Vehicle control device

Abstract

To suppress re-forming of a column of vehicles in a state where a non-contact power supply lane exclusive for non-contact power supply prevails.SOLUTION: A vehicle control device controls a vehicle in a non-contact power supply system constituted to supply by noncontact, to a vehicle mounting a vehicle side power receiving device from a road side power supply device. The device performs: determining whether an object vehicle corresponds or does not correspond to the non-contact power supply system; acquiring peripheral information in traveling of the object vehicle; determining whether a vehicle in the periphery of the object vehicle is the vehicle corresponding or not corresponding to during-travel non-contact power supply based on the peripheral information; outputting information to allow the object vehicle to travel in a column with the other vehicle corresponding to the during-travel non-contact power supply among the vehicles in the periphery of the object vehicle when the object vehicle is the corresponding vehicle; and outputting information to allow the object vehicle to travel in a column with the vehicle not corresponding to the during-travel non-contact power supply among the vehicles in the periphery of the object vehicle when the object vehicle is the vehicle not corresponding to the during-travel non-contact power supply.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle control device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a configuration including a device information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding an external information acquisition device from each vehicle traveling in a platoon, a ranking unit that assigns a higher rank to each external information acquisition device in order of its excellent characteristics for acquiring information outside the vehicle, and a determination unit that determines, based on the rank assigned to each external information acquisition device, a vehicle having a higher ranked external information acquisition device as a suitable vehicle for at least one of the leading or trailing vehicles in the platoon. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-10586 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a situation where contactless power supply lanes dedicated to contactless power supply have become widespread, assuming that platooning is possible, if a platoon is formed with a mixture of vehicles that are contactless power supply compatible and vehicles that are not contactless power supply compatible, when the vehicles encounter a contactless power supply lane, the already combined platoon will need to be broken up and re-formed.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and its purpose is to provide a vehicle control device that can suppress rearrangements of vehicle platoons in a situation where contactless power supply lanes that are dedicated to contactless power supply are widespread. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A vehicle control device according to the present disclosure is a vehicle control device that includes a control unit that controls a vehicle in an in-motion contactless power supply system configured to enable contactless supply of power from a road-side power supply device to a moving vehicle equipped with a vehicle-side power receiving device, and the control unit determines whether a target vehicle is a vehicle that is compatible with in-motion contactless power supply in the in-motion contactless power supply system or a vehicle that is not compatible, acquires information about the surroundings while the target vehicle is traveling, and determines based on the information about the surroundings whether vehicles around the target vehicle are vehicles that are compatible with in-motion contactless power supply or not, and if the target vehicle is a vehicle that is compatible with in-motion contactless power supply, outputs information to cause the target vehicle to travel in a platoon with other vehicles around the target vehicle that are compatible with in-motion contactless power supply, and if the target vehicle is a vehicle that is not compatible with in-motion contactless power supply, outputs information to cause the target vehicle to travel in a platoon with vehicles around the target vehicle that are not compatible with in-motion contactless power supply. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, in a situation where contactless power supply lanes dedicated to contactless power supply are widespread, it is possible to suppress rearrangements of vehicle platoons. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a vehicle control system including a wireless power transmission system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle that realizes a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of detecting candidate vehicles in platooning in a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of a vehicle control method executed by the vehicle control device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a wireless power transfer system for when a vehicle is moving according to the present disclosure will be described. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described below. First, a wireless power transfer system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be specifically described.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a wireless power transfer system in an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the wireless power transfer system 1 includes a supply facility 2 and a vehicle 3. The wireless power transfer system 1 is a non-contact power supply system for supplying power from the supply facility 2 to the vehicle 3 while the vehicle is moving. The supply facility 2 is a facility for supplying power in a non-contact manner to the vehicle 3 while the vehicle is moving. The vehicle 3 is an electrically-driven vehicle that can be charged with power supplied from an external power source, such as a battery electric vehicle (BEV) or a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV). The vehicle 3 may be a manually-driven vehicle or an autonomous vehicle.

[0011] Moreover, the wireless power transmission system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a vehicle control system including a vehicle control device. The vehicle control system has a vehicle 3 and a server 30. The vehicle 3 and the server 30 each have a communication function and are configured to be able to communicate with each other through a network 40. The network 40 is configured by a WAN (Wide Area Network), which is a public communication network such as the Internet, a telephone communication network for mobile phones, or the like.

