means installed on the front running vehicle the transmitting means transmitting the control variable data from the calculation means to a vehicle following the front running vehicle; (d) receiving means installed on the following vehicle, the receiving means receiving the control variable data from the transmitting means; (e) storage means installed on the following vehicle, the storage means storing the control variable data received via the receiving means; (f) control means installed on the following vehicle, the control means determining a correction amount on the basis of the received control variable data when the following vehicle reaches a position where the front running vehicle transmitted the control variable data, and controlling the following vehicle on the basis of the correction amount; (g) evaluating means which is installed along the road and evaluates levels of traffic congestion, and (h) command output means for issuing a command for reducing a distance between the front running vehicle and the following vehicle when the evaluating means recognizes heavy traffic, wherein the control means of the following vehicle reduces the distance in response to the command.

Claim 6

The vehicle guide system as in claim 3, wherein said level of traffic congestion indicates an average distance of less than 50 meters between the front running vehicle and the following vehicle.