Vehicle control device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle controller which can make a user more comfortable.SOLUTION: An automatic driving ECU33 of a vehicle 10 includes: a travel control unit 332 for causing the vehicle 10 to automatically travel to a boarding point where a user gets in the vehicle; a sunlight information acquisition unit 330 for acquiring sunlight information including information of at least one of a sunny point and a shady point located in a predetermined area based on the boarding point; and a waiting point setting unit 331 for setting one of the sunny point and the shady point as a waiting point on the basis of the sunlight information. The travel control unit 332 executes stopping control to make the vehicle 10 temporally stop at the waiting point before the user arrives at the boarding point.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control device for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional vehicle control device is described in Patent Document 1 below. The control device described in Patent Document 1 includes a wind direction detection means, a vehicle direction setting means, and a notification means. The wind direction detection means detects the wind direction in each parking space in a parking lot. The vehicle direction setting means sets the direction of the vehicle when parked based on the detected wind direction. The notification means notifies the driver of the set vehicle direction. With this vehicle control device, the driver parks the vehicle in the direction notified by the notification means, making it possible to introduce natural wind into a specified part of the vehicle when parking. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-57352 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, development of vehicles equipped with autonomous driving functions has been progressing. The inventors are considering using such vehicles in a ride-hailing service that delivers a user from a specified boarding point to a destination in an unmanned manner. When such a ride-hailing service is used in the summer, for example, if the boarding point is in a sunny location, the temperature inside the vehicle may rise too much while the vehicle is parked at the boarding point. Furthermore, when such a ride-hailing service is used in the winter, for example, if the boarding point is in a shady location, the temperature inside the vehicle may drop too much while the vehicle is parked at the boarding point. If the temperature inside the vehicle rises too much or drops too much, the comfort of the user riding in the vehicle may be impaired.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a vehicle control device that can improve user comfort. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A vehicle control device that solves the above problem includes a driving control unit (332) that automatically drives the vehicle to a boarding point where a user boards, a sunlight information acquisition unit (330) that acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shady points that exist within a predetermined area based on the boarding point, and a waiting point setting unit (331) that sets a sunny point or a shady point as a waiting point based on the sunlight information. The driving control unit executes stopping control that temporarily stops the vehicle at the waiting point before the user arrives at the boarding point.

[0007] According to this configuration, the vehicle temporarily waits in a sunny or shady location until the user arrives at the boarding point. Therefore, for example, in winter, the vehicle waits in a sunny location, which allows the temperature inside the vehicle to increase before the user actually boards the vehicle, thereby improving user comfort. Also, for example, in summer, the vehicle waits in a shady location, which allows the temperature inside the vehicle to decrease before the user actually boards the vehicle, thereby improving user comfort.

[0008] The symbols in parentheses in the above means and claims are examples showing the correspondence with specific means described in the embodiments to be described later. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the vehicle control device of the present disclosure, it is possible to improve user comfort. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] 2(A) and (B) are diagrams showing an example of a boarding point. [Figure 3] 3A and 3B are graphs showing the transition of the amount of solar radiation H of the vehicle and diagrams showing the traveling position of the vehicle. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing executed by the autonomous driving ECU of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 5A and 5B are graphs showing an example of a method for setting sunny points and shady points based on the vehicle interior temperature and the target vehicle interior temperature. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the traveling position of the vehicle in the second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a waiting point. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle control device will be described with reference to the drawings. To facilitate understanding of the description, the same components in the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted. First Embodiment 1, a vehicle 10 of this embodiment includes an air conditioning device 20, an air conditioning ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 21, an automatic driving unit 30, a storage device 40, and a communication device 50. The air conditioning ECU 21, the automatic driving unit 30, the storage device 40, and the communication device 50 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a network 90 installed in the vehicle 10.

[0012] The air conditioner 20 is a device that conditions the air inside the vehicle cabin. The air conditioner 20 heats or cools the air for conditioning flowing through, for example, an air conditioning duct, and blows the heated or cooled air for conditioning into the vehicle cabin, thereby heating or cooling the vehicle cabin. The air conditioner 20 also adjusts the volume of the air for conditioning blown into the vehicle cabin.

[0013] The air conditioning ECU 21 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), non-volatile memory, etc. The air conditioning ECU 21 controls the air conditioner 20 by executing a program pre-stored in the ROM. For example, the air conditioning ECU 21 reads a target interior temperature, which is a target value for the temperature inside the vehicle cabin, from the non-volatile memory. The target interior temperature can be set by any occupant, for example, by operating an operation unit of the air conditioner 20. The air conditioning ECU 21 executes air conditioning control to automatically heat and cool the vehicle cabin by driving the air conditioner 20 so that the interior temperature, which is the actual temperature inside the vehicle cabin, becomes the target interior temperature.

[0014] The automatic driving unit 30 represents a set of devices for realizing automatic driving of the vehicle 10. The automatic driving unit 30 is mainly composed of a drive unit 31, a sensor group 32, and an automatic driving ECU 33. The drive unit 31 is a basic unit for propelling the vehicle 10, and includes, for example, a prime mover, a power transmission device, a brake device, a running device, a suspension device, a steering device, and the like.

[0015] The sensor group 32 refers to a plurality of sensors for acquiring various information necessary for the vehicle 10 to travel automatically. The sensor group 32 includes an environmental sensor for detecting the environment around the vehicle 10, a position sensor for detecting the current position of the vehicle 10, an interior sensor for detecting the condition inside the vehicle, etc. The environmental sensors include, for example, a camera, Lidar (Light Detection And Ranging), millimeter-wave radar, sonar, a magnetic sensor, etc. The position sensor includes, for example, a GPS. The interior sensor includes, for example, a camera.

[0016] The autonomous driving ECU 33 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, non-volatile memory, etc. The autonomous driving ECU 33 controls the drive unit 31 by executing a program stored in the ROM. For example, the autonomous driving ECU 33 controls the drive unit 31 based on various information detected by the sensor group 32, thereby performing autonomous driving control to control the acceleration / deceleration and steering of the vehicle 10 and cause the vehicle 10 to drive automatically. In this embodiment, the autonomous driving ECU 33 corresponds to a control device.

[0017] The storage device 40 stores various types of information required to run the vehicle 10. For example, the storage device 40 stores map information. The communication device 50 communicates wirelessly with a server device 100 outside the vehicle 10. The server device 100 is owned by a provider that provides a vehicle dispatch service. The vehicle dispatch service of this embodiment is a service in which the vehicle 10 is automatically driven to a predetermined boarding point, and then the vehicle 10 with a user in it is automatically driven to a destination point. The communication device 50 obtains information necessary for providing such a vehicle dispatch service from the server device 100.

