OPERATION MANAGEMENT DEVICE AND MaaS PROVIDING METHOD

Abstract

To improve measures to address a delay in an automatic driving vehicle.SOLUTION: An operation management device 10 comprises a control unit which: acquires, at a constant interval, plan data indicating an operation plan for operating automatic driving vehicles 30 on multiple routes; acquires performance data indicating operation performance including a time when an automatic driving vehicle on each route arrives at each stop defined for each route; when the control unit detects, as a delayed vehicle, an automatic driving vehicle, among the automatic driving vehicles 30 on the plural routes, whose delay from the time corresponding to the operation plan indicated by the acquired plan data at a time of arrival at any one stop included in the operation record indicated by the acquired performance data exceeds a threshold value, selects, as an influenced vehicle, an automatic driving vehicle of one or more routes for which an operation interval is to be adjusted from among the automatic driving vehicles 30 of the plural routes; calculates a standby time at a next stop to instruct the selected influenced vehicle based on the operation performance indicated by the performance data; and outputs time data indicating the calculated standby time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an operation management device and a MaaS providing method.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an operation management system that predicts the occurrence of an event on a road where an autonomous vehicle is operating and updates the recommended speed set for that road according to the prediction result.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the conventional operation management system, countermeasures against delays of autonomous vehicles are insufficient.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to improve countermeasures against delays of autonomous vehicles.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The operation management device according to the present disclosure is Obtain plan data indicating an operation plan for operating automated driving vehicles on multiple routes at regular intervals, obtain performance data indicating the operation performance including the arrival time of the automated driving vehicle on each route at each stop determined for each route, and among the automated driving vehicles on the multiple routes, if the delay from the time corresponding to the operation plan indicated by the obtained plan data to the arrival time at any stop included in the operation performance indicated by the obtained performance data exceeds a threshold, detect the automated driving vehicle as a delayed vehicle, select one or more automated driving vehicles whose operation intervals are to be adjusted as affected vehicles from among the automated driving vehicles on the multiple routes, calculate the waiting time at the next stop to be instructed to the selected affected vehicles based on the operation performance indicated by the performance data, and include a control unit that outputs time data indicating the calculated waiting time.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, countermeasures against delays in automated driving vehicles can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the description of each embodiment, the description of the same or corresponding parts will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0011] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0012] With reference to FIG. 1, the configuration of the system 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0013] The system 1 according to this embodiment includes an operation management device 10, an automatic driving control device 20, and automatic driving vehicles 30 on a plurality of routes. The operation management device 10 is communicably connected to the automatic driving control device 20. The automatic driving control device 20 can communicate with the automatic driving vehicles 30 on a plurality of routes via a network 50. The operation management device 10 may be communicable with the automatic driving control device 20 via the network 50.

[0014] The operation management device 10 is installed in a facility such as a data center. The operation management device 10 is a computer such as a server belonging to a cloud computing system or other computing system.

[0015] The automatic driving control device 20 is installed in a facility such as a data center. The automatic driving control device 20 is a computer such as a server belonging to a cloud computing system or other computing system.

[0016] The automated driving vehicles 30 on multiple routes are, for example, any type of vehicle such as a gasoline vehicle, a diesel vehicle, a hydrogen vehicle, an HEV, a PHEV, a BEV, or an FCEV. "HEV" is an abbreviation for hybrid electric vehicle. "PHEV" is an abbreviation for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. "BEV" is an abbreviation for battery electric vehicle. "FCEV" is an abbreviation for fuel cell electric vehicle. The automated driving vehicles 30 on multiple routes are AVs in this embodiment and are automated at an advanced level. "AV" is an abbreviation for autonomous vehicle. The level of automation is, for example, either level 3 or level 4 in the SAE level classification. "SAE" is the abbreviation of Society of Automotive Engineers. The automated driving vehicles 30 on multiple routes may also be vehicles dedicated to MaaS. "MaaS" is an abbreviation for Mobility as a Service.

