Control device, vehicle, and control method

Abstract

To save time and effort to input desired drop-off locations.SOLUTION: A control apparatus 20 includes a control unit configured to acquire, as profile data, data read from a medium held by each of users when each of the users gets on a vehicle 30 to be operated with the users on board to a destination having a plurality of facilities, identify, on the basis of the acquired profile data, a facility from among the plurality of facilities at which each of the users is to get off the vehicle, and perform control of operating the vehicle 30 along a route including the identified facility.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control device, a vehicle, and a control method.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system for managing the operation of an on-demand bus.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a conventional system, when a user reserves an on-demand bus, there is a hassle of inputting a desired getting-off position.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to eliminate the hassle of inputting a desired getting-off position.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The control device according to the present disclosure includes a control unit that, when each user boards a vehicle that is operated with a plurality of users on board to a destination having a plurality of facilities, acquires data read from a medium held by each user as profile data, and based on the acquired profile data, identifies a facility at which each user gets off from among the plurality of facilities, and performs control to operate the vehicle along a route including the identified facility.

[0007] The control method according to the present disclosure includes acquiring, by a control unit, data read from a medium held by each user as profile data when each user boards a vehicle that is operated with a plurality of users on board to a destination having a plurality of facilities, Based on the acquired profile data, the control unit identifies, from among the plurality of facilities, the facility at which each user gets off the vehicle; the control unit performs control to operate the vehicle along a route including the identified facility; and the like.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to save the trouble of inputting the desired getting-off position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the description of the present embodiment, the description of the same or corresponding parts will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, the configuration of the system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0013] The system 10 according to the present embodiment includes a control device 20, a vehicle 30, a terminal device 40, and a card reader 50. The control device 20 can communicate with the vehicle 30, the terminal device 40, and the card reader 50 via a network 60. The card reader 50 can communicate with an employee ID card 51.

[0014] The control device 20 is installed in a facility such as a data center and is operated by an operator who manages the vehicle 30, such as a bus administrator. The control device 20 is a computer such as a server belonging to a cloud computing system or other computing system.

[0015] The vehicle 30 is operated with a plurality of users on board to a destination. The vehicle 30 is operated as, for example, a bus such as an on-demand bus. The destination is a factory in the present embodiment, but may be other locations. There are a plurality of facilities at the destination. The plurality of facilities are a plurality of buildings within the factory in the present embodiment, but may be a plurality of facilities at other locations.

[0016] The vehicle 30 is any type of automobile such as, for example, a gasoline vehicle, a diesel vehicle, a hydrogen vehicle, an HEV, a PHEV, a BEV, or an FCEV. "HEV" is an abbreviation for hybrid electric vehicle. "PHEV" is an abbreviation for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. "BEV" is an abbreviation for battery electric vehicle. "FCEV" is an abbreviation for fuel cell electric vehicle. The vehicle 30 is an AV in the present embodiment, but it may be driven by a driver or the driving may be automated at any level. "AV" is an abbreviation for autonomous vehicle. The level of automation is, for example, any one of levels 1 to 5 in the SAE level classification. "SAE" is an abbreviation for Society of Automotive Engineers. The vehicle 30 may also be a vehicle dedicated to MaaS. "MaaS" is an abbreviation for Mobility as a Service.

[0017] The terminal device 40 is held and used by each of a plurality of users such as the user 11A. The terminal device 40 is a mobile device such as, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a tablet.

[0018] The card reader 50 is mounted on the vehicle 30 and is used to read data from the employee ID card 51. The card reader 50 is, for example, an IC card reader. "IC" is an abbreviation for integrated circuit. The employee ID card 51 is held by each of a plurality of users such as the user 11B.

[0019] Network 60 includes the Internet, at least one WAN, at least one MAN, or any combination thereof. "WAN" is an abbreviation for wide area network. "MAN" is an abbreviation for metropolitan area network. Network 60 may include at least one wireless network, at least one optical network, or any combination thereof. The wireless network may be, for example, an ad hoc network, a cellular network, a wireless LAN, a satellite communication network, or a terrestrial microwave network. "LAN" is an abbreviation for local area network.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, an overview of this embodiment will be described.

[0021] When each user boards the vehicle 30, the control device 20 acquires, as profile data Pd, data read from a medium held by each user, such as the terminal device 40 or the employee ID 51. Based on the acquired profile data Pd, the control device 20 identifies, from among a plurality of facilities, the facility where each user gets off. The control device 20 controls the vehicle 30 to run along the route Rt including the identified facility.

