Vehicle inspection auxiliary system

Abstract

A vehicle inspection assistance system (1) is provided with a vehicle-mounted device (11) and a mobile terminal (20). The in-vehicle device (11) has a vehicle control unit (13) that controls the vehicle equipment (14) on the basis of a control signal from the mobile terminal (20). The mobile terminal (20) is provided with: a display unit capable of displaying inspection content; an input unit that, when control of the vehicle device (14) is necessary, receives an input on inspection content for controlling the vehicle device (14); a terminal control unit (22) capable of generating a control signal on the basis of an input; and a recognition means (24) that recognizes the vehicle (10) by means of a predetermined operation of the vehicle (10) by the mobile terminal (20) performed by the inspector, recognizes the vehicle (10) by means of the recognition means (24), and activates the inspection content. The inspection content includes a plurality of inspection items associated with the inspection method and the inspection content and corresponding to the vehicle (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle inspection assistance system. Background Art

[0002] Generally, operators of commercial vehicles such as taxis and trucks are obliged to perform vehicle inspections before operation. Therefore, there have been proposed systems for assisting in the pre-operation inspection of vehicles (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: (Japanese) Patent Publication No. 2020-201223 Summary of the invention

[0006] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] However, in recent years, the commercial vehicle business has been experiencing a shortage of drivers due to aging and labor shortages. Under these circumstances, the time spent working outside of work hours has been reduced due to revisions to laws related to work style reform, and drivers are being asked to improve their work efficiency. In particular, there is a demand for further efficiency in daily pre-operation inspections.

[0008] In addition, in the pre-operation inspection, especially the visual inspection, the judgment is often based on the experience of the inspector (e.g., driver). On the other hand, when new drivers are hired as a countermeasure for the revision of the law related to work style reform, there is a possibility that the pre-operation inspection may cause errors in judgment or omission of inspection items due to lack of experience.

[0009] As described above, there is room for improvement in vehicle inspection (pre-operation inspection).

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle inspection support system that can improve the efficiency of vehicle inspection and suppress the judgment deviation based on the experience value of the inspector.

[0011] Technical solutions to solve problems

[0012] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a vehicle inspection support system having the following features.

[0013] A vehicle inspection support system comprises an on-board device mounted on a vehicle and a mobile terminal carried by an inspector of the vehicle and having content for inspection of the vehicle, wherein:

[0014] The vehicle-mounted device includes a vehicle control unit that controls vehicle equipment based on a control signal from the mobile terminal.

[0015] The mobile terminal has:

[0016] a display unit capable of displaying the inspection content;

[0017] an input unit for receiving an input on the inspection content for controlling the vehicle equipment when the vehicle equipment needs to be controlled;

[0018] a terminal control unit capable of generating the control signal based on the input;

[0019] an identification mechanism that identifies the vehicle through a prescribed operation of the vehicle by the mobile terminal performed by the inspector,

[0020] The vehicle is identified by the identification means, and the inspection content is activated.

[0021] The inspection contents include a plurality of inspection items corresponding to the vehicle and in which inspection methods and inspection contents are associated with each other.

[0022] Effects of the Invention

[0023] According to the present invention, when it is necessary to control vehicle equipment, the terminal control unit generates a control signal based on the input of the inspection content for controlling the vehicle equipment, and the vehicle control unit controls the vehicle equipment based on the control signal. As a result, the present invention does not need to go back and forth inside and outside the vehicle to control and inspect the vehicle equipment, and achieves high efficiency.

[0024] In addition, according to the present invention, through the specified operation of the mobile terminal on the vehicle by the inspector, the identification means of the mobile terminal identifies the vehicle, and the inspection content including multiple inspection items in which the inspection method and the inspection content are associated is started. Therefore, the present invention can suppress the judgment deviation based on the experience value of the inspector by, for example, enriching the description of the inspection method and the inspection content associated with the multiple inspection items.

[0025] The present invention has been briefly described above, but details of the present invention will become more apparent by further reading the modes for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle inspection support system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 Yes means Figure 1 A flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of the vehicle inspection support system shown.

[0028] Figure 3The first figure shows a display example of inspection content in a mobile terminal.

[0029] Figure 4 The second figure shows a display example of inspection content in a mobile terminal.