[0012] The wireless power transmission system 1 transmits wireless power from a supply facility 2 to a vehicle 3 by magnetic field resonant coupling (magnetic resonance). The wireless power transmission system 1 transmits power from the supply facility 2 to the vehicle 3 traveling on a road 4 in a non-contact manner. That is, the wireless power transmission system 1 transmits power by a magnetic field resonant method, and realizes power supply to the vehicle 3 while traveling by using magnetic field resonant coupling (magnetic field resonance). The wireless power transmission system 1 can be expressed as a dynamic wireless power transmission (D-WPT) system or a magnetic field dynamic wireless power transmission (MF-D-WPT) system. The supply facility 2 includes a supply device 5 and an AC power source 6 that supplies power to the supply device 5. The supply device 5 transmits the power supplied from the AC power source 6 to the vehicle 3 in a non-contact manner. The AC power source 6 is, for example, a commercial power source. The supply device 5 includes a power transmission device 10 having a primary coil 11.

[0013] The supply device 5 as a road-side power supply device includes a segment 7 including a primary coil 11 and a management device 8 that manages the segment 7. The segment 7 is embedded in a lane of the road 4. The management device 8 is installed on the side of the road 4. The segment 7 is electrically connected to the management device 8. The management device 8 is electrically connected to an AC power source 6 and supplies power from the AC power source 6 to the segment 7. The segment 7 is electrically connected to the AC power source 6 via the management device 8. A plurality of the segments 7 can be arranged along the lane of the road 4. For example, the supply device 5 includes three segments 7 installed side by side along the lane in the road 4 and one management device 8 to which the three segments 7 are connected. The segment 7 has a function of contactlessly transmitting power from the supply device 5 to the vehicle 3. The management device 8 has a function of controlling wireless power transmission in the segment 7.

[0014] The vehicle 3 includes a power receiving device 20 having a secondary coil 21. The power receiving device 20, which is a part of a vehicle-side power receiving device, is provided on the bottom of the vehicle body of the vehicle 3. When the vehicle 3 runs on a road 4 on which a primary coil 11 is installed, the primary coil 11 on the ground side and the secondary coil 21 on the vehicle side face each other in the vertical direction. The wireless power transmission system 1 transmits power contactlessly from the primary coil 11 of the power transmitting device 10 to the secondary coil 21 of the power receiving device 20 while the vehicle 3 is running on the road 4.

[0015] In this embodiment, "driving" refers to a state in which the vehicle 3 is located on the road 4 in order to drive. "driving" also includes a state in which the vehicle 3 is temporarily stopped on the road 4. For example, a state in which the vehicle 3 is stopped on the road 4 while waiting for a traffic light or the like is also included in "driving."

[0016] Further, a lane in which the primary coil 11 (segments 7) is embedded may be referred to as a DWPT lane, and a section of the road 4 where wireless power transmission by the supply device 5 is possible may be referred to as a DWPT charging site. In the DWPT lane and the DWPT charging site, multiple primary coils 11 (multiple segments 7) are installed side by side in the traveling direction of the vehicle 3 over a predetermined section of the road 4.

[0017] In the wireless power transmission system 1, the vehicle 3 can communicate with the server 30, and the supply device 5 can communicate with the server 30. The server 30 is connected to a network 40, and can communicate with a plurality of vehicles 3 and a plurality of supply devices 5 via the network 40.

[0018] The vehicle 3 connects to the network 40 through wide-area wireless communication using the communication unit 32. The vehicle 3 transmits information to the server 30 and receives information from the server 30. The supplying device 5 connects to the network 40 through wide-area wireless communication using the first communication device 12. The supplying device 5 transmits information to the server 30 and receives information from the server 30.

[0019] When the wireless power transmission system 1 configured in this way is widespread, in the case of in-motion power supply, vehicle information of a vehicle driven by power supply from a rechargeable battery and platoon information related to a platoon of vehicles from an external source are transmitted to a power transmitting device, and the vehicles are caused to travel based on the vehicle information and the platoon information. In this case, there is a possibility that vehicles compatible with in-motion power supply (hereinafter, DWPT-compatible vehicles) and vehicles not compatible with in-motion power supply (hereinafter, DWPT-incompatible vehicles) are mixed. If there is a platoon in which DWPT-compatible vehicles and DWPT-incompatible vehicles are mixed, it is necessary to rearrange the platoon.

