| 摘要 |
A forward condition detecting apparatus for vehicles has a laser radar device (30, 301, 302) mounted on a vehicle. A front height sensor (11F) and a rear height sensor (11R) detect a front height and a rear height of the vehicle, respectively. An electronic control unit (20) calculates an angle of inclination of the vehicle relative to a reference plane based on a difference between the detected front height and rear height. The electronic control unit (20) then calculates a laser beam radiation angle based on the calculated angle of inclination. The electronic control unit (20) controls an angular position of the laser radar device (30, 301, 302) based on the calculated radiation angle so that the laser beam may be maintained leveled generally in parallel with the reference plane irrespective of the inclination of the vehicle. The laser radar device (30, 301, 302) is preferably mounted in a vehicle front headlight unit (10) to be driven together with a headlight lamp. <IMAGE> |
