vehicle

Abstract

To enable information intended for a surrounding vehicle to be easily and promptly delivered thereto.SOLUTION: A vehicle comprises: a V2V communication section adapted to perform V2V communication; a V2N communication section adapted to perform V2N communication; a detection section adapted to detect a surrounding vehicle near a vehicle; a confirmation section adapted to confirm whether or not the V2V communication is available with the surrounding vehicle; and a communication control section which transmits information to be delivered, when a first surrounding vehicle with which the V2V communication is available exists in the need of the information to be delivered to the surrounding vehicle, to the first surrounding vehicle through the V2V communication and transmits the information to be delivered, when a second surrounding vehicle with which the V2V communication is not available exists, to a communication network through the V2N communication.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to vehicles such as automobiles. [Background technology]

[0002] There are known technologies for transmitting and receiving information about a vehicle using V2I (Vehicle to Infrastructure) communication, which involves wireless communication between a vehicle and a roadside unit, and V2N (Vehicle to Network) communication, which involves wireless communication between a vehicle and a communication network (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-524932 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a demand for prompt transmission of information to be notified to surrounding vehicles (for example, a vehicle behind) such as information about a fallen object ahead of the vehicle's travel path.

[0005] However, V2N communication has the problem that there are cases where radio waves cannot reach the base station and wireless communication with the base station is not possible. In such cases, information cannot be transmitted until the vehicle moves to a location where radio waves can reach. Another problem with V2I communication is the high installation costs of communication equipment such as roadside units. Furthermore, both V2N and V2I communication have the problem of delays in information transmission because they require communication networks or communication equipment such as roadside units.

[0006] As described above, with the conventional technology, it has been difficult for a vehicle to quickly transmit information that should be communicated to surrounding vehicles to those vehicles.

[0007] The embodiments of the present invention have been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and make it easy for a vehicle to quickly transmit information to nearby vehicles that should be notified to those nearby vehicles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a V2V communication unit configured to perform V2V communication, a V2N communication unit configured to perform V2N communication, and A first detection unit configured to detect fallen objects ahead of the traveling path, and a rear detection unit configured to detect fallen objects ahead of the traveling path, configured to detect a vehicle Second A detection unit, backward a confirmation unit configured to confirm whether the V2V communication with the vehicle is possible; Falling object detected At this time, the first vehicle capable of V2V communication backward If there is a vehicle, Falling objects The information is transmitted to the first V2V communication backward Transmitted to vehicle At the same time, The second vehicle in which V2V communication is not possible backward If there is a vehicle, Falling objects Information is transmitted via V2N communication. , and transmits the information to a server on the Internet that provides information about the falling object. a communication control unit for a display control unit that notifies a driver of the presence of a fallen object based on the received information about the fallen object when the V2V communication unit or the V2N communication unit receives information about the fallen object detected by another vehicle; and It has. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the embodiment of the present invention, it becomes easy for a vehicle to quickly transmit information to nearby vehicles that should be notified to the nearby vehicles. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a vehicle according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a communication process of a vehicle according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, the present embodiment (embodiment of the present invention) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] <Communication System Overview> 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a communication system according to this embodiment. The communication system 1 is a system in which a vehicle 10, such as an automobile, quickly transmits information to be notified to surrounding vehicles, such as information about a fallen object 2 ahead on the road, to surrounding vehicles such as a rear vehicle 20A and a rear vehicle 20B. Here, as an example for the purpose of explanation, the following description will be given assuming that the rear vehicle 20A is a vehicle capable of V2V (Vehicle to Vehicle) communication, and the rear vehicle 20B is a vehicle capable of V2N communication but not capable of V2V communication.

[0013] Here, V2V communication is wireless communication that allows direct transmission of data between vehicles (vehicle-to-vehicle) without going through a base station, roadside device, etc. V2V communication is wireless communication based on a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) such as IEEE802.11p, for example, but is not limited to this.

