Vehicle dispatch management device and vehicle dispatch management method

Abstract

To support traveling of a specific vehicle by using a vehicle used for vehicle dispatch services.SOLUTION: Provided is a vehicle dispatch management device for managing vehicle dispatch services. The device comprises: a vehicle information database for storing vehicle information of each vehicle; and a vehicle dispatch planning section for planning the dispatch of vehicles on the basis of the vehicle information database. The vehicle dispatch planning section comprises: a vehicle information acquisition section for acquiring the vehicle information from each vehicle; a vehicle selection section for selecting a vehicle dispatched to a user on the basis of the user's vehicle dispatch request; a vehicle dispatch plan creation section for creating the vehicle dispatch plan of the vehicle; and a vehicle dispatch instruction section for instructing the dispatch of the vehicle according to the vehicle dispatch plan. The vehicle dispatch planning section refers to the vehicle information database on the basis of specific situation information, selects a vehicle that is not dispatched to the user as a cooperating vehicle, creates the vehicle dispatch plan such that the cooperating vehicle is deployed along a specific traveling route of the specific vehicle, and instructs work to the cooperating vehicle following the vehicle dispatch plan.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle allocation management device and a vehicle allocation management method. [Background technology]

[0002] General vehicles other than designated vehicles such as emergency vehicles must take steps to avoid obstructing the passage of designated vehicles.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a technology in which a vehicle required to operate for a public purpose performs the operation required to respond to an emergency, such as a disaster, incident, or accident, when the emergency occurs.

[0004] Furthermore, the following Patent Document 2 discloses a technology for moving and stopping ordinary vehicles near the shoulder of a road based on the current position of the emergency vehicle and the current positions of ordinary vehicles other than the emergency vehicle when the emergency vehicle is traveling in an emergency. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-170264 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-166412 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The technologies disclosed in the above Patent Documents 1 and 2 merely involve ordinary vehicles avoiding the route of emergency vehicles or moving ordinary vehicles to the shoulder of the road and stopping them so as not to obstruct the emergency travel of emergency vehicles, and do not make the emergency travel of emergency vehicles smoother. In particular, when emergency vehicles enter intersections, etc., they are forced to slow down to avoid collisions with ordinary vehicles, making it difficult for them to travel smoothly.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle dispatch management device and a vehicle dispatch management method that enable the use of autonomous vehicles in mobility services to support the driving of specific vehicles such as emergency vehicles.

[0008] More specifically, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle dispatch management device and a vehicle dispatch management method that enable securing driving routes for specific vehicles, such as emergency vehicles, using autonomous vehicles in mobility services. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention, which aims to solve the above problems, comprises the following invention-specifying matters and technical features.

[0010] According to one aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle dispatch management device that manages the dispatch of multiple vehicles in a specified service area. The device includes a vehicle information database that stores vehicle information for each of the multiple vehicles, and a vehicle dispatch planning unit that creates a dispatch plan for vehicles to be dispatched based on the vehicle information database. The vehicle dispatch planning unit includes a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information from each of the multiple vehicles, a vehicle selection unit that selects a vehicle to be dispatched to a user from the multiple vehicles based on the user's dispatch request, a vehicle dispatch plan creation unit that creates the vehicle dispatch plan for the selected vehicle, and a vehicle dispatch instruction unit that issues dispatch instructions to the vehicle in accordance with the vehicle dispatch plan. The vehicle selection unit refers to the vehicle information database based on specific situation information related to the travel of a specific vehicle, and selects a vehicle from the multiple vehicles that has not yet been dispatched to the user as a cooperating vehicle. The vehicle dispatch plan creation unit creates the vehicle dispatch plan so that some of the cooperating vehicles are deployed at specific deployment points along a specific travel route of the specific vehicle. The vehicle allocation instruction unit issues movement instructions to the cooperation vehicles so that some of the cooperation vehicles are deployed to the specific deployment point in accordance with the vehicle allocation plan.

[0011] The present invention also provides a vehicle allocation management method using a vehicle allocation management device that manages vehicle allocation in response to a vehicle allocation request, a computer program for executing the method, and a recording medium on which the method is non-temporarily recorded.

[0012] In this disclosure, a "system" refers to a logical collection of multiple devices (or functional modules that realize specific functions), regardless of whether each device or functional module is contained within a single housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to use autonomous vehicles in a mobility service to assist the driving of specific vehicles such as emergency vehicles. In particular, according to the present invention, the driving route of the specific vehicle is secured using autonomous vehicles in a mobility service, so that the specific vehicle can drive more smoothly to its destination.

[0014] Other technical features, objects, and operational effects or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The effects described in this specification are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting, and other effects may also be present. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a vehicle dispatch management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration model of a vehicle dispatch control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the vehicle information database in the vehicle dispatch control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing details of the vehicle dispatch planning unit in the vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a process for responding to a specific situation of a cooperating vehicle by the vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining how the vehicle dispatch management system according to one embodiment of the present invention responds to a specific situation. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining how the vehicle dispatch management system according to one embodiment of the present invention responds to a specific situation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely examples, and are not intended to exclude various modifications or applications of techniques not explicitly described below. The present invention can be implemented in various modifications (e.g., combinations of the embodiments) without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, in the following description of the drawings, identical or similar parts are denoted by identical or similar reference numerals. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily correspond to actual dimensions, ratios, etc. Parts in the drawings may have different dimensional relationships or ratios.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a vehicle dispatch management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the vehicle dispatch management system 1 includes a vehicle dispatch management device 10, a terminal device 20, and a vehicle V, which are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a communication network N. The vehicle dispatch management system 1 can also be connected via the communication network N to a road traffic information management system 30 that provides various traffic information in real time. The vehicle dispatch management system 1 provides, for example, a vehicle dispatch service using multiple vehicles V for a certain area. In the present disclosure, the vehicle V is assumed to be an autonomously driven vehicle without a driver.