[0018] For example, when a user operates a terminal device such as a smartphone to input a boarding point, boarding time, destination, and destination arrival time, the information is wirelessly transmitted from the terminal device to the server device 100. The boarding time is the planned time at which the user boards the vehicle 10 at the boarding point. The destination arrival time is the time at which the user desires the vehicle 10 to arrive at the destination. Upon receiving the information on the boarding point and the like transmitted from the terminal device, the server device 100 selects one vehicle from among multiple vehicles to actually provide the ride-hailing service. When the vehicle 10 shown in FIG. 1 is selected as the vehicle to provide the ride-hailing service, the server device 100 transmits information on the boarding point and the like to the vehicle 10. The autonomous driving ECU 33 of the vehicle 10 starts the ride-hailing service upon receiving the information on the boarding point and the like transmitted from the server device 100 via the communication device 50. Specifically, the autonomous driving ECU 33 automatically drives the vehicle 10 to the boarding point by the boarding time, using the current location of the vehicle 10 detected by the sensor group 32, map information in the storage device 40, and the like. Then, after waiting for the user at the boarding point, when the sensor group 32 detects that the user has arrived at the boarding point and boarded, the autonomous driving ECU 33 automatically drives the vehicle 10 toward the destination point so that the vehicle 10 arrives at the destination point by the destination arrival time. Then, when the vehicle 10 arrives at the destination point, the autonomous driving ECU 33 stops the vehicle 10. Thereafter, the user gets off the vehicle 10, and the vehicle dispatch service is completed.

[0019] Incidentally, when providing such a ride-hailing service, the vehicle 10 needs to arrive at the boarding point before the boarding time specified by the user, and therefore the vehicle 10 necessarily needs to wait until the user arrives at the boarding point. At this time, for example, if the boarding point is a sunny spot as shown in FIG. 2(A), the temperature inside the vehicle cabin rises due to the influence of solar radiation. In particular, in the summer, the temperature inside the vehicle cabin may rise too much, and when a user arrives at the boarding point and boards such a vehicle 10, the user may feel uncomfortable due to the temperature inside the vehicle cabin. Furthermore, for example, as shown in FIG. 2(B), if the boarding point is a shady spot that is not exposed to sunlight, the temperature inside the vehicle cabin is lower than when the boarding point is a sunny spot. In particular, in the winter, the temperature inside the vehicle cabin may drop too much, and when a user boards such a vehicle 10, the user may feel uncomfortable due to the temperature inside the vehicle cabin.

[0020] Therefore, when the vehicle 10 travels to the vicinity of the boarding point, for example, if the outside air temperature, which is the temperature outside the vehicle 10, is high, the autonomous driving ECU 33 of this embodiment prevents the temperature inside the vehicle cabin from rising too high by temporarily waiting for the vehicle 10 in a shaded location until the user arrives at the boarding point. Also, for example, if the outside air temperature is low, the autonomous driving ECU 33 prevents the temperature inside the vehicle cabin from dropping too low by temporarily waiting for the vehicle 10 in a sunny location until the user arrives at the boarding point. Specific details of the control executed by the autonomous driving ECU 33 will be described below.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 further includes an outside air temperature sensor 61, a solar radiation sensor 62, and an interior temperature sensor 63. The outside air temperature sensor 61 detects the outside air temperature Tout, which is the temperature outside the vehicle 10. The solar radiation sensor 62 detects the amount of solar radiation H on the vehicle 10. The interior temperature sensor 63 detects the interior temperature Tin, which is the temperature inside the vehicle 10. Each of the sensors 61 to 63 outputs a signal corresponding to the detected physical quantity. The air conditioning ECU 21 and the autonomous driving unit 30 can receive the output signals of each of the sensors 61 to 63 via the in-vehicle network 90.

[0022] The autonomous driving ECU 33 has a sunlight information acquisition unit 330, a waiting point setting unit 331, and a driving control unit 332 as functional components realized by the CPU executing a program stored in the ROM. The sunlight information acquisition unit 330 acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny and shaded locations within a predetermined area based on the boarding location. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, an area with a predetermined diameter d11 centered on the boarding location is defined as the boarding location proximate area A11. When the vehicle 10 heading for the boarding location enters the boarding location proximate area A11 at point P11, the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 acquires information on the amount of sunlight H at the current location of the vehicle 10 at a predetermined interval based on the output signal of the sunlight sensor 62. The sunlight information acquisition unit 330 sequentially determines whether the current location is a sunny location or a shaded location by comparing the acquired amount of sunlight H at the current location with a predetermined first sunlight threshold Ha. Specifically, the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 determines that the current location is a sunny location if the amount of sunlight H at the current location is equal to or greater than the first sunlight threshold Ha. Furthermore, if the amount of sunlight H at the current location is less than the first sunlight threshold Ha, the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 determines that the current location is a shaded location. The first sunlight threshold Ha is set in advance through experiments or the like so that it can determine whether the current location is a sunny location or a shaded location, and is stored in the ROM of the autonomous driving ECU 33. While the vehicle 10 is traveling in the area A11 proximate to the boarding location, the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 performs this determination of sunny locations and shaded locations at a predetermined cycle, thereby acquiring sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny locations and shaded locations that exist in the area A11 proximate to the boarding location.

[0023] It should be noted that there may be cases where only sunny points exist in the area A11 closest to the boarding point, and no shady points exist. In such cases, the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 will detect only sunny points. For the same reason, there may be cases where the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 will detect only shady points. Therefore, there are three cases where the sunlight information includes both sunny points and shady points, includes only sunny points, and includes only shady points.

[0024] The waiting point setting unit 331 sets a sunny point or a shady point as a waiting point based on the sunlight information acquired by the sunlight information acquisition unit 330. Specifically, the waiting point setting unit 331 first acquires information on the outside air temperature Tout based on the output signal of the outside air temperature sensor 61, and determines whether the vehicle 10 should wait in a sunny point or a shady point based on the acquired outside air temperature Tout. For example, when the vehicle 10 enters the area A11 nearest to the boarding point at point P11 shown in FIG. 3, the waiting point setting unit 331 acquires the outside air temperature Tout based on the output signal of the outside air temperature sensor 61. Then, if the acquired outside air temperature Tout is equal to or greater than a predetermined first temperature threshold, the waiting point setting unit 331 determines, for example, that the current season is summer, and determines that the vehicle 10 should wait in a shady point. On the other hand, if the acquired outside air temperature Tout is lower than the predetermined second temperature threshold, the waiting point setting unit 331 determines, for example, that the current season is winter and determines that the vehicle 10 should wait in a sunny location. Note that the first temperature threshold and the second temperature threshold may be the same value or different values. If the first temperature threshold and the second temperature threshold are different, the second temperature threshold is set to a temperature lower than the first temperature threshold.

