Vehicle management device and vehicle management method

Abstract

To provide a vehicle management device and a vehicle management method that can add another vehicle which is advantageous to a rank-traveling group to the rank-traveling group.SOLUTION: In a vehicle management system which manages a plurality of vehicles as objects to travel in ranks, a server 1 has a controller 10 which manages the vehicles as the objects to travel in ranks based upon input information input by users of the vehicles. The controller 10 is configured to specify the plurality of rank-traveling vehicles as the objects to travel in ranks based upon the input information, generate a rank-traveling group including the plurality of specified rank-traveling vehicles; calculate vehicle attributes of a desired vehicle that the generated rank-traveling group desires; and generate a new rank-traveling group including other vehicles having the same vehicle attributes as the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle management device and a vehicle management method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a platooning system for causing a plurality of vehicles to travel in a platoon has been known (for example, Patent Document 1). The system described in Patent Document 1 receives the destination and departure date of the leading vehicle as the leading request conditions, receives the destination and departure date of the following vehicle as the following request conditions, matches the leading vehicle and the following vehicle so that the departure dates of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle match, and transmits the result of the matching between the leading vehicle and the following vehicle to the user terminal of the leading request user and the user terminal of the following request user.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the above platooning system does not add a new vehicle to the platooning group after generating a platooning group including the matched vehicles by matching the leading vehicle and the following vehicle from the request conditions. Therefore, there is a problem that even if another vehicle that is advantageous to the platooning group wishes to join the queue, the other vehicle cannot join the platooning group.

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a vehicle management device and a vehicle management method capable of adding another vehicle that is advantageous to the platooning group to the platooning group.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention solves the above problem by identifying multiple vehicles to be used in a convoy based on input information entered by the user, generating a convoy group, selecting a desired vehicle that is advantageous to the generated convoy group, calculating the performance and characteristics of the selected desired vehicle as the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle, and generating a new convoy group including other vehicles that have the same vehicle attributes as the desired vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, another vehicle that is advantageous to the platooning group can be added to the platooning group. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle management system including a vehicle management device in this embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the display screen of user terminal 2. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of vehicle management in the controller. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] An embodiment of the vehicle management device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle management system including a vehicle control device and a user terminal according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle management system 100 has a server 1 and a user terminal 2. The vehicle management system is a system for managing multiple vehicles that are the subject of platooning. Platooning is a form of driving in which multiple vehicles travel in a line, maintaining a predetermined distance between them. By multiple vehicles traveling in a platoon, the energy consumption rate of the vehicles (so-called fuel consumption or electric power consumption) is reduced. In addition, if the platoon vehicles have an automatic driving function, the following vehicles can reach their destination by following the platoon vehicle using the automatic driving function. This also reduces the driving load on the drivers.

[0010] Server 1 is connected to multiple user terminals 2 via an internet connection, enabling communication. Server 1 manages all users and vehicles using this system. Server 1 may also communicate with the vehicles under its management. Based on information entered by the vehicle users, Server 1 manages multiple vehicles that are the target of platooning. Server 1 also collects vehicles that are the target of platooning and generates platooning groups. Furthermore, after generating platooning groups, Server 1 recruits other vehicles that would be beneficial to the vehicles belonging to the platooning groups. In other words, Server 1 calculates the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicles that the platooning groups want, and recruits other vehicles with the calculated vehicle attributes to be included in the platooning groups. Then, Server 1 includes vehicles with the same vehicle attributes as the desired vehicles from among the recruited vehicles and generates new platooning groups.

[0011] Server 1 comprises a controller 10 and a database 20. The controller 10 manages input information entered by users, information related to platooning groups, etc., in the database 20, and manages the vehicles that are the target of platooning. The controller 10 has functions for managing user registration information, functions for managing events, and functions for managing the vehicles that are the target of platooning, and has functional blocks that have each of these functions: a user information management unit 11, an event management unit 12, and a vehicle management unit 13. The controller 10 has memory for storing programs and a processor for executing programs, and the processor executes the programs stored in memory, etc., to perform each function of the functional block. Note that the controller 10 may have other functions in addition to the functions of each functional block.

[0012] The User Information Management Unit 11 manages the registration information of users who use the vehicle management system. When a user uses the vehicle management system, they perform initial registration. During initial registration, in addition to the user's personal information, the user registers vehicle information of the vehicle they will be riding in. The registered vehicle information includes the vehicle's make and model. The User Information Management Unit 11 stores the input information entered during initial registration in the database 20.