[0018] The vehicle dispatch management system 1 may also cooperate with various government agencies and private organizations (not shown) that have jurisdiction over specific vehicles, such as emergency vehicles and specialized vehicles. Examples of emergency vehicles include police vehicles from police-related agencies, fire engines and ambulances from the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, hospital ambulances, and emergency service vehicles from gas and electric power companies. Examples of specialized vehicles include specialized trailers for transporting large cargo by land. Such specific vehicles vary depending on national legislation and are not limited to those listed here. In the present disclosure, for example, when a specific vehicle travels along a specific route to a destination, the vehicle dispatch management system 1, under the control of the vehicle dispatch management device 10, cooperates with these related organizations by distributing a vehicle V not provided for the vehicle dispatch service along the route and / or issuing operational instructions to the vehicle V to guide the specific vehicle. A vehicle V not provided for the vehicle dispatch service refers to a vehicle that has not yet been dispatched to a user or is waiting after completing a vehicle dispatch service. Hereinafter, this vehicle will be referred to as a "cooperating vehicle" from the perspective of cooperation with various related organizations.

[0019] The vehicle dispatch management device 10 is a computing device that comprehensively manages a vehicle dispatch service using multiple vehicles V in a target area of ​​the vehicle dispatch service (hereinafter referred to as the "service target area"). The service target area may be divided into several areas (sub-areas). The vehicle dispatch management device 10, for example, implements a vehicle dispatch management server program and executes the vehicle dispatch management server program under the control of a processor, thereby realizing the vehicle dispatch service. In particular, the vehicle dispatch management server program of the present disclosure includes a subprogram or module for extracting, under specified conditions, vehicles V that have not yet been dispatched to a user as cooperating vehicles for specified related organizations, and deploying them along specified specific driving routes along which specific vehicles of the specified related organizations will drive.

[0020] The vehicle dispatch management device 10 includes various databases 12 that accumulate and manage data necessary to realize such a vehicle dispatch service. The databases 12 may include, for example, a user information database 12a, a road map information database 12b, a vehicle information database 12c, and a vehicle dispatch plan database 12d (see FIG. 2). The databases 12 may be configured as part of the vehicle dispatch management device 10, or all or part of the databases 12 may be configured separately from the vehicle dispatch management device 10.

[0021] Generally speaking, under normal circumstances, the vehicle allocation management device 10 receives a vehicle allocation request from a user who wishes to allocate a vehicle V to a destination, refers to the vehicle information database 12c based on the vehicle allocation request, extracts a vehicle V to be allocated to the user from among multiple vehicles V, creates a vehicle allocation plan for the vehicle, and proposes the created vehicle allocation plan to the user. The vehicle allocation management device 10 confirms the proposed vehicle allocation plan upon the user's consent to the proposed vehicle allocation plan, and issues a vehicle allocation instruction to the vehicle V in accordance with the confirmed vehicle allocation plan.

[0022] The vehicle dispatch plan includes a driving route that specifies the route from the location where vehicle V is waiting (starting waiting location), via several points (boarding and disembarking points) along the way where users get on and off, to the final waiting location (which is not necessarily the same as the initial waiting location). If vehicle V is waiting, the vehicle dispatch plan is created anew based on the received vehicle dispatch request, and if vehicle V is in operation, it can be updated based on the vehicle dispatch request. A vehicle dispatch plan can also be created when vehicle V is a cooperating vehicle for a specified related organization.

[0023] In the present disclosure, when information on a specific situation (hereinafter referred to as "specific situation information") is issued by a predetermined related organization, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 refers to the vehicle information database 12c and extracts a vehicle V that has not yet been dispatched to a user as a cooperating vehicle in order to cooperate with the predetermined related organization. A specific situation may be, for example, the dispatch of police-related organizations in response to the occurrence of an incident or accident, This information includes firefighting and emergency activities by firefighting (emergency) agencies in response to the occurrence of fires, accidents, etc., and emergency activities for people who suddenly become ill. The specific incident information also includes, for example, the type and content of the specific incident, information about the specific vehicle (such as the vehicle type), a destination such as a scene or a hospital, and a specific driving route for the specific vehicle at the destination (hereinafter referred to as the "specific driving route"). Subsequently, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines the specific driving route based on the specific incident information, and issues an operational instruction to the cooperating vehicle to move to a specific deployment point along the determined specific driving route. Additionally or alternatively, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 may also issue an operational instruction to the cooperating vehicle to drive while guiding the specific vehicle to the destination. For example, the cooperating vehicle may drive ahead of or following the specific vehicle. This reduces interference with the specific vehicle by general vehicles, allowing the specific vehicle to drive more smoothly.

[0024] Vehicle V is a vehicle registered in the vehicle information database 12c that is provided for use by users in the vehicle dispatch service. Vehicle V is an autonomous vehicle (unmanned vehicle) operated by an autonomous driving system, and the so-called autonomous driving level does not matter. Furthermore, the vehicle type of vehicle V (e.g., sedan, minivan, SUV, etc.) does not matter. In the present disclosure, vehicle V is divided into vehicles that can be provided as cooperation vehicles and vehicles that cannot be provided as cooperation vehicles. Furthermore, vehicles that can be provided as cooperation vehicles are divided into vehicles that can be deployed and vehicles that cannot be deployed.