[0025] After determining whether the vehicle 10 should wait in the sun or in the shade in this manner, the waiting point setting unit 331 sets a sunny point or a shady point as the waiting point based on the determination result and the sunlight information acquired by the sunlight information acquisition unit 330. For example, if the waiting point setting unit 331 determines that the vehicle 10 should wait in the shade, it sets the shady point detected by the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 as the waiting point. On the other hand, if the waiting point setting unit 331 determines that the vehicle 10 should wait in the sun, it sets the sunny point detected by the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 as the waiting point.

[0026] The driving control unit 332 comprehensively performs control related to the driving of the vehicle 10, such as automatic driving control that causes the vehicle 10 to automatically drive toward the boarding point and the destination point, and control that causes the vehicle 10 to temporarily wait at a waiting point. Next, a specific description will be given of the processing procedure of the stopping control executed by the autonomous driving ECU 33 with reference to Fig. 4. The autonomous driving ECU 33 starts the processing shown in Fig. 4 when the vehicle 10 starts traveling toward the boarding point.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the traveling control unit 332 first determines whether to execute stopping control as the process of step S10. For example, when it is nighttime, there are no sunny or shady points, and therefore there is no need to execute stopping control to stop the vehicle 10 at either a sunny or shady point. Even when it is daytime, when the weather is rainy or cloudy, the difference between the amount of solar radiation at a sunny point and the amount of solar radiation at a shady point is small, so even if stopping control to stop the vehicle 10 at either a sunny or shady point is executed, the resulting change in the temperature inside the vehicle cabin is small. Therefore, there is little need to execute stopping control when the weather is rainy or cloudy. On the other hand, whether it is nighttime and whether the weather is rainy or cloudy can be determined based on, for example, the amount of solar radiation on the vehicle 10 detected by the solar radiation sensor 62.

[0028] Therefore, in this embodiment, after the vehicle 10 starts traveling toward the boarding point, when the vehicle 10 enters the boarding point peripheral area A12 at point P10 as shown in FIG. 3(B), the traveling control unit 332 acquires information on the amount of solar radiation H of the vehicle 10 at a predetermined cycle based on the output signal of the solar radiation sensor 62. Note that, as shown in FIG. 3(B), the boarding point peripheral area A12 is an area with a predetermined diameter d12 centered on the boarding point and excluding the boarding point immediate area A11. Note that the diameter d12 of the boarding point peripheral area A12 is larger than the diameter d11 of the boarding point immediate area A11.

[0029] 3(A), if the amount of solar radiation H detected during the period from when the vehicle 10 reaches point P10 to when it reaches point P11 remains below a predetermined second solar radiation threshold Hb, the traveling control unit 332 determines not to execute stopping control. The second solar radiation threshold Hb is set in advance through experiments or the like so as to be able to determine whether it is nighttime and whether the weather is rainy or cloudy, and is stored in the ROM of the autonomous driving ECU 33.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, if the driving control unit 332 determines not to execute stopping control, i.e., if a negative judgment is made in the processing of step S10, then in the processing of step S14, the vehicle 10 is driven toward the boarding point without temporarily waiting.

[0031] On the other hand, the traveling control unit 332 determines to execute stop control if the amount of solar radiation H of the vehicle 10 becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined second solar radiation threshold Hb during the period from when the vehicle 10 enters the boarding point surrounding area A12 to when the vehicle 10 enters the boarding point immediate area A11. For example, assume that the amount of solar radiation H of the vehicle 10 changes as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3A while the vehicle 10 is traveling toward the boarding point. In this case, if the amount of solar radiation H of the vehicle 10 is equal to or greater than the second solar radiation threshold Hb at point P11 where the vehicle 10 enters the boarding point immediate area A11, the traveling control unit 332 determines to execute stop control at that time. Similarly, for example, as shown by the dashed-dotted line in FIG. 3A, the amount of solar radiation H of the vehicle 10 becomes equal to or greater than the second solar radiation threshold Hb at point P12 midway through the boarding point immediate area A11.

[0032] 4, when the traveling control unit 332 determines to execute stopping control, that is, when a positive determination is made in the processing of step S10, the waiting point setting unit 331 determines whether to wait at a sunny point in the processing of step S11. As described above, the waiting point setting unit 331 determines whether the vehicle 10 should wait at a sunny point or a shady point based on, for example, the outside air temperature Tout.

[0033] If the waiting point setting unit 331 determines that the vehicle 10 should wait at a sunny point, i.e., if a positive judgment is made in the processing of step S11, the driving control unit 332 causes the vehicle 10 to wait at the sunny waiting point set by the waiting point setting unit 331, as the processing of step S12.

[0034] On the other hand, if the waiting point setting unit 331 determines that the vehicle 10 should wait at a shady point, i.e., if a negative judgment is made in the processing of step S11, the driving control unit 332 causes the vehicle 10 to wait at the shady waiting point set by the waiting point setting unit 331 as the processing of step S13.

[0035] After making the vehicle 10 wait at the waiting point, the traveling control unit 332 makes the vehicle 10 travel toward the boarding point, for example, at a time that is a predetermined time before the boarding time. This allows the vehicle 10 to arrive at the boarding point at the boarding time designated by the user. Alternatively, the driving control unit 332 drives the vehicle 10 waiting at the waiting point toward the boarding point based on a request from a user who has arrived at the boarding point. The user's request can be, for example, an operation using a terminal device or a predetermined gesture by the user. The user's gesture can be detected by a camera or the like mounted on the automatic driving unit 30.

[0036] On the other hand, even if a negative determination is made in the processing of step S11, that is, even if the waiting point setting unit 331 determines that the vehicle 10 should wait at a shady point, there are cases in which the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 is unable to detect a shady point before the vehicle 10 arrives at the boarding point. In this case, the traveling control unit 332 causes the vehicle 10 to travel to the boarding point and then wait there, as the processing of step S13.

[0037] Similarly, even if a positive determination is made in the processing of step S11, that is, even if the waiting point setting unit 331 determines that the vehicle 10 should wait at a sunny point, there are cases in which the sunshine information acquisition unit 330 is unable to detect a sunny point before the vehicle 10 arrives at the boarding point. In this case, the traveling control unit 332, as the processing of step S12, causes the vehicle 10 to travel to the boarding point and then wait there.

