Vehicle rental system and vehicle rental method

Abstract

Vehicle rental system and vehicle rental method. A vehicle rental system includes: a plurality of vehicles; a plurality of vehicle control units included in each vehicle, the vehicle control units being configured to communicate with each other and to perform driving control of each vehicle such that a following vehicle included in the vehicles follows a leading vehicle selected from the vehicles; and a management server configured to communicate with each vehicle control unit. The management server is configured to obtain reservation application information including at least a use start location and a use start time of a vehicle to be rented from a user terminal, create a vehicle dispatch plan including a convoy driving group and a driving plan for the convoy driving group, the convoy driving group including one vehicle among the vehicles to move to the use start location at the use start time and another vehicle among the vehicles, and the management server sends the vehicle dispatch plan to the vehicle control unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle rental system and a vehicle rental method. Background Art

[0002] A car rental system and a car-sharing system are known as vehicle rental systems for renting vehicles to users. In such a vehicle rental system, vehicles can be moved according to user expectations and demand for vehicles. For example, in a known vehicle rental system, a staff member transports a vehicle to a start location desired by the user and collects the vehicle from a destination desired by the user (the location where the vehicle is left) (e.g., JP2017-215769A). Further, in another known vehicle rental system, vehicles move between urban areas and suburban areas to cope with changes in demand between weekdays and weekends (e.g., JP2017-519270A). In the above vehicle rental system disclosed in JP2017-215769A, a staff member drives the vehicle to be rented to move the vehicle from a station storing the vehicle to the start location of the user or from the destination of the user to the station.

[0003] In the case where a staff member moves a vehicle, as the number of vehicles to be moved increases, the number of staff members required to move the vehicles also increases. Therefore, there is a need for a vehicle rental system that can efficiently move vehicles with a small number of staff members. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of such problems in the prior art, a main object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle rental system and a vehicle rental method that can reduce the staff members used to move vehicles.

[0005] To achieve this object, an embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle rental system 1, the vehicle rental system including: a plurality of vehicles 2; a plurality of vehicle control units 3 included in each vehicle, the plurality of vehicle control units being configured to communicate with each other and being configured to perform driving control of each vehicle so that a following vehicle included in the plurality of vehicles follows a leading vehicle selected from the plurality of vehicles; and a management server 4, the management server being configured to communicate with each vehicle control unit, wherein the management server is configured to: obtain reservation application information including at least a start location and a start time of a vehicle to be rented from a user terminal 8; create a vehicle dispatch plan including a convoy driving group and a driving plan for the convoy driving group, the convoy driving group including one vehicle among the plurality of vehicles to be moved to the start location at the start time and another vehicle among the plurality of vehicles; and send the vehicle dispatch plan to the vehicle control unit.

[0006] According to this arrangement, the management server creates a vehicle dispatch plan for moving one of the vehicles to the user's usage start location based on reservation application information. A convoy driving group including one of the vehicles to be moved to the usage start location and another vehicle is created for the vehicle dispatch plan. The vehicles forming the convoy driving group can be set as following vehicles following a leading vehicle, thereby enabling reduction of the staff for moving the vehicles.

[0007] Preferably, the convoy driving group includes the vehicles with the same usage start location. Alternatively, the convoy driving group includes the vehicles with different usage start locations.

[0008] According to this arrangement, even when the usage start locations of the vehicles are different from each other, a convoy driving group can be created, so that the number of vehicles that can be included in one convoy driving group can be increased. Therefore, the number of vehicles moved by each staff can be increased.

[0009] Preferably, the vehicles are configured to be dispersedly arranged at multiple stations A and B, and the usage start location is selected from one of the multiple stations.

[0010] According to this arrangement, the number of vehicles with the same usage start location can be increased, so that the number of vehicles that can be included in one convoy driving group can be increased. Therefore, the number of vehicles moved by each staff can be increased.

[0011] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle rental system 1, which includes: a plurality of vehicles 2; a plurality of vehicle control units 3 included in each vehicle, the vehicle control units being configured to communicate with each other and configured to perform driving control of each vehicle so that the following vehicles included in the plurality of vehicles follow a leading vehicle selected from the plurality of vehicles; and a management server 4, the management server being configured to communicate with each vehicle control unit, wherein the management server is configured to: obtain reservation application information including at least the usage end location and usage end time of the vehicle to be rented from a user terminal 8; create a vehicle dispatch plan including a convoy driving group and a driving plan for the convoy driving group, the convoy driving group including one vehicle to be moved from the usage end location among the plurality of vehicles and another vehicle among the plurality of vehicles; and send the vehicle dispatch plan to the vehicle control unit.

[0012] According to this arrangement, the management server creates a vehicle dispatch plan for moving one of the vehicles from the user's usage end location based on reservation application information. A convoy driving group including one of the vehicles to be moved from the usage end location and another vehicle is created for the vehicle dispatch plan. The vehicles forming the convoy driving group can be set as following vehicles following a leading vehicle, thereby enabling reduction of the staff for moving the vehicles.

[0013] Preferably, the convoy driving group includes the vehicles with the same end-usage locations. Alternatively, the convoy driving group includes the vehicles with different end-usage locations.

[0014] According to this arrangement, even when the end-usage locations of the vehicles are different from each other, a convoy driving group can be created, so that the number of vehicles that can be included in a convoy driving group can be increased. Therefore, the number of vehicles moved by each staff member can be increased.

[0015] Preferably, the vehicles are configured to be dispersedly arranged at multiple stations A and B, and the end-usage location is selected from one of the multiple stations.

[0016] According to this arrangement, the number of vehicles with the same end-usage locations can be increased, so that the number of vehicles that can be included in a convoy driving group can be increased. Therefore, the number of vehicles moved by each staff member can be increased.

[0017] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle rental system 1, which includes: a plurality of vehicles 2 configured to be dispersedly arranged at multiple stations A and B; a plurality of vehicle control units 3 included in each vehicle, the vehicle control units being configured to communicate with each other and configured to perform the driving control of each vehicle so that the follower vehicles included in the plurality of vehicles follow a leading vehicle selected from the plurality of vehicles; and a management server 4 configured to communicate with each vehicle control unit, wherein the management server is configured to: create a vehicle dispatch plan including a convoy driving group and a driving plan for the convoy driving group, the convoy driving group including one vehicle to be moved from one of the multiple stations to another of the multiple stations among the plurality of vehicles and another vehicle among the plurality of vehicles; and send the vehicle dispatch plan to the vehicle control unit.

[0018] According to this arrangement, the management server creates a vehicle dispatch plan for moving one vehicle from one station to another station. A convoy driving group is created for the vehicle dispatch plan, the convoy driving group including one vehicle to be moved from one station to another station among the vehicles and another vehicle among the vehicles. The vehicles forming the convoy driving group can be set as follower vehicles following the leading vehicle, so that the number of staff members for moving the vehicles can be reduced.

[0019] Preferably, the management server is configured to create the vehicle dispatch plan based on the demand prediction information about each station to move the one vehicle from the one station with low predicted demand to another station with high predicted demand.

[0020] According to this arrangement, the management server creates a vehicle dispatching plan based on the demand expectation information to move one of the vehicles from a station with low expected demand to another station with high expected demand. Thus, the rental rate of each vehicle can be increased.

[0021] Preferably, the management server is configured to create the demand expectation information based on the past operation records of the respective stations.

[0022] According to this arrangement, vehicles corresponding to reservations can be arranged at the stations.

[0023] Preferably, the vehicle dispatching plan includes information about the leading vehicle and the following vehicle in the vehicle platoon, and the vehicle control unit of the following vehicle is configured to identify the leading vehicle based on the information about the leading vehicle included in the vehicle dispatching plan, communicate with the vehicle control unit of the leading vehicle, and perform the driving control so that the following vehicle follows the leading vehicle.

[0024] According to this arrangement, the vehicle control unit of each vehicle included in the vehicle platoon sets its own vehicle as the leading vehicle or the following vehicle based on the vehicle dispatching plan. Therefore, the staff does not have to set each vehicle as the leading vehicle or the following vehicle.

[0025] Preferably, in the vehicle dispatching plan, an autonomous driving vehicle is selected as the leading vehicle of the vehicle platoon.

[0026] According to this arrangement, the number of staff for driving the leading vehicle can be reduced.

[0027] Preferably, in the vehicle dispatching plan, the order of the vehicles in the vehicle platoon from the front is determined in ascending order of driving performance.

[0028] According to this arrangement, the following vehicle follows the leading vehicle with a lower driving performance than the following vehicle, so that the following vehicle can travel in such a way that the behavior of the following vehicle largely corresponds to the behavior of the leading vehicle.