[0025] The vehicle V includes a control device CTL and a user interface UI that control the vehicle V itself or its onboard equipment in accordance with dispatch instructions from the vehicle dispatch management device 10. Although not shown, the control device CTL includes a processor, memory, and the like, and realizes various functions by executing control programs. Furthermore, under the control of the control device CTL, the vehicle V acquires driving management information necessary for autonomous driving from various cameras and sensors and transmits this information to the vehicle dispatch management device 10. The vehicle dispatch management device 10 monitors and controls the driving of the vehicle V in accordance with the driving management information transmitted from the vehicle V. The driving management information includes, for example, video and audio information about the surroundings of the vehicle V obtained by a camera / microphone, spatial recognition information (point cloud information) obtained by spatial recognition sensors such as LiDAR and RADAR, geographical position information of the vehicle V obtained by a GPS system, and status information obtained by status monitoring sensors that monitor the status of the vehicle V, each device, and each component. In the present disclosure, the vehicle V, under the instruction of the vehicle dispatch management device 10, can collect information about the surrounding environment as a form of driving management information as a cooperating vehicle, even when not dispatched to a user (standby state). This makes it possible to use cooperative vehicles that are not deployed on the specific driving route of a specific vehicle to monitor the situation around the specific driving route and prepare for unforeseen circumstances.

[0026] Furthermore, when vehicle V is cooperating with police agencies as a cooperating vehicle, it may be equipped with an external human-machine interface (eHMI) to notify the public (e.g., passersby and drivers of other vehicles) of this fact. A display and a speaker are examples of eHMI. This allows nearby passersby and drivers to be informed that a specific incident is occurring and that the vehicle is cooperating, thereby promoting understanding of the cooperating vehicle that is obstructing traffic flow.

[0027] The terminal device 20 is, for example, a computing device through which a user wishing to ride makes a vehicle dispatch request by operating a user interface. The terminal device 20 is, for example, a smartphone, a pad computer, a laptop personal computer, a desktop computer, etc., but is not limited to these. The terminal device 20 implements, for example, a vehicle dispatch management client program (a so-called vehicle dispatch app). The terminal device 20 executes the vehicle dispatch app under the control of a processor, thereby enabling the user to use the vehicle dispatch service of the vehicle dispatch management device 10. For example, the user can make a vehicle dispatch request from a vehicle dispatch request screen (not shown) on the user interface of the terminal device 20 and, in response, accept the vehicle dispatch plan created by the vehicle dispatch management device 10, thereby making a reservation for a ride in the vehicle V.

[0028] The road traffic information management system 30 is an information and communication system that provides road traffic information in real time. For example, the road traffic information management system 30 collects road traffic data from various monitoring equipment installed on roads and from a control device CTL installed in the vehicle V, and manages road traffic information by processing and editing the data in an integrated manner. The monitoring equipment includes, but is not limited to, live cameras and vehicle sensors. The edited road traffic information may include, for example, information on road closures and detour routes, and the travel time between points via a specific route. The road traffic information management system 30 appropriately provides road traffic information to the vehicle dispatch management device 10 and the vehicle V. In addition to weather information, traffic information, and road regulation information, the road traffic information management system 30 may provide the vehicle dispatch management device 10 with video information from live cameras, audio information from sound-collecting microphones, and sensor information from vehicle sensors obtained from the monitoring equipment as driving management information. This enables the vehicle dispatch management device 10 to appropriately monitor and guide the vehicle V according to the driving management information.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration model of a vehicle dispatch management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 may be configured as a functional configuration model including functional components such as a front-end processing unit 110, a vehicle dispatch planning unit 120, and a vehicle communication unit 130. Furthermore, as described above, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 includes various databases 12. This functional model is realized when the vehicle dispatch management device 10 executes a vehicle dispatch management server program under the control of a processor, thereby cooperating with various hardware resources. The functional configuration model shown here is an example, and all or part of the functions of a certain functional component may be realized by other functional components. For ease of explanation, the figure also illustrates a user terminal device 20 and a control device CTL in the vehicle V.

[0030] The user information database 12a stores information about users who use the vehicle dispatch service (hereinafter referred to as "user information"). The user information includes, for example, a user ID and password, personal attributes (gender, age, address, etc.), and information about service usage status. The user information is registered in the user information database 12a under the control of the vehicle dispatch management device 10 by the user inputting predetermined information, for example, when the vehicle dispatch app is first launched.

[0031] The road map information database 12b stores road map information for the target area of ​​the vehicle dispatch service. The road map information includes map data on addresses, place names, road networks (links and nodes), various facilities (e.g., police stations, etc.), etc. The road map information also includes information necessary for searching for a driving route, such as road information, feature information, and environmental information. The road information includes road attribute information such as road type (e.g., community road, arterial road, etc.), road width, pedestrian / vehicle divider, median, and lane.

[0032] The vehicle information database 12c stores information (vehicle information) about vehicles V available for use by users. For example, as shown in FIG. 3 , the vehicle information includes information about a vehicle ID, vehicle attributes (vehicle registration number, vehicle model, maximum occupancy / maximum load capacity, automated driving level, etc.), vehicle characteristics, other specifications (length, width, height, weight, etc.), a current vehicle dispatch plan, a current location, and a current status (service status, remaining battery capacity (cruising range), number of occupants, etc.). Vehicle information, such as location information, acquired from the vehicle V via the communication control unit 140 may be updated as needed. In the present disclosure, the vehicle attributes include cooperative vehicle information. The cooperative vehicle information includes, for example, information about whether the vehicle V can be deployed, guided, and / or monitored as a cooperative vehicle. More specifically, a “deployable” vehicle V is a vehicle provided as a cooperative vehicle that can be deployed to a specific deployment location, and a “guidable” vehicle V is a vehicle provided as a cooperative vehicle that can accompany and guide a specific vehicle. Furthermore, a vehicle V that is "capable of monitoring" is a vehicle that cannot be deployed to a specific deployment point but is provided as a cooperative vehicle capable of monitoring. A vehicle V that cannot be provided as a cooperative vehicle is indicated as "unable to cooperate."

