DEVICE FOR DETECTING CURVE SECTION

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a curve section detecting device for reliably determining existence of a curve section. SOLUTION: A plurality of continuous nodes N1-N4 in the anterior road of an observation point are acquired. A curve start is determined when determination is continued twice, that the lengths a, b, c of links are smaller than the threshold of a start link distance and angles generated by the crossing of the links is larger than the threshold of a start link intersection angle, through the use of the acquired nodes, the lengths a, b, c, of the links La, Lb, Lc for connecting the nodes, and the angles α, β generated by the crossing of the links. Not only the intersection angles of the crossing links but the link lengths are added, so as to reliably detect a curve shape which is closesr to an actual travelling feeling. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI