Management method for automatic valley parking

Abstract

To prevent a protection target such as an infant from being left in a vehicle in automatic valley parking.SOLUTION: In a case where a management device for automatic valley parking receives entrance plan information of a vehicle to a parking lot, the management device acquires position information of the vehicle and occupant information of the vehicle. In a case where information of a protection target is included in the occupant information, the management device transmits awareness guidance information to the vehicle based on the position information of the vehicle. In a case where the awareness guidance information is received, the vehicle actuates an in-cabin awareness device of the vehicle on the basis of the awareness guidance information. The transmission of the awareness guidance information and the actuation of the in-cabin awareness device are performed before the vehicle arrives at a getting-on / getting-off space of the parking lot.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for managing automated valet parking of a vehicle in a parking lot. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system for automatically driving a vehicle in a parking lot. This conventional system detects whether an occupant such as an infant remains behind before starting automatic driving of the vehicle in the parking lot. If this is detected, the start of automatic driving of the vehicle is prohibited. In the conventional system, if a person remains behind, an alarm sound is output from an on-board sound source, or information indicating that the person remains behind is transmitted to an external device of the vehicle (a terminal of the user of the vehicle, a management terminal of the parking lot). In the conventional system, the detection of the person remaining behind is further continued even after the start of automatic driving. If a person remains behind after the start of automatic driving, information indicating that the person remains behind is transmitted to an external device of the vehicle.

[0003] In addition to Patent Document 1, Patent Documents 2 and 3 can be mentioned as examples of documents showing the state of the art in the technical field related to the present disclosure. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-169689 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-215665 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2019-127132 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is desirable to take thorough measures to prevent the protected person, such as an infant, from remaining in the vehicle. One of the reasons why the protected person remains in the vehicle is that the protected person is asleep when the passengers, including the guardian, get out of the vehicle and the protected person does not take any action against the passengers. In this regard, according to the system of Patent Document 1, when the protected person is detected to remain, the vehicle can take action against the surroundings or against the guardian. However, in the case of automatic valet parking, information can be exchanged between the vehicle and the parking lot. Therefore, it can be said that there is room for improvement in terms of taking action from the parking lot to prevent the protected person from remaining.

[0006] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology capable of preventing protected persons, such as infants, from remaining in the vehicle during automatic valet parking. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present disclosure is a method for managing automated valet parking in a parking lot, having the following features: The method comprises: When a management device of the automated valet parking system receives information on a vehicle's planned entry into the parking lot, the management device acquires location information of the vehicle and information on passengers of the vehicle; When the passenger information includes information of a person to be protected, the management device transmits awakening induction information to the vehicle based on the position information; When the vehicle receives the awakening induction information, the vehicle operates an interior awakening device of the vehicle based on the awakening induction information; Includes. The transmission of the awakening induction information and the activation of the indoor awakening device are performed before the vehicle arrives at the boarding and disembarking space of the parking lot. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, before the vehicle arrives at the boarding and disembarking space in the parking lot, the management device for the automatic valet parking transmits awakening induction information to the vehicle, and the interior awakening device of the vehicle is activated. Therefore, it is possible to awaken the protected subject before the vehicle arrives at the boarding and disembarking space. The awakened protected subject is expected to take action on the passengers in the vehicle, including the guardian. This makes it possible to prevent the protected subject from remaining in the vehicle when the passengers get off the vehicle at the boarding and disembarking space. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating automatic valet parking. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a measure to prevent overstaying according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

[0011] 1. Automated Valet Parking Automated Valet Parking (AVP) is a parking system in which the entry of a vehicle from a boarding / alighting space in a parking lot to a parking space and the exit of the vehicle from the parking space to the boarding / alighting space are automatically performed. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining AVP. FIG. 1 illustrates a parking lot PK. The parking lot PK has a configuration capable of implementing AVP. The configuration capable of implementing AVP includes a boarding / alighting space PD and a parking space PS. The boarding / alighting space PD is a space for passengers to board and / or disembark. The parking space PS is a space for parking the vehicle. The configuration capable of AVP also includes landmarks that assist the movement of the vehicle, sensors that monitor the vehicle, and the like (neither of which are shown).

[0012] FIG. 1 also illustrates a server (hereinafter, also referred to as a "management server") 10 that manages the AVP. The management server 10 corresponds to the "automated valet parking management device" of this disclosure. The management server 10 acquires various information from sensors of the parking lot PK, and performs various processes related to the management of the AVP based on this information. The management server 10 is typically a computer including at least one processor 11 and at least one memory 12. The processor 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The memory 12 is a volatile memory such as a DDR memory, and deploys various programs used in the various processes performed by the processor 11 and temporarily stores various information.

[0013] Fig. 1 further illustrates a plurality of vehicles VH. Each of these vehicles VH has a configuration capable of implementing AVP. An example of a configuration capable of implementing AVP is an in-vehicle control system 20. In the example illustrated in Fig. 1, the control system 20 includes a control device 21, sensors 22, and a driving device 23. The control device 21 is, for example, a device dedicated to AVP.

[0014] When performing AVP (entry), the control device 21 transmits, for example, the operation authority of the vehicle VH to the management server 10 while the vehicle VH is waiting in the boarding / disembarking space PD. By transferring this operation authority to the management server 10, the AVP of the vehicle VH can be performed by the management server 10 (processor 11). After transmitting the operation authority, the control device 21 performs vehicle control for the vehicle VH to autonomously travel within the parking lot PK in accordance with the entry command received from the management server 10. In this vehicle control during entry, for example, the traveling device 23 is controlled based on the entry command and information from the sensors 22.

