Tire condition management device, program, and tire condition management method

Abstract

A tire condition management device, program, and tire condition management method are provided that enable appropriate vehicle control in response to tire abnormalities during autonomous driving. [Solution] The tire condition management device (10) includes an acquisition unit (131) that acquires information on the internal pressure and position of the tire detected by a detection device (70) mounted on the vehicle, a calculation unit (132) that calculates the rate at which the internal pressure of the abnormal tire decreases based on the information on the internal pressure of the tire, and a determination unit (133) that determines a tire abnormality category that includes at least burst and rapid leak based on the calculated rate at which the internal pressure decreases, and determines the content of the notification based on the combination of the tire abnormality category and whether the abnormal tire is a front wheel or a rear wheel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a tire condition management device, a program, and a tire condition management method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that is mounted on a vehicle and detects and warns of an undesirable pressure drop in a tire has been known. Also, so-called autonomous driving, which automatically drives a vehicle without requiring the driver's active operation, has been in the spotlight. For example, the autonomous driving system of Patent Document 1 acquires tire information including the tire pressure of each wheel of a vehicle, and searches for a route from the current position to a predetermined guidance point according to the degree of the tire pressure drop.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Here, in the autonomous driving system of Patent Document 1, guidance is provided to a place where parking is possible or a facility that can cope with a tire pressure drop only based on the result of comparing the tire pressure with a threshold value. However, especially in autonomous driving, depending on the combination of the type and position of a tire puncture, whether to prioritize avoiding a collision accident or to prioritize avoiding an in-vehicle accident is different.

[0005] In view of such circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a tire condition management device, a program, and a tire condition management method that enable appropriate vehicle control according to a tire abnormality in autonomous driving.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] (1) A tire condition management device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, A tire condition management device that outputs a notification regarding the operation of a vehicle according to the condition of the tires mounted on the vehicle to an automatic driving processing unit that provides an automatic driving function for a vehicle with dual rear wheels, An acquisition unit that acquires information on the internal pressure of the tire and the position of the tire detected by a detection device mounted on the vehicle, A calculation unit that calculates the rate of decrease in the internal pressure of a tire where an abnormality has occurred, based on the information of the internal pressure of the aforementioned tire, The system includes a determination unit that determines a tire abnormality category, including at least bursting and rapid leaking, based on the calculated internal pressure decrease rate, and determines the content of the notification based on the combination of the tire abnormality category and the category of the front or rear wheel of the tire in which the abnormality occurred. This configuration enables appropriate vehicle control in response to tire abnormalities during autonomous driving.

[0007] (2) As one embodiment of the present disclosure, in (1), The determination unit determines that if the tire abnormality category is a burst and the abnormal tire is a rear wheel, the notification should instruct the vehicle to stop at a nearby safe location using the normal brakes. This configuration allows for quick stopping while prioritizing the avoidance of accidents inside the vehicle.

[0008] (3) In one embodiment of the present disclosure, in (1) or (2), The determination unit determines that if the tire abnormality category is the rapid leak and the tire experiencing the abnormality is a front wheel, the notification should instruct the vehicle to stop at a nearby safe location using the normal brakes. This configuration allows for quick stopping while prioritizing the avoidance of accidents inside the vehicle.

[0009] (4) In one embodiment of the present disclosure, in any of (1) to (3), The determination unit determines that if the tire abnormality category is the rapid leak and the abnormal tire is a rear wheel, and the internal pressure of the abnormal tire is below a first threshold, the notification should be such that the vehicle should be stopped immediately. This configuration allows for prioritizing the avoidance of tire damage.

[0010] (5) In one embodiment of the present disclosure, in any of (1) to (4), The determination unit determines that if the tire abnormality category is the rapid leak and the abnormal tire is a rear wheel, and the internal pressure of the abnormal tire is greater than or equal to the first threshold and less than the second threshold, the notification should instruct the vehicle to decelerate using the normal brakes and stop at the next predetermined stopping point. This configuration allows for a quick stop while prioritizing the continuation of immediate operations.

[0011] (6) In one embodiment of the present disclosure, in any of (1) to (5), The determination unit does not determine the tire abnormality category or the content of the notification if the tire abnormality category is a burst and the tire in which the abnormality occurred is a front wheel. This configuration allows for prioritizing the avoidance of collisions.