[0029] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle rental method used by a management server 4, which is configured to communicate with each vehicle control unit 3 included in each vehicle 2. The vehicle control units are configured to communicate with each other and to perform driving control of each vehicle so that a following vehicle included in the vehicle follows a leading vehicle selected from the vehicles. The vehicle rental method includes the following steps: obtaining reservation application information including at least a use start location and a use start time of a vehicle to be rented from a user terminal 8; creating a vehicle dispatch plan including a convoy driving group and a driving plan for the convoy driving group based at least on the reservation application information, the convoy driving group including: one vehicle among the vehicles to move to the use start location at the use start time and another vehicle among the vehicles; and sending the vehicle dispatch plan to the vehicle control unit.

[0030] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle rental method used by a management server 4, which is configured to communicate with each vehicle control unit 3 included in each vehicle. The vehicle control units are configured to communicate with each other and to perform driving control of each vehicle so that a following vehicle included in the vehicle follows a leading vehicle selected from the vehicles. The vehicle rental method includes the following steps: obtaining reservation application information including at least a use end location and a use end time of a vehicle to be rented from a user terminal 8; creating a vehicle dispatch plan including a convoy driving group and a driving plan for the convoy driving group based at least on the reservation application information, the convoy driving group including one vehicle among the vehicles to move from the use end location and another vehicle among the vehicles; and sending the vehicle dispatch plan to the vehicle control unit.

[0031] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle rental method used by a management server 4, which is configured to communicate with each vehicle control unit 3 included in each vehicle 2 that is dispersedly arranged at multiple stations A and B. The vehicle control units are configured to communicate with each other and to perform driving control of each vehicle so that a following vehicle included in the vehicle follows a leading vehicle selected from the vehicles. The vehicle rental method includes the following steps: creating a vehicle dispatch plan including a convoy driving group and a driving plan for the convoy driving group, the convoy driving group including one vehicle among the vehicles to move from one of the stations to another of the stations and another vehicle among the vehicles; and sending the vehicle dispatch plan to the vehicle control unit.

[0032] Therefore, according to the above aspects, a vehicle rental system and a vehicle rental method that can reduce the number of staff for moving vehicles can be provided. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0033] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle rental system according to an embodiment;

[0034] Figure 2 is a flowchart of a reservation determination process executed by a reservation determination unit;

[0035] Figures 3A to 3C is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a first vehicle dispatch plan;

[0036] Figures 4A to 4C is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a second vehicle dispatch plan;

[0037] Figures 5A to 5C is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a third vehicle dispatch plan; and

[0038] Figures 6A to 6D is an explanatory diagram for explaining how a following vehicle moves in a single - multi change process. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0039] Hereinafter, a vehicle rental system 1 and a vehicle rental method used by the vehicle rental system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As Figure 1 shown, the vehicle rental system 1 includes: a plurality of vehicles 2; a plurality of vehicle control units 3 included in each vehicle 2; and a management server 4. The management server 4 is configured to communicate with the vehicle control units 3 via the Internet 6, communicate with user terminals 8 owned by respective users via the Internet 6, and communicate with staff terminals 9 owned by respective staff via the Internet 6.

[0040] The vehicles 2 are configured to be dispersedly arranged in a plurality of stations (e.g., parking lots) and rented to users according to user reservations. The vehicles 2 have various vehicle types to cope with various usage purposes. For example, the vehicles 2 include sedans, minivans, wagons, SUVs, sports cars, compact cars, light vehicles (Kei cars), luxury cars, trucks, etc. In addition, the vehicles 2 may include tower trucks, buses, construction machinery such as forklifts, etc.

[0041] The vehicle control units 3 included in each vehicle 2 are configured to communicate with each other and perform the driving control of each vehicle 2 such that a leading vehicle selected from the vehicles 2 is followed by at least one following vehicle included in the vehicles 2. Each vehicle control unit 3 includes a human-machine interface (HMI) 3A, a vehicle sensor 3B, a position acquisition device 3C, an external environment recognition device 3D, a communication device 3E, a traffic signal information receiver 3F, and a control device 3G. The HMI 3A, the vehicle sensor 3B, the position acquisition device 3C, the external environment recognition device 3D, the traffic signal information receiver 3F, and the communication device 3E are connected to the control device 3G via a communication device such as a controller area network (CAN).

[0042] The HMI 3A is provided in the passenger compartment of each vehicle 2. The HMI 3A is configured to notify various information to the occupants by display and / or voice, and receive the input operations of the occupants. The HMI 3A is, for example, a touch panel display.

[0043] The position acquisition device 3C is configured to acquire the current position of the own vehicle 2 (absolute coordinate values represented by latitude and longitude). For example, the position acquisition device 3C is configured to acquire the current position of the own vehicle 2 based on a GPS signal. The external environment recognition device 3D is configured to recognize an object such as another vehicle 2 around the own vehicle 2, and includes, for example, a camera, a radar, a lidar, a sonar, etc. In addition, the camera included in the external environment recognition device 3D is configured to recognize an identification code attached to the outer surface of another vehicle 2.

[0044] The vehicle sensor 3B is configured to detect the driving state of the own vehicle 2. The vehicle sensor 3B includes, for example: a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect the vehicle speed of the own vehicle 2; an acceleration sensor configured to detect the acceleration of the own vehicle 2; an angular rate sensor configured to detect the triaxial angular rate of the own vehicle 2; an accelerator pedal sensor; a brake pedal sensor; and a steering angle sensor.

[0045] The communication device 3E includes a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 3EA and a mobile communication device 3EB. The vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 3EA is configured to wirelessly connect the control devices 3G of different vehicles 2 (for example, the control device 3G of the own vehicle 2 and the control device 3G of another vehicle 2). The mobile communication device 3EB is configured to wirelessly communicate with a base station of a mobile communication system so as to connect the control device 3G of the own vehicle 2 to the management server 4 via the Internet 6. The mobile communication device 3EB may be based on, for example, the fourth or fifth generation mobile communication system.

[0046] The traffic signal information receiver 3F is configured to receive a signal transmitted from a traffic signal information transmitter provided on a road, and thereby acquire traffic signal information. The traffic signal information receiver 3F may be, for example, a receiver of an optical beacon.

[0047] The control device 3G is an electronic control unit (ECU) composed of a computer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. The CPU performs arithmetic processing according to a program, and the control device 3G executes travel control of the vehicle 2 by controlling a steering device, a drive device such as an engine or a motor, and a braking device such as a disc brake provided in the vehicle 2. More specifically, the control device 3G is configured to adjust the steering angle of the vehicle 2 by controlling the steering device, and to adjust the acceleration, deceleration, and vehicle speed of the vehicle 2 by controlling the drive device and the braking device. The control devices 3G of the vehicles 2 (for example, the vehicle 2 and another vehicle 2) forming a platoon travel group communicate with each other, and thus execute electronic connection control to enable the vehicle 2 to travel in a platoon, and execute platoon travel control to actually make the vehicle travel in a platoon. The platoon travel control includes: a lead control executed when the vehicle 2 is set as a lead vehicle; and a follow control that makes the vehicle 2 follow another vehicle 2 set as a lead vehicle when the vehicle 2 is set as a follow vehicle. The control device 3G is configured to set the vehicle 2 as a lead vehicle or a follow vehicle based on a vehicle dispatch plan received from the management server 4.

[0048] The control device 3G of the follow vehicle executes follow control so that the follow vehicle can follow the lead vehicle. The state in which the follow vehicle follows the lead vehicle is referred to as "the state in which the vehicle 2 travels in a platoon". In addition, a group of vehicles 2 traveling in a platoon is referred to as a "platoon travel group". The platoon travel group includes one lead vehicle and at least one follow vehicle. For example, the maximum number of vehicles 2 included in the platoon travel group can be limited to 3 to 6.

[0049] The management server 4 is a computer including a CPU, a memory, a storage device, and a communication device. Each of the user terminal 8 and the staff terminal 9 is a computer including a CPU, a memory, a storage device, a communication device, and an HMI, and is composed of, for example, a smart phone, a tablet PC, a mobile phone, or a PDA. The HMI of each user terminal 8 is an input / output device and is composed of, for example, a touch panel display. Each user terminal 8 includes an application for communicating with the management server 4 to use the vehicle rental system 1. Each user terminal 8 is configured to create reservation application data (reservation application information) according to an operation of the HMI of the user, send the reservation application data to the management server 4, and display reservation result data (reservation result information) received from the management server 4 on the HMI.

[0050] Reservation application data is a record that includes at least the user identification number, start location of use, end location of use (return location), start time of use, and end time of use (return time) of the vehicle 2 to be rented. In addition, the reservation application data may include vehicle information about the vehicle 2 (the vehicle 2 that the user desires to rent).

