Program and ride comfort sensory device

Abstract

To provide a program for making a computer execute as a riding comfort feeling device for easily making a rider feel a relation between riding comfort of a vehicle and a suspension characteristic.SOLUTION: A position acquiring step S102 of acquiring a traveling position of the automobile, a determining step S104 of determining, based on the traveling position, whether the automobile will enter an evaluation interval that is a road surface interval in which ride comfort is experienced, the road surface interval being stored in advance, a first notifying step S104 of notifying a passenger that the automobile will enter the evaluation interval when it is determined in the determining step S108 that the automobile will enter the evaluation interval, and explanation steps S112 and S113 for explaining the suspension of the automobile affecting the ride comfort of the automobile according to the evaluation section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a program and a ride comfort experience device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a damping force control device that controls the damping force of a vehicle suspension device. When the driver switches the damping force mode, this damping force control device corrects the amount of change in damping force after switching so that it is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. This allows the driver to feel the change in vehicle behavior due to the change in suspension characteristics. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-52645 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The damping force control device of Patent Document 1 only allows the driver to feel a change in suspension characteristics when switching the damping force mode. The behavior of a vehicle also changes depending on the road surface characteristics on which the vehicle is traveling. For this reason, the driver's bodily sensation varies not only depending on the difference in suspension characteristics but also on the difference in the road surface characteristics on which the vehicle is traveling, and there is a risk that the driver will not be able to clearly feel the difference in suspension characteristics.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional situation, and aims to solve the problem of providing a program for causing a computer to run as a ride comfort experience device that makes it easy for a passenger to experience the relationship between the ride comfort of a vehicle and the suspension characteristics, and a ride comfort experience device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The program for causing a computer to operate as a ride comfort experience device of the present invention, which allows a passenger to experience the ride comfort of a vehicle, causes the computer to execute the following steps: a position acquisition step for acquiring the vehicle's traveling position; a judgment step for determining whether the vehicle is entering the evaluation section, which is a road section where a ride comfort that has been pre-stored based on the traveling position is experienced; a first notification step for notifying the passenger that the vehicle is entering the evaluation section if it is determined in the judgment step that the vehicle will enter the evaluation section; and an explanation step for explaining the vehicle's suspension, which affects the ride comfort of the vehicle according to the evaluation section, either while the vehicle is traveling through the evaluation section or after the vehicle has traveled through the evaluation section. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a ride comfort experience device according to first and second embodiments. [Figure 2] 1 is a flowchart showing steps executed by the smartphone of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing steps of a method for setting an evaluation interval. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing steps executed by a smartphone according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. Any combination of the following embodiments without causing any contradiction is also included in the embodiments for carrying out the invention.