[0017] The network 50 includes the Internet, at least one WAN, at least one MAN, or any combination thereof. "WAN" is an abbreviation for wide area network. "MAN" is an abbreviation for metropolitan area network. The network 50 may include at least one wireless network, at least one optical network, or any combination thereof. The wireless network is, for example, an ad hoc network, a cellular network, a wireless LAN, a satellite communication network, or a terrestrial microwave network. "LAN" is an abbreviation for local area network.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, the outline of this embodiment will be described.

[0019] The operation management device 10 acquires plan data indicating an operation plan for automatically operating vehicles 30 on a plurality of routes at regular intervals. The operation management device 10 acquires performance data indicating the operation performance including the arrival time of the automatically operating vehicle on each route at each stop determined for each route. When the operation management device 10 detects an automatically operating vehicle whose delay from the time corresponding to the operation plan indicated by the acquired plan data exceeds a threshold value at the arrival time at any stop included in the operation performance indicated by the acquired performance data among the automatically operating vehicles 30 on the plurality of routes as a delayed vehicle DeV, it selects one or more automatically operating vehicles for adjusting the operation interval from among the automatically operating vehicles 30 on the plurality of routes as affected vehicles AfV. The operation management device 10 calculates the waiting time at the next stop to instruct the selected affected vehicle AfV based on the operation performance indicated by the performance data. The operation management device 10 outputs time data indicating the calculated waiting time.

[0020] According to the present embodiment, the operation interval of the automatically operating vehicle can be adjusted according to the delay situation. Therefore, it is possible to improve the countermeasures against the delay of the automatically operating vehicle.

[0021] In the example of FIG. 3, among the multiple autonomous vehicles 30 on multiple routes, the autonomous vehicle VE belonging to one route stops at the station ST on that route. The autonomous vehicle VE includes the first autonomous vehicle V1, the second autonomous vehicle V2, and the third autonomous vehicle V3. The number of autonomous vehicles is three in the example of FIG. 3, but it may be two or four or more. The station ST includes the first station S1, the second station S2, and the third station S3. The number of stations is three in the example of FIG. 3, but it may be two or four or more. The number of stations may be more or less than the number of autonomous vehicles. The operation of the autonomous vehicle VE is planned such that the operation interval of each autonomous vehicle is 20 minutes. In the example of FIG. 3, at the first station S1, the operation is planned such that the first autonomous vehicle V1 arrives at 10:00, the second autonomous vehicle V2 arrives at 10:20, and the third autonomous vehicle V3 arrives at 10:40. At the second station S2, the operation is planned such that the first autonomous vehicle V1 arrives at 9:40, the second autonomous vehicle V2 arrives at 10:00, and the third autonomous vehicle V3 arrives at 10:20. That is, the first autonomous vehicle V1 is the leading vehicle, the second autonomous vehicle V2 is the subsequent vehicle, and the third autonomous vehicle V3 is the further subsequent vehicle. During operation, the arrival time may be advanced or delayed due to weather, road, or passenger conditions. When the autonomous vehicle VE arrives at the station ST, it transmits time data indicating the actual arrival time to the automatic driving control device 20.

[0022] In one example, the operation management device 10 may be used for providing MaaS, which is a service utilizing mobility.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, the configuration of the operation management device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0024] The operation management device 10 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a communication unit 13.

[0025] The control unit 11 includes at least one processor, at least one programmable circuit, at least one dedicated circuit, or any combination thereof. The processor is a general-purpose processor such as a CPU or GPU, or a dedicated processor specialized for specific processing. "CPU" is an abbreviation for central processing unit. "GPU" is an abbreviation for graphics processing unit. The programmable circuit is, for example, an FPGA. "FPGA" is an abbreviation for field-programmable gate array. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an ASIC. "ASIC" is an abbreviation for application specific integrated circuit. While controlling each part of the operation management device 10, the control unit 11 executes processes related to the operation of the operation management device 10.

