Driving support device, driving support method, and storage medium

Abstract

A driving support device, a driving support method, and a storage medium that can reduce the sense of discomfort that a vehicle occupant may have. The driving support device includes: an external information acquisition unit that acquires external information, which is information related to an object around the moving body; a driving information acquisition unit that acquires driving information, which is information related to the driving state of the moving body; an evaluation method selection unit that selects one evaluation method from a plurality of evaluation methods for evaluating the driving of the occupant; a driving evaluation unit that evaluates the driving of the occupant according to the evaluation method based on at least one of the external information and the driving information; and a reporting control unit that causes a reporting device to report the start and result of the evaluation. When the reporting device reports the start of the evaluation and the driving evaluation unit cannot evaluate the driving of the occupant according to one evaluation method, the reporting control unit causes the reporting device to report the insufficient information in the external information and the driving information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a driving support device, a driving support method, and a storage medium. Background Art

[0002] There are known techniques for evaluating the driving of vehicle occupants. For example, a technique for learning driving characteristics during a driver's manual driving is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. WO2019 / 021429. Summary of the Invention

[0003] However, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. WO2019 / 021429, there is no description of notifying information related to a failure in the learning of driving characteristics. Therefore, it can be considered that vehicle occupants may feel uncomfortable because they do not receive a notification in the case of a failure in the learning of driving characteristics.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and one of its objects is to provide a driving support device, a driving support method, and a storage medium that can reduce the discomfort that vehicle occupants may feel.

[0005] The driving support device, the driving support method, and the storage medium of the present invention adopt the following configuration.

[0006] (1): A driving support device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: an external information acquisition unit that acquires external information, which is information related to an object around a moving body; a travel information acquisition unit that acquires travel information, which is information related to the travel state of the moving body; an evaluation method selection unit that selects one evaluation method from a plurality of evaluation methods for evaluating the driving of an occupant; a driving evaluation unit that evaluates the driving of the occupant according to the evaluation method based on at least one of the external information and the travel information; and a report control unit that causes a reporting device to report the start of the evaluation and the result of the evaluation. When the report control unit causes the reporting device to report the start of the evaluation and the driving evaluation unit is unable to evaluate the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method, the report control unit causes the reporting device to report deficiency information, which is deficiency information in the external information and the travel information that is insufficient for evaluating the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method.

[0007] (2): In the aspect of (1) above, the evaluation method selection unit selects one evaluation method from a plurality of evaluation methods for evaluating the driving of the occupant according to an operation of the occupant.

[0008] (3): In the solution of (1) or (2) above, the evaluation method selection unit selects one evaluation method from a plurality of evaluation methods for evaluating the driving of the occupant without relying on the operation of the occupant.

[0009] (4): In the solution of (3) above, when the evaluation method selection unit selects the one evaluation method without relying on the operation of the occupant, the reporting control unit does not report the start of the evaluation, and the driving evaluation unit cannot perform the evaluation of the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method, the reporting control unit does not cause the reporting device to report the insufficient information in the external information and the driving information that is insufficient for performing the evaluation of the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method.

[0010] (5): In the solution of (3) or (4) above, when the evaluation of the driving of the occupant obtained according to one evaluation method selected without relying on the operation of the occupant is less than the threshold value, the reporting control unit does not cause the reporting device to report the result of the evaluation.

[0011] (6): In any of the solutions of (1) to (5) above, when the driving evaluation unit cannot perform the evaluation of the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method, the evaluation method selection unit selects another evaluation method, where this another evaluation method takes at least a part of the information in the external information and the driving information required for the execution of the one evaluation method except for the insufficient information as necessary information, the driving evaluation unit performs the evaluation of the driving of the occupant according to the another evaluation method, and the reporting control unit causes the reporting device to report the result of the evaluation performed according to the another evaluation method.

[0012] (7): In the solution of (6) above, when the driving evaluation unit cannot perform the evaluation of the driving of the occupant according to the another evaluation method, the evaluation method selection unit selects other evaluation methods, where this other evaluation method takes at least a part of the information in the external information and the driving information required for the execution of the one evaluation method or the another evaluation method except for the insufficient information as necessary information, and the reporting control unit causes the reporting device to report the information asking the occupant whether the driving evaluation unit evaluates the driving of the occupant according to the other evaluation method.

