Control method, control device, and control program

Abstract

To provide a vehicle control right setting method, a vehicle control right setting device, a vehicle control right setting program and a vehicle control method for enabling a user of an automatic driving vehicle to control the automatic driving vehicle at an allocation destination.SOLUTION: A vehicle control right setting method acquires allocation request information including at least position information showing a position of an allocation destination to which an automatic driving vehicle is allocated, and user identification information for identifying a user who uses the automatic driving vehicle or a user terminal held by the user from an external device (steps S102, S104), determines a delivery vehicle showing the automatic driving vehicle to be allocated to the user on the basis of the allocation request information (a step S105), and sets a vehicle control right for permitting control of the delivery vehicle to the user on the basis of the allocation request information and the user identification information (a step S106).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle control right setting method for setting control right of an autonomously driven vehicle, a vehicle control right setting device and a vehicle control right setting program, and a vehicle control method for controlling an autonomously driven vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] As a conventional technique, an autonomous road vehicle equipped with at least one compartment is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, a package to be delivered is loaded into at least one partitioned compartment, and the autonomous road vehicle travels to a destination. When the autonomous road vehicle arrives at the destination, a recipient of the package enters a PIN (Personal Identification Number) code into an access system. This unlocks the compartment, and the recipient can receive the package. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 9,256,852 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the conventional technology does not take into consideration whether a recipient of a package can receive the package from the autonomous road vehicle when the autonomous road vehicle arrives at the destination, and further improvement is needed.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a vehicle control right setting method, a vehicle control right setting device, a vehicle control right setting program, and a vehicle control method that enable a user of an autonomous vehicle to control the autonomous vehicle at the destination. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A vehicle control right setting method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle control right setting method in a vehicle control right setting device, which obtains from an external device dispatch request information including at least location information indicating a location of a destination to which an autonomous vehicle is to be dispatched, and user identification information for identifying a user who will use the autonomous vehicle or a user terminal held by the user, determines a dispatch vehicle indicating the autonomous vehicle to be dispatched to the user based on the dispatch request information, and sets vehicle control right for the user that allows control of the dispatched vehicle based on the dispatch request information and the user identification information. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a user of an autonomous vehicle can control the autonomous vehicle at the destination. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an overall configuration of a vehicle control system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of user information stored in a user information storage unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram showing an example of vehicle information stored in a vehicle information storage unit in the first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 5] 4 is a diagram showing an example of control right information stored in a control right information storage unit in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a user terminal according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a delivery vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8]4 is a flowchart for explaining a management device, a user terminal, and a vehicle control process of a delivery vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of control instruction support information displayed on a user terminal in the first embodiment. [Figure 10] 11 is a flowchart for illustrating a vehicle control process of a delivery vehicle in the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for accepting input of control instruction information by a user in the user terminal in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of a display screen for accepting input of control instruction information by a user in the user terminal in the first embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a range in which a distribution source control right can be exercised and a range in which a distribution destination control right can be exercised in the first embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining house numbering in the block system in the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a delivery origin control right exercisable range and a delivery destination control right exercisable range determined by using a street block system of house numbering in the first embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining house number indication in a road system in the first embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a delivery origin control right exercisable range and a delivery destination control right exercisable range determined by using a house number indication in a road system in the first embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process for controlling the movement of a delivery vehicle in the first embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process for controlling the movement of a delivery vehicle in a first modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process for controlling the movement of a delivery vehicle in a second modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process for controlling the movement of a delivery vehicle in a third modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of control right information stored in the control right information storage unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 24] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the delivery status and the process of changing the setting of the control right when the setting of the control right is changed at the delivery source and delivery destination in the second embodiment. [Diagram 25] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the delivery status and the process of changing the control right setting when changing the control right setting at the delivery destination in the second embodiment. [Figure 26] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of control right change notification information in the second embodiment. [Figure 27] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of control instruction support information including control right change notification information in the second embodiment. [Figure 28] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a delivery vehicle in a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 29] 13 is a flowchart illustrating a control right setting change process according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 30] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management device according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 31] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management device according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 32] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management device according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 33] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of table data stored in a destination position information storage unit in the fifth embodiment. [Diagram 34] 13 is a flowchart illustrating a destination position information storage process of a management device according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 35]13 is a flowchart illustrating a vehicle control process of a management device according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 36] FIG. 13 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an overall configuration of a vehicle control system according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 37] FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management device according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 38] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a selection screen displayed on a user terminal in the sixth embodiment. [Figure 39] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first example of a vehicle monitoring screen displayed on a remote control device. [Diagram 40] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first example of a remote control screen displayed on the remote control device. [Diagram 41] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a second example of a remote control screen displayed on the remote control device. [Diagram 42] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a second example of a vehicle monitoring screen displayed on the remote control device. [Diagram 43] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a third example of a remote control screen displayed on the remote control device. [Diagram 44] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a third example of a vehicle monitoring screen displayed on the remote control device. [Diagram 45] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a fourth example of a remote control screen displayed on the remote control device. [Diagram 46] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle monitoring screen displayed on the remote monitoring device. [Figure 47] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a query screen displayed on the remote control device. [Figure 48] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an information input screen displayed on the remote control device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] (Findings on which this disclosure is based) In the conventional technology, no consideration is given to, and no disclosure is made regarding, whether or not a parcel recipient can receive the parcel from the autonomous road vehicle when the autonomous road vehicle arrives at the destination. Therefore, in the conventional technology, even if the autonomous road vehicle arrives at the destination, there is a risk that the parcel recipient will not be able to receive the parcel from the autonomous road vehicle.

[0010] For example, when the autonomous road vehicle stops at a destination, if the compartment door faces a wall surrounding a building, a guardrail installed on a road, or a curb, these may act as obstacles that prevent the recipient of the package from retrieving the package from the compartment.

[0011] As another example, when the autonomous road vehicle stops at a destination, if the compartment door faces a slope such as a drainage ditch or a bank, these may become obstacles and prevent the recipient of the parcel from retrieving the parcel from the compartment.

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, a vehicle control right setting method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a vehicle control right setting method in a vehicle control right setting device, which obtains from an external device dispatch request information including at least location information indicating a location of a destination to which an autonomous vehicle will be dispatched, and user identification information for identifying a user who will use the autonomous vehicle or a user terminal held by the user, determines a dispatch vehicle indicating the autonomous vehicle to be dispatched to the user based on the dispatch request information, and sets vehicle control right for the user that allows control of the dispatched vehicle based on the dispatch request information and the user identification information.

[0013] According to this configuration, dispatch request information including at least location information indicating the location of the destination to which the autonomous vehicle is to be dispatched, and user identification information for identifying a user who uses the autonomous vehicle or a user terminal held by the user are acquired from an external device. A dispatch vehicle indicating the autonomous vehicle to be dispatched to the user is determined based on the dispatch request information. Vehicle control rights permitting control of the dispatched vehicle are set for the user based on the dispatch request information and the user identification information.

[0014] Therefore, a dispatched vehicle indicating the autonomous vehicle to be dispatched to the user is determined, and vehicle control rights permitting control of the dispatched vehicle are set for the user, so that the user of the autonomous vehicle can control the autonomous vehicle at the dispatch destination.

[0015] In the above vehicle control right setting method, the setting of the vehicle control right may set, for the user, the vehicle control right that permits control of the allocated vehicle located at the vehicle allocation destination.

[0016] According to this configuration, in setting the vehicle control right, the vehicle control right that allows the user to control the allocated vehicle located at the allocation destination is set for the user.

[0017] Therefore, vehicle control rights that permit control of the dispatched vehicle located at the dispatch destination are set for the user, so that the user of the autonomous vehicle at the dispatch destination can control the autonomous vehicle.

[0018] In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle control right setting method, a control permission range that permits the user to control the dispatched vehicle at the dispatch destination based on the location of the dispatch destination may be generated, and the vehicle control right may be set for the user to control the dispatched vehicle located within the control permission range.

[0019] According to this configuration, a control permission range that allows the user to control the vehicle at the destination is generated based on the location of the destination. In setting the vehicle control right, the vehicle control right that allows the user to control the vehicle located within the control permission range is set for the user.

[0020] Therefore, vehicle control rights for a dispatched vehicle located within a control permission range that allows the user to control the dispatched vehicle at the dispatch destination are set for the user, so that the user can control the dispatched vehicle located within the control permission range at the dispatch destination.

[0021] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle control right setting method, a movement control permission range in which the movement of the dispatched vehicle can be controlled by the user at the dispatch destination is generated based on the position of the dispatch destination, and the vehicle control right may be set for the user to permit movement control of the dispatched vehicle within the movement control permission range.

[0022] According to this configuration, a movement control permission range in which the movement of the allocated vehicle can be controlled by the user at the allocation destination is generated based on the location of the allocation destination. In setting the vehicle control right, the vehicle control right that allows the movement control of the allocated vehicle within the movement control permission range is set for the user.

[0023] Therefore, vehicle control rights for the assigned vehicle are set for the user within the permitted movement control range in which the assigned vehicle can move at the assigned destination, so that the user can move the assigned vehicle within the permitted movement control range of the assigned destination.

[0024] In the above vehicle control right setting method, the setting of the vehicle control right may be changed based on a predetermined condition.

[0025] According to this configuration, the setting of vehicle control rights is changed based on specified conditions, so that the setting of vehicle control rights can be changed and control rights can be set only when the user needs control of the dispatched vehicle.

[0026] In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle control right setting method, delivery status information regarding the status of the dispatch vehicle delivering the delivery target may be obtained from the dispatch vehicle, and the setting of the vehicle control right may be changed based on the delivery status information.

[0027] According to this configuration, delivery status information on the status of the dispatch vehicle delivering the delivery target is acquired from the dispatch vehicle. In changing the setting of the vehicle control right, the setting of the vehicle control right is changed based on the delivery status information.

[0028] Therefore, the vehicle control rights can be changed based on delivery status information regarding the situation in which the dispatch vehicle delivers the delivery item, and control rights can be set for the user only when control of the dispatch vehicle is necessary in various delivery situations.

[0029] In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle control right setting method, the vehicle control right includes a boarding vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatched vehicle in which the user boards at the dispatch destination, and the setting of the vehicle control right may be changed by canceling the setting of the boarding vehicle control right when the delivery status information indicates that the user has completed boarding at the dispatch destination.

[0030] According to this configuration, the vehicle control right includes a riding vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatched vehicle that the user is in at the dispatch destination. When changing the setting of the vehicle control right, if the delivery status information indicates that the user has completed boarding at the dispatch destination, the setting of the riding vehicle control right is released.

[0031] Therefore, when the user has completed boarding at the destination, the setting of the vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatched vehicle in which the user is boarding at the destination is released, thereby preventing the user from controlling the dispatched vehicle at the destination after the user has completed boarding at the destination.

[0032] In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle control right setting method, the vehicle control right includes a disembarkation vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatched vehicle into which the user disembarks at the destination, and the setting of the vehicle control right may be changed by canceling the setting of the disembarkation vehicle control right when the delivery status information indicates that the user has completed disembarking at the destination.

[0033] According to this configuration, the vehicle control right includes a disembarking vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatched vehicle in which the user disembarks at the destination. When changing the setting of the vehicle control right, if the delivery status information indicates that the user has completed disembarking at the destination, the setting of the disembarking vehicle control right is released.

[0034] Therefore, when the user has completed disembarking at the destination, the setting of the disembarking vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatched vehicle into which the user disembarks at the destination is released, thereby preventing the user from controlling the dispatched vehicle at the destination after the user has completed disembarking at the destination.

[0035] In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle control right setting method, the vehicle control right includes a boarding vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatched vehicle in which the user boards at the dispatch destination, and a disembarking vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatched vehicle in which the user disembarks at the destination, and the setting of the vehicle control right may be changed by canceling the settings of the boarding vehicle control right and the disembarking vehicle control right when the delivery status information indicates that the user has completed disembarking at the destination.

[0036] According to this configuration, the vehicle control right includes a boarding vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatched vehicle in which the user boards at the dispatch destination, and a disembarking vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatched vehicle in which the user disembarks at the destination. When changing the setting of the vehicle control right, if the delivery status information indicates that the user has completed disembarking at the destination, the settings of the boarding vehicle control right and the disembarking vehicle control right are released.

[0037] Therefore, when the user has completed disembarking at the destination, the settings of the boarding vehicle control right, which allows the user to control the dispatched vehicle into which the user boards at the dispatch destination, and the disembarking vehicle control right, which allows the user to control the dispatched vehicle into which the user disembarks at the destination, are released, thereby preventing the user from controlling the dispatched vehicle at the dispatch destination and the destination after the user has completed disembarking at the destination.

[0038] In addition, in the above vehicle control right setting method, the vehicle control right includes a source vehicle control right that permits the user to control the delivery vehicle on which the delivery item is loaded at the delivery destination, and the setting of the vehicle control right may be changed by canceling the setting of the source vehicle control right when the delivery status information indicates that loading of the delivery item at the delivery destination has been completed.

[0039] According to this configuration, the vehicle control right includes a delivery source vehicle control right that permits a user to control a delivery vehicle on which a delivery target is loaded at a delivery destination. When changing the setting of the vehicle control right, if the delivery status information indicates that loading of the delivery target at the delivery destination is completed, the setting of the delivery source vehicle control right is released.

[0040] Therefore, when loading of the delivery items at the destination is completed, the setting of the delivery source vehicle control right that allows the user to control the delivery vehicle in which the delivery items are loaded at the destination is released, thereby preventing the user from controlling the delivery vehicle at the destination after loading of the delivery items at the destination is completed.

[0041] Furthermore, in the above vehicle control right setting method, the vehicle control right includes a destination vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatch vehicle in which the delivery item is to be unloaded at the destination, and the setting of the vehicle control right may be changed by canceling the setting of the destination vehicle control right when the delivery status indicates that unloading of the delivery item at the destination is completed.

[0042] According to this configuration, the vehicle control right includes a destination vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatch vehicle in which the delivery object is to be unloaded at the destination. When changing the setting of the vehicle control right, if the delivery status indicates that the unloading of the delivery object at the destination is completed, the setting of the destination vehicle control right is released.

[0043] Therefore, when unloading of the delivery items at the destination is completed, the setting of the delivery destination vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatch vehicle in which the delivery items are unloaded at the destination is released, thereby preventing the user from controlling the dispatch vehicle at the destination after unloading of the delivery items at the destination is completed.

[0044] Furthermore, in the above vehicle control right setting method, the vehicle control right includes a source vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatch vehicle on which the delivery object is loaded at the dispatch destination, and a destination vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatch vehicle on which the delivery object is unloaded at the destination, and the setting of the vehicle control right may be changed by canceling the settings of the source vehicle control right and the destination vehicle control right when the delivery status indicates that unloading of the delivery object at the destination is completed.

[0045] According to this configuration, the vehicle control right includes a source vehicle control right that allows a user to control a delivery vehicle on which the delivery object is loaded at the delivery destination, and a destination vehicle control right that allows a user to control a delivery vehicle on which the delivery object is unloaded at the destination. When changing the setting of the vehicle control right, if the delivery status indicates that unloading of the delivery object at the destination is completed, the settings of the source vehicle control right and the destination vehicle control right are released.

[0046] Therefore, when unloading of the delivery items at the destination is completed, the settings of the source vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatch vehicle on which the delivery items are loaded at the dispatch destination, and the destination vehicle control right that permits the user to control the dispatch vehicle on which the delivery items are unloaded at the destination, are released, thereby preventing the user from controlling the dispatch vehicle at the dispatch destination and the destination after unloading of the delivery items at the destination is completed.

[0047] In addition, in the above vehicle control right setting method, expiration date information indicating a period during which the vehicle control right is valid may be set for the vehicle control right, and the setting of the vehicle control right may be changed based on the expiration date information.

[0048] According to this configuration, validity period information indicating a period during which the vehicle control right is valid is set for the vehicle control right. When changing the setting of the vehicle control right, the setting of the vehicle control right is changed based on the validity period information.

[0049] Therefore, when the expiration date has passed, the setting of the vehicle control right is changed, so that the user can control the vehicle within the expiration date. Also, the user can easily recognize the timing when the setting of the control right is changed. Also, the setting of the vehicle control right that has the same expiration date can be changed at the same time.

[0050] A vehicle control right setting device according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition unit that acquires from an external device dispatch request information including at least location information indicating the location of the destination to which an autonomous vehicle is to be dispatched, and user identification information for identifying a user who will use the autonomous vehicle or a user terminal carried by the user, a determination unit that determines a dispatched vehicle indicating the autonomous vehicle to be dispatched to the user based on the dispatch request information, and a setting unit that sets vehicle control right for the user that allows control of the dispatched vehicle based on the dispatch request information and the user identification information.

[0051] According to this configuration, dispatch request information including at least location information indicating the location of the destination to which the autonomous vehicle is to be dispatched, and user identification information for identifying a user who uses the autonomous vehicle or a user terminal held by the user are acquired from an external device. A dispatch vehicle indicating the autonomous vehicle to be dispatched to the user is determined based on the dispatch request information. Vehicle control rights permitting control of the dispatched vehicle are set for the user based on the dispatch request information and the user identification information.

[0052] Therefore, a dispatched vehicle indicating the autonomous vehicle to be dispatched to the user is determined, and vehicle control rights permitting control of the dispatched vehicle are set for the user, so that the user of the autonomous vehicle can control the autonomous vehicle at the dispatch destination.

[0053] A vehicle control right setting program according to another aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to execute a process of acquiring from an external device dispatch request information including at least location information indicating the location of the destination to which an autonomous vehicle will be dispatched, and user identification information for identifying a user who will use the autonomous vehicle or a user terminal carried by the user, determining a dispatch vehicle indicating the autonomous vehicle to be dispatched to the user based on the dispatch request information, and setting vehicle control right for the user that allows them to control the dispatched vehicle based on the dispatch request information and the user identification information.

[0054] According to this configuration, dispatch request information including at least location information indicating the location of the destination to which the autonomous vehicle is to be dispatched, and user identification information for identifying a user who uses the autonomous vehicle or a user terminal held by the user are acquired from an external device. A dispatch vehicle indicating the autonomous vehicle to be dispatched to the user is determined based on the dispatch request information. Vehicle control rights permitting control of the dispatched vehicle are set for the user based on the dispatch request information and the user identification information.

[0055] Therefore, a dispatched vehicle indicating the autonomous vehicle to be dispatched to the user is determined, and vehicle control rights permitting control of the dispatched vehicle are set for the user, so that the user of the autonomous vehicle can control the autonomous vehicle at the dispatch destination.

[0056] A vehicle control method according to another aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle control method in a vehicle control device, which acquires from an external source control right information that associates control permitted position information indicating a control permitted position where control by a user of an autonomous vehicle is permitted and control entity identification information for identifying a control entity that controls the autonomous vehicle at the control permitted position, acquires vehicle position information indicating a current position of the autonomous vehicle, acquires from an external source control instruction information including the control entity identification information, determines whether the current position indicated by the vehicle position information is the control permitted position indicated by the control permitted position information, and if it is determined that the current position indicated by the vehicle position information is the control permitted position indicated by the control permitted position information, determines whether the control entity identification information included in the control instruction information matches the control entity identification information associated with the control permitted position information, and if it is determined that the control entity identification information included in the control instruction information matches the control entity identification information associated with the control permitted position information, controls the autonomous vehicle in accordance with the control instruction information.

[0057] According to this configuration, control right information is acquired from an external device, which associates control permission position information indicating a control permission position where control by a user of the autonomous vehicle is permitted, with control entity identification information for identifying a control entity that controls the autonomous vehicle at the control permission position. Vehicle position information indicating a current position of the autonomous vehicle is acquired. Control instruction information for controlling the autonomous vehicle, including the control entity identification information, is acquired from an external device. It is determined whether or not the current position indicated by the vehicle position information is the control permission position indicated by the control permission position information. If it is determined that the current position indicated by the vehicle position information is the control permission position indicated by the control permission position information, it is determined whether or not the control entity identification information included in the control instruction information matches the control entity identification information associated with the control permission position information. If it is determined that the control entity identification information included in the control instruction information matches the control entity identification information associated with the control permission position information, the autonomous vehicle is controlled in accordance with the control instruction information.

[0058] Therefore, if the current location of the autonomous vehicle is determined to be a control permitted location that permits control by the user of the autonomous vehicle, and if it is determined that the control entity identification information included in the control instruction information for controlling the autonomous vehicle matches the control entity identification information associated with the control permitted location, the autonomous vehicle is controlled in accordance with the control instruction information, so that the user of the autonomous vehicle at the destination can control the autonomous vehicle.

[0059] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are examples of the present disclosure and do not limit the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0060] (Embodiment 1) In this embodiment 1, a vehicle control right setting method is described in which a delivery vehicle indicating an autonomous vehicle to be dispatched to a user is determined based on dispatch request information including at least location information indicating the location of the destination to which the autonomous vehicle will be dispatched, control right is set for the user that allows them to control the delivery vehicle located at the destination based on the dispatch request information and user identification information that identifies the user who will use the autonomous vehicle or the user terminal held by the user, and control instruction support information is sent to the user terminal to assist in inputting control instruction information to the delivery vehicle.

[0061] FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an overall configuration of a vehicle control system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0062] The vehicle control system shown in FIG. 1 includes a management device 1, a user terminal 2, and a delivery vehicle 3.

[0063] The management device 1 receives, from the user terminal 2 owned by the user, vehicle dispatch request information including location information of the delivery origin and location information of the delivery destination, delivery origin user identification information for identifying the user who will use the delivery vehicle at the delivery origin location or the user terminal 2 owned by the user, and delivery destination user identification information for identifying the user who will use the delivery vehicle at the delivery destination location or the user terminal 2 owned by the user, via the network 4. The network 4 is, for example, the Internet.

[0064] Here, the delivery origin refers to the loading position where the delivery object is loaded onto the vehicle when the delivery vehicle 3 delivers the delivery object, and refers to the boarding position where the delivery object gets on when the delivery vehicle 3 delivers a person like a taxi. Also, the delivery destination refers to the position where the delivery object is unloaded from the vehicle when the delivery vehicle 3 delivers the delivery object, and refers to the disembarking position where the delivery object gets off when the delivery vehicle 3 delivers a person.

[0065] Furthermore, a user who uses the delivery vehicle 3 at the location of the delivery origin refers to a person who loads the delivery object onto the delivery vehicle 3 when the delivery vehicle 3 delivers the delivery object, and refers to a person who rides in the delivery vehicle 3 when the delivery vehicle 3 delivers a person, such as a taxi. Similarly, a user who uses the delivery vehicle 3 at the location of the delivery destination refers to a person who unloads the delivery object from the delivery vehicle 3, that is, a recipient of the delivery object, when the delivery vehicle 3 delivers the delivery object, and refers to a person who gets off the delivery vehicle 3 when the delivery vehicle 3 delivers a person, such as a taxi. Furthermore, the delivery origin refers to a destination where an autonomous vehicle is dispatched, and the delivery destination refers to a destination.

[0066] Next, the management device 1 determines a delivery vehicle 3 from vehicle information of one or more vehicles managed in advance, based on the delivery destination location information and delivery origin location information included in the vehicle dispatch request information. Then, the management device 1 sets a control right that allows the delivery origin user to control the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin, based on the delivery origin location information and delivery origin user identification information. In addition, the management device 1 sets a control right that allows the delivery destination user to control the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination, based on the delivery destination location information and delivery destination user identification information.