[0020] Specifically, the premise is that vehicles are currently traveling on roads that only have general lanes, but a road that provides in-motion power supply (hereinafter referred to as a DWPT lane) appears several kilometers ahead, or that DWPT-incompatible vehicles are prohibited from entering DWPT lanes, etc. In this situation, when vehicles that are DWPT-compatible and DWPT-incompatible are traveling in a platoon together, it is necessary to perform processing for the platoon that supports contactless power supply.

[0021] More specifically, when there is a so-called general vehicle entry prohibition rule that prohibits DWPT non-compatible vehicles from entering the DWPT lane, only DWPT compatible vehicles can travel in the DWPT lane, so it is necessary to remove the DWPT non-compatible vehicles from the platoon, that is, to rearrange the platoon. Even if there is no entry prohibition rule in the DWPT lane, there is a problem that it leads to a loss of opportunities for power supply when the DWPT lane is particularly congested and many DWPT non-compatible vehicles are present in the DWPT lane. That is, when a platoon in which DWPT compatible vehicles and DWPT non-compatible vehicles are about to pass through the DWPT lane or has passed through it, the need to rearrange the platoon increases, and it is necessary to adjust the DWPT non-compatible vehicles to travel in the general lane and not to travel in the DWPT lane. Therefore, the present disclosure has conducted various studies in order to suppress rearrangement of the vehicle platoon, and has come up with a vehicle control device according to an embodiment.

[0022] (Vehicle control device) The vehicle control device controls platooning for the vehicle 3 (also referred to as the vehicle itself). The vehicle control device is realized, for example, by the functions of the vehicle 3. Furthermore, "platooning" refers to driving behind another vehicle ahead of the vehicle in order to reduce fuel consumption and power consumption, for example. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle that realizes the vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle 3 includes a control unit 31, a communication unit 32, a memory unit 33, a sensor group 34, and a display unit 35.

[0023] Specifically, the control unit 31 is an electronic control unit (ECU) whose main components are a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and executes various programs. The control unit 31 executes the various programs to comprehensively control the operation of various components mounted on the vehicle 3. In addition, the control unit 31 functions as a DWPT vehicle detection unit 311 and a platooning determination unit 312 through the execution of the various programs.

[0024] The DWPT vehicle detection unit 311 detects a DWPT-compatible vehicle that supports contactless charging and a DWPT-incompatible vehicle that does not support contactless charging in order to select a vehicle to follow when traveling in a convoy. The DWPT vehicle detection unit 311 acquires information from the sensor group 34, for example, information on an image in front of the vehicle 3, information on the measurement results by each sensor, and information by communication with other vehicles by the communication unit 32. The DWPT vehicle detection unit 311 performs image processing and analysis of various information based on the acquired information, thereby detecting whether the vehicle 3 traveling in front of the vehicle 3 is a DWPT-compatible vehicle 3A or a DWPT-incompatible vehicle 3B, for example, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0025] The platooning determination unit 312 acquires information about the surroundings of the vehicle and performs a determination regarding platooning based on the acquired information about the surroundings. Here, the "information about the surroundings of the vehicle" includes information acquired from the server 30 via the network 40, as well as information detected by the vehicle 3 itself, such as sensor data detected by the sensor group 34, and information acquired by communication from the other vehicles 3A and 3B. The platooning determination unit 312 displays the determination result on the display unit 35. The platooning determination unit 312 performs a determination process at a predetermined cycle. The platooning determination unit 312 can also control the vehicle 3 to follow the predetermined vehicles 3A and 3B based on the determination result. The platooning determination unit 312 performs different determination processes depending on whether the vehicle 3 is a DWPT-compatible vehicle or not.