[0009] [1] A program for causing a computer to operate as a ride comfort experience device that allows a passenger to experience the ride comfort of a vehicle includes a position acquisition step for acquiring the vehicle's traveling position, a determination step for determining whether the vehicle is entering an evaluation section, which is a road section where a ride comfort is to be experienced that is pre-stored based on the traveling position, a first notification step for notifying the passenger that the vehicle is entering the evaluation section if the determination step determines that the vehicle is entering the evaluation section, and an explanation step for explaining the vehicle's suspension, which affects the ride comfort of the vehicle according to the evaluation section, either while the vehicle is traveling through the evaluation section or after the vehicle has traveled through the evaluation section. The program for causing a computer to operate as a ride comfort experience device allows the passenger to experience the ride comfort of the vehicle traveling through the evaluation section and explains the vehicle's suspension, which is related to the ride comfort according to the road surface conditions of the evaluation section. Therefore, the program for causing a computer to operate as a ride comfort experience device makes it easy for the passenger to experience the relationship between the vehicle's ride comfort and the suspension characteristics. Specifically, the program for running a computer as this ride comfort experience device allows the passenger to experience the ride comfort of the vehicle when the vehicle's suspension is an electronically controlled suspension, by performing controls such as skyhook control, control to suppress the bouncy feeling near sprung resonance, control to suppress fluttering near unsprung resonance, and roll control to suppress excessive roll during cornering. [2] The program for causing a computer to function as the ride comfort experience device described in [1] above may execute a second notification step of notifying the user that the vehicle has completed traveling through the evaluation section. In this case, the user can be sure that the vehicle has completed traveling through the evaluation section. Therefore, the program for causing a computer to function as the ride comfort experience device allows the user to experience the relationship between the vehicle's ride comfort and the suspension characteristics. [3] The program for causing a computer to operate as the ride comfort experience device described in [1] or [2] above may have an evaluation section setting mode in which the evaluation section is set based on information acquired in advance. In this case, the program for causing a computer to operate as the ride comfort experience device may allow a passenger to experience the relationship between the ride comfort of the vehicle and the suspension characteristics by setting the evaluation section to a section with road surface characteristics that make it easy to experience the ride comfort. [4] The evaluation section setting mode in the program for causing a computer to function as the ride comfort experience device described in [3] above may be a first evaluation section setting mode that extracts the evaluation section from a section that the vehicle has previously passed through. In this case, the program for causing a computer to function as the ride comfort experience device sets the evaluation section to a section that the vehicle has previously passed through in the first evaluation section setting mode. Therefore, the passenger has previously experienced the road surface characteristics of the evaluation section. Therefore, the program for causing a computer to function as the ride comfort experience device makes it easier for the passenger to experience the relationship between the vehicle's ride comfort and suspension characteristics. [5] The evaluation section setting mode in the program for running a computer as the ride comfort experience device described in [3] above may be a second evaluation section setting mode that extracts the evaluation section from map information containing information on road surface characteristics. In this case, the program for running a computer as the ride comfort experience device uses the second evaluation section setting mode to set a section with road surface characteristics that facilitates a comfortable ride as the evaluation section from map information containing information on road surface characteristics such as elevation, curves, and steps. Therefore, the program for running a computer as the ride comfort experience device makes it easier for the passenger to experience the relationship between the vehicle's ride comfort and suspension characteristics. Here, "elevation" refers to areas with large gradient changes at the entrances and exits of elevated roads and slopes, undulating roads, underpasses, etc.; "curves" refers to mountain roads, coastal curves, highway junctions, lane changes, etc.; and "steps" refers to bridge joints, step paving (painted) to suppress driving speed, and, in the case of a database of road surface characteristics, information on cracks, potholes, etc.

[0010] [6] In the program for causing a computer to operate as the ride comfort experience device described in any one of [1] to [5] above, the vehicle may be equipped with an electronically controlled suspension, and the program may include a damping force switching step of switching control of the damping force characteristics of the electronically controlled suspension between an ON state and an OFF state when the vehicle travels through the evaluation section. In this case, the program for causing a computer to operate as the ride comfort experience device allows the passenger to experience the ride comfort resulting from the difference between the ON state and the OFF state of the control of the damping force characteristics of the electronically controlled suspension. Therefore, the program for causing a computer to operate as the ride comfort experience device makes it easier for the passenger to experience the relationship between the vehicle's ride comfort and the suspension characteristics. [7] The ride comfort experience device of the present invention allows a passenger to experience the ride comfort of a vehicle by causing a computer to execute any of the programs described in [1] to [6] above. This ride comfort experience device allows a passenger to experience the ride comfort of a vehicle traveling through a specified evaluation section, and also explains the vehicle suspension related to the ride comfort according to the road surface conditions of this evaluation section, making it easy for the passenger to experience the relationship between the vehicle ride comfort and the suspension characteristics.

[0011] First and second embodiments of the ride comfort experience device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] <Embodiment 1> As shown in FIG. 1, the ride comfort experience device of the first embodiment includes a single SCU (Suspension Control Unit) 10 installed in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, and a smartphone 20 installed with an application program for providing a ride comfort experience. The smartphone 20 corresponds to a computer, and the application program corresponds to a program. The SCU 10 controls the damping force characteristics of variable damping force shock absorbers 31 provided in each of the electronically controlled suspensions 30 arranged between the vehicle body and each wheel. Each shock absorber 31 has a solenoid adjustment valve (not shown) that adjusts the damping force characteristics. Each shock absorber 31 can adjust the damping force characteristics continuously according to the value of the control current flowing through the solenoid adjustment valve.

