Vehicle control device, non-transitory storage medium, and vehicle control system

Abstract

The present application provides a vehicle control device, a non-transitory storage medium, and a vehicle control system. The vehicle control device that controls switching of a drive mode of a vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor includes a processor configured to, in a path from an area outside a geofence area to an area inside the geofence area, in a case where a road surface at a boundary of the geofence area is a road surface on which the vehicle is likely to slip, switch the drive mode of the vehicle to electric motor-based drive in a state where the vehicle is less likely to slip outside the geofence area.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle control device, a non-transitory storage medium, and a vehicle control system. BACKGROUND

[0002] In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H-7-75210, it is described that, in order to suppress the influence of exhaust gas, in an air pollution prevention reinforcement region, the internal combustion engine of a vehicle is stopped, and the vehicle is driven by the power of a battery-based electric motor. In this way, in order to suppress adverse effects on the environment, a geofencing region is known in which the power for driving is limited to only the battery. SUMMARY

[0003] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0004] However, at the boundary of the geofencing region, for example, when moving from outside the region to inside the region, the drive is switched from being based on the internal combustion engine to being based on the electric motor. At this time, if the drive mode is switched in a situation in which the road surface is in a state in which it is easy to slip, such as on a rainy day, there is a possibility that the vehicle will slip.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a vehicle control device, a non-transitory storage medium, and a vehicle control system that can suppress the slipping of a vehicle when switching from drive based on an internal combustion engine to drive based on an electric motor.

[0006] TECHNICAL SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

[0007] A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to a vehicle control device that controls the switching of the drive mode of a vehicle that has an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The vehicle control device has a processor that is configured to, in a path in which the vehicle moves from outside a region of a geofencing region to inside the region, in a situation in which the road surface at the boundary of the geofencing region is a road surface on which the vehicle is likely to slip, switch the drive mode of the vehicle to drive based on the electric motor in a state in which the vehicle is unlikely to slip outside the region of the geofencing region, the geofencing region being set by a virtual boundary that limits the travel of the vehicle to travel that is based on the power of the electric motor.

[0008] In the aspect, the processor can be configured to switch the drive mode of the vehicle to drive based on the electric motor at a position outside the region of the geofencing region at which the vehicle is unlikely to slip.

[0009] In the aspect, the processor can be configured to switch the drive mode of the vehicle to drive based on the electric motor at a position in the position at which the vehicle is unlikely to slip that is closest to outside the region of the geofencing region.

[0010] In the aspect, the processor can be configured to switch the drive mode of the vehicle to the drive based on the electric motor in a case where the vehicle is stopped at a position outside the area of the geo-fenced area.

[0011] In the aspect, the processor can be configured to control the position to which the drive of the vehicle is switched based on the drive of the electric motor to a position at which the vehicle is in a state in which the possibility of the vehicle slipping is low in a case where the vehicle is traveling along a travel path set in the vehicle and passes through the geo-fenced area.

[0012] In the aspect, the processor can be configured to determine whether a road surface on the travel path is a road surface on which the possibility of the vehicle slipping is high based on the travel path set in the vehicle and road surface information acquired in the vehicle.

[0013] In the aspect, the road surface information can be based on at least one of a precipitation amount, a wiper operation amount, and a road line shape.

[0014] A second aspect of the present disclosure relates to a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a vehicle control device configured to control switching of a drive mode of a vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, and causing the processor to execute the following functions. The non-transitory storage medium includes a function of switching the drive mode of the vehicle to the drive based on the electric motor in a case where a road surface at a boundary of a geo-fenced area is a road surface on which the possibility of the vehicle slipping is high in a path from outside an area of the geo-fenced area to inside the area, the area of the geo-fenced area being set by a virtual boundary that restricts travel of the vehicle to travel based on power of the electric motor.

[0015] In the aspect, the drive mode of the vehicle can be switched to the drive based on the electric motor at a position outside the area of the geo-fenced area and at which the possibility of the vehicle slipping is low when switched to the drive based on the electric motor.

[0016] In the aspect, the drive mode of the vehicle can be switched to the drive based on the electric motor at a position closest to the position outside the area of the geo-fenced area among the positions at which the possibility of the vehicle slipping is low when switched to the drive based on the electric motor.