[0022] In this embodiment, based on the data read when each user boards the vehicle 30, the facility where each user gets off is automatically identified. Therefore, the trouble of inputting the desired getting-off position can be saved.

[0023] When there is no specified route, usually the destination of the bus passengers is unknown. However, in the case of commuting, it is assumed that the boarding location and the getting-off location are determined. In this embodiment, the passenger can register the boarding location and the getting-off location by default. The bus administrator can identify the getting-off building from the user profile read at the time of boarding and determine the bus operation route. That is, the bus administrator can set the operation route according to who the boarding user is. The vehicle 30 can operate, for example, as a shuttle bus that transports passengers from a station or a parking lot to each building within a factory.

[0024] If there is a specified route, the bus may stop at a building where no one gets off, resulting in a waste of time. However, in this embodiment, the user profile can be read when boarding the bus to identify the disembarkation location. Then, the building where no one gets off can be ignored, and the operation route can be switched to a shortcut route. Therefore, it becomes easier to optimize the bus operation route while reducing the user's effort.

[0025] When determining the operation route, the work schedule may be taken into account. Alternatively, priorities may be set according to the job type or start time. Alternatively, when the essential personnel for a factory line are on the bus according to the scheduled start time of the line operation, the bus may first head to the building where those personnel get off, and delay the buildings where other passengers get off. Alternatively, the buildings where flex-workers get off may be delayed. The user may register the default commuting location and only enter a different commuting location on different days.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, the configuration of the control device 20 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0027] The control device 20 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a communication unit 23.

[0028] The control unit 21 includes at least one processor, at least one programmable circuit, at least one dedicated circuit, or any combination thereof. The processor is a general-purpose processor such as a CPU or GPU, or a dedicated processor specialized for specific processing. "CPU" is an abbreviation for central processing unit. "GPU" is an abbreviation for graphics processing unit. The programmable circuit is, for example, an FPGA. "FPGA" is an abbreviation for field-programmable gate array. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an ASIC. "ASIC" is an abbreviation for application specific integrated circuit. While controlling each part of the control device 20, the control unit 21 executes processing related to the operation of the control device 20.

[0029] The storage unit 22 includes at least one semiconductor memory, at least one magnetic memory, at least one optical memory, or any combination thereof. The semiconductor memory is, for example, a RAM, ROM, or flash memory. "RAM" is an abbreviation for random access memory. "ROM" is an abbreviation for read only memory. The RAM is, for example, an SRAM or DRAM. "SRAM" is an abbreviation for static random access memory. "DRAM" is an abbreviation for dynamic random access memory. The ROM is, for example, an EEPROM. "EEPROM" is an abbreviation for electrically erasable programmable read only memory. The flash memory is, for example, an SSD. "SSD" is an abbreviation for solid-state drive. The magnetic memory is, for example, an HDD. "HDD" is an abbreviation for hard disk drive. The storage unit 22 functions as, for example, a main memory device, an auxiliary memory device, or a cache memory. In the storage unit 22, data used for the operation of the control device 20 and data obtained by the operation of the control device 20 are stored.

[0030] The communication unit 23 includes at least one communication interface. The communication interface is, for example, an interface corresponding to a wired LAN communication standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark), or an interface corresponding to a wireless LAN communication standard such as IEEE802.11. "IEEE" is an abbreviation for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The communication unit 23 communicates with the vehicle 30, the terminal device 40, and the card reader 50. The communication unit 23 receives data used for the operation of the control device 20 and transmits data obtained by the operation of the control device 20.

[0031] The functions of the control device 20 are realized by executing the program according to the present embodiment with a processor as the control unit 21. That is, the functions of the control device 20 are realized by software. The program causes a computer to execute the operation of the control device 20, thereby causing the computer to function as the control device 20. That is, the computer functions as the control device 20 by executing the operation of the control device 20 according to the program.

[0032] The program can be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The non-transitory computer-readable medium is, for example, a flash memory, a magnetic recording device, an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, or a ROM. The distribution of the program is performed, for example, by selling, transferring, or lending a portable medium such as an SD card, a DVD, or a CD-ROM storing the program. "SD" is an abbreviation for Secure Digital. "DVD" is an abbreviation for digital versatile disc. "CD-ROM" is an abbreviation for compact disc read only memory. The program may be stored in the storage of a server and transferred from the server to another computer to distribute the program. The program may be provided as a program product.

