Operation device, control device, control method, and program product

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating device of an autonomous vehicle, a control device of the operating device, a control method of the operating device, and a program product related to the method. The operation device includes a display device configured to be capable of displaying, on the same screen, a start button for starting driving in an automatic driving mode in which the vehicle is automatically driven, and a state flag indicating a state of the vehicle.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the following application:

[0002] Invention name: Operating device for autonomous vehicle Application date: June 4, 2020 Application number: 202010499565.4 Technical Field

[0003] This specification relates to an operating device for an autonomous vehicle. Background Art

[0004] There are known autonomous vehicles that can drive themselves. Autonomous driving means that driving control including acceleration and deceleration control, braking control, or steering control is performed by a computer without relying on the operation of an operator.

[0005] An operating device for the operator to input various instructions is provided in the autonomous driving vehicle. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-6277 discloses an autonomous driving vehicle, wherein a mechanical switch for operating the equipment (air conditioner, etc.) of the autonomous driving vehicle is provided near the dashboard, and an automatic switch for turning the autonomous driving on / off is provided on the side of the driver's seat. In addition, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-24521 discloses an autonomous driving vehicle with a touch panel, which changes the driving mode through the touch panel.

[0006] Furthermore, it is conceivable that an operating device provided in the autonomous driving vehicle can be used to perform operations for controlling the vehicle speed of the autonomous driving vehicle, including starting control, stopping control, and acceleration and deceleration control, and operations for reporting to the outside of the vehicle, such as turning on the turn signal lights, hazard lights, or horn.

[0007] Here, the operation for vehicle speed control and the operation for making a report to the outside of the vehicle are both considered to have a high operation frequency or are assumed to be situations where the operator needs to operate quickly, etc. Therefore, as an operating device for performing these operations, it is ideal that switching between the operation for vehicle speed control and the operation for making a report to the outside of the vehicle is as easy as possible.

[0008] For example, when one of the button for vehicle speed control and the button for reporting to the outside of the vehicle is a soft button displayed on the touch panel and the other is a mechanical hard button provided separately from the touch panel, it is sometimes not possible to easily switch the operation between the operation for vehicle speed control and the operation for reporting to the outside of the vehicle. In addition, even if it is assumed that the button for vehicle speed control and the button for reporting to the outside of the vehicle are both soft buttons, for example, when the operator needs to perform other operations in order to change the display content of the touch panel from a state in which one button is displayed to a state in which the other button is displayed, it is not possible to easily switch the operation between the operation for vehicle speed control and the operation for reporting to the outside of the vehicle when the two buttons are not displayed at the same time. Summary of the invention

[0009] The operating device for an autonomous driving vehicle disclosed in this specification can realize easy switching of the operation between an operation for vehicle speed control and an operation for making a report to the outside of the vehicle.

[0010] One aspect of the present invention provides an operating device for an autonomous driving vehicle. The operating device for an autonomous driving vehicle of the aspect includes a touch panel, the touch panel being configured to display at least one of a start button and a deceleration button and a report button on the same screen, the start button being used to start driving in an autonomous driving mode of the autonomous driving vehicle capable of autonomous driving, the deceleration button being used to decelerate the autonomous driving vehicle in the autonomous driving mode, and the report button being used to make a report to the outside of the autonomous driving vehicle.

[0011] According to the above configuration, the vehicle speed control button (at least one of the start button and the deceleration button) and the report button are both soft buttons displayed on the touch panel, and the vehicle speed control button and the report button are displayed on the same screen. Therefore, the operator can operate both buttons at once, that is, can easily switch the operation between the two buttons.

[0012] In the above scheme, the touch panel may be arranged to stand upward from the upper surface of a base component on which the arm or hand of an operator operating the touch panel is placed, and at least one of the start button, the deceleration button and the report button is displayed on the lower part of the touch panel.

[0013] In the above aspect, at least one of the start button and the deceleration button may be displayed below the notification button.

[0014] In the above aspect, at least one of the start button and the deceleration button may be displayed at the center of the screen of the touch panel, and the report button may be displayed near at least one of the start button and the deceleration button.