[0051] The HMI of each user terminal 8 is configured to display a reservation application screen, which includes units corresponding to each piece of information included in the reservation application data. When the user inputs to the units of the reservation application screen, reservation application data is created. The units corresponding to each piece of information can display selectable items through a drop-down menu or the like, enabling the user to select one of the selectable items. For example, when the user inputs each piece of information (e.g., start location of use, end location of use, start time of use, and end time of use of the vehicle 2 to be rented) on the HMI of each user terminal 8, each user terminal 8 sends each piece of information to the management server 4. The management server 4 can search for available vehicles 2 based on each piece of information received from each user terminal 8, and then send information about the available vehicles 2 to each user terminal 8. Then, each user terminal 8 can display the available vehicles 2 on the HMI so that the user can select one of the available vehicles 2.

[0052] In this embodiment, the start location of use and the end location of use included in the reservation application data are selected from multiple stations. For example, the same station can be selected for the start location of use and the end location of use, or different stations can be selected for them. The end location of use can be selected from multiple stations preset for each start location of use. In other embodiments, locations other than stations can be input as the start location of use and / or the end location of use.

[0053] The vehicle information may include, for example, the vehicle name. The reservation application screen can display multiple selectable vehicle names so that the user can select the desired vehicle name.

[0054] Each user terminal 8 is configured to create reservation application data based on the user's input operations on the reservation application screen, and then send the reservation application data to the management server 4 via the Internet 6.

[0055] The management server 4 includes a reservation reception unit 21, a reservation determination unit 22, a reservation result sending unit 23, a vehicle dispatch plan unit 25, a vehicle control unit 26, a vehicle dispatch plan sending unit 27, and a data storage unit 28. The vehicle dispatch plan unit 25 includes a first vehicle dispatch plan unit 25A, a second vehicle dispatch plan unit 25B, and a third vehicle dispatch plan unit 25C.

[0056] The reservation receiving unit 21 is configured to create processing data for each received reservation application data, and then write the created processing data into the processing data table stored in the data storage unit 28 as a record. The processing data includes the processing number of the vehicle 2 to be rented, the user identification number, the start location of use, the end location of use, the start time of use and the end time of use, and the vehicle information. In addition, the following processing executed by the management server 4 adds the reservation result data to the processing data.

[0057] In addition, the data storage unit 28 is configured to store, in addition to the processing data table, a vehicle basic information table, a vehicle scheduling table, and a fleet driving schedule table. The vehicle basic information table includes a set of vehicle basic data set for all vehicles 2 owned by the vehicle rental system 1. The vehicle basic data includes at least the characteristic information of each vehicle 2, such as the vehicle identification number, the vehicle name, and the equipment. The characteristic information may also include: information about the characteristics of each vehicle 2, such as the capacity (maximum number of passengers) of each vehicle 2; the size of the space inside each vehicle 2; whether smoking is allowed inside each vehicle 2; and whether each vehicle 2 is equipped with tubeless tires.

[0058] In the vehicle scheduling table, the vehicle scheduling data of each vehicle 2 is stored. The vehicle scheduling data of each vehicle 2 includes: the current location of each vehicle 2 at each moment; whether each vehicle 2 is scheduled for rental at each moment; and the appropriate parking location (appropriate storage location) of each vehicle 2 at each moment. The appropriate parking location is the location (station) where each vehicle 2 should be parked when not rented. An appropriate parking location is set for each moment, and one of the stations is set as the appropriate parking location. The appropriate parking location does not have to match the start location and the end location of use of the vehicle 2 to be rented. That is, the appropriate parking location is not changed according to the start location and the end location of use of the vehicle 2 to be rented. When each vehicle 2 is rented, the current location of each vehicle 2 is maintained at a location corresponding to "being rented". Even when each vehicle 2 is rented, the appropriate parking location does not change, and a location (one station) is set as the appropriate parking location.

[0059] The reservation determination unit 22 is configured to perform a reservation determination process on each piece of processing data to determine whether the reservation of each vehicle 2 is successful (i.e., whether the reservation of each vehicle 2 is established). The reservation determination unit 22 is configured to determine whether the reservation of each vehicle 2 is successful based on the reservation conditions included in the processing data (e.g., the start location of use, the end location of use, the start time of use, the end time of use, and the vehicle information of the vehicle 2 to be rented) and the vehicle scheduling data of each vehicle 2 stored in the vehicle schedule. For example, the reservation determination unit 22 is configured to, based on the vehicle information in the processing data, refer to the vehicle scheduling data of the target vehicle 2 (i.e., the vehicle 2 determined by the reservation determination unit 22 as the target) in the vehicle schedule, so as to determine that each vehicle 2 that meets the reservation conditions (e.g., the start location of use, the end location of use, the start time of use, and the end time of use of the vehicle 2 to be rented) included in the processing data is available.

[0060] For example, the reservation determination unit 22 may determine whether the reservation of each vehicle 2 is successful based on Figure 2 the reservation determination process shown in. In the reservation determination process, the reservation determination unit 22 first obtains the reservation conditions from the processing data (e.g., the start location of use, the end location of use, the start time of use, the end time of use, and the vehicle information of the vehicle 2 to be rented) (step S1). Subsequently, the reservation determination unit 22 obtains the vehicle scheduling data of the target vehicle 2 (more specifically, each vehicle 2 that meets the reservation conditions obtained in step S1) from the vehicle schedule (step S2).

[0061] Next, the reservation determination unit 22 determines whether the target vehicle 2 exists at the start location of use at the start time of use based on the reservation conditions and the vehicle scheduling data (step S3).

[0062] In the case where the target vehicle 2 does not exist at the start location of use at the start time of use (when the determination result in step S3 is "no"), the reservation determination unit 22 determines whether the target vehicle 2 can move to the start location of use before the start time of use (step S4). For example, when the target vehicle 2 is not reserved during a specified time before the start time of use and the distance between the vehicle location and the start location of use during the specified time before the start time of use is equal to or less than a specified threshold, the reservation determination unit 22 may determine that the target vehicle 2 can move to the start location of use before the start time of use.

[0063] When the target vehicle 2 exists at the start location at the start time of use (when the determination result in step S3 is "yes") or when the target vehicle 2 can move to the start location before the start time of use (when the determination result in step S4 is "yes"), the reservation determination unit 22 determines whether the target vehicle 2 is not reserved during the period from the start time of use to the end time of use (step S5).

[0064] When the target vehicle 2 is not reserved during the period from the start time of use to the end time of use (when the determination result in step S5 is "yes"), the reservation determination unit 22 determines whether the target vehicle 2 can move to the next start location at the next start time of use (i.e., the start time of use in the next reservation of the target vehicle 2) (step S6). The reservation determination unit 22 performs the determination in step S6 based on the current end location included in the processing data (i.e., the end location in the current reservation of the target vehicle 2) and the current end time (i.e., the end time in the current reservation of the target vehicle 2), as well as the next start location and the next start time included in the vehicle scheduling data. For example, when the distance between the current end location and the next start location is equal to or less than a specified threshold and the difference between the current end time and the next start time is equal to or less than a specified threshold, the reservation determination unit 22 may determine that the target vehicle 2 can move to the next start location at the next start time of use (the determination result in step S6 is "yes"). In addition, when the target vehicle 2 has no next reservation, the reservation determination unit 22 determines that the target vehicle 2 can move to the next start location at the next start time of use (the determination result in step S6 is "yes").

[0065] When the determination result in step S6 is "yes", the reservation determination unit 22 sets "reservation successful" as the reservation result (step S7). In addition, in this case, the reservation determination unit 22 adds vehicle reservation information (e.g., the start location, start time, end location, and end time of use of the target vehicle) to the vehicle scheduling data of the target vehicle 2 in the vehicle schedule.

[0066] On the other hand, when the determination result in step S4 is "no", when the determination result in step S5 is "no", or when the determination result in step S6 is "no", the reservation determination unit 22 sets "reservation failed" as the reservation result of the processing data (step S8).

[0067] The reservation result sending unit 23 is configured to create reservation result information based on the processing data of the target vehicle 2 determined according to the reservation result, and thus send the created reservation result information to the target user terminal 8 (for example, the user terminal 8 that has sent reservation application data to the management server 4). The reservation result information includes a reservation result indicating reservation success or reservation failure. In addition, the reservation result information may include the start location of vehicle use, the end location of vehicle use, the start time of vehicle use, the end time of vehicle use, and vehicle information.

[0068] The first vehicle dispatch planning unit 25A is configured to use, as the first moving vehicle, at least one vehicle 2 that is not scheduled to be present at the start location of vehicle use at the future start time of vehicle use based on the vehicle dispatch data of each vehicle 2 in the vehicle dispatch schedule. In addition, the first vehicle dispatch planning unit 25A is configured to set a first vehicle dispatch plan for the first moving vehicle. The first moving vehicle is the vehicle 2 that should move to the start location of vehicle use at the start time of vehicle use. The first moving vehicle can be selected by comparing the location of each vehicle 2 at the start time of vehicle use with the start location of vehicle use based on the vehicle dispatch data. As Figures 3A to 3C shown, the first vehicle dispatch plan is a plan for moving the first moving vehicle to the start location of vehicle use at the start time of vehicle use.

