Small transportation system, and management system

Abstract

To allow a plurality of different transportation systems to share a driving area without using a central controller that collectively manages their respective driving conditions.SOLUTION: If a PRT vehicle is determined to be in need for traveling any section, a processor specifies the section that the PRT vehicle is scheduled to travel and demands that the railroad management device lease the right to use the specified section. If the right to use the specified section is determined to have been leased, the processor allows the PRT vehicle to enter the specified section. If the PRT vehicle is determined to have left the specified section, the processor prohibits all PRT vehicles from entering the specified section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technology of a small transportation system and a management system.

Background Art

[0002] When a plurality of different transportation systems such as railways and buses share a driving area, a mechanism for preventing these transportation systems from colliding has been studied.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a control device that exclusively runs on a track by a railway vehicle and a vehicle of a rubber tire system.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a roadside control device that instructs whether a vehicle such as a bus without a closing function can enter when running on a railway track.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Since the technology described in Patent Document 1 performs exclusive use of the driving route by a central control device for railway and rubber tire system vehicles, it is difficult to develop each transportation system individually. Since the technology described in Patent Document 2 instructs the driver of the vehicle whether the vehicle can enter, ground facilities such as gates and display devices are required, and the initial cost is high.

[0007] One of the objects of the present invention is to allow a plurality of different transportation systems to share a driving area without using a central control device that collectively manages their respective driving states.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The present invention requests the management system that manages the track to lease the right to use a partial section of the track, permits the vehicle to enter the partial section when the use right is leased from the management system, and returns the use right to the management system when the vehicle exits the partial section. and when the vehicle exits the partial section and the signal or branch state in the partial section is restored to the state before the lending, return the usage right to the management system A small transportation system that performs the above is provided as a first aspect.

[0009] According to the small transportation system of the first aspect, a central control device that collectively manages the driving states of the vehicles managed by the self-system and the vehicles managed by the management system and sharing the track is unnecessary. Further, according to the small transport system of the first aspect, when returning the usage right, the signal or branch state of the track is restored to the state when the usage right was lent.

[0010] In the small transportation system of the first aspect, when the use right is leased, the partial section may be traveled by the plurality of vehicles in a queue, and the use right may be returned to the management system when all of the plurality of vehicles have exited the partial section. This configuration may be adopted as a second aspect.

[0011] According to the small transportation system of the second aspect, when a plurality of vehicles managed by the self-system travel in a partial section, their management becomes easier compared to the case where they do not travel in a queue.

[0014] First Or First 2 In the small transportation system of the aspect, the configuration may be adopted as the aspect that the leased use right has a time limit and, when the use right cannot be returned by the time limit, notifies the management system to that effect. 3 The aspect may be adopted as the aspect.

[0015] First 3According to the small transportation system of this aspect, the management system that leases the track is notified that the right of use has expired or is predicted to expire.

[0016] The present invention relates to any one of the first to third aspects. Requested to lend the usage right by the small transport system A management system for the small transport system Based on the request from, the small transport system by setting the signal of the partial section to a stop indication As a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a management system that prohibits vehicles under its management from entering the certain section after lending the right of use to a user until the right of use is returned.

[0017] No. 4 According to the management system of this aspect, it is possible to prevent vehicles under the management of the system from coming into contact with vehicles under the management of the small transport system.

[0018] No. 4 In the management system of the above aspect, when it is necessary to run a vehicle under management on the partial section for which the right of use has not been returned, the system requests the small transport system to return the right of use. 5 This may be adopted as an embodiment.

[0019] No. 5 According to the management system of the above aspect, it is possible to request the return of the right to use a part of the track as needed to run the vehicles under management.

[0020] No. 4 or 5 In the management system of the above aspect, if the unreturned use right has a time limit and the use right has not been returned by the time limit, the system requests the small transport system to return the use right. 6 This may be adopted as an embodiment.

