TRAVEL CONTROL DEVICE AND TRAVEL CONTROL METHOD

摘要

A travel control device comprises: ultrasound obstacle detection sensors (13e-13h) which use ultrasound to detect an obstacle approaching an area to the rear of a host vehicle (1) and the distance to the obstacle; and an image obstacle detection unit (44) which uses an image of the vicinity of the host vehicle (1) including the area to the rear thereof to detect the obstacle approaching the area to the rear of the host vehicle (1). When the distance (DOD) to the obstacle which the ultrasound obstacle detection sensors (13e-13h) have detected is less than or equal to an alert operation threshold value (SSV), the travel control device carries out an alert, and increases the operation threshold value (SSV) as the vehicle velocity of the host vehicle (1) accelerates. If a preparation for the host vehicle (1) to move to the rear thereof is detected, and the image obstacle detection unit (44) detects an obstacle, the travel control device controls the operation threshold value (SSV) to remain at a constant value regardless of the vehicle velocity of the host vehicle (1).