VEHICLE BEHAVIOR DETECTION DEVICE AND VEHICLE BEHAVIOR DETECTION METHOD

摘要

A radiowave reception unit (1) of a host vehicle generates a radiowave image on the basis of radio waves emitted from ahead of the host vehicle. A vehicle detection unit (3) detects the distance to a leading vehicle traveling ahead of the host vehicle. A high-temperature detection unit (2) detects a high-temperature area in the radiowave image where temperatures calculated on the basis of radiowave strengths are equal to or greater than a threshold value. An exhaust port area determination unit (4) determines from the high-temperature area an exhaust port area that corresponds to the exhaust port of the leading vehicle. A leading vehicle acceleration estimation unit (7) estimates, by using the inter-vehicle distance, a change in speed of the leading vehicle on the basis of a change in radiowave strength in the exhaust port area that has been determined by the exhaust port area determination unit (4).