Mobile object movement system, information processing method, and program

Abstract

Provided is a mobile body movement system that moves a mobile body to a remote place, wherein the accuracy in determining whether the mobile body can self-travel to a destination is improved. According to the present invention, an acquisition unit acquires information indicating a planned movement path of a power supply medium capable of supplying power to a mobile body. A calculation unit calculates a prediction value of a remaining amount of a battery of the mobile body at a second point when the mobile body is supplied with the power from the power supply medium from a first point to the second point in the planned movement path of the power supply medium. A determination unit determines a power supply medium from which the mobile body receives power so as to satisfy a condition that the mobile body can self-travel from the second point to the destination of the mobile body on the basis of the prediction value of the remaining amount of the battery at the second point.

Description

Mobile object moving system, information processing method, and recording medium

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a mobile object movement system, an information processing method, and a program, and more particularly to a mobile object movement system, an information processing method, and a program for moving a mobile object to a remote location.

[0002] Recently, mobile object transportation systems have been proposed and developed that transport mobile objects (e.g., drones or other unmanned aerial vehicles) to remote locations. In one example, the mobile objects transport packages from a base station such as a distribution center.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a mobile body transport system that uses a power supply medium such as an automobile or train (e.g., a truck or a train) to move a drone to a remote location.

[0004] In the mobile object movement system described in Patent Literature 1, a power supply port for taking off and landing a drone and for supplying power to the drone is installed on each power supply medium. The drone is configured to hop between the power supply ports installed on the multiple power supply media toward its destination.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-38083

[0006] The related technology described in Patent Literature 1 does not take into consideration the remaining battery capacity of the mobile object (drone), which results in a problem of low accuracy in determining whether the mobile object can self-propel to the destination after it leaves the power supply medium.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to improve the accuracy of determining whether a mobile body can move to a destination under its own power in a mobile body movement system that moves a mobile body to a remote location.

[0008] A mobile body movement system according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a mobile body, a power supply medium capable of supplying power to the mobile body, and an information processing device, wherein the information processing device comprises an acquisition means for acquiring information indicating the planned movement route of the power supply medium, a calculation means for calculating a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile body at a first point on the planned movement route of the power supply medium when the mobile body is powered from the power supply medium from the first point to a second point, and a determination means for determining the power supply medium from which the mobile body will receive power based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second point so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body is capable of self-propelling from the second point to the destination of the mobile body.

[0009] An information processing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition means for acquiring information indicating a planned travel route of a power supply medium capable of supplying power to a mobile body; a calculation means for calculating a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile body at a first point on the planned travel route of the power supply medium when the mobile body is powered from the power supply medium from the first point to a second point; and a determination means for determining the power supply medium from which the mobile body will receive power based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second point so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body is capable of self-propelling from the second point to the destination of the mobile body.

[0010] In an information processing method according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a computer acquires information indicating a planned travel route of a power supply medium capable of supplying power to a mobile body, calculates a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile body at a first point on the planned travel route of the power supply medium when the mobile body is powered from the power supply medium from the first point to a second point, and, based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second point, determines a power supply medium from which the mobile body will receive power so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body is capable of self-propelled from the second point to the destination of the mobile body.

[0011] A program according to one aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to perform the following steps: acquire information indicating a planned travel route of a power supply medium capable of supplying power to a mobile body; calculate a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile body at a first point on the planned travel route of the power supply medium when the mobile body is powered from the power supply medium from the first point to a second point; and determine a power supply medium from which the mobile body will receive power based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second point so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body is capable of self-propelling from the second point to the destination of the mobile body.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining whether a moving body can self-propel to a destination.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a mobile body moving system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an information processing device provided in the mobile body moving system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the information processing device provided in the mobile body moving system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a mobile body moving system according to embodiment 2. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an information processing device provided in the mobile body moving system according to embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the information processing device provided in the mobile body moving system according to embodiment 2. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a mobile body moving system according to embodiment 3. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an information processing device provided in the mobile body moving system according to embodiment 3. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the information processing device provided in the mobile body moving system according to embodiment 3. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of an information processing device according to any of embodiments 1 to 3.

[0014] First Embodiment A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG.

[0015] (Mobile object moving system 1) Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a mobile object moving system 1 according to the present embodiment 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the mobile object moving system 1 includes an information processing device 10, a mobile object 100, and a power supply medium 200.

[0016] In the mobile object moving system 1, the information processing device 10, the mobile object 100, and the power supply medium 200 are communicably connected via any communication network. Note that the mobile object moving system 1 may include one or more power supply media 200.

[0017] The mobile body 100 is a mobility that uses electricity stored in a battery (storage battery) as a power source, and is, for example, a drone or other unmanned aerial vehicle.

[0018] The mobile object 100 can recover the power stored in the battery by connecting to the power supply medium 200 and receiving power from the power supply medium 200. The mobile object 100 has a destination of the mobile object 100. The mobile object 100 moves to the destination of the mobile object 100 while consuming the power stored in the battery.