[0067] Next, the management device 1 transmits control instruction support information for supporting the user in inputting control instruction information to the delivery vehicle 3 to the user terminal 2 via the network 4. In addition, the management device 1 transmits control right information regarding the set control right to the delivery vehicle 3 via the network 4.

[0068] The user terminal 2 is a terminal owned by a user, and is, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal computer. The user terminal 2 transmits vehicle dispatch request information and user identification information to the management device 1, for example, by using wireless communication. The vehicle dispatch request information includes location information of the delivery origin and location information of the delivery destination. The vehicle dispatch request information may include only location information of the delivery origin. The user identification information includes delivery origin user identification information for identifying a user who uses the delivery vehicle at the delivery origin location or a user terminal 2 owned by the user, and delivery destination user identification information for identifying a user who uses the delivery vehicle at the delivery destination location or a user terminal 2 owned by the user. The user identification information may include only delivery origin user identification information.

[0069] The user identification information may be, for example, a user ID given by the service provider at the time of user registration when using a service, biometric information, or a MAC (Media Access Control) address for identifying the user terminal 2. Moreover, the biometric information may be, for example, a fingerprint, an iris, or a face.

[0070] A method in which a user issues a vehicle dispatch request to the management device 1 may be, for example, a method in which an application program for making a vehicle dispatch request provided by the management device 1 or the like is installed in the user terminal 2, and the vehicle dispatch request is issued using the application program. Another method is a method in which the user accesses a dedicated web page for making a vehicle dispatch request provided by the management device 1, and issues a vehicle dispatch request via the dedicated web page. Note that any configuration may be used as long as the user issues a vehicle dispatch request to the management device 1 using the user terminal 2.

[0071] The delivery vehicle 3 is a vehicle determined based on dispatch request information from vehicle information of one or more vehicles managed by the management device 1, and is a fully autonomous vehicle equipped with an autonomous driving function that does not require a driver. Each vehicle in the vehicle group managed by the management device 1 periodically transmits its own vehicle's location information and vehicle status information indicating the vehicle's status, such as whether or not it is making a delivery, to the management device 1. The management device 1 manages this information, and when it obtains dispatch request information from the user terminal 2, it determines the delivery vehicle 3 based on this information. The delivery vehicle 3 is an example of a dispatch vehicle.

[0072] Furthermore, the delivery vehicle 3 acquires and stores control right information regarding the control right for controlling the vehicle when the delivery vehicle is located at the delivery origin and delivery destination from the management device 1. When the delivery vehicle 3 receives control instruction information for controlling the vehicle from the outside, the delivery vehicle 3 determines whether or not the vehicle can be controlled based on the stored control right information. When the delivery vehicle 3 determines that the vehicle can be controlled, the delivery vehicle 3 controls the vehicle according to the control instruction information.

[0073] The configurations of the management device 1, the user terminal 2, and the delivery vehicle 3 will be described in detail below.

[0074] 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The management device 1 includes a communication unit 11, a control unit 12, and a storage unit 13.

[0075] The communication unit 11 transmits and receives various information to and from external devices such as the user terminal 2 and the delivery vehicle 3. The communication unit 11 transmits and receives various information to and from external devices via a network 4 such as a WAN (Wide Area Network) or a LAN (Local Area Network).

[0076] The control unit 12 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and includes a vehicle dispatch request information acquisition unit 121, a user identification information acquisition unit 122, a delivery vehicle determination unit 123, a control right setting unit 124, a control instruction support information generation unit 125, and an information transmission unit 126.

[0077] The vehicle dispatch request information acquisition unit 121 acquires vehicle dispatch request information including user information indicating the user, location information of the delivery origin, and location information of the delivery destination from the user terminal 2 via the communication unit 11. The vehicle dispatch request information acquisition unit 121 acquires vehicle dispatch request information including at least location information indicating the location of the delivery destination to which an autonomously driven vehicle will be dispatched. In the first embodiment, the delivery origin is the delivery destination, and the delivery destination is the destination.

[0078] The user identification information acquisition unit 122 acquires, from the user terminal 2, delivery origin user identification information for identifying a user who uses a delivery vehicle located at the delivery origin or the user terminal 2 owned by the user, and delivery destination user identification information for identifying a user who uses a delivery vehicle located at the delivery destination or the user terminal 2 owned by the user, via the communication unit 11. The user identification information acquisition unit 122 acquires, from the user terminal 2, user identification information for identifying a user who uses an autonomous vehicle or a user terminal owned by the user.

[0079] In the first embodiment, the vehicle dispatch request information, the delivery source user identification information, and the delivery destination user identification information are separately acquired, but the vehicle dispatch request information may be acquired collectively. For example, the vehicle dispatch request information may include the delivery source user identification information and the delivery destination user identification information, and the vehicle dispatch request information acquisition unit 121 may acquire the vehicle dispatch request information, the delivery source user identification information, and the delivery destination user identification information collectively.

[0080] Now, let me explain about delivery. There are two main types of delivery. The first is the delivery of goods, and the second is the delivery of people, such as taxis.

[0081] When a delivery vehicle delivers an item, the user who loads the package at the delivery origin is different from the user who receives the package at the delivery destination. Therefore, the user information indicated by the delivery origin user identification information and the delivery destination user identification information is different.

[0082] On the other hand, when a delivery vehicle delivers a person, the user who boards at the delivery origin and the user who disembarks at the delivery destination are the same. Therefore, the user information indicated by the delivery origin user identification information and the delivery destination user identification information are the same. Therefore, when a delivery vehicle delivers a person, the user identification information acquisition unit 122 may not distinguish between the delivery destination and the delivery origin, but simply acquire user identification information for identifying the user who uses the delivery vehicle or the user terminal 2 possessed by the user, and set the acquired user identification information as the delivery origin user identification information and the delivery destination user identification information.

[0083] The user identification information acquisition unit 122 may acquire user identification information each time dispatch request information is acquired, or may reuse user identification information acquired after the first dispatch request information is acquired each time dispatch request information is acquired. In particular, when the delivery vehicle is a taxi that delivers people, it is considered that the person who requested the dispatch often gets on and off the vehicle. Therefore, it is a burden for the user to send the delivery source user identification information and the delivery destination user identification information each time the user sends the dispatch request information.

[0084] Therefore, when the delivery vehicle is a taxi, it is preferable that the user identification information acquisition unit 122 reuses the user identification information acquired after the first vehicle dispatch request information is acquired each time vehicle dispatch request information is acquired. Alternatively, the user identification information may be registered when the user registers for the first time when using a taxi, and the user identification information acquisition unit 122 may automatically use the registered user identification information as the delivery source user identification information and the delivery destination user information. With this configuration, the user can save the trouble of sending the delivery source user identification information and the delivery destination user information each time vehicle dispatch request information is sent.

[0085] On the other hand, when a delivery vehicle delivers an item, either the user at the delivery origin or the user at the delivery destination is different from the delivery requester. Therefore, the delivery requester needs to send user identification information that is different from the user identification information of the delivery requester at least every time the delivery request information is sent. However, in order to reduce the burden on the user as much as possible, it is preferable that the user terminal 2 pre-registers user identification information that is frequently used as the delivery origin user identification information or the delivery destination user identification information, and easily accepts the designation of the user identification information the next time the delivery origin user identification information or the delivery destination user identification information is specified.

[0086] The delivery vehicle determination unit 123 determines a delivery vehicle (dispatch vehicle) indicating an autonomous vehicle to be dispatched to a user based on the dispatch request information. The delivery vehicle determination unit 123 determines a delivery vehicle for the dispatch request information using a predetermined delivery vehicle determination algorithm from vehicle information, which is information on one or more vehicles managed by the management device 1. Here, the vehicle information managed by the management device 1 includes vehicle identification information for identifying the vehicle, vehicle position information indicating the position of the vehicle, and vehicle status information indicating the status of the vehicle, such as whether the vehicle is in the middle of a delivery. The vehicle position information and vehicle status information are acquired from each vehicle. The vehicle information is stored in the vehicle information storage unit 133. The delivery vehicle determination algorithm is stored in advance in the delivery vehicle determination program storage unit 135.

[0087] In addition, the delivery vehicle determination algorithm may be any algorithm as long as it can determine a delivery vehicle for the dispatch request information. For example, the delivery vehicle determination unit 123 determines, from the dispatch source position information included in the dispatch request information, a vehicle that is not currently in delivery and is closest to the dispatch source position among the vehicle information managed by the management device 1 as the delivery vehicle 3. In this example, a delivery vehicle determination algorithm that determines a vehicle that is closest to the dispatch source position as the delivery vehicle 3 has been described, but as another delivery vehicle determination algorithm, the delivery vehicle determination unit 123 may calculate the required fee for dispatching each vehicle to the dispatch source, and determine the vehicle with the lowest required fee as the delivery vehicle 3. In addition, as another example of the delivery vehicle determination algorithm, the delivery vehicle determination unit 123 may determine, as the delivery vehicle 3, a vehicle that arrives at the delivery destination in the shortest time.

[0088] As another example of the delivery vehicle determination algorithm, the delivery vehicle determination unit 123 may generate a route from the vehicle's position to the delivery origin for each vehicle, calculate the required time from the vehicle's position to the delivery origin based on the route, and determine the vehicle with the shortest required time as the delivery vehicle 3. The delivery vehicle determination program storage unit 135 may also store a plurality of delivery vehicle determination algorithms in advance, and the delivery vehicle determination unit 123 may determine one delivery vehicle determination algorithm from among the plurality of delivery vehicle determination algorithms, for example, based on the administrator's preference.

[0089] The control right setting unit 124 sets, for the user, control right (vehicle control right) that allows control of the delivery vehicle based on the dispatch request information and user identification information. The control right setting unit 124 sets, for the user, control right (vehicle control right) that allows control of the delivery vehicle located at the dispatch destination based on the dispatch request information and user identification information. The control right setting unit 124 sets, for the dispatch source user identification information, control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the dispatch source, and sets, for the delivery destination user identification information, control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination, based on the dispatch request information, delivery source user identification information, and delivery destination user identification information.

[0090] The control instruction support information generating unit 125 generates control instruction support information for supporting input of control instruction information to the delivery vehicle 3. The control instruction support information generating unit 125 generates control instruction support information for supporting a user who has been granted control rights to input control instruction information to the delivery vehicle 3. The control instruction support information is, for example, a control instruction screen for instructing control of the delivery vehicle 3. The control instruction support information may be a screen showing an address of a dedicated web page for instructing control of the delivery vehicle 3. In this case, the user can use the user terminal 2 to give control instructions to the delivery vehicle 3 via the control instruction screen or the web page.

[0091] Furthermore, if the delivery vehicle 3 is equipped with an input device (not shown) for the user to input control instruction information, the control instruction assistance information may be information such as a password that is required for the user to input the control instruction information via the input device mounted on the delivery vehicle 3. In this case, the user inputs information such as a password, which is the control instruction assistance information, into the input device mounted on the delivery vehicle 3. As a result, when authentication to the input device mounted on the delivery vehicle 3 is successful, the user can issue control instructions to the delivery vehicle 3 via the input device. This configuration makes it possible to prevent people other than the user from controlling the delivery vehicle 3.

[0092] The information transmission unit 126 transmits the control instruction support information generated by the control instruction support information generation unit 125 to the user who has been given the control right. The management device 1 acquires user information including user contact information indicating the user's contact information for each user from the users, and stores the user information in the user information storage unit 132. The information transmission unit 126 transmits the control instruction support information to the user who has been given the control right, based on the user information. The user information may be acquired from the user in advance, or may be acquired from the user by acquiring vehicle dispatch request information including the user information, and acquiring the user information from the vehicle dispatch request information.

[0093] When a delivery vehicle delivers an item, the user at the delivery origin is different from the user at the delivery destination, and one of the users at the delivery origin and the user at the delivery destination is different from the delivery requester. Therefore, the vehicle allocation request information acquisition unit 121 acquires vehicle allocation request information including user information of a user other than the delivery requester.

[0094] Furthermore, the information transmitting unit 126 transmits control right information regarding the set control right to the delivery vehicle 3. Furthermore, the information transmitting unit 126 transmits dispatch instruction information based on the dispatch request information to the delivery vehicle 3. The dispatch instruction information includes at least the location information of the delivery origin and the location information of the delivery destination. The dispatch instruction information may include route information including the route from the vehicle's current location to the delivery origin and the route from the delivery origin to the delivery destination. In this case, the management device 1 generates the route information, but the delivery vehicle 3 may also generate the route information.

[0095] The memory unit 13 is, for example, a semiconductor memory, and includes a dispatch request information memory unit 131, a user information memory unit 132, a vehicle information memory unit 133, a control right information memory unit 134, a delivery vehicle determination program memory unit 135, a control right setting program memory unit 136, and a control instruction support information generation program memory unit 137.

[0096] The vehicle dispatch request information storage unit 131 stores vehicle dispatch request information acquired from the user terminal 2 by the vehicle dispatch request information acquisition unit 121, which includes at least user information, location information of the delivery origin, and location information of the delivery destination.

[0097] The user information storage unit 132 stores user information including user identification information for identifying a user or a user terminal 2 owned by the user, and user contact information indicating the user's contact information, which is acquired from the user terminal 2. Note that the user identification information and the user contact information may be the same.

[0098] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of user information stored in the user information storage unit in the first embodiment.

[0099] The user information includes, for example, user identification information for identifying the user and user contact information for sending and receiving information to and from the user terminal 2. In FIG. 3, an email address is stored as the user contact information. Note that the user contact information is not limited to an email address, and may be, for example, an IP (Internet Protocol) address or a MAC (Media Access Control) address. The user contact information may be any information that is used to send information to the user. In addition, the user contact information is extracted from the user information storage unit 132 based on the delivery source user identification information and the delivery destination user identification information.

[0100] The vehicle information storage unit 133 stores vehicle information on each of one or more vehicles to be dispatched.

[0101] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of vehicle information stored in the vehicle information storage unit in the present embodiment 1. For example, the vehicle information includes vehicle identification information for identifying the vehicle, vehicle position information indicating the position of the vehicle, and vehicle status information indicating whether the vehicle is in an empty state or in delivery. The example shown in Fig. 4 shows a case where the vehicle status information includes an empty state and a delivery state.

[0102] Since the vehicle position information of each vehicle changes from moment to moment, it is preferable that the vehicle position information is obtained from each vehicle periodically. On the other hand, the vehicle status information is information that changes for each specified event, such as when the delivery vehicle receives a dispatch instruction from the management device 1 or when the delivery vehicle completes delivery. Therefore, it is preferable that the vehicle status information is obtained from each vehicle for each specified event. Note that the same effect as above can be obtained even if the vehicle status information is configured to be obtained periodically from each vehicle, like the vehicle position information.

[0103] The control right information memory unit 134 stores control right information indicating the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin and the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination, which are set by the control right setting unit 124 based on the dispatch request information, the delivery origin user identification information, and the delivery destination user identification information.

[0104] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of control right information stored in the control right information storage unit in the first embodiment. The control right information shown in Fig. 5 includes a vehicle dispatch request identification number for identifying the vehicle dispatch request information, information indicating either the delivery origin or the delivery destination, a controllable location, user identification information, and vehicle identification information of the delivery vehicle. The controllable location indicates the location information of the delivery origin and the location information of the delivery destination. The controllable location is expressed, for example, by longitude and latitude.

[0105] In Fig. 5, for example, at the controllable location of the delivery source, which is (latitude x11 degrees x12 minutes x13 seconds north, longitude x14 degrees x15 minutes x16 seconds east), a user with user identification information "A" is granted control rights to control a delivery vehicle with vehicle identification information "a". Also, at the controllable location of the delivery destination, which is (latitude y11 degrees y12 minutes y13 seconds north, longitude y14 degrees y15 minutes y16 seconds east), a user with user identification information "B" is granted control rights to control a delivery vehicle with vehicle identification information "a".

[0106] The delivery vehicle determination program storage unit 135 stores a delivery vehicle determination program executed by the delivery vehicle determination unit 123 for determining a delivery vehicle.

[0107] The control right setting program memory unit 136 stores a control right setting program executed by the control right setting unit 124 for setting the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin and the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination.

[0108] The control instruction support information generation program memory unit 137 stores a control instruction support information generation program executed by the control instruction support information generation unit 125 for generating control instruction support information to assist a user who has been granted control rights in inputting control instruction information into a delivery vehicle 3.

[0109] Next, the configuration of the user terminal 2 in the first embodiment will be described in detail.

[0110] 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a user terminal according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The user terminal 2 includes a communication unit 21, a display unit 22, an input unit 23, a control unit 24, and a storage unit 25.

[0111] The communication unit 21 transmits dispatch request information to the management device 1, receives control instruction support information from the management device 1, and transmits control instruction information for the delivery vehicle 3 via the control instruction support information. The communication unit 21 transmits and receives information to and from external devices such as the management device 1 or the delivery vehicle 3. The communication unit 21 transmits and receives information to and from external devices via a network 4 such as a WAN or LAN, for example.

[0112] The display unit 22 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays an input screen for inputting vehicle dispatch request information, and displays control instruction support information received from the management device 1.

[0113] The input unit 23 is, for example, a keyboard or a mouse, and accepts input operations by a user. The user inputs information to the user terminal 2 via the input unit 23. The display unit 22 and the input unit 23 may be integrated together, like a touch panel of a smartphone. In this case, the user inputs information by touching the touch panel of the display unit 22. The user inputs, for example, the delivery origin location information and the delivery destination location information included in the vehicle dispatch request information via the input unit 23. For example, the delivery origin location information and the delivery destination location information may be input by the user touching the delivery origin location and the delivery destination location with a finger or the like on map information displayed on a touch panel. Another input method may be, for example, the user inputting the delivery origin address and the delivery destination address from a keyboard into the input fields for the delivery origin location information and the delivery destination location information displayed on the display unit 22. Furthermore, for example, the user may input the delivery origin facility name and the delivery destination facility name from a keyboard into the input fields for the delivery origin location information and the delivery destination location information displayed on the display unit 22.

[0114] The control unit 24 is, for example, a CPU, and performs various control processes for the user terminal 2 .

[0115] The storage unit 25 is, for example, a semiconductor memory, and stores various information such as information acquired from the management device 1 and information input by a user. The storage unit 25 also stores address information of the management device 1 in order to transmit vehicle dispatch request information to the management device 1. The address information is acquired, for example, from a dedicated application for transmitting vehicle dispatch request information provided by the management device 1. In addition, in the case where a dedicated web page for transmitting vehicle dispatch request information is provided, the address information may be acquired from the web page. Note that the method for acquiring the address information of the management device 1 may be any method.

[0116] Next, the configuration of the delivery vehicle 3 in the first embodiment will be described in detail.

[0117] 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a delivery vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The delivery vehicle 3 includes a communication unit 31, a control unit 32, a storage unit 33, a sensor unit 34, and a drive unit 35.

[0118] The communication unit 31 receives control right information from the management device 1, receives control instruction information for controlling itself from the outside, transmits vehicle position information indicating its own position to the management device 1, and transmits vehicle status information indicating its own status to the management device 1, for example, using wireless communication. The communication unit 31 transmits and receives information to and from external devices such as the management device 1 or the user terminal 2. The communication unit 31 transmits and receives various information to and from external devices via a network 4 such as a WAN or LAN.

[0119] The control unit 32 is, for example, a CPU, and includes a movement control unit 321, a vehicle position information acquisition unit 322, a dispatch instruction information acquisition unit 323, a control right information acquisition unit 324, a control instruction information acquisition unit 325, a controllable position determination unit 326, and a controllable subject determination unit 327.

[0120] The movement control unit 321 controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 based on the autonomous driving basic program stored in the autonomous driving basic program storage unit 332. Specifically, the movement control unit 321 determines the movement direction of the delivery vehicle 3 based on the route stored in the route information storage unit 333 and the vehicle position information acquired by the sensor unit 34, and controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 in the determined movement direction based on the autonomous driving basic program.

[0121] In addition, when the movement control unit 321 acquires control instruction information for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 transmitted from outside, if the controllable position determination unit 326 and the controllable subject determination unit 327 determine that the delivery vehicle 3 should be controlled in accordance with the acquired control instruction information, the movement control unit 321 controls the delivery vehicle 3.

[0122] Specifically, first, the movement control unit 321 judges whether or not the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 can be controlled according to the control instruction information. This judgment is made because, for example, if there is an obstacle at the destination to which the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved according to the control instruction information, the delivery vehicle 3 cannot move to the destination. The movement control unit 321 checks whether or not the delivery vehicle 3 can be moved according to the control instruction information before actually moving. For example, the movement control unit 321 specifies the destination based on the control instruction information, and judges whether or not there is an obstacle based on the information sensed by the sensor unit 34 at the specified destination, thereby judging whether or not the delivery vehicle 3 can be moved. Next, the movement control unit 321 actually controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 based on this judgment result. Specifically, when the movement control unit 321 judges that the delivery vehicle 3 can be moved, the movement control unit 321 controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 according to the control instruction information. On the other hand, when the movement control unit 321 judges that the delivery vehicle 3 cannot be moved, the movement control unit 321 does not follow the control instruction information and does not move the delivery vehicle 3.

[0123] The vehicle position information acquisition unit 322 acquires position information indicating the current position of the delivery vehicle 3 via the sensor unit 34. The management device 1 manages the position information of each vehicle in the vehicle group to be dispatched. Each vehicle acquires its own position information and periodically transmits the position information to the management device 1. Therefore, the vehicle position information acquisition unit 322 acquires the position information of the delivery vehicle 3 via the sensor unit 34, and transmits the position information to the management device 1 via the communication unit 31.

[0124] In addition, when the delivery vehicle 3 receives control instruction information for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 from the outside, the vehicle position information acquisition unit 322 acquires position information of the delivery vehicle 3 via the sensor unit 34 to determine whether the position of the delivery vehicle 3 is a position corresponding to the control right set in the control right information.

[0125] The dispatch instruction information acquisition unit 323 acquires dispatch instruction information indicating dispatch instructions for the dispatch request information transmitted from the management device 1. The dispatch instruction information includes at least the location information of the delivery origin and the location information of the delivery destination. The delivery vehicle 3 starts moving toward the delivery origin based on the acquired dispatch instruction information. After the delivery object is loaded at the delivery origin, or after the user gets on the delivery vehicle 3, the delivery vehicle 3 moves toward the delivery destination. The dispatch instruction information may include route information from the current position of the delivery vehicle 3 to the delivery origin or route information from the delivery origin to the delivery destination. In this case, the management device 1 creates route information from the current position of the delivery vehicle 3 to the delivery origin or route information from the delivery origin to the delivery destination. Alternatively, the delivery vehicle 3 may create route information from the current position of the delivery vehicle 3 to the delivery origin or route information from the delivery origin to the delivery destination based on the location information of the delivery origin and the location information of the delivery destination included in the dispatch instruction information. In this case, the management device 1 does not have a function of creating route information, and the delivery vehicle 3 has a function of creating route information.

[0126] The control right information acquisition unit 324 acquires control right information set by the management device 1. The control right information acquisition unit 324 acquires from an external source control right information that associates control permission position information indicating a control permission position where control by the user of the autonomous vehicle is permitted, with control subject identification information for identifying a control subject that controls the autonomous vehicle at the control permission position. Note that the control subject indicates the user or a user terminal held by the user.