[0014] V2N communication is wireless communication that connects a vehicle 10 to a communication network 30 such as the Internet using wide-area wireless communication such as LTE and 5G, and transmits data with cloud services, management servers, other vehicles, etc. on the communication network 30.

[0015] Here, an overview of the processing of the communication system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. For example, in step S1 of Fig. 1, it is assumed that the vehicle 10 detects a fallen object 2 ahead on the road using a camera or the like.

[0016] In step S2, when the vehicle 10 detects the fallen object 2, the vehicle 10 uses a camera provided in the vehicle 10 or a three-dimensional sensor such as a LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) or a millimeter-wave radar to detect surrounding vehicles around the vehicle 10. In the example of FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 detects a rear vehicle 20A, a rear vehicle 20B, etc. traveling behind the vehicle 10.

[0017] In step S3, the vehicle 10 checks whether V2V communication with the detected surrounding vehicle is possible. For example, the vehicle 10 determines that V2V communication is possible with the rear vehicle 20A that transmitted a response through a communication test by V2V communication.

[0018] In step S4, if there is a nearby vehicle (first nearby vehicle) capable of V2V communication, the vehicle 10 transmits the falling object information to the nearby vehicle via V2V communication. In the example of FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 transmits (transmits) the falling object information to the following vehicle 20A, which is also capable of V2V communication, via V2V communication. Here, the falling object information includes, for example, information indicating the position of the falling object 2 (coordinate information, lane information, etc.), or image data of the falling object 2. As a result, the following vehicle 20A can display the position of the falling object 2 or an image of the falling object 2 on, for example, an in-vehicle display, to alert the driver to the falling object 2.

[0019] In step S5, if there is a nearby vehicle (second nearby vehicle) for which V2V communication is not possible, the vehicle 10 transmits (transmits) the falling object information by V2N communication. For example, the vehicle 10 transmits the falling object information by V2N communication to a management server (or a cloud service) or the like that manages road information and the like on the communication network 30. The management server or the like provides the falling object information and the like to vehicles that are in the vicinity of the falling object 2 among the vehicles that have requested acquisition of road information, based on information indicating the position of the falling object 2 included in the falling object information received from the vehicle 10.

[0020] In step S6, the following vehicle 20B receives the falling object information through V2N communication. For example, the following vehicle 20b requests a management server or the like to acquire surrounding road information based on current position information or the like, and acquires the road information including the falling object information from the management server or the like. As a result, the following vehicle 20B can notify the driver of the presence of the falling object 2 by displaying the position of the falling object 2 or an image of the falling object 2 on an in-vehicle display or the like.

[0021] According to the communication system 1 of this embodiment, even in a place where radio waves from a base station cannot reach, such as a tunnel, the vehicle 10 can quickly notify surrounding vehicles capable of V2V communication of information that should be notified to surrounding vehicles, such as information about a fallen object. Furthermore, the vehicle 10 can use V2V communication to provide information that should be notified to surrounding vehicles, such as information about a fallen object, to surrounding vehicles that are not capable of V2V communication.

[0022] The fallen object information is an example of information to be notified to nearby vehicles. For example, the information to be notified to nearby vehicles may be various information such as information about a broken-down vehicle parked on the road, information about an accident vehicle on the road, information about people, animals, birds, etc. on the road, information about road construction, information about a depression in the road, etc.

[0023] <Functional configuration> FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the vehicle according to this embodiment.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle 10 according to this embodiment includes, for example, a camera 201, a sensor 202, a V2N communication unit 203, a V2V communication unit 204, a display unit 205, a control unit 210, and the like.

[0025] The camera 201 is one or more cameras that capture images of the periphery of the vehicle 10. The sensor 202 is a three-dimensional sensor that acquires three-dimensional data of the periphery of the vehicle 10, such as a LiDAR or a millimeter wave radar.

[0026] The V2V communication unit 204 is a wireless device, a wireless module, a wireless communication device, or the like that performs V2V communication. The V2N communication unit 203 is a wireless device, a wireless module, a wireless communication device, or the like that performs V2N communication. Note that the V2V communication unit 204 and the V2N communication unit may be a single V2X (Vehicle to Everything) communication unit, or the like. The display unit 205 is a display device such as a display that displays, for example, a navigation screen, a content screen, a vehicle information display screen, a vehicle information setting screen, or the like.