[0019] In Fig. 1, a mobile object 100 connects to a power supply medium 200 at a first point (A in Fig. 1). The mobile object 100 is supplied with power from the power supply medium 200 from the first point (A in Fig. 1) to a second point (B in Fig. 1). Then, the mobile object 100 leaves the power supply medium 200 at the second point (B in Fig. 1) and moves toward the destination of the mobile object 100.

[0020] The mobile object 100 transmits data on the remaining capacity of the battery provided in the mobile object 100 to the information processing device 10 via a communication network such as a mobile network.

[0021] The power supply medium 200 moves along a path along which the power supply medium 200 is planned to move (referred to as a planned movement path). The power supply medium 200 is capable of supplying power to the moving body 100. The power supply medium 200 is, for example, a truck or a train equipped with a power supply port. The power supply medium 200 may also include a generator.

[0022] The power supply medium 200 transmits information indicating the power supply capability of the power supply medium 200 to the information processing device 10 via a communication network such as a mobile network. The level of the power supply capability is expressed, for example, based on the available power supply capacity of the power supply medium 200 or the power supply speed of the power supply medium 200. The information indicating the power supply capability of the power supply medium 200 includes information indicating the available power supply capacity as well as the power supply speed of a power supply port provided on the power supply medium 200.

[0023] The information processing device 10 acquires information indicating a planned movement route of the power supply medium 200. The information indicating the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 includes information indicating a destination of the power supply medium 200 and information indicating a route that the power supply medium 200 is planned to take before reaching the destination.

[0024] The information processing device 10 calculates a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile body 100 at a second point (A in Figure 1) on the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 when the mobile body 100 is powered from the power supply medium 200 from a first point (A in Figure 1) to a second point (B in Figure 1).

[0025] 1, the predicted remaining battery charge of the mobile object 100 at the first and second locations is shown on a bar gauge. Since the mobile object 100 is powered from the power supply medium 200 from the first location (A in FIG. 1) to the second location (B in FIG. 1), the predicted remaining battery charge of the mobile object 100 at the second location is greater than the predicted remaining battery charge of the mobile object 100 at the first location.

[0026] Based on a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile body 100 at the second point (B in FIG. 1), the information processing device 10 determines the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile body 100 receives power so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body 100 can self-propel from the second point (B in FIG. 1) to the destination of the mobile body 100. Here, the mobile body 100 being self-propelled from the second point (B in FIG. 1) to the destination of the mobile body 100 means, in other words, that the mobile body 100 can reach the destination without being supplied with power.

[0027] In one example, the second point (B in FIG. 1) where the moving body 100 leaves the power supply medium 200 is determined together with the minimum amount of power required for the moving body 100 to travel from the second point to the destination. The first point (A in FIG. 1) where the moving body 100 connects to the power supply medium 200 is determined based on the time required for the battery of the moving body 100 to be charged with the minimum amount of power required before the power supply medium 200 passes the second point (B in FIG. 1) and the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200.

[0028] The first point (A in Figure 1) where the mobile body 100 connects with the power supply medium 200 is determined more accurately from the time required for the minimum amount of power required to be charged into the battery of the mobile body 100 before the power supply medium 200 passes the second point (B in Figure 1), and the planned movement route and power supply speed of the power supply medium 200.

[0029] If the mobile body 100 is able to travel to the destination by hitching a ride on a mobility vehicle or the like near the destination, the information processing device 10 may determine the minimum amount of power required so that the mobile body 100 can travel from a second point (B in Figure 1) where it leaves the power supply medium 200 to a third point where it can hitch a ride on a mobility vehicle or the like without power supply.

[0030] The information processing device 10 may determine the minimum amount of power required, taking into consideration that the moving body 100 will return home without power supply after reaching the destination.

[0031] Alternatively, the information processing device 10 may determine the minimum amount of power required, taking into consideration that the mobile object 100 may stop at a power supply spot on the way home and charge the battery.

[0032] (Configuration of Information Processing Device 10) The configuration of the information processing device 10 provided in the mobile object movement system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 10.

[0033] In the first embodiment, a first point (A in FIG. 1) where the moving body 100 connects to the power supply medium 200 and a second point (B in FIG. 1) where the moving body 100 departs from the power supply medium 200 are determined in advance. Also, the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 is assumed to pass through the first point and the second point.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing device 10 includes an acquisition unit 11, a calculation unit 12, and a determination unit 13.

[0035] The acquisition unit 11 acquires information indicating a planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 capable of supplying power to the moving object 100. The acquisition unit 11 is an example of an acquisition means.

[0036] For example, the acquisition unit 11 receives information indicating a planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 from the power supply medium 200 ( FIG. 1 ) via a communication network. The acquisition unit 11 outputs the information indicating the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 to the calculation unit 12.

[0037] The calculation unit 12 calculates a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile object 100 at the second point when the mobile object 100 is powered from the power supply medium 200 from the first point to the second point on the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200. The calculation unit 12 is an example of a calculation means.