[0013] Furthermore, after initial registration, if a user wishes to participate in platooning using the vehicle management system, the user operates user terminal 2 and enters their desired information to express their desire to participate. The desired information includes information indicating the desired conditions for specifying the desired platoon, such as destination, departure point, desired arrival time at the destination, desired departure time from the departure point, and driving time. The user information management unit 11 stores the desired information entered from user terminal 2 in database 20. In addition, the user may also wish to participate in platooning by specifying an event described later, instead of a destination. The desired information may also include information related to the event described later.

[0014] The event management unit 12 manages event information. An event is a gathering of multiple users at a specific location. Event information is entered by the event organizer (user) and includes information such as the event location, date and time, and number of participants. Because events take place at a specific location at a specific time, each user participating in the event will have the same destination and desired arrival time. Therefore, when event participants travel to the event location by vehicle, energy consumption can be reduced by driving in a convoy. In this embodiment, vehicle management for convoy driving and event information management are centralized on server 1 to improve the efficiency of vehicle management and the usability of the system.

[0015] When the event management unit 12 receives a command from the event initiator via operation of the user terminal 2 to initiate an event, it displays an event registration screen on the user terminal 2's display and requests the initiator to input event information. The event management unit 12 stores the event information entered by the initiator in the database 20 and manages the event information for each event. The event information includes the date and time of the event, the location, the event details, etc. The event management unit 12 creates a bulletin board (BBS) to recruit users to participate in events with convoy vehicles so that users can search for events. The bulletin board displays the event information entered by the initiator and event-related information provided by the system (for example, the route, the number of participants, the number of vehicles participating in the convoy, etc.). Users can check the event bulletin board by operating the user terminal 2 to see events that are recruiting participants for convoy driving. Users can also access the database 20 by operating the user terminal 2 to search for desired events.

[0016] If the desired event is managed in database 20, the user sends a participation request to server 1 indicating their intention to participate in the convoy ride. If the vehicle management unit 13, described later, approves the participation request, the event management unit 12 stores the vehicle information of the user who submitted the participation request in database 20 as part of the event information, along with the vehicle to be used in the convoy for the event. The event management unit 12 may also store the route to the event venue, the number of participants in the event, etc., in database 20 as part of the event information.

[0017] The vehicle management unit 13 has a function for generating platooning groups, a function for calculating the vehicle attributes of desired vehicles, a recruitment function for soliciting participation in platooning groups, and an update function for updating platooning groups. Each function is described below.

[0018] (Formation function for creating convoy groups) The vehicle management unit 13 identifies multiple convoy vehicles that are eligible for convoy driving based on information entered by the user. Specifically, the vehicle management unit 13 identifies the user's desired conditions for participating in the convoy from the information entered by the user. Desired conditions are indicated by the user's destination, arrival time, planned event participation, and driving time. The vehicle management unit 13 matches users who have the same destination and desired arrival time to the destination, and if the matched users wish to participate in convoy driving, it identifies the vehicle of the user who wishes to participate as a convoy vehicle (vehicle wishing to participate in convoy driving). In addition, if users wish to participate in the same event, the vehicle management unit 13 may identify the vehicles of users participating in the common event as convoy vehicles.

[0019] The vehicle management unit 13 generates a convoy driving group by grouping together multiple identified convoy vehicles. Vehicles belonging to the convoy driving group will travel to their destination in a convoy. After generating the convoy driving group, the vehicle management unit 13 registers information about the convoy driving group on the bulletin board. In fact, information about events held near a common destination may be added to the bulletin board. That is, when the destinations of a plurality of convoy vehicles included in the convoy driving group are the same, the vehicle management unit 13 may present information about the event to the users of the convoy vehicles. As a result, the user can check the content of the event held near the destination by checking the bulletin board. When another user wishes to participate in convoy driving after checking the bulletin board, the vehicle management unit 13 identifies the vehicle of the user who wishes to participate as a convoy vehicle and includes the new convoy vehicle in the convoy driving group. That is, the vehicle management unit 13 identifies convoy vehicles and generates a convoy driving group based on the desired conditions of the convoy input by the user.