[0027] The control unit 210 is, for example, an electronic control unit (ECU) equipped with a computer configuration such as a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, a storage device, an interface, etc. The control unit 210 realizes a detection unit 211, a confirmation unit 212, a communication control unit 213, a display control unit 214, etc. by causing the CPU to execute a program stored in a storage medium such as a memory or a storage device.

[0028] The detection unit 211 executes a detection process to detect surrounding vehicles around the vehicle 10, for example, using the camera 201, the sensor 202, etc. The detection unit 211 also detects fallen objects 2 and the like ahead of the traveling path of the vehicle 10, for example, using the camera 201, the sensor 202, etc. Alternatively, the vehicle 10 may have a detection unit other than the detection unit 211 that detects fallen objects 2 and the like ahead of the traveling path.

[0029] The confirmation unit 212 executes a confirmation process to confirm whether V2V communication is possible with surrounding vehicles around the vehicle 10. For example, the confirmation unit 212 transmits request information such as a connection request to the surrounding vehicles via V2V communication, and determines that V2V communication is possible for the surrounding vehicles that have responded. Alternatively, the confirmation unit 212 may receive vehicle information, etc. that is broadcast by the surrounding vehicles via V2V communication, and determine that V2V communication is possible for the surrounding vehicles that are broadcasting vehicle information, etc. via V2V communication.

[0030] The communication control unit 213 controls the V2V communication unit 204 to perform V2V communication with surrounding vehicles. The communication control unit 213 also controls the V2N communication unit 203 to connect the vehicle 10 to the communication network 30 and communicate with, for example, a cloud service, a management server, or another vehicle on the communication network 30.

[0031] For example, when there is information to be notified to the surrounding vehicles and there is a first surrounding vehicle capable of V2V communication, the communication control unit 213 transmits (sends) the information to be notified to the first surrounding vehicle by V2V communication. Also, when there is information to be notified to the surrounding vehicles and there is a second surrounding vehicle not capable of V2V communication, the communication control unit 213 transmits (sends) the information to be notified to the communication network 30 by V2V communication. For example, the communication control unit 213 transmits the information to be notified to the above-mentioned cloud service, management server, etc. by V2V communication.

[0032] When the V2V communication unit 204 or the V2N communication unit 203 receives falling object information, the display control unit 214 executes a display control process to display the position of the falling object 2 or an image of the falling object 2 on the display unit 205 based on the received falling object information.

[0033] <Processing flow> Next, the processing flow of the communication method according to this embodiment will be described.

[0034] 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a communication process of a vehicle according to this embodiment. This process shows an example of a communication process that is repeatedly executed by the vehicle 10 having the functional configuration described in FIG.

[0035] In step S301, the control unit 210 of the vehicle 10 determines whether there is information to be notified to the surrounding vehicles. If there is information to be notified to the surrounding vehicles, the control unit 210 shifts the process to step S302. On the other hand, if there is no information to be notified to the surrounding vehicles, the control unit 210 ends the process of FIG. 3.

[0036] When the process proceeds to step S302, the detection unit 211 of the control unit 210 detects surrounding vehicles around the vehicle 10. For example, the detection unit 211 uses the camera 201, the sensor 202, etc. to detect a rear vehicle traveling behind the vehicle 10. Note that the detection unit 211 may further use the V2V communication unit 204 to detect surrounding vehicles.

[0037] In step S303, the control unit 210 branches the process depending on whether or not there is a nearby vehicle. If there is a nearby vehicle, the control unit 210 shifts the process to step S304. On the other hand, if there is no nearby vehicle, the control unit 210 ends the process of Fig. 3. As another example, if there is no nearby vehicle, the control unit 210 may shift the process to step S308.