[0017] In the aspect, the drive mode of the vehicle can be switched to the drive based on the electric motor in a case where the vehicle is stopped at a position outside the area of the geo-fenced area when switched to the drive based on the electric motor.

[0018] In the mode, it can also be that, in the case where a travel route is set in the vehicle in which the vehicle passes through the geo-fenced area, the position in the vehicle to which the drive mode is switched to the drive based on the electric motor is controlled to a position at which the vehicle is in a state in which the possibility of the vehicle slipping is low.

[0019] In the mode, it can also be that the function includes determining whether a road surface on a travel route is a road surface on which the possibility of the vehicle slipping is high, based on the travel route set in the vehicle and the road surface information acquired in the vehicle.

[0020] A third mode of the present disclosure relates to a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system includes a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, and a vehicle control device including a processor configured to, in a route in which the vehicle moves from an area outside a geo-fenced area to an area inside the geo-fenced area, in the case where a road surface at a boundary of the geo-fenced area is a road surface on which the possibility of the vehicle slipping is high, switch the drive mode of the vehicle to the drive based on the electric motor in an area outside the geo-fenced area in a state in which the possibility of the vehicle slipping is low, and the geo-fenced area is set by a virtual boundary in which the travel of the vehicle is limited to travel based on the power of the electric motor.

[0021] In the mode, it can also be that the processor is configured to switch the drive mode of the vehicle to the drive based on the electric motor at a position outside the geo-fenced area at which the possibility of the vehicle slipping is low.

[0022] In the mode, it can also be that the processor is configured to switch the drive mode of the vehicle to the drive based on the electric motor at a position closest to the area outside the geo-fenced area among the positions at which the possibility of the vehicle slipping is low.

[0023] In the mode, it can also be that the processor is configured to switch the drive mode of the vehicle to the drive based on the electric motor in the case where the vehicle is stopped at a position outside the geo-fenced area.

[0024] In the mode, it can also be that the processor is configured to, in the case where a travel route is set in the vehicle in which the vehicle passes through the geo-fenced area, control the position in the vehicle to which the drive mode is switched to the drive based on the electric motor to a position at which the vehicle is in a state in which the possibility of the vehicle slipping is low.

[0025] In the mode, the processor can be configured to determine whether a road surface on the travel route is a road surface on which the vehicle is likely to slip based on the travel route set in the vehicle and road surface information acquired in the vehicle.

[0026] In the mode, the road surface information can be based on at least one of a precipitation amount, a wiper operation amount, and a road alignment.

[0027] Effects of Invention

[0028] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress slippage of a vehicle at the time of switching from driving based on an internal combustion engine to driving based on an electric motor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals denote the same elements, and wherein:

[0030] Figure 1 is a diagram schematically showing a control system according to Embodiment 1.

[0031] Figure 2 is a block diagram for explaining a structure of a road surface information server according to Embodiment 1.

[0032] Figure 3 is a block diagram for explaining a structure of a vehicle according to Embodiment 1.

[0033] Figure 4 is a diagram for explaining a geo-fence area.

[0034] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of vehicle control according to Embodiment 1.

[0035] Figure 6 is a diagram schematically showing a control system according to Embodiment 2.

[0036] Figure 7 is a block diagram for explaining a structure of a control system according to Embodiment 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, in all the drawings of the following embodiments, the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals. In addition, the present disclosure is not limited by the following described embodiments.

[0038] Embodiment 1

[0039] Figure 1 is a diagram schematically showing a control system according to Embodiment 1.Figure 2 is a block diagram for explaining a structure of a road surface information server involved in Embodiment 1. Figure 3 is a block diagram for explaining a structure of a vehicle involved in Embodiment 1. A control system 1 involved in Embodiment 1 is configured to include a road surface information server 2, a vehicle 3, and a region setting information server 4. The road surface information server 2 is, for example, a server that acquires and outputs weather information disclosed by a meteorological agency, an operator who conducts a weather business, or the like. The vehicle 3 is, for example, a plug-in hybrid vehicle, a range-extender vehicle, or the like that is able to travel (is able to perform EV travel) by power of an electric motor alone. In addition, the vehicle 3 is a vehicle that is able to charge power from an external power source and is able to supply power to the outside.

