Operation switching device

Abstract

To provide a driving mode switching device that can reduce the burden on the driver. [Solution] The next section passage prediction time calculation unit 2 obtains the next section distance D and calculates the passage prediction time T1 based on the next section distance D and the driving speed S. Then, the driving mode switching determination unit 4 controls the driving mode switching unit 5 not to switch between the automatic driving mode, which allows the vehicle to be driven automatically, and the manual driving mode, which allows the vehicle to be driven manually, if the passage prediction time T1 for the automatic driving recommended section or manual driving recommended section calculated by the next section passage prediction time calculation unit 2 is less than twice the driving mode switching time T2 plus a margin value α.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operation switching device.

Background Art

[0002] In the automatic driving of vehicles such as automobiles, it has been proposed to divide the sections into a section where automatic driving may be performed (automatic driving recommended section) and a section where manual driving is recommended (manual driving recommended section), and switch between automatic driving and manual driving according to each section for driving.

[0003] For example, in Patent Document 1, when a highway section is set as an automatic driving section (automatic driving recommended section), a PA (final PA) one before an exit IC of the highway section is set as a retreat area, and a point before the final PA in the highway section is set as a handover point for starting the handover from automatic driving to manual driving. When the automatic driving switch 5 is switched on, it is described that control is performed to perform automatic driving with the retreat area as the destination.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the method of setting the above-described automatic driving recommended section and manual driving recommended section, for example, when switching between manual driving recommended section → automatic driving recommended section → manual driving recommended section in a short time, a short automatic driving is performed, which may cause the driver to be confused and become a burden.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an operation switching device that can reduce, for example, the burden on the driver. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 comprises: a switching unit for switching between an automatic driving mode and a manual driving mode of a vehicle; a display unit for displaying different information to the occupant of the vehicle in the automatic driving mode and the manual driving mode; and a switching control unit that controls the switching unit to switch to the automatic driving mode in the automatic driving recommended section and to switch to the manual driving mode in the manual driving recommended section, and switches the displayed information of the display unit to display information related to the automatic driving mode, including entertainment information, in the automatic driving recommended section and to display information related to the manual driving mode in the manual driving recommended section, wherein the switching control unit controls not to switch the switching unit and not to switch the displayed information, based on the driving time of the section after the switch, even when switching from one of the automatic driving recommended section and the manual driving recommended section to the other.

[0008] The invention described in claim 6 is a method for switching the operation of a driving switching device, comprising: a switching unit for switching between an automatic driving mode and a manual driving mode of a vehicle; and a display unit for displaying different information to the occupants of the vehicle in the automatic driving mode and the manual driving mode, wherein the method includes a switching control step of controlling the switching unit so that it switches to the automatic driving mode in the automatic driving recommended section and to the manual driving mode in the manual driving recommended section, and switching the displayed information of the display unit so that it displays information related to the automatic driving mode, including entertainment information, in the automatic driving recommended section and to display information related to the manual driving mode in the manual driving recommended section, and the switching control step is characterized in that, even when switching from one of the automatic driving recommended section and the manual driving recommended section to the other, the switching unit is controlled not to switch based on the driving time of the section after the switch, and the displayed information is controlled not to switch.

[0009] The invention described in claim 7 is characterized in that the operation switching method described in claim 6 is executed by a computer. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram of the operation switching device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the operation switching device. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of switching between operating modes. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of switching between operating modes. [Figure 5] This is a block diagram of the operation switching device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the operation switching device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The following describes a driving mode switching device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The driving mode switching device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a switching unit that switches between an automatic driving mode and a manual driving mode, and a switching control unit that controls the switching unit so that it switches to automatic driving mode in sections where automatic driving is recommended, and to manual driving mode in sections where manual driving is recommended. The switching control unit controls the switching unit not to switch even when switching from one of the sections where automatic driving is recommended or manual driving is recommended, based on at least one of the driving distance and driving time of the section after the switch. In this way, the mode can be not switched depending on the driving distance and driving time of the section where automatic driving is recommended or manual driving is recommended, thereby reducing the burden on the driver associated with frequent switching.

[0012] Furthermore, the switching control unit may be controlled so that it does not perform a switch at the switching unit if the travel distance is less than a predetermined distance. By doing so, if the travel distance in the recommended automatic driving section or the recommended manual driving section is short, it can be assumed that frequent mode switching will occur, and mode switching can be suppressed.