[0015] In the above aspect, at least one of the start button and the deceleration button may be displayed larger than the notification button.

[0016] In the above-mentioned scheme, it may be that the autonomous driving vehicle has multiple driving modes including an autonomous driving mode and a manual driving mode, and the touch panel is also configured to display a driving mode change button for changing the driving mode of the autonomous driving vehicle on the same screen.

[0017] In the above-mentioned scheme, the touch panel may be further configured to display the status of the autonomous driving vehicle on the same screen.

[0018] In the above-mentioned scheme, it may be that the autonomous driving vehicle has multiple driving modes including an autonomous driving mode and a manual driving mode, and the touch panel is also configured to display a shift button for changing the gear of the autonomous driving vehicle on the same screen, and the display method of the shift button changes according to the driving mode of the autonomous driving vehicle.

[0019] In the above scheme, it may be that in the touch panel, a message sent to the operator operating the touch panel is also temporarily displayed on the same screen, and the message is displayed overlappingly on at least a part of the status mark indicating the status of the autonomous driving vehicle.

[0020] In the above aspect, at least one of the start button and the deceleration button or the notification button may be operable in a state where the message is displayed.

[0021] In the above-mentioned scheme, it may be that the operating device of the autonomous driving vehicle also has a mechanical operating unit, which is configured to control the vehicle speed of the autonomous driving vehicle, and the mechanical operating unit is provided with a reporting switch for reporting to the outside of the autonomous driving vehicle.

[0022] In the above-mentioned scheme, it may be that the autonomous driving vehicle has multiple driving modes including an autonomous driving mode and a manual driving mode, and the operating device of the autonomous driving vehicle also has: an external light-emitting unit, which is arranged outside the vehicle; and a display control unit, which is configured to make the external light-emitting unit emit light in a color corresponding to the driving mode, and to display the background of the touch panel in the same color or a color of the same color system as the light of the external light-emitting unit.

[0023] According to the operating device for an autonomous driving vehicle disclosed in this specification, it is possible to easily switch the operation between the operation for vehicle speed control and the operation for making a report to the outside of the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Hereinafter, features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

[0025] Figure 1 This is an appearance diagram of the autonomous driving vehicle according to this embodiment.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a first perspective view showing the interior of the cabin of the autonomous driving vehicle according to the present embodiment.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a second perspective view showing the interior of the cabin of the autonomous driving vehicle according to the present embodiment.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a functional block diagram of the autonomous driving vehicle according to this embodiment.

[0029] Figure 5 The figure shows a screen of a touch panel when the autonomous driving vehicle stops in the autonomous driving mode.

[0030] Figure 6 It is a diagram showing a screen of a touch panel during automatic driving.

[0031] Figure 7 It is a diagram showing a screen of a touch panel in a manual driving mode.

[0032] Figure 8 It is a diagram showing a screen of a touch panel on which a message is displayed.

[0033] Fig. 9 It is a diagram showing a modified example of a touch panel screen.

[0034] Fig.10 This is a three-dimensional diagram of the mechanical operating unit.

[0035] Fig.11A It is a diagram showing a state where the vehicle exterior light emitting unit emits light.

[0036] Fig. 11B This is a diagram showing a state where the background of the touch panel is displayed in the same color as the light of the exterior light emitting unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Figure 1This is an external view of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 of the present embodiment. In each of the drawings in this specification, the terms front (FR) and rear refer to the front and rear of the vehicle, the terms left (LH) and right refer to the left and right when facing forward, and the terms up (UP) and down refer to the up and down of the vehicle.

[0038] The autonomous driving vehicle 10 is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped, having a front-to-back symmetrical shape, and its appearance design is also front-to-back symmetrical. Columns 12 extending in the vertical direction are provided at the four corners when viewed from above, and wheels 14 are provided on the lower side of each column 12. Most of the side walls of the front, back, left and right sides of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 are translucent panels 16. The panel 16 can be a display panel, and text, etc. can be displayed on it.

[0039] A portion of the left side panel 16 becomes a slidable door 18, which is opened by sliding so that passengers can get on and off the vehicle. Figure 1 Although not shown in the figure, a retractable ramp is accommodated at the lower part of the door 18. The ramp is used for getting on and off the wheelchair, etc.