[0013] <SCU10について> As shown in FIG. 1, the SCU 10 includes a microcomputer 11, a power supply circuit 12, a wireless module 13, an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) sensor module 14, a drive circuit 15, and a current detection circuit 16.

[0014] The power supply circuit 12 is connected to a 12V battery (not shown) mounted in the automobile in which the SCU 10 is installed. In response to an ignition ON signal from the automobile, the power supply circuit 12 sends a start signal to the microcomputer 11 and starts supplying power from the battery to the microcomputer 11. In response to an ignition OFF signal from the automobile, the power supply circuit 12 sends a stop signal to the microcomputer 11 and stops supplying power from the battery to the microcomputer 11.

[0015] The wireless module 13 transmits and receives various data to and from the smartphone 20 (described later) using Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication. The wireless module 13 transfers various data to and from the microcomputer 11.

[0016] The IMU sensor module 14 is equipped with a three-axis acceleration sensor and a three-axis gyro sensor. The IMU sensor module 14 detects the roll, pitch, and yaw accelerations of the vehicle, as well as the forward / backward, left / right, and up / down accelerations. In other words, the IMU sensor module 14 detects the behavior of the vehicle (including vibrations). The IMU sensor module 14 sends each detected acceleration data to the microcomputer 11.

[0017] The drive circuit 15 passes a control current to the solenoid control valve of each shock absorber 31 based on the control current data sent from the microcomputer 11. The current detection circuit 16 detects the value of the current flowing through the solenoid control valve of each shock absorber 31. The current value detected by the current detection circuit 16 is sent to the microcomputer 11 and is used for feedback control of the control current value to the solenoid control valve of each shock absorber 31.

[0018] The microcomputer 11 receives power from the power supply circuit 12. The microcomputer 11 starts up when a startup signal is sent from the power supply circuit 12. That is, the SCU 10 starts up. The microcomputer 11 shuts down when a termination signal is sent from the power supply circuit 12. That is, the SCU 10 shuts down. The microcomputer 11 sends each acceleration data sent from the IMU sensor module 14 and detection data sent from various sensors provided in the vehicle to the wireless module 13.

[0019] The microcomputer 11 receives detection data detected by various sensors 40, such as a speed sensor, provided in the vehicle. The microcomputer 11 calculates a control current value based on various data transmitted from the smartphone 20 via the wireless module 13, acceleration data transmitted from the IMU sensor module 14, a current value transmitted from the current detection circuit 16, and detection data transmitted from the various sensors 40 provided in the vehicle. The microcomputer 11 transmits the calculated control current value to the drive circuit 15. In this way, the SCU 10 controls the damping force characteristics of each shock absorber 31. The SCU 10 can turn ON / OFF control of the damping force characteristics of each shock absorber 31 (hereinafter referred to as "damping force control").

[0020] <About the smartphone 20 with the application program installed> The smartphone 20 includes a communication unit 22 that supports Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like. The communication unit 22 can communicate with the SCU 10 via Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication, and transmits and receives various data.

[0021] When a passenger brings the smartphone 20 into the vehicle and starts the application program, the smartphone 20 is connected to the SCU 10 installed in the vehicle via Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication. The passenger can operate the smartphone 20 to adjust the damping force characteristics of each shock absorber 31. In this way, this ride comfort device allows the passenger to experience changes in the ride comfort of the vehicle depending on the electronically controlled suspension 30 equipped with shock absorbers 31 having different damping force characteristics.

[0022] <Steps executed by the smartphone 20> In order to allow a passenger to experience the comfort of the car, the smartphone 20 executes each step according to an application program as shown in Fig. 2. The smartphone 20 incorporates a display screen 21, a communication unit 22, a memory 23, a GPS unit 24, an audio input / output unit 25, an IMU sensor module 26, and an analysis unit 27.

