To recognize a correct road shape and to relieve the burden of a recognition processing without being affected by the road shape and circumferential environment concerning a road shape recognizing device for a vehicle.
Information concerning the road shape in the forward part of one's own vehicle is detected by a forward road shape information detecting means 20 and, besides, a road shape pattern which is assumed to coincide with the forward road shape is selected by a road shape pattern selecting means 25 based on the position of one's own vehicle, which is detected by a one's own vehicle position detecting means 24, and road map information which is stored in a road map information storage means 23. Then, the road shape in the forward part of one's own vehicle is recognized by a road shape recognizing means 21 based on the information detected by the forward road shape information detecting means 20 and the road shape pattern selected by the road shape pattern selecting means 25.
ITO MASAYOSHI
MIMURO TETSUSHI