[0127] In the first embodiment, the control right information is transmitted from the management device 1 to the delivery vehicle 3, but the delivery vehicle 3 may obtain the control right information from the management device 1 by requesting the control right information from the management device 1. For example, when control instruction information for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 is received from the outside, the control right information acquisition unit 324 may request the control right information from the management device 1 and acquire the control right information from the management device 1.

[0128] The control instruction information acquisition unit 325 acquires control instruction information for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 from the outside, including control entity identification information. An example of the control instruction information is, for example, position information indicating a position to which the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved. In this case, the delivery vehicle 3 moves toward the position indicated in the control instruction information. The control instruction information may include not only the position of the delivery vehicle 3 but also information indicating the orientation of the delivery vehicle 3. In this case, the delivery vehicle 3 moves toward the position indicated in the control instruction information, with the orientation of the delivery vehicle 3 facing the direction indicated in the control instruction information.

[0129] As another example, the control instruction information may include information indicating a direction in which the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved and a distance in which the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved. For example, if the information indicating the direction in which the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved is the front of the vehicle and the information indicating the distance in which the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved is 50 cm, the delivery vehicle 3 will move 50 cm toward the front of the vehicle.

[0130] The controllable position determination unit 326 determines whether the current position indicated by the position information acquired by the vehicle position information acquisition unit 322 is the control permitted position indicated by the control permitted position information. When control instruction information for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 transmitted from the outside is acquired, the controllable position determination unit 326 determines whether the current position of the delivery vehicle 3 is the delivery origin position or the delivery destination position indicated in the control right information based on the control right information. If it is determined that the position of the delivery vehicle 3 is the delivery origin position or the delivery destination position as a result of the determination, the process proceeds to the controllable subject determination unit 327. On the other hand, if it is determined that the position of the delivery vehicle 3 is not the delivery origin position or the delivery destination position as a result of the determination, the control instruction information is not followed and the process is terminated.

[0131] When the controllable subject determination unit 327 determines that the current position indicated by the vehicle position information is the control permitted position indicated by the control permitted position information, it determines whether the control subject identification information included in the control instruction information matches the control subject identification information associated with the control permitted position information.

[0132] When the controllable position determination unit 326 determines that the current position of the delivery vehicle 3 is the position of the delivery origin or the position of the delivery destination indicated in the control right information, the controllable subject determination unit 327 determines whether the control subject identification information included in the control instruction information matches the user identification information included in the control right information. When it is determined that the control subject identification information included in the control instruction information matches the user identification information included in the control right information as a result of the determination, the controllable subject determination unit 327 requests the movement control unit 321 to perform control processing in accordance with the control instruction information. When it is determined that the control subject identification information included in the control instruction information matches the control subject identification information associated with the control permission position information, the movement control unit 321 controls the delivery vehicle 3 in accordance with the control instruction information.

[0133] On the other hand, if it is determined that the control entity identification information included in the control instruction information does not match the user identification information included in the control right information, the control instruction information is not followed and the process is terminated.

[0134] The memory unit 33 is, for example, a semiconductor memory, and includes a map information memory unit 331, an autonomous driving basic program memory unit 332, a route information memory unit 333, a vehicle position information memory unit 334, a dispatch instruction information memory unit 335, a control right information memory unit 336, a controllable position determination program memory unit 337, and a controllable subject determination program memory unit 338.

[0135] The map information storage unit 331 stores map information such as road maps. The map information includes, for example, road data related to road links, intersection data related to intersections, facility data related to facilities, and display object data indicating display objects installed or formed on roads to provide various driving information (for example, legal speed information) and guidance to a driving vehicle. The map information is obtained, for example, from an external server and stored in advance. Note that, since road conditions change due to the formation or modification of new roads or facilities, it is desirable for the delivery vehicle 3 to periodically access an external server or the like to obtain map information and update the map information. The map information is used when the delivery vehicle 3 delivers a delivery target by autonomous driving.

[0136] The automatic driving basic program storage unit 332 stores a basic program for controlling automatic driving of the delivery vehicle 3. The movement control unit 321 controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 by controlling the drive unit 35 based on the sensing information measured by the sensor unit 34 of the delivery vehicle 3 and vehicle position information in accordance with the automatic driving basic program.

[0137] The route information storage unit 333 stores route information from the current location of the delivery vehicle 3 to the delivery origin or route information from the delivery origin to the delivery destination. The route information can be generated by an existing route generation program or the like. The delivery vehicle 3 can acquire the route information by receiving the route information generated by the management device 1 from the management device 1. The delivery vehicle 3 may generate the route information based on dispatch instruction information including the location information of the delivery origin and the location information of the delivery destination acquired from the management device 1.

[0138] The vehicle position information storage unit 334 stores position information indicating the current position of the delivery vehicle 3 acquired by the vehicle position information acquisition unit 322. The movement control unit 321 can determine the movement direction of the delivery vehicle 3 based on the position information of the delivery vehicle 3 stored in the vehicle position information storage unit 334 and the route information stored in the route information storage unit 333.

[0139] The vehicle allocation instruction information storage unit 335 stores vehicle allocation instruction information indicating vehicle allocation instructions for the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation instruction information acquisition unit 323. The vehicle allocation instruction information includes at least location information of the delivery origin and location information of the delivery destination.

[0140] The control right information memory unit 336 stores control right information acquired by the control right information acquisition unit 324, indicating the control right for controlling a delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin set for the delivery origin user identification information, and the control right for controlling a delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination set for the delivery destination user identification information.

[0141] The controllable position determination program storage unit 337 stores a controllable position determination program for determining whether the current position of the delivery vehicle 3 is the position of the delivery origin or the position of the delivery destination indicated in the control right information based on the control right information when control instruction information for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 transmitted from the outside is acquired. The controllable position determination program is executed by the controllable position determination unit 326.

[0142] The controllable subject determination program storage unit 338 stores a controllable subject determination program for determining whether or not the control subject identification information included in the control instruction information matches the user identification information included in the control right information. The controllable subject determination program is executed by the controllable subject determination unit 327.

[0143] The sensor unit 34 senses the position information of the delivery vehicle 3, senses information on the surrounding environment of the delivery vehicle 3, and senses information on the status of the delivery vehicle 3. The information sensed by the sensor unit 34 is used when autonomously controlling the movement of the delivery vehicle 3. Among the sensed information, the position information of the delivery vehicle 3 is transmitted to the management device 1. Specific examples of sensors of the sensor unit 34 are described below.

[0144] First, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) is used as a sensor for sensing the position information of the delivery vehicle 3. The position information of the delivery vehicle 3 is represented by, for example, latitude and longitude.

[0145] In addition, the sensor for sensing the information of the surrounding environment of the delivery vehicle 3 includes, for example, LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) or millimeter wave radar. LIDAR emits an infrared laser and measures the time it takes for the infrared laser to reflect off an object and return, thereby detecting the distance to an object around the delivery vehicle 3 or the relative speed of the delivery vehicle 3. This allows the delivery vehicle 3 to read the three-dimensional structure of the surrounding environment. In addition, millimeter wave radar performs measurements similar to LIDAR, but uses radio waves instead of infrared rays to measure the time it takes for the radio waves to reflect off an object and return. LIDAR, which uses infrared rays, can be used at night, but its function deteriorates in bad weather, while millimeter wave radar, which uses radio waves, has a feature that it can detect regardless of weather, although its resolution is inferior to LIDAR. Therefore, by using LIDAR and millimeter wave radar in combination rather than using them individually, it is possible to complement each other's disadvantages.

[0146] The sensor for sensing the state of the delivery vehicle 3 includes, for example, an odometer or an inertial sensor. The odometer measures the number of rotations of the tires to measure the distance traveled by the delivery vehicle 3. The inertial sensor is a sensor that detects inertial momentum and is made up of a three-axis angular velocity sensor and a three-directional acceleration sensor, and detects the behavior of the delivery vehicle 3.

[0147] The sensors described above are merely examples, and the delivery vehicle 3 may perform autonomous driving using sensing information from other sensors. Any sensor may be used as long as the delivery vehicle 3 uses the sensor for autonomous driving.

[0148] When the delivery vehicle 3 is an engine vehicle, the drive unit 35 is, for example, an engine and a transmission. When the delivery vehicle 3 is a battery vehicle in the narrow sense, the drive unit 35 is, for example, a travel motor and a transmission. Both the engine and the travel motor are started and stopped via an ignition switch.

[0149] Next, a vehicle control method will be described in detail using the flowchart of Figure 8, in which a delivery vehicle is determined based on the dispatch request information sent by the user and user identification information that identifies the user, control rights for controlling the movement of the delivery vehicle at the delivery origin and delivery destination are set, control instruction support information for supporting the input of control instruction information to the delivery vehicle is sent to the user, and control rights information is sent to the delivery vehicle.

[0150] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the vehicle control process of the management device, the user terminal, and the delivery vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0151] First, the communication unit 21 of the user terminal 2 transmits vehicle dispatch request information including user identification information for identifying the user or the user terminal 2 owned by the user, location information of the delivery origin, and location information of the delivery destination to the management device 1 (step S101). The location information of the delivery origin and the location information of the delivery destination include, for example, GPS information such as latitude and longitude, an address, or the name of a facility.

[0152] Next, the vehicle allocation request information acquisition unit 121 of the management device 1 receives the vehicle allocation request information transmitted from the user terminal 2, and stores the received vehicle allocation request information in the vehicle allocation request information storage unit 131 (step S102).

[0153] Next, the communication unit 21 of the user terminal 2 transmits to the management device 1 delivery origin user identification information for identifying a user who uses the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin or a user terminal 2 owned by the user, and delivery destination user identification information for identifying a user who uses the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination or a user terminal 2 owned by the user (step S103). The user terminal 2 may transmit vehicle dispatch request information including the delivery origin user identification information and the delivery destination user identification information to the management device 1. The user terminal 2 may also transmit the delivery origin user identification information and the delivery destination user identification information before transmitting the vehicle dispatch request information.

[0154] In addition, the user terminal that transmits the dispatch request information may be different from the user terminal of the user who uses the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin. For example, if the user terminal that transmits the dispatch request information is a personal computer and the user terminal that transmits the delivery request information is a smartphone, the user terminal that transmits the dispatch request information may be different from the user terminal of the user who uses the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin. In this case, the user terminal 2 that transmits the dispatch request information may accept the selection of a user terminal that is different from the user terminal 2 and that is owned by the user who uses the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin, and may accept the input of delivery origin user identification information that is different from the user identification information of the user terminal 2. In addition, after the user terminal that is owned by the user who uses the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin is selected, the user terminal 2 may accept a change in the user terminal that is owned by the user who uses the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin by the user.

[0155] Similarly, the user terminal 2 that transmits the dispatch request information may accept the selection of a user terminal owned by a user who uses a delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination that is different from the user terminal 2, and may accept input of delivery destination user identification information that is different from the user identification information of the user terminal 2. In addition, after a user terminal owned by a user who uses a delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination is selected, the user terminal 2 may accept a change in the user terminal owned by the user who uses the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination, by the user.

[0156] Next, the user identification information acquisition unit 122 of the management device 1 receives the delivery origin user identification information and delivery destination user identification information transmitted from the user terminal 2 (step S104). When the delivery vehicle 3 delivers a person, if the user who boards at the delivery origin and the user who disembarks at the delivery destination are the same, and if the delivery requester is the user of the delivery vehicle 3, the user identification information included in the vehicle dispatch request information can be regarded as the delivery origin user identification information and the delivery destination user identification information. Therefore, if the delivery requester is the user of the delivery vehicle 3, steps S103 and S104 for transmitting and receiving the delivery origin user identification information and the delivery destination user identification information can be omitted.

[0157] Next, the delivery vehicle determination unit 123 of the management device 1 determines a delivery vehicle to be dispatched to the delivery origin from the vehicle information of one or more vehicles managed by the management device 1 using a predetermined delivery vehicle determination algorithm (step S105). For example, the delivery vehicle determination unit 123 uses a delivery vehicle determination algorithm that determines, from the location information of the delivery origin included in the delivery request information, the vehicle that is located closest to the delivery origin among the vehicles managed by the management device 1 as the delivery vehicle. Note that the delivery vehicle determination algorithm may be any delivery vehicle determination algorithm as long as it can determine a delivery vehicle for the delivery request information.

[0158] Next, the control right setting unit 124 of the management device 1 sets control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the origin for the origin user identification information based on the dispatch request information, the origin user identification information, and the destination user identification information, and sets control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the destination for the destination user identification information (step S106).

[0159] For example, there may be a case where a child and his / her guardian use the system at the delivery origin or delivery destination, a case where an elderly person and their caregiver use the system, or a case where multiple users use the system as a group. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the control right setting unit 124 may set control rights (vehicle control rights) that permit the control of a delivery vehicle located at the delivery destination to multiple users based on the delivery request information and user identification information.

[0160] More specifically, the input unit 23 of the user terminal 2 accepts input of a plurality of delivery origin user identification information for identifying a plurality of users who use the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin or a plurality of user terminals 2 owned by the plurality of users, and a plurality of delivery destination user identification information for identifying a plurality of users who use the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination or a plurality of user terminals 2 owned by the plurality of users. The communication unit 21 transmits the plurality of delivery origin user identification information and the plurality of delivery destination user identification information to the management device 1. The user identification information acquisition unit 122 of the management device 1 receives the plurality of delivery origin user identification information and the plurality of delivery destination user identification information transmitted from the user terminal 2. The control right setting unit 124 sets the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin for the plurality of delivery origin user identification information, and sets the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination for the plurality of delivery destination user identification information. At this time, the control right setting unit 124 stores control right information in the control right information storage unit 134, which corresponds the dispatch request identification number, information indicating either the delivery source or delivery destination, a controllable position, multiple user identification information, and vehicle identification information.

[0161] Also, when it is difficult for the user at the delivery destination to receive the package, a proxy recipient may receive the package at a convenience store or the like. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the control right setting unit 124 may set the control right (vehicle control right) that allows the control of the delivery vehicle located at the delivery destination to a proxy recipient other than the user, based on the delivery request information and the user identification information. More specifically, the input unit 23 of the user terminal 2 accepts the input of delivery destination user identification information for identifying a proxy recipient other than the user who uses the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination, or multiple user terminals 2 owned by the proxy recipient. Note that the control right setting unit 124 may automatically change the control right to the proxy recipient.

[0162] In addition, there may be cases where the user uses the user terminal 2 to change the destination of the parcel to a convenience store because the user's schedule suddenly changes. In this case, the user terminal 2 transmits a destination change request to the management device 1 to change the destination of the parcel to a convenience store desired by the user. The control right setting unit 124 of the management device 1 changes the delivery destination to the convenience store desired by the user and sets the control right to the terminal of the convenience store or an employee of the convenience store. The storage unit 13 of the management device 1 prestores delivery destination information that associates the delivery destination (e.g., the name of the convenience store), the location information of the delivery destination (e.g., the address of the convenience store), and the identification information of the delivery destination (e.g., the terminal of the employee of the convenience store). The management device 1 may refer to or acquire the delivery destination information from an external server. When the management device 1 acquires the delivery destination change request from the user terminal 2, it refers to the delivery destination information and changes the settings of the delivery destination and the control right assignment.

[0163] Next, the control instruction support information generating unit 125 of the management device 1 generates control instruction support information for supporting input of control instruction information to the delivery vehicle 3 for the delivery source user identification information or delivery destination user identification information for which control right has been set (step S107). The control instruction support information is, for example, a control instruction screen for instructing control of the delivery vehicle 3. The control instruction support information may also be a screen showing an address indicating a dedicated web page for instructing control of the delivery vehicle 3. In this case, the user can use the user terminal 2 to give control instructions to the delivery vehicle 3 via the control instruction screen or the dedicated web page for control instructions.

[0164] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of control instruction support information displayed on the user terminal 2 in the first embodiment. The control instruction support information shown in Fig. 9 shows an example of a screen showing an address indicating a WEB page dedicated to control instructions. The user touches the address displayed on the screen. As a result, the WEB page dedicated to control instructions is displayed on the display unit 22 of the user terminal 2.

[0165] Furthermore, if the delivery vehicle 3 is equipped with an input device (not shown) for the user to input control instruction information, the control instruction assistance information may be information such as a password that is required for the user to input the control instruction information via the input device mounted on the delivery vehicle 3. In this case, the user inputs information such as a password, which is the control instruction assistance information, into the input device mounted on the delivery vehicle 3. This allows the user to issue control instructions to the delivery vehicle 3. This configuration makes it possible to prevent people other than the user from controlling the delivery vehicle 3.

[0166] Next, the information transmission unit 126 of the management device 1 transmits the control instruction support information to the user terminal 2 of the delivery origin or delivery destination to which the control right has been given via the communication unit 11 (step S108). The management device 1 acquires user information including user contact information indicating the contact information of the user for each user from the users, and stores it in the user information storage unit 132. The information transmission unit 126 transmits the control instruction support information to the user to whom the control right has been given based on the user information. The user information may be acquired from the user in advance, or may be acquired from the user by acquiring vehicle dispatch request information including the user information, and the user information may be acquired from the vehicle dispatch request information. When the delivery vehicle 3 delivers an item, the user of the delivery origin and the user of the delivery destination are different, and either the user of the delivery origin or the user of the delivery destination is different from the delivery requester. Therefore, the vehicle dispatch request information acquisition unit 121 acquires vehicle dispatch request information including user information of a person other than the delivery requester.

[0167] Next, the communication unit 21 of the user terminal 2 receives the control instruction support information transmitted from the management device 1 (step S109). The user can issue control instructions for the delivery vehicle 3 based on the control instruction support information transmitted to the user terminal 2.

[0168] Next, the information transmission unit 126 of the management device 1 transmits dispatch instruction information based on the dispatch request information to the delivery vehicle 3 (step S110). The dispatch instruction information includes at least the location information of the delivery origin and the location information of the delivery destination. The dispatch instruction information may include route information from the current location of the delivery vehicle 3 to the delivery origin and route information from the delivery origin to the delivery destination. In this case, the management device 1 generates the route information. Note that, as another configuration, the delivery vehicle 3 may generate route information from the current location of the vehicle to the delivery origin and route information from the delivery origin to the delivery destination based on the location information of the delivery origin and the location information of the delivery destination in the dispatch instruction information.

[0169] The dispatch instruction information acquisition unit 323 of the delivery vehicle 3 receives the dispatch instruction information based on the dispatch request information transmitted from the management device 1 (step S111). The movement control unit 321 of the delivery vehicle 3 controls the movement of the vehicle based on the dispatch instruction information.

[0170] Next, the information transmitting unit 126 of the management device 1 transmits control right information regarding the control right set by the control right setting unit 124 to the delivery vehicle 3 (step S112).

[0171] Next, the control right information acquisition unit 324 of the delivery vehicle 3 receives the control right information regarding the control right set by the control right setting unit 124, transmitted from the management device 1 (step S113). When the movement control unit 321 of the delivery vehicle 3 receives the control instruction information for the delivery vehicle 3 from the outside, it controls the delivery vehicle 3 based on the control right information.

[0172] Next, a process performed when the delivery vehicle 3 that has acquired control right information from the management device 1 receives control instruction information for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 from outside will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0173] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a vehicle control process of a delivery vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0174] First, the control instruction information acquisition unit 325 of the delivery vehicle 3 receives control instruction information for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 (step S21). The control instruction information includes, for example, position information indicating a position to which the user moves the delivery vehicle 3.

[0175] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen that accepts input of control instruction information by a user in the user terminal 2 in the first embodiment. The display screen shown in FIG. 11 displays a map image 201 in the vicinity of the delivery origin or delivery destination, and a vehicle image 202 representing the delivery vehicle 3 at the delivery origin or delivery destination position on the map image 201. On the display screen, the user specifies a position to which the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved. For example, the user moves the vehicle image 202 on the map image 201 to a desired position. The communication unit 21 of the user terminal 2 transmits control instruction information including position information indicating the position of the delivery vehicle 3 specified by the user to the delivery vehicle 3. In this case, the delivery vehicle 3 moves toward the position indicated by the control instruction information. The control instruction information may include not only the position of the vehicle but also information indicating the direction of the vehicle. In this case, the delivery vehicle 3 moves toward the position specified in the control instruction information, and moves so that the vehicle is oriented in the direction specified in the control instruction information.

[0176] Furthermore, the user terminal 2 may identifiably display, on the map image 201, areas where parking or stopping of a vehicle is prohibited. Areas where parking or stopping of a vehicle is prohibited can be acquired from map information. Furthermore, the user terminal 2 may determine whether or not the position of the moved vehicle image 202 input by the user is within an area where parking or stopping is prohibited. If it is determined that the position of the moved vehicle image 202 is within an area where parking or stopping is prohibited, the user terminal 2 may display a warning image or output a warning sound.

[0177] Another possible method of inputting the control instruction information is to input the direction in which the delivery vehicle 3 is to move and the distance the delivery vehicle 3 is to move.

[0178] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of a display screen that accepts input of control instruction information by a user in the user terminal 2 in the first embodiment. The display screen shown in FIG. 12 displays a first input field 211 for inputting a direction in which the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved, and a second input field 212 for inputting a distance in which the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved. The first input field 211 accepts a selection of whether the vehicle is to be moved forward or backward. The second input field 212 accepts an input of a distance in which the vehicle is to be moved. The communication unit 21 of the user terminal 2 transmits control instruction information including the direction and distance specified by the user to the delivery vehicle 3. In the display screen of FIG. 12, for example, when the information indicating the direction in which the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved is the front of the vehicle and the information indicating the distance in which the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved is 50 cm, the delivery vehicle 3 will move 50 cm toward the front of the vehicle.

[0179] Returning to FIG. 10, next, the vehicle position information acquisition unit 322 acquires position information indicating the current position of the delivery vehicle 3 from the sensor unit 34 (step S22).

[0180] Next, the controllable position determination unit 326 determines, based on the control right information, whether the current position of the delivery vehicle 3 acquired by the vehicle position information acquisition unit 322 is the position of the delivery origin or the position of the delivery destination indicated in the control right information (step S23).

[0181] Here, if it is determined that the current location of the delivery vehicle 3 is not the location of the delivery origin or the location of the delivery destination (NO in step S23), the control instruction information is not followed and the process is terminated.

[0182] On the other hand, if it is determined that the current location of the delivery vehicle 3 is the location of the delivery origin or the location of the delivery destination (YES in step S23), the controllable entity determination unit 327 determines whether the control entity identification information included in the control instruction information matches the user identification information included in the control rights information (step S24).

[0183] Here, if it is determined that the control entity identification information included in the control instruction information does not match the user identification information included in the control right information (NO in step S24), the control instruction information is not followed and the process is terminated.

[0184] On the other hand, if it is determined that the control entity identification information included in the control instruction information matches the user identification information included in the control rights information (YES in step S24), the movement control unit 321 controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 in accordance with the acquired control instruction information (step S25).

[0185] Specifically, first, the movement control unit 321 judges whether or not the delivery vehicle 3 can be moved according to the control instruction information. For example, if there is an obstacle at the destination location to which the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved according to the control instruction information, the delivery vehicle 3 cannot move to that location. Therefore, the movement control unit 321 judges whether or not the delivery vehicle 3 can be moved according to the control instruction information before actually moving. This judgment process is performed, for example, by specifying the destination location based on the control instruction information, and judging whether or not an obstacle exists at the specified location based on information sensed by the sensor unit 34.