[0023] The smartphone 20 displays an effect experience mode switch for selecting the control effect experience mode on the display screen 21. The passenger presses the effect experience mode switch to turn on the control effect experience mode (step S101). Then, the smartphone 20 searches for an evaluation section (steps S103 to S104) while checking the current driving position of the vehicle (step S102). Step S102 corresponds to a position acquisition step. Step S104 corresponds to a determination step. The evaluation section is a road section where a ride comfort can be easily experienced. A plurality of evaluation sections are set from information acquired in advance. The information acquired in advance is a section extracted in advance from sections previously traveled or from map information. The evaluation section is a section where the effects of control for suppressing a bouncy feeling near sprung resonance, control for suppressing fluttering near unsprung resonance, roll control for suppressing excessive roll during cornering, etc. can be easily confirmed. A method for setting the evaluation section will be described later. Each evaluation section is stored in the memory 23 of the smartphone 20. Each evaluation section may be stored in the cloud.

[0024] The smartphone 20 can check the traveling position of the automobile using the GPS unit 24. When the automobile approaches the evaluation section, the smartphone 20 checks whether the damping force control of the SCU 10 is in the OFF state (step S105). If the damping force control of the SCU 10 is in the OFF state, the smartphone 20 turns the damping force control ON (step S106). Step S106 corresponds to a damping force switching step. As a result, the passenger experiences a comfortable ride from the ON state of the damping force control. Note that the GPS unit 24 of the smartphone 20 may determine that the automobile is approaching (entering) the evaluation section based on the fact that the automobile has been moving toward the evaluation section for a certain section or a certain period of time.

[0025] Before the vehicle enters the evaluation section, the smartphone 20 notifies the passengers through the voice input / output unit 25 that the passengers should experience the difference in ride comfort in the evaluation section (step S108). This notification allows the passengers to recognize that the vehicle is entering the evaluation section. Step S108 corresponds to a first notification step. Note that the smartphone 20 may notify the passengers by displaying on the display screen 21 that the vehicle is entering the evaluation section. Thereafter, the smartphone 20 detects through the built-in GPS unit 24 that the vehicle is traveling through the evaluation section (step S109). During this time, the passengers experience the ride comfort of the vehicle. When the smartphone 20 detects through the built-in GPS unit 24 that the vehicle has completed traveling through the evaluation section, the smartphone 20 notifies the passengers that traveling through the evaluation section has completed through the voice input / output unit 25 (step S110). Step S110 corresponds to a second notification step.

[0026] Thereafter, the smartphone 20 checks whether the damping force control is in the OFF state (step S111). At this time, since the damping force control is in the ON state, the smartphone 20 notifies the driver of the manufacturer's master driver or the developer of an explanation about the ride comfort when the damping force control is in the ON state, the suspension tuning concept, etc., via the voice input / output unit 25 (step S112). Step S112 corresponds to the explanation step. At this time, basic information such as the role, function, and configuration of the suspension may also be notified. This notification allows the passenger to realize the value of the product and the invisible effect of the control. This notification may be made while the vehicle is traveling through the evaluation section.

[0027] Thereafter, the smartphone 20 checks whether the control effect feeling mode is OFF. The audio input / output unit 25 may notify the occupant whether they wish to experience the same evaluation section with the damping force control OFF, allowing the occupant to select whether to continue the effect feeling mode (step S114). If the control effect feeling mode is ON, the audio input / output unit 25 notifies the occupant to return to the same evaluation section (step S115). This notification prompts the driver of the vehicle to drive the vehicle so as to travel again through the previously passed evaluation section. Note that the same evaluation section is not required as long as a similar experience can be found in a nearby location, such as a step at a bridge joint or a curve on a mountain road. For example, if there are two steps where a similar experience can be found, the control effect feeling mode may be OFF for one of them and ON for the other. This eliminates the need to return to the same location, allowing the occupant to efficiently experience the ride comfort. Furthermore, if the distance is relatively short, experiencing the ride comfort in a short period of time makes it easier for the occupant to experience the ride comfort.