[0030] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing an example of a check list. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Hereinafter, a vehicle inspection support system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle inspection support system 1 includes an onboard device 11 mounted on the vehicle 10, and a mobile terminal 20 carried by an inspector (e.g., a driver, etc.) of the vehicle 10 and having content for inspection of the vehicle 10, and communication is performed between the onboard device 11 and the mobile terminal 20. It should be noted that the "content" of the present invention is, for example, an application (so-called "smartphone application") executed by the mobile terminal 20.

[0033] The vehicle 10 includes an onboard device 11 and various vehicle equipment 14. The onboard device 11 includes a communication unit 12 and a control unit 13 (corresponding to the "vehicle control unit" of the present invention) (see Figure 1 ).

[0034] The communication unit 12 can communicate with a communication unit 21 of a mobile terminal 20 described later by wire or wirelessly. The communication unit 12 receives a control signal of the vehicle equipment 14 from the communication unit 21, for example.

[0035] The control unit 13 includes a memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that operates according to a program stored in the memory, and controls the vehicle equipment 14 according to a control signal received from the mobile terminal 20. In addition, the control unit 13 controls whether the vehicle 10 can travel or cannot travel.

[0036] The vehicle equipment 14 is various equipment that can be controlled by the control unit 13, such as headlights, signal lights, hazard warning lights, and taillights. It should be noted that the vehicle equipment 14 that becomes the inspection site during vehicle inspection may also be provided with, for example, speakers and lights (not shown), and when these devices are provided, the control unit 13 outputs sound or light from the speakers or lights based on the control signal received from the mobile terminal 20, so that the inspector can perceive the inspection site.

[0037] The mobile terminal 20 includes a communication unit 21, a control unit 22 (corresponding to the "terminal control unit" of the present invention), a touch panel 23 (corresponding to the "display unit" and "input unit" of the present invention), an identification unit 24, and a storage unit 25 (refer to Figure 1 ). The mobile terminal 20 is a device such as a smart phone.

[0038] The communication unit 21 can communicate with the communication unit 12 of the vehicle-mounted device 11 and an external server, etc. by wire or wirelessly. The communication unit 21 transmits a control signal of the vehicle equipment 14 to the communication unit 12 of the vehicle-mounted device 11, for example.

[0039] The control unit 22 has a memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that operates according to a program stored in the memory, and generates a control signal for the vehicle equipment 14 to the vehicle-mounted device 11. In addition, after the inspection is completed, the control unit 22 can reflect the inspection results input into the inspection content on an inspection table such as a daily report (see Figure 5 )middle.

[0040] The touch panel 23 can receive input operations through a touch panel arranged to overlap with the display screen of the mobile terminal 20. The touch panel 23 serves as both a display unit and an input unit.

[0041] The identification mechanism 24 is a mechanism for identifying the vehicle 10 by a predetermined operation of the mobile terminal 20 on the vehicle 10 performed by the inspector. The identification mechanism 24 is, for example, an NFC (Near Field Communication) tag or NFC reader with a built-in IC (Integrated Circuit) chip, ultra-wideband wireless communication (UWB: Ultra Wide Band), a camera of the mobile terminal 20, etc. Therefore, as a method of identifying the vehicle 10 performed by the identification mechanism 24, there can be cited near-field wireless communication (NFC), ultra-wideband wireless communication (UWB), image analysis, reading of a code set on the vehicle 10, etc. That is, the predetermined operation is to insert the mobile terminal 20 into the vehicle, or to read a code set on the vehicle, etc.

[0042] The storage unit 25 stores, for example, a daily inspection list (see Figure 5 ) In addition, the storage unit 25 stores, for example, programs used by the mobile terminal 20 to implement various functions.

[0043] It should be noted that the mobile terminal 20 may further include a sound output unit. The sound output unit is, for example, a general speaker that can output sound, and may be installed on the mobile terminal 20 or may be connected to (added to) the mobile terminal 20 .

[0044] Next, refer to Figure 2 An example of the operation of the vehicle inspection support system 1 having the above configuration will be described. The inspector starts the vehicle inspection support system 1 by, for example, inserting the mobile terminal 20 into the vehicle 10 or reading a code provided in the vehicle 10 using the mobile terminal 20 .