[0186] Next, based on this determination result, the movement control unit 321 actually controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3. Specifically, if the movement control unit 321 determines that the delivery vehicle 3 can be moved to the destination, it controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 according to the control instruction information. On the other hand, if the movement control unit 321 determines that the delivery vehicle 3 cannot be moved to the destination, it does not follow the control instruction information and does not move the delivery vehicle 3.

[0187] In addition, if there is an obstacle between the current position of the delivery vehicle 3 and the destination location indicated by the control instruction information, or if the route from the current position of the delivery vehicle 3 to the destination location indicated by the control instruction information is curved, it may not be possible to determine whether the delivery vehicle 3 can be moved to the destination. Therefore, as another movement control method for the delivery vehicle 3, first, the movement control unit 321 starts the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 according to the control instruction information. Then, during the movement, the movement control unit 321 repeatedly determines whether the delivery vehicle 3 cannot be stopped at the destination. If it is determined that the delivery vehicle 3 cannot be stopped, the movement control unit 321 continues the movement to the destination. On the other hand, if it is determined that the delivery vehicle 3 cannot be stopped, the movement control unit 321 stops the delivery vehicle 3 at the location.

[0188] If it is determined that the delivery vehicle 3 cannot stop at the specified destination, the movement control unit 321 may notify the user terminal 2 that the delivery vehicle 3 cannot stop at the specified destination. In this case, the user terminal 2 may accept an input of another destination by the user. The user terminal 2 may also present a possible stopping position near the destination and accept the user's selection of the possible stopping position. If it is determined that the delivery vehicle 3 cannot stop at the specified destination, the movement control unit 321 may search for the nearest possible stopping position on the movement route to the current location and stop the delivery vehicle 3 at the possible stopping position. If it is determined that the delivery vehicle 3 cannot stop at the specified destination, the movement control unit 321 may search for the nearest possible stopping position and stop the delivery vehicle 3 at the possible stopping position.

[0189] In the first embodiment, the control instruction information may further include location information indicating the current location of the user terminal 2. The control unit 32 of the delivery vehicle 3 may further include a user location determination unit that determines whether the current location of the user terminal 2 is in the vicinity of the current location of the delivery vehicle 3. If it is determined that the current location of the user terminal 2 is in the vicinity of the current location of the delivery vehicle 3, the movement control unit 321 controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 according to the acquired control instruction information. On the other hand, if it is determined that the current location of the user terminal 2 is not in the vicinity of the current location of the delivery vehicle 3, the control instruction information is not followed and the process is terminated. Note that, if the current location of the user terminal 2 is within a predetermined distance range from the current location of the delivery vehicle 3, the user location determination unit determines that the current location of the user terminal 2 is in the vicinity of the current location of the delivery vehicle 3. If the current location of the user terminal 2 is not within a predetermined distance range from the current location of the delivery vehicle 3, the user location determination unit determines that the current location of the user terminal 2 is not in the vicinity of the current location of the delivery vehicle 3.

[0190] As a result, the delivery vehicle 3 is moved while the user is in the vicinity of the delivery vehicle 3, so that the user can move the delivery vehicle 3 more safely while checking the surroundings of the delivery vehicle 3.

[0191] In addition, the user position determination unit of the delivery vehicle 3 may determine whether or not the radio waves of the short-range wireless communication output from the user terminal 2 are detected. When it is determined that the radio waves of the short-range wireless communication output from the user terminal 2 are detected, the movement control unit 321 controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 according to the acquired control instruction information. On the other hand, when it is determined that the radio waves of the short-range wireless communication output from the user terminal 2 are not detected, the control instruction information is not followed and the process is terminated. If the distance between the delivery vehicle 3 and the user terminal 2 is short, the delivery vehicle 3 can detect the radio waves of the short-range wireless communication output from the user terminal 2. Therefore, by determining whether or not the radio waves of the short-range wireless communication output from the user terminal 2 are detected, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the user is in the vicinity of the delivery vehicle 3.

[0192] In addition, the user position determination unit of the delivery vehicle 3 may determine whether the strength of the radio wave of the short-range wireless communication output from the user terminal 2 is greater than a predetermined threshold. If it is determined that the strength of the radio wave of the short-range wireless communication output from the user terminal 2 is greater than the predetermined threshold, the movement control unit 321 controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 according to the acquired control instruction information. On the other hand, if it is determined that the strength of the radio wave of the short-range wireless communication output from the user terminal 2 is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold, the control instruction information is not followed and the process is terminated. If the distance between the delivery vehicle 3 and the user terminal 2 is short, the strength of the radio wave of the short-range wireless communication detected by the delivery vehicle 3 is large. Therefore, by determining whether the strength of the radio wave of the short-range wireless communication output from the user terminal 2 is greater than a predetermined threshold, it is possible to easily determine whether the user is in the vicinity of the delivery vehicle 3.

[0193] In this embodiment 1, after the processing of step S23 by the controllable position determination unit 326, the processing of step S24 is performed by the controllable subject determination unit 327. However, the processing by the controllable position determination unit 326 may be performed after the processing by the controllable subject determination unit 327, and the same effect as above can be obtained.

[0194] In addition, the control unit 32 of the delivery vehicle 3 may further include a controllable state determination unit (not shown) in addition to the controllable position determination unit 326 and the controllable subject determination unit 327. The controllable state determination unit determines whether the delivery vehicle 3 is moving or stopped. If the controllable state determination unit determines that the delivery vehicle 3 is stopped, the movement control unit 321 may control the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 according to the control instruction information. Also, if the controllable state determination unit determines that the delivery vehicle 3 is moving, the movement control unit 321 may prohibit the movement of the delivery vehicle 3.

[0195] When the delivery vehicle 3 has not yet arrived at the destination, that is, when the delivery vehicle 3 is moving, if the delivery vehicle 3 is moved according to the control instruction information, a judgment process is required to select whether to move to the destination or to move according to the control instruction information. However, with this configuration, the judgment process becomes unnecessary, so the amount of processing can be reduced. In addition, when a user moves the delivery vehicle 3 via an input device mounted on the delivery vehicle 3, it is dangerous for the user to input control instruction information via the input device of the delivery vehicle 3 while the delivery vehicle 3 is moving. Therefore, by not accepting input of control instruction information while the delivery vehicle 3 is moving, the user can safely input control instruction information.

[0196] With the above configuration, the user can be given the control rights to control the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin and delivery destination, so that even if the delivery vehicle 3 is stopped in a location that is inconvenient for the user, the user can move the delivery vehicle 3.

[0197] In addition, in this configuration, the delivery vehicle 3 can be controlled only when the delivery vehicle 3 is located at the delivery origin and delivery destination. Therefore, when the delivery vehicle 3 is located at a location other than the delivery origin and delivery destination, that is, when control of the delivery vehicle 3 is not necessary, the user can be prevented from moving the delivery vehicle 3.

[0198] In this embodiment 1, the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin is set for the delivery origin user identification information, and the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination is set for the delivery destination user identification information. However, based on the delivery origin location information and the delivery destination location information, respectively, a delivery origin control right exercisable range and a delivery destination control right exercisable range, which represent the area in which control instructions can be given to the delivery vehicle 3, may be determined according to a predetermined rule, and the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located in the delivery origin control right exercisable range may be set for the delivery origin user identification information, and the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located in the delivery destination control right exercisable range may be set for the delivery destination user identification information.

[0199] In the first embodiment, when the user inputs control instruction information to move the delivery vehicle 3, moves the delivery vehicle 3, and then instructs the delivery vehicle 3 to be controlled again, even if the user inputs control instruction information for the delivery vehicle 3 again, the position of the delivery vehicle 3 is different from the position of the delivery origin and the position of the delivery destination, and the delivery vehicle 3 is not controlled according to the control instruction information. However, in the case of this configuration, when the user inputs control instruction information to move the delivery vehicle 3, moves the delivery vehicle 3, and then instructs the delivery vehicle 3 to be controlled again, if the position of the delivery vehicle 3 is within the range in which the delivery origin control right can be exercised or the range in which the delivery destination control right can be exercised, the user can give a control instruction to the delivery vehicle 3. When the position of the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved finely, that is, when the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved, for example, by tens of centimeters, it is difficult to move the delivery vehicle 3 to the desired location with a single control instruction, so the delivery vehicle 3 is moved multiple times. In such a situation, with this configuration, the user can give a control instruction multiple times, although within a limited range.

[0200] In this configuration, it is preferable to include information indicating the determined delivery origin control right exerciseable range and delivery destination control right exerciseable range in the control instruction support information and send it to the user. With this configuration, the user can give a control instruction for the delivery vehicle 3 while checking the delivery origin control right exerciseable range and delivery destination control right exerciseable range. When the control instruction support information including the information indicating the delivery origin control right exerciseable range and delivery destination control right exerciseable range is displayed on the user terminal 2, it is preferable to display the position of the delivery vehicle 3 superimposed. This allows the user to grasp the position of the delivery vehicle 3, the delivery origin control right exerciseable range, and the delivery destination control right exerciseable range even if the user has issued a control instruction multiple times. In this case, it is preferable for the user terminal 2 to periodically update the position of the delivery vehicle 3 after moving according to the control instruction. With this configuration, the user can grasp the current position of the delivery vehicle 3, and therefore, can grasp where the delivery vehicle 3 is located within the delivery origin control right exerciseable range and delivery destination control right exerciseable range.

[0201] The control right setting unit 124 generates a control right exercisable range (control permission range) that permits the user to control the delivery vehicle at the delivery destination based on the location of the delivery destination. The control right setting unit 124 generates a delivery source control right exercisable range that permits the user to control the delivery vehicle at the delivery source based on the location of the delivery origin. The control right setting unit 124 also generates a delivery destination control right exercisable range that permits the user to control the delivery vehicle at the delivery destination based on the location of the delivery destination. The locations of the delivery origin and the delivery destination are represented, for example, by latitude and longitude (GPS information), an address, or the name of the facility.

[0202] Then, the control right setting unit 124 sets, for the user, control right (vehicle control right) that allows the control of delivery vehicles located within the control right exercisable range. The control right setting unit 124 sets, for the user, control right that allows the control of delivery vehicles located within the delivery source control right exercisable range. The control right setting unit 124 also sets, for the user, control right that allows the control of delivery vehicles located within the delivery destination control right exercisable range.

[0203] As a method for determining the range in which the origin control right can be exercised and the range in which the destination control right can be exercised based on the origin location information and the destination location information, respectively, a method for determining a predetermined range from the location indicated by the origin and destination location information as the range in which the origin control right can be exercised and the range in which the destination control right can be exercised can be considered.

[0204] Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining the delivery origin control right exercisable range and the delivery destination control right exercisable range in the first embodiment. As a specific example, the control right setting unit 124 determines the delivery origin control right exercisable range 301 as an area that is the width of the delivery vehicle 3 and extends 3 m forward and backward from the delivery origin position along the roadway. The area indicated by diagonal lines in Fig. 13 is the delivery origin control right exercisable range 301. The delivery destination control right exercisable range is also determined in the same way as the delivery origin control right exercisable range. The delivery origin position and the delivery destination position are represented by, for example, latitude and longitude (GPS information).

[0205] Another method for determining the range in which control authority of the delivery origin can be exercised and the range in which control authority of the delivery destination can be exercised is to use a residential address system when the location information of the delivery origin or the location information of the delivery destination is indicated by an address, and determine the area indicated by the address as the range in which control authority of the delivery origin can be exercised and the range in which control authority of the delivery destination can be exercised.

[0206] There are two main types of addressing systems: the block system and the road system. Each system and the area indicated by the address of the delivery origin or delivery destination will be explained below.

[0207] First, we will explain the mechanism of the block system that is mainly adopted in Japan. In the block system, in principle, a section (block) surrounded by roads becomes a unit (block), and one town name consists of one or more blocks. In the block system, a code called a block code is assigned. This block code is calculated by measuring the distance from the corner closest to the center of the city or town around the block in a clockwise direction, dividing the block into 10m to 15m intervals, and assigning a base number 1, 2, 3, etc. to each interval. For example, in the case of an address notation such as "...X-chome Y-ban Z-go," the "Y" part is the number indicating the block, and the "Z" part is the base number.

[0208] In this block system, house numbers are indicated by the base number of the location where the entrance or main entrance of the building to which the house number applies is adjacent.

[0209] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining the address display in the block system in the first embodiment. The block shown in FIG. 14 is assigned base numbers in the order of 1, 2, 3, ..., 12 clockwise from the starting point along the perimeter. In FIG. 14, the address display of the building 41 is represented by the base number of the position where the entrance of the building 41 is adjacent, so for example, the part corresponding to the number (above Z) of the address display of the building 41 is "3". Therefore, when the address of the building 41 is specified as the delivery source, the delivery source control right exercisable range is the entire area corresponding to the base number "3" indicated by the address display. When the address display in the block system is used, the delivery source control right exercisable range and the delivery destination control right exercisable range may be determined to be, for example, a range of 1.5 m from the end of the road within the area indicated by the address.

[0210] Fig. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining the delivery origin control right exercisable range and the delivery destination control right exercisable range determined using the address system of the block system in the first embodiment. The control right setting unit 124 determines the range of 1.5 m from the end of the road within the area indicated by the address of the building 41, which is the delivery origin, as the delivery origin control right exercisable range 302 using the address system of the block system. The area indicated by diagonal lines in Fig. 15 is the delivery origin control right exercisable range 302. The delivery destination control right exercisable range is also determined in the same manner as the delivery origin control right exercisable range.

[0211] Next, we will explain the road system that is mainly used overseas. The road system is a system that consists of the name of the road and the house number given to the building adjacent to the road or the building that has a road leading to the road. Therefore, the house number of the road system is represented by the name of the road that the building faces and the house number given to the building.

[0212] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram for explaining the house numbering in the road system in the present embodiment 1. In FIG. 16, house numbers are assigned to buildings along a road named "ABC Street". In FIG. 16, odd house numbers are assigned to buildings on one side of the road, and even house numbers are assigned to buildings on the other side. The method of assigning house numbers differs depending on the country or region, but the mechanism of displaying houses by the name of the road and the house numbers assigned to the buildings is the same. In FIG. 16, the house number of building 41 is "1", and the range of building 41 is a part of the road adjacent to building 41. Therefore, when the address of building 41 is specified as the delivery source, the location specified as the delivery source is a part of the road adjacent to building 41 indicated by the house numbering.

[0213] When using a road-based address notation, within the area indicated by the address, a range of, for example, 1.5 m from the end of the road may be determined as the delivery origin control right exercisable range and the delivery destination control right exercisable range.

[0214] 17 is a schematic diagram for explaining the delivery origin control right exercisable range and the delivery destination control right exercisable range determined using the road-based address system in the present embodiment 1. The control right setting unit 124 determines the delivery origin control right exercisable range 303 to be within the area indicated by the address of the building 41, which is the delivery origin, and within a range of 1.5 m from the end of the road, using the road-based address system. The area indicated by the diagonal lines in FIG. 17 is the delivery origin control right exercisable range 303.

[0215] In this way, since an address indicated by a residential address does not indicate a point but an area, when the location information of the delivery source is indicated by an address, the control right setting unit 124 may determine the delivery source control right exercisable range based on the residential address system. In this configuration, since the residential address system is used, the delivery source control right exercisable range or the delivery destination control right exercisable range can be determined with a simple configuration. In the above example, the range 1.5 m from the end of the road is determined as the delivery source control right exercisable range or the delivery destination control right exercisable range, but any method may be used as long as it is a method of determining the delivery source control right exercisable range or the delivery destination control right exercisable range using the residential address system.

[0216] Another method for determining the delivery origin control right exercisable range and the delivery destination control right exercisable range is to identify the address of the facility from the name of the facility when the delivery origin location information or the delivery destination location information is indicated by the name of the facility, and to determine the area indicated by the identified address as the delivery origin control right exercisable range and the delivery destination control right exercisable range. The size of the delivery origin control right exercisable range and the delivery destination control right exercisable range determined based on the name of the facility may be changeable by the owner or manager of the facility. For example, if there are places within the facility where parking is permitted and places where parking is prohibited, the owner or manager of the facility may set the delivery origin control right exercisable range and the delivery destination control right exercisable range to the range of places within the facility where parking is permitted.

[0217] In addition, if the user wishes to control the delivery vehicle 3 beyond the range in which the delivery source control right can be exercised or the range in which the delivery destination control right can be exercised, the driving operator of the vehicle dispatching service provider may control the delivery vehicle 3 at the user's request. In this case, the control instruction support information may include control request information for requesting the driving operator of the vehicle dispatching service provider to control the delivery vehicle 3. In this configuration, the driving operator of the vehicle dispatching service provider who receives the request remotely controls the delivery vehicle 3.

[0218] Here, when the user is allowed to control the delivery vehicle 3 without being given the right to control the delivery vehicle 3, a configuration is considered in which the user always controls the delivery vehicle 3 via a driving operator of a vehicle dispatching service provider. However, in the first embodiment, it is assumed that a user who is in the same location as the delivery vehicle 3 moves the delivery vehicle 3 within a small range of a few centimeters to a few tens of centimeters. Therefore, it is more desirable for a user at the delivery origin or delivery destination to directly control the delivery vehicle 3, rather than controlling the delivery vehicle 3 via a driving operator of a vehicle dispatching service provider who is in a remote location.

[0219] In this embodiment 1, the control right to control the delivery vehicle 3 located at the origin is set for the origin user identification information, and the control right to control the delivery vehicle 3 located at the destination is set for the destination user identification information. However, based on the origin location information and the destination location information, respectively, a origin controllable range and a destination controllable range representing the area in which the delivery vehicle 3 can move based on control instruction information may be determined according to a predetermined rule, and the control right to control the delivery vehicle 3 located at the origin within the origin controllable range may be set for the origin user identification information, and the control right to control the delivery vehicle 3 located at the destination within the destination controllable range may be set for the destination user identification information.

[0220] The control right setting unit 124 generates a controllable range (movement control permitted range) in which the delivery vehicle can be moved and controlled by the user at the delivery destination based on the location of the delivery destination. The control right setting unit 124 generates a delivery origin controllable range in which the delivery vehicle can move at the delivery origin based on the location of the delivery origin. The control right setting unit 124 also generates a delivery destination controllable range in which the delivery vehicle can move at the delivery destination based on the location of the delivery destination. The locations of the delivery origin and the delivery destination are represented, for example, by latitude and longitude (GPS information), an address, or the name of the facility.

[0221] Then, the control right setting unit 124 sets, for the user, control right (vehicle control right) that allows movement control of the delivery vehicle within the controllable range. The control right setting unit 124 sets, for the user, control right that allows movement control of the delivery vehicle within the controllable range of the delivery origin. The control right setting unit 124 also sets, for the user, control right that allows movement control of the delivery vehicle within the controllable range of the delivery destination.

[0222] In the case of the first embodiment, since there is no restriction on the area in which the delivery vehicle 3 can move by the control instruction information, the user can issue a control instruction to the delivery vehicle 3 to move to any location. Therefore, the user can issue a control instruction to the delivery vehicle 3 that has arrived at the delivery origin to move to a route different from the delivery destination. For example, if the user moves the delivery vehicle 3 from the delivery origin to the route and loads luggage at the route, luggage can be loaded at the route in addition to the delivery origin, and the luggage loaded at the delivery origin and the route can be delivered to the delivery destination. This goes beyond the scope of the original purpose of moving the delivery vehicle 3 to a position where the user can easily load luggage or a position where the user can easily unload luggage, or moving the delivery vehicle 3 to a position where the user can easily get on or get off.

[0223] However, with this configuration, the area in which the delivery vehicle 3 can move can be limited by the control instruction information, so that it is possible to prevent the user from setting a waypoint between the delivery origin and the delivery destination and controlling the delivery vehicle 3 for a purpose other than the original purpose of loading a package at the waypoint and delivering it to the delivery destination. Similarly, when the delivery vehicle 3 delivers a person, it is possible to prevent the user from setting a waypoint between the delivery origin and the delivery destination and controlling the delivery vehicle for a purpose other than the original purpose of loading a package at the waypoint and delivering it to the delivery destination.

[0224] In addition, if the user wishes to control the delivery vehicle 3 beyond the delivery origin controllable range or the delivery destination controllable range, the driving operator of the vehicle dispatch service provider may control the delivery vehicle 3 at the user's request. In this case, the control instruction support information may include control request information for requesting the driving operator of the vehicle dispatch service provider to control the delivery vehicle 3. In this configuration, the driving operator of the vehicle dispatch service provider who receives the request remotely drives the delivery vehicle 3.

[0225] In this configuration, it is preferable to include information indicating the determined delivery origin controllable range and delivery destination controllable range in the control instruction support information and transmit it to the user. With this configuration, the user can issue a control instruction for the delivery vehicle 3 while checking the delivery origin controllable range and delivery destination controllable range.

[0226] As a method for determining the source controllable range and the destination controllable range based on the source location information and the destination location information, respectively, the method exemplified in the method for determining the source control right exerciseable range and the destination control right exerciseable range can be used.

[0227] That is, the control right setting unit 124 may determine a predetermined range from the location indicated by the GPS information (latitude and longitude) of the delivery origin and the delivery destination as the delivery origin controllable range and the delivery destination controllable range. In addition, the control right setting unit 124 may determine an area indicated by the address of the delivery origin and the delivery destination as the delivery origin controllable range and the delivery destination controllable range. In addition, the control right setting unit 124 may specify the address of the delivery origin and the delivery destination from the name of the facility, and determine the area indicated by the specified address as the delivery origin controllable range and the delivery destination controllable range. Note that the size of the delivery origin controllable range and the delivery destination controllable range determined based on the name of the facility may be changeable by the owner or manager of the facility. For example, if there are places in the facility where parking is permitted and places where parking is prohibited, the owner or manager of the facility may set the delivery origin controllable range and the delivery destination controllable range to the range of the place in the facility where parking is permitted.

[0228] In addition, both the origin control right exercisable range and the origin controllable range may be set for the origin user identification information. Similarly, both the destination control right exercisable range and the destination controllable range may be set for the destination user identification information. In this case, the origin controllable range and the origin control right exercisable range may be the same. In this configuration, since there is no need to determine the area separately for each, the amount of processing can be reduced, and since the same area information is used, the amount of information to be stored can also be reduced.

[0229] When issuing a control instruction for the delivery vehicle 3 from the user terminal 2, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the user terminal 2 directly transmits control instruction information to the delivery vehicle 3, or a configuration in which the user terminal 2 transmits control instruction information to the delivery vehicle 3 via the management device 1. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the delivery vehicle 3 or the management device 1 performs a control feasibility determination process for determining whether or not to control the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 based on the control instruction information.

[0230] When the user terminal 2 directly transmits control instruction information to the delivery vehicle 3, as described in the first embodiment, the delivery vehicle 3 determines whether or not to control the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 according to the control instruction information from the user terminal 2. On the other hand, when the user terminal 2 transmits control instruction information to the delivery vehicle 3 via the management device 1, the management device 1 or the delivery vehicle 3 may determine whether or not to control the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 according to the control instruction information from the user terminal 2. Also, the management device 1 may perform part of the determination process of whether or not to control the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 according to the control instruction information from the user terminal 2, and the delivery vehicle 3 may perform the remaining part.

[0231] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram for explaining the process of controlling the movement of a delivery vehicle in the first embodiment.