[0021] No. 6 According to the management system of the above aspect, it is possible to request the return of a usage right whose return period has expired. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] <Embodiment> <Overall Configuration of Management System and Small Transport System> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the management system 1 and the small transport system 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The management system 1 and the small transport system 2 are communicably connected by a communication line 3.

[0024] The management system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a railway vehicle 10, a railway management device 11, railway stations 12a and 12b, a track 13, signal devices 14a and 14b, and level crossings 15a and 15b.

[0025] The track 13 is a road composed of rails, sleepers, ballast, etc. The railway vehicle 10 is a vehicle that can travel only on the track 13. The railway stations 12a and 12b (referred to as "railway station 12" when not distinguished) are places or buildings arranged along the track 13 where the railway vehicle 10 stops to allow passengers to board and alight.

[0026] The signal devices 14a and 14b (when not distinguished, referred to as "signal device 14") are provided at at least one end of the section included in the track 13, and indicate to the driver or the like of the railway vehicle 10 whether the railway vehicle 10 is allowed to enter that section. In addition to a stop indication, the indication of the signal device 14 includes, for example, a proceed indication, a caution indication, etc. The signal device 14 is controlled by the railway management device 11. The signal devices 14a and 14b shown in FIG. 1 are provided at both ends of a section R which is a part of the track 13 (referred to as a partial section). In this case, when the signal devices 14a and 14b show a stop indication, the railway vehicle 10 cannot enter the section R.

[0027] The level crossings 15a and 15b (when not distinguished, referred to as "level crossing 15") are provided at the locations where the track 13 intersects the general road at grade. When the railway vehicle 10 passes through that location, the level crossing 15 is provided with a blocking device that blocks the road, an alarm device that alarms the driver of the automobile passing through the road, pedestrians, etc. The level crossing 15 is controlled by the railway management device 11.

[0028] The railway management device 11 is a device that controls the above-described signal device 14 and level crossing 15, and is, for example, a computer. The railway management device 11 is communicably connected to the small transport management device 21 of the small transport system 2 via the communication line 3. The communication line 3 is a communication line that performs parallel communication.

[0029] Note that the communication line 3 may be a communication line that performs serial communication. In this case, the communication line 3 may be, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), the Internet, or a combination thereof. The communication line 3 may also include a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or an integrated services digital network (ISDN).

[0030] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the railway management device 11. The railway management device 11 shown in FIG. 2 includes a processor 111, a memory 112, and an interface 113. These components are communicably connected to each other, for example, via a bus.

[0031] The processor 111 controls each part of the railway management device 11 by reading and executing a computer program (hereinafter simply referred to as a program) stored in the memory 112. The processor 111 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

[0032] The memory 112 is a storage means for storing an operating system, various programs, data, etc. that are read into the processor 111. The memory 112 has a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). Note that the memory 112 may have a solid state drive, a hard disk drive, or the like.

[0033] The interface 113 is a communication circuit that communicably connects the railway management device 11 to other devices by wire or wirelessly. The interface 113 shown in FIG. 2 connects the railway management device 11 to the small transport management device 21 via the communication line 3 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0034]

[0035] Note that the railway management device 11 may be provided with operation elements such as operation buttons, keyboards, touch panels, and mice for giving various instructions, and may have an operation unit that receives an operation and sends a signal corresponding to the operation content to the processor 111. Further, the railway management device 11 may have a display screen such as a liquid crystal display for displaying an image under the control of the processor 111.The small transport system 2 shown in Fig. 1 includes a PRT vehicle 20, a small transport management device 21, boarding and alighting areas 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, and a PRT travel route 23. Here, "PRT" is an abbreviation for Personal Rapid Transit, a type of small transport, and indicates a means of transportation used for the movement of individuals or a small number of people with a capacity of about five people.

[0036] The PRT travel route 23 is a travel route that includes a partial section of the track 13. The PRT vehicle 20 is a vehicle that travels on the PRT travel route 23. For example, it is a vehicle that travels on the PRT travel route 23 with rubber tires. The PRT vehicle 20 is connected to the small transport management device 21 by wireless or wired means, and performs automatic driving according to a control signal from the small transport management device 21 and detection signals from sensors and the like (not shown) provided in itself. Since the PRT vehicle 20 is automatically driven, a driver is not required, and a display or a gate for alerting the driver is not required.