[0038] According to the automatic driving ECU 33 of the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment described above, the following actions and effects (1) to (5) can be obtained. (1) The autonomous driving ECU 33 includes a sunlight information acquisition unit 330, a waiting point setting unit 331, and a driving control unit 332. The driving control unit 332 automatically drives the vehicle to the boarding point. The sunlight information acquisition unit 330 acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shady points that exist within an area A11 proximate to the boarding point, which is based on the boarding point. The waiting point setting unit 331 sets a sunny point or a shady point as a waiting point based on the sunlight information. The driving control unit 332 causes the vehicle 10 to temporarily wait at the waiting point before the user arrives at the boarding point. According to this configuration, the vehicle 10 temporarily waits at a sunny point or a shady point before the user arrives at the boarding point. Therefore, for example, in winter, waiting the vehicle 10 at a sunny point can prevent the interior temperature from decreasing before the user actually boards the vehicle 10, thereby improving user comfort. Furthermore, for example, in the summer, by having the vehicle 10 wait in a shaded location, the temperature inside the vehicle cabin can be prevented from rising until the user actually gets into the vehicle 10, thereby improving user comfort. Furthermore, by preventing the temperature inside the vehicle cabin from rising or falling, the frequency with which the air conditioner 20 cools and heats the vehicle cabin can be reduced. Therefore, the power consumption associated with operating the air conditioner 20 can be reduced.

[0039] (2) The sunlight information acquisition unit 330 acquires sunlight information based on the amount of sunlight H of the vehicle 10 acquired by the sunlight sensor 62. With this configuration, sunlight information can be acquired based on the actual amount of sunlight H of the vehicle 10, making it possible to acquire more accurate sunlight information.

[0040] (3) In the boarding point surrounding area A12, which is a section a predetermined distance before the vehicle 10 enters the boarding point proximate area A11, the traveling control unit 332 executes stopping control when the amount of solar radiation H of the vehicle 10 becomes equal to or greater than the second solar radiation threshold Hb, and does not execute stopping control when the amount of solar radiation H of the vehicle 10 remains less than the second solar radiation threshold Hb. According to this configuration, when it is night or when the weather is rainy or cloudy, stopping control is not executed, and therefore the calculation load of the autonomous driving ECU 33 can be reduced.

[0041] (4) The waiting point setting unit 331 determines whether the vehicle 10 should wait in the sun or in the shade based on the outside air temperature Tout, and sets a sunny or shady location as the waiting point based on the determination result and the sunlight information acquired by the sunlight information acquisition unit 330. This configuration makes it possible to set a more appropriate waiting point according to the outside air temperature Tout.

[0042] (5) After the vehicle 10 enters the area A11 nearest to the boarding point, the waiting point setting unit 331 sequentially acquires sunlight information of the current location of the vehicle 10 from the sunlight information acquisition unit 330. While the vehicle 10 is traveling toward the boarding point, the waiting point setting unit 331 searches for a predetermined suitable point that is a suitable point in the sun or shade based on the sunlight information of the current location of the vehicle 10, and if it finds the predetermined suitable point, sets the suitable point as the waiting point. This configuration makes it possible to more appropriately set a waiting point in the sun or shade.

[0043] (First Modification) Next, a first modified example of the autonomous driving ECU 33 of the vehicle 10 of the first embodiment will be described. In the process shown in step S11 of FIG. 4, the waiting point setting unit 331 of this modified example determines whether the vehicle should wait in the sun or in the shade based on the vehicle interior temperature Tin.

[0044] Specifically, the standby location setting unit 331 acquires information on the vehicle interior temperature Tin based on the output signal of the vehicle interior temperature sensor 63, and compares the acquired vehicle interior temperature Tin with the target vehicle interior temperature Tin*. Thereby, it is determined whether the vehicle 10 should be parked in the sun or in the shade. As the target vehicle interior temperature Tin*, for example, the target vehicle interior temperature set in the air conditioner 20 can be used, or the temperature arbitrarily set by the user can also be used. As shown in FIG. 5(A), when the vehicle interior temperature Tin is below the target vehicle interior temperature Tin*, the standby location setting unit 331 determines that the vehicle 10 should be parked in the sun. On the other hand, when the vehicle interior temperature Tin exceeds the target vehicle interior temperature Tin*, the standby location setting unit 331 determines that the vehicle 10 should be parked in the shade.

[0045] In addition, as shown in FIG. 5(B), when a predetermined value is α, when the vehicle interior temperature Tin satisfies "Tin* - α < Tin < Tin* + α", the parking control may not be executed. That is, it is also possible to provide a dead zone regarding whether to execute the control. Further, instead of the difference between the vehicle interior temperature Tin and the target vehicle interior temperature Tin*, the standby location setting unit 331 may use the difference between the outside air temperature Tout and the vehicle interior temperature Tin, or the change amount of these differences, etc.

[0046] Even with the configuration as in this modified example, it is possible to easily determine whether the vehicle 10 should be parked in the sun or in the shade. (Second Modified Example) Next, a second modified example of the automatic driving ECU 33 of the vehicle 10 in the first embodiment will be described.

[0047] The standby location setting unit 331 in this modified example determines whether the vehicle 10 should be parked in the sun or in the shade based on the current date in the process shown in step S11 of FIG. 4. Specifically, if the current date corresponds to summer or the season before or after summer, for example, if the current date corresponds to a date from June to September, the waiting point setting unit 331 determines that the vehicle 10 should wait in the shade. Also, if the current date corresponds to winter or the season before or after winter, for example, if the current date corresponds to a date from November to February, the waiting point setting unit 331 determines that the vehicle 10 should wait in the sun.

[0048] Furthermore, the traveling control unit 332 executes the stopping control when the current date falls on a date between June and September, or a date between November and February, whereas the traveling control unit 332 does not execute the stopping control when the current date falls on a date between March and May, or a date in October. Even with the configuration of this modified example, it is possible to easily determine whether the vehicle 10 should be parked in the sun or in the shade.

[0049] (Third Modification) Next, a third modified example of the autonomous driving ECU 33 of the vehicle 10 of the first embodiment will be described. The sunlight information acquisition unit 330 of this modified example acquires sunlight information using a method different from the method of using the amount of sunlight H of the vehicle 10 described above.

[0050] Specifically, the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shady points based on map information stored in the storage device 40. In this case, the map information pre-stores information indicating whether each point belongs to a sunny or shady area for each date and time.