[0013] (8): In the solution of (7) above, the driving support device further includes a storage unit that stores the past evaluations of the driving of the occupant, and the evaluation method selection unit selects the other evaluation method based on the past evaluations stored in the storage unit.

[0014] (9): Another driving support method of the present invention causes a computer to perform the following processes: obtaining information related to an object around a moving body, i.e., external information; obtaining information related to the driving state of the moving body, i.e., driving information; selecting one evaluation method from a plurality of evaluation methods for evaluating the driving of an occupant; evaluating the driving of the occupant according to the evaluation method based on at least one of the external information and the driving information; causing a reporting device to report the start of the evaluation and the result of the evaluation; and when causing the reporting device to report the start of the evaluation and it is impossible to evaluate the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method, causing the reporting device to report deficiency information, where the deficiency information refers to the deficiency information in the external information and the driving information that is insufficient for evaluating the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method.

[0015] (10): Another storage medium of the present invention stores a program that causes a computer to perform the following processes: obtaining information related to an object around a moving body, i.e., external information; obtaining information related to the driving state of the moving body, i.e., driving information; selecting one evaluation method from a plurality of evaluation methods for evaluating the driving of an occupant; evaluating the driving of the occupant according to the evaluation method based on at least one of the external information and the driving information; causing a reporting device to report the start of the evaluation and the result of the evaluation; and when causing the reporting device to report the start of the evaluation and it is impossible to evaluate the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method, causing the reporting device to report deficiency information, where the deficiency information refers to the deficiency information in the external information and the driving information that is insufficient for evaluating the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method.

[0016] According to the solutions of (1) to (10), it is possible to reduce the sense of discomfort that the occupants of the vehicle may have.

[0017] According to the solution of (4), since the deficiency information is not reported without reporting the start of the evaluation of the driving, it is possible to prevent the occupants from having a sense of discomfort.

[0018] According to the solution of (5), since the result of the evaluation is not reported to the occupants when the automatically performed evaluation is less than the threshold value, it is possible to prevent the occupants from having an unpleasant feeling.

[0019] According to the solutions of (6) or (7), since another evaluation method that uses at least a part of the information shared with the information used in the evaluation method that fails to execute is performed, it is possible to further reduce the sense of discomfort that the occupants of the vehicle may have. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1This is a diagram showing an example of the functional structure of the driving support system mounted on the vehicle M.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing an example of the guidance menu screen that the guidance control unit causes to be displayed on the touch panel.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing an example of the guidance start message displayed on the touch panel.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the guidance content data stored in the storage unit.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the past evaluation data stored in the storage unit.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing an example of the scenario in which the driving support device operates.

[0026] Figure 7 This is a diagram showing an example of the deficiency information for evaluating the driving of the occupant, which is displayed on the touch panel.

[0027] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing the result of evaluating the driving of the occupant according to another guidance content, which is displayed on the touch panel.

[0028] Figure 9 This is a diagram showing another example of the deficiency information for evaluating the driving of the occupant, which is displayed on the touch panel.

[0029] Figure 10 This is a flowchart showing an example of the operation flow of the driving support device during occupant-led guidance.

[0030] Figure 11 This is a flowchart showing an example of the operation flow of the driving support device during system-led guidance. Detailed Embodiments

[0031] Hereinafter, embodiments of the driving support device of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] [Structure]

[0033] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing an example of the functional structure of the driving support system 1 mounted on the vehicle M. The driving support system 1 includes a camera 10, a radar device 12, a LIDAR 14, a vehicle sensor 16, a touch panel 18, a reporting device 20, and a driving support device 100. The vehicle M is an example of a "moving body".

[0034] The camera 10 is, for example, a digital camera that uses solid-state imaging elements such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). The camera 10 is installed at an arbitrary position of the vehicle M. When shooting forward, the camera 10 is installed on the upper part of the front windshield, the back of the interior rearview mirror, etc. The camera 10, for example, periodically and repeatedly shoots the surroundings of the vehicle M. The camera 10 may also be a stereo camera.