[0232] As shown in FIG. 18, in the present embodiment 1, the management device 1 transmits control right information to the delivery vehicle 3. The delivery vehicle 3 receives the control right information transmitted by the management device 1. The control right information includes control permission position information indicating a control permission position where the user of the delivery vehicle 3 is permitted to control, and control subject identification information for identifying a control subject that controls the delivery vehicle 3 at the control permission position. The user terminal 2 transmits control instruction information to the delivery vehicle 3. The control instruction information includes position information indicating a position to which the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved, and control subject identification information for identifying the user terminal 2. The delivery vehicle 3 receives the control instruction information transmitted by the user terminal 2.

[0233] Then, the delivery vehicle 3 performs a control feasibility determination process to determine whether or not to control the movement of the delivery vehicle 3. The control feasibility determination process includes a process by the controllable position determination unit 326 to determine whether or not the current position is a control permitted position indicated by the control permitted position information, and a process by the controllable subject determination unit 327 to determine whether or not the control subject identification information included in the control instruction information matches the control subject identification information included in the control right information. Then, when it is determined as a result of the control feasibility determination process that the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 is to be controlled, the delivery vehicle 3 controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 based on the position information included in the control instruction information.

[0234] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram for explaining the process of controlling the movement of a delivery vehicle in the first modified example of the first embodiment.

[0235] As shown in FIG. 19, in the first modified example of the present embodiment 1, the management device 1 transmits control right information to the delivery vehicle 3. The delivery vehicle 3 receives the control right information transmitted by the management device 1. The control right information includes control permission position information indicating a control permission position where the user of the delivery vehicle 3 is permitted to control, and control subject identification information for identifying a control subject that controls the delivery vehicle 3 at the control permission position. The user terminal 2 transmits control instruction information to the management device 1. The control instruction information includes position information indicating a position to which the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved, and control subject identification information for identifying the user terminal 2. The management device 1 receives the control instruction information transmitted by the user terminal 2. The management device 1 transmits the control instruction information received from the user terminal 2 to the delivery vehicle 3. The delivery vehicle 3 receives the control instruction information transmitted by the management device 1.

[0236] Then, the delivery vehicle 3 performs a control feasibility determination process to determine whether or not to control the movement of the delivery vehicle 3. The control feasibility determination process includes a process by the controllable position determination unit 326 to determine whether or not the current position is a control permitted position indicated by the control permitted position information, and a process by the controllable subject determination unit 327 to determine whether or not the control subject identification information included in the control instruction information matches the control subject identification information included in the control right information. Then, when it is determined as a result of the control feasibility determination process that the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 is to be controlled, the delivery vehicle 3 controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 based on the position information included in the control instruction information.

[0237] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for explaining the process of controlling the movement of a delivery vehicle in the second modified example of the first embodiment.

[0238] As shown in FIG. 20, in the second modified example of the first embodiment, the management device 1 stores control right information but does not transmit the control right information to the delivery vehicle 3. The control right information includes control permission position information indicating a control permission position where the user of the delivery vehicle 3 is permitted to control, and control subject identification information for identifying a control subject that controls the delivery vehicle 3 at the control permission position. The user terminal 2 transmits control instruction information to the management device 1. The control instruction information includes position information indicating a position to which the delivery vehicle 3 is to be moved, and control subject identification information for identifying the user terminal 2. The management device 1 receives the control instruction information transmitted by the user terminal 2.

[0239] Then, the management device 1 performs a control possibility determination process to determine whether or not to control the movement of the delivery vehicle 3. The control possibility determination process includes a process of determining whether or not the current location is a control permission location indicated by the control permission location information, and a process of determining whether or not the control subject identification information included in the control instruction information matches the control subject identification information included in the control right information. When performing this process, information on the current location of the delivery vehicle 3 is required, so the management device 1 acquires the current location of the delivery vehicle 3 from the delivery vehicle 3. The management device 1 requests the delivery vehicle 3 to transmit the location information at the timing of receiving the control instruction information from the user terminal 2. In addition, if the location information of the delivery vehicle 3 is acquired immediately before the timing of receiving the control instruction information, the management device 1 may be configured to use the location information acquired immediately before without making a new request to the delivery vehicle 3 to transmit the location information.

[0240] In this case, the control unit 12 of the management device 1 further includes a controllable position determination unit that determines whether the current position is a control permitted position indicated by the control permitted position information, and a controllable entity determination unit that determines whether the control entity identification information included in the control instruction information matches the control entity identification information included in the control right information. When it is determined that the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 is to be controlled as a result of the control feasibility determination process, the management device 1 transmits the control instruction information received from the user terminal 2 to the delivery vehicle 3. At this time, the control instruction information does not include the control entity identification information and includes only the position information. The delivery vehicle 3 receives the control instruction information transmitted by the management device 1. Then, the delivery vehicle 3 controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 based on the position information included in the received control instruction information. The control instruction information may also include the control entity identification information. In that case, the control entity identification information may be configured to be ignored on the delivery vehicle 3 side.

[0241] Furthermore, if it is determined that the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 is not to be controlled as a result of the control feasibility determination process, the management device 1 may be configured not to transmit control instruction information to the delivery vehicle 3, or may be configured to notify the delivery vehicle 3 that the control instruction information was received but was not a valid control instruction. The former configuration can reduce the amount of communication and can prevent the delivery vehicle 3 from performing unnecessary processing.

[0242] FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process for controlling the movement of a delivery vehicle in the third modified example of the first embodiment.

[0243] As shown in FIG. 21, in the third modified example of the first embodiment, the management device 1 stores the control right information, but does not transmit the control right information to the delivery vehicle 3. The control right information includes control permission position information indicating a control permission position where the user of the delivery vehicle 3 is permitted to control, and control subject identification information for identifying a control subject that controls the delivery vehicle 3 at the control permission position. The user terminal 2 transmits control instruction information to the delivery vehicle 3. The control instruction information includes position information indicating a position to which the delivery vehicle 3 is moved, and control subject identification information for identifying the user terminal 2. The delivery vehicle 3 receives the control instruction information transmitted by the user terminal 2. The delivery vehicle 3 transmits the control instruction information received from the user terminal 2 to the management device 1. The management device 1 receives the control instruction information transmitted by the delivery vehicle 3. At this transmission timing, the delivery vehicle 3 transmits the position information of the delivery vehicle 3. In addition, this configuration is not limited to this, and if the management device 1 constantly acquires the position information of the delivery vehicle 3, the delivery vehicle 3 does not need to transmit the position information at this timing.

[0244] Then, the management device 1 performs a control possibility determination process to determine whether or not to control the movement of the delivery vehicle 3. The control possibility determination process includes a process to determine whether or not the current location is a control permission location indicated by the control permission location information, and a process to determine whether or not the control subject identification information included in the control instruction information matches the control subject identification information included in the control right information. In this case, the control unit 12 of the management device 1 further includes a controllable position determination unit that determines whether or not the current location is a control permission location indicated by the control permission location information, and a controllable subject determination unit that determines whether or not the control subject identification information included in the control instruction information matches the control subject identification information included in the control right information. When it is determined that the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 is to be controlled as a result of the control possibility determination process, the management device 1 transmits the control instruction information received from the delivery vehicle 3 to the delivery vehicle 3. At this time, the control instruction information does not include the control subject identification information and includes only the position information. The delivery vehicle 3 receives the control instruction information transmitted by the management device 1. Then, the delivery vehicle 3 controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 based on the position information included in the received control instruction information. Furthermore, the management device 1 may transmit a result of the control feasibility determination process to the delivery vehicle 3. The delivery vehicle 3 may determine whether or not to perform control according to the control instruction information, based on the result of the control feasibility determination process.

[0245] When the user terminal 2 controls the delivery vehicle 3 via the management device 1, there may be cases where communication conditions are poor and the user terminal 2 cannot communicate with the management device 1. For this reason, it is desirable to have a configuration in which the management device 1 transmits control right information to the delivery vehicle 3 in advance, and the user terminal 2 transmits control instruction information directly to the delivery vehicle 3, and determines whether the delivery vehicle 3 is controllable or not.

[0246] In the first embodiment, the delivery vehicle 3 determines whether the user is a legitimate control subject based on the control subject identification information included in the control instruction information and the user identification information included in the control right information, but it may authenticate whether the user is a legitimate control subject before acquiring the control instruction information. For example, the delivery vehicle 3 may perform an authentication process using the user identification information of a user who has accessed from outside, and after determining that the user is legitimate, receive the control instruction information transmitted from the user and control the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 according to the control instruction information.

[0247] Here, the user identification information may be, for example, a combination of a user ID and a password, or biometric information. The biometric information may be, for example, a fingerprint, an iris, or a face. Before accepting the input of the control instruction information, the user terminal 2 accepts the input of the user identification information by the user, and transmits the accepted user identification information to the delivery vehicle 3. The delivery vehicle 3 receives the user identification information transmitted by the user terminal 2, and authenticates the received user identification information. The user identification information used for authentication is registered in advance in the delivery vehicle 3. If the delivery vehicle 3 approves the received user identification information, it maintains the logged-in state with the user terminal 2. After that, when accepting the input of the control instruction information, the user terminal 2 does not need to accept the input of the user identification information if the logged-in state with the delivery vehicle 3 is maintained. The authentication of the user identification information transmitted by the user terminal 2 may be performed by the management device 1.

[0248] In addition, at the delivery origin and delivery destination when the delivery vehicle 3 delivers an object, and at the delivery origin when the delivery vehicle 3 delivers a person, the user controls the delivery vehicle 3 from outside the delivery vehicle 3, so that the user can give control instructions while checking the surroundings of the delivery vehicle 3. On the other hand, at the delivery destination when the delivery vehicle 3 delivers a person, the user is in the vehicle, so the delivery vehicle 3 is controlled from inside the delivery vehicle 3. In this case, the user cannot give control instructions while checking the surroundings of the delivery vehicle 3. Therefore, when the delivery vehicle 3 delivers a person, when the delivery vehicle 3 arrives at the delivery destination, the delivery vehicle 3 may transmit vehicle surrounding information regarding the surroundings of the delivery vehicle 3 to the user terminal 2. The vehicle surrounding information is, for example, information on an image or video including the part where the user gets off. With this configuration, the user can give control instructions to the delivery vehicle 3 while checking the surroundings of the delivery vehicle 3 while in the vehicle. The delivery vehicle 3 may transmit the vehicle surrounding information directly to the user terminal 2, or may transmit it to the user terminal 2 via another device such as the management device 1.

[0249] In addition, in this embodiment 1, the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 is controlled at the delivery origin or delivery destination, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the opening and closing of the doors of the delivery vehicle 3 may be controlled at the delivery origin or delivery destination, the turning on of the lights of the delivery vehicle 3 may be controlled, or other operations of the delivery vehicle 3 may be controlled.

[0250] In the first embodiment, the control instruction support information generating unit 125 of the management device 1 generates the control instruction support information, the information transmitting unit 126 transmits the control instruction support information, and the communication unit 21 of the user terminal 2 receives the control instruction support information from the management device 1, but the present disclosure is not particularly limited thereto. For example, when the user terminal 2 has installed an application program for making a vehicle dispatch request, the storage unit 25 of the user terminal 2 may store the control instruction support information in advance. Then, the display unit 22 may display the control instruction support information stored in the storage unit 25, and the input unit 23 may accept the input of the control instruction information by the user. In this case, the management device 1 may not include the control instruction support information generating unit 125, and the information transmitting unit 126 may not have a function of transmitting the control instruction support information. In addition, the display unit 22 may display a display mode in a state in which a control instruction for the delivery vehicle 3 can be given and a display mode in a state in which a control instruction for the delivery vehicle 3 cannot be given.

[0251] Specifically, the display unit 22 displays the control instruction support information in a display mode in which control instructions are possible when the delivery vehicle 3 is located at a position where vehicle dispatch control by the user terminal 2 is permitted, and displays the control instruction support information in a display mode in which control instructions are not possible when the delivery vehicle 3 is located away from a position where vehicle dispatch control by the user terminal 2 is permitted. In this configuration, the management device 1 monitors the position of the delivery vehicle 3. Then, when the delivery vehicle 3 is located at a position where vehicle dispatch control by the user terminal 2 is permitted, the management device 1 instructs the application of the user terminal 2 to switch the display mode.

[0252] When the delivery vehicle 3 is positioned to permit dispatch control by the user terminal 2 and the delivery vehicle 3 is stopped, that is, when the delivery vehicle 3 arrives at the delivery destination or delivery origin, the display unit 22 may display the control instruction support information in a display mode in which control instructions are possible. The display unit 22 may be configured to notify the user that the control is possible, instead of switching the display mode.

[0253] Furthermore, if the delivery vehicle 3 is equipped with an input device (not shown) for the user to input control instruction information, the storage unit 33 of the delivery vehicle 3 may store the control instruction assistance information in advance. Then, the display unit (not shown) of the delivery vehicle 3 may display the control instruction assistance information stored in the storage unit 33, and the input device may accept input of the control instruction information by the user.

[0254] In addition, in this embodiment 1, the control rights information includes location information of the delivery origin and location information of the delivery destination, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the control rights information may include, instead of the location information of the delivery origin and the location information of the delivery destination, the estimated arrival time of the delivery vehicle at the delivery origin and the estimated arrival time of the delivery vehicle at the delivery destination.

[0255] Fig. 22 is a diagram showing another example of control right information stored in the control right information storage unit in the present embodiment 1. The control right information shown in Fig. 22 includes a vehicle dispatch request identification number for identifying the vehicle dispatch request information, information indicating either the delivery origin or the delivery destination, an estimated arrival time, user identification information, and vehicle identification information of the delivery vehicle. The estimated arrival time indicates the estimated arrival time of the delivery vehicle at the delivery origin and the estimated arrival time of the delivery vehicle at the delivery origin.

[0256] The user terminal 2 accepts input by the user of the estimated time of arrival of the delivery vehicle at the delivery origin and the estimated time of arrival of the delivery vehicle at the delivery origin. The user terminal 2 transmits to the management device 1 vehicle dispatch request information including the user information, the estimated time of arrival of the delivery vehicle at the delivery origin and the estimated time of arrival of the delivery vehicle at the delivery origin.

[0257] The user terminal 2 may transmit vehicle dispatch request information including user information, delivery origin location information, and delivery destination location information to the management device 1. The management device 1 may calculate an estimated arrival time from the departure of the vehicle's current location to the arrival of the vehicle at the delivery origin location based on the current location of the vehicle dispatched and the delivery origin location information. The management device 1 may also calculate an estimated arrival time from the departure of the vehicle's current location to the arrival of the vehicle at the delivery destination location based on the current location of the vehicle dispatched and the delivery destination location information.

[0258] In Fig. 22, for example, at the scheduled arrival time at the delivery source, which is 15:30, a user with user identification information "A" is granted control rights to control a delivery vehicle with vehicle identification information "a". Also, for example, at the scheduled arrival time at the delivery destination, which is 16:00, a user with user identification information "B" is granted control rights to control a delivery vehicle with vehicle identification information "a".

[0259] The delivery vehicle 3 is provided with a controllable time determination unit instead of the controllable position determination unit 326. The controllable time determination unit determines whether the current time is the estimated arrival time included in the control right information. When control instruction information for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 transmitted from the outside is acquired, the controllable time determination unit determines whether the current time is the estimated arrival time at the delivery origin or the estimated arrival time at the delivery destination indicated in the control right information, based on the control right information. If it is determined that the current time is the estimated arrival time at the delivery origin or the estimated arrival time at the delivery destination indicated in the control right information, the process moves to the controllable subject determination unit 327. On the other hand, if it is determined that the current time is not the estimated arrival time at the delivery origin or the estimated arrival time at the delivery destination indicated in the control right information, the control instruction information is not followed and the process is terminated.

[0260] It is not necessary to determine whether the current time exactly matches the estimated arrival time at the delivery source or the estimated arrival time at the delivery destination. For example, it may be determined whether the current time is between 15 minutes before the estimated arrival time at the delivery source or the estimated arrival time at the delivery destination and 15 minutes after the estimated arrival time at the delivery source or the estimated arrival time at the delivery destination.

[0261] Note that instead of granting control rights based on the estimated arrival time, the control rights may be granted to the user terminal 2 at the timing of actual arrival for a predetermined period of time from the time of arrival. If the control rights are granted based on the estimated arrival time, the delivery vehicle 3 may not actually arrive at the estimated arrival time, and the user may not be able to control the delivery vehicle 3 if the delivery vehicle arrives earlier or later than the estimated time. However, this configuration can prevent this.

[0262] In addition, when the control right is granted to the user based on time, it is preferable that the display unit 22 of the user terminal 2 displays the period during which the control is permitted. With this configuration, the user can know until when the user can control the delivery vehicle 3.

[0263] (Embodiment 2) In the second embodiment, a method will be described in which the management device changes the setting of the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle, which is set based on the dispatch request information, in accordance with the delivery status of the delivery vehicle.

[0264] Fig. 23 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The management device 1A includes a communication unit 11, a control unit 12A, and a storage unit 13A. In Fig. 23, the same components as those in Fig. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0265] A management device 1A shown in FIG. 23 differs from the management device 1 shown in FIG. 2 in a control unit 12A and a storage unit 13A.

[0266] The control unit 12A includes a vehicle dispatch request information acquisition unit 121, a user identification information acquisition unit 122, a delivery vehicle determination unit 123, a control right setting unit 124, a control instruction support information generation unit 125, an information transmission unit 126, a delivery status information acquisition unit 127A, a control right change unit 128A, and a control right change notification information generation unit 129A. The control unit 12A shown in Fig. 23 differs from the control unit 12 of the management device 1 shown in Fig. 2 in the delivery status information acquisition unit 127A, the control right change unit 128A, and the control right change notification information generation unit 129A.

[0267] The delivery status information acquisition unit 127A acquires delivery status information from the delivery vehicle 3A, which is related to the status of the delivery of the delivery object by the delivery vehicle 3A in response to the dispatch request information. The delivery status information is information indicating the delivery status of the delivery vehicle 3A, such as, for example, the delivery vehicle 3A has not yet arrived at the delivery origin, the delivery vehicle 3A has completed loading of the delivery object at the delivery origin, the delivery vehicle 3A is delivering the delivery object from the delivery origin to the delivery destination, and the delivery vehicle 3A has completed unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination. This delivery status information is information generated based on the vehicle position information of the delivery vehicle 3A acquired from the sensor unit 34 by the delivery status information generation unit 328A of the delivery vehicle 3A described later, or the loading detection information acquired by the delivery status information generation unit 328A from the loading detection unit 36A described later.

[0268] The delivery status information may be the vehicle position information of the delivery vehicle 3A acquired from the sensor unit 34 of the delivery vehicle 3A, or the loading detection information acquired from the loading detection unit 36A. In this case, the delivery status information is information that can be used to determine the delivery status, such as information indicating that the vehicle has stopped at the delivery destination or delivery origin, information indicating that the delivery object has been loaded at the delivery destination, information indicating that the user has boarded, information indicating that the delivery object has been unloaded at the delivery origin, and information indicating that the user has disembarked. However, in this configuration, the management device 1A needs to have a separate function of determining the delivery status using the acquired delivery status information.

[0269] The control right change unit 128A changes the setting of the vehicle control right based on a predetermined condition. The control right change unit 128A judges whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied based on the delivery status information acquired by the delivery status information acquisition unit 127A, and changes the setting of the control right based on the judgment result. Specifically, when the delivery status information indicates that loading of the delivery object at the delivery origin (delivery destination) is completed, the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right (delivery origin vehicle control right) for the delivery origin user identification information that permits the user to control the delivery vehicle 3A on which the delivery object is loaded at the delivery origin. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the user corresponding to the delivery origin user identification information from controlling the delivery vehicle 3A located at the delivery origin after loading of the delivery object at the delivery origin is completed. In addition, even if the delivery vehicle 3A is located at the same position as the delivery origin at a different timing, it is possible to prevent the user corresponding to the delivery origin user identification information from illegally controlling the delivery vehicle 3A.

[0270] In the example shown here, the case where the delivery vehicle 3A delivers an object is described, but the same effect can be obtained even when the delivery vehicle 3A delivers a person. That is, when the delivery-related information indicates that the user at the delivery origin (destination) has completed boarding, the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right (boarding vehicle control right) for the delivery origin user identification information that permits the user to control the delivery vehicle 3A in which the user boards at the delivery origin.

[0271] In this example, when the delivery status information indicates that the delivery object has been loaded at the delivery origin, the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right for the delivery origin user identification information, but the present disclosure is not particularly limited to this. After it is determined that the delivery status information indicates that the delivery object has been loaded at the delivery origin, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery origin user identification information at any timing. For example, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since it was determined that the delivery status information indicates that the delivery object has been loaded at the delivery origin, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery origin user identification information.

[0272] As another example, after the delivery status information is determined to indicate that the delivery object has been loaded at the delivery origin and the delivery vehicle 3A has moved a predetermined distance, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery origin user identification information. As another example, when a predetermined time has passed since the delivery status information was determined to indicate that the delivery object has been loaded at the delivery origin, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery origin user identification information. For example, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery origin user identification information at the time of the day following the day on which the delivery object was loaded.

[0273] However, if a long time has passed since it was determined that the delivery status information indicates that the delivery object has been loaded at the delivery origin, the user corresponding to the delivery origin user identification information will be able to control the delivery vehicle 3A at the delivery origin after the delivery status information indicates that the delivery object has been loaded at the delivery origin. Therefore, it is preferable that the control right change unit 128A releases the setting of the control right for the delivery origin user identification information as soon as possible after it is determined that the delivery status information indicates that the delivery object has been loaded at the delivery origin.

[0274] As another example, when the delivery-related information indicates that the delivery object has been unloaded at the delivery destination (destination), the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right (delivery destination vehicle control right) for the delivery destination user identification information, which allows the user to control the delivery vehicle 3A where the delivery object is unloaded at the delivery destination. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the user corresponding to the delivery source user identification information from controlling the delivery vehicle 3A located at the delivery destination after the delivery object has been unloaded at the delivery destination. Also, even if the delivery vehicle 3A is located at the same position as the delivery destination at a different time, it is possible to prevent the user corresponding to the delivery destination user identification information from illegally controlling the delivery vehicle 3A.

[0275] In the example shown here, the case where the delivery vehicle 3A delivers an object is described, but the same effect can be obtained even when the delivery vehicle 3A delivers a person. That is, when the delivery-related information indicates that the user has completed disembarking at the delivery destination (destination), the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right (disembarking vehicle control right) for the delivery destination user identification information, which allows the user to control the delivery vehicle 3A where the user disembarks at the delivery destination.

[0276] In this example, when the delivery status information indicates that the unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination is completed, the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information, but the present disclosure is not particularly limited to this. After it is determined that the delivery status information indicates that the unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination is completed, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information at any timing. For example, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since it was determined that the delivery status information indicates that the unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination is completed, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information.

[0277] As another example, after the delivery vehicle 3A moves a predetermined distance after the delivery status information is determined to indicate the completion of unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information. As another example, when a predetermined time has passed since the delivery status information is determined to indicate the completion of unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information. For example, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information at the time of the day following the day on which the delivery object is unloaded.

[0278] In the above example, when the delivery object is loaded at the delivery source and when the delivery object is unloaded at the delivery destination, the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right for the delivery source user identification information and the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information, respectively, but the present disclosure is not particularly limited to this. As another example, when the unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination is completed, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery source user identification information and the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information all at once.