[0026] The storage unit 12 includes at least one semiconductor memory, at least one magnetic memory, at least one optical memory, or any combination thereof. The semiconductor memory is, for example, a RAM or a ROM. "RAM" is an abbreviation for random access memory. "ROM" is an abbreviation for read only memory. The RAM is, for example, an SRAM or a DRAM. "SRAM" is an abbreviation for static random access memory. "DRAM" is an abbreviation for dynamic random access memory. The ROM is, for example, an EEPROM. "EEPROM" is an abbreviation for electrically erasable programmable read only memory. The storage unit 12 functions as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. Data used for the operation of the operation management device 10 and data obtained by the operation of the operation management device 10 are stored in the storage unit 12.

[0027] The communication unit 13 includes at least one communication interface. The communication interface is, for example, a LAN interface. The communication unit 13 receives data used for the operation of the operation management device 10 and transmits data obtained by the operation of the operation management device 10.

[0028] The functions of the operation management device 10 are realized by executing the operation management program according to the present embodiment with a processor as the control unit 11. That is, the functions of the operation management device 10 are realized by software. The operation management program causes a computer to execute the operation of the operation management device 10, thereby causing the computer to function as the operation management device 10. That is, the computer functions as the operation management device 10 by executing the operation of the operation management device 10 according to the operation management program.

[0029] The program can be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The non-transitory computer-readable medium is, for example, a flash memory, a magnetic recording device, an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, or a ROM. The distribution of the program is performed, for example, by selling, transferring, or lending a portable medium such as an SD card, a DVD, or a CD-ROM storing the program. "SD" is an abbreviation for Secure Digital. "DVD" is an abbreviation for digital versatile disc. "CD-ROM" is an abbreviation for compact disc read only memory. The program may be stored in the storage of a server and transferred from the server to another computer to distribute the program. The program may be provided as a program product.

[0030] A computer stores, for example, a program stored in a portable medium or a program transferred from a server in a main memory device once. Then, the computer reads the program stored in the main memory device with a processor and executes processing according to the read program with the processor. The computer may directly read a program from a portable medium and execute processing according to the program. The computer may sequentially execute processing according to the received program each time a program is transferred from a server to the computer. Processing may be executed by a so-called ASP type service that realizes functions only by execution instructions and result acquisition without transferring a program from a server to a computer. "ASP" is an abbreviation for application service provider. A program includes information for use in processing by an electronic computer and things conforming to the program. For example, data that is not a direct instruction to a computer but has a property that defines the processing of the computer corresponds to "things conforming to the program".

[0031] Some or all functions of the operation management device 10 may be realized by a programmable circuit or a dedicated circuit as the control unit 11. That is, some or all functions of the operation management device 10 may be realized by hardware.

[0032] With reference to FIG. 6, the operation of the operation management device 10 according to this embodiment will be described. This operation corresponds to the operation management method according to this embodiment.

[0033] In S101 of FIG. 6, the control unit 11 of the operation management device 10 acquires plan data. The plan data indicates an operation plan for operating a plurality of routes of autonomous vehicles 30 including the autonomous vehicle VE at regular intervals. For example, the plan data is registered by an operation management operator. In the example of FIG. 3, the operation plan includes the time when the autonomous vehicle VE arrives at the stop ST. S101 is performed only once before the start of operation of the autonomous vehicle VE, but may be performed once a day before the start time of operation of the autonomous vehicle VE.

[0034] In S102 of FIG. 6, the control unit 11 of the operation management device 10 acquires performance data. The performance data indicates the operation performance including the arrival times of the automated driving vehicles on each route, such as the automated driving vehicle VE, at each stop defined for each route, such as the stop ST. Specifically, the communication unit 13 of the operation management device 10 receives the performance data received by the automated driving control device 20 from a plurality of automated driving vehicles 30 on multiple routes from the automated driving control device 20. The control unit 11 acquires the performance data received by the communication unit 13. In the example of FIG. 3, the operation performance includes the arrival time of the automated driving vehicle VE at the stop ST. The processing after S102 is performed once every 10 minutes, but it may be performed once a minute or at any other arbitrary interval.