[0020] In addition, the vehicle management unit 13 determines the arrangement order of the convoy vehicles forming the convoy within the generated convoy driving group. The vehicle management unit 13 does not need to determine the arrangement order of all the convoy vehicles included in the group, and it may only determine at least the leading vehicle. For example, the vehicle management unit 13 determines the leading vehicle of the convoy driving group according to the energy consumption rates of the plurality of convoy vehicles. The following vehicles following other vehicles have a lower energy consumption rate because of the smaller air resistance. Therefore, for the leading vehicle with a large air resistance, the vehicle with the smallest energy consumption rate among all the convoy vehicles in the convoy driving group is used as the leading vehicle. Thereby, the overall energy consumption rate of the convoy vehicles can be suppressed.

[0021] In addition, when the vehicle management unit 13 determines the arrangement order of the convoy vehicles forming the convoy, if the leading vehicle is a large vehicle, the convoy vehicles that wish to travel with the air circulation inside the vehicle set to the internal air circulation may be used as the following vehicles following the leading vehicle. When following immediately behind a large vehicle, the environment outside the vehicle may not be good due to dust, etc. behind the large vehicle. Therefore, when the user designates setting the internal air circulation as one of the desired conditions, the vehicle management unit 13 uses the convoy vehicle of the user as the following vehicle of the leading vehicle.

[0022] (Function for calculating the vehicle attributes of a desired vehicle) The vehicle management unit 13 calculates the vehicle attributes of a desired vehicle desired by the platooning group. The desired vehicle is a vehicle that is advantageous to the platooning group and is selected on the server side. The advantages for the platooning group include that by adding another vehicle to the platooning group, the overall energy consumption rate of the platooning vehicles included in the group is suppressed, or the driving performance, safety performance, or comfort of the platooning vehicles is enhanced. Specifically, when the vehicle management unit 13 generates a platooning group based on the user's desired conditions for joining the platoon, it identifies the energy consumption rate of the platooning vehicles included in the platooning group and / or various functions of the platooning vehicles. Then, the vehicle management unit 13 selects a desired vehicle for the existing platooning group such that the energy consumption rate of the plurality of platooning vehicles is reduced, the functions of the plurality of platooning vehicles are enhanced, or a new function not available in the functions of the plurality of platooning vehicles is added. Hereinafter, specific examples of the desired vehicle will be described.

[0023] For example, when all the platooning vehicles included in the platooning group are ordinary vehicles and / or light automobiles, by using a large vehicle (a vehicle larger than the platooning vehicles) as the leading vehicle, during the driving of the platooning vehicles, the air resistance of the following vehicles located behind the leading vehicle is suppressed, so the energy consumption rate is suppressed. In such a case, the vehicle management unit 13 selects a large vehicle as the desired vehicle. For example, when all the platooning vehicles included in the platooning group are electric vehicles and / or hybrid vehicles, similar to the current platooning vehicles, by adding electric vehicles and / or hybrid vehicles to the platooning vehicles, the overall energy consumption rate of the platooning group can be further suppressed. In such a case, the vehicle management unit 13 selects an electric vehicle and / or a hybrid vehicle as the desired vehicle.

[0024] For example, if all vehicles in a platoon are engine-powered vehicles, the overall energy consumption of the platoon can be reduced by using an electric vehicle and / or hybrid vehicle, which have lower energy consumption rates than engine-powered vehicles, as the lead vehicle. In such cases, the vehicle management unit 13 selects an electric vehicle and / or hybrid vehicle as the desired vehicle. For example, if the lead vehicle of a platoon is a large vehicle, the energy consumption can be reduced by using smaller vehicles (e.g., regular cars, kei cars) as the following vehicles. In such cases, the vehicle management unit 13 selects vehicles smaller than the large vehicle as the desired vehicles.

[0025] For example, if none of the vehicles in a platooning group have the capability to transmit forward camera footage to other vehicles via vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, designating one vehicle with this capability as the lead vehicle allows the other vehicles in the platooning group to receive forward camera footage from the lead vehicle via V2V communication, enabling them to view the footage ahead of the lead vehicle. In other words, even when other vehicles are driving in front of the following vehicles, the platooning group can still see the footage ahead.

[0026] For example, if all vehicles in a platooning group do not have advanced safety features, or if some vehicles in the platooning group do not have advanced safety features, adding a vehicle with these features to the platooning group can improve the driving safety performance of the other vehicles following the vehicle with the advanced safety features. In such cases, the vehicle management unit 13 selects the vehicle with the advanced safety features as the desired vehicle. These driving safety features include hazard avoidance functions, distance control functions, lane departure prevention functions, etc.