[0037] In addition, the PRT vehicle 20 identifies its own position based on the integrated value of the traveling speed, signals from a satellite positioning system, etc., and notifies the small transport management device 21 of its position, for example, at predetermined intervals or when any trigger occurs. Also, the operation time of the PRT vehicle 20 may be determined in advance, or may be determined according to the requests of users (so-called demand operation).

[0038] Note that the PRT vehicle 20 may be a vehicle that travels only along the rail, or may be a so-called Dual Mode Vehicle (DMV) configured to be able to travel on both the track for trains and the road for automobiles.

[0039] The boarding and alighting areas 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e (referred to as "boarding and alighting area 22" when not distinguished) are arranged along the PRT travel route 23, and are places or buildings where the PRT vehicle 20 stops to allow passengers to board and alight. The boarding and alighting area 22 may be provided with a platform door opening corresponding to the door of the PRT vehicle 20.

[0040] The small transport management device 21 remotely operates the PRT vehicle 20 and exchanges information with the railway management device 11 via the communication line 3 to manage the operation of the PRT vehicle 20. The small transport management device 21 is, for example, a computer. The small transport management device 21 designates any partial section included in the track 13 and requests the railway management device 11 for the right to use the designated partial section (also referred to as the designated section). Then, when the right to use the requested section is lent from the railway management device 11 via the communication line 3, the small transport management device 21 permits the PRT vehicle 20 to enter the above-mentioned designated section.

[0041] The small transport management device 21 shown in FIG. 1 includes a processor 211, a memory 212, and an interface 213. Since the processor 211, the memory 212, and the interface 213 have the same configurations as the processor 111, the memory 112, and the interface 113, respectively, their illustration and description are omitted.

[0042] <Operation of the Railway Management Device> FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the operation flow of the railway management device 11. The processor 111 of the railway management device 11 determines whether it has been requested for the right to use the designated section by the small transport management device 21 (step S101).

[0043] While it is determined that the right to use the designated section has not been requested (step S101; NO), the processor 111 continues this determination step. On the other hand, when it is determined that the right to use the designated section has been requested (step S101; YES), the processor 111 refers to the operation state of the railway vehicle 10 and determines whether the right to use this designated section can be lent (step S102).

[0044] For example, in the management system 1 shown in FIG. 1, when the processor 111 of the railway management device 11 is requested by the small transport management device 21 to specify section R and lease its usage right, the processor 111 refers to the operation state of the railway vehicle 10 in section R. This operation state is, for example, information indicating the current position of the railway vehicle 10 stored in the memory 112, and the operation schedule of the railway vehicle 10, etc. Then, the processor 111, for example, confirms that there is no railway vehicle 10 in section R, and further determines based on the operation schedule whether there is an available driving margin, such as 15 minutes or more, which is a predetermined threshold value, from the current time. When it is requested to lease the usage right of section R and it is determined that there is no railway vehicle 10 in section R and the determined driving margin is available, the processor 111 determines that this usage right can be leased.

[0045] While determining that the usage right of the specified section cannot be leased (step S102; NO), the processor 111 continues this determination step. On the other hand, when it is determined that the usage right of the specified section can be leased (step S102; YES), the processor 111 sets the signal lights 14 at both ends of the specified section to the stop indication (step S103).

[0046] The signal lights 14 set to the stop indication in step S103 are subject to a restriction that the indication cannot be changed (also referred to as an indication restriction). As a result, during the period when the usage right is leased and the PRT vehicle 20 is operating, the railway side treats the specified section as a line closure.

[0047] Then, the processor 111 leases the usage right of the specified section to the small transport management device 21 (step S104). This lease is achieved, for example, by the processor 111 transmitting a signal indicating the usage right to the small transport management device 21 via the interface 113 and the communication line 3.