[0069] The first vehicle dispatch planning unit 25A is configured to determine a first vehicle dispatch plan that includes: the start location of movement of the first moving vehicle; the end location of movement; the start time of movement; and the movement route. The start location of movement is the location of the first moving vehicle at a specified time before the start time of vehicle use of the target reservation (i.e., the reservation for which the first moving vehicle moves), and the end location of movement is the start location of vehicle use of the vehicle 2 in the target reservation. In the present embodiment, any station is set as the start location of movement and the end location of movement. The movement route is set according to the start location of movement and the end location of movement. For example, the movement route can be preset according to the combination of the start location of movement and the end location of movement.

[0070] The first vehicle dispatch plan is set such that the first moving vehicle arrives at the start location of vehicle use at the end time of movement, and the end time of movement is set at a specified time before the start time of vehicle use of the vehicle 2 in the target reservation. The start time of movement is set such that the vehicle dispatch is completed by the end time of movement. The start time of movement can be set as a time period including a start time point and an end time point. The end time point of the start time of movement can be set as the time point obtained by retreating the movement time of the vehicle 2 from the end time of movement. The movement time can be appropriately set in consideration of traffic congestion on the road, etc.

[0071] In addition, the first vehicle dispatch planning department 25A is configured to create a platoon driving group including a first mobile vehicle and one or more other vehicles. The first vehicle dispatch planning department 25A is configured to store information about the vehicles 2 forming the platoon driving group and information about the driving plan of the platoon driving group as part of the first vehicle dispatch plan. One of the vehicles included in the platoon driving group is a lead vehicle that guides the first mobile vehicle through an electronic connection. The lead vehicle can be a vehicle driven by a staff member or can be an autonomous driving vehicle capable of autonomous driving. Preferably, the autonomous driving vehicle can drive without a driver. In addition, the lead vehicle can be one of the vehicles 2 that can be leased to users or can be a vehicle 2 that is prohibited from being leased to users.

[0072] The lead vehicle included in the platoon driving group can be selected from the vehicles 2 existing at the station where the first mobile vehicle is located or can be selected from the vehicles 2 existing at a station different from the station where the first mobile vehicle is located.

[0073] In addition to the above first mobile vehicle and lead vehicle, the platoon driving group can also include one or more other vehicles. The other vehicles can include another first mobile vehicle that is to move according to another first vehicle dispatch plan different from the target first vehicle dispatch plan. The usage start locations of the first mobile vehicles included in one platoon driving group can be the same as each other or can be different from each other.

[0074] In the case where there is another first mobile vehicle different from the target first mobile vehicle (i.e., the first mobile vehicle moving according to the target first vehicle dispatch plan), the first vehicle dispatch planning department 25A forms a platoon driving group such that the target first mobile vehicle and the other first mobile vehicle are included in one platoon driving group under the conditions that the moving routes of the target first mobile vehicle and the other first mobile vehicle overlap with each other, the other first mobile vehicle passes through the usage start location of the target first mobile vehicle at the usage start time of the target first mobile vehicle, and the other first mobile vehicle passes through the usage end location of the target first mobile vehicle at the usage end time of the target first mobile vehicle. In addition, the first vehicle dispatch planning department 25A is configured to set a lead vehicle for each platoon driving group.

[0075] The first vehicle dispatch planning department 25A is configured to update the vehicle scheduling data of each target vehicle 2 (i.e., each vehicle 2 moving according to the first vehicle dispatch plan) based on the created first vehicle dispatch plan. Accordingly, the vehicle scheduling data of each target vehicle 2 is changed so that each target vehicle 2 is located at the usage start location at the future usage start time.

[0076] The second vehicle dispatch planning unit 25B is configured to use vehicle dispatch data for each vehicle 2 in the vehicle schedule to identify at least one vehicle 2 that is not scheduled to be at an appropriate parking location at any future time as a second mobile vehicle. In addition, the second vehicle dispatch planning unit 25B is configured to set a second vehicle dispatch plan for the second mobile vehicle. The second mobile vehicle is a vehicle 2 that has not been reserved and is parked (stored) at a location different from the appropriate parking location at or after the any time. For example, the any time can be set at a prescribed interval. The second mobile vehicle can be identified by comparing the current location of each vehicle 2 at the any time with the appropriate parking location based on the vehicle dispatch data, selecting each vehicle 2 whose current location is different from the appropriate parking location, and then selecting from the selected vehicles 2 each vehicle 2 that has not been reserved at or after the any time. As Figures 4A to 4C shown, the second vehicle dispatch plan is a plan for moving the second mobile vehicle to the appropriate parking location.

[0077] The second vehicle dispatch planning unit 25B is configured to determine the second vehicle dispatch plan, which includes a starting location, an ending location, a starting time, and a travel route for the second mobile vehicle. The starting location is the current location of the second mobile vehicle at the any time, and the ending location is the appropriate parking location of the second mobile vehicle. In the present embodiment, any station can be set as the starting location and the ending location. The travel route is set based on the starting location and the ending location. For example, the travel route can be preset according to the combination of the starting location and the ending location.

[0078] In the second vehicle dispatch plan, the starting time can be set as a period that includes a start time point and an end time point. For example, the start time point of the starting time can be set as any time point when the second vehicle dispatch planning unit 25B creates the second vehicle dispatch plan. For example, the end time point of the starting time can be set as a time point of a prescribed time after the start time point of the starting time.

[0079] In addition, the second vehicle dispatch planning unit 25B is configured to create a platoon driving group including the second mobile vehicle and one or more other vehicles. The second vehicle dispatch planning unit 25B is configured to store information about the vehicles forming the platoon driving group and information about the driving plan of the platoon driving group as part of the second vehicle dispatch plan. One of the vehicles included in the platoon driving group is a leading vehicle that guides the second mobile vehicle by using an electronic connection. The leading vehicle may be a vehicle driven by a staff member or may be an autonomous driving vehicle capable of autonomous driving. Preferably, the autonomous driving vehicle may drive without a driver. In addition, the leading vehicle may be one of the vehicles 2 that can be rented to users or may be a vehicle 2 prohibited from being rented to users.

[0080] The leading vehicle included in the platoon driving group may be selected from the vehicles 2 present at the station where the second mobile vehicle is located or may be selected from the vehicles 2 present at a station different from the station where the second mobile vehicle is located.

[0081] The platoon driving group may further include one or more other vehicles in addition to the second mobile vehicle and the leading vehicle. The other vehicles may include another second mobile vehicle that will move according to another second vehicle dispatch plan different from the target second vehicle dispatch plan. The moving start locations (usage end locations) of the second mobile vehicles included in one platoon driving group may be the same as each other or may be different from each other.

[0082] In the case where there is another second mobile vehicle different from the target second mobile vehicle (i.e., the second mobile vehicle moving according to the target second vehicle dispatch plan), the second vehicle dispatch planning unit 25B forms a platoon driving group such that the target second mobile vehicle and the other second mobile vehicle are included in one platoon driving group under the conditions that the moving routes of the target second mobile vehicle and the other second mobile vehicle overlap with each other, the other second mobile vehicle passes through the moving start location of the target second mobile vehicle at the moving start time of the target second mobile vehicle, and the other second mobile vehicle passes through the moving end location of the target second mobile vehicle at the moving end time of the target second mobile vehicle. In addition, the second vehicle dispatch planning unit 25B is configured to set a leading vehicle for each platoon driving group.

[0083] The second vehicle dispatch planning unit 25B is configured to update the vehicle scheduling data of each target vehicle 2 (i.e., each vehicle 2 moving according to the second vehicle dispatch plan) based on the created second vehicle dispatch plan. Accordingly, the vehicle scheduling data of each target vehicle 2 is changed such that the current location of each target vehicle 2 at a certain future time point is set to a suitable parking location.

[0084] The third vehicle dispatch planning unit 25C is configured to create a third vehicle dispatch plan according to a preset schedule. As Figures 5A to 5CAs shown, the third vehicle dispatching plan is a plan for moving some vehicles 2 present in one station to another station. The third vehicle dispatching plan is created for each target vehicle 2. The third vehicle dispatching unit 25C can create the third vehicle dispatching plan based on a preset vehicle dispatching request. The vehicle dispatching request may include, for example, the start time of movement, the name of the station from which the vehicle 2 moves (hereinafter referred to as the "starting station of movement"), the name of the station to which the vehicle 2 moves (hereinafter referred to as the "ending station of movement"), and the number of vehicles 2 to be moved. For example, the vehicle dispatching request may be a request to move three vehicles from Station A in the urban area to Station B in the suburban area starting at 1:00 am on Saturday. Alternatively, for example, the vehicle dispatching request may be a request to move three vehicles from Station B in the suburban area to Station A in the urban area starting at 1:00 am on Monday.