[0045] When the inspector performs a prescribed operation such as inserting the mobile terminal 20 into the vehicle 10, the mobile terminal 20 identifies the vehicle 10 (Sp1), and the control unit 22 starts the inspection content (Sp2). It should be noted that the inspector may approach the vehicle 10, the mobile terminal 20 identifies the vehicle 10 (Sp1), and automatically starts the inspection content (Sp2). When the inspection content is started, a plurality of inspection items (Sp3) corresponding to the vehicle 10 identified by the mobile terminal 20 are displayed, which associate the inspection method and the inspection content. For example, the plurality of inspection items may be Figure 3 The display is shown on the mobile terminal 20. Thus, the inspector can confirm the inspection items.

[0046] It should be noted that in Sp3, the control unit 22 can detect the current or next inspection part from multiple inspection items (inspection item list at a glance) to generate a control signal for the control unit 13 in a manner that allows the inspector to perceive the current or next inspection part, and the control unit 13 outputs sound or light, etc. from a speaker or car light, etc. corresponding to the current or next inspection part based on the control signal.

[0047] Then, as an inspection item, it is determined whether or not the vehicle equipment needs to be controlled by the control unit 22 of the mobile terminal 20 or by the inspector inputting inspection contents to the touch panel 23 (Sp4).

[0048] If it is determined that the vehicle equipment needs to be controlled (Yes in Sp4), the control unit 22 of the mobile terminal 20 generates a control signal (Sp5), communicates the control signal via the communication units 21 and 12, and controls the vehicle equipment 14 through the control unit 13 of the vehicle-mounted device 11 (Sp6). Then, it is determined whether the inspection of all items is completed (Sp7). On the other hand, if it is determined that the vehicle equipment does not need to be controlled (No in Sp4), the process moves to Sp7.

[0049] Between Sp4 and Sp7, the inspector performs an inspection of the vehicle 10. In this inspection, for example, when a visual inspection item is selected from the inspection item list, Figure 4As shown, the reference values ​​and images of the inspection parts are displayed. The inspector compares the reference values ​​and images with the state of the vehicle 10. If the main conditions are met, the inspection list is set to "○", and if the main conditions are not met, the inspection list is set to "×". In this way, the inspection of various inspection parts is carried out.

[0050] In Sp7, if it is determined that the inspection of all items is completed (Yes in Sp7), the inspection result is stored in the inspection content or the storage unit 25 (Sp8), and then the control unit 13 or the control unit 22 determines whether the vehicle 10 is not poorly maintained and can be driven based on the inspection result (Sp9). On the other hand, in Sp7, if it is determined that the inspection of all items is not completed (No in Sp7), the process returns to Sp4.

[0051] In Sp9, when it is determined based on the inspection result that the vehicle 10 is not poorly maintained and can be driven (Yes in Sp9), the control unit 13 changes the vehicle 10 from the non-driving state to the driving state (Sp10). As a result, the vehicle 10 can be driven, and the vehicle inspection is completed. On the other hand, in Sp9, when it is determined based on the inspection result that the vehicle 10 is poorly maintained and cannot be driven (No in Sp9), the vehicle 10 is maintained in the non-driving state (Sp11). As a result, the vehicle 10 cannot be driven, and the vehicle inspection is completed.

[0052] Then, the control unit 22 obtains a check list such as a daily report from the storage unit 25 of the mobile terminal 20 or an external server (see Figure 5 ), the inspection result input and stored in the inspection content is reflected in the inspection table (Sp12). Thus, the inspection table such as the daily report is automatically prepared.

[0053] It should be noted that the control unit 22 can also make the audio output unit audio output the inspection parts in sequence based on multiple inspection items (inspection item list). More specifically, for example, if the inspection content detects the input of the inspection catalog of the current inspection part by the inspector, the audio output unit can audio output the next inspection part based on multiple inspection items (inspection item list).

[0054] As described above, according to the present embodiment, when it is necessary to control the vehicle equipment 14, the control unit 22 generates a control signal based on the input of the inspection content for controlling the vehicle equipment 14, and the control unit 13 controls the vehicle equipment 14 based on the control signal. As a result, the present embodiment does not require, for example, going back and forth inside and outside the vehicle to control and inspect the vehicle equipment 14, thereby achieving high efficiency.

[0055] In addition, according to the present embodiment, through the predetermined operation of the mobile terminal 20 on the vehicle 10 by the inspector (inserting the mobile terminal 20 on the vehicle 10, or reading a code set on the vehicle 10, etc.), the identification unit 24 of the mobile terminal 20 identifies the vehicle 10, and starts the inspection content including a plurality of inspection items in which the inspection method and the inspection content are associated. Thus, the present embodiment can suppress the judgment deviation based on the experience value of the inspector by, for example, enriching the description of the inspection method and the inspection content associated with the plurality of inspection items.