[0279] Specifically, when the delivery-related information indicates that the delivery object has been unloaded at the delivery destination, the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right (delivery source vehicle control right) for the delivery source user identification information that allows the user to control the delivery vehicle 3A on which the delivery object is loaded at the delivery source (delivery destination), and the setting of the control right (delivery destination vehicle control right) for the delivery destination user identification information that allows the user to control the delivery vehicle 3A on which the delivery object is unloaded at the delivery destination (destination). In this configuration, the control right setting change process is performed in a lump, so the processing volume can be reduced.

[0280] In the example shown here, the case where the delivery vehicle 3A delivers an object has been described, but the same effect can be obtained even when the delivery vehicle 3A delivers a person. That is, when the delivery-related information indicates that the user has completed disembarking at the delivery destination, the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right (boarding vehicle control right) for the delivery source user identification information that allows the user to control the delivery vehicle 3A that the user boards at the delivery source (delivery destination), and the setting of the control right (disembarking vehicle control right) for the delivery destination user identification information that allows the user to control the delivery vehicle 3A that the user disembarks at the delivery destination (destination).

[0281] In this example, when the delivery status information indicates that the unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination is completed, the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right for the delivery source user identification information and the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information, but the present disclosure is not particularly limited to this. After it is determined that the delivery status information indicates that the unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination is completed, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery source user identification information and the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information at any timing. For example, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since it was determined that the delivery status information indicates that the unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination is completed, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery source user identification information and the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information.

[0282] As another example, after the delivery vehicle 3A moves a predetermined distance after the delivery status information is determined to indicate the completion of unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery source user identification information and the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information. As another example, when a predetermined time has passed since the delivery status information is determined to indicate the completion of unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery source user identification information and the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information. For example, the control right change unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right for the delivery source user identification information and the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information at the time of the day after the day the delivery object is unloaded.

[0283] However, if a long time has passed since the delivery status information was determined to indicate the completion of unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination, the user corresponding to the delivery source user identification information or the user corresponding to the delivery destination user identification information can control the delivery vehicle 3A at the delivery source or delivery destination after the delivery status information is determined to indicate the completion of unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination. Therefore, it is preferable that the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right for the delivery source user identification information and the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information as soon as possible after the delivery status information is determined to indicate the completion of unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination.

[0284] It is preferable that the rules on how to change the control right setting under what delivery status are set in advance by, for example, an administrator, etc. Here, the relationship between the delivery status and the control right setting change process will be described with reference to Figs. 24 and 25.

[0285] FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the delivery status and the process of changing the control right setting when changing the control right setting at the delivery source and delivery destination in the second embodiment.

[0286] In FIG. 24, when loading of the delivery object is completed at the delivery origin, the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right for the delivery origin user identification information. In addition, when boarding of the user is completed at the delivery origin, the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right for the delivery origin user identification information. In addition, when unloading of the delivery object is completed at the delivery destination, the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information. Furthermore, when disembarking of the user is completed at the delivery destination, the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information.

[0287] FIG. 25 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the delivery status and the process of changing the control right setting when changing the control right setting at the delivery destination in the second embodiment.

[0288] In Fig. 25, when the unloading of the delivery object is completed at the delivery destination, the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right for the delivery origin user identification information and the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information. In this case, even if loading or boarding is completed at the delivery origin, the setting of the control right for the delivery origin user identification information is not canceled.

[0289] The control right change notification information generating unit 129A generates control right change notification information for notifying a user to whom the control right has been set that the setting of the control right has been changed.

[0290] Fig. 26 is a diagram showing an example of control right change notification information in the second embodiment. Fig. 26 shows an example of control right change notification information when the unloading of the delivery object is completed at the delivery destination based on the relationship between the delivery status and the control right setting change process shown in Fig. 25, and the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right for the delivery source user identification information and the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information. Note that, as in the example of Fig. 26, when it is clear in advance that the setting of the control right will be changed, the control instruction support information generation unit 125 may generate and transmit control instruction support information including the control right change notification information.

[0291] Fig. 27 is a diagram showing an example of control instruction support information including control right change notification information in the second embodiment. Fig. 27 shows an example of control right change notification information for notifying that the setting of the control right for the delivery origin user identification information and the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information will be released when unloading of the delivery object is completed at the delivery destination based on the relationship between the delivery status and the control right setting change process shown in Fig. 25. When dispatch to the delivery origin is completed, the user terminal 2 displays the control instruction support information shown in Fig. 27. At this time, the control instruction support information includes the control right change notification information.

[0292] The storage unit 13A includes a vehicle dispatch request information storage unit 131, a user information storage unit 132, a vehicle information storage unit 133, a control right information storage unit 134, a delivery vehicle determination program storage unit 135, a control right setting program storage unit 136, a control instruction support information generation program storage unit 137, a control right setting change program storage unit 138A, and a control right change notification information generation program storage unit 139A. The storage unit 13A is different from the storage unit 13 of the management device 1 shown in FIG. 2 in the control right setting change program storage unit 138A and the control right change notification information generation program storage unit 139A.

[0293] The control right setting change program storage unit 138A judges whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied based on the delivery status information acquired by the delivery status information acquisition unit 127A, and stores a control right setting change program for changing the setting of the control right based on the judgment result. The control right setting change program is executed by the control right change unit 128A.

[0294] The control right change notification information generating program storage unit 139A stores a control right change notification information generating program for generating control right change notification information for notifying a user to whom the control right has been set that the control right setting has been changed. The control right change notification information generating program is executed by the control right change notification information generating unit 129A.

[0295] Next, the delivery vehicle 3A in the second embodiment will be described.

[0296] Figure 28 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a delivery vehicle in embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. A delivery vehicle 3A includes a communication unit 31, a control unit 32A, a storage unit 33A, a sensor unit 34, a drive unit 35, and a loading detection unit 36A. In Figure 28, the same components as those in Figure 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0297] A delivery vehicle 3A shown in FIG. 28 differs from the delivery vehicle 3 shown in FIG. 7 in a control unit 32A, a storage unit 33A, and a loading detection unit 36A.

[0298] The control unit 32A includes a movement control unit 321, a vehicle position information acquisition unit 322, a dispatch instruction information acquisition unit 323, a control right information acquisition unit 324, a control instruction information acquisition unit 325, a controllable position determination unit 326, a controllable subject determination unit 327, a delivery status information generation unit 328A, and a delivery status information transmission unit 329A. The control unit 32A is different from the control unit 32 of the delivery vehicle 3 shown in FIG. 7 in that the delivery status information generation unit 328A and the delivery status information transmission unit 329A.

[0299] The delivery status information generating unit 328A generates delivery status information based on the vehicle position information of the delivery vehicle 3A obtained from the sensor unit 34 or the loading detection information obtained from the loading detection unit 36A.

[0300] For example, the delivery status information generating unit 328A detects that the delivery vehicle 3A has stopped at the delivery origin and resumed moving from the delivery origin based on the position information of the delivery vehicle 3A acquired from the sensor unit 34. The delivery status information generating unit 328A determines that the delivery vehicle 3A has completed loading of the delivery object at the delivery origin based on the detection result, and generates delivery status information indicating that the delivery vehicle 3A has completed loading of the delivery object at the delivery origin. In this example, it is unclear whether the loading of the delivery object at the delivery origin has actually been completed. Therefore, it is desirable that the delivery status information generating unit 328A combines the position information of the delivery vehicle 3A acquired from the sensor unit 34 and the loading detection information acquired from the loading detection unit 36A to determine that the delivery object has actually been loaded at the delivery origin, and generate delivery status information indicating that the delivery vehicle 3A has completed loading of the delivery object at the delivery origin.

[0301] Also, for example, the delivery status information generating unit 328A detects that the delivery vehicle 3A has completed loading of the delivery objects based on the loading detection information indicating that the delivery objects obtained from the loading detection unit 36A have been loaded. The delivery status information generating unit 328A determines that the delivery vehicle 3A has completed loading of the delivery objects at the delivery origin based on the detection result, and generates delivery status information indicating that the delivery vehicle 3A has completed loading of the delivery objects at the delivery origin. In this example, it is unclear whether the loading of the delivery objects has actually been completed at the delivery origin. Therefore, it is desirable that the delivery status information generating unit 328A combines the vehicle position information of the delivery vehicle 3A obtained from the sensor unit 34 and the loading detection information obtained from the loading detection unit 36A to determine that the delivery objects have been loaded at the delivery origin, and generate delivery status information indicating that the delivery vehicle 3A has completed loading of the delivery objects at the delivery origin.

[0302] Similar to the example described above, the delivery status information generation unit 328A detects that the delivery item has been unloaded at the delivery destination, and generates delivery status information indicating that the delivery vehicle 3A has completed unloading of the delivery item at the delivery destination.

[0303] As another example, when the delivery status information generating unit 328A determines that the delivery vehicle 3A is moving toward the delivery origin based on the position information of the delivery vehicle 3A, it generates delivery status information indicating that the delivery vehicle 3A is moving toward the delivery origin. Similarly, when the delivery status information generating unit 328A determines that the delivery vehicle 3A is moving toward the delivery destination after stopping at the delivery origin based on the position information of the delivery vehicle 3A, it generates delivery status information indicating that the delivery vehicle 3A is moving to the delivery destination.

[0304] In the second embodiment, the delivery status is described as four statuses: the status in which the delivery vehicle 3A has completed loading of the delivery object at the delivery origin, the status in which the delivery vehicle 3A has completed unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination, the status in which the delivery vehicle 3A is moving to the delivery origin, and the status in which the delivery vehicle 3A is moving to the delivery destination. However, the delivery status information generating unit 328A may detect the delivery status in more detail and generate the delivery status information. In addition, the delivery status information generating unit 328A may generate the delivery status information using vehicle status information indicating the vehicle status of the delivery vehicle 3A in addition to the position information of the delivery vehicle 3A acquired from the sensor unit 34.

[0305] The delivery status information generating unit 328A generates delivery status information on the status of the delivery vehicle 3A delivering the delivery target based on the position information of the delivery vehicle 3A obtained from the sensor unit 34 or the loading detection information obtained from the loading detection unit 36A, but the delivery status information generating unit 328A may generate the position information of the delivery vehicle 3A obtained from the sensor unit 34 or the loading detection information itself obtained from the loading detection unit as the delivery status information. In this configuration, the management device 1A needs to have a separate function of judging the delivery status using the obtained delivery status information.

[0306] The timing at which the delivery status information generating unit 328A generates the delivery status information may be any timing. For example, the delivery status information generating unit 328A periodically generates the delivery status information. However, since the delivery status changes when the delivery vehicle 3A is located in the vicinity of the delivery origin and the delivery destination, it is preferable that the delivery status information generating unit 328A periodically generates the delivery status information only when it detects that the delivery vehicle 3A is in the vicinity of the delivery origin and the delivery destination. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the processing when it is considered that the delivery status does not change.

[0307] The delivery status information transmitting unit 329A transmits the delivery status information generated by the delivery status information generating unit 328A to the management device 1A via the communication unit 31. The delivery status information transmitting unit 329A may transmit the delivery status information to the management device 1A periodically, or may transmit the delivery status information only when the delivery status has changed.

[0308] The memory unit 33A includes a map information memory unit 331, an autonomous driving basic program memory unit 332, a route information memory unit 333, a vehicle position information memory unit 334, a dispatch instruction information memory unit 335, a control right information memory unit 336, a controllable position determination program memory unit 337, a controllable subject determination program memory unit 338, and a delivery status information generation program memory unit 339A. The memory unit 33A is different from the memory unit 33 of the delivery vehicle 3 shown in FIG. 7 in that the delivery status information generation program memory unit 339A.

[0309] The delivery status information generation program storage unit 339A stores a delivery status information generation program for generating delivery status information indicating the delivery status of the delivery vehicle 3 A. The delivery status information generation program is executed by the delivery status information generation unit 328A.

[0310] The loading detection unit 36A detects that a delivery object is loaded onto the delivery vehicle 3A or that a delivery object is unloaded from the delivery vehicle 3A. The loading detection unit 36A also detects that a user has boarded the delivery vehicle 3A or that a user has disembarked from the delivery vehicle 3A. Specifically, the loading detection unit 36A is a pressure sensor arranged at a position where the delivery object is loaded or a position where the user is loaded on the delivery vehicle 3A. The loading detection unit 36A may also be an illuminance sensor arranged at a position where the delivery object is loaded or a position where the user is loaded on the delivery vehicle 3A. The loading detection unit 36A may also be a camera that photographs the position where the delivery object is loaded or the position where the user is loaded on the delivery vehicle 3A. The loading detection unit 36A may also be a sensor that detects the opening and closing of the door of the delivery vehicle 3A.

[0311] The pressure sensor detects whether an item to be delivered is loaded or whether a user is on board by measuring the pressure caused by the weight of the item to be delivered or the weight of the user riding in the vehicle. The illuminance sensor detects whether an item to be delivered is loaded or whether a user is on board by measuring the change in illuminance at the loading position of the item to be delivered or the riding position of the user. The camera detects whether an item to be delivered is loaded or whether a user is on board by the difference between images taken of the loading position of the item to be delivered or the riding position of the user.

[0312] In addition, the doors are opened and closed when the delivery object is loaded, when the delivery object is unloaded, when the user gets on, or when the user gets off. Therefore, the door opening / closing sensor of the delivery vehicle 3A detects whether the delivery object is loaded or whether the user is on by detecting the opening and closing of the door. However, when the loading detection unit 36A is a door opening / closing sensor, the detection accuracy of whether the delivery object is loaded on the delivery vehicle 3A, whether the delivery object is unloaded from the delivery vehicle 3A, whether the user has got on the delivery vehicle 3A, or whether the user has got off the delivery vehicle 3A is lower than that of the other sensors described above, but it can be determined with a simple configuration.

[0313] In addition, when the delivery vehicle 3A delivers a person, a human detection sensor such as an infrared sensor may detect whether a user has boarded or disembarked. The loading detection unit 36A is not limited to the example described above, and may use other sensors as long as they can detect that a delivery object has been loaded onto the delivery vehicle 3A, that a delivery object has been unloaded from the delivery vehicle 3A, and that a user has boarded or disembarked from the delivery vehicle 3A.

[0314] Next, a process in which the management device 1A configured as above changes the setting of the control right of the delivery vehicle 3A based on the delivery status information acquired from the delivery vehicle 3A will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0315] FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating a control right setting change process according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0316] First, the delivery status information acquisition unit 127A of the management device 1A acquires the delivery status information transmitted from the delivery vehicle 3A (step S31).

[0317] Next, the control right change unit 128A judges whether the delivery status satisfies a predetermined condition based on the acquired delivery status information (step S32). For example, when performing a control right setting change process, the control right change unit 128A judges whether the unloading of the delivery object or the user has dismounted at the delivery destination is completed using the information shown in FIG. 25. Here, if it is judged that the delivery status does not satisfy the predetermined condition, that is, if it is judged that the unloading of the delivery object has not been completed at the delivery destination or the user has not dismounted (NO in step S32), the control right setting is not changed and the process is terminated.

[0318] On the other hand, if it is determined that the delivery status satisfies a predetermined condition, that is, if it is determined that the unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination is completed or the user has finished disembarking (YES in step S32), the control right change unit 128A changes the setting of the control right (step S33). For example, when performing the control right setting change process using the information shown in Fig. 25, if it is determined that the unloading of the delivery object at the delivery destination is completed or the user has finished disembarking, the control right change unit 128A cancels the setting of the control right for the delivery source user identification information and the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information.

[0319] Next, the control right change notification information generating unit 129A generates control right change notification information for notifying the user corresponding to the delivery source user identification information or delivery destination user identification information whose control right setting has been changed that the control right setting has been changed (step S34). For example, as shown in FIG. 26, the user terminal 2 displays control right change notification information for notifying that the delivery of the package to the delivery destination has been completed and the delivery vehicle 3A located at the delivery destination can no longer be controlled. Note that, if it is known in advance under what conditions the control right setting will be changed, the control instruction support information generating unit 125 may generate control instruction support information including the control right change notification information. For example, as shown in FIG. 27, the user terminal 2 displays control instruction support information including the control right change notification information for notifying that the delivery vehicle 3A can no longer be controlled after the delivery of the package to the delivery destination has been completed.

[0320] Next, the information sending unit 126 sends the control right change notification information generated by the control right change notification information generating unit 129A to the user terminal 2 of the user corresponding to the source user identification information or destination user identification information whose control right settings have been changed (step S35).

[0321] Next, the information transmitting unit 126 transmits control right information regarding the control right whose setting has been changed to the delivery vehicle 3A (step S36).

[0322] By the above process, the management device 1A can change the setting of the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3A according to the dispatch request information according to the delivery status of the delivery vehicle 3A. This can prevent the user to whom the control right has been set from controlling the delivery vehicle 3A even though the delivery based on the dispatch request information has been completed. For example, in a situation where the control right for the delivery vehicle has been previously set for the first user, if the second user makes a dispatch request with the same location as the first user as the delivery origin or delivery destination, and the delivery vehicle arrives at the delivery origin, the first user can issue a control instruction to the arriving delivery vehicle. If the first user is a malicious user, the arriving delivery vehicle can be moved to a different location. However, the configuration of the present embodiment 2 can change the setting of the control right, and can prevent users other than the second user from controlling the delivery vehicle. In particular, in the case of a collective housing such as an apartment, there are users who specify the same delivery origin or delivery destination, so it is considered that there is a high possibility that such a problem will be faced.

[0323] In the second embodiment, the case where the delivery process is performed smoothly based on the dispatch request information has been described, but the delivery process is not always performed smoothly. For example, when a delivery vehicle delivers an item, if the user at the delivery destination is absent, the delivery vehicle cannot complete the delivery process. If the user at the delivery destination is absent, the delivery vehicle may change the delivery time again. To deal with such a situation, the control right change unit 128A may temporarily disable the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information when the user at the delivery destination is absent. Then, the control right change unit 128A may enable the setting of the control right for the delivery destination user identification information again when resending the delivery object to the delivery destination.

[0324] As a method for validating or invalidating the setting of the control right, the control right change unit 128A assigns information indicating whether the control right assigned to the delivery source user identification information or the delivery destination user identification information is valid or invalid, and changes the information. As another configuration, the control right change unit 128A may delete the control right when invalidating the control right, and may register the control right again when re-enabling the control right. In this configuration, the control right change unit 128A needs to store information for re-enabling the control right in the storage unit 13A. For example, the control right change unit 128A can store information about re-delivery in the storage unit 13A, and re-register the control right based on the delivery destination information included in the information.

[0325] In addition, when the user at the delivery destination is absent and delivery is to be performed again at a different time, if the period until redelivery is short, the control right change unit 128A may not change the setting of the control right. This is because it is considered that the control right is unlikely to be used illegally during the short period until redelivery. This configuration can reduce the processing for changing the setting of the control right. For example, when the user at the delivery destination is absent and delivery is to be performed again on the same day, the control right change unit 128A does not change the setting of the control right. On the other hand, if the date of redelivery is the next day or later, the control right change unit 128A may change the setting of the control right. In addition, it is preferable that the threshold value for determining whether the period until redelivery is short or not is set in advance by an administrator or the like.

[0326] In addition, when the user at the delivery destination is absent and the delivery time is changed again, even if the period until redelivery is short, if the same delivery vehicle 3 delivers to the same delivery destination many times, it is preferable that the control right change unit 128A change the setting of the control right. This is because a user who has the control right can control the delivery vehicle 3 illegally. Therefore, this configuration can prevent a user who has the control right from illegally controlling the delivery vehicle 3. Also, when the user at the delivery destination is absent and the delivery time is changed again, even if the period until redelivery is long, if the same delivery vehicle 3 does not deliver to the same delivery destination, the control right change unit 128A does not need to change the setting of the control right. In other words, in the example shown here, regardless of the period until redelivery, the control right change unit 128A may change the setting of the control right based on the frequency with which the delivery vehicle 3 delivers to the delivery destination.

[0327] In addition, in the case of delivery of parcels by a home delivery company, it is considered that there are multiple delivery destinations, and parcels are delivered to the multiple delivery destinations in order. Therefore, the control right setting unit 124 may enable the control right only for the delivery destination to which the delivery vehicle 3A is heading. In this case, the control right is enabled only for the user who needs the control right, so that it is possible to prevent an unauthorized user from controlling the delivery vehicle 3A. In addition, as another configuration, even if there are multiple delivery destinations, the control right setting unit 124 may enable the control right for users of all delivery destinations. This is because the user of the delivery destination can control the delivery vehicle 3 only at the delivery destination for which the control right is set, and cannot control the delivery vehicle 3 at other delivery destinations, so that a user with a different delivery destination will not control the delivery vehicle 3A unauthorizedly. In this case, the control right is enabled collectively, so that the process of setting the control right can be performed with fewer processing steps.

[0328] In addition, when there is a request to change the location information of the delivery source or the location information of the delivery destination, or a request to change the user identification information of the delivery source or the user identification information of the delivery destination from the user terminal 2, it is preferable that the control right change unit 128A changes the setting of the control right in response to the change request. With this configuration, the setting of the control right can be flexibly changed in response to the user's request. In addition, it is also preferable to cancel the setting of the control right in the same manner when there is a request to cancel the dispatch request from the user terminal 2. In addition, when the setting of the control right is changed, the control instruction support information generation unit 125 may generate control instruction support information based on the changed control right and transmit it to the user corresponding to the changed control right. In addition, the communication unit 11 may transmit control right information related to the changed control right to the delivery vehicle 3. With this configuration, the user can issue a control instruction to the delivery vehicle 3A based on the changed control right, and the delivery vehicle 3A can determine whether or not to control the delivery vehicle 3A according to the control instruction of the delivery vehicle 3A based on the changed control right.

[0329] In addition, the users who can change the settings of the control right may be limited. With this configuration, for example, it is possible to prevent a user who is not related to the control right from illegally changing the settings of the control right. The users who can change the settings of the control right may be determined in advance by an administrator of the management device 1A, or may be set by a user who makes a vehicle dispatch request. For example, the management device 1A may set in advance the user who makes a vehicle dispatch request, the user at the delivery source, and the user at the delivery destination as users who can change the settings of the control right.

[0330] In the second embodiment, the control right setting is changed according to the delivery status of the delivery vehicle 3A, but the control right setting may be changed based on information other than the delivery status. For example, an expiration date may be set for the control right, and the control right may be valid only during the expiration date. The control right setting unit 124 sets expiration date information for the control right, which indicates the period during which the control right is valid. Then, the control right changing unit 128A changes the setting of the control right based on the expiration date information. For example, the control right setting unit 124 may set expiration date information that makes the control right valid only on the day when the delivery vehicle 3A actually delivers the delivery object. The control right changing unit 128A may cancel the setting of the control right on the day after the delivery date.

[0331] In this configuration, the control right setting can be changed with simpler processing than when the delivery status information of the delivery vehicle 3A is acquired and the control right setting is changed based on the delivery status. In addition, it is easier for the user to know the timing when the control right setting will be released. In addition, the control right settings with the same expiration date can be changed collectively.