[0033] A computer stores, for example, a program stored in a portable medium or a program transferred from a server, once, in a main memory device. Then, the computer reads the program stored in the main memory device with a processor and executes processing according to the read program with the processor. The computer may directly read a program from a portable medium and execute processing according to the program. The computer may sequentially execute processing according to the received program each time a program is transferred from a server to the computer. Processing may be executed by a so-called ASP-type service that realizes functions only by execution instructions and result acquisition without transferring a program from a server to a computer. "ASP" is an abbreviation for application service provider. A program includes information for use in processing by an electronic computer and those conforming to the program. For example, data that is not a direct instruction to a computer but has a property of defining the processing of the computer corresponds to "those conforming to the program".

[0034] Some or all of the functions of the control device 20 may be realized by a programmable circuit or a dedicated circuit as the control unit 21. That is, some or all of the functions of the control device 20 may be realized by hardware.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 3, the operation of the control device 20 according to the present embodiment will be described. This operation corresponds to the control method according to the present embodiment.

[0036] In step S101, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 determines whether the user has boarded the vehicle 30. Specifically, when the control unit 21 is notified from the vehicle 30 or the terminal device 40 via the communication unit 23 that short-range wireless communication has been performed between the terminal device 40 and a receiver mounted on the vehicle 30 and corresponding to a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), the control unit 21 determines that the user 11A has boarded the vehicle 30. When the control unit 21 is notified from the vehicle 30 or the card reader 50 via the communication unit 23 that the employee ID card 51 has been held over the card reader 50, the control unit 21 determines that the user 11B has boarded the vehicle 30.

[0037] Even if there is no notification from the vehicle 30 or the terminal device 40, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 may determine that the user 11A has boarded the vehicle 30 upon receiving that the position of the terminal device 40 coincides with the position of the vehicle 30. In such a modification, the control unit 21 receives, via the communication unit 23, the positioning result obtained by the GNSS receiver mounted on the vehicle 30 from the vehicle 30. "GNSS" is an abbreviation for global navigation satellite system. GNSS is, for example, GPS, QZSS, BDS, GLONASS, or Galileo. "GPS" is an abbreviation for Global Positioning System. "QZSS" is an abbreviation for Quasi-Zenith Satellite System. The satellites of QZSS are called quasi-zenith satellites. "BDS" is an abbreviation for BeiDou Navigation Satellite System. "GLONASS" is an abbreviation for Global Navigation Satellite System. The control unit 21 receives, via the communication unit 23, the positioning result obtained by the GNSS receiver mounted on the terminal device 40 from the terminal device 40. The control unit 21 compares the position of the terminal device 40 indicated by the positioning result received from the terminal device 40 with the position of the vehicle 30 indicated by the positioning result received from the vehicle 30. The control unit 21 determines that the user 11A has boarded the vehicle 30 when the position of the terminal device 40 coincides with the position of the vehicle 30. The control unit 21 determines that the user 11A has not boarded the vehicle 30 when the position of the terminal device 40 does not coincide with the position of the vehicle 30.

[0038] If it is determined in step S101 that the user has not boarded the vehicle 30, that is, if the boarding of the user on the vehicle 30 is not detected, the process of step S101 is executed again. If it is determined in step S101 that the user has boarded the vehicle 30, that is, if the boarding of the user on the vehicle 30 is detected, the process of step S102 is executed.

[0039] In step S102, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 acquires, as profile data Pd, the data read from the medium held by the user when the user boards the vehicle 30. Specifically, the control unit 21 receives, via the communication unit 23, the data received from the terminal device 40 when short-range wireless communication is performed between the terminal device 40 and the receiver mounted on the vehicle 30, thereby acquiring profile data PdA for the user 11A. The control unit 21 receives, via the communication unit 23, the data read from the employee ID card 51 when the employee ID card 51 is held up to the card reader 50, thereby acquiring profile data PdB for the user 11B from the vehicle 30 or the card reader 50.

[0040] In the present embodiment, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 acquires, as profile data Pd, the identification data that uniquely identifies each user. That is, the control unit 21 acquires, as profile data PdA, the identification data that identifies the user 11A. The control unit 21 acquires, as profile data PdB, the identification data that identifies the user 11B.