[0035] The radar device 12 emits radio waves such as millimeter waves to the surroundings of the vehicle M and detects the radio waves (reflected waves) reflected by an object, and at least detects the position (distance and azimuth) of the object. The radar device 12 is installed at an arbitrary position of the vehicle M. The radar device 12 may also detect the position and speed of an object by the FM-CW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave) method.

[0036] The LIDAR 14 irradiates light (or an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength close to that of light) to the surroundings of the vehicle M and measures the scattered light. The LIDAR 14 detects the distance to the object based on the time from light emission to light reception. The irradiated light is, for example, pulsed laser light. The LIDAR 14 is installed at an arbitrary position of the vehicle M.

[0037] The vehicle sensor 16 includes a vehicle speed sensor that detects the speed of the vehicle M, an acceleration sensor that detects acceleration and deceleration, a yaw rate sensor that detects the angular velocity about the vertical axis, an azimuth sensor that detects the orientation of the vehicle M, and the like.

[0038] The touch panel 18 is formed by overlapping a display unit such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electroluminescence) with an input unit capable of detecting the touch position of an operator using a coordinate detection mechanism. The display unit displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) switch for operation. When a touch operation, a swipe operation, a tap operation, etc. on the GUI switch are detected, the input unit generates an operation signal indicating that a touch operation on the GUI switch has been performed and outputs it to the driving support device 100.

[0039] The reporting device 20 has a reporting function for the user. For example, the reporting device 20 can report by causing a sound output device (not shown) to output sound, or can report by information communication with other devices such as an information processing terminal held by the user. The reporting device 20 performs a reporting operation under the control of a reporting control unit 160 described later. It can be said that the touch panel 18 forms part of the reporting device 20 when functioning as a display unit.

[0040] The driving support device 100 includes, for example, a coaching control unit 110, an external information acquisition unit 120, a driving information acquisition unit 130, a coaching content selection unit 140, a driving evaluation unit 150, a reporting control unit 160, and a storage unit 170. The coaching control unit 110, the external information acquisition unit 120, the driving information acquisition unit 130, the coaching content selection unit 140, the driving evaluation unit 150, and the reporting control unit 160 are implemented, for example, by causing a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute a program (software). In addition, some or all of these components can be implemented by hardware (circuit unit; including circuits) such as LSI (Large Scale Integration), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or can be implemented by the cooperation of software and hardware. The program can be pre-stored in a storage device (a storage device having a non-transitory storage medium) such as an HDD or a flash memory of the driving support device 100, or can be stored in a detachable storage medium such as a DVD or a CD-ROM, and installed in the HDD or flash memory of the driving support device 100 by mounting the storage medium (non-transitory storage medium) on a driving device. The storage unit 170 is implemented, for example, by a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an SD card, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a register, or the like.

[0041] The coaching control unit 110 performs various controls related to coaching the driving of the host vehicle M by the occupant. Here, coaching means evaluating the driving of the host vehicle M by the occupant according to the purpose set by the occupant such as following stop of the preceding vehicle and braking determination, and promoting the improvement of driving by transmitting the evaluation to the occupant. For example, in the case of following stop of the preceding vehicle, a higher evaluation is given when stopping while maintaining the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle at a level where parking or deceleration can be performed corresponding to the relative speed and the host vehicle speed, and the relative speed of the preceding vehicle close to zero. The coaching control unit 110, for example, causes the touch panel 18 to display a coaching menu screen for the occupant to specify details related to coaching, or receives the selection of the occupant input on the coaching menu screen of the touch panel 18 and executes processing corresponding to the selection.

[0042] Figure 2 FIG. is an example of the coaching menu screen that the coaching control unit 110 causes the touch panel 18 to display. In Figure 2 it, area A1 represents a drop-down list for selecting coaching content, and area A2 represents a coaching start button. When the occupant of the host vehicle M presses the coaching start button in area A2, the content is sent to the coaching control unit 110, and the coaching control unit 110 executes coaching. At this time, the reporting control unit 160 displays a message indicating the start of coaching on the touch panel 18, and causes the reporting device 20 to report the start of coaching to the occupant by sound, for example.

[0043] Figure 3 FIG. is an example of the coaching start message displayed on the touch panel 18. In Figure 3 it, area A3 shows details related to coaching. In this scenario, since the occupant selects "following stop" in area A1 and presses the coaching start button in area A2, a message such as "Start following stop coaching." is displayed. Similarly, a similar start message is displayed when the occupant selects other coaching content and presses the coaching start button.