[0033] The vehicle allocation plan database 12d stores a vehicle allocation plan for each vehicle V created by the vehicle allocation plan unit 120 based on a vehicle allocation request. As described above, the vehicle allocation plan includes a driving route from a waiting location serving as a starting point to a waiting location serving as a terminal point via several boarding and disembarking points (departure and arrival points), an estimated arrival time at each intermediate point, etc. Furthermore, the vehicle allocation plan for a cooperating vehicle includes a driving route from a waiting location serving as a starting point to a specified stopping point, etc.

[0034] The front-end processing unit 110 performs various processes with the user's terminal device 20. As an example, the front-end processing unit 110 refers to the user information database 12a and performs login authentication processing in accordance with a login request from a ride-hailing app on the user's terminal device 20. The front-end processing unit 110 also communicates with the terminal device 20 in order to respond to a ride-hailing request from the ride-hailing app on the user's terminal device 20.

[0035] The vehicle allocation planning unit 120 extracts candidate vehicles V from among the vehicles V that can operate in the target area based on the allocation request delivered from the front-end processing unit 110, and creates and / or updates the vehicle allocation plan. The vehicle allocation planning unit 120 proposes the created or updated vehicle allocation plan to the user via the front-end processing unit 110. When the proposed vehicle allocation plan is approved by the user, the vehicle allocation planning unit 120 finalizes the approved vehicle allocation plan, stores the finalized vehicle allocation plan in the vehicle allocation plan database 12d, and issues a dispatch instruction to the vehicles V of the vehicle allocation plan. In addition, the vehicle allocation planning unit 120 determines a specific driving route for a specific vehicle to travel based on specific situation information issued by a predetermined related organization, and issues a movement instruction to the vehicle V so that the vehicle V that has not yet been allocated to the user is dispatched (deployed) as a cooperating vehicle along the specific driving route.

[0036] The vehicle communication unit 130 exchanges various information with the vehicle V via the communication network N. For example, the vehicle communication unit 130 transmits a vehicle information transmission request to the vehicle V and receives vehicle information transmitted by the vehicle V in response to the request. The vehicle information includes, for example, location information of the vehicle V. The vehicle communication unit 130 also transmits driving instructions to the vehicle V according to the determined dispatch plan.

[0037] 4 is a block diagram showing details of a vehicle dispatch planning unit in a vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the vehicle dispatch planning unit 120 includes, for example, a vehicle dispatch request acquisition unit 121, a travel route determination unit 122, a vehicle information acquisition unit 123, a vehicle selection unit 124, a vehicle dispatch plan creation unit 125, a specific situation information acquisition unit 126, a specific travel route determination unit 127, and a vehicle dispatch instruction unit 128.

[0038] The vehicle allocation request acquisition unit 121 acquires or accepts a vehicle allocation request from a user via the front-end processing unit 110. The time when the vehicle allocation request acquisition unit 1201 acquires a vehicle allocation request is the start time for counting various limit times for creating a vehicle allocation plan (for example, a boarding limit time and a disembarking limit time, which are the limit times for getting a user on or off).

[0039] The travel route determination unit 122 determines an optimal travel route based on the dispatch request. For example, the travel route determination unit 122 determines a travel route from the departure point to the destination by having the route search engine search for a route based on the boarding point (departure point) and disembarking point (destination) indicated in the dispatch request while referring to the road map information database 12b.

[0040] The vehicle information acquisition unit 123 acquires vehicle information from each vehicle V via the vehicle communication unit 130 at a predetermined timing. The vehicle information may include vehicle position information and remaining energy amount of the vehicle V. For example, the vehicle information acquisition unit 123 may periodically acquire vehicle information transmitted from each vehicle V, or may periodically or irregularly request a specific vehicle V to transmit vehicle information and acquire vehicle information transmitted from the specific vehicle V in response to the request. The vehicle information acquisition unit 123 stores the acquired vehicle information of each vehicle V in the vehicle information database 12c. The vehicle position information may be used to extract a vehicle V to be dispatched to a user based on its positional relationship with the driving route of the vehicle V, or to deploy a vehicle V as a cooperative vehicle based on its positional relationship with the specific driving route of the specific vehicle.

[0041] The vehicle selection unit 124 extracts and selects any vehicle suited to the travel route from among a plurality of vehicles V. For example, the vehicle selection unit 124 first refers to the vehicle information database 12c, etc., and extracts vehicles V that are near the boarding location indicated in the dispatch request and based on the location information indicated by the vehicle information. Next, the vehicle selection unit 124 selects a vehicle V suited to the travel route from among the extracted vehicles V, taking into consideration constraints such as various limit allowable times.