[0027] The vehicle management unit 13, upon selecting a desired vehicle, calculates the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle. The vehicle attributes are the performance and characteristics of the desired vehicle and are represented by at least one of the following elements: the vehicle's energy consumption rate, vehicle type, vehicle dimensions, vehicle weight, vehicle functions, and vehicle performance. The vehicle's functions are one of the following: driving safety functions, communication functions, imaging functions, navigation functions, and charging station search functions. The vehicle's performance is one of the following: exhaust performance, environmental performance, straight-line stability performance, steering stability performance, braking performance, acceleration / deceleration performance, and off-road performance.

[0028] For example, if the desired vehicle is selected to reduce energy consumption, the vehicle attributes will be indicated by energy consumption rate, vehicle type, dimensions, weight, or performance. For example, if the desired vehicle is selected to enhance the functionality of the platooning vehicle, or to add a new function that is not present in the platooning vehicle, the vehicle attributes will be indicated by the functions the vehicle possesses. Note that vehicle attributes are not limited to numerical values ​​such as fuel efficiency or weight, but may also be indicated by the type of function. In this way, the vehicle management unit 13 first generates platooning groups based on the user's desired conditions. Then, the vehicle management unit 13 selects desired vehicles that will be advantageous to existing platooning groups through selection on the server (system) side, and calculates the vehicle attributes of the selected desired vehicles.

[0029] (Recruitment function to invite people to join a convoy riding group) The Vehicle Management Department 13 initiates a recruitment drive for desired vehicles in order to add other vehicles with the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle to an existing platooning group. For example, the Vehicle Management Department 13 posts a notice on the bulletin board via the Event Management Department 12 that it is recruiting desired vehicles.

[0030] After calculating the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle, the vehicle management unit 13, based on the input information entered by the user, receives a request to participate in a convoy, or if the user is viewing the bulletin board for convoy participation, it refers to the database 20 to obtain vehicle information corresponding to the user. Since the user accesses the system by operating the user terminal 2, the vehicle management unit 13 refers to the database 20 using the user's login information to obtain the vehicle information of the currently logged-in user. The vehicle of the logged-in user then becomes the desired vehicle.

[0031] The vehicle management unit 13 identifies the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle from the vehicle information at the time of initial registration. The vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle are information that corresponds to the vehicle attributes of the requested vehicle. The vehicle management unit 13 determines whether the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle and the vehicle attributes of the requested vehicle match. If the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle include the vehicle attributes of the requested vehicle, the vehicle management unit 13 determines that the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle match the vehicle attributes of the requested vehicle. If the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle do not include the vehicle attributes of the requested vehicle, the vehicle management unit 13 determines that the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle do not match the vehicle attributes of the requested vehicle.

[0032] If the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle match those of the requested vehicle, the vehicle management unit 13 prioritizes displaying information about the convoy group recruiting the matched desired vehicle on the display screen viewed by the user of the desired vehicle. The vehicle management unit 13 prioritizes displaying the convoy group by, for example, changing the display format of the bulletin board or changing the display on the user terminal 2's display so that the user recognizes that their vehicle is the desired vehicle. Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the display screen of the user terminal 2's display when a convoy group is prioritized. Figure 2 shows a bulletin board.

[0033] The event management unit 12 creates a bulletin board as shown in Figure 2 and displays it on the display screen of the user terminal 2. In the example in Figure 2, two events that meet the user's desired conditions—departure date and time, departure location, and desired event—are displayed. Let's assume that the user viewing the screen in Figure 2 registers "regular car" as the vehicle attribute. The vehicle management unit 13 generates multiple platooning groups from the departure date and time, departure location, and desired event, and two existing platooning groups are displayed in Figure 2. Let's assume that the vehicle management unit 13 calculates the vehicle attribute of the desired vehicle in platooning group 1 as a regular car, and the vehicle attribute of the desired vehicle in platooning group 2 as a large vehicle. The vehicle management unit 13 displays on the bulletin board that platooning group 1 is recruiting regular cars, and that platooning group 2 is recruiting large vehicles. In this case, the vehicle management unit 13 prioritizes displaying in the event display for platooning group 1 that the vehicle attributes registered by the user match the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle (recruiting vehicle). In the example in Figure 2, the priority display corresponds to the display of the event information display surrounded by a thick line and the display of the string "System-recommended group". On the other hand, the vehicle management unit 13 does not prioritize display in the event display for platooning group 2.