[0056] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, after all inspections of the plurality of inspection items are completed, if it is determined that the vehicle 10 can be driven, the vehicle 10 is changed from the disabled state to the enabled state. That is, if the inspections of all the inspection items are not completed or if the vehicle 10 has a defect, the vehicle 10 cannot be driven. Thus, the present embodiment can prevent omissions in the inspection of the inspection items and prevent the use of the poorly maintained vehicle 10.

[0057] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, after all inspections of the plurality of inspection items are completed, the control unit 22 obtains a predetermined inspection table from the storage unit 25 of the mobile terminal 20 or an external server, and reflects the inspection results inputted into the inspection content in the inspection table. Thus, the present embodiment, for example, reflects the inspection results in the inspection table such as the daily report by only performing the inspection, thereby achieving efficiency improvement of the vehicle inspection business.

[0058] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the identification method of the vehicle 10 performed by the identification unit 24 is at least one of short-range wireless communication, ultra-wideband wireless communication, image analysis based on the camera function of the mobile terminal 20, and reading of a code set on the vehicle 10. That is, as a prescribed operation of the mobile terminal 20 on the vehicle 10, the inspector only needs to insert the mobile terminal into the vehicle, or read a code set on the vehicle.

[0059] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 13 allows the inspector to perceive the inspection location of the vehicle 10 by sound or light based on the control signal, thereby making it easy for the inspector to understand the inspection location.

[0060] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 22 sequentially outputs the inspection locations of the vehicle 10 by voice through the voice output unit based on a plurality of inspection items, thereby making it easy for the inspector to grasp the inspection locations.

[0061] <Other methods>

[0062] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, configuration position, etc. of each component in the above-mentioned embodiments are arbitrary and not limited as long as the present invention can be realized.

[0063] Here, the features of the above-mentioned embodiments of the vehicle inspection support system of the present invention are briefly summarized and described as follows [1] to [6].

[0064] [1] A vehicle inspection support system (1) comprising an onboard device (11) mounted on a vehicle (10) and a mobile terminal (20) carried by an inspector of the vehicle (10) and having inspection content for the vehicle (10), wherein:

[0065] The vehicle-mounted device (11) includes a vehicle control unit (13) for controlling vehicle equipment (14) based on a control signal from the mobile terminal (20).

[0066] The mobile terminal (20) has:

[0067] A display unit (touch panel 23) capable of displaying the above-mentioned inspection contents;

[0068] An input unit (touch panel 23) for receiving input on the inspection content for controlling the vehicle equipment (14) when the vehicle equipment (14) needs to be controlled;

[0069] A terminal control unit (22) capable of generating the control signal based on the input;

[0070] an identification unit (24) for identifying the vehicle (10) by a predetermined operation of the mobile terminal (20) on the vehicle (10) by the inspector,

[0071] The vehicle (10) is identified by the identification means (24), and the inspection content is activated.

[0072] The inspection contents include a plurality of inspection items corresponding to the vehicle (10) and associated with inspection methods and inspection contents.

[0073] According to the structure of [1] above, when it is necessary to control vehicle equipment, the terminal control unit generates a control signal based on the input of the inspection content for controlling the vehicle equipment, and the vehicle control unit controls the vehicle equipment based on the control signal. As a result, this structure does not require, for example, going back and forth inside and outside the vehicle to control and inspect the vehicle equipment, thus achieving high efficiency.

[0074] In addition, according to this structure, through the specified operation of the mobile terminal on the vehicle by the inspector, the identification means of the mobile terminal identifies the vehicle and starts the inspection content including multiple inspection items that are associated with the inspection method and the inspection content. Therefore, this structure can suppress the judgment deviation based on the experience value of the inspector by, for example, enriching the records of the inspection method and the inspection content associated with the multiple inspection items.

[0075] [2] A vehicle inspection support system (1) according to [1] above, wherein:

[0076] The vehicle control unit (13) changes the vehicle (10) from an inoperable state to a drivable state when it is determined that the vehicle (10) is drivable after all the inspections of the plurality of inspection items are completed.

[0077] According to the structure of [2] above, when the vehicle is determined to be able to drive after all the inspections of the plurality of inspection items are completed, the vehicle is changed from an inoperable state to an operable state. That is, when the inspections of all the inspection items are not completed or when the vehicle has a defect, the vehicle cannot drive. Thus, this structure can prevent the inspection items from being omitted and can prevent the use of poorly maintained vehicles.