[0040] The road surface information server 2, the vehicle 3, and the region setting information server 4 are able to perform information communication via a network NW. The network NW is configured by, for example, an Internet line network or the like. The road surface information server 2 is able to transmit and receive information between a plurality of vehicles 3.

[0041] The road surface information server 2 is provided with a weather information receiving section 21, a road surface information creating section 22, and a road surface information transmitting section 23.

[0042] The weather information receiving section 21 receives weather information related to weather. The weather information includes weather of each region, activity of rain clouds, and a prediction thereof.

[0043] The road surface information creating section 22 creates road surface information based on, for example, the weather information. The road surface information is, for example, information of each region that indicates a state of a road surface, and includes information that indicates a level of possibility of slip by a position of the road surface. In this Embodiment 1, the possibility of slip is explained in two cases of "high" and "low", but can be indicated by three or more values that indicate a level. The possibility of slip of the road surface can be determined based on whether or not the road surface is wet according to an amount of precipitation, an amount of snowfall. In addition, it can be determined based on an amount of operation of a wiper of the vehicle 3, position information of the vehicle 3, whether or not the road surface is wet. In addition, it can be determined by referring to a road alignment such as a sharp curve, past slip information, whether or not it is a road surface that is easy to slip, and it can be determined by combining these information.

[0044] The road surface information transmitting section 23 transmits the created road surface information. The road surface information transmitting section 23 transmits the road surface information to the vehicle 3 of the corresponding region via the network NW. In addition, the road surface information transmitting section 23 transmits the latest road surface information each time the road surface information is updated to the latest information.

[0045] The vehicle 3 is an electric vehicle that is provided with an electric motor 11 for traveling, an engine 12, a storage battery 13, a charger 14, a vehicle-side connector 15, and a converter 16.

[0046] The electric motor 11 is a power source for traveling. In addition, the engine 12 is capable of rotating the electric motor 11. That is, the electric motor 11 is capable of generating power by the power of the engine 12. In the case where the electric motor 11 generates power by the engine 12, the electric power generated by the electric motor 11 can be charged into the storage battery 13. This electric motor 11 is electrically connected to the storage battery 13 via the inverter 16.

[0047] This vehicle 3 is a plug-in hybrid vehicle provided with a charger 14 and a vehicle-side connector 15 that charge the storage battery 13 with electric power from the outside.

[0048] The storage battery 13 is an electric storage device that stores electric power for supplying to the electric motor 11 and stores electric power supplied from an external power source. This storage battery 13 is connected to the vehicle-side connector 15 in an electrically conductive manner via the charger 14. The charger 14 charges the storage battery 13 with electric power from the outside. Various relay sections are included in the charger 14, for example. By opening the relay section of the charger 14, the storage battery 13 can be electrically cut off from the vehicle-side connector 15. When charging the storage battery 13 with electric power from the outside, the relay section of the charger 14 is closed, and the storage battery 13 is electrically connected to the vehicle-side connector 15. The vehicle-side connector 15 is capable of being connected to an external-side connector such as a charging connector of a charging station.

[0049] In addition, the vehicle 3 is provided with a GPS (Global Positioning System) reception section 31, a communication section 32, a control section 33, an HMI (Human Machine Interface) 34, a power train 35, and a storage section 36.

[0050] The GPS reception section 31 receives electric waves (signals) from GPS satellites.

[0051] The communication section 32 transmits and receives information between the vehicle 3 and the area setting information server 4. This communication section 32 receives a control instruction transmitted from the area setting information server 4. In addition, the communication section 32 transmits position information indicating the current position of the vehicle 3 to the road surface information server 2.

[0052] The control section 33 is provided with a processor having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like and a storage section such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The control section 33 has a position information acquisition section 33a, a switching control section 33b, an engine control section 33c, an HMI control section 33d, and a power train control section 33e.

[0053] The position information acquisition unit 33a acquires current position information on the basis of a signal received by the GPS reception unit 31.

[0054] The switch control unit 33b controls the timing of switching between the HV mode in which the vehicle 3 travels using both the engine 12 and the motor 11 and the EV mode in which the vehicle 3 travels using only the motor 11 on the basis of the road surface information and the geo-fence area.