[0042] The vehicle selection unit 124 also extracts and selects, as cooperating vehicles, vehicles V that can cooperate with a predetermined related organization. For example, based on the specific situation information, the vehicle selection unit 124 references the vehicle information database 12c, etc., and extracts and selects, as cooperating vehicles, vehicles V that are waiting and have not yet been dispatched to a user and whose cooperation vehicle information is "available for deployment," "available for guided driving," and / or "available for monitoring." The vehicle selection unit 124 may, for example, select, as cooperating vehicles, a number of vehicles V according to the specific driving route of the specific vehicle determined based on the specific situation information. The vehicle selection unit 124 may also, for example, exclude, from the cooperating vehicles, vehicles V located on the opposite side of the specific vehicle's driving direction toward the destination. This prevents a situation in which all waiting vehicles V become cooperating vehicles, leaving no vehicles V to be dispatched to the user and causing the vehicle dispatch service to stop. The vehicle dispatch management device 10 may also, as necessary, extract, as a cooperating vehicle, a vehicle V that dropped off a user at the destination. Furthermore, the vehicle selection unit 124 may, for example, preferentially select a vehicle V having a high rigidity, medium-sized or larger vehicle, rather than a small vehicle having a low rigidity, in terms of vehicle attributes. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent ordinary vehicles from entering the specific travel route.

[0043] Furthermore, the vehicle selection unit 124 may refer to the vehicle information database 12c, etc., and select an assisting vehicle to guide the specific vehicle traveling on the specific traveling route. The assisting vehicle selected to guide the specific vehicle travels together with the specific vehicle to the destination or near the destination. This reduces interference with the specific vehicle by general vehicles, allowing the specific vehicle to travel more smoothly.

[0044] Furthermore, the vehicle selection unit 124 updates the selection of cooperating vehicles based on updates to the specific situation information or the current specific driving route of the specific vehicle. For example, when the specific driving route is updated, the vehicle selection unit 124 adds or removes a waiting vehicle V based on the updated specific driving route and / or the current position of the specific vehicle. This makes it possible to efficiently and flexibly select cooperating vehicles according to the latest specific driving route of the specific vehicle.

[0045] The vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125 creates a vehicle allocation plan for the selected vehicle V based on the travel route. As described above, the vehicle allocation plan includes a travel route that defines a route from the location where the vehicle V is waiting (the waiting location that is the starting point), via several points (boarding and disembarking points) along the way where the user gets on and off, to the waiting location that is the end point (which is not necessarily the same as the initial waiting location). If the vehicle V is waiting, the vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125 creates a new vehicle allocation plan based on the vehicle allocation request, and if the vehicle V is in operation, it updates the vehicle allocation plan for the vehicle V stored in the vehicle allocation plan database 12d. The created vehicle allocation plan is transmitted to the user's terminal device 20, proposed to the user, and confirmed according to the user's acceptance of the vehicle allocation plan.

[0046] Furthermore, the vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125 creates and confirms a vehicle allocation plan for a vehicle V selected as a cooperative vehicle in accordance with the cooperative vehicle information. For example, the vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125 creates and confirms a vehicle allocation plan for the cooperative vehicle based on the specific driving route of the fleeing vehicle estimated by the specific driving route determination unit 127, which will be described later. The vehicle allocation plan for the cooperative vehicle includes, for example, a driving route from a current waiting location to a specified specific deployment point. The vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125 may create a vehicle allocation plan by matching the vehicle V with a specific deployment point so that the travel distance between the current location (waiting location) of the selected vehicle V and the specific deployment point is shortest. Furthermore, the vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125 may create a vehicle allocation plan for a vehicle V selected as a cooperative vehicle capable of monitoring only to wait at the location.

[0047] Furthermore, the vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125 may create or update a vehicle allocation plan for cooperating vehicles based on the updated specific driving route each time the specific driving route is updated based on the current location of the specific vehicle. This allows the deployment of cooperating vehicles to be updated according to the updated vehicle allocation plan. For example, a cooperating vehicle that was already deployed at a certain location is deployed to a new deployment location according to the updated vehicle allocation plan. Alternatively, a new vehicle allocation plan is created for a newly added cooperating vehicle. This allows the deployment of cooperating vehicles to be flexibly changed even in response to a sudden change in the specific driving route of a specific vehicle. Furthermore, the cooperating vehicle can be deployed to coincide with the time when the specific vehicle passes a specific point on the specific driving route. Therefore, the duration of road closures associated with the deployment of the cooperating vehicle can be shortened, minimizing the impact on traffic congestion.

[0048] Furthermore, for example, the vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125 may create a vehicle allocation plan in which the vicinity of intersections and / or junctions of each road connected to the estimated specific driving route is set as a specific deployment point for the cooperating vehicle. This more effectively restricts entry of general vehicles onto the specific driving route, reliably guiding the specific vehicle to its destination and enabling it to travel more smoothly than the specific vehicle. In this case, the vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125 may create a vehicle allocation plan for the cooperating vehicle so that the cooperating vehicle is deployed near intersections and / or junctions that do not have traffic lights compatible with the signal optimization control system. For example, an on-site emergency assistance system is an example of a signal optimization control system. This eliminates the need to deploy the cooperating vehicle at intersections and / or junctions that have traffic lights compatible with the signal optimization control system, allowing the vehicle V to be operated efficiently.

[0049] Furthermore, the vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125 may create a vehicle allocation plan for the cooperating vehicles selected to guide the specific vehicle. In this case, the vehicle allocation plan may include, for example, a junction point and scheduled junction time with the specific vehicle, a specific driving route from there to the destination, etc. This can reduce interference with the specific vehicle by general vehicles, allowing the specific vehicle to drive more smoothly.

[0050] The specific incident information acquisition unit 126 acquires specific incident information issued in real time from predetermined related organizations as needed. As described above, the specific incident information includes, for example, the type and content of the specific incident, information about the specific vehicle, and destinations such as the scene or hospital, and the specific driving route of the specific vehicle at the destination.