[0035] In S103 of FIG. 6, the control unit 11 of the operation management device 10 detects, as a delayed vehicle DeV, an automated driving vehicle among the automated driving vehicles VE in which the delay from the time corresponding to the operation plan indicated by the planned data acquired in S101 exceeds the threshold value at the time of arrival at any of the stops included in the operation results indicated by the performance data acquired in S102. The threshold value is, for example, 5 minutes. Specifically, the control unit 11 calculates the delay by subtracting the time corresponding to the operation plan from the time when each vehicle of the automated driving vehicle VE arrives at any of the stops. The control unit 11 detects, as a delayed vehicle DeV, an automated driving vehicle in which the calculated delay exceeds the threshold value. In the example of FIG. 3, according to the operation plan, the first automated driving vehicle V1 should arrive at the first stop S1 at 10:00. In terms of the operation results, the time when the first automated driving vehicle V1 arrives at the first stop S1 is 10:10, which is 10 minutes later than the operation plan. The second automated driving vehicle V2 arrives at the second stop S2 at 9:50 and is in a position immediately before arriving at the first stop S1 at 10:10. The third automated driving vehicle V3 arrives at the third stop S3 at 10:00 and is on the way to the second stop S2 at 10:10. The control unit 11 calculates the delay of the first automated driving vehicle V1 as +10 minutes at 10:10. The control unit 11 calculates the delay of the second automated driving vehicle V2 as -10 minutes. The control unit 11 calculates the delay of the third automated driving vehicle V3 as 0 minutes. The control unit 11 detects the first automated driving vehicle V1, whose delay exceeds 5 minutes, as a delayed vehicle DeV. The control unit 11 repeats the processes of S102 and S103 until a delayed vehicle DeV is detected.

[0036] In S104 of FIG. 6, the control unit 11 of the operation management device 10 selects, as an affected vehicle AfV, an automated driving vehicle among the automated driving vehicles VE whose operation interval is to be adjusted. As a method for selecting the affected vehicle AfV, any method can be adopted. In the example of FIG. 3, the second automated driving vehicle V2 and the third automated driving vehicle V3 are candidates for the affected vehicle AfV.

[0037] As a first method, the control unit 11 selects all other automated driving vehicles on the route to which the delayed vehicle DeV belongs as affected vehicles AfV. In the example of FIG. 3, the control unit 11 selects the second automated driving vehicle V2 and the third automated driving vehicle V3 as affected vehicles AfV.

[0038] As a second method, the control unit 11 determines which of the other automated driving vehicles on the route to which the delayed vehicle DeV belongs are to be selected as affected vehicles AfV based on the magnitude of the delay calculated in S103. For example, when the delay calculated in S103 is more than 5 minutes and within 10 minutes, the control unit 11 selects only one following vehicle of the delayed vehicle DeV as the affected vehicle AfV. When the delay calculated in S103 is more than 10 minutes, the control unit 11 selects all other automated driving vehicles on the route to which the delayed vehicle DeV belongs as affected vehicles AfV. In the example of FIG. 3, since the delay of the first automated driving vehicle V1 calculated in S103 is +10 minutes, the control unit 11 selects only the second automated driving vehicle V2 following the first automated driving vehicle V1 as the affected vehicle AfV.