[0012] (7) A program according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is A tire condition management device outputs notifications regarding the operation of a vehicle according to the condition of the tires mounted on the vehicle to an automatic driving processing unit that provides an automatic driving function for a vehicle with dual rear wheels, To acquire information on the internal pressure of the tire and the position of the tire, detected by a detection device mounted on the vehicle, Based on the information regarding the internal pressure of the aforementioned tire, the rate at which the internal pressure of the abnormal tire decreases is calculated. Based on the calculated internal pressure drop rate, determine a tire abnormality classification including at least burst and rapid leakage, and determine the content of the notification based on the combination of the tire abnormality classification and the classification of the front or rear wheel of the tire in which the abnormality occurred, and cause the above to be executed. With this configuration, it becomes possible to appropriately control the vehicle according to tire abnormalities in autonomous driving.

[0013] (8) The tire state management method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is A tire state management method executed by a tire state management device that outputs a notification regarding the operation of the vehicle according to the state of the tires mounted on the vehicle to an autonomous driving processing unit that provides an autonomous driving function for a vehicle in which the rear wheels are double wheels, Obtain information on the internal pressure of the tire and the position of the tire detected by a detection device mounted on the vehicle; Based on the information on the internal pressure of the tire, calculate the internal pressure drop rate of the tire in which an abnormality has occurred; Based on the calculated internal pressure drop rate, determine a tire abnormality classification including at least burst and rapid leakage, and determine the content of the notification based on the combination of the tire abnormality classification and the classification of the front or rear wheel of the tire in which the abnormality occurred. With this configuration, it becomes possible to appropriately control the vehicle according to tire abnormalities in autonomous driving.

Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a tire state management device, a program, and a tire state management method that enable appropriate control of a vehicle according to tire abnormalities in autonomous driving.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an autonomous driving system including a tire state management device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining processing according to a combination of tire abnormality classification and tire position classification. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an example of a flowchart showing processing of a tire state management method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, a tire state management device 10 (see FIG. 1), a program, and a tire state management method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an automatic driving system. The automatic driving system includes at least a tire state management device 10 and an automatic driving processing unit 113. FIG. 1 is a block diagram including an internal configuration example of the tire state management device 10 and the automatic driving processing unit 113.

[0018] The tire state management device 10 outputs a notification regarding the operation of the vehicle according to the state of the tire 30 mounted on the vehicle to the automatic driving processing unit 113 that provides the automatic driving function of the vehicle. The state of the tire 30 includes at least an abnormality due to air leakage of the tire 30. For example, when the air leakage of the tire 30 is rapid and the steering operation is impossible, an emergency brake may be required to avoid a collision accident. Also, for example, when the air leakage of the tire 30 is large but the steering operation is possible, it may be preferable to prioritize avoiding an in-vehicle accident while decelerating with a normal brake. Here, an in-vehicle accident means that a passenger or occupant is injured inside the vehicle. The conventional technology only compares the internal pressure of the tire 30 with a threshold value and guides the vehicle to a place where it can be stopped or repaired, and does not output a notification regarding the operation of the vehicle according to the state of the tire 30. The tire state management device 10 according to the present embodiment enables appropriate control of the vehicle according to an abnormality of the tire 30 in automatic driving by notifying the automatic driving processing unit 113 of appropriate content with the configuration described below.

[0019] Here, the automatic driving processing unit 113 provides an automatic driving function for a vehicle whose rear wheels are dual wheels (double tires). The vehicle may be, for example, a bus, a truck, or a construction vehicle, and is not limited to a specific type of mobile body as long as the front wheels are single wheels and the rear wheels are dual wheels. In this embodiment, the vehicle is described as a bus that performs automatic driving and transports passengers.

[0020] The tire condition management device 10 comprises a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13. The control unit 13 comprises an acquisition unit 131, a calculation unit 132, a determination unit 133, and an output unit 134. The tire condition management device 10 may be a computer as a hardware configuration. The tire condition management device 10 may be a small computer (dedicated device) that is a single in-vehicle device. As another example, a processor and memory that perform calculation processing for a tire pressure monitoring system may also function as the tire condition management device 10. In other words, a device already installed in a vehicle may also function as the tire condition management device 10. Details of the components of the tire condition management device 10 will be described later. In this embodiment, the tire condition management device 10 is described as a dedicated device.