[0048] After leasing the usage right, the processor 111 determines whether the usage right of the above-mentioned specified section has been returned from the small transport management device 21 (step S105).

[0049] While it is determined that the usage right of the specified section has not been returned (step S105; NO), the processor 111 continues this determination step. On the other hand, when it is determined that the usage right of the specified section has been returned (step S105; YES), the display restrictions of the traffic lights 14 at both ends of this specified section are released (step S106). As a result, the displays of these traffic lights 14 are placed under the management of the processor 111.

[0050] That is, the management system 1 having this railway management device 1 is an example of a management system that prohibits a vehicle under management from entering a partial section after lending the usage right of a partial section of the track to a small transport system until the usage right is returned.

[0051] After step S106, the processor 111 returns the process to step S101 described above.

[0052] <Operation of Small Transport Management Device> FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the operation flow of the small transport management device 21. The processor 211 of the small transport management device 21 determines whether the PRT vehicle 20 needs to travel on any partial section included in the track 13 based on the operation information transmitted from the PRT vehicle 20 (step S201).

[0053] While it is determined that the PRT vehicle 20 does not need to travel on any partial section (step S201; NO), the processor 211 continues this determination step. On the other hand, when it is determined that the PRT vehicle 20 needs to travel on any partial section (step S201; YES), the processor 211 designates a partial section on which the PRT vehicle 20 is scheduled to travel and requests the railway management device 11 to lend the usage right of that section (i.e., the specified section) (step S202).

[0054] Then, the processor 211 determines whether the usage right of the specified section has been lent from the railway management device 11 (step S203).

[0055] While determining that the right to use the designated section has not been leased (step S203; NO), the processor 211 continues this determination step. On the other hand, when it is determined that the right to use the designated section has been leased (step S203; YES), the processor 211 permits the PRT vehicle 20 to enter this designated section (step S204).

[0056] In addition, when the PRT vehicle 20 is permitted to enter the designated section, the level crossing 15 existing in the designated section may be under the control of the small transport management device 21. In this case, the level crossing 15 may be modified so that the control switches according to the transfer of the right to use. Then, when the PRT vehicle 20 passes through the level crossing 15, the blocking mechanism of the level crossing 15 may be lowered to prevent the entry of automobiles and the like from the road.

[0057] Also, while the PRT vehicle 20 is permitted to enter the designated section, the level crossing 15 may raise the blocking mechanism and present a warning to prompt slow travel toward the road. In this case, when the PRT vehicle 20 passes through the level crossing 15, the small transport management device 21 may analyze the image captured by the camera provided in the PRT vehicle 20 to perform object detection and control the operation of the PRT vehicle 20 so as to avoid contact with automobiles and the like passing on the road.

[0058] Next, the processor 211 determines whether the permitted PRT vehicle 20 has exited the designated section (step S205).

[0059] While determining that the PRT vehicle 20 has not exited the designated section (step S205; NO), the processor 211 continues this determination step. On the other hand, when it is determined that the PRT vehicle 20 has exited the designated section (step S205; YES), the processor 211 prohibits all PRT vehicles 20 from entering the above-mentioned designated section (step S206).

[0060] Then, the processor 211 returns the usage right of the leased specified section described above to the railway management device 11 (step S207). This return is achieved, for example, when the processor 211 transmits a signal indicating the usage right to the railway management device 11 via the interface 213 and the communication line 3.

[0061] That is, the small transport system 2 having this small transport management device 2 requests the management system that manages the track to lease the usage right of a partial section of the track. When the usage right is leased from the management system, it permits the vehicle to enter the partial section and returns the usage right to the management system when the vehicle exits the partial section. This is an example of a small transport system.

[0062] After step S207, the processor 211 returns the process to step S201 described above.

[0063] Through the operations described above, the management system 1 and the small transport system 2 can share the partial section of the track 13 as a running area exclusively without using a central control device that collectively manages the running states of the railway vehicle 10 and the PRT vehicle 20.