[0055] The engine control unit 33c controls the engine 12. For example, in a case where a drive prohibition instruction of the engine 12 is received, the engine control unit 33c performs prohibition control of prohibiting the drive of the engine 12. In addition, in a case where a drive permission instruction of the engine 12 is received, the engine control unit 33c performs permission control of permitting the drive of the engine 12.

[0056] The HMI control unit 33d controls the HMI 34.

[0057] The HMI 34 is constituted by, for example, a car navigation device. The HMI 34 functions as a notification unit that notifies a driver of information and also functions as an operation unit that receives an operation from the driver. Under the control of the HMI control unit 33d, information that the engine 12 is in a control state in which the drive is permitted, the engine 12 is in a control state in which the drive is prohibited, and the like is notified from the HMI 34.

[0058] The power train control unit 33e controls the power train 35.

[0059] The power train 35 is a power transmission device that transmits power output from the motor 11 and the engine 12 to a drive wheel. The power train 35 includes an automatic transmission or the like. Therefore, the power train control unit 33e performs shift control of controlling a shift stage of the automatic transmission.

[0060] The storage unit 36 is constituted by a storage medium that is readable by a computer, and various programs and various data are stored in the storage unit 36 in a manner that enables writing and reading. As the storage medium, a storage medium such as a hard disk, a semiconductor memory, an optical disk, a flash memory, a magnetic disk, and a drive device of these storage media is provided. In the storage unit 36, an operating system (OS) that is necessary for the control unit 33 to comprehensively control the operation of each unit of the vehicle 3, and programs of various application programs are stored.

[0061] In addition, the control unit 33 controls the motor 11 by controlling the inverter 16.

[0062] The inverter 16 is subjected to switching control by the control section 33. Also, the relay section of the charger 14 is subjected to on-off control by the control section 33. That is, the control section 33 performs charging control to charge the power from the outside into the storage battery 13, and performs discharging control to supply the power accumulated in the storage battery 13 to the outside. In addition, the control section 33 performs various controls related to the vehicle 3.

[0063] The region setting information server 4 outputs setting information of the geofence region. In the setting information, information of the region of the geofence region is set as map information, coordinate information.

[0064] Here, a virtual fence (virtual boundary) called a geofence is set in a prescribed region (geofence region). The geofence region is set, for example, with a specific region such as a city block of a city as a target. In the geofence region, a specific vehicle control is performed with the vehicle 3 located in the geofence region as a target. In the vehicle control, drive control in which the engine drive is prohibited in a manner to travel by using only the electric motor (EV travel) is included. Figure 4 is a diagram for explaining the geofence region. For example, the drive prohibition instruction of the engine 12 is transmitted to the vehicle 3 located in the geofence region R Figure 4 shown. G

[0065] Here, with reference to Figure 5 , the HV / EV switching control performed by the control section 33 of each vehicle 3 is explained. In addition, Figure 5 the control shown is repeatedly performed by the control section 33, for example, in a case where a route is set by a navigation system. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the process of the vehicle control related to Embodiment 1. Figure 5 is explained as a case where a route from outside of the geofence region to inside of the region is set.

[0066] The control section 33 determines whether or not the geofence region is included on the route based on the travel route set by the HMI 34 and the position information of the geofence region acquired from the region setting information server 4 (step S101). The control section 33 ends the HV / EV switching control in a case where the geofence region is not included on the route (step S101: No). The control section 33 shifts to step S102 in a case where the geofence region is included on the route (step S101: Yes).

[0067] ​In step S102, the switching control portion 33b determines whether the possibility of slippage of the road surface of the geofence region boundary is high. The switching control portion 33b determines, based on the road surface information, the geofence region, whether the possibility of slippage of the region-in and region-out boundary of the geofence region, particularly, the boundary-near region including the boundary through which the travel path passes, is high. The switching control portion 33b transitions to step S106 in a case where it is determined that the possibility of slippage of the road surface of the geofence region boundary is low (step S102: No). In contrast, the switching control portion 33b transitions to step S103 in a case where it is determined that the possibility of slippage of the road surface of the geofence region boundary is high (step S102: Yes).