[0021] In this embodiment, the autonomous driving system includes a detection device 70. The detection device 70 is a device or in-vehicle system equipped with sensors that generates information regarding the state of the tires 30. In this embodiment, the detection device 70 is configured to include a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). The tire pressure monitoring system monitors the pressure (internal pressure) and temperature (internal tire temperature) of the tires 30 mounted on the vehicle. The tire pressure monitoring system may be configured to include, for example, a sensor installed inside the tire 30, a processor that calculates and outputs the pressure of the tire 30 based on the sensor's detected values, and a memory that stores the sensor's detected values. The sensor may include a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor.

[0022] The vehicle also includes an engine 102, a power transmission device 103, a steering device 104, a braking device 105, tires 30, a battery 112, and an automatic driving processing unit 113. The automatic driving processing unit 113 includes a vehicle communication unit 108, an on-board sensor 109, a vehicle control unit 110, and a vehicle memory unit 111. The automatic driving processing unit 113 provides the vehicle's automatic driving function. Here, the automatic driving processing unit 113 is not limited to the configuration shown in Figure 1, and may have various configurations to provide the vehicle's automatic driving function.

[0023] The engine 102 is the power source for driving the vehicle. The engine 102 is started by electricity supplied from the battery 112. The vehicle may be equipped with a motor instead of the engine 102 as a power source. Alternatively, the vehicle may be equipped with both the engine 102 and a motor as power sources.

[0024] The power transmission device 103 transmits power generated from the engine 102 to the tires 30. The power transmission device 103 includes a transmission and the like.

[0025] The steering device 104 is a steering wheel that controls the steering angle of the tires 30.

[0026] The braking system 105 applies braking force to the tires 30. The braking system 105 includes brakes and the like.

[0027] The battery 112 is a secondary battery, such as a lead-acid battery or a lithium-ion battery. The battery 112 supplies power to a power source such as the vehicle's engine 102. The battery 112 may also supply power to various electronic devices mounted on the vehicle, including the automatic driving processing unit 113.

[0028] The vehicle communication unit 108 includes a communication module capable of wireless communication. The vehicle communication unit 108 may include a communication module that supports mobile communication standards such as 4G (4th Generation) and 5G (5th Generation). The vehicle communication unit 108 may communicate with fixed-point sensors installed around the roadway that detect information about the roadway. Information about the roadway may include information about the roadway conditions (such as the presence or absence of other vehicles or obstacles). The fixed-point sensors may include LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors that emit electromagnetic waves such as infrared rays and millimeter waves, and detect reflected waves from surrounding objects to detect surrounding objects and the distance to those objects. The vehicle communication unit 108 may output the received information about the roadway to the vehicle control unit 110.

[0029] Furthermore, the vehicle communication unit 108 includes a communication module capable of communicating with external devices, including the tire condition management device 10. The vehicle communication unit 108 may communicate wirelessly with external devices, including the tire condition management device 10, or it may communicate via wired connection, for example, if the external devices are mounted on the vehicle.

[0030] The on-board sensor 109 detects information about the vehicle. The information detected by the on-board sensor 109 may include the vehicle's position, speed, and acceleration. The information detected by the on-board sensor 109 may also include information about the surrounding conditions of the vehicle. The on-board sensor 109 may also include a GPS sensor that detects the vehicle's position using a positioning system such as GPS (Global Positioning System). The on-board sensor 109 may also include a camera that captures images of the area around the vehicle, such as a monochrome camera or a stereo camera. The on-board sensor 109 outputs the detected information about the vehicle to the vehicle control unit 110.

[0031] The vehicle control unit 110 is one or more processors. The processors are, for example, general-purpose processors or dedicated processors specialized for specific processing, but are not limited to these and can be any processor.

[0032] The vehicle control unit 110 controls the vehicle's behavior in an automated driving manner by controlling the engine 102, power transmission unit 103, steering unit 104, and braking unit 105. The level of automated driving may be, for example, levels 3-5 as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE).