[0051] The specific driving route determination unit 127 determines the specific driving route of the specific vehicle by referring to the road map information database 12b, etc., based on the acquired specific situation information. This allows vehicle V, which has been waiting for a user's vehicle dispatch request near the specific driving route, to be selected as a cooperating vehicle, making it possible to more quickly deploy cooperating vehicles along the specific driving route and restrict entry of general vehicles onto the specific driving route. Furthermore, the specific driving route determination unit 127 can update the specific driving route as needed based on the current location of the specific vehicle. This allows for efficient and flexible selection of cooperating vehicles according to the latest specific driving route of the specific vehicle. Furthermore, it allows for more accurate prediction of the time when the specific vehicle will pass a specific point on the specific driving route, making it possible to deploy cooperating vehicles in accordance with the time when the specific vehicle will pass a specific point on the specific driving route.

[0052] The vehicle dispatch instruction unit 128 issues a dispatch instruction or a movement instruction to the corresponding vehicle V according to the confirmed vehicle dispatch plan. The control device CTL of the vehicle V that receives the dispatch instruction or the movement instruction determines, for example, a detailed actual driving route according to the driving route in the vehicle dispatch plan and controls the vehicle V so that the vehicle V autonomously drives along the actual driving route. As an example, under normal circumstances, the vehicle dispatch instruction unit 128 issues a dispatch instruction to the vehicle V to pick up the user at a boarding / disembarking point and drive to the destination in accordance with the user's dispatch request. As another example, in response to the issuance of specific incident information, the vehicle dispatch instruction unit 128 issues a movement instruction to the cooperating vehicle to move to a specified specific deployment point. In this case, the vehicle dispatch instruction unit 128 may issue a movement instruction to the cooperating vehicle according to the vehicle dispatch plan so that one or more cooperating vehicles are deployed near intersections and / or branch points of each road connected to the specific driving route. In other words, the cooperating vehicles form barricades along the specific driving route to restrict the entry of general vehicles. This allows specific driving routes for specific vehicles to be more easily secured, allowing specific vehicles to travel more smoothly.

[0053] Furthermore, the vehicle allocation instruction unit 128 may issue movement instructions to the cooperating vehicles as needed so that the deployment of the cooperating vehicles is updated based on a vehicle allocation plan based on the latest updated specific driving route. For example, when the specific driving route is updated by the specific driving route determination unit 127, the vehicle allocation instruction unit 128 instructs the cooperating vehicles already deployed at a certain location to move to a new specific deployment location, or instructs the newly added cooperating vehicles to move to a designated specific deployment location. Furthermore, the vehicle allocation instruction unit 128 issues operational instructions to the cooperating vehicles guiding the specific vehicles to guide them along the updated specific driving route. This reduces interference with the specific vehicles by general vehicles, allowing the specific vehicles to drive more smoothly.

[0054] Furthermore, the vehicle dispatch instruction unit 128 may instruct a cooperating vehicle selected by the vehicle selection unit 124 that has not been deployed along the specific driving route because it is "unavailable for deployment" to monitor the surrounding environment of the vehicle and transmit environmental information related to the surrounding environment. Upon receiving such an instruction, the vehicle V may transmit surrounding environment information collected by various cameras and sensors to the vehicle dispatch management device 10. The vehicle dispatch management device 10 may provide the collected surrounding environment information to, for example, a predetermined related organization. This allows surrounding environment information to be collected from a wider range and more points, which can be used to ensure the safe driving of the specific vehicle.

[0055] In this way, the cooperating vehicles that have received work instructions from the vehicle allocation instruction unit 128 based on the emergency information move to specific deployment points designated on the specific driving route and guide the specific vehicles to their destinations, thereby restricting the entry of general vehicles into the specific driving route and allowing the specific vehicles to smoothly drive to their destinations. Note that when the specific emergency is lifted, the vehicle allocation plan creation unit 125 terminates the vehicle allocation plan for the cooperating vehicles, and in response, the vehicle allocation instruction unit 128 instructs the cooperating vehicles to return to normal operation.

[0056] In the above example, the dispatch plan creation unit 125 creates a dispatch plan for cooperating vehicles based on the specific situation information, and the dispatch instruction unit 128 instructs the cooperating vehicles to move in accordance with the dispatch plan. However, this is not limited to this, and for example, the dispatch instruction unit 128 may immediately instruct the cooperating vehicles to move based on the specific situation information.

[0057] 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a process for responding to a specific situation by a vehicle dispatch control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The emergency response process is realized by the vehicle dispatch control device 10 executing a vehicle dispatch control server program under the control of a processor, thereby cooperating with various hardware resources.

[0058] As shown in the figure, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 monitors whether specific incident information issued by a predetermined relevant organization has been acquired (S501). For example, when a relevant organization such as the Fire and Disaster Management Agency receives a report of a traffic accident, it issues specific incident information related to the emergency dispatch of an ambulance. The specific incident information includes, for example, information about the location of the ambulance and the hospital to which the ambulance will be transported. When the vehicle dispatch management device 10 detects and acquires such specific incident information (Yes in S501), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines a specific driving route to the destination based on the acquired specific incident information (S502). The specific driving route may be specified by the specific incident information.

[0059] Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 refers to the vehicle information database 12c based on the determined specific driving route, and extracts and selects vehicles V that can cooperate with predetermined related organizations as cooperation vehicles (S503). A cooperation-capable vehicle V (cooperation vehicle) is a waiting vehicle V that has not yet been dispatched to the user, and whose cooperation vehicle information is other than "unable to cooperate."