[0041] In step S103, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 specifies, based on the profile data Pd acquired in step S102, the facility at which the user gets off the vehicle from among a plurality of facilities at the destination. A specific procedure is shown in FIG. 4.

[0042] In step S201 of FIG. 4, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 searches the database Db for the building data indicating the building in which the user identified by the profile data Pd works. That is, when the profile data PdA is acquired in step S102, the control unit 21 searches the database Db for the building data indicating the building in which the user 11A works. When the profile data PdB is acquired in step S102, the control unit 21 searches the database Db for the building data indicating the building in which the user 11B works.

[0043] The database Db is constructed in the storage unit 22 of the control device 20. Alternatively, the database Db may be constructed in an external storage that can be connected to the communication unit 23 of the control device 20.

[0044] In step S202 of FIG. 4, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 identifies the building indicated by the building data obtained in step S201 as the facility where the user identified by the profile data Pd gets off. That is, when the profile data PdA is acquired in step S102, the control unit 21 identifies the building where the user 11A works as the facility where the user 11A gets off. When the profile data PdB is acquired in step S102, the control unit 21 identifies the building where the user 11B works as the facility where the user 11B gets off.

[0045] Instead of acquiring the identification data as the profile data Pd, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 may acquire the building data indicating the building where each user works as the profile data Pd. In such a modification, the control unit 21 identifies the building indicated by the profile data Pd as the facility where each user gets off. That is, the control unit 21 identifies the building indicated by the profile data PdA as the facility where the user 11A gets off. The control unit 21 identifies the building indicated by the profile data PdB as the facility where the user 11B gets off.

[0046] In step S104, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 sets a route Rt for operating the vehicle 30 so as to include the facility specified in step S103. The control unit 21 performs control to operate the vehicle 30 along the set route Rt. Specifically, when the route Rt has not been created yet, the control unit 21 creates a new route including the facility specified in step S103 as the route Rt. When the route Rt has already been created and the facility is not included in the route Rt, the control unit 21 updates the route Rt so as to include the facility. The control unit 21 transmits an operation command to move along the created or updated route Rt to the vehicle 30 via the communication unit 23. In this embodiment, the vehicle 30 autonomously moves along the route Rt according to the operation command, but it may also notify the driver of the operation command and move along the route Rt by being manually driven by the driver according to the operation command.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 5, a modified example of the operation of the control device 20 according to this embodiment will be described. In this modified example, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 further acquires occupation data indicating the occupation of each user.

[0048] Regarding the processing from step S111 to step S113, since they are the same as the processing from step S101 to step S103 in FIG. 3 respectively, the description is omitted.

[0049] In step S114, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 searches the database Db for the job type data indicating the job type of the user identified by the profile data Pd acquired in step S112. That is, when the profile data PdA is acquired in step S112, the control unit 21 searches the database Db for the job type data indicating the job type of the user 11A. When the profile data PdB is acquired in step S112, the control unit 21 searches the database Db for the job type data indicating the job type of the user 11B. Alternatively, when job type data indicating the job type of the user is also read from the medium held by the user when the user boards the vehicle 30, the control unit 21 may acquire the read job type data. Specifically, the control unit 21 may acquire the job type data indicating the job type of the user 11A by receiving, via the communication unit 23, the job type data received from the terminal device 40 when short-range wireless communication is performed between the terminal device 40 and the receiver mounted on the vehicle 30. The control unit 21 may acquire the job type data indicating the job type of the user 11B by receiving, via the communication unit 23, the job type data read from the employee ID card 51 when the employee ID card 51 is held up to the card reader 50 from the vehicle 30 or the card reader 50.

[0050] In step S115, when setting the route Rt so as to include the facility specified in step S113, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 adjusts the order in which the vehicle 30 passes through the facilities included in the route Rt according to the job type indicated by the job type data acquired in step S114. For example, when the scheduled start time of a certain line is approaching and the job type of the user is a job essential for that line on that day, it is conceivable to set the route Rt so that the building where the user gets off is passed through by the vehicle 30 first. Since the control for operating the vehicle 30 along the set route Rt is the same as the control in step S104 of FIG. 3, the description thereof is omitted.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 6, another modification of the operation of the control device 20 according to the present embodiment will be described. In this modification, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 further acquires schedule data indicating the start time of each user.