[0013] Furthermore, the switching control unit may be controlled so that it does not perform a switch at the switching unit if the driving time is less than a predetermined time. By doing so, if the driving time in the automatic driving recommended section or the manual driving recommended section is short, it can be assumed that frequent mode switching will occur, and mode switching can be suppressed.

[0014] Furthermore, the system may also include a speed acquisition unit to acquire the vehicle's speed, and the switching control unit may predict the travel time based on the travel distance and speed, and control the switching in the switching unit based on that travel time. In this way, the travel time can be predicted from the travel distance and travel speed, making it easy to control the switching unit based on information obtained from the vehicle.

[0015] Furthermore, the predetermined time may be determined based on the time and speed required to switch between automatic and manual driving modes. By doing so, the minimum time necessary for the operation of the device can be ensured, and by taking speed into consideration, the need to switch driving modes can be reduced when the travel speed is high.

[0016] Furthermore, the system may include a traffic congestion information acquisition unit that acquires traffic congestion information in sections recommended for automatic driving or sections recommended for manual driving. The switching control unit may predict the travel time considering the traffic congestion information and control the switching in the switching unit based on that travel time. By doing so, the travel time can be predicted with greater accuracy by considering the traffic congestion information, and the switching unit can be controlled accordingly.

[0017] Furthermore, the vehicle may be further equipped with a display unit that presents different information to the occupants depending on whether the vehicle is in automatic or manual driving mode. By doing so, the frequent switching of displays when presenting information to the display unit can be reduced, which may cause inconvenience to the occupants.

[0018] Further, the operation switching device according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a switching control unit that controls the switching of the presentation information of the presentation unit so that the information related to the automatic driving mode is presented in the automatic driving recommended section, and the information related to the manual driving mode is presented in the manual driving recommended section. And even when switching from one of the automatic driving recommended section and the manual driving recommended section to the other, the switching control unit controls so as not to switch the presentation information based on at least one of the travel distance and travel time of the section after switching. By doing so, depending on the travel distance and travel time in the automatic driving recommended section or the manual driving recommended section, the presentation information is not switched, and the burden on the driver due to flickering of the screen or the like associated with frequent switching can be reduced.

[0019] Also, the operation switching method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a switching control step of controlling a switching unit so that it is in the automatic driving mode in the automatic driving recommended section and in the manual driving mode in the manual driving recommended section. And even when switching from one of the automatic driving recommended section and the manual driving recommended section to the other, the switching control step controls so as not to perform the switching of the switching unit based on at least one of the travel distance and travel time of the section after switching. By doing so, depending on the travel distance and travel time in the automatic driving recommended section or the manual driving recommended section, the mode is not switched, and the burden on the driver associated with frequent switching can be reduced.

[0020] Further, it may be an operation switching program for causing a computer to execute the above-described operation switching method. By doing so, using a computer, depending on the travel distance and travel time in the automatic driving recommended section or the manual driving recommended section, the mode is not switched, and for example, short-time mode switching can be suppressed and the burden on the driver can be reduced.

Example

[0021] The operation switching device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the operation switching device 1 according to this embodiment includes a next-section passage prediction time calculation unit 2, an α-value calculation unit 3, an operation mode switching determination unit 4, and an operation mode switching unit 5.

[0022] The operation switching device 1 is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile as, for example, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). And, the above-described next-section passage prediction time calculation unit 2, α-value calculation unit 3, operation mode switching determination unit 4, and operation mode switching unit 5 function as a microcontroller (microcomputer) of the ECU. That is, it is configured as an operation switching control program that operates on the microcomputer. Of course, instead of the program, all or part of each block in FIG. 1 may be hardware.

[0023] In this embodiment, it is assumed that the vehicle on which the operation switching device 1 is mounted can travel by autonomous driving. That is, it is possible to switch between the autonomous driving mode and the manual driving mode.

[0024] Also, on the road on which the vehicle travels, an autonomous driving recommended section, which is a section where autonomous driving is allowed, and a manual driving recommended section, which is a section where manual driving is recommended, are set. These sections may be officially determined by a country, a local government, etc., or may be arbitrarily determined by a business operator such as an automobile manufacturer or a device manufacturer such as a navigation system. Alternatively, the vehicle user may set and determine them personally.