[0068] In step S103, the switching control portion 33b sets a position at which the HV mode and the EV mode are switched (HV / EV switching position). The switching control portion 33b sets, based on the road surface information, for example, a position at which the possibility of slippage of the road surface on the path is low and which is closest to the geofence region as the HV / EV switching position. Further, the HV / EV switching position is not limited to a position on the map, and can be a timing at which the vehicle 3 stops at an intersection or the like.

[0069] Then, the control portion 33 determines whether the vehicle 3 has reached the HV / EV switching position set in step S103 (step S104). The control portion 33 refers to the position information acquired by the position information acquisition portion 33a to determine whether the vehicle 3 has reached the HV / EV switching position. The control portion 33 repeatedly performs the reach confirmation of the HV / EV switching position in a case where it is determined that the HV / EV switching position has not been reached (step S104: No). In contrast, the control portion 33 transitions to step S105 in a case where it is determined that the HV / EV switching position has been reached (step S104: Yes).

[0070] In step S105, the switching control portion 33b switches from the HV mode to the EV mode at the HV / EV switching position. With this switching process, the HV / EV switching process is performed at a position outside the geofence region and closest to the geofence region, at which the possibility of slippage of the road surface is low.

[0071] Further, in step S106, the switching control portion 33b performs the normal HV / EV switching. Here, at the boundary between the region-in and the region-out of the geofence region, the process of switching from the HV mode to the EV mode is performed.

[0072] In the above-described embodiment 1, in the HV / EV switching from the area outside the geo-fenced area to the area inside, the HV / EV switching is performed at a position where the possibility of the slip of the road surface outside the area is low in the case where the possibility of the slip of the road surface is high. According to the present embodiment 1, since the HV / EV switching is performed at a position where the road surface is not wet, it is possible to suppress the slip of the vehicle due to the change in torque at the time of switching from the drive based on the internal combustion engine (engine 12) to the drive based on the electric motor (electric motor 11).

[0073] Embodiment 2

[0074] Next, the embodiment 2 will be described. Figure 6 is a diagram schematically showing a control system relating to the embodiment 2. Figure 7 is a block diagram for explaining the structure of the control system relating to the embodiment 2. The control system 1A relating to the embodiment 2 has, in addition to the vehicle 3A in place of the vehicle 3, the vehicle management server 5 with respect to the structure of the control system 1 relating to the embodiment 1. Hereinafter, the parts different from the embodiment 1 (the structure and the processing content of the vehicle 3A and the vehicle management server 5) will be described.

[0075] The control system 1A is configured to include the road surface information server 2, the vehicle 3A, the area setting information server 4, and the vehicle management server 5. With respect to the structure of the vehicle 3, the vehicle 3A becomes a structure having the control section 33A which does not have the switching control section 33b.

[0076] The vehicle management server 5 is a server provided at a vehicle management center. The vehicle management center monitors the position information of the vehicle 3A in real time with respect to a plurality of vehicles 3A.

[0077] The road surface information server 2 and the vehicle management server 5 can perform information communication via the network NW. The network NW is configured by, for example, an Internet line network or the like. In addition, the vehicle 3A and the vehicle management server 5 can perform wireless communication via the network NW.

[0078] The vehicle management server 5 has a position information receiving section 51, a road surface information receiving section 52, a storage section 53, a control section 54, and an instruction transmitting section 55.

[0079] The position information receiving section 51 receives the current position information transmitted from the vehicle 3A. The vehicle management server 5 can receive the position information of the vehicle 3A transmitted from a plurality of vehicles 3A through the position information receiving section 51.

[0080] The road surface information receiving section 52 receives the disaster-affected area information transmitted from the road surface information server 2. This road surface information receiving section 52 can communicate with the road surface information transmitting section 23 via the network NW.

[0081] The storage section 53 stores various information for managing the vehicle 3A. For example, information related to a region in which a geo-fence region is set is stored in the storage section 53. This geo-fence region information is information that is stored in advance. In addition, the storage section 53 has a position information database 53a.

[0082] The position information database 53a stores position information of the vehicle 3A. Position information related to a plurality of vehicles 3A is stored in the position information database 53a in real time on the basis of position information received by the position information receiving section 51. That is, the position information stored in the position information database 53a is updated to the latest position information at all times.

[0083] The control section 54 has a processor having hardware such as a CPU. In addition, the control section 54 has a switching control section 54a.