[0052] For the processes from step S121 to step S123, since they are the same as the processes from step S101 to step S103 in FIG. 3 respectively, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0053] In step S124, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 searches the database Db for schedule data indicating the start time of work of the user identified by the profile data Pd acquired in step S122. That is, when the profile data PdA is acquired in step S122, the control unit 21 searches the database Db for schedule data indicating the start time of work of the user 11A. When the profile data PdB is acquired in step S122, the control unit 21 searches the database Db for schedule data indicating the start time of work of the user 11B. Alternatively, when schedule data indicating the start time of work of the user is also read from the medium held by the user when the user boards the vehicle 30, the control unit 21 may acquire the read schedule data. Specifically, the control unit 21 may acquire schedule data indicating the start time of work of the user 11A by receiving, via the communication unit 23, the schedule data received from the terminal device 40 when short-range wireless communication is performed between the terminal device 40 and the receiver mounted on the vehicle 30. The control unit 21 may acquire schedule data indicating the start time of work of the user 11B by receiving, via the communication unit 23, the schedule data read from the employee ID card 51 when the employee ID card 51 is held up to the card reader 50, from the vehicle 30 or the card reader 50.

[0054] In step S125, when setting the route Rt so as to include the facility specified in step S123, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 adjusts the order in which the vehicle 30 visits the facilities included in the route Rt according to the starting time indicated by the schedule data acquired in step S124. For example, if the scheduled start time of a certain line is approaching and the user is scheduled to perform work such as assembling parts on that line on the same day, it is conceivable to set the route Rt so that the building where the user gets off is the first one that the vehicle 30 passes by. When the user has flexible working hours, it is conceivable to set the route Rt so that the building where the user gets off is the last one that the vehicle 30 passes by. That is, the control unit 21 may give priority to the facilities where users who are not indicated by the starting time in the schedule data get off later in the order in which the vehicle 30 visits the facilities included in the route Rt. Since the control for operating the vehicle 30 along the set route Rt is the same as the control in step S104 of FIG. 3, the description thereof is omitted.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 7, yet another modification of the operation of the control device 20 according to the present embodiment will be described. In this modification, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 further acquires line data indicating users essential for the operation of each line in the factory.

[0056] Since the processes from step S131 to step S133 are the same as the processes from step S101 to step S103 of FIG. 3, respectively, the description thereof is omitted.

[0057] In step S134, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 acquires line data indicating users essential for the operation of each line in the factory. Specifically, the control unit 21 acquires the line data for the current day from the database Db.

[0058] In step S135, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 determines whether the user indicated by the line data acquired in step S134 is on board based on the profile data Pd acquired in step S132. Specifically, when the user identified by the profile data Pd acquired in step S122 matches the user essential for the operation of any line in the factory indicated by the line data acquired in step S134, the control unit 21 determines that the user essential for the operation of that line is on board. When the user identified by the profile data Pd acquired in step S122 does not match any user essential for the operation of any line in the factory indicated by the line data acquired in step S134, the control unit 21 determines that no user essential for the operation of any line is on board.

[0059] In step S136, when the control unit 21 of the control device 20 sets the route Rt to include the facility specified in step S133, it adjusts the order in which the vehicle 30 circles the facilities included in the route Rt according to the determination result obtained in step S135. For example, if the scheduled start time of a certain line is approaching and the user is an essential person for that line on the same day, it may be considered to set the route Rt so that the building where the user gets off is the first one that the vehicle 30 passes through. That is, when the control unit 21 determines that the remaining time until the scheduled start time of a certain line is below the threshold value and the user essential for the operation of that line is on board, in the order in which the vehicle 30 circles the facilities included in the route Rt, the control unit 21 may prioritize other facilities over the facility where that line is located. Since the control for operating the vehicle 30 along the set route Rt is the same as the control in step S104 of FIG. 3, the description thereof is omitted.

[0060] The destination is a factory in this embodiment, but it may also be an airport. The plurality of facilities at the destination are a plurality of buildings within the factory in this embodiment, but they may also be a plurality of terminals within the airport. That is, the vehicle going to the factory may be replaced with a vehicle going to the airport. The specific procedure of the process in step S103 of FIG. 3 in such a case is shown in FIG. 8.

[0061] In step S211 of FIG. 8, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 searches the database Db for terminal data indicating the terminal used by the user identified by the profile data Pd. That is, when the profile data PdA is acquired in step S102, the control unit 21 searches the database Db for terminal data indicating the terminal used by the user 11A.