[0026] (1) If your vehicle is DWPT-compatible In this case, the platooning determination unit 312 determines whether the host vehicle 3, which is a target vehicle, should follow the DWPT-compatible vehicle 3A when transitioning to platooning. For example, when the DWPT-compatible vehicle 3A (see FIG. 3) is detected by the DWPT vehicle detection unit 311, the platooning determination unit 312 determines whether the host vehicle 3 should follow the DWPT-compatible vehicle 3A and transition to platooning. In this case, the platooning determination unit 312 displays a message such as "Please follow the vehicle on the right in front of you" on the display unit 35. Here, if the transition to following the vehicle is approved by the user, the platooning determination unit 312 transitions to a mode in which the host vehicle 3 follows the DWPT-compatible vehicle 3A and travels in platooning. It is also possible to omit approval by the user. In this case, when the platooning determination unit 312 determines that the vehicle 3 should transition to platooning, it automatically transitions the vehicle 3 to platooning with the DWPT-compatible vehicle 3A without displaying a message or the like on the display unit 35.

[0027] (2) If your vehicle is not DWPT compatible In this case, the platooning determination unit 312 determines whether to make the host vehicle 3 follow the DWPT non-compatible vehicle 3B when the host vehicle 3 is about to transition to platooning. For example, when the DWPT vehicle detection unit 311 detects the DWPT non-compatible vehicle 3B (see FIG. 3), the platooning determination unit 312 determines whether to make the host vehicle 3 transition to platooning by making the host vehicle 3 follow the DWPT non-compatible vehicle 3B. In this case, the platooning determination unit 312 displays a message such as "Please follow the vehicle on the left in front of you" on the display unit 35. Here, if the transition to following the vehicle is approved by the user, the platooning determination unit 312 transitions to a mode in which the host vehicle 3 follows the DWPT non-compatible vehicle 3B and travels in platooning. It is also possible to omit approval by the user. In this case, when the platooning determination unit 312 determines that the vehicle 3 should transition to platooning, it may automatically transition the vehicle 3 to platooning with the non-DWPT compatible vehicle 3B without displaying a message or the like on the display unit 35.

[0028] The communication unit 32 is composed of, for example, a DCM (Data Communication Module) or the like. The communication unit 32 is connected to a wired or wireless network 40 and communicates with the server 30 to acquire information about the surroundings of the vehicle. The storage unit 33 is composed of recording media such as an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), and a removable medium. Examples of the removable medium include a disk recording medium such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory, a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), and a Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc (BD). The storage unit 33 can store an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, various databases, and the like. The storage unit 33 stores, as necessary, information about the surroundings of the vehicle acquired from the server 30, sensor data detected by the sensor group 34, and information acquired from other vehicles 3A, 3B, and the like.

[0029] The sensor group 34 is configured to be able to detect the DWPT-compatible vehicles 3A and the DWPT-incompatible vehicles 3B traveling in a platoon. Examples of the sensor group 34 include a camera, a millimeter wave sensor, an infrared sensor, a laser sensor, and a 3D-LiDAR. The sensor group 34 may also include a GPS sensor that detects the position of the vehicle, an acceleration sensor that detects acceleration, a vehicle speed sensor that detects the vehicle speed, and the like.

[0030] The display unit 35 is for outputting predetermined information to a user (e.g., a driver, etc.) of the vehicle 3. The display unit 35 is provided in a position inside the vehicle cabin where the user can see it. The display unit 35 is realized by a car navigation device, a multi-information display, a head-up display, etc. The display unit 35 may also be realized by, for example, a portable information terminal carried by the user (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet terminal, etc.). In addition to the information output function, the display unit 35 may also have an input function such as a microphone, a touch panel, etc., that can input instructions from the user.

[0031] Furthermore, the display unit 35 displays, for example, information regarding the DWPT-compatible vehicle 3A and the DWPT-non-compatible vehicle 3B detected by the DWPT vehicle detection unit 311 (for example, images, positions, and vehicle-related information regarding the DWPT-compatible vehicle 3A and the DWPT-non-compatible vehicle 3B), the determination results determined by the platooning determination unit 312 as to which vehicle the host vehicle 3 should follow and transition to platooning, and the like.

[0032] (Vehicle control method) Next, an example of a vehicle control method executed by the vehicle control device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of the vehicle control method executed by the vehicle control device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Note that the processing described below is executed at a predetermined control period.

[0033] First, as shown in Fig. 4, the platooning determination unit 312 acquires information about the surroundings of the vehicle from the server 30 (step ST1). At this stage, the DWPT vehicle detection unit 311 detects whether each vehicle 3 traveling in the surroundings is a DWPT-compatible vehicle or a DWPT-incompatible vehicle. The vehicle information based on the detection result is stored in the storage unit 33.