[0064] According to these management system 1 and small transport system 2, for example, in a suburban railway section having a relatively long station interval such as 3 kilometers or more, or a railway section of a freight dedicated line, etc., it is possible to share them between the railway vehicle 10 and the PRT vehicle 20 without placing a central control device that collectively manages the vehicles belonging to both. Also, according to these systems, it is possible to reuse a disused railway line for an urban area traffic system.

[0065] The configurations, shapes, sizes, and arrangement relationships described in the above embodiments are only schematically shown to the extent that the present invention can be understood and implemented. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments and can be changed into various forms without departing from the scope of the technical idea shown in the claims.

[0066] <Modification Example> The above is the description of the embodiment, but the content of this embodiment can be modified as follows. Also, the following modification examples may be combined.

[0067] <1> In the above-described embodiment, the number of PRT vehicles 20 that need to travel in a partial section is not mentioned. However, if there are a plurality of them, the processor 211 may not return the usage right until all of them that have entered a partial section have exited.

[0068] Also, when a plurality of PRT vehicles 20 need to travel in one partial section, the processor 211 may control these plurality of PRT vehicles 20 to travel in a queue. Here, queue travel means that the PRT vehicles 20 travel side by side at a predetermined interval in the traveling direction. Thereby, the plurality of PRT vehicles 20 traveling in a partial section do not collide with each other and continue to move while being located at a collective position and within a collective range, making operation management easier.

[0069] That is, in this case, the small transportation system 2 provided with the small transportation management device 21 having the processor 211 is an example of a small transportation system that causes a plurality of vehicles to travel in a queue in a partial section when the usage right is lent, and returns the usage right to the management system when all of the plurality of vehicles have exited from the partial section.

[0070] <2> In the above-described embodiment, the processor 211 determines whether or not the PRT vehicle 20 permitted to enter in step S205 has exited the designated section. When it is determined that the PRT vehicle 20 has exited the designated section, the right to use the designated section was returned to the railway management device 11. However, before returning the right to use the designated section, it may be determined whether or not the state of the designated section has been restored to the state before the lending of the right to use. Here, the state of the designated section is, for example, a signal belonging to the designated section, the state of a track branch, or the like. And the processor 211 may return the right to use only when it is determined that the state of the designated section has been restored to the state before the lending of the right to use.

[0071] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of an operation for confirming the restoration of the state of the designated section. Steps other than step S205 are common to those in FIG. 4 and thus the description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 5, when it is determined that the PRT vehicle 20 has exited the designated section (step S205; YES), the processor 211 determines whether or not the designated section has been restored to the state before lending (step S211).

[0072] While it is determined that the designated section has not been restored to the state before lending (step S211; NO), the processor 211 continues this determination step. On the other hand, when it is determined that the designated section has been restored to the state before lending (step S211; YES), the processor 211 advances the process to step S206 shown in FIG. 4. Thereby, the processor 211 returns the right to use when the PRT vehicle 20 has exited a partial section and this partial section has been restored to the state before the lending of the right to use.

[0073] That is, in this case, the small transport system 2 including the small transport management device 21 having the processor 211 is an example of a small transport system that returns the right to use to the management system when the vehicle has exited a partial section where the right to use has been lent and the partial section has been restored to the state before lending.

[0074] Thereby, the management system 1 can resume the use of the designated section in the state when the right to use the designated section was lent.

[0075] <3> In the above-described embodiment, although the expiration date of the right of use is not mentioned, if the right of use has an expiration date, the processor 211 may determine whether the right of use can be returned by the expiration date. And, when the processor 211 cannot return the right of use by the expiration date, it may notify the management system 1 to that effect.

[0076] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of an operation of notifying that the right of use cannot be returned by the expiration date. The steps other than step S205 are the same as those in FIG. 4 and thus the description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 6, when it is determined that the PRT vehicle 20 has not exited the specified section (step S205; NO), the processor 211 determines whether the right of use can be returned to the management system 1 by the expiration date of the lent right of use (step S221). This determination is made based on various detection results such as, for example, the position and traveling speed of the PRT vehicle 20 traveling in the specified section, and in the case where an accident has occurred, the situation of the accident.