[0039] As a third method, the control unit 11 determines which of the other automated driving vehicles on the route to which the delayed vehicle DeV belongs is to be selected as the affected vehicle AfV based on the magnitude of the difference between the actual running interval and the desired interval. Specifically, the control unit 11 calculates the running interval of the automated driving vehicle VE on the route to which the delayed vehicle DeV belongs from the running record. The control unit 11 calculates the difference between the calculated running interval and the desired interval. The control unit 11 selects, as the affected vehicle AfV, an automated driving vehicle whose calculated difference is greater than the desired interval. For example, the control unit 11 selects, as the affected vehicle AfV, an automated driving vehicle whose running interval deviates by more than 5 minutes from the desired interval of 20 minutes, that is, an automated driving vehicle whose running interval is less than 15 minutes or more than 25 minutes. In the example of FIG. 3, at the time of 10:10, the control unit 11 calculates the running interval H12 between the first automated driving vehicle V1 and the second automated driving vehicle V2 as the desired interval (20 minutes)+delay of the second automated driving vehicle V2 (-10 minutes)-delay of the first automated driving vehicle V1 (+10 minutes)=0 minutes. The difference between the running interval H12 and the desired interval is 20 minutes. The control unit 11 calculates the running interval H23 between the third automated driving vehicle V3 and the second automated driving vehicle V2 as the desired interval (20 minutes)+delay of the third automated driving vehicle V3 (+0 minutes)-delay of the second automated driving vehicle V2 (-10 minutes)=30 minutes. The difference between the running interval H23 and the desired interval is 10 minutes. Therefore, the control unit 11 selects the second automated driving vehicle V2 and the third automated driving vehicle V3 as the affected vehicles AfV.

[0040] In S105 of FIG. 6, the control unit 11 of the operation management device 10 calculates the waiting time at the next stop to be instructed to the affected vehicle AfV selected in S104 based on the operation results indicated by the performance data acquired in S102. In the example of FIG. 3, when the first method is adopted, the control unit 11 calculates the waiting time at the first stop S1 of the second automated vehicle V2, which is the selected affected vehicle AfV, and the waiting time at the second stop S2 of the third automated vehicle V3. When the second method is adopted, the control unit 11 calculates the waiting time at the first stop S1 of the second automated vehicle V2, which is the affected vehicle AfV. When the third method is adopted, it is the same as the first method. Any method can be adopted as the method for calculating the waiting time. For example, the control unit 11 calculates the time required to make the operation interval in the operation results the same as the operation interval in the operation plan as the waiting time. In the example of FIG. 3, when the first method is adopted, the control unit 11 calculates the waiting time at the first stop S1 of the second automated vehicle V2 to be 20 minutes so that the operation interval between the first automated vehicle V1, which is the delayed vehicle DeV, and the second automated vehicle V2, which is the affected vehicle AfV, is changed from 0 minutes to 20 minutes. The control unit 11 calculates the waiting time at the second stop S2 of the third automated vehicle V3 to be 10 minutes so that the operation interval between the second automated vehicle V2, which is the affected vehicle AfV, and the third automated vehicle V3, which is the affected vehicle AfV, is changed from 30 minutes to 20 minutes. When the second method is adopted, the control unit 11 calculates only the waiting time at the first stop S1 of the second automated vehicle V2 to be 20 minutes. When the third method is adopted, it is the same as the first method.

[0041] In S106 of FIG. 6, the control unit 11 of the operation management device 10 outputs time data indicating the waiting time calculated in S105. Specifically, the control unit 11 causes the communication unit 13 to transmit the time data. The communication unit 13 transmits the time data to the automatic driving control device 20. The automatic driving control device 20 receives the time data from the operation management device 10. The automatic driving control device 20 transmits the received time data to the affected vehicle AfV. The affected vehicle AfV receives the time data from the automatic driving control device 20. The affected vehicle AfV waits at the next stop according to the waiting time indicated by the received time data. In the example of FIG. 3, when the first method is adopted, starting from 10:10, the second automatic driving vehicle V2, which is the affected vehicle AfV, waits at the first stop S1, the next stop, for 20 minutes. The third automatic driving vehicle V3, which is the affected vehicle AfV, waits at the second stop S2, the next stop, for 10 minutes. When the second method is adopted, the second automatic driving vehicle V2, which is the affected vehicle AfV, waits at the first stop S1, the next stop, for 20 minutes. When the third method is adopted, it is the same as the first method. In this way, since the delay information of some of the automatic driving vehicles is shared with other automatic driving vehicles, the overall operation can be leveled. As a result, it is possible to level the congestion such as the concentration of passengers in some of the automatic driving vehicles.