[0085] The vehicle dispatching request can be sent to the management server 4 according to the input of each staff member to each staff terminal 9. Alternatively, the vehicle dispatching request can be created based on the demand anticipation information of each station. The management server 4 includes a demand anticipation unit 29, and the demand anticipation unit 29 is configured to create demand anticipation information based on the past operation records of each station and the current reservation records of each station, and create a vehicle dispatching request based on the demand anticipation information. The demand anticipation unit 29 can create demand anticipation information for each hour of the day, each day of the week, and each month of the year. For example, the demand anticipation information may include numerical information such as the expected rental quantity of vehicles 2 for each hour of the day, each day of the week, and each month of the year. For example, based on the demand anticipation information, it can be determined that the expected rental quantity of vehicles 2 at Station A in the urban area every day from Monday to Friday is greater than the expected rental quantity of vehicles 2 at Station A in the urban area every day on Saturday and Sunday. That is, based on the demand anticipation information, it can be determined that there will be too many vehicles 2 arranged at Station A on Saturday and Sunday. For example, based on the demand anticipation information, it can be determined that the expected rental quantity of vehicles 2 at Station B in the suburban area every day on Saturday and Sunday is greater than the expected rental quantity of vehicles 2 at Station B in the suburban area every day from Monday to Friday. That is, based on the demand anticipation information, it can be determined that the vehicles 2 arranged at Station B will be in short supply on Saturday and Sunday.

[0086] The demand forecasting unit 29 is configured to select a pair of stations based on the demand forecasting information. The pair of stations includes a station with low expected demand in a future period (i.e., a station where too many vehicles 2 will be stored) and a station with high expected demand in a future period (i.e., a station where there will be a shortage of vehicles 2). In addition, the demand forecasting unit 29 is configured to set a vehicle dispatching request, which includes the names of the starting station and the ending station of the movement, the number of vehicles 2 to be moved, and the starting time of the movement. Preferably, the starting station and the ending station of the movement can be set such that the distance between these stations is equal to or less than a specified value. In other embodiments, the demand forecasting unit 29 can be configured to create a set of stations that includes one station to which the vehicle 2 is moved and multiple stations from which the vehicle 2 is moved. Alternatively, the demand forecasting unit 29 can be configured to create a set of stations that includes multiple stations to which the vehicle 2 is moved and one station from which the vehicle 2 is moved.

[0087] The third vehicle dispatching planning unit 25C is configured to perform the following third vehicle dispatching planning process based on the vehicle dispatching request and the vehicle scheduling data. The third vehicle dispatching planning unit 25C first searches the vehicle schedule based on the name of the starting station and the starting time included in the vehicle dispatching request, and then selects the vehicles 2 present at the starting station at the starting time as the first selection group.

[0088] Then, the third vehicle dispatching planning unit 25C selects the vehicles 2 that have not been determined to be reserved at and after the starting time from the first selection group as the second selection group. Then, the third vehicle dispatching planning unit 25C selects one or more third moving vehicles from the second selection group such that the number of the third moving vehicles corresponds to the number of vehicles 2 to be moved included in the vehicle dispatching request. That is, the third moving vehicles are the vehicles 2 that are arranged at the starting station at the starting time and whose reservations at and after the starting time have not been determined.

[0089] The third vehicle dispatching planning unit 25C is configured to determine the movement routes of the third moving vehicles in the third vehicle dispatching plan. The movement routes of the third moving vehicles are set based on the starting station and the ending station of the movement. For example, the movement routes can be preset according to the combination of the starting station and the ending station of the movement.

[0090] In addition, the third vehicle dispatching planning department 25C is configured to create a platoon driving group including the third mobile vehicle and one or more other vehicles. The third vehicle dispatching planning department 25C is configured to store information about the vehicles 2 forming the platoon driving group and information about the driving plan of the platoon driving group as part of the third vehicle dispatching plan. One of the vehicles included in the platoon driving group is a leading vehicle that guides the third mobile vehicle by using an electronic connection. The leading vehicle can be a vehicle driven by a staff member or can be an autonomous driving vehicle that can drive autonomously. Preferably, the autonomous driving vehicle can drive without a driver. In addition, the leading vehicle can be one of the vehicles 2 that can be rented to users or can be a vehicle 2 that is prohibited from being rented to users.

[0091] The leading vehicle included in the platoon driving group can be selected from the vehicles 2 present at the station where the third mobile vehicle is located or can be selected from the vehicles 2 present at a station different from the station where the third mobile vehicle is located.

[0092] In addition to the above third mobile vehicle and the leading vehicle, the platoon driving group can further include one or more other vehicles. The other vehicles can include another third mobile vehicle that is to move according to another third vehicle dispatching plan different from the target third vehicle dispatching plan. The start locations of use of the third mobile vehicles included in one platoon driving group can be the same as each other or can be different from each other. For example, in the case where there are a plurality of vehicles 2 moving from the same mobile start station to the same mobile end station at the same time, these vehicles 2 can form a platoon driving group.

[0093] In the case where there is another third mobile vehicle different from the target third mobile vehicle (i.e., the third mobile vehicle moving according to the target third vehicle dispatching plan), the third vehicle dispatching planning department 25C forms a platoon driving group such that the target third mobile vehicle and the other third mobile vehicle are included in one platoon driving group under the conditions that the moving routes of the target third mobile vehicle and the other third mobile vehicle overlap with each other, the other third mobile vehicle passes through the moving start location of the target third mobile vehicle at the moving start time of the target third mobile vehicle, and the other third mobile vehicle passes through the moving end location of the target third mobile vehicle at the moving end time of the target third mobile vehicle. The number of vehicles 2 included in the platoon driving group can be, for example, 2 to 6. In addition, the third vehicle dispatching planning department 25C is configured to set a leading vehicle for each platoon driving group.

[0094] The third vehicle dispatching planning department 25C is configured to update the vehicle scheduling data of the third mobile vehicle. At this time, the third vehicle dispatching planning department 25C is configured to change the appropriate parking location of the third mobile vehicle to the mobile end station.

[0095] Moreover, the vehicle dispatch planning department 25 can form a platoon driving group by selecting vehicle 2 from the first to third moving vehicles such that the moving routes of vehicle 2 overlap each other and the moving start time and moving end time of vehicle 2 correspond to each other. In this case, the platoon driving group can be set so as to avoid duplication of the leading vehicle. That is, the platoon driving group can include only one leading vehicle driven by a staff member or autonomously driven.

[0096] The created first to third vehicle dispatch plans are stored in the data storage unit 28 as vehicle dispatch plans and are sent by the vehicle dispatch plan sending unit 27 to each staff terminal 9. The staff member obtains the first to third vehicle dispatch plans from each staff terminal 9 and thus identifies vehicle 2 that the staff member himself / herself should move. In other embodiments, the management server 4 can include a staff assignment unit 31 configured to assign a staff member to vehicle 2 that is to move according to the first to third vehicle dispatch plans. The staff assignment unit 31 can send the first to third vehicle dispatch plans to each staff terminal 9 of the assigned staff member via the vehicle dispatch plan sending unit 27. In the case where the leading vehicle is an autonomous driving vehicle, the management server 4 may not include the vehicle dispatch plan sending unit 27 and the staff assignment unit 31.

[0097] The vehicle control unit 26 is configured to create vehicle control instructions for controlling each vehicle 2 included in the platoon driving group based on the first to third vehicle dispatch plans. Vehicle control instructions are created for each vehicle 2 included in the platoon driving group. The vehicle control instructions at least include the vehicle identification number of the target vehicle 2, data indicating whether the target vehicle 2 is set as the leading vehicle or the following vehicle, the vehicle identification number of another vehicle 2 included in the same platoon driving group, the driving route of the platoon driving group, the merging location of the platoon driving group, and the merging time of the platoon driving group. The vehicle control unit 26 is configured to send the vehicle control instructions to the control device 3G of each vehicle control unit 3 included in the corresponding vehicle 2.

[0098] The control device 3G of each vehicle control unit 3 is configured to perform electronic connection control and platooning control based on the received vehicle control instructions. Incidentally, "electronic connection" means a state in which the leading vehicle and the following vehicle can travel in a platoon. When the vehicle control units 3 of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle recognize each other and communicate wirelessly with each other while the distance between the leading vehicle and the following vehicle is within a specified range, the leading vehicle and the following vehicle are electronically connected. The vehicle control units 3 of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle can use the vehicle identification numbers obtained via wireless communication to identify the other vehicle 2 (the other vehicle control unit 3) to form a platooning group, or can identify each other based on the image information obtained by the camera. For example, a camera mounted on the following vehicle acquires an image code attached to the outer surface of the leading vehicle, so the vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle identifies the leading vehicle based on this image code. In the state where the leading vehicle and the following vehicle are electronically connected, the vehicle control units 3 of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle communicate with each other to send / receive the vehicle speed, acceleration, steering angle, accelerator position (e.g., the position of the accelerator pedal), brake position (e.g., the position of the brake pedal), and vehicle position of each vehicle 2, as well as the formation information of the platooning group. The formation information defines the target relative position of the following vehicle with respect to the leading vehicle. The formation information may include information about the selected formation of the platooning group and information about the positions of the following vehicles in the selected formation. For example, the selected formation is a single-row formation (see Figure 6A ), in which the vehicles 2 forming the platooning group are arranged in a row in the front-rear direction (lane direction); or a multi-row formation (see Figure 6D ), in which the vehicles 2 forming the platooning group are arranged in multiple rows and widened in the lateral direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction. The formation information is created by the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle and sent to the vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle.