[0051] Alternatively, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1, if a server device 110 outside the vehicle 10 manages sunlight information, the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 may acquire sunlight information from the server device 110 via the communication device 50. The server device 110 is owned, for example, by a management company that manages infrastructure facilities. The installation of sunshades at unmanned taxi stands, airport shuttle bus stops, and the like is being considered. This is because having taxis and buses park at the sunshades during the summer reduces the power consumption of the air conditioning units 20 in the taxis and buses. The server device 110 manages information about sunshades installed adjacent to such bus stops as part of the infrastructure facilities. The server device 110 provides information about the sunshades of such infrastructure facilities to the vehicle 10. In this case, the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 of the vehicle 10 extracts one or more locations from the boarding point vicinity area A11 that are predetermined as locations where the vehicle 10 can temporarily park, such as locations with sunshades adjacent to bus stops. The sunlight information acquisition unit 330 then acquires, as sunlight information, information about whether or not a sunshade is installed at each of the extracted locations from the server device 110. The sunlight information acquisition unit 330 determines a point where a sunshade is provided as a shaded point, and determines a point where no sunshade is provided as a sunny point.

[0052] Even with the configuration of this modified example, it is possible to easily obtain sunlight information. (Fourth Modification) Next, a fourth modified example of the autonomous driving ECU 33 of the vehicle 10 of the first embodiment will be described.

[0053] The sunlight information acquisition unit 330 of this modification acquires sunlight information before the vehicle 10 enters the area A11 nearest to the boarding point, for example, by using map information or information from the server device 110, as in the third modification described above. As a result, the waiting point setting unit 331 sets a waiting point in advance before the vehicle 10 enters the area A11 nearest to the boarding point, based on the sunlight information acquired by the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 and the result of determining whether the vehicle 10 should be parked in the sun or in the shade. For example, the waiting point setting unit 331 sets a waiting point in the boarding point surrounding area A12 shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the traveling control unit 332 causes the vehicle 10 to travel toward the set waiting point and then causes the vehicle 10 to wait at the waiting point.

[0054] According to this configuration, it is no longer necessary to search for a waiting point based on the amount of solar radiation H of the vehicle 10, etc., and therefore it is possible to set a waiting point more reliably. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the automatic driving ECU 33 will be described. The following mainly describes the differences from the automatic driving ECU 33 of the first embodiment.

[0055] The automatic driving ECU 33 of this embodiment differs from the automatic driving ECU 33 of the first embodiment in that after the vehicle 10 arrives at the boarding point, the automatic driving ECU 33 finds a waiting point that is suitable for being in the sun or the shade. Specifically, if the driving control unit 332 arrives at the boarding point before the user arrives at the boarding point, the driving control unit 332 causes the vehicle 10 to further drive toward a predetermined point P13 on the outer edge of the area A11 closest to the boarding point, which is located in the direction of travel of the vehicle 10, as shown in Figure 6.

[0056] While the vehicle 10 is traveling from the boarding point toward the predetermined point P13, the waiting point setting unit 331 searches for a suitable point that is in the sun or shade based on the sunlight information of the current location of the vehicle 10 acquired by the sunlight information acquisition unit 330. Then, if the waiting point setting unit 331 finds a suitable point that is in the sun or shade before the vehicle 10 arrives at the predetermined point P13, it sets the suitable point as the waiting point.

[0057] On the other hand, if the vehicle 10 cannot find a suitable spot that is in the sun or shade by the time the vehicle 10 arrives at the predetermined point P13 after starting to travel from the boarding point toward the predetermined point P13, the waiting point setting unit 331 sets the predetermined point P13 as the waiting point. That is, in this case, the vehicle 10 will temporarily wait at the predetermined point P13.

[0058] According to the autonomous driving ECU 33 of the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment described above, the following actions and effects (6) and (7) can be obtained. (6) After the vehicle 10 arrives at the boarding point, the waiting point setting unit 331 sequentially acquires sunlight information of the current location of the vehicle 10 from the sunlight information acquisition unit 330, and searches for a predetermined suitable point that is a spot suitable for sunlight or shade based on the acquired sunlight information of the current location of the vehicle 10. Even with this configuration, it is possible to more appropriately set a waiting point in sunlight or shade.

[0059] (7) After starting a search for a predetermined suitable point that is a suitable point in the sun or shade, if the waiting point setting unit 331 cannot find a suitable waiting point by the time the vehicle 10 arrives at the outer edge of the area A11 closest to the boarding point, the waiting point setting unit 331 sets a predetermined point P13 on the outer edge of the area A11 closest to the boarding point as the waiting point. This configuration makes it possible to prevent the vehicle 10 from moving too far away from the boarding point.

[0060] <Third embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the automatic driving ECU 33 will be described. The following mainly focuses on the differences from the automatic driving ECU 33 of the first embodiment. In the autonomous driving ECU 33 of the first embodiment, for example, when suppressing a temperature rise in the vehicle cabin, a shady location is selected as a waiting location for the vehicle 10. When detecting a shady location based on the amount of solar radiation on the vehicle 10 detected by the solar radiation sensor 62 as in the first embodiment, for example, when the vehicle 10 is located at a location P20 shown in Fig. 7, even if the solar radiation sensor 62 is located in the shade, a part of the vehicle 10 that is distant from the solar radiation sensor 62 may be located in a sunny location. If such a location P20 is selected as a shady waiting location and the vehicle 10 waits, the vehicle 10 will wait with part of it exposed to the sun, and therefore a temperature rise in the vehicle cabin cannot be suppressed.

[0061] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the waiting point setting unit 331 determines that the vehicle 10 should wait in the shade, it acquires a shaded location from the sunlight information acquisition unit 330. On the other hand, when the waiting point setting unit 331 determines that the vehicle 10 should wait in the sun, it acquires a sunny location from the sunlight information acquisition unit 330. Then, the waiting point setting unit 331 calculates a change amount ΔH (= H11 - H12), which is the difference between the first amount of sunlight H11 detected by the sunlight sensor 62 at the sunny location or the shaded location acquired by the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 and the second amount of sunlight H12 detected one cycle before the first amount of sunlight H11, and determines whether the calculated change amount ΔH is equal to or greater than a predetermined value Ha. Note that in this embodiment, the change amount ΔH corresponds to the amount of change in sunlight per unit driving distance at a predetermined location.