[0042] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation status of the second automatic driving vehicle V2 and the third automatic driving vehicle V3 at 10:20 when the first method is adopted. At 10:20, the second automatic driving vehicle V2, which is the affected vehicle AfV, is at the point where 10 minutes have elapsed since it started waiting at the first stop S1. The departure time of the second automatic driving vehicle V2 is 10:30 after waiting for another 10 minutes. The third automatic driving vehicle V3, which is the affected vehicle AfV, has arrived at the second stop S2. The departure time of the third automatic driving vehicle V3 is 10:30 after waiting for 10 minutes.

[0043] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the running states of the second and third automated driving vehicles V2 and V3 at 10:30 when the first method is adopted. At 10:30, the second automated driving vehicle V2, which is the affected vehicle AfV, has just left the first stop S1. The third automated driving vehicle V3, which is the affected vehicle AfV, has just left the second stop S2.

[0044] After S106, the control unit 11 performs the process of S102. After S106, the control unit 11 may change the operation plan indicated by the operation plan data acquired in S101 and then perform the process of S102. That is, the control unit 11 may reflect the waiting time calculated in S105 in the operation plan, and detect the delayed vehicle DeV in S103 using the operation plan reflecting the waiting time.

[0045] In S106, when the control unit 11 outputs time data, it may further output instruction data for instructing the affected vehicle AfV to notify passengers in the affected vehicle AfV or vehicles around the affected vehicle AfV that the running interval is being adjusted. Specifically, the control unit 11 may cause the communication unit 13 to transmit the instruction data. In such a modification, the communication unit 13 transmits the instruction data to the automatic driving control device 20. The automatic driving control device 20 receives the instruction data from the operation management device 10. The automatic driving control device 20 transmits the received instruction data to the affected vehicle AfV. The affected vehicle AfV receives the instruction data from the automatic driving control device 20. The affected vehicle AfV notifies passengers in the affected vehicle AfV or vehicles around the affected vehicle AfV that the running interval is being adjusted according to the received instruction data. In the examples of FIGS. 3 and 4, when the first method is adopted, at 10:10, when the second automatic driving vehicle V2, which is the affected vehicle AfV, starts waiting at the first stop S1, which is the next stop, it starts outputting messages such as "Running interval is being adjusted", "Departure at 10:30", or "Please wait for 20 minutes" on the signage inside and outside the vehicle. The second automatic driving vehicle V2 may also output a similar message as voice inside the vehicle. The third automatic driving vehicle V3, which is the affected vehicle AfV, does not output a notification at this time. At 10:20, the second automatic driving vehicle V2 is outputting messages such as "Running interval is being adjusted", "Departure at 10:30", or "Please wait for 10 minutes" on the signage inside and outside the vehicle. When the third automatic driving vehicle V3 starts waiting at the second stop S2, which is the next stop, it starts outputting messages such as "Running interval is being adjusted", "Departure at 10:30", or "Please wait for 10 minutes" on the signage inside and outside the vehicle. At 10:30, the second automatic driving vehicle V2 and the third automatic driving vehicle V3 end the output of the messages. When the second method is adopted, only the second automatic driving vehicle V2 outputs the message. When the third method is adopted, it is the same as the first method. By automating the notification in this way, compared with the case where the crew of the automatic driving vehicle manually performs the notification, the burden on the crew can be reduced and accurate guidance can be provided.It is possible to automatically notify not only inside the vehicle but also outside the vehicle, share with passengers and surrounding autonomous vehicles that the operation interval is being adjusted, and make the situation visible.

[0046] The automatic driving control device 20 may be integrated with the operation management device 10. In this case, the control unit 11 of the operation management device 10 may acquire the performance data by receiving the performance data from the autonomous vehicles 30 on a plurality of lines through the communication unit 13 in S102. The control unit 11 may output the time data and the instruction data by transmitting the time data and the instruction data to the affected vehicle AfV through the communication unit 13 in S106.

[0047] In one example, the above processing procedure may be executed when providing a service (MaaS) using autonomous vehicles 30 on a plurality of lines. In this case, the information processing method according to the above processing procedure is an example of a method for providing a service (MaaS) using autonomous vehicles 30 on a plurality of lines.