[0028] Thereafter, the smartphone 20 returns to the above-described step S102, executes each step from step S102 to step S104, and because the damping force control is in the ON state in step S105, turns the damping force control OFF (step S107). Step S107 corresponds to a damping force switching step. Thereafter, the smartphone 20 executes each step from step S108 to step S110 described above. At this time, the automobile travels in the same evaluation section, and the passenger experiences the ride comfort of the automobile in the same evaluation section.

[0029] Thereafter, the smartphone 20 checks whether the damping force control is in the OFF state (step S111). At this time, since the damping force control is in the OFF state, the smartphone 20 notifies the audio input / output unit 25 with an explanation from the manufacturer's master driver or the developer about the ride comfort when the damping force control is in the OFF state (step S113). Step S113 corresponds to the explanation step. This notification may be made while the vehicle is traveling in the evaluation section.

[0030] Thereafter, the smartphone 20 checks whether the control effect feeling mode is OFF (step S114), and if the effect feeling mode switch is pressed and the control effect feeling mode is OFF, the smartphone 20 asks the user to input by voice from the voice input unit the difference in ride comfort and satisfaction level experienced while traveling in the evaluation section (step S116). In this way, the ride comfort feeling device, which is the smartphone 20 running the application program, can allow the passenger to experience the ride comfort of the automobile in the ON state and the OFF state of the damping force control in the same evaluation section.

[0031] <How to set the evaluation interval> The application program installed on the smartphone 20 has an evaluation section setting mode that sets an evaluation section based on information acquired in advance. There are two possible methods for setting the evaluation section, as shown below. The evaluation section in the ride comfort experience device described above uses one of the evaluation sections set by these methods.

[0032] <Setting method 1> In the first evaluation section setting mode, the smartphone 20 analyzes, in the analysis unit 27, the measurement values ​​measured by the IMU sensor module 14 provided in the SCU 10 installed in the vehicle, the IMU sensor module 26 built in the smartphone 20, the GPS unit 24 built in the smartphone 20, and the like for the area in which the vehicle usually travels, extracts and sets several road sections where the vehicle can easily experience ride comfort, and records the extracted road sections in the memory 23 of the smartphone 20. In other words, the evaluation section set in the first evaluation section setting mode is extracted and set from sections that the vehicle has previously passed through. More specifically, the smartphone 20 displays an evaluation section setting mode switch for selecting the evaluation section setting mode on the display screen 21 (not shown). As shown in FIG. 3, the passenger presses the evaluation section setting mode switch to turn on the evaluation section setting mode (step S10). While the vehicle is traveling for a certain period of time in an area where the vehicle normally travels, the smartphone 20 measures and stores the vehicle's traveling position, traveling pattern, vibrations, and the like using the IMU sensor module 14 provided in the SCU 10 arranged in the vehicle, the IMU sensor module 26 built in the smartphone 20, and the GPS unit 24 built in the smartphone 20 (steps S11 and S12). The smartphone 20 determines the vehicle's behavior and road surface characteristics from the recorded vehicle's traveling position, traveling pattern, vibrations, and the like in the analysis unit 27 (step S13). The smartphone 20 extracts and sets several evaluation sections where the ride is likely to be comfortable based on the determined vehicle behavior and road surface characteristics, and records the information in the memory 23 (step S14). Note that the analysis unit 27 may be a management server that manages a map information database, as long as it can acquire vehicle behavior information via the smartphone 20.

[0033] <Setting method 2> In the second evaluation section setting mode, when evaluation sections where it is easy to experience a comfortable ride due to sections prone to roll or bumps such as joints are set based on vehicle behavior in a map information database that accumulates road surface data and analysis results of road surface properties collected from vehicles equipped with detectors that detect vehicle behavior using gyro sensors, steering sensors, etc., the smartphone 20 extracts and sets several evaluation sections where it is easy to experience a comfortable ride in cooperation with an application program installed on the smartphone 20, and records the information in memory. In this way, it is possible to set evaluation sections even in sections that have not been passed over before.