[0044] The external information acquisition unit 120 performs sensor fusion processing on the detection results of part or all of the camera 10, the radar device 12, and the LIDAR 14, and acquires external information such as the types of surrounding objects existing around the host vehicle M and the relative positions and relative speeds of the surrounding objects observed from the host vehicle M. The driving information acquisition unit 130 acquires driving information including the speed and acceleration / deceleration of the host vehicle M from the vehicle sensor 16.

[0045] The tutoring content selection unit 140 selects one tutoring content from among a plurality of tutoring contents stored in the storage unit 170 as the tutoring content data 170A based on the pressing of the tutoring start button by the occupant. The tutoring content selection unit 140 also selects one tutoring content from among the plurality of tutoring contents regardless of the operation of the occupant at a prescribed timing. As will be described later, thereafter, the driving evaluation unit 150 evaluates the driving of the occupant in accordance with the selected tutoring content. The tutoring content is an example of an "evaluation method", the tutoring content selection unit 140 is an example of an "evaluation method selection unit", and the pressing of the tutoring start button by the occupant is an example of an "operation of the occupant".

[0046] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the tutoring content data 170A stored in the storage unit 170. As Figure 4 shown, the tutoring content data 170A associates information such as tutoring content, subordinate ID, and necessary information with an ID.

[0047] The necessary information refers to external information and driving information required by the driving evaluation unit 150 to evaluate the driving of the occupant in accordance with the corresponding tutoring content. For example, in the case of the record of ID1, the driving evaluation unit 150 uses the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle, the relative speed of the preceding vehicle, the forward speed of the preceding vehicle, and the acceleration and deceleration to evaluate the driving of the occupant from the perspective of "following stop".

[0048] The subordinate ID is information indicating the ID of another tutoring content that requires at least a part of the necessary information of a certain tutoring content. When the driving evaluation unit 150 is unable to perform the evaluation of the driving of the occupant according to a certain tutoring content, the tutoring content selection unit 140 refers to the subordinate ID of the tutoring content and selects the tutoring content corresponding to the subordinate ID. Thereby, when a certain tutoring content cannot be executed, it is possible to select a substitute tutoring content with a similar content, and it is possible to increase the possibility of being able to execute the tutoring according to the substitute tutoring content.

[0049] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the past evaluation data 170B stored in the storage unit 170. The past evaluation data 170B is generated for each occupant of the vehicle M. As Figure 5 shown, the past evaluation data 170B associates information such as the evaluation result with the tutoring content.

[0050] The evaluation result is information indicating the result of the evaluation obtained by the driving evaluation unit 150 by performing the corresponding tutoring content in the past. The evaluation result can be, for example, any one of "A" indicating a high-level evaluation result, "B" indicating a medium-level evaluation result, and "C" indicating a low-level evaluation result.

[0051] The driving evaluation unit 150 evaluates the driving of the occupant according to at least one of the external information obtained by the external information acquisition unit 120 and the driving information obtained by the driving information acquisition unit 130, in accordance with the guidance content selected by the guidance content selection unit 140. In this case, at least one of the external information and the driving information corresponds to Figure 4 the necessary information shown.

[0052] As Figure 3 shown, when the driving evaluation unit 150 evaluates the driving of the occupant in accordance with the guidance content selected by the guidance content selection unit 140, the report control unit 160 causes the touch panel 18 to display the start of the evaluation, or causes the reporting device 20 to make a report. In addition, when the evaluation of the driving of the occupant by the driving evaluation unit 150 is completed, the report control unit 160 causes the touch panel 18 to display the result of the evaluation, or causes the reporting device 20 to make a report. Moreover, when the reporting device 20 reports the start of the evaluation and the driving evaluation unit 150 is unable to perform the evaluation of the driving of the occupant in accordance with the selected guidance content, the report control unit 160 causes the touch panel 18 to display the insufficient external information and driving information required to perform the evaluation of the driving of the occupant in accordance with this guidance content, or causes the reporting device 20 to make a report.

[0053] The storage unit 170 stores the above-mentioned guidance content data 170A and past evaluation data 170B.