[0099] In the state where the leading vehicle and the following vehicle are electronically connected, the vehicle control unit 3 (control device 3G) of the following vehicle is configured to perform following control (platooning control) for making the following vehicle follow the leading vehicle. The vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle is configured to calculate the travel path of the leading vehicle, calculate the travel path of the following vehicle such that the following vehicle travels while maintaining a specified relative position with respect to the leading vehicle, and control the drive device, brake device, and steering device of the own vehicle 2 (i.e., the following vehicle) such that the following vehicle follows the calculated travel path.

[0100] Next, the operation of the vehicle rental system 1 will be further described. A user who intends to use (rent) the vehicle 2 first activates the application installed in each user terminal 8 so that each user terminal 8 displays a reservation application screen. When the user inputs information into each item of the reservation application screen, the application program creates reservation application data, and thus sends the reservation application data to the management server 4. The management server 4 creates processing data based on the reservation application data sent from each user terminal 8, executes a reservation determination process for each processing data, and determines whether the reservation of the vehicle 2 is successful.

[0101] The management server 4 creates first to third vehicle dispatching plans according to the demand of the vehicle 2 to respond to the user's reservation or to arrange the vehicle 2. The first vehicle dispatching plan is created to move the vehicle 2 to the start location of use before the start time of use, so as to respond to the user's reservation. The second vehicle dispatching plan is created to move the vehicle 2 remaining at the end location of use to an appropriate parking location, so as to respond to the user's reservation. The third vehicle dispatching plan is created to move the vehicle 2 from one station with low expected demand within a specified period to another station with high expected demand within the specified period, so as to respond to the demand for the vehicle 2.

[0102] The management server 4 creates a fleet driving group including first to third moving vehicles to be moved according to the first to third vehicle dispatching plans and one or more other vehicles. The other vehicles in the fleet driving group at least include a vehicle to be a leading vehicle, and may also include other first to third moving vehicles. Therefore, the first to third moving vehicles move as following vehicles to the start location of use, etc., to follow the leading vehicle. Thus, the staff can move the first to third moving vehicles by driving the leading vehicle, and can move the first to third moving vehicles to the initial location (start station of movement) or another location by driving the leading vehicle after completing the movement of the first to third moving vehicles. Thus, the number of staff required to move the first to third moving vehicles can be reduced. In addition, in the case where the fleet driving group includes a plurality of vehicles included in any one of the first to third moving vehicles, the staff can move the vehicle 2 more effectively. The fleet driving group may be a group including one leading vehicle and at least one first moving vehicle, a group including one leading vehicle and at least one second moving vehicle, a group including one leading vehicle and at least one third moving vehicle, or a group including one leading vehicle and at least two of the first to third moving vehicles.

[0103] When a predetermined relative position relationship is established between the vehicles 2 included in a platoon driving group, the leading vehicle and the following vehicle included in the above-mentioned vehicles 2 identify each other and communicate wirelessly with each other. That is, the vehicle control units 3 of the vehicles 2 are electronically connected so that the vehicles 2 drive in a platoon. Incidentally, the relative position relationship that enables the leading vehicle and the following vehicle to be electronically connected can be, for example, a position relationship in which the following vehicle travels immediately behind the leading vehicle, a position relationship in which the leading vehicle and the following vehicle are arranged in the lateral direction, or a position relationship in which the distance between the leading vehicle and the following vehicle is within a predetermined value regardless of the directions of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle. When the leading vehicle and the following vehicle can be electronically connected, the vehicle control units 3 of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle can ask each user whether to electronically connect the leading vehicle and the following vehicle by using the HMI 3A of each vehicle 2. Then, the vehicle control units 3 of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle can electronically connect the leading vehicle and the following vehicle according to the input operations of each user on the HMI 3A.

[0104] When the leading vehicle and the following vehicle are electronically connected, the vehicle control units 3 of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle perform platoon driving control (leading control or following control). As the leading control, the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle obtains the driving state information of the own vehicle 2 (i.e., the leading vehicle) (such as vehicle position, vehicle speed, acceleration, angular rate, accelerator position, brake position, steering angle, etc.) based on the signals from the position acquisition device 3C and the vehicle sensor 3B, and thus transmits the driving state information of the leading vehicle to the vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle via the vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 3EA.

[0105] As the following control, the vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle obtains the driving state information of the leading vehicle via the vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 3EA, obtains the vehicle position, vehicle speed, and acceleration of the leading vehicle by means of the external environment recognition device 3D, calculates the driving path of the leading vehicle, creates the target path of the own vehicle 2 (i.e., the following vehicle) so that the following vehicle travels while maintaining a predetermined relative position with respect to the leading vehicle, and controls the drive device, the brake device, and the steering device so that the own vehicle 2 travels along the target path.

[0106] Each following vehicle is electronically connected to the leading vehicle and follows the leading vehicle, so the leading vehicle and the following vehicle drive in formation. For example, when multiple following vehicles follow the leading vehicle in a state where the following vehicles are lined up behind the leading vehicle, the vehicle control unit 3 of each following vehicle can control the own vehicle 2 so that the own vehicle 2 passes through the point passed by the leading vehicle after a vehicle-to-vehicle time determined for each following vehicle has elapsed. When the following vehicle follows the leading vehicle, the vehicle control unit 3 of each following vehicle sends the position of the own vehicle 2 acquired by the position acquisition device 3C to the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle.

[0107] According to the vehicle rental system 1 described above, the management server 4 creates first to third vehicle dispatch plans, and thus moves the vehicle 2 in the following manner. As Figure 3A shown, when a user reserves the vehicle A arranged at station A while using station B as the start location of use, the vehicle dispatch planning unit 25 of the management server 4 creates a first vehicle dispatch plan. The first vehicle dispatch plan is a plan for moving the reserved vehicle A (the first moving vehicle) from station A to station B according to the user's start time of use. The first vehicle dispatch plan includes: a convoy driving group including the first moving vehicle and a leading vehicle; and a driving plan for the convoy driving group. The staff checks the first vehicle dispatch plan by using each staff terminal 9, drives the vehicle B (the leading vehicle), and moves the vehicle A from station A to station B according to the first vehicle dispatch plan (see Figure 3B ). At this time, the vehicle A (the first moving vehicle) is electronically connected to the vehicle B (the leading vehicle), and thus follows the vehicle B.

[0108] Then, the staff releases the electronic connection between the vehicle A and the vehicle B at station B and parks (arranges) the vehicle A at station B. Therefore, the user can rent the vehicle A at station B at the start time of use (see Figure 3C ). Then, the staff can, for example, drive the vehicle B back to station A.

[0109] As Figure 4A shown, when the user returns the vehicle A to station B (the end location of use) when finishing using the vehicle A, the vehicle dispatch planning unit 25 of the management server 4 creates a second vehicle dispatch plan because the current location (station B) of the vehicle A and the appropriate parking location (station A) of the vehicle A are different from each other. The second vehicle dispatch plan is a plan for moving the vehicle A (the second moving vehicle) remaining at a location different from the appropriate parking location to the appropriate parking location. The second vehicle dispatch plan includes: a convoy driving group including the second moving vehicle and a leading vehicle; and a driving plan for the convoy driving group. The staff checks the second vehicle dispatch plan by using each staff terminal 9, drives the vehicle F (the leading vehicle), and moves the vehicle A from station B to station A according to the second vehicle dispatch plan (see Figure 4B ). At this time, the vehicle A (the second moving vehicle) is electronically connected to the vehicle F (the leading vehicle), and thus follows the vehicle F.

[0110] The staff releases the electronic connection between the vehicle A and the vehicle F at station A and parks (arranges) the vehicle A at station A. Therefore, the vehicle A is parked (arranged) at station A as the appropriate parking location (see Figure 4C ). Then, the staff can, for example, drive the vehicle F to return to station B.