[0034] <Embodiment 2> The ride comfort experience device of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a so-called passive suspension without electronic control is arranged between the body of the automobile and each wheel. Accordingly, each step that the application program causes the smartphone 20 to execute differs from that of the first embodiment, as will be described below.

[0035] <Steps executed by the smartphone 20> The smartphone 20 executes each step according to an application program as shown in FIG. 4 to allow the passenger to experience the comfort of the car.

[0036] The smartphone 20 displays an effect experience mode switch for selecting the control effect experience mode on the display screen 21 (not shown). The passenger presses the effect experience mode switch to turn on the control effect experience mode (step S301). Then, vehicle model information is input (step S302). Vehicle model information includes the manufacturer, vehicle model, grade, year, mileage, etc. Vehicle model information includes, in terms of use, "standard passenger car," "light four-wheel passenger car," "small cargo vehicle" such as a light van, or "standard cargo vehicle" such as a truck, and in terms of body type, "sedan," "sports," "station wagon," "van," "SUV," etc. Note that the vehicle information may be registered in advance in the smartphone 20, and the application program may read out the registered vehicle information when the control effect experience mode is turned on.

[0037] Next, the smartphone 20 searches for the evaluation section (steps S303 to S305) while checking the current traveling position (step S303) until it approaches the evaluation section. Step S303 corresponds to the position acquisition step. Step S305 corresponds to the determination step. The evaluation section is a road section where it is easy to determine the superiority or inferiority of the shock absorber performance because the shock absorber characteristics (damping force characteristics) are fixed in so-called passive suspension without electronic control, and is set from information acquired in advance.

[0038] Before the vehicle enters the evaluation section, the smartphone 20 notifies the user through the voice input / output unit 25 that the vehicle is entering the evaluation section (step S306). This notification allows the user to recognize that the vehicle is entering the evaluation section. Step S306 corresponds to a first notification step. Thereafter, the smartphone 20 detects through the built-in GPS unit 24 that the vehicle is traveling through the evaluation section (step S307). During this time, the user experiences the comfort of the vehicle's ride. When the built-in GPS unit 24 detects that the vehicle has finished traveling through the evaluation section, the smartphone 20 notifies the user through the voice input / output unit 25 that traveling through the evaluation section has ended (step S308). Step S308 corresponds to a second notification step.

[0039] Thereafter, the smartphone 20 notifies the driver of the manufacturer or the developer of explanations about the characteristics, tuning concept, ride comfort, etc. of the installed shock absorber through the voice input / output unit 25 (step S309). Step S309 corresponds to the explanation step. This notification allows the passenger to realize the value of the product and the invisible control effects. This notification may be made while the vehicle is traveling through the evaluation section.

[0040] Thereafter, the smartphone 20 checks whether the control effect experience mode is OFF (step S310), and if the control effect experience mode is ON, the smartphone 20 notifies the driver from the voice input / output unit 25 to return to the same evaluation section (step S311). This notification causes the driver of the vehicle to drive the vehicle again through the evaluation section that was previously passed through.

[0041] Thereafter, the smartphone 20 returns to step S303 described above and executes each step from step S303 to step S309. At this time, the automobile travels through the same evaluation section, and the passenger experiences the ride comfort of the automobile through the same evaluation section.

[0042] Thereafter, the smartphone 20 checks whether the control effect experience mode is OFF (step S310), and if the effect experience mode switch is pressed and the control effect experience mode is OFF, the smartphone 20 asks the user to input by voice from the voice input unit the ride comfort and satisfaction level experienced while traveling in the evaluation section (step S312). In this way, the ride comfort experience device, which is the smartphone 20 that has executed the application program, can allow the passenger to experience the ride comfort of an automobile in which so-called passive suspensions are arranged between the vehicle body and each wheel, in the same evaluation section.