[0054] [Actions during occupant-led guidance]

[0055] Next, the operation of the driving support device 100 during occupant-led guidance will be described. Here, occupant-led guidance refers to guidance performed by the occupant operating the guidance menu.

[0056] Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of a scenario of the operation of the driving support device 100 according to the present embodiment. In Figure 6 , the vehicle M is traveling on the road L1 and intends to stop in front of an intersection located ahead in the traveling direction. At this time, since there is a preceding vehicle M1 in front of the vehicle M, as Figure 3 shown, the occupant of the vehicle M selects "Follow and Stop" as the guidance content and presses the guidance start button.

[0057] In this scenario, the guidance content selection unit 140 selects "Follow and Stop" from the guidance content data 170A stored in the storage unit 170 based on the occupant's pressing of the guidance start button, and the driving evaluation unit 150 intends to evaluate the driving of the occupant in accordance with the selected "Follow and Stop". The necessary information at this time is the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle, the relative speed of the preceding vehicle, the forward speed and acceleration / deceleration of the preceding vehicle.

[0058] However, on the other hand, since the preceding vehicle M1 has stopped before the intersection, the speed of the preceding vehicle M1 is zero. As a result, the driving evaluation unit 150 cannot obtain the positive speed of the preceding vehicle M1 as necessary information and cannot evaluate the occupant's driving according to "following stop". Therefore, the report control unit 160 causes the touch panel 18 to display the shortage information related to the positive speed of the preceding vehicle M1 that is insufficient for performing the evaluation of the occupant's driving according to "following stop", and causes the reporting device 20 to report.

[0059] Figure 7 FIG. is an example of the shortage information displayed on the touch panel 18 for performing the evaluation of the occupant's driving. As Figure 7 shown, since the preceding vehicle M1 has stopped, a message such as "Following stop guidance cannot be performed because the preceding vehicle has stopped." is displayed in the area A3. With this configuration, the vehicle occupant can grasp the fact that the guidance has failed without having a sense of discomfort caused by the failure to report the failure of the guidance.

[0060] When the driving evaluation unit 150 cannot perform the evaluation of the occupant's driving according to the selected guidance content, the guidance content selection unit 140 selects another guidance content that requires at least a part of the information other than the shortage information among the external information and driving information required for the execution of the guidance content as necessary information. Specifically, the guidance content selection unit 140 refers to Figure 4 the subordinate ID associated with the guidance content in the guidance content data 170A, and selects the guidance content corresponding to the subordinate ID. Then, the driving evaluation unit 150 evaluates the occupant's driving according to the selected guidance content, and the report control unit 160 causes the touch panel 18 to display the result of the evaluation and causes the reporting device 20 to report.

[0061] In Figure 7 this scenario, since the evaluation of the occupant's driving according to "following stop" fails, the guidance content selection unit 140 refers to the record of "following stop" in the guidance content data 170A and identifies that the subordinate ID is 2. Therefore, next, the guidance content selection unit 140 refers to the record of ID2 in the guidance content data 170A and selects "brake determination" as another guidance content. Then, the driving evaluation unit 150 evaluates the occupant's driving according to "brake determination", and the report control unit 160 causes the touch panel 18 to display the result of the evaluation and causes the reporting device 20 to report.

[0062] Figure 8 FIG. is a diagram showing the result of evaluating the occupant's driving according to another guidance content displayed on the touch panel 18. As Figure 8As shown, in area A1, "Follow Stop" is selected as the coaching content. On the other hand, in area A3, as an evaluation result, a message such as "Braking was applied appropriately." is displayed. With this structure, even when the evaluation of driving according to a certain coaching content fails, the vehicle occupants can receive the evaluation of driving according to another similar coaching content.

[0063] Figure 9 It is a diagram showing another example of the deficiency information for evaluating the driving of the vehicle occupants displayed on the touch panel 18. Figure 9 An example is shown where, although the occupants of the vehicle M select "Continuous Turning" as the coaching content and press the coaching start button, the evaluation by the driving evaluation unit 150 fails because the recommended driving trajectory information cannot be obtained. It is assumed that the driving information acquisition unit 130 has acquired information on the speed and acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle M, and the external information acquisition unit 120 has acquired information related to the lane.