[0077] When it is determined that the right of use can be returned by the expiration date (step S221; YES), the processor 211 returns the process to step S205. On the other hand, when it is determined that the right of use cannot be returned by the expiration date (step S221; NO), the processor 211 notifies the management system 1 that the right of use cannot be returned by the expiration date (step S222), and returns the process to step S205.

[0078] That is, in this case, the small transport system 2 including the small transport management device 2 having the processor 211 is an example of a small transport system that has an expiration date for the lent right of use and notifies the management system to that effect when the right of use cannot be returned by the expiration date.

[0079] Thereby, when the lent right of use is not returned or is expected not to be returned, the management system 1 can receive a notification to that effect from the small transport system 2.

[0080] <4> In the above-described embodiment, the processor 111 has not requested the small transport system 2 to return the leased usage right, but it may do so. For example, when a request that is not part of the operation schedule occurs and it becomes necessary to run the railway vehicle 10 on a partial section of any of the tracks 13, if there is a section for which the usage right has been leased, the processor 111 may request the small transport system 2, which is the lessee, to return the usage right.

[0081] That is, in this case, the management system 1 including the railway management device 11 having the processor 111 is an example of a management system that requests the small transport system to return the usage right when it is necessary to run a vehicle under its management on a partial section for which the usage right has not been returned.

[0082] Thereby, the management system 1 can request the small transport system 2 to return the usage right of a partial section of the track 13 as needed to run the railway vehicle 10 under its management.

[0083] <5> In the above-described modification, when it becomes necessary to run the railway vehicle 10 on a partial section of the track 13 for which the usage right is being leased, the processor 111 has requested the return of the usage right. However, if the usage right has not been returned by the deadline, the processor 111 may request the return of the usage right.

[0084] That is, in this case, the management system 1 including the railway management device 11 having the processor 111 is an example of a management system that requests the small transport system to return the usage right when the unreturned usage right has a deadline and the usage right has not been returned by that deadline.

[0085] Thereby, the management system 1 can request the small transport system 2 to return the usage right whose return deadline has passed.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0086] 1... Management system, 10... Railway vehicle, 11... Railway management device, 111... Processor, 112... Memory, 113... Interface, 12, 12a, 12b... Railway stations, 13... Track, 14, 14a, 14b... Signals, 15, 15a, 15b... Level crossings, 2... Small transport system, 20... PRT vehicle, 21... Small transport management device, 211... Processor, 212... Memory, 213... Interface, 22, 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e... Embarkation and disembarkation areas, 23... PRT running path, 3... Communication line.

Claims

1. Request the management system that manages the track to lease the right to use a partial section of the track, permit the vehicle to enter the partial section when the right to use is leased from the management system, and return the right to use to the management system when the vehicle exits the partial section, return the right to use to the management system when the vehicle exits the partial section and the signal or branch state in the partial section returns to the state before the lease Small transport system.

2. When the right to use is leased, make a plurality of the vehicles run in a queue in the partial section, return the right to use to the management system when all of the plurality of vehicles exit the partial section The small transport system according to Claim 1.

3. Notify the management system to that effect when the leased right to use has an expiration date and the right to use cannot be returned by the expiration date The small transport system according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. A management system that requests the lease of the right to use by the small transport system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, and after leasing the right to use to the small transport system by setting the traffic signal in the partial section to a stop indication based on the request from the small transport system, prohibit the vehicles under management from entering the partial section until the right to use is returned Management system.

5. When it is necessary to run a vehicle under management in the partial section where the right to use has not been returned, request the small transport system to return the right to use The management system according to Claim 4.

6. When the unreturned right to use has an expiration date and the right to use has not been returned by the expiration date, request the small transport system to return the right to use The management system according to Claim 4 or 5.

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