[0043] As described above, the program for causing the smartphone 20 to operate as a ride comfort experience device that allows the passenger in embodiments 1 and 2 to experience the ride comfort of the vehicle causes the smartphone 20 to execute the following steps: a position acquisition step (S102, S303) in which the GPS unit 24 acquires the vehicle's driving position; a determination step (S104, S305) in which it is determined whether the vehicle is entering an evaluation section, which is a road section where the passenger can experience the ride comfort that has been pre-stored based on the vehicle's driving position; a first notification step (S108, S306) in which, if it is determined in the determination step (S104, S305) that the vehicle is entering the evaluation section, the first notification step notifies the passenger that the vehicle is entering the evaluation section; and an explanation step (S112, S113, S309) in which, after the vehicle has traveled through the evaluation section, the explanation step explains the vehicle's suspension, which affects the vehicle's ride comfort according to the evaluation section. The program for running the smartphone 20 as this ride comfort experience device allows the passenger to experience the ride comfort of the automobile traveling through the evaluation section, and the audio input / output unit 25 of the smartphone 20 explains the automobile suspension related to the ride comfort according to the road surface conditions of the evaluation section. Therefore, the application program for running the smartphone 20 as this ride comfort experience device makes it easy for the passenger to experience the relationship between the automobile ride comfort and the suspension characteristics.

[0044] The application program for causing the smartphone 20 to function as the ride comfort experience device of the first and second embodiments executes a second notification step (S110, S308) of notifying the user that the vehicle has completed traveling through the evaluation section via the voice input / output unit 25. This allows the passenger to reliably recognize that traveling through the evaluation section has completed, thereby enabling the passenger to experience the relationship between the vehicle's ride comfort and the suspension characteristics.

[0045] The application program for causing the smartphone 20 to function as the ride comfort experience device of the first and second embodiments has an evaluation section setting mode for setting an evaluation section from information acquired in advance. Therefore, the application program for causing the smartphone 20 to function as the ride comfort experience device allows the rider to experience the relationship between the ride comfort of the vehicle and the suspension characteristics by setting a section with road surface characteristics that make it easy to experience the ride comfort as the evaluation section.

[0046] The evaluation section setting mode in the application program for causing the smartphone 20 to function as the ride comfort experience device in the first and second embodiments is a first evaluation section extraction mode in which an evaluation section is extracted from a section that the automobile has previously passed through, which is acquired by the GPS unit 24 of the smartphone 20. Therefore, the application program for causing the smartphone 20 to function as this ride comfort experience device sets the evaluation section to a section that the automobile has previously passed through. Therefore, the passenger has previously experienced the road surface characteristics of this evaluation section. Therefore, the application program for causing the smartphone 20 to function as this ride comfort experience device makes it easier for the passenger to experience the relationship between the automobile's ride comfort and suspension characteristics.

[0047] The evaluation section setting mode in the application program for running the smartphone 20 as the ride comfort experience device of Embodiments 1 and 2 is a second evaluation section setting mode that extracts an evaluation section from map information that includes information on road surface properties. Therefore, the application program for running the smartphone 20 as this ride comfort experience device sets, as the evaluation section, a section with road surface properties that make it easy to experience ride comfort, based on map information that includes information on road surface properties such as elevations, curves, and steps. Therefore, the application program for running the smartphone 20 as this ride comfort experience device makes it easier for the passenger to experience the relationship between the ride comfort of the automobile and the suspension characteristics.

[0048] In the application program for causing the smartphone 20 to function as the ride comfort experience device of the first embodiment, the automobile is equipped with an electronically controlled suspension 30, and includes a damping force switching step (S106, S107) for switching ON and OFF control of the damping force characteristics of the electronically controlled suspension 30 when the automobile travels through an evaluation section. Therefore, the application program for causing the smartphone 20 to function as the ride comfort experience device allows the passenger to experience the ride comfort resulting from the difference between the ON and OFF states of the damping force characteristics control of the electronically controlled suspension 30. Therefore, the application program for causing the smartphone 20 to function as the ride comfort experience device makes it easier for the passenger to experience the relationship between the vehicle's ride comfort and the suspension characteristics.

[0049] The ride comfort experience device of the first and second embodiments allows a passenger to experience ride comfort by executing an application program on the smartphone 20. This ride comfort experience device allows a passenger to experience the ride comfort of a vehicle traveling through a specified evaluation section, and the audio input / output unit 25 provides an explanation about the vehicle suspension related to the ride comfort according to the road surface conditions of the evaluation section, making it easy for the passenger to experience the relationship between the ride comfort of the vehicle and the suspension characteristics.