[0111] As Figure 5AAs shown in [reference], the management server 4 creates a third vehicle dispatch plan according to a specified schedule based on a vehicle dispatch request. The third vehicle dispatch plan is a plan for moving the vehicle 2 between stations based on the vehicle dispatch request. For example, the vehicle dispatch request is created based on the demand prediction information of each station. In this embodiment, the vehicle dispatch request is a request to move two vehicles 2 from station A to station B. The third vehicle dispatch plan includes: a convoy driving group including vehicles A, B (the third moving vehicles) and a leading vehicle; and a driving plan for the convoy driving group. The staff checks the third vehicle dispatch plan by using each staff terminal 9, drives vehicle C (the leading vehicle), and moves vehicles A and B from station A to station B according to the third vehicle dispatch plan (see Figure 5B ). At this time, vehicle A (the third moving vehicle) is electronically connected to vehicle C (the leading vehicle), so it follows vehicle C. In addition, vehicle B (the third moving vehicle) is electronically connected to vehicle A (the preceding vehicle), so it follows vehicle A. That is, vehicles C, A, and B drive in a convoy, in which vehicle C is set as the leading vehicle.

[0112] The staff releases the electronic connection of vehicles C, A, and B at station B and parks (arranges) vehicles A and B at station B. Therefore, vehicles A and B are arranged at station B (see Figure 5C ). At this time, the appropriate parking locations of vehicles A and B change to station B. Then, the staff can, for example, drive vehicle C back to station A.

[0113] The leading vehicle in the convoy driving group can be an autonomous driving vehicle instead of vehicle 2 driven by the staff.

[0114] The formation of the convoy driving group in which the following vehicles follow the leading vehicle includes multiple formations with different lengths in the front-rear direction. As described above, the formations include a single-row formation and a multi-row formation. A formation change button for changing the formation is displayed on the HMI 3A of the leading vehicle. When the user operates the formation change button, the vehicle control units 3 of the leading vehicle and the following vehicles perform a formation change process. The vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle can display the formation change button on the HMI 3A based on the number of lanes on the road and traffic signal information. The number of lanes on the road is obtained by the external environment recognition device 3D of the leading vehicle or based on map information. The traffic signal information is received from a traffic signal information transmitter.

[0115] In this embodiment, the formation change process includes a single-multi change process for changing a single-row formation to a multi-row formation. Figures 6A to 6D It shows how the following vehicles move when the formation of the convoy driving group changes from a single-row formation to a multi-row formation by means of the single-multi change process. In the single-multi change process, the formation of the convoy driving group is changed as follows: Figure 6A 、 Figure 6B 、Figure 6C , Figure 6D The order changes. In the following, the single-multi change process will be described based on the assumption that the single queue formation changes to a multi-queue formation with N rows.

[0116] As Figure 6A shown by the arrow in, in the first step of the single-multi change process, the following vehicles located at the second to the Nth positions from the head (i.e., the leading vehicle) move to lanes different from the leading vehicle and also different from each other. Thereafter, as shown by the small arrow in Figure 6B , the following vehicle located at the second (N + 2)nd position from the head moves to the lane of the following vehicle located at the second position from the head. At the same time, as shown by the large arrow in Figure 6B , the following vehicle located at the third (N + 3)rd position from the head moves to the lane of the following vehicle located at the third position from the head. By repeating such movements, as shown in Figure 6C , all the vehicles 2 forming the platoon driving group are distributed to each lane as evenly as possible. Thereafter, as shown by the arrow in Figure 6C , the vehicle control unit 3 of each following vehicle increases the speed of its own vehicle 2 in order to reduce the inter-vehicle distance between its own vehicle 2 and the preceding vehicle. Therefore, as shown in Figure 6D , the single-multi change process is completed.

[0117] The formation change process includes a multi-single change process for changing the formation of the platoon driving group from a multi-queue formation to a single-queue formation. In the present embodiment, the multi-single change process is performed by executing the steps of the single-multi change process in the reverse order. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the order change of the vehicles 2 in the single-queue formation by sequentially executing the single-multi change process and the multi-single change process.

[0118] For each formation such as a single-queue formation and a multi-queue formation, the relative position of the following vehicle with respect to the leading vehicle is preset in advance. The vehicle control unit 3 of each following vehicle creates the driving path of its own vehicle 2 to maintain the relative position of the following vehicle with respect to the leading vehicle, thereby controlling the driving device, the braking device, and the steering device so that its own vehicle 2 travels along the driving path.

[0119] The case where the vehicle control unit 3 displays the formation change button will be exemplified below. When the leading vehicle reaches the position just before the intersection, the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle determines whether all the vehicles 2 forming the platoon can pass through the intersection. More specifically, the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle determines whether the following vehicle at the end of the platoon can pass through the intersection before the traffic signal turns red while maintaining the current formation of the platoon. The determination can be made based on the signal from the traffic signal information receiver 3F, the vehicle position of the following vehicle obtained via vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and the vehicle speed of the own vehicle 2 (leading vehicle) obtained by the vehicle sensor 3B. In the case where the determination result is "No", the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle determines whether the following vehicle at the end of the platoon can pass through the intersection before the traffic signal turns red in the case where the current formation of the platoon is changed to another formation. When the vehicle control unit 3 determines that the following vehicle at its end can pass through the intersection before the traffic signal turns red in the case where the current formation is changed to another formation, the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle can display the formation change button on the HMI 3A of the leading vehicle.

[0120] In the single-file formation, the order of the vehicles 2 in the platoon from the front can be determined in ascending order of the driving performance of each vehicle 2. Therefore, the following vehicle follows the leading vehicle (or the preceding vehicle) with a lower driving performance than the following vehicle, so that the following vehicle can travel in such a way that the behavior of the following vehicle corresponds to the behavior of the leading vehicle (or the preceding vehicle) to a large extent.

[0121] According to the above embodiment, the management server 4 creates a vehicle dispatch plan for moving the vehicle 2 to the user's usage start location based on the reservation application information. In addition, the management server 4 creates a vehicle dispatch plan for moving the vehicle 2 from the user's usage end location based on the reservation application information. Further, the management server 4 creates a vehicle dispatch plan for moving the vehicle 2 from one station to another station. In each vehicle dispatch plan, the management server 4 creates a platoon including the vehicle 2 to be moved and another vehicle. The vehicle 2 forming the platoon can be set as the following vehicle following the leading vehicle, so that the number of staff for moving the vehicle 2 can be reduced. In addition, after the movement of the vehicle 2 is completed, the vehicle 2 for moving the staff can be ensured.

[0122] In the vehicle rental system 1, the user can select one of the stations as the usage start location and can select one of the stations as the usage end location. Therefore, the vehicle rental system 1 can be more convenient. Moreover, the number of vehicles 2 with the same usage start location and / or usage end location can be increased, so that the number of vehicles 2 that can be included in one platoon can be increased. Therefore, the number of vehicles 2 that can be moved by each staff can be increased.

[0123] Moreover, the vehicle rental system 1 creates a vehicle dispatch plan for moving the vehicle 2 between stations, so that each vehicle 2 can be arranged at the optimal position according to the demand change of the vehicle 2 depending on the position of each station. Therefore, the operation rate (rental rate) of each vehicle 2 can be increased.

[0124] If an autonomous driving vehicle is used as the leading vehicle of the platoon driving group in each vehicle dispatch plan, the vehicle 2 can move without a person (driver). Moreover, not all of the vehicles 2 owned by the vehicle rental system 1 are composed of autonomous driving vehicles, but a part of the vehicles 2 (for example, the vehicles 2 that can be used as leading vehicles) owned by the vehicle rental system 1 are composed of autonomous driving vehicles, so that the cost of the vehicle 2 can be reduced.

[0125] The specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention should not be limited by the foregoing embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, various methods can be applied to the method for matching the first to third moving vehicles to create a platoon driving group. For example, a platoon driving group can be created by matching the first to third moving vehicles whose moving start station and moving end station are the same.

Claims

1. A vehicle rental system, the vehicle rental system comprising: A plurality of vehicles; A plurality of vehicle control units included in each vehicle, the plurality of vehicle control units being configured to communicate with each other and being configured to perform driving control of each vehicle such that a following vehicle included in the plurality of vehicles follows a leading vehicle selected from the plurality of vehicles; And A management server, the management server being configured to communicate with each vehicle control unit, Wherein, the management server is configured to: Obtain reservation application information including at least a use start location and a use start time of a vehicle to be rented from a user terminal; Create a vehicle dispatch plan including a convoy driving group and a driving plan for the convoy driving group, the convoy driving group including one vehicle among the plurality of vehicles to move to the use start location at the use start time and including another vehicle among the plurality of vehicles, and selecting the one vehicle among the plurality of vehicles to move to the use start location at the use start time by comparing the position of the vehicle at the use start time with the use start location based on vehicle scheduling data; Create vehicle control instructions for the plurality of vehicle control units of the plurality of vehicles included in the convoy driving group to perform electronic connection control and convoy driving control based on the driving plan; Send the vehicle control instructions to the vehicle control unit; and Create the vehicle control instructions for each vehicle included in the convoy driving group, and the vehicle control instructions at least include a vehicle identification number of a target vehicle, data indicating whether the target vehicle is set as a leading vehicle or a following vehicle, a vehicle identification number of another vehicle included in the same convoy driving group, a driving route of the convoy driving group, a merging location of the convoy driving group, and a merging time of the convoy driving group.