[0048] As described above, in the present embodiment, the control unit 11 of the operation management device 10 acquires the plan data indicating the operation plan for operating the autonomous vehicles 30 on a plurality of lines at regular intervals. The control unit 11 of the operation management device 10 acquires the performance data indicating the operation performance including the arrival time at each stop determined for each line by the autonomous vehicle on each line. When the control unit 11 of the operation management device 10 detects an autonomous vehicle whose delay from the time corresponding to the operation plan indicated by the acquired plan data exceeds the threshold at the arrival time at any stop included in the operation performance indicated by the acquired performance data as the delayed vehicle DeV among the autonomous vehicles 30 on a plurality of lines, it selects one or more autonomous vehicles for adjusting the operation interval from among the autonomous vehicles 30 on a plurality of lines as the affected vehicle AfV. The control unit 11 of the operation management device 10 calculates the waiting time at the next stop to instruct the selected affected vehicle AfV based on the operation performance indicated by the performance data. The control unit 11 of the operation management device 10 outputs the time data indicating the calculated waiting time.

[0049] According to this embodiment, the running interval of the autonomous vehicle can be adjusted according to the delay situation. Therefore, the countermeasures against the delay of the autonomous vehicle can be improved.

[0050] In this embodiment, the affected vehicle AfV is selected from the route to which the delayed vehicle DeV belongs, but the affected vehicle AfV may also be selected from other routes to which the delayed vehicle DeV does not belong. When also selecting autonomous vehicles on other routes as the affected vehicle AfV, it may be manually set which route to select as the target, that is, which route to consider as the transfer target. By also cooperating with autonomous vehicles on other routes, the transfer time and waiting time of passengers can be optimized.

[0051] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, two or more blocks described in the block diagram may be integrated, or one block may be divided. Instead of executing two or more steps described in the flowchart in time series according to the description, each step may be executed in parallel or in a different order according to the processing capacity of the device that executes the steps, or as necessary. Other changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0052] 1 System 10 Operation Management Device 11 Control Unit 12 Storage Unit 13 Communication Unit 20 Autonomous Driving Control Device 30 Autonomous Vehicles on Multiple Routes 40 Bus Stop 50 Network

Claims

1. Obtain plan data indicating an operation plan for operating automated driving vehicles on a plurality of routes at regular intervals, obtain performance data indicating the operation performance including the arrival times of the automated driving vehicles on each route at each stop determined for each route, and among the automated driving vehicles on the plurality of routes, if the delay from the time corresponding to the operation plan indicated by the obtained plan data exceeds a threshold for the arrival time at any stop included in the operation performance indicated by the obtained performance data for an automated driving vehicle, detect the automated driving vehicle as a delayed vehicle, select one or more automated driving vehicles on one or more routes whose operation intervals are to be adjusted as affected vehicles from among the automated driving vehicles on the plurality of routes, calculate the waiting time at the next stop to be instructed to the selected affected vehicles based on the operation performance indicated by the performance data, and output time data indicating the calculated waiting time. An operation management device comprising a control unit.

2. The operation management device according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit detects the delayed vehicle, the control unit selects all other automated driving vehicles on the route to which the delayed vehicle belongs as the affected vehicles.

3. The operation management device according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit detects the delayed vehicle, the control unit determines which other automated driving vehicles on the route to which the delayed vehicle belongs are to be selected as the affected vehicles based on the magnitude of the delay.

4. The operation management device according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit detects the delayed vehicle, the control unit determines which other automated driving vehicles on the route to which the delayed vehicle belongs are to be selected as the affected vehicles based on the magnitude of the difference between the operation interval and a desired interval.

5. The operation management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when outputting the time data, the control unit further outputs instruction data for instructing the affected vehicles to notify passengers in the affected vehicles or vehicles around the affected vehicles that the operation interval is being adjusted.

6. A Maas (Mobility as a Service) provision method using the operation management device according to claim 1.

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