[0040] Furthermore, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is a vehicle that can be driven autonomously. Specifically, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 can be driven in a plurality of driving modes including an autonomous driving mode, a semi-autonomous driving mode, and a manual driving mode.

[0041] The automatic driving mode is a driving mode in which most of the driving control is performed by a computer (driving control unit (described later)) mounted on the automatic driving vehicle 10. In this specification, driving control is a concept that includes shift control, vehicle speed control, steering control, or reporting to the outside (outside the vehicle) of the automatic driving vehicle 10. Vehicle speed control is a concept that includes starting control, stopping control, and acceleration and deceleration control of the automatic driving vehicle 10. In addition, reporting to the outside of the vehicle includes, for example, the operation of the turn signal indicator, the operation of the hazard light, or the sounding of the horn.

[0042] The autonomous driving vehicle 10 can communicate with a management center that manages and controls a plurality of autonomous driving vehicles 10. In the autonomous driving mode, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 travels on a preset route under the control of the management center. In the autonomous driving mode, the driving control is performed by a computer according to the driving instructions from the management center, and only the start control from a stopped state is performed by the operation of the operator riding in the autonomous driving vehicle 10.

[0043] Furthermore, in the automatic driving mode, in addition to the control from the management center, the vehicle speed control and the report to the outside of the vehicle can also be performed by the operator's operation. In this embodiment, the deceleration control in the vehicle speed control can be achieved by the operator's operation during the automatic driving process. Of course, it is also possible to perform vehicle speed control other than the deceleration control. In addition, the operation and stop of the direction indicator and the hazard light and the sounding of the horn in the report to the outside of the vehicle can be achieved by the operator's operation.

[0044] The semi-automatic driving mode is a driving mode in which the computer mounted on the autonomous driving vehicle 10 performs most of the driving control of the autonomous driving vehicle 10, similarly to the autonomous driving mode. In the semi-automatic driving mode, the computer performs driving control based on the detection results obtained by various sensors (such as cameras or laser radars, etc.) installed in the autonomous driving vehicle 10, without relying on instructions from the management center, and drives on a pre-set route. In the semi-automatic driving mode, only the start control from the stop state is performed by the operation of the operator riding in the autonomous driving vehicle 10, and the vehicle speed control and reporting to the outside of the vehicle can also be performed by the operator's operation.

[0045] The manual driving mode is a mode in which the autonomous driving vehicle 10 does not perform autonomous driving but an operator riding in the autonomous driving vehicle 10 performs driving control of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 .

[0046] In the autonomous driving vehicle 10, an exterior light emitting unit 20 is provided outside the vehicle and at a position clearly visible from outside the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the exterior light emitting units 20 are provided on the two front pillars 12, respectively. The lighting state of the exterior light emitting unit 20 changes according to the state of the autonomous driving vehicle 10. That is, the state of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 can be known from outside the vehicle through the exterior light emitting unit 20. In the present embodiment, the exterior light emitting unit 20 emits light in a color corresponding to the driving mode of the autonomous driving vehicle 10.

[0047] The autonomous driving vehicle 10 is a shared vehicle in which an unspecified number of passengers are shared. In the present embodiment, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is used as a bus that transports passengers while traveling along a prescribed route within a designated area. Therefore, it is assumed that the autonomous driving vehicle 10 repeatedly stops and starts at a relatively high frequency. In addition, it is assumed that the autonomous driving vehicle 10 travels at a relatively low speed (for example, below 30 km / h).

[0048] However, the use of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 disclosed in this specification can be appropriately changed. For example, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 can be used as a movable business space, as well as a store that displays and sells various commodities, a restaurant that prepares and provides beverages and food, and the like. In addition, as another method, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 can also be used as an office for clerical work, meetings with customers, etc. In addition, the use scenarios of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 are not limited to business. For example, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 can also be used as a means of personal mobility. In addition, the driving mode and driving speed of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 can also be appropriately changed.