[0015] When implementing AVP (leaving), the control device 21 performs vehicle control for the vehicle VH to autonomously travel within the parking lot PK, for example, in accordance with a leaving command received from the management server 10. This vehicle control during leaving is basically the same as that during entry. After arriving at the boarding / alighting space PD, the control device 21 receives the operating authority for the vehicle VH from the management server 10. When this operating authority is returned to the vehicle VH, the implementation of the AVP for the vehicle VH by the management server 10 (processor 11) ends.

[0016] 2. Measures to prevent overstaying In the embodiment, communication information exchanged between the management server 10 and the vehicle VH is used to prevent the protected person from remaining in the vehicle. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the remaining-in prevention measures according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates the parking lot PK, the management server 10, and the like, which are described in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 further illustrates the vehicle VH before it arrives at the parking lot PK (boarding / alighting space PD). The control system 20 of this vehicle VH includes an interior awakening device 24 in addition to the configuration described with reference to FIG. 1. Examples of the interior awakening device 24 include an in-vehicle user interface (e.g., an HMI of a car navigation system) and an in-vehicle audio system. In other words, the interior awakening device 24 is a device mounted in a general vehicle. The interior awakening device 24 may be a device that operates a movable seat.

[0017] In the embodiment, before the vehicle VH arrives at the parking lot PK (boarding / disembarking space PD), the usage reservation information BKG is transmitted from the vehicle VH to the management server 10. The usage reservation information BKG includes information necessary for using the AVP, such as ID information of the vehicle VH, ID information of the representative of the vehicle VH, information on the date and time when the vehicle VH will use the parking lot PK (scheduled entry and exit times), and information on the specifications of the vehicle VH (body size, presence or absence of movable seats, etc.).

[0018] In the embodiment, in addition to the usage reservation information BKG, passenger information PSS and location information LOC are also transmitted from the vehicle VH to the management server 10. The passenger information PSS is information about the occupants of the vehicle VH. The passenger information PSS includes the gender and age information of the occupants. The passenger information PSS may be manually input or may be automatically generated by image processing of the sensors 22 (specifically, a camera). The location information LOC is information about the current location of the vehicle VH. The location information LOC is acquired by the sensors 22 (e.g., a GPS device).

[0019] When the scheduled entry time included in the utilization reservation information BKG approaches, the management server 10 acquires passenger information PSS and location information LOC. The management server 10 also determines whether the protected TG is in the vehicle VH based on the passenger information PSS. The management server 10 further predicts the time when the vehicle VH will arrive at the parking lot PK based on the location information LOC. If it is determined that the protected TG is in the vehicle VH, the management server 10 compares the predicted arrival time at the parking lot PK with the current time. Then, at a timing a predetermined time (e.g., 5 to 10 minutes) before the predicted arrival time, the management server 10 transmits awakening induction information AWK (AWK1) to the vehicle VH. The vehicle VH activates the interior awakening device 24 according to this awakening induction information AWK1.

[0020] The management server 10 may transmit the awakening induction information AWK1 to the vehicle VH without predicting the time when the vehicle VH will arrive at the parking lot PK. In this case, the management server 10 calculates the distance from the vehicle VH to the parking lot PK (boarding / alighting space PD) based on the location information LOC. Then, when this distance approaches a predetermined distance (e.g., several kilometers), the management server 10 transmits the awakening induction information AWK1 to the vehicle VH.

[0021] By operating the interior awakening device 24, it is possible to awaken the protected target TG (for example, wake up a sleeping protected target TG) before the vehicle VH arrives at the parking lot PK. The awakened protected target TG is expected to take action against fellow passengers in the vehicle VH, including their guardians. This makes it possible to prevent the protected target TG from remaining in the vehicle when fellow passengers get off the vehicle VH in the boarding / alighting space PD.

[0022] After the vehicle VH arrives at the parking lot PK (boarding / alighting space PD), the management server 10 may transmit the awakening induction information AWK (AWK2) to the vehicle VH. The timing of transmitting the awakening induction information AWK2 is, for example, immediately after receiving the operation authority of the vehicle VH from the vehicle VH. When the awakening induction information AWK2 is transmitted, the indoor awakening device 24 operates in the same manner as when the awakening induction information AWK1 is transmitted. If the indoor awakening device 24 operates according to the awakening induction information AWK2, it is possible to awaken the protected target TG who has fallen asleep again after the indoor awakening device 24 operates according to the awakening induction information AWK1. This makes it possible to make the passenger aware of the presence of the protected target TG before the passenger gets off the vehicle VH in the boarding / alighting space PD, or immediately after the passenger gets off the vehicle VH. [Explanation of symbols]

[0023] 10... management server, 11... processor, 12... memory, 20... control system, 21... control device, 22... sensors, 23... running gear, 24... interior awakening device, TG... protected object, PK... parking lot, PD... boarding and disembarking space, PS... parking space, VH... vehicle, AWK... awakening induction information, BKG... usage reservation information, LOC... location information, PSS... passenger information

Claims

[Claim 1] 1. A method for managing automated valet parking in a parking lot, comprising: When a management device of the automated valet parking system receives information on a vehicle's planned entry into the parking lot, the management device acquires location information of the vehicle and passenger information of the vehicle; When the passenger information includes information of a person to be protected, the management device transmits awakening induction information to the vehicle based on the position information; When the vehicle receives the awakening induction information, the vehicle operates an interior awakening device of the vehicle based on the awakening induction information; Including, The transmission of the awakening induction information and the activation of the indoor awakening device are performed before the vehicle arrives at the boarding and disembarking space of the parking lot. A method for managing automated valet parking.

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