[0332] However, if the period during which the control right is valid becomes long, there is a high possibility that the delivery vehicle 3 may be illegally controlled by a user who has the control right, so it is preferable that the expiration date is as short as possible. When setting an expiration date for the control right, the control instruction support information generating unit 125 may also set an expiration date for the control instruction support information, such as a screen for issuing control instructions, link information to a dedicated WEB page for issuing control instructions, or password information. When the expiration date has passed, the management device 1A prevents the user from issuing a control instruction by not displaying a screen for issuing control instructions, deleting link information to a dedicated WEB page for issuing control instructions, or making it impossible to authenticate even if password information is entered. This configuration makes it possible to prevent the user from issuing a control instruction beyond the expiration date.

[0333] (Embodiment 3) In the first and second embodiments, an example has been described in which, like an on-demand item delivery service or an on-demand taxi service, after loading the delivery target or having the user board the vehicle at the delivery origin, the delivery target is unloaded or the user is allowed to disembark at the delivery destination, but the present disclosure is not limited to these services. In addition to the above services, when a delivery vehicle delivers a delivery target, there is also a service that delivers the delivery target directly from a delivery center to a delivery destination, and the present disclosure can also be applied to such services. In the third embodiment, an example will be described in which a delivery vehicle delivers a delivery target directly from a delivery center to a delivery destination.

[0334] In the case of the third embodiment, since the delivery vehicle delivers the goods from the delivery center, information on the delivery origin is not necessary, and only information on the delivery destination is required. Therefore, in the third embodiment, information on the delivery origin is not necessary in the vehicle dispatch request information, and the vehicle dispatch request information includes only information on the delivery destination. Accordingly, information on the delivery origin user who uses the delivery vehicle at the delivery origin is also not necessary, and only information on the delivery destination user who uses the delivery vehicle at the delivery destination is required, so the management device acquires only the delivery destination user information.

[0335] Fig. 30 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management device according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. The management device 1B includes a communication unit 11, a control unit 12B, and a storage unit 13B. In Fig. 30, the same components as those in Fig. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0336] A management device 1B shown in FIG. 30 differs from the management device 1 shown in FIG. 2 in a control unit 12B and a storage unit 13B.

[0337] The control unit 12B includes a vehicle dispatch request information acquisition unit 121B, a user identification information acquisition unit 122B, a delivery vehicle determination unit 123, a control right setting unit 124B, a control instruction support information generation unit 125, and an information transmission unit 126B.

[0338] The vehicle allocation request information acquisition unit 121B acquires vehicle allocation request information including user information indicating a user and location information of a delivery destination from the user terminal 2 via the communication unit 11. The vehicle allocation request information acquisition unit 121B acquires vehicle allocation request information including at least location information indicating the location of a delivery destination to which an autonomously driven vehicle is to be dispatched. In the third embodiment, the delivery destination is the delivery destination.

[0339] The user identification information acquisition unit 122B acquires, from the user terminal 2 via the communication unit 11, delivery destination user identification information for identifying the user using the delivery vehicle located at the delivery destination or the user terminal 2 owned by the user.

[0340] In the third embodiment, the vehicle dispatch request information and the delivery destination user identification information are acquired separately, but the vehicle dispatch request information may be acquired together. For example, the vehicle dispatch request information may include the delivery destination user identification information, and the vehicle dispatch request information acquisition unit 121B may acquire the vehicle dispatch request information and the delivery destination user identification information together.

[0341] The control right setting unit 124B sets a control right (vehicle control right) that allows the user to control the delivery vehicle located at the delivery destination based on the delivery request information and the user identification information. The control right setting unit 124B sets a control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination for the delivery destination user identification information based on the delivery request information and the delivery destination user identification information.

[0342] The information transmitting unit 126B transmits control right information regarding the set control right to the delivery vehicle 3. The information transmitting unit 126B transmits control instruction support information to the user terminal 2 of the delivery destination to which the control right has been given, via the communication unit 11. Furthermore, the information transmitting unit 126B transmits dispatch instruction information based on the dispatch request information to the delivery vehicle 3. The dispatch instruction information includes at least the location information of the delivery destination. The dispatch instruction information may include route information including the route from the current location of the vehicle to the delivery destination. In this case, the management device 1B generates the route information, but the delivery vehicle 3 may also generate the route information.

[0343] The memory unit 13B includes a dispatch request information memory unit 131, a user information memory unit 132, a vehicle information memory unit 133, a control right information memory unit 134B, a delivery vehicle determination program memory unit 135, a control right setting program memory unit 136, and a control instruction support information generation program memory unit 137.

[0344] The control right information storage unit 134B stores control right information indicating the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination, which is set by the control right setting unit 124B based on the dispatch request information and the delivery destination user identification information. The control right information includes a dispatch request identification number for identifying the dispatch request information, information indicating the delivery destination, a controllable position, user identification information, and vehicle identification information of the delivery vehicle. The controllable position indicates the position information of the delivery destination. The controllable position is expressed, for example, by longitude and latitude.

[0345] The configuration of the user terminal and the delivery vehicle in the third embodiment is basically the same as that in the first embodiment. However, in the third embodiment, the dispatch instruction information acquisition unit 323 of the delivery vehicle 3 acquires dispatch instruction information including at least the location information of the delivery destination transmitted from the management device 1B. In addition, when control instruction information for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 transmitted from the outside is acquired, the controllable position determination unit 326 determines whether or not the current location of the delivery vehicle 3 is the location of the delivery destination indicated in the control right information based on the control right information. If it is determined that the location of the delivery vehicle 3 is the location of the delivery destination as a result of the determination, the process is transferred to the controllable subject determination unit 327. On the other hand, if it is determined that the location of the delivery vehicle 3 is not the location of the delivery destination as a result of the determination, the control instruction information is not followed and the process is terminated.

[0346] With the above configuration, the user can be given the control rights to control the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination, so that even if the delivery vehicle 3 is stopped in a location that is inconvenient for the user, the user can move the delivery vehicle 3.

[0347] In addition, in this configuration, the delivery vehicle 3 can be controlled only when the delivery vehicle 3 is located at the delivery destination. Therefore, when the delivery vehicle 3 is located at a location other than the delivery destination, that is, when control of the delivery vehicle 3 is not necessary, the user can be prevented from moving the delivery vehicle 3.

[0348] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the control right setting unit 124B may determine a delivery destination control right exercisable range, which indicates an area in which control instructions can be given to the delivery vehicle 3, according to a predetermined rule based on the location information of the delivery destination, and set the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located within the delivery destination control right exercisable range for the delivery destination user identification information. When the delivery destination is the delivery destination, the control right setting unit 124B generates a delivery destination control right exercisable range that allows the user to control the delivery vehicle at the delivery destination based on the location of the delivery destination. Then, when the delivery destination is the delivery destination, the control right setting unit 124B sets the control right for the user that allows the user to control the delivery vehicle located within the delivery destination control right exercisable range.

[0349] In the third embodiment, the control right setting unit 124B may determine a delivery destination controllable range, which indicates an area in which the delivery vehicle 3 can move according to the control instruction information, based on the location information of the delivery destination and in accordance with a predetermined rule, and set the control right to control the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination within the delivery destination controllable range for the delivery destination user identification information. When the delivery destination is the delivery destination, the control right setting unit 124B generates a delivery destination controllable range in which the delivery vehicle can move at the delivery destination based on the location of the delivery destination. Then, when the delivery destination is the delivery destination, the control right setting unit 124B sets the control right to the user that allows the delivery vehicle to control the movement within the delivery destination controllable range.

[0350] In the third embodiment, the management device 1B may change the setting of the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle based on the dispatch request information according to the delivery status of the delivery vehicle. The method of changing the setting of the control right is the same as in the second embodiment.

[0351] (Embodiment 4) In the first and second embodiments, an example is described in which, like an on-demand item delivery service or an on-demand taxi service, after loading the delivery target or having the user board the vehicle at the delivery origin, the delivery target is unloaded or the user is allowed to exit the vehicle at the delivery destination, but the present disclosure is not limited to these services. In addition to the above services, when a delivery vehicle delivers a delivery target, there is a collection service in which the delivery vehicle moves from a delivery center to the delivery origin and only receives the delivery target at the delivery origin, and the present disclosure can be applied to such a collection service. In the fourth embodiment, an example is described in which a delivery vehicle moves from a delivery center to the delivery origin and collects the delivery target at the delivery origin.

[0352] In the collection service of the fourth embodiment, the delivery vehicle travels from the delivery center to the delivery origin to pick up the product, so delivery destination information is not required, and only delivery origin information is required. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the delivery request information does not require delivery destination information, and the delivery request information includes only delivery origin information. Accordingly, delivery destination user information that uses the delivery vehicle 3 at the delivery destination is also not required, and only delivery origin user information that uses the delivery vehicle 3 at the delivery origin is required, so the management device acquires only delivery origin user information.

[0353] Fig. 31 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management device according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The management device 1C includes a communication unit 11, a control unit 12C, and a storage unit 13C. In Fig. 31, the same components as those in Fig. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0354] A management device 1C shown in FIG. 31 differs from the management device 1 shown in FIG. 2 in a control unit 12C and a storage unit 13C.

[0355] The control unit 12C includes a vehicle dispatch request information acquisition unit 121C, a user identification information acquisition unit 122C, a delivery vehicle determination unit 123, a control right setting unit 124C, a control instruction support information generation unit 125, and an information transmission unit 126C.

[0356] The vehicle allocation request information acquisition unit 121C acquires vehicle allocation request information including user information indicating the user and location information of the delivery origin from the user terminal 2 via the communication unit 11. The vehicle allocation request information acquisition unit 121C acquires vehicle allocation request information including at least location information indicating the location of the delivery destination to which the autonomously driven vehicle is to be dispatched. In the fourth embodiment, the delivery origin is the delivery destination.

[0357] The user identification information acquisition unit 122C acquires from the user terminal 2, via the communication unit 11, delivery origin user identification information for identifying a user using a delivery vehicle located at the delivery origin or the user terminal 2 owned by that user.

[0358] In the fourth embodiment, the vehicle dispatch request information and the delivery source user identification information are acquired separately, but the vehicle dispatch request information may be acquired together. For example, the vehicle dispatch request information may include the delivery source user identification information, and the vehicle dispatch request information acquisition unit 121C may acquire the vehicle dispatch request information and the delivery source user identification information together.

[0359] The control right setting unit 124C sets the control right (vehicle control right) that allows the user to control the delivery vehicle located at the delivery destination based on the delivery request information and the user identification information. The control right setting unit 124C sets the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery source to the delivery source user identification information based on the delivery request information and the delivery source user identification information.

[0360] The information transmitting unit 126C transmits control right information regarding the set control right to the delivery vehicle 3. The information transmitting unit 126C transmits control instruction support information to the user terminal 2 of the delivery source to which the control right has been granted, via the communication unit 11. Furthermore, the information transmitting unit 126C transmits dispatch instruction information based on the dispatch request information to the delivery vehicle 3. The dispatch instruction information includes at least the location information of the delivery source. The dispatch instruction information may include route information including a route from the current location of the vehicle to the delivery source. In this case, the management device 1C generates the route information, but the delivery vehicle 3 may also generate the route information.

[0361] The memory unit 13C includes a dispatch request information memory unit 131, a user information memory unit 132, a vehicle information memory unit 133, a control right information memory unit 134C, a delivery vehicle determination program memory unit 135, a control right setting program memory unit 136, and a control instruction support information generation program memory unit 137.

[0362] The control right information storage unit 134C stores control right information indicating the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin, which is set by the control right setting unit 124C based on the delivery request information and the delivery origin user identification information. The control right information includes a delivery request identification number for identifying the delivery request information, information indicating the delivery origin, a controllable position, user identification information, and vehicle identification information of the delivery vehicle. The controllable position indicates the position information of the delivery origin. The controllable position is expressed, for example, by longitude and latitude.

[0363] The configuration of the user terminal and the delivery vehicle in the fourth embodiment is basically the same as that in the first embodiment. However, in the fourth embodiment, the dispatch instruction information acquisition unit 323 of the delivery vehicle 3 acquires dispatch instruction information including at least the location information of the delivery origin transmitted from the management device 1C. In addition, when control instruction information for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 transmitted from the outside is acquired, the controllable position determination unit 326 determines whether or not the current location of the delivery vehicle 3 is the location of the delivery origin indicated in the control right information based on the control right information. If it is determined that the location of the delivery vehicle 3 is the location of the delivery origin as a result of the determination, the process is transferred to the controllable subject determination unit 327. On the other hand, if it is determined that the location of the delivery vehicle 3 is not the location of the delivery origin as a result of the determination, the control instruction information is not followed and the process is terminated.

[0364] With the above configuration, the user can be given the control rights to control the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery source, so that even if the delivery vehicle 3 is stopped in a location that is inconvenient for the user, the user can move the delivery vehicle 3.

[0365] In addition, in this configuration, the delivery vehicle 3 can be controlled only when the delivery vehicle 3 is located at the delivery origin. Therefore, when the delivery vehicle 3 is located at a location other than the delivery origin, that is, when control of the delivery vehicle 3 is not necessary, the user can be prevented from moving the delivery vehicle 3.

[0366] Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, the control right setting unit 124C may determine a delivery origin control right exercisable range that indicates an area in which control instructions can be given to the delivery vehicle 3 according to a predetermined rule based on the delivery origin position information, and set the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle 3 located within the delivery origin control right exercisable range for the delivery origin user identification information. When the delivery destination is the delivery origin, the control right setting unit 124C generates a delivery origin control right exercisable range that allows the user to control the delivery vehicle at the delivery origin based on the delivery origin position. Then, when the delivery destination is the delivery origin, the control right setting unit 124C sets the control right for the user that allows the control of the delivery vehicle located within the delivery origin control right exercisable range.

[0367] In addition, in the fourth embodiment, the control right setting unit 124C may determine a delivery origin controllable range that indicates an area in which the delivery vehicle 3 can move according to the control instruction information based on the delivery origin position information according to a predetermined rule, and set the control right to control the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery origin within the delivery origin controllable range for the delivery origin user identification information. When the delivery destination is the delivery origin, the control right setting unit 124C generates a delivery origin controllable range in which the delivery vehicle can move at the delivery origin based on the delivery origin position. Then, when the delivery destination is the delivery origin, the control right setting unit 124C sets the control right to the user that allows the delivery vehicle to control the movement within the delivery origin controllable range.

[0368] In the fourth embodiment, the management device 1C may change the setting of the control right for controlling the delivery vehicle based on the dispatch request information according to the delivery status of the delivery vehicle. The method of changing the setting of the control right is the same as that of the second embodiment.

[0369] (Embodiment 5) In embodiment 5, table data is stored that associates the location information of the delivery vehicle's destination specified by the user with the location information of the delivery vehicle's destination when the user moves the delivery vehicle after it arrives at the destination.When the same destination location information is specified again, the destination location information associated with the specified destination location information is extracted from the table data, and the extracted destination location information is determined as the stopping position of the delivery vehicle's destination.

[0370] Fig. 32 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management device according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. A management device 1D includes a communication unit 11, a control unit 12D, and a storage unit 13D. In Fig. 32, the same components as those in Fig. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0371] A management device 1D shown in FIG. 32 differs from the management device 1 shown in FIG. 2 in that a control unit 12D and a storage unit 13D are different.

[0372] The control unit 12D includes a dispatch request information acquisition unit 121, a user identification information acquisition unit 122, a delivery vehicle determination unit 123, a control right setting unit 124, a control instruction support information generation unit 125, an information transmission unit 126, a destination position information acquisition unit 127D, and a stop position determination unit 128D.

[0373] The memory unit 13D includes a dispatch request information memory unit 131, a user information memory unit 132, a vehicle information memory unit 133, a control right information memory unit 134, a delivery vehicle determination program memory unit 135, a control right setting program memory unit 136, a control instruction support information generation program memory unit 137, a destination position information memory unit 138D, and a stopping position determination program memory unit 139D.

[0374] The destination position information acquisition unit 127D acquires, from the delivery vehicle 3 that has moved according to the control instruction information, destination position information indicating the position of the destination, via the communication unit 11. When the delivery vehicle 3 has moved according to the control instruction information from the user terminal 2, it acquires destination position information indicating the position of the destination, and transmits the acquired destination position information to the management device 1D.

[0375] In addition, the destination location information acquisition unit 127D stores the destination location information included in the dispatch request information received from the user terminal 2 and the acquired destination location information in the destination location information storage unit 138D in association with each other. The destination location information includes the delivery destination location information and the delivery origin location information. The destination location information includes the delivery destination location information and the delivery origin location information.

[0376] The destination position information storage unit 138D stores table data in which the vehicle allocation destination position information and the destination position information are associated with each other.

[0377] Fig. 33 is a diagram showing an example of table data stored in the destination position information storage unit in the present embodiment 5. As shown in Fig. 33, the vehicle allocation destination position information and the destination position information are represented by GPS information (latitude and longitude).

[0378] In addition, the destination location information in this embodiment 5 is GPS information (latitude and longitude), but the present disclosure is not particularly limited to this, and may be an address or the name of a facility. In addition, the destination location information in this embodiment 5 is GPS information (latitude and longitude), but the present disclosure is not particularly limited to this, and may be a moving direction and moving distance relative to the destination location information. For example, if the delivery vehicle 3 moves 1 meter north from the destination location, the destination location information includes the moving direction of "north" and the moving distance of "1 meter."

[0379] The stop position determination unit 128D extracts destination position information associated with the destination position information included in the dispatch request information from the table data, and determines the extracted destination position information as the stop position of the delivery destination of the delivery vehicle 3.

[0380] Next, the process in which the management device 1 stores the destination position information received from the delivery vehicle 3 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0381] FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating a destination location information storage process of the management device according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0382] First, the destination position information acquisition unit 127D of the management device 1 acquires destination position information indicating the destination position from the delivery vehicle 3 that has moved in accordance with the control instruction information (step S41).

[0383] Next, the destination position information acquisition unit 127D associates the destination position information included in the vehicle allocation request information received from the user terminal 2 with the acquired destination position information and stores them in the destination position information storage unit 138D (step S42).

[0384] Next, the vehicle control process of the management device 1 in the fifth embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0385] FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating a vehicle control process of the management device according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0386] First, the vehicle dispatch request information acquisition unit 121 of the management device 1 receives the vehicle dispatch request information transmitted from the user terminal 2, and stores the received vehicle dispatch request information in the vehicle dispatch request information storage unit 131 (step S51). The vehicle dispatch request information includes user identification information for identifying the user or the user terminal 2 owned by the user, and location information of the delivery destination. Next, the user identification information acquisition unit 122 of the management device 1 receives destination user identification information for identifying the user who uses the delivery vehicle 3 located at the destination or the user terminal 2 owned by the user from the user terminal 2 (step S52). The destination user identification information includes delivery source user identification information for identifying the user who uses the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery source or the user terminal 2 owned by the user, and delivery destination user identification information for identifying the user who uses the delivery vehicle 3 located at the delivery destination or the user terminal 2 owned by the user.

[0387] Next, the stop position determining unit 128D extracts the position information of the destination of the vehicle from the vehicle allocation request information (step S53).

[0388] Next, the stop position determination unit 128D judges whether the destination position information associated with the extracted destination position information is in the destination position information storage unit 138D (step S54). If it is judged that the destination position information associated with the extracted destination position information is not in the destination position information storage unit 138D (NO in step S54), the stop position determination unit 128D determines the extracted destination position information as the stop position of the delivery vehicle 3 (step S55).

[0389] On the other hand, if it is determined that the destination position information associated with the extracted vehicle allocation destination position information is in the destination position information storage unit 138D (YES in step S54), the stop position determination unit 128D acquires the destination position information associated with the extracted vehicle allocation destination position information from the destination position information storage unit 138D (step S56).

[0390] Next, the stop position determining unit 128D determines the acquired destination position information as the stop position of the delivery vehicle 3 (step S57).

[0391] The processing from step S58 to step S61 is the same as the processing from step S105 to step S108 shown in FIG. 8, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0392] Next, the information transmission unit 126 of the management device 1 transmits, to the delivery vehicle 3, dispatch instruction information based on the stopping position determined by the stopping position determination unit 128D (step S62). The dispatch instruction information includes at least the stopping position of the delivery vehicle 3 to be dispatched.

[0393] The process of step S63 is the same as the process of step S112 shown in FIG. 8, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0394] In this way, the destination location information contained in the dispatch request information received from the user terminal 2 and the destination location information indicating the destination location of the delivery vehicle moved in accordance with the control instruction information are associated and stored in the destination location information storage unit 138D, so that when the same destination location information is requested again, the destination location can be determined to be the stopping position of the delivery vehicle, thereby reducing the process of moving the delivery vehicle.

[0395] In the fifth embodiment, after the destination position information is acquired, the vehicle allocation destination position information and the destination position information are stored in the destination position information storage unit 138D in association with each other, but the present disclosure is not particularly limited to this, and the user terminal 2 may be inquired as to whether the vehicle allocation destination position information and the destination position information may be stored in the destination position information storage unit 138D in association with each other. Since the user may have temporarily moved the location of the vehicle allocation destination, the user is asked whether the vehicle allocation destination may be moved from the next time onwards.

[0396] In this case, when the management device 1 acquires the destination position information, it transmits an inquiry to the user terminal 2 as to whether the vehicle allocation destination position information and the destination position information may be associated and stored in the destination position information storage unit 138D. The user terminal 2 receives the inquiry from the management device 1 and accepts a response from the user as to whether the vehicle allocation destination position information and the destination position information may be associated and stored in the destination position information storage unit 138D. The user terminal 2 transmits a response result as to whether the vehicle allocation destination position information and the destination position information may be associated and stored in the destination position information storage unit 138D to the management device 1. When the destination position information acquisition unit 127D of the management device 1 receives a positive response result to the inquiry, it associates the vehicle allocation destination position information and the destination position information and stores them in the destination position information storage unit 138D. On the other hand, when the destination location information acquisition unit 127D receives a negative response result to the inquiry, it discards the acquired destination location information without correlating the destination location information with the destination location information and storing them in the destination location information storage unit 138D.

[0397] In addition, in this embodiment 5, the number of times the vehicle allocation destination position is moved to a specified destination may be counted, and when the counted number reaches or exceeds a threshold value, the vehicle allocation destination position information and the destination position information may be associated with each other and stored in the destination position information storage unit 138D.

[0398] In this case, when the destination position information acquisition unit 127D of the management device 1 acquires the destination position information, the destination position information, and the number of times the destination position has been moved to a predetermined destination are stored in the storage unit 13D in association with each other. Then, when the destination position information acquisition unit 127D acquires the destination position information again, the destination position information acquisition unit 127D increments the number of times associated with the destination position information. The destination position information acquisition unit 127D judges whether the number of times associated with the destination position information is equal to or greater than a threshold value. When the destination position information acquisition unit 127D judges that the number of times is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the destination position information acquisition unit 127D associates the destination position information with the destination position information and stores them in the destination position information storage unit 138D.

[0399] In addition, in the fifth embodiment, the destination location information storage unit 138D may store table data in which the destination location information and the destination location information are associated with each other for each user identification information. This allows the destination location to be changed according to the preferences of a specific user, thereby improving the convenience of the specific user.

