JPS647109A - Automatic tracing device for preceding vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely track a preceding vehicle by using the picture inputted from a color TV camera, whose height and direction can be changed, to give speed information or the like required for tracking. CONSTITUTION:An automatic tracking device for preceding vehicle is provided with a freely expansible color TV camera 1 and picks up the roof of the preceding vehicle by this camera 1 and controls the speed and steering of its own vehicle while monitoring the picture of the shape of the roof to track the preceding vehicle. Before automatic running, features of the preceding vehicle are registered as a preceding vehicle model by a preceding vehicle setting part 3, and the camera height based on the vehicle type or the like is sent to a camera position control part 9 to correct the camera position. The setting part 3 holds and selects data of camera height and data of vehicle color and area dividing method. A preceding vehicle area is extracted from the picture of a picture memory 2 by a preceding vehicle extracting part 10, and this data is sent to a inter-vehicle distance measuring part 5, a transverse position measuring part 6, and a preceding vehicle operation monitor part 7 to output a command of acceleration/deceleration or the like to a steering part 8.