[0025] And, in this embodiment, a route on which the vehicle travels is searched in the navigation system 10. As is well known, the navigation system 10 is a system that searches for a route to a destination, acquires the current location by GPS (Global Positioning System), etc., and guides to the destination by display, voice, etc. It is assumed that the route searched by the navigation system 10 includes an autonomous driving recommended section and a manual driving recommended section.

[0026] The Next Section Passing Time Calculation Unit 2, which acts as a section information acquisition unit and speed acquisition unit, calculates the predicted passing time T1 for the next section based on, for example, the next section distance D acquired from the navigation system 10 and the driving speed S acquired from a sensor (vehicle speed pulse, etc.) that detects the vehicle's driving speed. The predicted passing time T1 is the driving time for the section after the switch, calculated by dividing the next section distance D by the driving speed S (T1 = D / S). Alternatively, the speed limit for the section in question may be acquired from the navigation system 10, etc., instead of the driving speed S, and the calculation may be based on that speed limit. In other words, the Next Section Passing Time Calculation Unit 2 acquires information regarding the automated driving recommended section and the manual driving recommended section on which the vehicle is traveling. Furthermore, since the Next Section Passing Time Calculation Unit 2 calculates (predicts) the driving time based on the next section distance D and the driving speed S, it also functions as a switching control unit.

[0027] Here, the next section refers to the section where automatic driving is recommended or manual driving is recommended after the next driving mode switch occurs on the route searched by the navigation system 10. In other words, if the vehicle is currently driving in an automatic driving recommended section, the next section will be a manual driving recommended section, and if the vehicle is currently driving in a manual driving recommended section, the next section will be an automatic driving recommended section.

[0028] The α value calculation unit 3 calculates a margin value α to be added to the driving mode switching time T2 in the driving mode switching determination unit 4 (α≧0). The margin value α may be variable, for example, according to the vehicle's driving speed S. For example, when the driving speed S is high, the α value can be increased to make it less likely for the driving mode to switch. The margin value α may also be set by the driver or it may be a fixed value. Therefore, the α value calculation unit 3 calculates the margin value α based on the driving speed S and settings.

[0029] The driving mode switching determination unit 4, acting as a switching control unit, determines whether to switch the driving mode (automatic driving mode or manual driving mode) based on the predicted passage time T1, the margin value α, and the driving mode switching time T2. The driving mode switching time T2 is the time it takes to switch from automatic driving mode to manual driving mode, or from manual driving mode to automatic driving mode, and is a value that is measured and set in advance for each vehicle or system.

[0030] The determination conditions in the driving mode switching determination unit 4 are as follows: If the predicted passage time T1 is less than the sum of twice the driving mode switching time T2 and the margin value α (2 × T2 + α), the driving mode is not switched. If the predicted passage time T1 is equal to or greater than the sum of twice the driving mode switching time T2 and the margin value α, the driving mode is switched. The reason it is twice the driving mode switching time T2 is that, for example, when switching from manual driving mode → automatic driving mode → manual driving mode, two driving mode switches occur. That is, the predetermined time (2 × T2 + α) is determined based on the time required to switch between automatic driving mode and manual driving mode and the driving speed.

[0031] The driving mode switching unit 5, acting as a switching mechanism, switches the driving mode based on the determination result of the driving mode switching determination unit 4. For example, if the vehicle switches to automatic driving mode, the accelerator, brakes, steering wheel, etc., are automatically controlled according to the road conditions and external circumstances.

[0032] Furthermore, the driving mode switching unit 5 switches the display content (display information) of the HUD (Head Up Display), the meter, or the display means (display unit) provided on the instrument panel if it is switched depending on the mode. In other words, the HUD, etc., becomes a display unit that presents different information to the vehicle occupant in automatic driving mode and manual driving mode.

[0033] Next, the operation of the operation switching device 1 with the above configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 2.

[0034] First, in step S11, the next section passage prediction time calculation unit 2 determines whether or not the vehicle is entering a section with a different driving mode. If it is entering such a section (YES), it proceeds to step S12; otherwise, it waits in this step. In this step, the next section passage prediction time calculation unit 2 makes a determination based on route information acquired from the navigation system 10 when the vehicle is approaching a section with a different driving mode (a point where a change in driving mode may occur).