[0064] At this time, similar to the Figure 7 case, the coaching content selection unit 140 refers to the record of "Continuous Turning" in the coaching content data 170A, that is, the record of ID4, and attempts to obtain the coaching content of the subordinate ID associated with "Continuous Turning". However, at this time, since there is no subordinate ID in the record of "Continuous Turning", the coaching content selection unit 140 cannot select another coaching content associated with the subordinate ID.

[0065] Therefore, in the case where the evaluation of the driving of the vehicle occupants according to another coaching content associated with the subordinate ID cannot be executed, the coaching content selection unit 140 selects other coaching content that requires at least a part of the information other than the deficiency information among the external information and driving information required for the execution of the coaching content or another coaching content. Specifically, in the Figure 9 scenario, information related to the speed and acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle M and information related to the lane are obtained. On the other hand, in the Figure 4 coaching content data 170A, the coaching content of "Braking Judgment", the coaching content of "Primary Lane Keeping", and the coaching content of "Advanced Lane Keeping" require acceleration / deceleration as necessary information. Since information related to the distance to the preceding vehicle is not obtained, "Primary Lane Keeping" and "Advanced Lane Keeping" are listed as candidates for other coaching content.

[0066] Here, when multiple candidates for other coaching content are obtained, the coaching content selection unit 140 selects one other coaching content based on the past evaluation data 170B stored in the storage unit 170. If referring to Figure 4Regarding the past evaluation data 170B, it can be known that the evaluation result of "lane keeping" of the occupants of the vehicle M is "C", that is, beginner level. Therefore, the tutoring content selection unit 140 selects "beginner level of lane keeping" corresponding to the beginner level as other tutoring content, such as Figure 9 As shown in area A3, the report control unit 160 displays inquiry information on the touch panel 18 asking whether to execute the selected other tutoring content. After that, the occupants of the vehicle M execute the evaluation of driving according to the other tutoring content by pressing the substitute tutoring start button shown in area A4.

[0067] [Process of actions]

[0068] Next, referring to Figure 10 , the process of actions performed by the driving support device 100 will be described. Figure 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the process of actions of the driving support device 100 during occupant-led tutoring.

[0069] First, the driving support device 100 uses the tutoring control unit 110 to accept the situation where the tutoring start button is pressed while the tutoring content is selected by the occupants of the vehicle M on the touch panel 18 (step S100). Next, the driving support device 100 uses the report control unit 160 to display a tutoring start message on the touch panel 18 and cause the reporting device 20 to report the start of tutoring (step S101). Next, the driving support device 100 uses the driving evaluation unit 150 to determine whether it is possible to execute tutoring according to the selected tutoring content based on the external information obtained by the external information acquisition unit 120 and the driving information obtained by the driving information acquisition unit 130 (step S102). If it is determined that it is possible to execute tutoring according to the selected tutoring content, the driving support device 100 uses the driving evaluation unit 150 to execute tutoring according to the selected tutoring content.

[0070] On the other hand, if it is determined that it is not possible to execute tutoring according to the selected tutoring content, the driving support device 100 uses the report control unit 160 to display on the touch panel 18 the deficiency information for executing tutoring according to this tutoring content, or cause the reporting device 20 to report (step S104). Next, the driving support device 100 uses the tutoring content selection unit 140 and refers to the tutoring content data 170A to determine whether there is an executable subordinate tutoring content associated with this tutoring content. If it is determined that there is an executable subordinate tutoring content, the tutoring content selection unit 140 selects this subordinate tutoring content (step S106), and the driving evaluation unit 150 executes tutoring according to the selected subordinate tutoring content.

[0071] On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no lower-level guidance content that can be executed, the guidance content selection unit 140 determines whether there is other executable guidance content that requires at least a part of the external information and driving information required for the execution of the guidance content or the lower-level guidance content, excluding the insufficient information (step S107). When it is determined that there is no other executable guidance content, that is, this means that there is no executable guidance content at all. Therefore, the driving support device 100 ends the processing of the flowchart.

[0072] On the other hand, when it is determined that there is other executable guidance content, the driving support device 100 uses the guidance content selection unit 140 and refers to the past evaluation data 170B to select other guidance content corresponding to the evaluation of the occupant (step S108). Then, the driving support device 100 uses the report control unit 160 to display inquiry information asking whether to execute the selected other guidance content together with the substitute guidance start button on the touch panel 18 (step S109). When the occupant of the vehicle M presses the substitute guidance start button, the driving evaluation unit 150 executes the guidance according to the other guidance content.