[0060] Next, the vehicle allocation management device 10 creates and confirms a vehicle allocation plan for each selected cooperative vehicle based on the estimated specific driving route, etc. (S504). For example, the vehicle allocation management device 10 determines a specific deployment point for each cooperative vehicle based on the geographical relationship between the specific driving route and the current location of the cooperative vehicle, and creates a vehicle allocation plan including a driving route from the current waiting location to the specific deployment point. Typically, the cooperative vehicle is deployed at an intersection or branch point on the specific driving route. The vehicle allocation management device 10 may also create a vehicle allocation plan for the cooperative vehicle that will guide the specific vehicle.

[0061] Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 issues a task instruction to the corresponding vehicle V according to the determined vehicle dispatch plan (S505). The cooperating vehicle that received the task instruction determines a detailed actual driving route, for example, according to the driving route in the vehicle dispatch plan, and autonomously drives along the actual driving route to a specific deployment point. The vehicle dispatch management device 10 may also instruct the cooperating vehicle to notify the outside (e.g., passersby and drivers of other vehicles) that it is cooperating with a predetermined related organization, for example, using an eHMI. This notifies nearby passersby and drivers that a specific incident is occurring and that they are cooperating, thereby promoting their understanding of the cooperating vehicle that is obstructing traffic flow. The vehicle dispatch management device 10 may also issue a task instruction to cooperating vehicles that cannot be deployed to monitor the surroundings on the spot.

[0062] After issuing the task instructions to the cooperating vehicles, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 monitors whether the specific vehicle's mission has ended and the specific situation has been lifted (S506). If the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that the specific situation has not been lifted because it has not received a lifting notification from a predetermined related organization (No in S506), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 then determines whether the specific situation information has been updated (S507). If the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that the specific situation information has not been updated (No in S507), it repeats the above processing until the specific situation is lifted. If the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that the specific situation has been lifted (Yes in S506), it issues an instruction to lift the deployment of all cooperating vehicles deployed at specific deployment points (S508).

[0063] On the other hand, if the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that the specific situation information has been updated (Yes in S507), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines and updates a new specific driving route for the specific vehicle based on the updated specific situation information (S502). Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 updates the cooperating vehicles based on the updated specific driving route (S503) and updates the dispatch plan for the cooperating vehicles (S504). Then, it issues a movement instruction to the cooperating vehicles (S505). The vehicle dispatch management device 10 repeats the above process until the specific situation information is released.

[0064] For example, assume that a vehicle dispatch service is being provided in a service area of ​​the vehicle dispatch management system 1, as shown in Fig. 6. In the figure, the shaded vehicles V are vehicles that have already been dispatched to users and are currently traveling to their destinations, while the other vehicles V are waiting vehicles parked at designated waiting locations or waiting vehicles that are cruising. In this situation, assume that a traffic accident occurs, and specific incident information is issued requesting the dispatch of an ambulance to transport injured or sick people.

[0065] When the vehicle dispatch management device 10 acquires emergency information, it estimates a specific driving route based on the emergency information and determines the specific driving route, including a guide route to a police station, as shown in FIG. 7 . Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 extracts an appropriate vehicle V from among the waiting vehicles as a cooperative vehicle. At this time, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 may extract the vehicle V that dropped off the user at the destination as a cooperative vehicle, if necessary. Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 issues a task instruction to the cooperative vehicle to guide the specific vehicle along the specific driving route. In response to this, the cooperative vehicle drives to the destination, leading the specific vehicle. In addition, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 issues a movement instruction to the cooperative vehicle so that the cooperative vehicle is deployed along the specific driving route. In response, the cooperative vehicle moves to the deployment point. The figure shows that the cooperative vehicle is deployed at an intersection or branch point on the specific driving route that is not compatible with a signal optimization control system, in particular, to prevent general vehicles from entering the specific driving route.

[0066] The above-described embodiments are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to these embodiments. The present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0067] For example, in the methods disclosed herein, steps, operations, or functions may be performed in parallel or in a different order unless the results are inconsistent. The steps, operations, and functions described are provided merely as examples, and some of the steps, operations, and functions may be omitted or combined into one, or other steps, operations, or functions may be added, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0068] Furthermore, although various embodiments are disclosed in this specification, specific features (technical matters) in one embodiment can be added to or substituted for specific features in other embodiments, with appropriate modifications, and such forms are also included in the spirit of the present invention.

[0069] As described above, according to this embodiment, based on specific situation information issued by a predetermined related organization, a vehicle V that has not yet been assigned to a user is deployed as a cooperating vehicle along the specific driving route of the specific vehicle to ensure the driving route of the specific vehicle, thereby reducing interference with the specific vehicle by general vehicles and allowing the specific vehicle to drive to its destination more smoothly. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1...Vehicle dispatch management system 10...Vehicle dispatch management device 110...Front-end processing unit 120... Vehicle Allocation Planning Department 121... Vehicle dispatch request acquisition unit 122...Driving route determination unit 123...Vehicle information acquisition unit 124...Vehicle selection section 125... Vehicle Allocation Planning Department 126…Specific Situation Information Acquisition Department 127...Specific driving route determination unit 128...Dispatch instruction unit 128 130...Vehicle communication unit 12...Database 12a...User information database 12b...Road map information database 12c...Vehicle information database 12d... Vehicle dispatch plan database 20...Terminal device 30...Road traffic information management system N: Communication network V...Vehicle CTL: Control unit