[0062] In step S212 of FIG. 8, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 specifies the terminal indicated by the terminal data obtained in step S211 as the facility where the user identified by the profile data Pd gets off. That is, when the profile data PdA is acquired in step S102, the control unit 21 specifies the terminal used by the user 11A as the facility where the user 11A gets off.

[0063] Instead of acquiring the identification data as the profile data Pd, the control unit 21 of the control device 20 may acquire the terminal data indicating the terminal used by each user as the profile data Pd. In such a modification, the control unit 21 specifies the terminal indicated by the profile data Pd as the facility where each user gets off. That is, the control unit 21 specifies the terminal indicated by the profile data PdA as the facility where the user 11A gets off.

[0064] As a modification of this embodiment, the control device 20 may be provided in the vehicle 30.

[0065] Some embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated below. However, it should be noted that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to these. [Appendix 1] A control device comprising a control unit that, when each user boards a vehicle that operates with a plurality of users on board to a destination with a plurality of facilities, acquires, as profile data, data read from a medium held by each user, identifies, from among the plurality of facilities, the facility at which each user gets off based on the acquired profile data, and performs control to operate the vehicle along a route including the identified facility. [Appendix 2] The destination is a factory, The plurality of facilities are a plurality of buildings. The control device according to Appendix 1. [Appendix 3] The control unit acquires, as the profile data, identification data that uniquely identifies each user, searches a database for building data indicating the building in which the user identified by the profile data works, and identifies the building indicated by the obtained building data as the facility at which the user gets off. The control device according to Appendix 2. [Appendix 4] The control device according to Appendix 3, further comprising a storage unit in which the database is constructed. [Appendix 5] The control device according to Appendix 3, further comprising a communication unit connected to an external storage in which the database is constructed. [Appendix 6] The control unit acquires, as the profile data, building data indicating the building in which each user works, and identifies the building indicated by the profile data as the facility at which each user gets off. The control device according to Appendix 2. [Appendix 7] The control unit further acquires job type data indicating the job type of each user, and adjusts the order in which the vehicle visits the facilities included in the route according to the job type indicated by the acquired job type data. The control device according to any one of Appendices 2 to 6. [Appendix 8] The control unit further acquires schedule data indicating the starting time of each user, and adjusts the order in which the vehicle visits the facilities included in the route according to the starting time indicated by the acquired schedule data. The control device according to any one of Appendices 2 to 6. [Appendix 9] The control unit is the control device according to Supplementary Note 8 that gives lower priority to facilities where users who do not have their starting times indicated in the schedule data get off, in the order in which the vehicle passes through the facilities included in the route. [Supplementary Note 10] The control unit further acquires line data indicating users essential for the operation of each line in the factory, determines whether the users indicated by the acquired line data are on board based on the profile data, and adjusts the order in which the vehicle passes through the facilities included in the route according to the obtained determination result. The control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 2 to 6. [Supplementary Note 11] When the control unit determines that the remaining time until the scheduled start time of a certain line is less than the threshold value and that a user essential for the operation of that line is on board, the control unit gives lower priority to facilities other than the facility where that line is located, in the order in which the vehicle passes through the facilities included in the route. The control device according to Supplementary Note 10. [Supplementary Note 12] The medium is an employee ID card for each user. The control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 2 to 11. [Supplementary Note 13] The destination is an airport, The plurality of facilities are a plurality of terminals. The control device according to Supplementary Note 1. [Supplementary Note 14] The control unit acquires identification data that uniquely identifies each user as the profile data, searches a database for terminal data indicating the terminal used by the user identified by the profile data, and specifies the terminal indicated by the obtained terminal data as the facility where the user gets off. The control device according to Supplementary Note 13. [Supplementary Note 15] The control device according to Supplementary Note 14 further includes a storage unit in which the database is constructed. [Supplementary Note 16] The control device according to Supplementary Note 14 further includes a communication unit connected to an external storage in which the database is constructed. [Supplementary Note 17] The control unit is the control device according to Supplementary Note 13 that acquires, as the profile data, terminal data indicating the terminals used by the respective users, and identifies the terminals indicated by the profile data as the facilities at which the respective users get off. [Supplementary Note 18] A vehicle including the control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 17. [Supplementary Note 19] When each user boards a vehicle that is operated with a plurality of users on board to a destination having a plurality of facilities, the control unit acquires, as profile data, data read from the medium held by each user. Based on the acquired profile data, the control unit identifies, from among the plurality of facilities, the facility at which each user gets off. The control unit performs control to operate the vehicle along a route including the identified facility. A control method including: [Supplementary Note 20] The destination is a factory, The plurality of facilities are a plurality of buildings. The control method according to Supplementary Note 19.