[0049] The autonomous driving vehicle 10 is an electric vehicle having a drive motor as a prime mover that receives power from a battery. The battery is a rechargeable secondary battery that is periodically charged by external power. It should be noted that the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is not limited to electric vehicles, but may also be other forms of vehicles. For example, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 may be an engine vehicle equipped with an engine as a prime mover, or a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine and a drive motor as prime movers. Furthermore, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 may also be a hydrogen vehicle whose drive motor is driven by electricity generated by a fuel cell.

[0050] Figure 2 and Figure 3 1 is a perspective view showing the interior of the vehicle cabin of the autonomous driving vehicle 10. As described above, since the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is used as a bus, the center of the vehicle cabin serves as a floor 30 for standing passengers to stand or for placing wheelchairs for passengers to sit on. In addition, seats 32 for passengers are provided along the side walls of the vehicle cabin.

[0051] The autonomous vehicle 10 is provided with an operator seat 34 for an operator, who controls the driving of the autonomous vehicle 10, reports to the outside of the vehicle (operation of the turn signal lamp, hazard lights, horn, etc.), and controls various devices of the autonomous vehicle 10 (air conditioning, wipers, headlights, taillights, etc.). Figure 2 3 shows a state where the seat portion 34a of the operator seat 34 is lowered to expose the seat surface 34b, but the seat portion 34a can be popped up. In this embodiment, the operator seat 34 is arranged on the left side of the vehicle compartment and near the front side of the vehicle door 18, but the operator seat 34 can also be arranged on the right side of the vehicle compartment.

[0052] An armrest 36 is provided on the front side of the operator seat 34 as a base member extending in the front-rear direction for the operator sitting on the operator seat 34 to place his arms. As described above, in the present embodiment, the operator seat 34 is provided on the left side of the vehicle compartment, so the armrest 36 is arranged at the left end portion in the vehicle compartment. If the operator seat 34 is provided on the right side of the vehicle compartment, the armrest 36 is arranged at the right end portion in the vehicle compartment. The armrest 36 is provided on the upper side of the seat surface 34b of the operator seat 34 in the seatable state. It should be noted that the base member may be not only the armrest 36 but also a base for placing the operator's hands.

[0053] A touch panel 38 is provided at the front end of the armrest 36 so as to stand upward from the upper surface of the armrest 36 (see Figure 3 ). The display surface (operation surface) of the touch panel 38 faces the rear side (that is, the operator seat 34 side). Therefore, the operator can sit on the operator seat 34 and place his arms on the armrests 36 while operating the touch panel 38 with his hands. The touch panel 38 can be used to input vehicle speed control instructions, report instructions to the outside of the vehicle, device control instructions for devices possessed by the automatic driving vehicle 10, and driving mode change instructions. Details of the display screen of the touch panel 38 will be described later.

[0054] In addition, the armrest 36 is provided with a storage portion 40, which can accommodate a mechanical operating portion for inputting driving control instructions to the autonomous driving vehicle 10. The storage portion 40 is covered by a cover 42, that is, the mechanical operating portion is not exposed in the vehicle compartment when stored in the storage portion 40. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the storage portion 40 is provided on the armrest 36, but the storage portion 40 may also be provided at a location other than the armrest 36. The mechanical operating portion can be operated in any driving mode of the autonomous driving vehicle 10, but is mainly used in the manual driving mode. Details about the mechanical operating portion are described later.

[0055] A display 44 is provided at the front left corner of the vehicle compartment to display information related to the automatic driving vehicle 10 (see Figure 3 ). For example, information such as the speed of the autonomous driving vehicle 10, the outside temperature, and the next station to stop are displayed on the display 44.

[0056] In this embodiment, the operating device of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is configured to include a touch panel 38 and a mechanical operating unit. It should be noted that the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is not provided with a foot pedal such as an accelerator pedal or a brake pedal provided in a conventional automobile or the like for inputting a vehicle speed control instruction.

[0057] Figure 41 is a functional block diagram of the autonomous driving vehicle 10. The autonomous driving vehicle 10 is configured to include a driving mode selection unit 50, a driving control unit 52, and a display control unit 54 in addition to the exterior light emitting unit 20 and the touch panel 38. The driving mode selection unit 50, the driving control unit 52, and the display control unit 54 are implemented by the cooperation of hardware such as a processor and software for operating the hardware.