[0033] The vehicle control unit 110 acquires detection results from all or some of the on-board sensors 109 and fixed-point sensors, and based on the acquired detection results, it detects the vehicle's position and obstacles around the vehicle. Based on the detection results of the vehicle's position and obstacles around the vehicle, the vehicle control unit 110 controls the vehicle's movement.

[0034] In this embodiment, the vehicle control unit 110 performs emergency braking or normal braking, or drives the vehicle to stop at a specific stopping location, depending on the content of the notification from the tire condition management device 10, which is obtained via the vehicle communication unit 108 (described later). Here, emergency braking is braking to avoid a collision. Normal braking is braking for deceleration other than emergency braking. The vehicle control unit 110 may also output a notification to the tire condition management device 10 via the vehicle communication unit 108 indicating that the steering wheel is not operational. Here, notifications between the automatic driving processing unit 113 and the tire condition management device 10 may be transmitted and received as different signals depending on their content. The signals may be instruction signals or control signals that give instructions to the receiving device. The vehicle control unit 110 may also output the vehicle's position obtained from the GPS sensor to the tire condition management device 10 via the vehicle communication unit 108.

[0035] The vehicle memory unit 111 is one or more memories. The memories are, for example, semiconductor memories, magnetic memories, or optical memories, but are not limited to these and can be any memory. The vehicle memory unit 111 is, for example, built into the vehicle control unit 110, but it is also possible to configure it to be accessed externally by the vehicle control unit 110 via any interface.

[0036] The components of the tire condition management device 10 are described below in detail. The communication unit 11 is composed of one or more communication modules connected to the network 40. The communication unit 11 may include communication modules that support mobile communication standards such as 4G and 5G. The communication unit 11 may also include communication modules that support wired or wireless LAN standards.

[0037] The storage unit 12 is one or more memories. The memories are, for example, semiconductor memories, magnetic memories, or optical memories, but are not limited to these and can be any type of memory. The storage unit 12 is, for example, built into the tire condition management device 10, but it can also be configured to be accessed externally by the tire condition management device 10 via any interface.

[0038] The storage unit 12 stores various data used in various calculations performed by the control unit 13. The storage unit 12 may also store the results and intermediate data of various calculations performed by the control unit 13.

[0039] The storage unit 12 may store various information from the detection device 70 acquired via the communication unit 11. The detected values ​​from the detection device 70 may be linked to the time of detection and stored in the storage unit 12 as time-series data. The storage unit 12 may also store map information, including information such as safe locations when the vehicle is stopped. In this embodiment, the storage unit 12 also stores information on the mounting position (front or rear wheel) of the tire 30 on the vehicle, whose internal pressure has been detected by the tire pressure monitoring system. For example, if the internal pressure information of the tire 30 includes the unique identification information of the tire 30, the storage unit 12 may obtain the position information of the tire 30 by storing a table that links the position on the vehicle (front or rear wheel) with the unique identification information of the tire 30.

[0040] The control unit 13 is one or more processors. The processors are, for example, general-purpose processors or dedicated processors specialized for specific processing, but are not limited to these and can be any processor. The control unit 13 controls the overall operation of the tire condition management device 10.

[0041] Here, the tire condition management device 10 may have the following software configuration. One or more programs used to control the operation of the tire condition management device 10 are stored in the storage unit 12. When the programs stored in the storage unit 12 are read by the processor of the control unit 13, the control unit 13 is made to function as an acquisition unit 131, a calculation unit 132, a determination unit 133, and an output unit 134.

[0042] The acquisition unit 131 acquires information on the internal pressure of the tire 30 and the position of the tire 30, which are detected by the detection device 70 mounted on the vehicle.

[0043] The calculation unit 132 calculates the rate at which the internal pressure of the abnormal tire 30 decreases based on the internal pressure information of the tire 30. Here, an abnormal tire 30 is a tire 30 whose air pressure is decreasing at a rate exceeding natural decompression. In this embodiment, the calculation unit 132 calculates the rate at which the internal pressure of the tire 30 decreases based on the time-series data of the internal pressure of the tire 30 stored in the storage unit 12, using known methods such as linear prediction. The calculation unit 132 may calculate the rate at which the internal pressure decreases precisely, or it may perform a rough calculation such as, for example, that it will become approximately 0 [kPa] within 1 minute, approximately 0 [kPa] within a few hours, or decrease by about 50 [kPa] per month.