[0062] Here, if the first amount of solar radiation H11 increases more rapidly than the second amount of solar radiation H12, i.e., if the amount of change ΔH is positive and its absolute value is large, it can be said that the sunny point was detected by the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 immediately after the vehicle 10 entered a sunny spot from a shaded area. On the other hand, if the first amount of solar radiation H11 decreases more rapidly than the second amount of solar radiation H12, i.e., if the amount of change ΔH is negative and its absolute value is large, it can be said that the shaded point was detected by the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 immediately after the vehicle 10 entered a shaded area from a sunny spot.

[0063] Using this, when the absolute value of the amount of change |ΔH| is equal to or greater than a predetermined value Ha, the waiting point setting unit 331 sets as the waiting point a point that is shifted a predetermined distance from the point that is detected as a sunny point or a shady point by the sunlight information acquisition unit 330. For example, when setting the waiting point to a shady point, the waiting point setting unit 331 sets as the waiting point a point P21 that is shifted a predetermined distance L10 from point P20 that is detected as a shady point by the sunlight information acquisition unit 330. This allows the entire vehicle 10 to be positioned in the shade.

[0064] According to the autonomous driving ECU 33 of the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment described above, the following actions and effects described in (8) can be obtained. (8) When a predetermined point detected as a sunny or shady point by the sunlight information acquisition unit 330 is used as a waiting point, the waiting point setting unit 331 sets a point that is a predetermined distance away from the predetermined point as the waiting point if the amount of change in solar radiation ΔH at the predetermined point is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. This configuration makes it possible to prevent a part of the vehicle 10 from being in the sun or shade, thereby suppressing unintended changes in the temperature inside the vehicle cabin.

[0065] <Other embodiments> The above embodiment can also be implemented in the following manner. The sunlight information acquisition unit 330 may learn whether a given point is in the sun or in the shade based on the amount of sunlight H of the vehicle 10 detected by the sunlight sensor 62, and may acquire sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shady points located within the area A11 closest to the boarding point based on the learned information.

[0066] The traveling control unit 332 may estimate the time when the vehicle 10 will arrive at the area A11 nearest to the boarding point, and may determine that stopping control can be executed if the estimated arrival time is in the daytime, and may determine that stopping control cannot be executed if the estimated arrival time is in the nighttime. In this case, the daytime corresponds to the predetermined time period, and the nighttime corresponds to the time period outside the predetermined time period.

[0067] The traveling control unit 332 may determine whether or not stopping control can be executed based on forecasted weather information for the area A11 nearest to the boarding point when the vehicle 10 arrives at the area A11 nearest to the boarding point. For example, the traveling control unit 332 may determine that stopping control can be executed when the forecasted weather information indicates fine weather, and may determine that stopping control cannot be executed when the forecasted weather information indicates weather other than fine weather.

[0068] The process of determining whether to execute the stopping control can be changed as appropriate. For example, the traveling control unit 332 may determine whether to execute the stopping control during a period from when the vehicle 10 enters the area A11 nearest to the boarding point until a predetermined time before that. If the user performs some action while searching for a waiting point, for example, by using a terminal device or the like to call the vehicle 10 to the boarding point, the search for the waiting point by the waiting point setting unit 331 may be interrupted, and the driving control unit 332 may then drive the vehicle 10 toward the boarding point without waiting.

[0069] The method of determining whether it is night or whether the weather is rainy or cloudy may be a method other than the method of determining based on the amount of solar radiation H detected by the solar radiation sensor 62. For example, if the vehicle 10 is equipped with a rain sensor that can detect rain, the driving control unit 332 may determine whether the weather is rainy or not based on the rain sensor.

[0070] The autonomous driving ECU 33 and control method thereof described in the present disclosure may be implemented by one or more dedicated computers configured by configuring a processor and memory programmed to execute one or more functions embodied in a computer program. The autonomous driving ECU 33 and control method thereof described in the present disclosure may be implemented by a dedicated computer configured by configuring a processor including one or more dedicated hardware logic circuits. The autonomous driving ECU 33 and control method thereof described in the present disclosure may be implemented by one or more dedicated computers configured by combining a processor and memory programmed to execute one or more functions with a processor including one or more hardware logic circuits. The computer program may be stored as instructions executed by a computer on a computer-readable non-transitory tangible recording medium. The dedicated hardware logic circuit and the hardware logic circuit may be implemented by a digital circuit including multiple logic circuits or an analog circuit.

[0071] The present disclosure is not limited to the specific examples described above. Design modifications made by a person skilled in the art to the specific examples described above are also included within the scope of the present disclosure as long as they incorporate the features of the present disclosure. The elements of the specific examples described above, as well as their arrangement, conditions, shape, etc., are not limited to those exemplified and can be modified as appropriate. The elements of the specific examples described above can be combined in various ways as long as no technical contradictions arise.

[0072] <Additional Notes> The features of the present invention are as follows. The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the driving control unit executes the stopping control when the amount of solar radiation on the vehicle becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold in a section up to a predetermined distance before the vehicle enters the predetermined area, or in a period from the time the vehicle enters the predetermined area until a predetermined time before, and does not execute the stopping control when the amount of solar radiation on the vehicle remains below the predetermined threshold.

[0073] 7. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the waiting point setting unit determines whether the vehicle should wait in the sun or in the shade based on an outside air temperature, which is the temperature outside the vehicle, and sets the sunny point or the shady point as the waiting point based on the determination result and the sunlight information.

[0074] The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the waiting point setting unit determines that the vehicle should wait in the shade when the vehicle interior temperature, which is the temperature inside the vehicle interior, is higher than a target vehicle interior temperature, which is a target value for the vehicle interior temperature, and determines that the vehicle should wait in the sun when the vehicle interior temperature is equal to or lower than the target vehicle interior temperature, and sets the sunny point or the shady point as the waiting point based on the determination result and the sunlight information.

[0075] 7. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the waiting point setting unit determines whether the vehicle should wait in the sun or in the shade based on the current date, and sets the sunny point or the shady point as the waiting point based on the determination result and the sunlight information.

[0076] 14. A vehicle control device as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein when the waiting point setting unit uses a predetermined point detected by the sunlight information acquisition unit as the sunny point or the shady point as the waiting point, if the change in the amount of sunlight per unit driving distance at the predetermined point is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the waiting point setting unit sets a point that is shifted a predetermined distance from the predetermined point as the waiting point.

[0077] 16. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is equipped with an air conditioner that conditions the air inside the vehicle compartment. 6. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the sunlight information acquisition unit learns the sunlight information.

[0078] The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the driving control unit determines that the stopping control can be executed if the estimated time at which the vehicle will arrive at the specified area is within a specified time period, and determines that the stopping control cannot be executed if the estimated time is outside the specified time period.