[0058] The driving mode selection unit 50 selects a driving mode of the automatically driven vehicle 10 from among the automatically driven mode, the semi-automatic driving mode, and the manual driving mode based on a driving mode change instruction inputted from the touch panel 38 by the operator.

[0059] The driving control unit 52 controls the driving mode selected by the driving mode selection unit 50 based on the touch panel 38 or the mechanical operation unit (in Figure 4 The driving control of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is performed based on driving control instructions input from the autonomous driving vehicle 10 (not shown in the figure), driving control instructions received from the management center, and detection results obtained by various sensors equipped in the autonomous driving vehicle 10.

[0060] The display control unit 54 controls the touch panel 38 to display various screens and controls the light-emitting state of the vehicle exterior light-emitting unit 20. Various screens of the touch panel 38 are described below. All of these screens are displayed under the control of the display control unit 54.

[0061] Below, refer to Figure 5 to Figure 11B The display screen of the touch panel 38 will be described.

[0062] Figure 5 3 is a diagram showing a display screen of the touch panel 38 when the autonomous driving vehicle 10 stops in the autonomous driving mode. Hereinafter, the display screen of the touch panel 38 when the driving mode is the autonomous driving mode will be described, but the display screen of the touch panel 38 is substantially the same regardless of the driving mode. The parts of the touch panel 38 whose display content differs depending on the driving mode will be described one by one.

[0063] The touch panel 38 displays a speed control button 60 for inputting a speed control instruction to the autonomous vehicle 10 and a report button 62 for inputting a report instruction to the outside of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, when the autonomous vehicle 10 is stopped, a go (GO) button 60a is displayed as a start button for inputting a start instruction to the autonomous vehicle 10 as the speed control button 60. When the autonomous vehicle 10 starts traveling in the autonomous driving mode, as shown in FIG. Figure 6As shown, as the vehicle speed control button 60, a slowdown button 60b as a deceleration button for inputting a deceleration instruction is displayed instead of the travel button 60a. It should be noted that the autonomous driving vehicle can be stopped by continuously operating the slowdown button 60b. Therefore, it can also be said that the slowdown button 60b is a button for inputting a stop instruction for stopping the autonomous driving vehicle. In addition, in the present embodiment, as the report button 62, a turn signal button 62a for inputting an on / off instruction for the turn signal, a hazard light button 62b for inputting an on / off instruction for the hazard light, and a horn button 62c for inputting a horn sounding instruction are displayed. In this way, in the present embodiment, a plurality of report buttons 62 are displayed, but the report button 62 may also be one. In addition, types of report buttons 62 other than those described above may also be displayed.

[0064] The vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 are displayed on the same screen. Here, displayed on the same screen means that both the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 are displayed on the touch panel 38 in a manner that can be operated without the operator performing other operations (such as screen switching operations, etc.). For example, the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 are displayed at the same time. Therefore, in the touch panel 38, for example, in the case where multiple split screens can be displayed on one screen, as long as both the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 are displayed as operable without the operator performing other operations, even if the vehicle speed control button 60 is displayed on one split screen and the report button 62 is displayed on the other split screen, it can be said that the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 are displayed on the same screen.

[0065] In the present embodiment, both the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 are soft buttons displayed on the touch panel 38, and the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 are displayed on the same screen. Thus, the operator can operate both buttons at once, and thus can easily switch the operation between the operation of the vehicle speed control button 60 and the operation of the report button 62. In other words, the operator can switch the operation between the operation of the vehicle speed control button 60 and the operation of the report button 62 without spending extra effort and time.

[0066] Assume that the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 are operated more frequently than other buttons and need to be operated quickly. Therefore, it is better to display at least one of the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 on the lower part of the touch panel 38. As described above, the touch panel 38 is erected upward from the upper surface of the armrest 36 on which the operator places his arms. Therefore, when the arm is placed on the armrest 36, the lower part of the touch panel 38 is easier to operate and can be operated more quickly for the operator than the upper part of the touch panel 38. Therefore, by displaying at least one of the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 on the lower part of the touch panel 38, the operator can operate these buttons more easily or more quickly.