[0035] Next, in step S12, the next section passage prediction time calculation unit 2 calculates the passage prediction time T1 of the next section based on the next section distance D obtained from the navigation system 10 and the driving speed S obtained from the speed sensor, etc., and proceeds to step S3.

[0036] Next, in step S13, the operation mode switching determination unit 4 obtains the margin value α from the α value calculation unit 3 and proceeds to step S14. If the margin value α is a constant, the value set in the α value calculation unit 3 is read; if it is a variable, the α value calculation unit 3 calculates and outputs the α value.

[0037] Next, in step S14, the driving mode switching determination unit 4 determines whether the predicted passing time T1 is less than the sum of twice the driving mode switching time T2 and the margin value α (2 × T2 + α > T1). If it is less than the sum of twice the driving mode switching time T2 and the margin value α (YES), the unit proceeds to step S15; if it is greater than or equal to the sum of twice the driving mode switching time T2 and the α value (NO), the unit proceeds to step S16.

[0038] Next, in step S15, since the result of the determination in step S14 was less than the sum of twice the driving mode switching time T2 and the margin value α, the driving mode switching unit 5 continues the current mode without switching the driving mode. In other words, if the driving time in the automatic driving recommended section or the manual driving recommended section is less than a predetermined time, even if the vehicle switches from one of the automatic driving recommended section or the manual driving recommended section to the other, the driving mode switching unit 5 (switching unit) is controlled not to perform a switch. It is desirable to notify the driver or other relevant party if the driving mode is not to be switched.

[0039] On the other hand, in step S16, since the result of the determination in step S14 was greater than or equal to the sum of twice the operating mode switching time T2 and the margin value α, the operating mode switching unit 5 switches the operating mode.

[0040] As is clear from the above explanation, step S11 functions as a section information acquisition step, and steps S12 to S16 function as switching control steps.

[0041] Here, a specific example of the operation of the driving switching device 1 will be explained with reference to Figure 3. In Figure 3, National Highway N intersects with City Road R1 at intersection I1 and with City Road R2 at intersection I2. The vehicle's route RT is assumed to be a right turn from City Road R1 onto National Highway N at intersection I1, and then a left turn onto City Road R2 at the next intersection I2. Furthermore, National Highway N is assumed to be a section where automatic driving is recommended, while City Roads R1 and R2 are sections where manual driving is recommended.

[0042] In the example shown in Figure 3, a driving mode switch occurs at intersections I1 and I2. If the predicted time T1 for passing through this section is less than twice the driving mode switching time T2 plus a margin of error α, the driving mode will switch frequently, potentially burdening the driver due to the short intervals between mode changes. Additionally, when switching displays on the HUD, meters, or instrument panel depending on the driving mode, short intervals of switching may cause the screen to flicker. Therefore, if the above condition (2 × T2 + α > T1) is met, the system will not switch to automatic driving mode, even when switching from an automated driving recommended section to a manual driving recommended section.

[0043] Note that while the example in Figure 3 illustrates a case where the distance between intersections is short, it is also possible to prevent the vehicle from momentarily switching to autonomous driving mode when crossing National Highway N at intersection I1, for example, when driving straight along City Road R1 in Figure 3.

[0044] Furthermore, the above explanation described a case where a short (short) section of automatic driving is recommended within a section where manual driving is recommended, but the same control applies in the reverse case as well. In other words, as shown in the upper part of Figure 4, if a short (short) section of manual driving is recommended within a section where automatic driving is recommended, the driving mode will not be switched.

[0045] Furthermore, as shown in the lower part of Figure 4, even when there are consecutive short sections (short durations) where automatic driving is recommended or manual driving is recommended, the driving mode will not be switched in those sections. In the case of the lower part of Figure 4, the driving mode will not be switched at points p1 and p2, but will be switched at point p3.

[0046] In a case like the one shown in the lower part of Figure 4, if it is determined that the next section does not require a mode change, the determination of whether to switch modes may continue for the section after that based on distance D, driving speed S, etc. In other words, the determination may be made for multiple sections, not just the next single section. For example, if it is determined that the mode will not be changed at point p1, the determination of whether to switch modes will continue at points p2 and p3. By doing so, it is possible to make a preliminary determination for a range of consecutive short (short-duration) sections where automatic driving is recommended or manual driving is recommended, as shown in the lower part of Figure 4.