[0038] In step S304, the confirmation unit 212 of the control unit 210 confirms whether V2V communication is possible with respect to the nearby vehicle detected by the detection unit 211. For example, the confirmation unit 212 uses the V2V communication unit 204 to transmit request information for V2V communication, such as a connection request, and determines that a vehicle that transmits a response to the request information via V2V communication is capable of V2V communication. Alternatively, the confirmation unit 212 may monitor vehicle information broadcast by nearby vehicles, and identify nearby vehicles capable of V2V communication.

[0039] In step S305, the communication control unit 213 of the control unit 210 branches the process depending on whether or not there is a nearby vehicle (first nearby vehicle) capable of V2V communication. If there is a nearby vehicle capable of V2V communication, the communication control unit 213 shifts the process to step S306. On the other hand, if there is no nearby vehicle capable of V2V communication, the communication control unit 213 shifts the process to step S307.

[0040] In step S306, the communication control unit 213 transmits (transmits) the information to be notified to a nearby vehicle (first nearby vehicle) capable of V2V communication via V2V communication. Note that the communication control unit 213 may broadcast the information to be notified, or may transmit the information to the nearby vehicle that has returned a response to the request information.

[0041] In step S307, the communication control unit 213 determines whether or not there are any surrounding vehicles (second surrounding vehicles) with which V2V communication is not possible. For example, if the number of surrounding vehicles detected by the detection unit 211 is greater than the number of surrounding vehicles with which V2V communication is possible confirmed by the confirmation unit 212, the communication control unit 213 may determine that there are any surrounding vehicles with which V2V communication is not possible.

[0042] If there is a nearby vehicle for which V2V communication is not possible, the communication control unit 213 shifts the process to step S308. On the other hand, if there is no nearby vehicle for which V2V communication is not possible, the communication control unit 213 ends the process of FIG.

[0043] In step S308, the communication control unit 213 transmits (transmits) the information to be notified by V2N communication. For example, the communication control unit 213 transmits the information to be notified to a predetermined destination such as a cloud service or a management server on the communication network 30 by V2N communication.

[0044] The process in Figure 3 makes it easy for the vehicle 10 to quickly transmit information to be notified to surrounding vehicles. For example, the vehicle 10 according to this embodiment directly communicates with surrounding vehicles capable of V2V communication, and therefore can transmit information to be notified to surrounding vehicles even in places where radio waves from a base station cannot reach, such as tunnels, while suppressing delays. Furthermore, the vehicle 10 can transmit information to be notified to surrounding vehicles that are not capable of V2V communication via V2N communication.

[0045] Even if there are neighboring vehicles that are not capable of V2V communication between vehicle 10 and neighboring vehicles that are capable of V2V communication, vehicle 10 can transmit information to be notified to the neighboring vehicles that are capable of V2V communication. Furthermore, communication system 1 may use an intermediate vehicle that is capable of V2V communication as a relay station to transmit information to be notified to neighboring vehicles in an even wider range.

[0046] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications, changes, or applications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1. Communication Systems 10 vehicles 20A, 20B Rear vehicle (example of surrounding vehicle) 30 Communication Network 203 V2N Communications Department 204 V2V Communication Department 211 Detection unit 212 Verification Department 213 Communication Control Unit

Claims

[Claim 1] A V2V communication unit configured to perform V2V communication; A V2N communication unit configured to perform V2N communication; a first detection unit configured to detect a fallen object ahead on the travel path; a second detection unit configured to detect a rear vehicle traveling behind the vehicle; a confirmation unit configured to confirm whether the V2V communication with the rear vehicle is possible; a communication control unit that, when the fallen object is detected, if there is a first rear vehicle capable of V2V communication, transmits information about the fallen object to the first rear vehicle by V2V communication, and, if there is a second rear vehicle not capable of V2V communication, transmits information about the fallen object by V2N communication to a server that provides information about the fallen object on the Internet; a display control unit that notifies a driver of the presence of a fallen object based on the received information about the fallen object when the V2V communication unit or the V2N communication unit receives information about the fallen object detected by another vehicle; and A vehicle having:

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