[0073] [Actions during system-initiated guidance]

[0074] Next, the operation of the driving support device 100 during system-initiated guidance will be described. Here, system-initiated guidance refers to guidance that is automatically executed by the guidance control unit 110 at a specified timing without relying on the operation of the occupant. Hereinafter, the description will focus on the differences from occupant-initiated guidance.

[0075] When the guidance content selection unit 140 selects one guidance content without relying on the operation of the occupant, the report control unit 160 does not report the start of the guidance, and the driving evaluation unit 150 cannot execute the guidance according to the guidance content, the report control unit 160 does not cause the reporting device 20 to report the insufficient information for executing the guidance according to the guidance content. This is because reporting the insufficient information despite the fact that the occupant of the vehicle M has not operated the guidance menu and has not reported the execution of the guidance may make the occupant feel uncomfortable.

[0076] Moreover, when the evaluation of the occupant's driving obtained according to one guidance content selected without relying on the operation of the occupant is less than the threshold value, the report control unit 160 does not cause the reporting device 20 to report the result of the evaluation. For example, when the evaluation of the occupant's driving is "B" or "C", the report control unit 160 does not cause the reporting device 20 to report the result of the evaluation. This is because reporting a non-good evaluation despite the fact that the occupant has not executed the guidance according to his own will may make the occupant feel uncomfortable.

[0077] Refer to Figure 11, the operation of the driving support device 100 during system-led coaching is described as above. Figure 11 It is a flowchart showing an example of the operation process of the driving support device 100 during system-led coaching.

[0078] First, the driving support device 100 uses the coaching content selection unit 140 to select one coaching content without relying on the operation of the occupant (step S200). Next, the driving support device 100 uses the driving evaluation unit 150 to determine whether coaching according to the selected coaching content can be performed based on the external information obtained by the external information acquisition unit 120 and the driving information obtained by the driving information acquisition unit 130 (step S201). When it is determined that coaching according to the selected coaching content cannot be performed, the reporting control unit 160 does not cause the reporting device 20 to report the deficiency information for performing coaching according to this coaching content (step S202).

[0079] On the other hand, when it is determined that coaching according to the selected coaching content can be performed, the driving evaluation unit 150 calculates the evaluation of driving according to this coaching content (step S203). Next, the reporting control unit 160 determines whether the calculated driving evaluation is "A" (step S204). When it is determined that the calculated driving evaluation is "A", the reporting control unit 160 causes the reporting device 20 to report the evaluation result (step S205). On the other hand, when it is determined that the calculated driving evaluation is not "A", the reporting control unit 160 does not cause the reporting device 20 to report the evaluation result (step S206). Thus, the processing of this flowchart ends.

[0080] According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, when the reporting device 20 reports the start of coaching and the driving evaluation unit 150 cannot perform the evaluation of the occupant's driving according to the coaching content, the reporting control unit 160 causes the reporting device 20 to report the deficiency information in the external information and driving information that is insufficient for performing the evaluation of the occupant's driving according to this coaching content. Thereby, the sense of discomfort that the vehicle occupants may have can be reduced.

[0081] The above-described embodiment can be expressed as follows.

[0082] A vehicle support device, wherein,

[0083] the vehicle support device is configured to include:

[0084] a storage device that stores a program; and

[0085] a hardware processor,

[0086] By causing the hardware processor to execute a program stored in the storage device, the following processing is performed:

[0087] Obtain information related to an object around the moving body, that is, external information;

[0088] Obtain information related to the driving state of the moving body, that is, driving information;

[0089] Select one evaluation method from a plurality of evaluation methods for evaluating the driving of the occupant;

[0090] Based on at least one of the external information and the driving information, evaluate the driving of the occupant according to the evaluation method;

[0091] Cause the reporting device to report the start of the evaluation and the result of the evaluation;

[0092] In the case where the reporting device reports the start of the evaluation and the driving of the occupant cannot be evaluated according to the one evaluation method, cause the reporting device to report the insufficient information in the external information and the driving information that is insufficient for evaluating the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method.