[0079] 6. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the driving control unit determines whether or not the stopping control can be performed based on forecast weather information for the specified area when the vehicle arrives at the specified area. The vehicle interior temperature acquisition unit further acquires an actual vehicle interior temperature, which is the temperature inside the vehicle interior. 6. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the driving control unit determines whether the stopping control can be performed based on a difference value between a target interior temperature, which is a target value for the temperature inside the vehicle cabin, and the actual interior temperature.

[0080] The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an interior temperature acquisition unit that acquires an actual interior temperature, which is the temperature inside the vehicle cabin, and the driving control unit determines whether to execute the stopping control based on the amount of change in the interior temperature per unit time and the direction of change in the actual interior temperature relative to the target interior temperature per unit time. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 10: Vehicle 33: Autonomous driving ECU (controller) 330: Sunlight Information Acquisition Department 331: Waiting point setting section 332: Driving control unit

Claims

1. a driving control unit (332) that automatically drives the vehicle to a boarding point where the user boards; a sunlight information acquisition unit (330) that acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shaded points that exist within a predetermined area based on the boarding point; a waiting point setting unit (331) that sets the sunny point or the shady point as a waiting point based on the sunlight information, the traveling control unit executes a stopping control to temporarily stop the vehicle at the waiting point before the user arrives at the boarding point; the waiting point setting unit determines whether the vehicle should wait in the sun or in the shade based on an outside air temperature, which is the temperature outside the vehicle, and sets the sunny point or the shady point as the waiting point based on the determination result and the sunlight information; The traveling control unit executes the stop control when an amount of solar radiation on the vehicle becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold in a section up to a predetermined distance before the vehicle enters the predetermined area or in a period from the time the vehicle enters the predetermined area to a predetermined time before, and does not execute the stop control when the amount of solar radiation on the vehicle remains less than the predetermined threshold. Vehicle control device.

2. a driving control unit (332) that automatically drives the vehicle to a boarding point where the user boards; a sunlight information acquisition unit (330) that acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shaded points that exist within a predetermined area based on the boarding point; a waiting point setting unit (331) that sets the sunny point or the shady point as a waiting point based on the sunlight information, the traveling control unit executes a stopping control to temporarily stop the vehicle at the waiting point before the user arrives at the boarding point; the waiting point setting unit determines whether the vehicle should wait in the sun or in the shade based on an outside air temperature, which is the temperature outside the vehicle, and sets the sunny point or the shady point as the waiting point based on the determination result and the sunlight information; The waiting point setting unit The sunlight information is acquired from the sunlight information acquisition unit before the vehicle enters the predetermined area, and The waiting point is set in advance before the vehicle enters the predetermined area based on the acquired sunlight information and the judgment result. Vehicle control device.

3. a driving control unit (332) that automatically drives the vehicle to a boarding point where the user boards; a sunlight information acquisition unit (330) that acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shaded points that exist within a predetermined area based on the boarding point; a waiting point setting unit (331) that sets the sunny point or the shady point as a waiting point based on the sunlight information, the traveling control unit executes a stopping control to temporarily stop the vehicle at the waiting point before the user arrives at the boarding point; the waiting point setting unit determines whether the vehicle should wait in the sun or in the shade based on an outside air temperature, which is the temperature outside the vehicle, and sets the sunny point or the shady point as the waiting point based on the determination result and the sunlight information; The waiting point setting unit After the vehicle enters the predetermined area, the sunlight information of the current location of the vehicle is sequentially acquired from the sunlight information acquisition unit, and While the vehicle is traveling toward the boarding point, the waiting point that matches the determination result is searched for based on the sunlight information of the current location of the vehicle. Vehicle control device.

4. a driving control unit (332) that automatically drives the vehicle to a boarding point where the user boards; a sunlight information acquisition unit (330) that acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shaded points that exist within a predetermined area based on the boarding point; a waiting point setting unit (331) that sets the sunny point or the shady point as a waiting point based on the sunlight information, the traveling control unit executes a stopping control to temporarily stop the vehicle at the waiting point before the user arrives at the boarding point; the waiting point setting unit determines whether the vehicle should wait in the sun or in the shade based on an outside air temperature, which is the temperature outside the vehicle, and sets the sunny point or the shady point as the waiting point based on the determination result and the sunlight information; The waiting point setting unit sequentially acquires the sunlight information of the current location of the vehicle from the sunlight information acquisition unit after the vehicle arrives at the boarding point, and searches for the waiting point that matches the determination result based on the acquired sunlight information of the current location of the vehicle. Vehicle control device.

5. a driving control unit (332) that automatically drives the vehicle to a boarding point where the user boards; a sunlight information acquisition unit (330) that acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shaded points that exist within a predetermined area based on the boarding point; a waiting point setting unit (331) that sets the sunny point or the shady point as a waiting point based on the sunlight information, the traveling control unit executes a stopping control to temporarily stop the vehicle at the waiting point before the user arrives at the boarding point; the waiting point setting unit determines whether the vehicle should wait in the sun or in the shade based on an outside air temperature, which is the temperature outside the vehicle, and sets the sunny point or the shady point as the waiting point based on the determination result and the sunlight information; If the waiting point setting unit cannot find the waiting point that matches the determination result until the vehicle arrives at the outer edge of the predetermined area after starting to search for the waiting point that matches the determination result, the waiting point setting unit sets a point on the outer edge of the predetermined area as the waiting point. Vehicle control device.

6. a driving control unit (332) that automatically drives the vehicle to a boarding point where the user boards; a sunlight information acquisition unit (330) that acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shaded points that exist within a predetermined area based on the boarding point; a waiting point setting unit (331) that sets the sunny point or the shady point as a waiting point based on the sunlight information, the traveling control unit executes a stopping control to temporarily stop the vehicle at the waiting point before the user arrives at the boarding point; the waiting point setting unit determines whether the vehicle should wait in the sun or in the shade based on an outside air temperature, which is the temperature outside the vehicle, and sets the sunny point or the shady point as the waiting point based on the determination result and the sunlight information; When the predetermined point detected by the sunlight information acquisition unit as the sunny point and the shaded point is used as the waiting point, if a change in the amount of sunlight per unit traveling distance at the predetermined point is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the waiting point setting unit sets a point that is shifted by a predetermined distance from the predetermined point as the waiting point. Vehicle control device.