[0034] By checking the event bulletin board with priority display as shown in Figure 2, users can easily understand that convoy group 1 is a group recommended by the system from among convoy groups that meet their desired conditions. In addition, by displaying priority as shown in Figure 2, other vehicles that would be advantageous to an existing convoy group are more likely to join the convoy group. Note that the priority display does not necessarily have to be in the form shown in Figure 2; other display forms are also acceptable, or priority can be achieved by displaying event or convoy information at the top when a user searches for events or convoy groups that match their desired conditions.

[0035] (Update function to update convoy driving groups) When an event bulletin board with priority display is shown and a user inputs an operation indicating acceptance of participation in the convoy, the vehicle management unit 13 confirms the acceptance of participation and adds the vehicle of the user who accepted participation to the convoy group, thereby creating a new convoy group. This updates the convoy group. The vehicle management unit 13 may also request approval for participation of the desired vehicle from users of multiple convoy vehicles if the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle match those of the desired vehicle. In other words, if a user of a desired vehicle whose vehicle attributes match those of the desired vehicle performs an operation indicating acceptance of participation in the convoy, the vehicle management unit 13 asks users of multiple convoy vehicles included in the existing convoy group whether or not to accept the participation of the desired vehicle. The vehicle management unit 13 then asks users whether or not to accept the participation of the desired vehicle, and if the number of acceptances is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, it may add the desired vehicle to the convoy group, thereby creating a new convoy group.

[0036] Database 20 stores user registration information, user vehicle information, preference information indicating the conditions of the convoy the user wishes to participate in, event information, event-related information, and information about convoy driving groups.

[0037] Next, with reference to Figure 3, the vehicle management method performed by the controller 10 will be described. Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of vehicle management by the controller 10.

[0038] In step S1, the event management unit 12 acquires event information based on the operation of the user terminal 2 by the event initiator. In step S2, the event management unit 12 creates a bulletin board for recruiting participants to travel to the event venue in a convoy. In step S3, the vehicle management unit 13 identifies vehicles of users who wish to participate in the same event as convoy vehicles at a predetermined time after the bulletin board has been created. The predetermined time is, for example, a few days before the event date. The vehicle management unit 13 may also identify convoy vehicles based on other desired conditions, such as destination and desired arrival time at the destination, instead of the event.

[0039] In step S4, the vehicle management unit 13 generates a convoy group by grouping the identified convoy vehicles. In step S5, the vehicle management unit 13 calculates the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicles for the convoy group. In step S6, the vehicle management unit 13 starts recruiting desired vehicles. In step S7, the vehicle management unit 13 obtains vehicle information of the desired vehicles that wish to be in the convoy. In step S8, the vehicle management unit 13 refers to the database 20 and identifies the attributes of the desired vehicles.

[0040] In step S9, the vehicle management unit 13 determines whether the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle match those of the requested vehicle. If the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle match those of the requested vehicle, in step S10, the vehicle management unit 13 prioritizes displaying the matching requested vehicle on the display screen of the user terminal 2 as a convoy group recruiting it. On the other hand, if the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle do not match those of the requested vehicle, in step S11, the vehicle management unit 13 does not prioritize displaying the convoy group.

[0041] In step S12, the vehicle management unit 13 confirms the user's acceptance of joining the convoy based on their input. In step S13, the vehicle management unit 13 adds the vehicle of the user who accepted the participation to the convoy group, thereby creating a new convoy group. The vehicle management unit 13 updates the bulletin board to reflect the updated convoy group information. Then, the controller 10 terminates the control flow shown in Figure 3.

[0042] As described above, in this embodiment, the controller 10 identifies a plurality of vehicles that are to be driven in a convoy based on input information entered by the user, generates a convoy group containing the identified plurality of vehicles, calculates the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle desired by the generated convoy group, and generates a new convoy group including other vehicles that have the same vehicle attributes as the desired vehicle. This makes it possible to add other vehicles that would be advantageous to the convoy group to the convoy group.