[0044] The determination unit 133 determines a tire abnormality category that includes at least burst and rapid leak based on the calculated internal pressure decrease rate. The determination unit 133 then determines the content of the notification to the automatic driving processing unit 113 based on the tire abnormality category and the classification of the front or rear wheel (tire position category) of the tire 30 where the abnormality occurred. The notification concerns the operation of the vehicle, which is determined according to the state of the tire 30 where the abnormality occurred, and may include requests to stop in a safe place or to stop the vehicle immediately, as will be described later. By determining the appropriate content of the notification based on information from detection devices 70 such as the tire pressure monitoring system, the safety of tire abnormalities in automatic driving can be enhanced. In other words, the detected values ​​regarding the state of the tire 30 from the tire pressure monitoring system and the like can be used to improve the operation of the vehicle in automatic driving.

[0045] Figure 2 shows the processing according to the combination of tire abnormality classification and tire position classification. For example, the table shown in Figure 2 is stored in the storage unit 12, and the determination unit 133 may read the table from the storage unit 12 and use it when determining the content of the notification.

[0046] The tire abnormality classification is a classification of the tire 30 that has experienced an abnormality, based on the type of air leak from the tire 30. First, air leaks in the tire 30 are broadly classified into punctures and slow leaks. A slow leak is an air leak in the tire 30 where the air pressure decreases at a rate faster than natural decompression, although not as rapidly as in a puncture. For example, the judgment unit 133 may classify a tire 30 that has experienced an abnormality as having a slow leak if it calculates that the rate of internal pressure decrease exceeds natural decompression, but the amount of decrease in one month does not exceed 50 [kPa].

[0047] Furthermore, punctures can be divided into bursts and rapid leaks. A burst is a rapid air leak from the tire 30, characterized by a rate of internal pressure reduction that drops to almost 0 [kPa] within one minute. In this embodiment, a burst is an air leak from the tire 30 that renders steering impossible (a state in which the direction of travel of the vehicle cannot be controlled). For example, the determination unit 133 can make a determination based on the rate of internal pressure reduction, but may also classify the abnormal tire 30 as a burst when it receives a notification from the automatic driving processing unit 113 indicating that steering is impossible.

[0048] Furthermore, a rapid leak is an air leak from the tire 30 that exhibits a rate of internal pressure reduction where the internal pressure drops to almost 0 [kPa] within a few hours. For example, the determination unit 133 can make a determination based on the rate of internal pressure reduction, but may classify a tire 30 with an abnormality as a rapid leak if it is not classified as either a burst or a slow leak. Also, for example, the determination unit 133 may classify a tire 30 with an abnormality as a rapid leak if it is calculated that it will take 10 seconds or more but less than 1 hour until the vehicle becomes undrivable (for example, until the internal pressure drops below 200 [kPa]).

[0049] As shown in Figure 2, in this embodiment, the determination unit 133 executes a first process, a second process, a third process, or a fourth process depending on the combination of tire abnormality classification and tire position classification.

[0050] The determination unit 133 executes the first process if the tire abnormality category is burst and the abnormal tire 30 is a rear wheel. Here, since the rear wheels are dual wheels, even if a burst occurs in one rear tire, it is still possible to drive using the remaining rear tires. The determination unit 133 also executes the first process if the tire abnormality category is fast leak and the abnormal tire 30 is a front wheel. Here, even if a fast leak occurs in a front tire, the vehicle can still be driven for a while. As the first process, the determination unit 133 decides that the notification should instruct the vehicle to stop at a nearby safe location using the normal brakes. That is, the determination unit 133 indirectly controls the vehicle to stop at a nearby safe location while decelerating with the normal brakes by notifying the automatic driving processing unit 113. Here, the nearby safe location may be selected based on map information stored in the memory unit 12 and the vehicle's position obtained from the GPS sensor. The first process allows for a quick stop while prioritizing the avoidance of accidents inside the vehicle.