7. a driving control unit (332) that automatically drives the vehicle to a boarding point where the user boards; a sunlight information acquisition unit (330) that acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shaded points that exist within a predetermined area based on the boarding point; a waiting point setting unit (331) that sets the sunny point or the shady point as a waiting point based on the sunlight information, the traveling control unit executes a stopping control to temporarily stop the vehicle at the waiting point before the user arrives at the boarding point; The waiting point setting unit When an interior temperature of the vehicle is higher than a target interior temperature of the vehicle, which is a target value of the interior temperature of the vehicle, it is determined that the vehicle should be made to wait in the shade, and when the interior temperature of the vehicle is equal to or lower than the target interior temperature of the vehicle, it is determined that the vehicle should be made to wait in the sun, and setting the sunny point or the shady point as a standby point based on the determination result and the sunlight information, The traveling control unit executes the stop control when an amount of solar radiation on the vehicle becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold in a section up to a predetermined distance before the vehicle enters the predetermined area or in a period from the time the vehicle enters the predetermined area to a predetermined time before, and does not execute the stop control when the amount of solar radiation on the vehicle remains less than the predetermined threshold. Vehicle control device.

8. a driving control unit (332) that automatically drives the vehicle to a boarding point where the user boards; a sunlight information acquisition unit (330) that acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shaded points that exist within a predetermined area based on the boarding point; a waiting point setting unit (331) that sets the sunny point or the shady point as a waiting point based on the sunlight information, the traveling control unit executes a stopping control to temporarily stop the vehicle at the waiting point before the user arrives at the boarding point; The waiting point setting unit When an interior temperature of the vehicle is higher than a target interior temperature of the vehicle, which is a target value of the interior temperature of the vehicle, it is determined that the vehicle should be made to wait in the shade, and when the interior temperature of the vehicle is equal to or lower than the target interior temperature of the vehicle, it is determined that the vehicle should be made to wait in the sun, and setting the sunny point or the shady point as a standby point based on the determination result and the sunlight information, The waiting point setting unit The sunlight information is acquired from the sunlight information acquisition unit before the vehicle enters the predetermined area, and The waiting point is set in advance before the vehicle enters the predetermined area based on the acquired sunlight information and the judgment result. Vehicle control device.

9. a driving control unit (332) that automatically drives the vehicle to a boarding point where the user boards; a sunlight information acquisition unit (330) that acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shaded points that exist within a predetermined area based on the boarding point; a waiting point setting unit (331) that sets the sunny point or the shady point as a waiting point based on the sunlight information, the traveling control unit executes a stopping control to temporarily stop the vehicle at the waiting point before the user arrives at the boarding point; The waiting point setting unit When an interior temperature of the vehicle is higher than a target interior temperature of the vehicle, which is a target value of the interior temperature of the vehicle, it is determined that the vehicle should be made to wait in the shade, and when the interior temperature of the vehicle is equal to or lower than the target interior temperature of the vehicle, it is determined that the vehicle should be made to wait in the sun, and setting the sunny point or the shady point as a standby point based on the determination result and the sunlight information, The waiting point setting unit After the vehicle enters the predetermined area, the sunlight information of the current location of the vehicle is sequentially acquired from the sunlight information acquisition unit, and While the vehicle is traveling toward the boarding point, the waiting point that matches the determination result is searched for based on the sunlight information of the current location of the vehicle. Vehicle control device.

10. a driving control unit (332) that automatically drives the vehicle to a boarding point where the user boards; a sunlight information acquisition unit (330) that acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shaded points that exist within a predetermined area based on the boarding point; a waiting point setting unit (331) that sets the sunny point or the shady point as a waiting point based on the sunlight information, the traveling control unit executes a stopping control to temporarily stop the vehicle at the waiting point before the user arrives at the boarding point; The waiting point setting unit When an interior temperature of the vehicle is higher than a target interior temperature of the vehicle, which is a target value of the interior temperature of the vehicle, it is determined that the vehicle should be made to wait in the shade, and when the interior temperature of the vehicle is equal to or lower than the target interior temperature of the vehicle, it is determined that the vehicle should be made to wait in the sun, and setting the sunny point or the shady point as a standby point based on the determination result and the sunlight information, The waiting point setting unit sequentially acquires the sunlight information of the current location of the vehicle from the sunlight information acquisition unit after the vehicle arrives at the boarding point, and searches for the waiting point that matches the determination result based on the acquired sunlight information of the current location of the vehicle. Vehicle control device.

11. a driving control unit (332) that automatically drives the vehicle to a boarding point where the user boards; a sunlight information acquisition unit (330) that acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shaded points that exist within a predetermined area based on the boarding point; a waiting point setting unit (331) that sets the sunny point or the shady point as a waiting point based on the sunlight information, the traveling control unit executes a stopping control to temporarily stop the vehicle at the waiting point before the user arrives at the boarding point; The waiting point setting unit When an interior temperature of the vehicle is higher than a target interior temperature of the vehicle, which is a target value of the interior temperature of the vehicle, it is determined that the vehicle should be made to wait in the shade, and when the interior temperature of the vehicle is equal to or lower than the target interior temperature of the vehicle, it is determined that the vehicle should be made to wait in the sun, and setting the sunny point or the shady point as a standby point based on the determination result and the sunlight information, If the waiting point setting unit cannot find the waiting point that matches the determination result until the vehicle arrives at the outer edge of the predetermined area after starting to search for the waiting point that matches the determination result, the waiting point setting unit sets a point on the outer edge of the predetermined area as the waiting point. Vehicle control device.

12. a driving control unit (332) that automatically drives the vehicle to a boarding point where the user boards; a sunlight information acquisition unit (330) that acquires sunlight information including information on at least one of sunny points and shaded points that exist within a predetermined area based on the boarding point; a waiting point setting unit (331) that sets the sunny point or the shady point as a waiting point based on the sunlight information, the traveling control unit executes a stopping control to temporarily stop the vehicle at the waiting point before the user arrives at the boarding point; The waiting point setting unit When an interior temperature of the vehicle is higher than a target interior temperature of the vehicle, which is a target value of the interior temperature of the vehicle, it is determined that the vehicle should be made to wait in the shade, and when the interior temperature of the vehicle is equal to or lower than the target interior temperature of the vehicle, it is determined that the vehicle should be made to wait in the sun, and setting the sunny point or the shady point as a standby point based on the determination result and the sunlight information, When the predetermined point detected by the sunlight information acquisition unit as the sunny point and the shaded point is used as the waiting point, if a change in the amount of sunlight per unit traveling distance at the predetermined point is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the waiting point setting unit sets a point that is shifted by a predetermined distance from the predetermined point as the waiting point. Vehicle control device.

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