[0084] The control section 54 determines the vehicle 3A located within the geo-fence region. For example, the control section 54 determines the vehicle 3A located within the geo-fence region on the basis of the geo-fence region information stored in the storage section 36 and the position information stored in the position information database 53a. The control section 54 executes a specific vehicle control (control program) with the determined vehicle 3A as a target.

[0085] The instruction transmitting section 55 transmits a control instruction for executing a specific vehicle control to the vehicle 3A. For example, as a control instruction for a target vehicle, there can be mentioned an instruction to prohibit the driving of the engine 12 within the geo-fence region (engine driving prohibition instruction), an instruction to permit the driving of the engine 12 outside the geo-fence region (engine driving permission instruction), control of HV / EV switching, and the like.

[0086] In Embodiment 2, the vehicle management server 5 acquires road surface information from the road surface information server 2, and the switching control section 54a controls the timing of HV / EV switching for the vehicle 3A located within and outside the geo-fence region. Specifically, the switching control section 54a executes the processing shown in FIG. 6 for each vehicle 3A to output an HV / EV switching instruction to each vehicle 3A. Figure 5 The processing shown in FIG. 6 is executed for each vehicle 3A.

[0087] In Embodiment 2 described above, in HV / EV switching from a region outside the geo-fence region to a region within the geo-fence region, HV / EV switching is performed at a position where the possibility of slippage of the road surface is low in the case where the possibility of slippage of the road surface is high. According to this Embodiment 2, since HV / EV switching is performed at a position where the road surface is not wet, it is possible to suppress slippage of the vehicle due to a change in torque when switching from driving based on the internal combustion engine (engine 12) to driving based on the electric motor (electric motor 11) is performed again.

[0088] In addition, in Embodiment 2, since the switching control section 54a instructs the HV / EV switching control for the plurality of vehicles 3A collectively, each vehicle 3A does not need to execute the process for the HV / EV switching control. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the processing load of the vehicle 3A and suppress the decrease in the storage battery 13 of the vehicle 3A.

[0089] Further, in the above-described embodiments, for example, the road surface information server 2 can detect weather information based on information posted to a contribution website or the like on the Internet, information issued by a public office such as a municipality. For example, in a case where information posted to a contribution website or the like on the Internet is used, the road surface information server 2 detects the information via the network NW. Specifically, it is also possible to be configured to detect information indicating rainfall based on words posted to an SNS (Social Networking Service) on the Internet, words posted in large quantities on Twitter (registered trademark) on a certain day.

[0090] Further, the HMI 34 is not limited to a car navigation device, but can be a device that functions as a notification section capable of transmitting information through the driver's vision, hearing, and sense. For example, the HMI 34 can be a sound device such as a sound system capable of performing sound-based notification, a device that generates vibration at the driver's seat of the vehicle 3, or the like.

[0091] Storage medium

[0092] In one embodiment, a program capable of executing a processing method based on a control system can be recorded in a storage medium that can be read by a computer and other machines or devices (hereinafter, referred to as a computer or the like). By causing the computer or the like to read and execute the program of the storage medium, the computer or the like functions as a control section of each device of the control system. Here, the storage medium that can be read by the computer or the like refers to a non-transitory storage medium that accumulates information such as data or a program by electric, magnetic, optical, mechanical, or chemical action and can be read from the computer or the like. As a medium that can be detached from the computer or the like in such a storage medium, for example, there are a floppy disk, an optical magnetic disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R / W, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a BD (Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc), a DAT (Digital Audio Tape), a magnetic tape, a memory card such as a flash memory, and the like. In addition, as a storage medium fixed to the computer or the like, there are a hard disk, a ROM, and the like. Furthermore, an SSD can be used as a storage medium that can be detached from the computer or the like, and can be used as a storage medium fixed to the computer or the like.

[0093] Other embodiments

[0094] Furthermore, in one implementation of the control system, "component" can be changed to "circuit" or the like. For example, the communication component can be changed to a communication circuit.

[0095] Alternatively, the program executed by each device of the control system in one embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by downloading it via the network.