[0043] In this embodiment, the controller 10 identifies the vehicle attributes of the vehicle that wishes to participate in platooning based on the input information entered by the user, matches the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle with the vehicle attributes of the requested vehicle, and if the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle and the vehicle attributes of the requested vehicle match, the controller 10 prioritizes displaying information of the platooning group that is recruiting the requested vehicle on the display screen viewed by the user of the desired vehicle. This allows the user to easily confirm that the platooning group is the one they wish to join and is also the platooning group recommended by the server.

[0044] In this embodiment, the controller 10 identifies a desired vehicle in order to reduce the energy consumption rate of the multiple platoon vehicles, to enhance the functionality of the multiple platoon vehicles, or to add a new function that is not present in the functionality of the multiple platoon vehicles. This makes it possible to add another vehicle that would be advantageous to the platoon group to the platoon group.

[0045] In this embodiment, the controller 10 identifies the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle to participate in platooning based on the input information entered by the user, matches the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle with the vehicle attributes of the requested vehicle, and if the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle and the vehicle attributes of the requested vehicle match, generates a new platooning group including the desired vehicle. This makes it possible to add another vehicle that would be advantageous to the platooning group to the platooning group.

[0046] As a variation of this embodiment, the controller 10 confirms with the user whether or not to allow a vehicle swap between the lead vehicle and the following vehicles in the platooning group, and if the user allows the vehicle swap, it presents the user with the timing for the vehicle swap. After generating the platooning group, the vehicle management unit 13 calculates the route to the destination of the platooning group. Based on the travel time, travel distance, and one of the travel route, the vehicle management unit 13 calculates which vehicles in the platooning group are to be swapped and the timing of the swap.

[0047] For example, if the route includes a long uphill section and a long flat section, depending on the vehicle's performance and functions, some vehicles will have lower energy consumption when driving uphill, while others will have lower energy consumption when driving on flat sections. Therefore, the vehicle management unit 13 swaps the lead vehicle and the following vehicles in accordance with the timing of changes in the road characteristics of the route (for example, when the road changes from a flat section to an uphill section) so that the overall energy consumption of the convoy vehicles is reduced. Also, for example, if the driving time or distance of one lead vehicle becomes long, the driver of that lead vehicle will become more fatigued. Therefore, the vehicle management unit 13 swaps the lead vehicle and the following vehicles in accordance with the timing when the driving time or distance of one lead vehicle exceeds a predetermined value. The vehicle management unit 13 then presents the swap of convoy vehicles to the users of multiple convoy vehicles. The vehicle management unit 13 may present the swap of convoy vehicles not only to the users of the vehicles to be swapped, but also to other users. Information presented for the purpose of swapping vehicles in a convoy includes the timing of the vehicle swap or information about the vehicle to be swapped. This information may be presented before or after the convoy journey. This allows users of the convoy vehicles to confirm that a vehicle swap is planned during the convoy journey, or the timing of the vehicle swap.

[0048] As a variation of this embodiment, the controller 10 may provide incentives to the user corresponding to the initiator of the platooning group, and / or to the user of the lead vehicle of the platooning group. The initiator of the platooning group corresponds to the initiator of the event. The incentives may be, for example, a discount on the usage fee of the vehicle management system. When providing incentives to the initiator, the initiator does not have to be the user of the lead vehicle; it may be a user of a following vehicle.

[0049] As a variation of this embodiment, if multiple platoons have vehicle-to-vehicle communication capabilities, the controller 10 may inform users of the platoon vehicles that have vehicle-to-vehicle communication capabilities that they can communicate with each other using the vehicle-to-vehicle communication capabilities. This allows users of the platoon vehicles to enjoy conversations with other users while driving in the platoon.

[0050] The embodiments described above are provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiments is intended to include all design modifications and equivalents that fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0051] 1…Server 2…User terminal 10…Controller 11…User Information Management Department 12…Event Management Department 13…Vehicle Management Department 20…Database

Claims

1. It has a controller that manages the vehicles to be used in platooning based on input information entered by the vehicle user. The aforementioned controller, Based on the input information, the system identifies multiple vehicles that will be used in a convoy, A platooning group is generated that includes the specified number of platooning vehicles. Select the desired vehicles that will be advantageous to the generated platooning group, The performance and characteristics of the selected desired vehicle are calculated as the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle. A vehicle management device that generates a new platooning group, including other vehicles having the same vehicle attributes as the aforementioned desired vehicle.