[0051] The determination unit 133 executes a second process if the tire abnormality classification is a rapid leak and the abnormal tire 30 is a rear wheel. The second process modifies the content of the notification according to the internal pressure of the abnormal tire 30. If the internal pressure of the abnormal tire 30 is below the first threshold, the determination unit 133 determines that the notification should promptly stop the vehicle. That is, the determination unit 133 indirectly controls the vehicle to stop promptly by notifying the automatic driving processing unit 113. Here, when the normal internal pressure of the tire 30 is 600 [kPa], the first threshold is, for example, 100 [kPa]. If the vehicle is driven with low internal pressure in the rear wheel tire, the internal components of the rear wheel tire may be damaged (for example, the bead may come off). Therefore, the vehicle can be stopped promptly to prioritize avoiding damage to the tire 30. Furthermore, if the internal pressure of the abnormal tire 30 is above the first threshold and below the second threshold, the determination unit 133 determines that the notification should instruct the vehicle to decelerate using the normal brakes and stop at the next predetermined stopping point. In other words, the determination unit 133 indirectly controls the vehicle to decelerate using the normal brakes and stop at the next predetermined stopping point by notifying the automatic driving processing unit 113. Here, when the normal internal pressure of the tire 30 is 600 [kPa], the second threshold is, for example, 300 [kPa]. The stopping point may be, for example, a bus stop or a terminal such as a depot. In this case, priority can be given to continuing the immediate operation while enabling a quick stop.

[0052] The determination unit 133 executes a third process regardless of the tire position classification if the tire abnormality classification is slow leak. The third process is to notify the vehicle manager of the occurrence of a slow leak, for example, by using the notification function of the detection device 70. The vehicle manager can then take action, such as changing the driving plan for the following day or later. The third process allows for prioritizing the continuation of immediate operations while prompting action. Here, the determination unit 133 may omit the slow leak classification for tire abnormalities.

[0053] The determination unit 133 executes the fourth process if the tire abnormality category is burst and the abnormal tire 30 is a front wheel. The fourth process is to not determine the tire abnormality category or the content of the notification. When a front wheel tire bursts, it is necessary to stop the vehicle immediately by emergency braking to avoid a collision. If the automatic driving processing unit 113 waits for notification from the determination unit 133, the brake control will be delayed, so it is preferable to execute the fourth process as an exception. The fourth process allows priority to be given to avoiding a collision.

[0054] The output unit 134 outputs the notification determined by the determination unit 133 to the automatic driving processing unit 113. The output unit 134 may also output the notification content to a detection device 70 having a notification function or display function if it is necessary to notify the vehicle manager. Furthermore, the output unit 134 may output the content of the notification determined by the determination unit 133 to a communication terminal device used by the vehicle manager, for example, via the vehicle communication unit 108. In this case, the vehicle manager can understand the status of the automatically driving vehicle and use this information for operational management. The vehicle manager may also plan or execute actions such as replacing the tires 30 based on the content of the notification displayed on the communication terminal device.

[0055] Figure 3 is an example flowchart showing the processing of the tire condition management method executed by the tire condition management device 10 according to this embodiment.

[0056] The acquisition unit 131 acquires information on the internal pressure of the tire 30 and the position of the tire 30, which are detected by the detection device 70 mounted on the vehicle (step S1).

[0057] The calculation unit 132 calculates the rate at which the internal pressure of the tire 30 decreases when an abnormality occurs, based on the information about the internal pressure of the tire 30 (step S2).

[0058] The determination unit 133 determines a tire abnormality category that includes at least burst and rapid leak based on the calculated internal pressure decrease rate (step S3).

[0059] The determination unit 133 determines the content of the notification to the automatic driving processing unit 113 based on the combination of the tire abnormality classification and the classification of whether the abnormal tire 30 is a front wheel or a rear wheel (tire position classification) (step S4).

[0060] The output unit 134 outputs the notification determined by the determination unit 133 to the automatic driving processing unit 113, etc. (step S5).

[0061] As described above, the tire condition management device 10, program, and tire condition management method according to this embodiment enable appropriate vehicle control in response to abnormalities in the tires 30 during the automated driving of a vehicle with dual rear wheels. The method disclosed herein makes it possible to appropriately determine whether to prioritize avoiding collision accidents or avoiding accidents inside the vehicle, depending on the combination of the type and location of the tire puncture.