[0096] Those skilled in the art can readily derive further effects and variations. The broader scope of this disclosure is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Therefore, various modifications can be made without departing from the general spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A vehicle control device, configured to control switching of a drive mode of a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, characterized by the vehicle control device including: a processor configured to switch the drive mode of the vehicle to driving based on the electric motor in a state in which the vehicle is less likely to slip outside the geofenced area, in a case where a road surface of a boundary of the geofenced area is a road surface on which the vehicle is highly likely to slip, outside the geofenced area, in a path in which the vehicle moves from inside the geofenced area to outside the geofenced area, the geofenced area being set by a virtual boundary that limits travel of the vehicle to travel based on power of the electric motor, the processor configured to judge whether a road surface on a travel route is a road surface on which the vehicle is highly likely to slip, based on the travel route and an amount of wiper operation acquired in the vehicle, in a case where the travel route passes through the geofenced area, control a position in the vehicle to which the drive mode is switched to a position in which the vehicle is less likely to slip, based on the electric motor, in the travel route, the vehicle control device being provided to a server of a vehicle management center, that is, a vehicle management server, and performing wireless communication with the vehicle via a network, the vehicle management server further including a position information receiving section, a road surface information receiving section, a storage section, and an instruction transmitting section, the storage section storing information related to an area in which the geofenced area is set and a position information database, the vehicle control device performing control processing of switching of the drive mode of the vehicle located inside and outside the geofenced area and performing an instruction of switching of the drive mode of a plurality of the vehicles by the instruction transmitting section.

2. A non-transitory storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a vehicle control device configured to control switching of a drive mode of a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, and causing the processor to perform the following functions: characterized by switching the drive mode of the vehicle to driving based on the electric motor in a state in which the vehicle is less likely to slip outside the geofenced area, in a case where a road surface of a boundary of the geofenced area is a road surface on which the vehicle is highly likely to slip, outside the geofenced area, in a path in which the vehicle moves from inside the geofenced area to outside the geofenced area, the geofenced area being set by a virtual boundary that limits travel of the vehicle to travel based on power of the electric motor, the processor further performing the function of judging whether a road surface on a travel route is a road surface on which the vehicle is highly likely to slip, based on the travel route and an amount of wiper operation acquired in the vehicle, in a case where the travel route passes through the geofenced area, controlling a position in the vehicle to which the drive mode is switched to a position in which the vehicle is less likely to slip, based on the electric motor, in the travel route, The vehicle control device is provided in a server of a vehicle management center, i.e., a vehicle management server, and performs wireless communication with the vehicles via a network, The vehicle management server further includes a position information receiving section, a road surface information receiving section, a storage section, and an instruction transmitting section, The storage section stores information related to an area in which the geo-fenced area is set and a position information database, The vehicle control device performs control processing of switching the drive mode of the vehicles located inside and outside the geo-fenced area and performs an instruction of switching the drive mode of a plurality of the vehicles by the instruction transmitting section.

3. A vehicle control system characterized by comprising: Including: A vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electric motor; And A vehicle control device including a processor configured to, in a path in which the vehicle moves from an area outside a geo-fenced area to an area inside the geo-fenced area, in a case where a road surface of a boundary of the geo-fenced area is a road surface on which the vehicle is likely to slip, switch the drive mode of the vehicle to drive based on the electric motor in a state where the vehicle is less likely to slip outside the geo-fenced area, the geo-fenced area being set by a virtual boundary that limits travel of the vehicle to travel based on power of the electric motor, The processor is configured to, in the vehicle, set a travel path, in a case where the travel path passes through the geo-fenced area, judge whether a road surface on the travel path is a road surface on which the vehicle is likely to slip based on the travel path and a wiper operation amount acquired in the vehicle, and control a switching position in the vehicle to a position where the vehicle is in a state where the vehicle is less likely to slip, The vehicle control device is provided in a server of a vehicle management center, i.e., a vehicle management server, and performs wireless communication with the vehicles via a network, The vehicle management server further includes a position information receiving section, a road surface information receiving section, a storage section, and an instruction transmitting section, The storage section stores information related to an area in which the geo-fenced area is set and a position information database, The vehicle control device performs control processing of switching the drive mode of the vehicles located inside and outside the geo-fenced area and performs an instruction of switching the drive mode of a plurality of the vehicles by the instruction transmitting section.

Images