2. The vehicle rental system according to claim 1, wherein, The convoy driving group includes the plurality of vehicles with the same use start location.

3. The vehicle rental system according to claim 1, wherein, The convoy driving group includes the vehicles with different use start locations.

4. The vehicle rental system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The vehicles are configured to be dispersedly arranged in a plurality of stations, and The use start location is selected from one of the plurality of stations.

5. The vehicle rental system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The vehicle dispatch plan includes information about the leading vehicle and the following vehicle in the convoy driving group; and The vehicle control unit of the following vehicle is configured to identify the leading vehicle based on the information about the leading vehicle included in the vehicle dispatch plan, communicate with the vehicle control unit of the leading vehicle, and perform the driving control such that the following vehicle follows the leading vehicle.

6. The vehicle rental system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, In the vehicle dispatch plan, an autonomous driving vehicle is selected as the leading vehicle of the convoy driving group.

7. The vehicle rental system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, In the vehicle dispatch plan, the order of the vehicles in the convoy driving group from the front is determined in ascending order of driving performance.

8. A vehicle rental system, the vehicle rental system comprising: A plurality of vehicles; A plurality of vehicle control units included in each vehicle, the plurality of vehicle control units being configured to communicate with each other and being configured to perform driving control of each vehicle such that a following vehicle included in the plurality of vehicles follows a leading vehicle selected from the plurality of vehicles; and A management server configured to communicate with each vehicle control unit, wherein the management server is configured to: Obtain reservation application information including at least an end-use location and an end-use time of a vehicle to be rented from a user terminal; Create a vehicle dispatch plan including a platoon driving group and a driving plan for the platoon driving group, the platoon driving group including one vehicle among the plurality of vehicles to move from the end-use location and including another vehicle among the plurality of vehicles, the one vehicle among the plurality of vehicles to move from the end-use location not being scheduled to be present at a proper parking location at any future time and not being reserved at or after the any time; Create vehicle control instructions for the plurality of vehicle control units of the plurality of vehicles included in the platoon driving group to perform electronic connection control and platoon driving control based on the driving plan; Send the vehicle control instructions to the vehicle control unit; and Create the vehicle control instructions for each vehicle included in the platoon driving group, and the vehicle control instructions at least include a vehicle identification number of a target vehicle, data indicating whether the target vehicle is set as a leading vehicle or a following vehicle, a vehicle identification number of another vehicle included in the same platoon driving group, a driving route of the platoon driving group, a merging location of the platoon driving group, and a merging time of the platoon driving group.

9. The vehicle rental system according to claim 8, wherein, The platoon driving group includes the vehicles having the same end-use location.

10. The vehicle rental system according to claim 8, wherein, The platoon driving group includes the vehicles having different end-use locations.

11. The vehicle rental system according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein, The vehicles are configured to be dispersedly arranged in a plurality of stations; and The end-use location is selected from one of the plurality of stations.

12. A vehicle rental system, the vehicle rental system including: A plurality of vehicles configured to be dispersedly arranged in a plurality of stations; A plurality of vehicle control units included in each vehicle, the plurality of vehicle control units being configured to communicate with each other and being configured to perform driving control of each vehicle such that a following vehicle included in the plurality of vehicles follows a leading vehicle selected from the plurality of vehicles; and A management server configured to communicate with each vehicle control unit, wherein the management server is configured to: Create a vehicle dispatch plan including a platoon driving group and a driving plan for the platoon driving group, the platoon driving group including one vehicle among the plurality of vehicles to move from one of the plurality of stations to another of the plurality of stations and including another vehicle among the plurality of vehicles, and select the one vehicle among the plurality of vehicles to move from one of the plurality of stations to another of the plurality of stations based on a preset vehicle dispatch request; Create vehicle control instructions for a plurality of vehicle control units of the plurality of vehicles included in the vehicle platoon, to perform electronic connection control and vehicle platoon control based on the driving plan; Send the vehicle control instructions to the vehicle control units; and Create the vehicle control instructions for each vehicle included in the vehicle platoon, and the vehicle control instructions at least include the vehicle identification number of the target vehicle, data indicating whether the target vehicle is set as the leading vehicle or the following vehicle, the vehicle identification number of another vehicle included in the same vehicle platoon, the driving route of the vehicle platoon, the merging location of the vehicle platoon, and the merging time of the vehicle platoon.

13. The vehicle rental system according to claim 12, wherein, The management server is configured to create the vehicle dispatch plan based on the demand prediction information about each station, to move the one vehicle from the one station with low expected demand to another station with high expected demand.

14. The vehicle rental system according to claim 13, wherein, The management server is configured to create the demand prediction information based on the past operation records of each station.

15. A vehicle rental method used by a management server, the management server being configured to communicate with each vehicle control unit included in each vehicle, the vehicle control units being configured to communicate with each other and being configured to perform the driving control of each vehicle, such that the following vehicles included in the vehicles follow the leading vehicle selected from the vehicles, the vehicle rental method comprising the following steps: Obtain reservation application information from a user terminal, the reservation application information at least including the use start location and the use start time of the vehicle to be rented; Create at least based on the reservation application information a vehicle dispatch plan including a vehicle platoon and a driving plan for the vehicle platoon, the vehicle platoon including one vehicle among the vehicles to move to the use start location at the use start time and including another vehicle among the vehicles, and select the one vehicle among the vehicles to move to the use start location at the use start time by comparing the position of the vehicle at the use start time with the use start location based on vehicle scheduling data; Create vehicle control instructions for a plurality of vehicle control units of the plurality of vehicles included in the vehicle platoon, to perform electronic connection control and vehicle platoon control based on the driving plan; Send the vehicle control instructions to the vehicle control units; and Create the vehicle control instructions for each vehicle included in the vehicle platoon, and the vehicle control instructions at least include the vehicle identification number of the target vehicle, data indicating whether the target vehicle is set as the leading vehicle or the following vehicle, the vehicle identification number of another vehicle included in the same vehicle platoon, the driving route of the vehicle platoon, the merging location of the vehicle platoon, and the merging time of the vehicle platoon.

16. A vehicle rental method used by a management server, the management server being configured to communicate with respective vehicle control units included in respective vehicles, the vehicle control units being configured to communicate with each other and being configured to perform driving control of respective vehicles such that a following vehicle included in the vehicles follows a leading vehicle selected from the vehicles, the vehicle rental method comprising the following steps: Obtaining reservation application information including at least an end-use location and an end-use time of a vehicle to be rented from a user terminal; Creating a vehicle dispatch plan including a convoy driving group and a driving plan for the convoy driving group, the convoy driving group including one vehicle among the vehicles to move from the end-use location and including another vehicle among the vehicles, the one vehicle among the vehicles to move from the end-use location not being scheduled to be present at an appropriate parking location at any future time and not being reserved at or after the any time; Creating vehicle control instructions for a plurality of vehicle control units included in the convoy driving group to perform electronic connection control and convoy driving control based on the driving plan; Sending the vehicle control instructions to the vehicle control units; and Creating the vehicle control instructions for each vehicle included in the convoy driving group, and the vehicle control instructions at least including a vehicle identification number of a target vehicle, data indicating whether the target vehicle is set as a leading vehicle or a following vehicle, a vehicle identification number of another vehicle included in the same convoy driving group, a driving route of the convoy driving group, a merging location of the convoy driving group, and a merging time of the convoy driving group.

17. A vehicle rental method used by a management server, the management server being configured to communicate with respective vehicle control units included in respective vehicles dispersedly arranged at a plurality of stations, the vehicle control units being configured to communicate with each other and being configured to perform driving control of respective vehicles such that a following vehicle included in the vehicles follows a leading vehicle selected from the vehicles, the vehicle rental method comprising the following steps: Creating a vehicle dispatch plan including a convoy driving group and a driving plan for the convoy driving group, the convoy driving group including one vehicle among the vehicles to move from one of the stations to another of the stations and including another vehicle among the vehicles, selecting the one vehicle among the vehicles to move from one of the plurality of stations to another of the plurality of stations based on a preset vehicle dispatch request; Creating vehicle control instructions for a plurality of vehicle control units included in the convoy driving group to perform electronic connection control and convoy driving control based on the driving plan; Sending the vehicle control instructions to the vehicle control units; and Create the vehicle control instruction for each vehicle included in the vehicle platoon, and the vehicle control instruction at least includes the vehicle identification number of the target vehicle, data indicating whether the target vehicle is set as the leading vehicle or the following vehicle, the vehicle identification number of another vehicle included in the same vehicle platoon, the driving route of the vehicle platoon, the merging location of the vehicle platoon, and the merging time of the vehicle platoon.

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