[0066] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, two or more blocks described in the block diagram may be integrated, or one block may be divided. Instead of executing two or more steps described in the flowchart in time series according to the description, each step may be executed in parallel or in a different order according to the processing ability of the device that executes each step, or as necessary. Other changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

Description of Signs

[0067] 10 System 11A, 11B Users 20 Control Device 21 Control Unit 22 Storage Unit 23 Communication Unit 30 Vehicle 40 Terminal Device 50 Card Reader 51 Employee ID card 60 Network

Claims

1. A control device comprising a control unit that, when each user boards a vehicle that operates by carrying a plurality of users to a destination with a plurality of facilities, acquires data read from a medium held by each user as profile data, and based on the acquired profile data, identifies a facility at which each user gets off from among the plurality of facilities, and performs control to operate the vehicle along a route including the identified facility.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit acquires identification data that uniquely identifies each user as the profile data, searches a database for facility data indicating a facility used by the user identified by the profile data, and identifies the facility indicated by the obtained facility data as the facility at which the user gets off.

3. The control device according to claim 2, further comprising a storage unit in which the database is constructed.

4. The control device according to claim 2, further comprising a communication unit connected to an external storage in which the database is constructed.

5. wherein the destination is a factory, and the plurality of facilities are a plurality of buildings, according to the control device of claim 2.

6. wherein the destination is an airport, and the plurality of facilities are a plurality of terminals, according to the control device of claim 2.

7. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit acquires facility data indicating a facility used by each user as the profile data, and identifies the facility indicated by the profile data as the facility at which each user gets off.

8. wherein the destination is a factory, and the plurality of facilities are a plurality of buildings, according to the control device of claim 7.

9. wherein the destination is an airport, and the plurality of facilities are a plurality of terminals, according to the control device of claim 7.

10. wherein the destination is a factory, and the plurality of facilities are a plurality of buildings, according to the control device of claim 1.

11. The control device according to claim 10, wherein the control unit further acquires occupation data indicating the occupation of each user, and adjusts the order in which the vehicle circulates through the facilities included in the route according to the occupation indicated by the acquired occupation data.

12. The control device according to claim 10, wherein the control unit further acquires schedule data indicating the starting time of each user, and adjusts the order in which the vehicle circulates through the facilities included in the route according to the starting time indicated by the acquired schedule data.

13. The control unit is the control device according to claim 12, which delays a facility where a user whose start time is not indicated in the schedule data gets off, among the facilities included in the route, in the order in which the vehicle circles through the facilities.

14. The control unit further acquires line data indicating users essential for the operation of each line of the factory, determines whether a user indicated by the acquired line data is on board based on the profile data, and adjusts the order in which the vehicle circles through the facilities included in the route according to the obtained determination result. The control device according to claim 10.

15. When the control unit determines that the remaining time until the scheduled start time of a certain line is below a threshold value and a user essential for the operation of that line is on board, the control unit delays facilities other than the facility where that line is located in the order in which the vehicle circles through the facilities included in the route. The control device according to claim 14.

16. The medium is an employee ID card of each user. The control device according to claim 10.

17. A vehicle comprising the control device according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. By a control unit, acquiring, as profile data, data read from a medium held by each user when each user boards a vehicle that operates with a plurality of users on board to a destination with a plurality of facilities, by the control unit, specifying, from among the plurality of facilities, a facility where each user gets off based on the acquired profile data, and by the control unit, performing control to operate the vehicle along a route including the specified facility including a control method.

19. The acquiring includes acquiring, as the profile data, identification data that uniquely identifies each user, and the specifying includes searching a database for facility data indicating a facility used by a user identified by the profile data, and specifying the facility indicated by the obtained facility data as the facility where the user gets off. The control method according to claim 18.

20. The acquiring includes acquiring, as the profile data, facility data indicating a facility used by each user, and the specifying includes specifying the facility indicated by the profile data as the facility where each user gets off. The control method according to claim 18.

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