[0078] [3] A vehicle inspection support system (1) according to [1] or [2], wherein:

[0079] After all inspections of the above-mentioned multiple inspection items are completed, the above-mentioned terminal control unit (22) obtains a specified inspection table from the storage unit (25) of the above-mentioned mobile terminal (20) or an external server, so that the inspection results input into the above-mentioned inspection content are reflected in the above-mentioned inspection table.

[0080] According to the structure of [3] above, after all inspections of the plurality of inspection items are completed, the terminal control unit obtains a predetermined inspection table from the storage unit of the mobile terminal or the external server, and causes the inspection results input into the inspection content to be reflected in the inspection table. Thus, this embodiment, for example, only performs the inspection and reflects the inspection results in the inspection table such as the daily report, thereby achieving efficiency improvement of vehicle inspection business.

[0081] [4] A vehicle inspection support system (1) according to any one of [1] to [3] above, wherein:

[0082] The identification method of the vehicle (10) performed by the identification mechanism (24) is at least one of short-range wireless communication, ultra-wideband wireless communication, image analysis based on the camera function of the mobile terminal, and reading of a code set on the vehicle.

[0083] According to the structure of [4] above, the vehicle identification method performed by the identification unit is at least one of short-range wireless communication, ultra-wideband wireless communication, image analysis based on the camera function of the mobile terminal, and reading of a code set on the vehicle. That is, as a prescribed operation of the mobile terminal on the vehicle, the inspector only needs to insert the mobile terminal into the vehicle, or read the code set on the vehicle.

[0084] [5] A vehicle inspection support system (1) according to any one of [1] to [4] above, wherein:

[0085] The vehicle control unit (13) allows the inspector to sense the inspected portion of the vehicle through sound or light based on the control signal.

[0086] According to the structure of the above-mentioned [5], the vehicle control unit allows the inspector to perceive the inspection location of the vehicle through sound or light based on the control signal, thereby making it easy for the inspector to understand the inspection location.

[0087] [6] A vehicle inspection support system (1) according to any one of [1] to [5] above, wherein:

[0088] The mobile terminal (20) further comprises a sound output unit.

[0089] The terminal control unit (22) causes the sound output unit to sequentially output the inspection locations of the vehicle (10) based on the plurality of inspection items.

[0090] According to the configuration of [6] above, the terminal control unit causes the sound output unit to sequentially output the inspection locations of the vehicle based on a plurality of inspection items, so that the inspector can easily grasp the inspection locations.

Claims

1. A vehicle inspection support system comprising an on-board device mounted on a vehicle and a mobile terminal carried by an inspector of the vehicle and having content for inspection of the vehicle, wherein: The vehicle-mounted device includes a vehicle control unit that controls vehicle equipment based on a control signal from the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal has: a display unit capable of displaying the inspection content; an input unit for receiving an input on the inspection content for controlling the vehicle equipment when the vehicle equipment needs to be controlled; a terminal control unit capable of generating the control signal based on the input; an identification mechanism that identifies the vehicle through a prescribed operation of the vehicle by the mobile terminal performed by the inspector, The vehicle is identified by the identification means, and the inspection content is activated. The inspection contents include a plurality of inspection items corresponding to the vehicle and in which inspection methods and inspection contents are associated with each other.

2. The vehicle inspection assistance system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vehicle control unit changes the vehicle from a driving-incapable state to a driving-capable state when it is determined that the vehicle is driving after all the inspections of the plurality of inspection items are completed.

3. The vehicle inspection assistance system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: After all inspections of the plurality of inspection items are completed, the terminal control unit acquires a predetermined inspection table from a storage unit of the mobile terminal or an external server, and reflects the inspection results input to the inspection content on the inspection table.

4. The vehicle inspection assistance system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The vehicle identification method performed by the identification mechanism is at least one of short-range wireless communication, ultra-wideband wireless communication, image analysis based on a camera function of the mobile terminal, and reading of a code set on the vehicle.

5. The vehicle inspection assistance system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The vehicle control unit causes the inspector to perceive an inspection location of the vehicle through sound or light based on the control signal.

6. The vehicle inspection assistance system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The mobile terminal also has a sound output unit. The terminal control unit causes the sound output unit to sequentially output inspection locations of the vehicle based on the plurality of inspection items.

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