[0050] The present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments described above with reference to the drawings, and the following embodiments are also included within the technical scope of the present invention. (1) In the first embodiment, the passenger is allowed to experience the ride comfort of the vehicle with the damping force control in the ON state and the OFF state during normal driving. However, the smartphone 20 executing the application program does not need to notify the passenger to return to the same evaluation section. In this case, when the effect experience mode is set, the vehicle is caused to run with the damping force control in the OFF state and the ON state. In this way, the passenger can experience the damping force control in the same evaluation section at any timing, and therefore there is no need to return to the same evaluation section. (2) The ride comfort experience device in the first and second embodiments uses a smartphone 20. However, the ride comfort experience device may use a tablet or a personal computer having a communication function such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). (3) The ride comfort experience device of the first and second embodiments is for experiencing the ride comfort of an automobile. However, the ride comfort experience device may be for experiencing the ride comfort of a railway vehicle. (4) In the ride comfort experience device of the first embodiment, each electronically controlled suspension 30 is controlled by one SCU 10. However, the ride comfort experience device may be provided with one SCU for each electronically controlled suspension. In this case, it is sufficient that the smartphone and each SCU can communicate using Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication. (5) The ride comfort experience device of the first embodiment allows a passenger to experience the ride comfort of a vehicle in the ON and OFF states of the damping force control. In contrast, the ride comfort experience device does not need to be able to turn the damping force control ON and OFF. (6) The ride comfort experience device of the first embodiment can change the damping force characteristics of the shock absorbers 31 of the electronically controlled suspensions 30 using the smartphone 20. In contrast, the ride comfort experience device does not necessarily have to be able to change the damping force characteristics of the shock absorbers of each electronically controlled suspension using a smartphone. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10...SCU (control unit), 20...smartphone (computer), 21...display screen, 22...communication unit, 23...memory (storage unit), 24...GPS unit, 25...audio input / output unit, 26...IMU sensor module, 27...analysis unit, 30...electronically controlled suspension, 31...shock absorber, S102, S303...position acquisition step, S104, S305...determination step, S106, S107...damping force switching step, S108, S306...first notification step, S110, S308...second notification step, S112, S113, S309...explanation step

Claims

1. A program for causing a computer to execute a ride comfort experience device that allows a passenger to experience the ride comfort of a vehicle, a position acquisition step of acquiring a traveling position of the vehicle; a determination step of determining whether the vehicle enters an evaluation section, which is a road surface section where a ride comfort is experienced and which is stored in advance based on the traveling position; a first notification step of notifying the passenger that the vehicle will enter the evaluation section when it is determined in the determination step that the vehicle will enter the evaluation section; an explanation step of explaining a suspension of the vehicle that affects the ride comfort of the vehicle according to the evaluation section, either while the vehicle is traveling through the evaluation section or after the vehicle has traveled through the evaluation section; A program that causes the computer to execute the above.

2. The program according to claim 1 , further comprising a second notification step of notifying the computer that the vehicle has completed traveling through the evaluation section.

3. 3. The program according to claim 1, further comprising an evaluation interval setting mode for setting the evaluation interval from information acquired in advance.

4. 4. The program according to claim 3, wherein the evaluation section setting mode is a first evaluation section setting mode in which the evaluation section is extracted from a section that the vehicle has previously passed through.

5. 4. The program according to claim 3, wherein the evaluation section setting mode is a second evaluation section setting mode in which the evaluation section is extracted from map information including information on road surface properties.

6. the vehicle is equipped with an electronically controlled suspension; 3. The program according to claim 1, further comprising a damping force switching step of switching control of the damping force characteristics of the electronically controlled suspension between an ON state and an OFF state when the vehicle travels through the evaluation section.

7. A ride comfort experience device that allows a passenger to experience the ride comfort of a vehicle by causing a computer to execute the program according to claim 1 or 2.

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