[0067] The vehicle speed control button 60 is preferably displayed below the report button 62. If the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 are compared, in most cases, the vehicle speed control button 60 is operated more frequently than the report button 62 and needs to be operated more quickly. When the arm is placed on the armrest 36, the lower part of the touch panel 38 is easier to operate and can be operated more quickly than the upper part of the touch panel 38. Therefore, by displaying the vehicle speed control button 60 below the report button 62, the vehicle speed control button 60 is easier to operate or can be operated more quickly than the report button 62.

[0068] The vehicle speed control button 60 is preferably displayed larger than the report button 62. As described above, in many cases, the vehicle speed control button 60 is operated more frequently than the report button 62 and needs to be operated more quickly. Therefore, by displaying the vehicle speed control button 60 larger than the report button 62, the vehicle speed control button 60 can be operated more easily than the report button 62.

[0069] A driving mode change button 64 for inputting a change instruction of the driving mode of the automatic driving vehicle 10 is displayed on the same screen as the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 on the touch panel 38. Figure 5 As shown, when the automatic driving vehicle 10 stops, an automatic driving mode button for changing to the automatic driving mode, a semi-automatic driving mode button for changing to the semi-automatic driving mode, and a manual driving mode button for changing to the manual driving mode are displayed as the driving mode change button 64. It is better to display the driving mode change button 64 in a way that the current driving mode can be known. Figure 5 In the example shown in Figure 1, the driving mode is the autonomous driving mode, so the autonomous driving mode button is displayed differently from the semi-autonomous driving mode button and the manual driving mode button (in Figure 5 in different colors in the examples above.

[0070] The driving mode change button 64 is displayed on the same screen as the vehicle speed control button 60 and the notification button 62 , so that the operator can easily switch between operating the vehicle speed control button 60 or the notification button 62 and operating the driving mode change button 64 .

[0071] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the driving mode cannot be changed while the automatic driving vehicle 10 is driving. Figure 6 As shown, as the driving mode change button 64, only the button corresponding to the current driving mode is displayed (in Figure 6 The Autopilot mode button in the example above.

[0072] The shift button 66 for changing the gear of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is displayed on the same screen as the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 on the touch panel 38. As the shift button 66, a plurality of buttons corresponding to the gears of P (parking), R (reverse), N (neutral), and D (drive) are displayed. The shift button 66 is preferably displayed in a manner that allows the current gear to be known. Figure 5 In the example of FIG. 1 , since the current gear is D, the button corresponding to gear D is displayed in a different manner (in Figure 5 In the present embodiment, the operator is not allowed to change the gear position in the automatic driving mode, so the buttons of the shift button 66 can be displayed smaller or not displayed in the automatic driving mode.

[0073] The shift button 66 is displayed on the same screen as the vehicle speed control button 60 and the notification button 62 , so that the operator can easily switch between operating the vehicle speed control button 60 or the notification button 62 and operating the shift button 66 .

[0074] In this embodiment, the operator cannot change gears in the automatic driving mode. Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 1 , in the case of the automatic driving mode, only the button corresponding to the gear position D which is the current gear position is displayed in a large size, and the buttons corresponding to the other gear positions are displayed in a small size. At this time, even if the operator operates the shift button 66, the driving control unit 52 (see FIG. 1 ) Figure 4 ) will not change the gear of the automated vehicle 10. On the other hand, in the manual driving mode, the operator can change the gear by using the shift button 66. Figure 7 As shown, in the case of manual driving mode, all buttons corresponding to all gears are displayed in the same size. At this time, the operator can change the gear by operating any button. In this way, the display method of the shift button 66 can also be changed according to the driving mode of the automatic driving vehicle 10.

[0075] Furthermore, the P brake button 68 for inputting an operation / release instruction of the electric parking brake, the tab switch section 70 for displaying a device control button for controlling the devices of the autonomous driving vehicle 10, and the light button 72 for inputting a control instruction of the headlights / taillights are displayed on the same screen as the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 on the touch panel 38. Thus, the operator can easily switch between the operation of the vehicle speed control button 60 or the report button 62 and the operation of the P brake button 68, the tab switch section 70, or the light button 72.