[0034] Next, the DWPT vehicle detection unit 311 reads out vehicle information of the vehicle 3 from the storage unit 33, and determines whether the vehicle 3 is a DWPT-compatible vehicle (step ST2). Note that step ST2 can be omitted, and in this case, it is determined in advance for each vehicle 3 whether to proceed to the process of steps ST3 and ST5 described below.

[0035] If it is determined that the vehicle 3 is a DWPT-compatible vehicle (step S2: Yes), the platooning determination unit 312 selects the DWPT-compatible vehicle 3A as the vehicle to be followed (hereinafter, the platooned vehicle) (step ST3). Next, the platooning determination unit 312 displays the determination result in step ST3 on the display unit 35 and notifies the user to follow the DWPT-compatible vehicle 3A. Note that the vehicle 3 may be automatically controlled to follow the DWPT-compatible vehicle 3A (step ST4). This completes the vehicle control process according to this embodiment.

[0036] On the other hand, in step ST2, if the DWPT vehicle detection unit 311 determines that the vehicle 3 is a DWPT incompatible vehicle (step S2: No), the platooning determination unit 312 selects the DWPT incompatible vehicle 3B as the platooned vehicle (step ST5). Next, the platooning determination unit 312 displays the determination result in step ST5 on the display unit 35 and notifies the user to follow the DWPT incompatible vehicle 3B. Note that the vehicle 3 may be controlled to travel so as to follow the DWPT incompatible vehicle 3B (step ST6). This ends the vehicle control process according to this embodiment.

[0037] In the vehicle control device according to the embodiment described above, it is possible to determine which of the surrounding vehicles to platoon with, based on information on whether the host vehicle 3 and the vehicles traveling around the host vehicle 3 are DWPT-compatible vehicles or DWPT-incompatible vehicles. That is, the vehicle 3 equipped with the vehicle control device can determine whether the host vehicle 3 and the vehicles traveling around the host vehicle 3 are DWPT-compatible vehicles or DWPT-incompatible vehicles, and can suggest to the user which vehicle to follow and platoon with. Then, the user can recognize which vehicle to follow and platoon with based on the suggestion.

[0038] In the description of the flowcharts in this specification, the order of processing between steps is clearly indicated using expressions such as "first," "then," and "continue," but the order of processing required to implement this embodiment is not uniquely determined by these expressions. In other words, the order of processing in the flowcharts described in this specification can be changed as long as there is no contradiction.

[0039] Further advantages and modifications can be readily derived by those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Thus, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. For example, the vehicle control device provided in the vehicle 3 can be mounted on other hardware, such as the server 30, capable of communicating with the vehicle 3 through the network 40. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1. Wireless power transfer system 2 Supply equipment 3. Vehicle (own vehicle) 3A vehicle (DWPT compatible vehicle) 3B Vehicles (Non-DWPT compatible vehicles) 4 road 5 Feeding device 6 AC power supply 7 Segments 8 Management device 10 Power transmission equipment 11 Primary coil 12 First communication device 20 Power receiving device 21 Secondary coil 30 Servers 31 Control Unit 32 Communications Department 33 Storage section 34 Sensors 35 Display section 40 Network 311 DWPT Vehicle Detection Unit 312 Platooning Judgment Unit

Claims

[Claim 1] A vehicle control device including a control unit that controls a vehicle equipped with a vehicle-side power receiving device in a traveling wireless power supply system configured to be able to supply power from a road-side power supply device in a wireless manner to the vehicle, The control unit is determining whether a target vehicle is a vehicle compatible with in-motion contactless power supply in the in-motion contactless power supply system or a vehicle that is not compatible; Obtaining surrounding information while the target vehicle is traveling, and determining whether the vehicles around the target vehicle are compatible with wireless power supply during traveling or not based on the surrounding information; When the target vehicle is a vehicle compatible with in-motion wireless power supply, outputting information to cause the target vehicle to travel in a platoon with other vehicles compatible with in-motion wireless power supply among vehicles surrounding the target vehicle; When the target vehicle is a vehicle that is not compatible with in-motion contactless power supply, information is output so as to make the target vehicle travel in a platoon with surrounding vehicles that are not compatible with in-motion contactless power supply. Vehicle control device.

Images