[0047] According to this embodiment, the driving mode switching device 1 includes a driving mode switching unit 5 that switches between automatic driving mode and manual driving mode, and a driving mode switching determination unit 4 that controls the driving mode switching unit 5 so that it switches to automatic driving mode in sections where automatic driving is recommended, and to manual driving mode in sections where manual driving is recommended. Furthermore, even when switching from one of the sections where automatic driving is recommended or manual driving is recommended to the other, if the predicted time T1 for passing through the section where automatic driving is recommended or manual driving is recommended, calculated by the next section passage prediction time calculation unit 2, is less than twice the driving mode switching time T2 plus a margin value α, the driving mode switching determination unit 4 controls the driving mode switching unit 5 not to switch. In this way, if the driving time in the section where automatic driving is recommended or manual driving is recommended is short, it is assumed that frequent driving mode switching will occur, and the driving mode is not switched, thereby suppressing short-time driving mode switching and reducing the burden on the driver.

[0048] Furthermore, since the driving mode switching determination unit 4 calculates the predicted passing time T1 from the next section distance D and the driving speed S, the driving mode switching unit 5 can be easily controlled based on the information obtained from the vehicle.

[0049] In the above-described embodiment, for example, the next section passage prediction time calculation unit 2 may acquire traffic congestion information along the route using VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) or the like, and calculate the passage prediction time T1 taking that traffic congestion information into account. That is, the next section passage prediction time calculation unit 2 functions as a traffic congestion information acquisition unit that acquires traffic congestion information for sections recommended for automatic driving or sections recommended for manual driving. By doing so, the passage prediction time T1 can be estimated with greater accuracy by taking traffic congestion information into account, and the driving mode switching unit 5 can be controlled accordingly.

[0050] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the decision to switch driving modes was made by calculating the predicted passage time T1. However, the decision to switch driving modes may also be made based on the distance traveled in the recommended automatic driving section or the recommended manual driving section (next section distance D) without calculating the predicted passage time T1. For example, in Figure 3, if the distance traveled on National Highway N is less than a predetermined distance determined considering the switching of driving modes, the driving mode will not be switched. In other words, if the distance traveled is less than a predetermined distance, the switching unit may not perform the switch. By doing so, if the recommended automatic driving section or the recommended manual driving section is short, it can be assumed that frequent mode switching will occur, and the switching of driving modes can be suppressed.

[0051] Furthermore, when controlling the switching of driving modes based on the distance traveled, the predetermined distance may be varied according to the speed limit of the road being driven on. For example, the predetermined distance on a road with a speed limit of 60 km / h may be longer than the predetermined distance on a road with a speed limit of 30 km / h. [Examples]

[0052] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention, an operation switching device, will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Note that parts identical to those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0053] This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment up to the determination by the operating mode switching determination unit 4, but differs in that the operating mode switching unit 5 is replaced by a display switching unit 5A. The display switching unit 5A switches the display content of the display unit 20 to a display corresponding to the operating mode based on the determination result of the operating mode switching determination unit 4.

[0054] The display unit 20 is a display means provided, for example, on a HUD, meter, or instrument panel, and its display switches according to the driving mode. For example, in manual driving mode, it displays information necessary for driving, such as guidance information from the navigation system 10 (information related to manual driving mode), and in automatic driving mode, it displays information on surrounding facilities, entertainment information, etc. (information related to automatic driving mode). In other words, the display unit 20 functions as a display unit that presents different information to the passenger according to the driving mode.

[0055] Figure 6 shows the operation of the operation switching device 1 according to this embodiment. In Figure 6, steps S11 to S14 are the same as in the first embodiment. In step S25, as a result of the determination in step S14, the value is less than the sum of twice the operation mode switching time T2 and the margin value α, so the display switching unit 5A continues to display the content corresponding to the current mode without changing the display content of the display unit 20.

[0056] On the other hand, in step S26, since the result of the determination in step S14 was greater than or equal to the sum of twice the operating mode switching time T2 and the margin value α, the display switching unit 5A switches the display content of the display unit 20 according to the operating mode.