[0076] In addition, a status mark 74 indicating the state of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is displayed on the same screen as the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 in the touch panel 38. In the present embodiment, the status mark 74 is a diagram indicating the remaining battery level of the autonomous driving vehicle 10, the open and closed state of the door 18, the state of the ramp plate, and the sensing state of various sensors provided in the autonomous driving vehicle 10. Of course, as the status mark 74, it is also possible to display it in other forms instead of a diagram, and it is also possible to indicate states other than those mentioned above. After all, the status mark 74 is just a mark and not a button, so the operator cannot operate it. It should be noted that, as described above, the current driving mode can be indicated by the driving mode change button 64, and the current gear can be indicated by the shift button 66, so it can be said that the driving mode change button 64 and the shift button 66 are also marks indicating the state of the autonomous driving vehicle 10.

[0077] Through the status mark 74 or the driving mode change button 64 and the shift button 66, the status of the automatic driving vehicle 10 is displayed on the same screen as the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62, so that the operator can immediately operate the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 after confirming the status of the automatic driving vehicle 10.

[0078] Moreover, if Figure 8 As shown, the message 76 sent to the operator is displayed on the same screen as the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62 in the touch panel 38. The message 76 is not always displayed on the touch panel 38, but is temporarily displayed at the timing when the information needs to be notified to the operator. Since various buttons and status marks 74 are displayed on the display surface of the touch panel 38, the message 76 is displayed overlappingly on the various buttons and status marks 74. Here, it is better to display the message 76 overlappingly on at least a part of the status mark 74. Thereby, it is suppressed that the message 76 overlaps on the button displayed on the touch panel 38, and it is suppressed that the button cannot be operated during the display of the message 76. In particular, it is better to display the message 76 in a manner that does not overlap on the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62. Thereby, even during the display of the message 76, the operator can operate the vehicle speed control button 60 and the report button 62.

[0079] Fig. 9 FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a modified example of the screen of the touch panel 38. Fig. 9 In the illustrated modification, the vehicle speed control button 60 is displayed at the center of the screen of the touch panel 38, and the notification button 62 is displayed near the vehicle speed control button 60. Fig. 9 In the example of FIG. 6 , the report button 62 is displayed immediately above and immediately below the speed control button 60. Specifically, the direction indicator button 62a and the horn button 62c are displayed above the speed control button 60, and the hazard light button 62b is displayed below the speed control button 60. Alternatively, the report button 62 may be displayed immediately to the left or immediately to the right of the speed control button 60. Fig. 9 In the example of FIG. 1 , a driving mode change button 64 and a status mark 74 are displayed above the turn signal button 62a and the horn button 62c, and a message 76 is displayed below the hazard light button 62b. It should be noted that other buttons may be displayed above the turn signal button 62a and the horn button 62c and below the hazard light button 62b.

[0080] Depending on the position of the touch panel 38, it may be easiest for the operator to operate the center of the screen of the touch panel 38. Therefore, by displaying the vehicle speed control button 60, which is assumed to be operated most frequently and needs to be operated most quickly, in the center of the screen, the operator can easily operate the vehicle speed control button 60. In addition, by displaying the report button 62 near the vehicle speed control button 60, it is easier to switch between the operation of the vehicle speed control button 60 and the operation of the report button 62.

[0081] Fig.10 The storage portion 40 (see FIG. Figure 2 ) The mechanical operating unit 80 in a state where the cover 42 is opened and pulled upward. Although the mechanical operating unit 80 is in the shape of a rod extending in the vertical direction in the present embodiment, the shape of the mechanical operating unit 80 is not limited thereto.

[0082] The mechanical operating unit 80 can be operated by a lever. That is, the mechanical operating unit 80 can be tilted in the front, rear, left, and right directions with the lower end as a fulcrum. When the mechanical operating unit 80 is tilted in the forward direction, an acceleration control instruction is input to the automatic driving vehicle 10, and when the mechanical operating unit 80 is tilted in the backward direction, a deceleration control instruction is input to the automatic driving vehicle 10. In other words, the vehicle speed can be controlled by tilting the mechanical operating unit 80 in the front and rear directions. In addition, when the mechanical operating unit 80 is tilted in the left direction, a left turn control instruction is input to the automatic driving vehicle 10, and when the mechanical operating unit 80 is tilted in the right direction, a right turn control instruction is input to the automatic driving vehicle 10.