[0400] In addition, in the fifth embodiment, the table data associating the position information of the destination with the destination position information may be associated with other user identification information, not only with the one user identification information that performed the movement control. That is, the table data associating the position information of the destination with the destination position information may be shared by multiple users. For example, other users who specify the same destination as the one user may also move the delivery vehicle to the destination in the same way as the one user. In particular, multiple users who live in the same apartment building may each specify the same destination and the same destination. Therefore, the stop position determination unit 128D refers to the table data associating the position information of the destination requested by the one user with the destination position information moved by the one user, and when the position information of the destination requested by the other user is the same as the position information of the destination requested by the one user, determines the destination position information moved by the one user as the stop position.

[0401] As a result, the movement of a delivery vehicle to a destination by one user is reflected to other users, thereby reducing the process of other users moving their delivery vehicles.

[0402] In addition, in the fifth embodiment, the destination location information storage unit 138D may store table data in which the location information of the destination, the destination location information, and the attribute information of the user are associated with each other. The attribute information is, for example, information indicating whether the user is a customer or an employee of the facility to which the vehicle is to be allocated. In a store or a hospital, the entrances and exits for customers and employees may be different. Therefore, by associating the destination location information with the attribute information of the user, the location of the destination can be corrected to the location of the destination according to the attribute of the user, and the convenience of the user can be improved. In this case, the attribute information is included in the vehicle allocation request information. The user terminal 2 accepts the input of the attribute information when accepting the input of the location information of the destination. The attribute information may be stored in the user information storage unit 132 in advance. When the destination location information acquisition unit 127D acquires the destination location information, the destination location information may be associated with the attribute information stored in the user information storage unit 132 and stored in the storage unit 13D.

[0403] In addition, when multiple different users move to the same location for the same vehicle allocation destination location, the destination location information acquisition unit 127D may correspond the vehicle allocation destination location information to the destination location information and store the information in the destination location information storage unit 138D.

[0404] In addition, in the fifth embodiment, when the location information of the destination is represented by GPS information, if the location information of the destination included in the dispatch request information does not completely match the location information of the destination stored in the destination location information storage unit 138D, the destination location information is not acquired from the destination location information storage unit 138D. Therefore, if the location information of the destination included in the dispatch request information is slightly different from the location information of the destination stored in the destination location information storage unit 138D, the location information of the destination included in the dispatch request information is not a target for movement.

[0405] Therefore, the stop position determination unit 128D may determine whether the destination position information storage unit 138D has the destination position information present within a predetermined range from the destination position information extracted from the dispatch request information. If it is determined that the destination position information present within a predetermined range from the destination position information extracted from the dispatch request information is present in the destination position information storage unit 138D, the stop position determination unit 128D acquires the destination position information associated with the destination position information from the destination position information storage unit 138D. On the other hand, if it is determined that the destination position information present within a predetermined range from the destination position information extracted from the dispatch request information is not present in the destination position information storage unit 138D, the stop position determination unit 128D determines the destination position information extracted from the dispatch request information as the stop position of the delivery vehicle 3.

[0406] The stop position determination unit 128D may determine whether or not the destination position information, which is within a predetermined distance from the destination position information extracted from the vehicle allocation request information, is stored in the destination position information storage unit 138D.

[0407] In addition, in the fifth embodiment, the destination position information storage unit 138D may store table data that associates the destination position information, the destination position information, and the orientation of the parcel removal opening of the delivery vehicle. Whether the destination position is changed may be determined depending on whether the parcel removal opening is on the left side, right side, or rear of the delivery vehicle. For example, if the parcel removal opening is on the left side of the delivery vehicle, the destination position is not changed, but if the parcel removal opening is on the rear of the delivery vehicle, the destination position may be changed.

[0408] Therefore, the destination position information storage unit 138D may store table data that associates the destination position information, the destination position information, and the orientation of the parcel take-out opening of the delivery vehicle. In this case, the management device 1 receives information indicating the orientation of the parcel take-out opening from the delivery vehicle 3 together with the destination position information. The management device 1 may store the information indicating the orientation of the parcel take-out opening in the storage unit 13D in advance, or may receive the information indicating the orientation of the parcel take-out opening from another device that manages information related to the delivery vehicle.

[0409] Then, the stop position determination unit 128D determines the delivery vehicle 3, and after identifying the orientation of the baggage take-out port of the determined delivery vehicle 3, it judges whether the destination position information associated with the location information of the destination extracted from the delivery request information is in the destination position information storage unit 138D. If it is determined that the destination position information associated with the extracted location information of the destination is in the destination position information storage unit 138D, the stop position determination unit 128D judges whether the orientation of the identified baggage take-out port is the same as the orientation of the baggage take-out port associated with the destination position information. If it is determined that the orientation of the identified baggage take-out port is the same as the orientation of the baggage take-out port associated with the destination position information, the stop position determination unit 128D acquires the destination position information associated with the extracted location information of the destination from the destination position information storage unit 138D. On the other hand, if it is determined that the orientation of the identified luggage pick-up opening is different from the orientation of the luggage pick-up opening associated with the destination location information, the stopping position determination unit 128D determines the extracted destination location information as the stopping position of the delivery vehicle 3.

[0410] In addition, even if the orientation of the baggage take-out opening is the same, the position may differ depending on the vehicle type. For example, even if the orientation of the baggage take-out opening is on the left side of the delivery vehicle, depending on the vehicle type, the baggage take-out opening may be located on the front side, center side, or rear side of the delivery vehicle. Therefore, the destination position information storage unit 138D may store table data that associates the position information of the delivery destination, the destination position information, and the vehicle type of the delivery vehicle. In this case, the management device 1 receives information indicating the vehicle type of the delivery vehicle together with the destination position information from the delivery vehicle 3. The management device 1 may store information indicating the vehicle type of the delivery vehicle in the storage unit 13D in advance, or may receive information indicating the vehicle type of the delivery vehicle from another device that manages information related to the delivery vehicle.

[0411] Then, the stop position determination unit 128D determines the delivery vehicle 3, and after identifying the vehicle type of the determined delivery vehicle 3, judges whether the destination position information associated with the vehicle destination position information extracted from the vehicle allocation request information is in the destination position information storage unit 138D. If it is determined that the destination position information associated with the extracted vehicle destination position information is in the destination position information storage unit 138D, the stop position determination unit 128D judges whether the specified vehicle type is the same as the vehicle type associated with the destination position information. If it is determined that the specified vehicle type is the same as the vehicle type associated with the destination position information, the stop position determination unit 128D acquires the destination position information associated with the extracted vehicle destination position information from the destination position information storage unit 138D. On the other hand, if it is determined that the specified vehicle type is different from the vehicle type associated with the destination position information, the stop position determination unit 128D determines the extracted vehicle destination position information as the stop position of the delivery vehicle 3.

[0412] In addition, when it is possible to acquire information on the location of the baggage take-out port for each vehicle type, the destination location information storage unit 138D may store table data in which the vehicle destination location information, the destination location information corrected according to the vehicle type, and the vehicle type of the delivery vehicle are associated with each other. In this case, the storage unit 13D further stores table data in which the vehicle type of the delivery vehicle is associated with the location of the baggage take-out port. For example, when the baggage take-out port of the first vehicle type is located 1 meter from the front of the vehicle, and the baggage take-out port of the second vehicle type is located 1.5 meters from the front of the vehicle, and the location of the delivery destination of the first vehicle type is changed, the destination location information acquisition unit 127D first associates the vehicle destination location information, the destination location information, and the first vehicle type and stores them in the destination location information storage unit 138D. Next, the destination position information acquisition unit 127D calculates the destination position information of the second vehicle model by adding 0.5 meters to the destination position of the first vehicle model, and stores the destination position information, the calculated destination position information, and the second vehicle model in association with each other in the destination position information storage unit 138D.

[0413] In this way, table data correlating a plurality of vehicle types with the positions of the luggage pick-up ports of each vehicle type is stored, and when destination position information of one of the plurality of vehicle types is acquired, destination position information of the other vehicle types can be calculated from the relationship between the position of the luggage pick-up port of the one vehicle type and the positions of the luggage pick-up ports of the other vehicle types.

[0414] In addition, the user may move the delivery vehicle 3 multiple times before starting loading or unloading. Therefore, the destination location information storage unit 138D may store table data that associates the location information of the delivery destination with the destination location information indicating the location of the destination where loading was finally performed or the destination location information indicating the location of the destination where unloading was finally performed. The locations of the destinations where the user did not load or unload are not required, so the process of storing unnecessary information can be omitted.

[0415] In addition, the destination position information storage unit 138D may store table data in which the location information of the vehicle allocation destination, the destination position information, and the weather information of the delivery destination are associated with each other. For example, the stopping position of the delivery vehicle when the weather is sunny may differ from the stopping position of the delivery vehicle when the weather is rainy. Therefore, when the destination position information acquisition unit 127D acquires the destination position information, it acquires the weather information of the delivery destination. Then, the destination position information acquisition unit 127D associates the vehicle allocation destination position information, the destination position information, and the acquired weather information of the delivery destination and stores them in the storage unit 13D. The management device 1 can acquire the weather information of the delivery destination from an external server.

[0416] The weather information may be obtained from the delivery vehicle 3 if the delivery vehicle 3 has a rain sensor. The weather information may be obtained from the user terminal 2 by prompting the user to input weather information when inquiring of the stopping position to the user terminal 2.

[0417] In addition, on days when the temperature is high or low, it is considered that many users wait indoors for the delivery vehicle 3 to arrive, and in such cases, it is desirable for the vehicle to stop near the entrance or exit of the building. Therefore, it is considered that the stopping location may differ between high and low temperature days and other days. Therefore, a configuration may be adopted in which temperature information is associated with the stopping location.

[0418] (Embodiment 6) In embodiments 1 to 5, the control rights of the delivery vehicle 3 are given to a user, and the user controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 using the user terminal 2, but in embodiment 6, it is possible to select either granting the control rights of the delivery vehicle 3 to the user, or having a driving operator in a remote location remotely drive the delivery vehicle 3, and the user or the driving operator controls the movement of the delivery vehicle 3 using the user terminal 2 or a remote driving device.

[0419] FIG. 36 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an overall configuration of a vehicle control system according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0420] The vehicle control system shown in FIG. 36 includes a management device 1E, a user terminal 2, a delivery vehicle 3, and a remote control device 5.

[0421] The remote control device 5 receives from the delivery vehicle 3 vehicle status information related to the vehicle body such as vehicle speed, current position, and steering angle, or surrounding environment information obtained by photographing the surrounding environment of the delivery vehicle 3, and transmits driving instruction information indicating driving instructions for the delivery vehicle 3 input by the driving operator 6 to the delivery vehicle 3. The remote control device 5 is connected to the management device 1E and the delivery vehicle 3 via the network 4 so as to be able to communicate with them.

[0422] The remote control device 5 is installed at a location away from the delivery vehicle 3, and the driving operator 6 cannot visually observe the delivery vehicle 3. When the remote control device 5 is given control of the delivery vehicle 3, the remote control device 5 accepts operations by the driving operator 6 and remotely controls the delivery vehicle 3.

[0423] For example, if the user at the destination does not have a user terminal, if it is unknown whether the user at the destination has a user terminal, or if it is predicted that the user at the destination is not skilled at operating a user terminal, it is preferable to have the driving operator 6 remotely control the delivery vehicle 3 without granting the user control over the delivery vehicle 3.

[0424] Fig. 37 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management device according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. The management device 1E includes a communication unit 11, a control unit 12E, and a storage unit 13. In Fig. 37, the same components as those in Fig. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0425] A management device 1E shown in FIG. 37 differs from the management device 1 shown in FIG. 2 in that a control unit 12E is provided.

[0426] The control unit 12E includes a vehicle dispatch request information acquisition unit 121, a user identification information acquisition unit 122, a delivery vehicle determination unit 123, a control right setting unit 124E, a control instruction support information generation unit 125, and an information transmission unit 126.

[0427] The control right setting unit 124E judges whether to allow the driving operator 6 to remotely drive the delivery vehicle 3 based on the attribute information of the user of the destination. The attribute information is, for example, information indicating the age of the user of the destination. The attribute information is included in the delivery request information. The user terminal 2 accepts the input of the attribute information when accepting the input of the location information of the destination. The attribute information may be stored in advance in the user information storage unit 132.

[0428] The control right setting unit 124E judges whether the age of the user of the destination is a first age or less, and judges whether the age of the user of the destination is a second age or more that is higher than the first age. The first age is, for example, 12 years old, and the second age is, for example, 70 years old. That is, the control right setting unit 124E judges whether the user of the destination is a child or not, and whether the user of the destination is an elderly person or not. When the control right setting unit 124E judges that the age of the user of the destination is the first age or less, or when the control right setting unit 124E judges that the age of the user of the destination is the second age or more, it judges to have the driving operator 6 remotely drive the delivery vehicle 3.

[0429] On the other hand, if the control right setting unit 124E determines that the age of the user at the destination is higher than the first age and lower than the second age, it sets control rights for the user at the destination to allow them to control the delivery vehicle 3 based on the dispatch request information and the user identification information.

[0430] In the sixth embodiment, the attribute information is information indicating the age of the user of the destination, but the present disclosure is not particularly limited thereto, and the attribute information may be information indicating whether the user of the destination is disabled or not. When the control right setting unit 124E determines that the user of the destination is disabled, it determines to have the driving operator 6 remotely drive the delivery vehicle 3. When the control right setting unit 124E determines that the user of the destination is not disabled, it sets the control right to the user of the destination to permit control of the delivery vehicle 3 based on the delivery request information and the user identification information.

[0431] When it is determined that the delivery vehicle 3 should be remotely controlled by the driving operator 6, the information transmitting unit 126 transmits control request information to the remote control device 5 to request the driving operator 6 to control the delivery vehicle 3. The remote control device 5 receives the control request information transmitted by the management device 1E and accepts the remote control of the delivery vehicle 3 by the driving operator 6.

[0432] In this way, if it is predicted that the user at the destination is not skilled at controlling the delivery vehicle 3 using the user terminal 2, the delivery vehicle 3 is remotely controlled by the driving operator 6, so that the delivery vehicle 3 can be moved immediately after arriving at the destination.

[0433] In the sixth embodiment, the control right setting unit 124E determines whether to allow the driving operator 6 to remotely control the delivery vehicle 3 based on the attribute information of the user of the destination, but the present disclosure is not particularly limited thereto. The control right setting unit 124E may determine whether to allow the driving operator 6 to remotely control the delivery vehicle 3 based on the history of past movement control at the destination. That is, at the destination where movement control was performed in the past, it is highly likely that movement control will be performed this time as well. Therefore, if movement control was performed in the past at the destination, the driving operator 6 is caused to remotely control the delivery vehicle 3. The storage unit 13 stores history information that associates the position information of the destination with the destination position information. The history information may be the same as the table data stored in the destination position information storage unit of the fifth embodiment. The history information may be history information of the user of the destination, or history information of other users. The history information may be only the position information of the destination where movement control was performed in the past.

[0434] In this case, the control right setting unit 124E judges whether movement control has been performed in the past at the destination. If the control right setting unit 124E judges that movement control has been performed in the past at the destination, it judges to have the driving operator 6 remotely drive the delivery vehicle 3. On the other hand, if the control right setting unit 124E judges that movement control has not been performed in the past at the destination, it sets a control right for the user of the destination to allow control of the delivery vehicle 3 based on the delivery request information and the user identification information.

[0435] Then, when it is determined that the driving operator 6 should remotely drive the delivery vehicle 3, the information transmission unit 126 transmits control request information to the remote driving device 5 to request the driving operator 6 to control the delivery vehicle 3. At this time, the control request information may include destination position information corresponding to the location information of the delivery destination. Also, the user may inform the driving operator 6 of the destination position.

[0436] The control right setting unit 124E may also calculate the ratio of past movement control at the destination and determine whether the calculated ratio is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. For example, if one of five users at the destination controls movement, the ratio calculated by the control right setting unit 124E is 20%. If the control right setting unit 124E determines that the calculated ratio is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it determines that the driving operator 6 should remotely drive the delivery vehicle 3. On the other hand, if the control right setting unit 124E determines that the calculated ratio is lower than the predetermined value, it sets the control right to the user at the destination to allow control of the delivery vehicle 3 based on the delivery request information and the user identification information.

[0437] In this way, if movement control has been performed in the past at the destination, the driving operator 6 remotely controls the delivery vehicle 3, so that the delivery vehicle 3 that arrives at the destination can be moved immediately, thereby improving service to users.

[0438] In addition, when a user requests a vehicle to be dispatched by calling on a landline, the driving operator 6 may remotely control the delivery vehicle 3 at the destination. When a user requests a vehicle to be dispatched by calling on a landline, it is unclear whether the user has a user terminal. Therefore, when making a call, it is necessary to confirm whether the user has a user terminal. However, when a user requests a vehicle to be dispatched by calling on a landline, this confirmation process can be omitted by having the driving operator 6 remotely control the delivery vehicle 3 at the destination.

[0439] In addition, when a user requests dispatch by telephone, not limited to a landline phone, the driving operator 6 may remotely control the delivery vehicle 3 at the destination. When a user requests dispatch by telephone, there is a possibility that the user is unfamiliar with operating the user terminal. It is a large burden for such a user to control the delivery vehicle 3 using the user terminal. Therefore, when a user requests dispatch by telephone, the user's burden can be reduced by having the driving operator 6 remotely control the delivery vehicle 3 at the destination.

[0440] When a user requests a vehicle to be dispatched by telephone, the user first communicates the location of the destination to a communication operator (not shown) by telephone. The communication operator inputs the location information of the destination to an operator terminal (not shown). The operator terminal accepts the input of the location information of the destination by the communication operator, and transmits dispatch request information including the location information of the destination to the management device 1E. Whether or not the user has requested a vehicle to be dispatched by telephone can be determined based on whether or not the dispatch request information has been transmitted from the operator terminal. That is, the control right setting unit 124E determines whether or not the received dispatch request information has been transmitted from the operator terminal. When the control right setting unit 124E determines that the received dispatch request information has been transmitted from the operator terminal, it determines that the driving operator 6 should remotely drive the delivery vehicle 3. On the other hand, when the control right setting unit 124E determines that the received dispatch request information was not sent from the operator terminal, that is, when it determines that the received dispatch request information was sent from the user terminal 2, it sets the control right for the destination user to be allowed to control the delivery vehicle 3, based on the dispatch request information and the user identification information. Note that the driving operator 6 and the communication operator may be the same person or different people, and the remote control device 5 and the operator terminal may be the same device or different devices.

[0441] In this way, when a user requests a delivery using an application on the user terminal 2, i.e., when delivery request information is sent from the user terminal 2, control rights permitting control of the delivery vehicle 3 are set for the user to whom the delivery is to be dispatched.

[0442] In addition, in this embodiment 6, it is automatically selected whether to grant control rights for the delivery vehicle 3 to the user or to have the driving operator 6 in a remote location remotely drive the delivery vehicle 3, but the driving operator 6 may select whether to grant control rights for the delivery vehicle 3 to the user or to have the driving operator 6 in a remote location remotely drive the delivery vehicle 3.

[0443] When the management device 1E receives the dispatch request information and the dispatch destination user identification information from the user terminal 2, it transmits selection request information to the operator terminal (not shown) to allow the communication operator (not shown) to select whether to grant the control right of the delivery vehicle 3 to the user or to have the driving operator 6 in a remote location remotely drive the delivery vehicle 3. When the operator terminal receives the selection request information, it displays a selection screen for accepting the selection of either granting the control right of the delivery vehicle 3 to the user or to have the driving operator 6 in a remote location remotely drive the delivery vehicle 3. Then, when the operator terminal receives the selection request information, it accepts the selection by the communication operator of either granting the control right of the delivery vehicle 3 to the user or to have the driving operator 6 in a remote location remotely drive the delivery vehicle 3. The operator terminal transmits the selection result by the communication operator to the management device 1E. The management device 1E selects either granting the control right of the delivery vehicle 3 to the user or to have the driving operator 6 in a remote location remotely drive the delivery vehicle 3 according to the received selection result. The control operator 6 and the communication operator may be the same person or different people, and the remote control device 5 and the operator terminal may be the same device or different devices.

[0444] In addition, when the dispatch request information includes attribute information, the remote control device 5 may display at least one of the age of the user at the dispatch destination and whether or not the user at the dispatch destination is disabled on the selection screen. In addition, when the management device 1E stores the history of past movement control at the dispatch destination, the remote control device 5 may display the percentage of past movement control at the dispatch destination on the selection screen. For example, when one of five users at the dispatch destination controls movement, the remote control device 5 displays on the selection screen that the percentage of past movement control at the dispatch destination is 20%. As a result, the driving operator 6 can select whether to grant the control right of the delivery vehicle 3 to the user or to have the driving operator 6 in a remote location remotely drive the delivery vehicle 3, referring to the age of the user at the dispatch destination, whether or not the user at the dispatch destination is disabled, or the percentage of past movement control at the dispatch destination. 【044...

Claims

1. A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle in a control device, comprising: The control device, When the autonomous vehicle for delivering a delivery object stops at a target stopping position indicating a delivery origin or a delivery destination of the delivery object, an input by a user of control instruction information that specifies a direction and a distance to move the autonomous vehicle from the target stopping position is accepted, the direction indicating either a forward direction or a backward direction; transmitting the control instruction information to the autonomous vehicle which executes a movement operation to the target stop position in response to the control instruction information; Control methods.

2. Further, a first input field for inputting the direction and a second input field for inputting the distance to move the autonomously driven vehicle are displayed on a display of the control device; the first input field accepts a first input indicating whether the autonomously driven vehicle is to move from the target stop position in the forward direction or the backward direction; the second input field accepts a second input indicating a numerical distance to move the autonomous vehicle from the target stop position; The control method according to claim 1.

3. the second input field accepts the second input in increments of centimeters; The control method according to claim 2.

4. Furthermore, position information indicating current positions of a plurality of autonomous vehicles controlled by the control device is acquired from the plurality of autonomous vehicles; Further, a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of autonomous vehicles are displayed on a map image on a display of the control device based on the position information; Among the plurality of icons, one icon corresponding to the autonomous vehicle controlled by the control device is displayed in a first manner, and among the plurality of icons, another icon corresponding to the autonomous vehicle not controlled by the control device is displayed in a second manner different from the first manner. The control method according to claim 1.

5. The one icon corresponding to the autonomous driving vehicle controlled by the control device is displayed in an emphasized manner, and the control instruction information is displayed as additional information. The control method according to claim 4.

6. the autonomous vehicle moves within centimeter increments from the target stopping position; The control method according to claim 1.

7. the autonomous vehicle executes the movement operation to the target stop position in response to the control instruction information while the control device carried by the user outside the autonomous vehicle is located outside the autonomous vehicle. The control method according to claim 1.

8. A receiving unit that receives input by a user of control instruction information that specifies a direction and a distance to move the autonomous vehicle from a target stopping position when the autonomous vehicle for delivering a delivery object stops at a target stopping position that indicates a delivery origin or a delivery destination of the delivery object, the direction indicating either a forward direction or a backward direction, a transmitter that transmits the control instruction information to the autonomously driven vehicle that executes a movement operation with respect to the target stop position in response to the control instruction information; A control device comprising:

9. On the computer, When an autonomous vehicle for delivering a delivery object stops at a target stopping position indicating a delivery origin or a delivery destination of the delivery object, an input by a user of control instruction information that specifies a direction and a distance to move the autonomous vehicle from the target stopping position is accepted, the direction indicating either a forward direction or a backward direction; transmitting the control instruction information to the autonomous vehicle which executes a movement operation to the target stop position in response to the control instruction information; A control program that executes a process.

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