[0093] The specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above using the embodiments, but the present invention is in no way limited by such embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Claims

1. A driving support device, wherein: the driving support device includes: an external information acquisition unit that acquires external information, which is information related to objects around the moving body; a travel information acquisition unit that acquires travel information, which is information related to the travel state of the moving body; an evaluation method selection unit that selects one evaluation method from a plurality of evaluation methods for evaluating the driving of the occupant; a driving evaluation unit that evaluates the driving of the occupant according to the evaluation method based on at least one of the external information and the travel information; and a reporting control unit that causes a reporting device to report the start and the result of the evaluation, wherein when the reporting control unit causes the reporting device to report the start of the evaluation and the driving evaluation unit is unable to evaluate the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method, the reporting control unit causes the reporting device to report deficiency information, which refers to the deficiency information of the external information and the travel information that is insufficient for evaluating the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method.

2. The driving support device according to claim 1, wherein: the evaluation method selection unit selects one evaluation method from a plurality of evaluation methods for evaluating the driving of the occupant according to the operation of the occupant.

3. The driving support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: the evaluation method selection unit selects one evaluation method from a plurality of evaluation methods for evaluating the driving of the occupant without relying on the operation of the occupant.

4. The driving support device according to claim 3, wherein: when the evaluation method selection unit selects the one evaluation method without relying on the operation of the occupant, the reporting control unit does not report the start of the evaluation, and the driving evaluation unit is unable to evaluate the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method, the reporting control unit does not cause the reporting device to report the deficiency information of the external information and the travel information that is insufficient for evaluating the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method.

5. The driving support device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: when the evaluation of the driving of the occupant obtained according to the one evaluation method selected without relying on the operation of the occupant is less than a threshold value, the reporting control unit does not cause the reporting device to report the result of the evaluation.

6. The driving support device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: when the driving evaluation unit is unable to evaluate the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method, the evaluation method selection unit selects another evaluation method, wherein the other evaluation method requires at least a part of the information of the external information and the travel information required for the execution of the one evaluation method except for the deficiency information as necessary information, the driving evaluation unit evaluates the driving of the occupant according to the other evaluation method, the reporting control unit causes the reporting device to report the result of the evaluation performed according to the other evaluation method.

7. The driving support device according to claim 6, wherein: In a case where the driving evaluation unit is unable to evaluate the driving of the occupant according to the other evaluation method, the evaluation method selection unit selects another evaluation method, where the other evaluation method uses at least a part of the external information and the driving information required for the execution of the one evaluation method or the other evaluation method, excluding the insufficient information, as necessary information. The report control unit causes the reporting device to report information asking the occupant whether the driving evaluation unit evaluates the driving of the occupant according to the other evaluation method.

8. The driving support device according to claim 7, wherein the driving support device further includes a storage unit that stores past evaluations of the driving of the occupant. The evaluation method selection unit selects the other evaluation method based on the past evaluations stored in the storage unit.

9. A driving support method, wherein the driving support method causes a computer to perform the following processing: acquire external information, which is information related to an object around the moving body; acquire driving information, which is information related to the driving state of the moving body; select one evaluation method from a plurality of evaluation methods for evaluating the driving of the occupant; evaluate the driving of the occupant according to the evaluation method based on at least one of the external information and the driving information; cause a reporting device to report the start of the evaluation and the result of the evaluation; in a case where the reporting device is caused to report the start of the evaluation and the driving of the occupant cannot be evaluated according to the one evaluation method, cause the reporting device to report insufficient information, where the insufficient information refers to the insufficient external information and driving information required to evaluate the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method.

10. A storage medium that stores a program, wherein the program causes a computer to perform the following processing: acquire external information, which is information related to an object around the moving body; acquire driving information, which is information related to the driving state of the moving body; select one evaluation method from a plurality of evaluation methods for evaluating the driving of the occupant; evaluate the driving of the occupant according to the evaluation method based on at least one of the external information and the driving information; cause a reporting device to report the start of the evaluation and the result of the evaluation; in a case where the reporting device is caused to report the start of the evaluation and the driving of the occupant cannot be evaluated according to the one evaluation method, cause the reporting device to report insufficient information, where the insufficient information refers to the insufficient external information and driving information required to evaluate the driving of the occupant according to the one evaluation method.

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