[0062] While embodiments of this disclosure have been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art will find it easy to make various modifications or alterations based on this disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications or alterations are included within the scope of this disclosure. For example, the functions included in each component or step can be rearranged in a logically consistent manner, and multiple components or steps can be combined into one or separated. Embodiments relating to this disclosure can also be realized as storage media recording programs executed by a processor in the device. These are also understood to be included within the scope of this disclosure. Contribution to the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

[0063] The SDGs have been proposed to realize a sustainable society. One embodiment of this disclosure is considered to be a technology that can contribute to "No. 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure" and other goals. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 10. Tire condition management device 11 Communications Department 12 Storage section 13 Control Unit 30 tires 70 Detection device 102 Engine 103 Power transmission device 104 Steering gear 105 Braking device 108 Vehicle Communications Department 109 Automotive Sensors 110 Vehicle Control Unit 111 Vehicle memory unit 112 batteries 113 Automated Driving Processing Unit 131 Acquisition Department 132 Arithmetic section 133 Judgment section 134 Output section

Claims

1. A tire condition management device that outputs a notification regarding the operation of a vehicle according to the condition of the tires mounted on the vehicle to an automatic driving processing unit that provides an automatic driving function for a vehicle with dual rear wheels, An acquisition unit that acquires information on the internal pressure of the tire and the position of the tire detected by a detection device mounted on the vehicle, A calculation unit that calculates the rate of decrease in the internal pressure of a tire where an abnormality has occurred, based on the information of the internal pressure of the aforementioned tire, A tire condition management device comprising: a determination unit that determines a tire abnormality category including at least burst and rapid leak based on the calculated internal pressure decrease rate, and determines the content of the notification based on the combination of the tire abnormality category and the category of the front wheel or rear wheel of the tire in which the abnormality occurred.

2. The tire condition management device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that if the tire abnormality category is burst and the abnormal tire is a rear wheel, the notification should instruct the vehicle to stop in a nearby safe location using the normal brakes.

3. The tire condition management device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the determination unit determines that if the tire abnormality classification is the rapid leak and the tire in which the abnormality occurred is a front wheel, the notification should be to stop the vehicle in a nearby safe place using the normal brakes.

4. The tire condition management device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the determination unit determines that if the tire abnormality category is the rapid leak and the abnormal tire is a rear wheel, and the internal pressure of the abnormal tire is below a first threshold, the notification should be such that the vehicle should be stopped immediately.

5. The tire condition management device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the determination unit determines that if the tire abnormality category is the rapid leak and the abnormal tire is a rear wheel, and the internal pressure of the abnormal tire is greater than or equal to a first threshold and less than a second threshold, the notification should be to decelerate using the normal brakes and stop the vehicle at the next predetermined stopping location.

6. The tire condition management device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the determination unit does not determine the tire abnormality category and the content of the notification when the tire abnormality category is burst and the tire in which the abnormality occurred is a front wheel.

7. A tire condition management device outputs notifications regarding the operation of a vehicle according to the condition of the tires mounted on the vehicle to an automatic driving processing unit that provides an automatic driving function for a vehicle with dual rear wheels, To acquire information on the internal pressure of the tire and the position of the tire, detected by a detection device mounted on the vehicle, Based on the information regarding the internal pressure of the aforementioned tire, the rate at which the internal pressure of the abnormal tire decreases is calculated. A program that performs the following actions: determine a tire abnormality category that includes at least burst and rapid leak based on the calculated internal pressure decrease rate, and determine the content of the notification based on the combination of the tire abnormality category and the category of the front or rear tire in which the abnormality occurred.

8. A tire condition management method is performed by a tire condition management device that outputs a notification regarding the operation of a vehicle according to the condition of the tires mounted on the vehicle to an automatic driving processing unit that provides an automatic driving function for a vehicle having dual rear wheels, To acquire information on the internal pressure of the tire and the position of the tire, detected by a detection device mounted on the vehicle, Based on the information regarding the internal pressure of the aforementioned tire, the rate at which the internal pressure of the abnormal tire decreases is calculated. A tire condition management method comprising: determining a tire abnormality category that includes at least burst and rapid leak based on the calculated internal pressure decrease rate; and determining the content of the notification based on the combination of the tire abnormality category and the category of the front or rear wheel of the tire in which the abnormality occurred.

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