[0083] Furthermore, a notification switch 82 for inputting a notification instruction to the outside of the vehicle is provided at the upper portion of the mechanical operation unit 80. In the present embodiment, a turn signal indicator switch 82a for inputting an instruction to turn the turn signal on / off and a horn switch 82b for inputting an instruction to sound the horn are provided as the notification switch 82. In addition, a hazard light switch for inputting an instruction to turn the hazard light on / off may also be provided.

[0084] A reporting switch 82 is provided on the mechanical operating unit 80 for performing vehicle speed control, thereby enabling the operator to easily switch between the operation for vehicle speed control and the operation for reporting to the outside of the vehicle even when driving control of the automatic driving vehicle 10 is performed by the mechanical operating unit 80, such as in a manual driving mode or when a failure of the touch panel 38 occurs.

[0085] Fig.11A The display control unit 54 (see Figure 4 ) causes the exterior light emitting unit 20 to emit light in a color corresponding to the driving mode selected by the driving mode selection unit 50. For example, the display control unit 54 causes the exterior light emitting unit 20 to emit blue light in the case of the automatic driving mode, causes the exterior light emitting unit 20 to emit green light in the case of the semi-automatic driving mode, and causes the exterior light emitting unit 20 to emit red light in the case of the manual driving mode.

[0086] Moreover, if Fig. 11B As shown, the display control unit 54 displays the color of the background 90 of the touch panel 38 in the same color or the same color series as the light of the vehicle exterior light emitting unit 20. That is, the background 90 of the touch panel 38 is also displayed in the color corresponding to the driving mode selected by the driving mode selection unit 50.

[0087] The display control unit 54 causes the exterior light-emitting unit 20 to emit light in a color corresponding to the driving mode, and displays the background 90 of the touch panel 38 in the same color or a color of the same color system as the light of the exterior light-emitting unit 20, thereby allowing the operator or passenger to understand the current driving mode based on the color inside and outside the autonomous driving vehicle 10.

[0088] As mentioned above, the implementation manner of the operating device of the autonomous driving vehicle of the present disclosure has been described, but the operating device of the autonomous driving vehicle of the present disclosure is not limited to the above implementation manner, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

Claims

1. An operating device, which is an operating device for an autonomous driving vehicle, characterized in that: A display device is included, and the display device is configured to display a start button and a status mark on the same screen. The start button is used to start driving in an automatic driving mode for automatically driving the vehicle, and the status mark indicates the status of the vehicle.

2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein: The status mark is configured to include an image of the autonomous driving vehicle and display at least one of an open or closed state of a door and a sensing state of a sensor provided in the autonomous driving vehicle.

3. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein: The status mark is a display that cannot be operated by an operator of the operation display device.

4. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein: The start button is displayed larger than the status mark.

5. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein: The display device includes a display of a message to an operator operating the display device, On the same screen, the message is displayed at a position not overlapping with the start button, and is displayed overlapping at least a portion of the status mark.

6. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein: The autonomous driving vehicle has an external light-emitting unit, which is arranged outside the vehicle and emits light in different colors in response to the driving mode. At least a part of the display device performs display in the same color or the same system of color as the light of the exterior light emitting unit.

7. A control device, which is a control device of an operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The control device is configured to cause the display device to display a start button and a status mark indicating a status of the vehicle on the same screen, the start button being used to start driving in an automatic driving mode for automatically driving the vehicle.

8. A control method, which is a control method for an operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: include: The display step causes the display device to display a start button and a status mark on the same screen, wherein the start button is used to start driving in an automatic driving mode for automatically driving the vehicle, and the status mark indicates the status of the vehicle.

9. A computer program product, comprising a computer program, characterized in that When the computer program is executed by a processor, the steps of the method according to claim 8 are implemented.

Images