[0057] In other words, the display switching unit 5A functions as a switching control unit that controls the display information not to switch even when switching from one of the two sections, the automatic driving recommended section and the manual driving recommended section, based on at least one of the driving distance and driving time of the section after the switch.

[0058] In this embodiment, the determination condition in step S14 was the same as in the first embodiment. However, since this embodiment is characterized by the control of display switching, for example, if the predicted passage time T1 is less than the time during which the display unit 20 does not flicker, the switching may not be performed. In other words, a different threshold may be used than in the first embodiment.

[0059] According to this embodiment, if the predicted time T1 for passing through a section recommended for automatic driving or a section recommended for manual driving is less than a predetermined time, the display unit 20, which displays different information to the vehicle's occupants in automatic driving mode and manual driving mode, is controlled not to switch the display content. By doing so, the burden on the driver, such as the occupants experiencing flickering due to frequent display switching, can be reduced.

[0060] In the two embodiments described above, the presentation unit was explained using a display unit 20 or other display means, but presentation may also be limited to audio.

[0061] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. That is, those skilled in the art can implement the invention in various ways, without departing from the core principles, in accordance with conventionally known knowledge. As long as such modifications still possess the configuration of the operation switching device of the present invention, they are of course included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0062] 1. 1A Operation Switching Device Secondary section passage prediction time calculation unit (section information acquisition unit, switching control unit, speed acquisition unit, traffic congestion information acquisition unit) 4. Operating mode switching determination unit (switching control unit) 5. Operating mode switching section (switching section) 5A Display switching unit (switching control unit) 20 Display section (presentation section) S11 Entering a section with a different driving mode (section information acquisition process) S12 Calculate the estimated time to pass through the section to be switched (switching control process) S13 Acquire α value (switching control process) S14 Decision to switch (switching control process) S15 Control to prevent switching (switching control process)

Claims

1. A switch that switches between the vehicle's automatic driving mode and manual driving mode, A display unit that presents different information to the occupants of the vehicle in the automatic driving mode and the manual driving mode, The system includes a switching control unit that controls the switching unit to switch to the automatic driving mode in sections where automatic driving is recommended and to switch to the manual driving mode in sections where manual driving is recommended, and a switching control unit that switches the displayed information of the display unit to display information related to the automatic driving mode, including entertainment information, in sections where automatic driving is recommended and to display information related to the manual driving mode in sections where manual driving is recommended, The switching control unit is characterized in that, even when switching from one of the recommended automatic driving section and the recommended manual driving section to the other, it controls the switching unit not to switch based on the driving time of the section after the switch, and also controls the display information not to switch.

2. The operation switching device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching control unit controls the switching unit not to perform switching when the travel time is less than a predetermined time.

3. The vehicle further comprises a speed acquisition unit that acquires the speed of the vehicle, The operation switching device according to claim 2, characterized in that the switching control unit predicts the travel time based on the travel distance and speed of the section after the switching, and controls the switching in the switching unit based on the said travel time.

4. The operation switching device according to claim 3, characterized in that the predetermined time is determined based on the time required to switch between the automatic operation mode and the manual operation mode and the speed.

5. The system further includes a traffic congestion information acquisition unit that acquires traffic congestion information in the aforementioned recommended automatic driving section or the aforementioned recommended manual driving section. The operation switching device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the switching control unit predicts the driving time taking into account the traffic congestion information and controls the switching in the switching unit based on the driving time.

6. A method for switching the operation of a driving switching device, comprising: a switching unit for switching between an automatic driving mode and a manual driving mode of a vehicle; and a display unit for presenting different information to the occupant of the vehicle in the automatic driving mode and the manual driving mode, The system includes a switching control step that controls the switching unit to switch to the automatic driving mode in sections where automatic driving is recommended and to switch to the manual driving mode in sections where manual driving is recommended, and switches the displayed information of the display unit to display information related to the automatic driving mode, including entertainment information, in sections where automatic driving is recommended and to display information related to the manual driving mode in sections where manual driving is recommended. The switching control step is characterized in that, even when switching from one of the recommended automatic driving section and the recommended manual driving section to the other, the switching unit is controlled not to switch based on the driving time of the section after the switch, and the displayed information is also controlled not to switch.

7. A driving switching program characterized in that the driving switching method described in claim 6 is executed by a computer.

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