Claims

1. A vehicle allocation management device that manages the allocation of a plurality of vehicles in a predetermined service area, a vehicle information database that stores the vehicle information for each of the plurality of vehicles; a vehicle allocation planning unit that performs a vehicle allocation plan for vehicles to be allocated based on the vehicle information database, The vehicle dispatch planning unit a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information from each of the plurality of vehicles; a vehicle selection unit that selects a vehicle to be allocated to the user from among the plurality of vehicles based on a vehicle allocation request from the user; a vehicle allocation plan creation unit that creates the vehicle allocation plan for the selected vehicle; a vehicle allocation instruction unit that issues vehicle allocation instructions to the vehicles in accordance with the vehicle allocation plan, the vehicle selection unit refers to the vehicle information database based on specific situation information related to the travel of a specific vehicle, and selects, as a cooperation vehicle, a vehicle that has not yet been dispatched to the user from among the plurality of vehicles; the vehicle allocation plan creation unit creates the vehicle allocation plan so that some of the cooperating vehicles are deployed at specific deployment points along a specific driving route of the specific vehicle; the vehicle allocation instruction unit issues movement instructions to the cooperation vehicles so that some of the cooperation vehicles are deployed to the specific deployment points in accordance with the vehicle allocation plan. Vehicle dispatch management device.

2. The vehicle dispatch planning unit further includes a specific travel route determination unit that determines the specific travel route of the specific vehicle based on the specific situation information. The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 .

3. the specific travel route determination unit updates the specific travel route of the specific vehicle based on a current position of the specific vehicle. The vehicle allocation management device according to claim 2.

4. the vehicle selection unit updates the selection of the cooperation vehicle based on the updated specific travel route. The vehicle allocation management device according to claim 2.

5. the vehicle allocation plan creation unit updates the vehicle allocation plan for the cooperating vehicles based on the updated specific travel route. The vehicle allocation management device according to claim 4.

6. the vehicle allocation plan creation unit creates a vehicle allocation plan for the cooperation vehicles so that the cooperation vehicles are deployed near intersections and / or branch points of each road connected to the specific travel route. The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 .

7. the vehicle allocation plan creation unit creates a vehicle allocation plan for the cooperative vehicles so that the cooperative vehicles are deployed near the intersections and / or branch points where traffic lights compatible with the signal optimization control system are not installed. The vehicle allocation management device according to claim 6.

8. the vehicle allocation instruction unit issues a task instruction to the cooperation vehicles so that the deployment of the cooperation vehicles is updated based on the updated vehicle allocation plan. The vehicle allocation management device according to claim 5.

9. the dispatch instruction unit instructs the selected cooperation vehicles that have not been deployed along the specific travel route to monitor a surrounding environment of the vehicle and transmit information about the surrounding environment. The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 .

10. the dispatch instruction unit instructs the cooperation vehicle to notify people around the cooperation vehicle that the cooperation vehicle is cooperating in the specific activity; The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 .

11. the vehicle selection unit selects an assisting vehicle for guiding the specific vehicle along the specific travel route; the vehicle allocation plan creation unit creates a vehicle allocation plan for the cooperating vehicles to guide the specific vehicle. The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 .

12. the vehicle allocation instruction unit issues a task instruction to the cooperating vehicle for guiding the specific vehicle in accordance with the vehicle allocation plan, to guide the specific vehicle; The vehicle dispatch management device according to claim 11.

13. A vehicle dispatch management method for managing a vehicle dispatch service for a plurality of vehicles in a predetermined service area, comprising: storing vehicle information for each of the plurality of vehicles in a vehicle information database; and performing a vehicle allocation plan based on the vehicle information database, The vehicle dispatch plan is acquiring vehicle information from each of the plurality of vehicles; selecting a vehicle to be allocated to the user from among the plurality of vehicles based on a vehicle allocation request from the user; creating the dispatch plan for the selected vehicles; issuing a dispatch instruction to the vehicles in accordance with the dispatch plan; selecting the vehicle includes selecting, as a cooperation vehicle, a vehicle that has not yet been dispatched to the user from among the plurality of vehicles, with reference to the vehicle information database based on specific situation information related to the driving of the specific vehicle; creating the vehicle allocation plan includes creating the vehicle allocation plan so that some of the cooperating vehicles are deployed at specific deployment points along specific driving routes of the specific vehicles; issuing the vehicle allocation instruction includes issuing a movement instruction to the cooperating vehicles so that some of the cooperating vehicles are deployed to the specific deployment point in accordance with the vehicle allocation plan. Vehicle allocation management method.

14. 1. A computer program that causes a computing device to execute a vehicle dispatch management method for managing a vehicle dispatch service for a plurality of vehicles in a predetermined service area, the computer program comprising: The vehicle allocation management method includes: storing vehicle information for each of the plurality of vehicles in a vehicle information database; and performing a vehicle allocation plan based on the vehicle information database. The vehicle dispatch plan is acquiring vehicle information from each of the plurality of vehicles; selecting a vehicle to be allocated to the user from among the plurality of vehicles based on a vehicle allocation request from the user; creating the dispatch plan for the selected vehicles; issuing a dispatch instruction to the vehicles in accordance with the dispatch plan; selecting the vehicle includes selecting, as a cooperation vehicle, a vehicle that has not yet been dispatched to the user from among the plurality of vehicles, with reference to the vehicle information database based on specific situation information related to the driving of the specific vehicle; creating the vehicle allocation plan includes creating the vehicle allocation plan so that some of the cooperating vehicles are deployed at specific deployment points along specific driving routes of the specific vehicles; issuing the vehicle allocation instruction includes issuing a movement instruction to the cooperating vehicles so that some of the cooperating vehicles are deployed to the specific deployment point in accordance with the vehicle allocation plan. Computer program.

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