2. A vehicle management device according to claim 1, The aforementioned controller, Based on the input information, the vehicle attributes of the vehicles wishing to participate in platooning are identified. The vehicle attributes of the aforementioned desired vehicle are matched with the vehicle attributes of the aforementioned preferred vehicle. A vehicle management device that, when the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle match those of the requested vehicle, prioritizes displaying information of the convoy group that is recruiting the requested vehicle on a display screen that the user of the requested vehicle can view.

3. A vehicle management device according to claim 1 or 2, The aforementioned controller, A vehicle management device that identifies the desired vehicle in order to reduce the energy consumption rate of the multiple vehicles in the convoy, to enhance the functionality of the multiple vehicles in the convoy, or to add a new function that is not present in the functionality of the multiple vehicles in the convoy.

4. A vehicle management device according to claim 1, The aforementioned controller, Based on the input information, the vehicle attributes of the vehicles wishing to participate in platooning are identified. The vehicle attributes of the aforementioned desired vehicle are matched with the vehicle attributes of the aforementioned preferred vehicle. A vehicle management device that, when the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle match those of the requested vehicle, generates a new convoy group including the desired vehicle.

5. A vehicle management device according to claim 1 or 2, Based on the input information, the vehicle attributes of the vehicles wishing to participate in platooning are identified. The vehicle attributes of the aforementioned desired vehicle are matched with the vehicle attributes of the aforementioned preferred vehicle. The controller is a vehicle management device that, when the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle match those of the requested vehicle, requests approval from the users of the multiple convoy vehicles for the participation of the desired vehicle.

6. A vehicle management device according to claim 5, The controller is a vehicle management device that generates a new platooning group, including the desired vehicles, when the number of approvals exceeds a predetermined value.

7. A vehicle management device according to claim 1 or 2, The aforementioned controller, The user is asked whether or not they allow vehicle swapping between the lead vehicle and the following vehicles in the convoy. A vehicle management device that, if the user permits the vehicle replacement, indicates to the user the timing for replacing the vehicle.

8. A vehicle management device according to claim 1 or 2, The controller is a vehicle management device that, based on one of the following: travel time, travel distance, and travel route, presents to the users of the multiple vehicles in the convoy a vehicle swap between the lead vehicle of the convoy and the other vehicles in the convoy.

9. A vehicle management device according to claim 8, The controller is a vehicle management device that provides users of the multiple convoy vehicles with information on when to switch vehicles.

10. A vehicle management device according to claim 1 or 2, The aforementioned controller, A vehicle management device that provides incentives to a user who is equivalent to the initiator of the convoy driving group, and / or to the user of the lead vehicle of the convoy driving group.

11. A vehicle management device according to claim 1 or 2, The controller is a vehicle management device that determines the leading vehicle of the convoy group according to the energy consumption rate of the plurality of convoy vehicles.

12. A vehicle management device according to claim 1 or 2, The controller is a vehicle management device that, when the multiple platoon vehicles have vehicle-to-vehicle communication functions, informs the users of the platoon vehicles that have vehicle-to-vehicle communication functions that they can communicate with each other using the vehicle-to-vehicle communication functions.

13. A vehicle management device according to claim 1 or 2, The controller is a vehicle management device that, when the destinations of the multiple convoy vehicles are the same, presents the user with information about the event.

14. A vehicle management device according to claim 1 or 2, A vehicle management device in which the vehicle attributes are represented by at least one of the following elements: the vehicle's energy consumption rate, vehicle type, vehicle dimensions, vehicle weight, vehicle functions, and vehicle performance.

15. A vehicle management device according to claim 14, The vehicle management device has one of the following functions: driving safety function, communication function, imaging function, navigation function, and charging spot search function.

16. A vehicle management device according to claim 14, The vehicle's performance is determined by a vehicle management system that includes one of the following performance characteristics: exhaust performance, environmental performance, straight-line stability, steering stability, braking performance, acceleration / deceleration performance, and off-road capability.

17. A vehicle management method executed by a processor for managing multiple vehicles that are subject to platooning, The aforementioned processor, Based on the input information entered by the user of the aforementioned vehicle, multiple vehicles in a convoy that are to be driven in a convoy are identified, A platooning group is generated that includes the specified number of platooning vehicles. Select the desired vehicles that will be advantageous to the generated platooning group, The performance and characteristics of the selected desired vehicle are calculated as the vehicle attributes of the desired vehicle. A vehicle management method for generating a new platooning group, including other vehicles having the same vehicle attributes as the aforementioned desired vehicle.

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