[0038] For example, the calculation unit 12 receives information indicating a planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 from the acquisition unit 11. The calculation unit 12 first calculates a predicted value of the remaining battery charge at a first point on the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200. Next, the calculation unit 12 calculates the amount of power stored in the battery of the mobile object 100 while the power supply medium 200 moves from the first point to a second point.

[0039] Then, the calculation unit 12 calculates a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile body 100 at the second location from the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the first location and the amount of electricity stored in the battery of the mobile body 100 while the power supply medium 200 moves from the first location to the second location.

[0040] The calculation unit 12 outputs information indicating the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second location to the determination unit 13 .

[0041] The determination unit 13 determines the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile body 100 receives power, based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second point, so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body 100 is capable of self-propelling from the second point to the destination of the mobile body 100. The determination unit 13 is an example of a determination means.

[0042] For example, the determination unit 13 receives information indicating a predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second location from the calculation unit 12. The determination unit 13 determines, from among the power supply media 200 capable of supplying power to the mobile object 100, the power supply medium 200 that satisfies a first condition that the mobile object 100 can connect to the power supply medium 200 at the first location and that the mobile object 100 can disconnect from the power supply medium 200 at the second location, as the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile object 100 receives power.

[0043] Alternatively, the determination unit 13 may determine the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile object 100 receives power, taking into consideration not only the first condition but also a second condition, namely, the power supply speed of the power supply medium 200. This allows the calculation unit 12 to more accurately calculate the amount of power stored in the battery of the mobile object 100 while the power supply medium 200 moves from the first point to the second point. Therefore, the information processing device 10 can improve the accuracy of determining whether the mobile object 100 can self-propel to the destination.

[0044] (Operation of Information Processing Apparatus 10) The operation of the information processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information processing apparatus 10.

[0045] 3, the acquisition unit 11 acquires information indicating a planned movement path of the power supply medium 200 (FIG. 1) capable of supplying power to the moving object 100 (FIG. 1) (S101). The acquisition unit 11 outputs the information indicating the planned movement path of the power supply medium 200 to the calculation unit 12.

[0046] The calculation unit 12 calculates a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile object 100 at the second point when the mobile object 100 is powered from the power supply medium 200 from the first point to the second point on the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 (S102). The calculation unit 12 outputs information indicating the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second point to the determination unit 13.

[0047] The determination unit 13 determines the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile body 100 will receive power, based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second location, so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body 100 can move independently from the second location to the destination of the mobile body 100 (S103).

[0048] The determination unit 13 transmits information identifying the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile object 100 receives power (e.g., an identification number of the power supply medium 200) to the mobile object 100 via the communication network. The mobile object 100 accesses the power supply medium 200 using the information identifying the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile object 100 receives power, and connects to the power supply medium 200 at the first location.

[0049] This completes the operation of the information processing device 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0050] (Variant example: Method for calculating first and second points) In this embodiment 1, it is assumed that the first point (A in Figure 1) where the mobile body 100 connects to the power supply medium 200 and the second point (B in Figure 1) where the mobile body 100 detaches from the power supply medium 200 are predetermined.

[0051] In a modification of the first embodiment, the first location and the second location may be obtained by calculation.

[0052] As described above, the second point (B in FIG. 1) where the mobile object 100 leaves the power supply medium 200 is determined together with the minimum amount of power required for the mobile object 100 to travel from the second point to the destination. Also, the first point (A in FIG. 1) where the mobile object 100 connects to the power supply medium 200 is determined by the time required for the battery of the mobile object 100 to be charged with the minimum amount of power required before the power supply medium 200 passes the second point (B in FIG. 1) and the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200.

[0053] In this modified example, the information processing device 10 obtains the first and second locations as a result of the above calculation, and then determines the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile body 100 will receive power using the procedure described in embodiment 1.

[0054] (Effects of this embodiment) According to the configuration of this embodiment, the acquisition unit 11 acquires information indicating a planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 capable of supplying power to the mobile body 100. The calculation unit 12 calculates a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile body 100 at a second point on the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 when the mobile body 100 is supplied with power from the power supply medium 200 from a first point to a second point on the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200. The determination unit 13 determines the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile body 100 will receive power, based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second point, so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body 100 is capable of self-propelling from the second point to the destination of the mobile body 100.

[0055] In this way, based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second location, the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile body 100 receives power is determined from among the power supply media 200 capable of supplying power to the mobile body 100. According to the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second location, the mobile body 100 can travel by itself from the second location to the destination of the mobile body 100.

[0056] This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of determining whether the mobile body 100 can move to a destination under its own power in a mobile body movement system that moves the mobile body 100 to a remote location.

[0057] 4 to 6, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, a configuration will be described in which at least one of a first point at which power supply to the moving body 100 (FIG. 4) starts and a second point at which power supply to the moving body 100 ends is selected on a planned movement path of the power supply medium 200 (FIG. 4).

[0058] In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0059] (Mobile object moving system 2) Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a mobile object moving system 2 according to the present embodiment 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the mobile object moving system 2 includes an information processing device 20, a mobile object 100, and a power supply medium 200.

[0060] In the mobile object moving system 2, the information processing device 20, the mobile object 100, and the power supply medium 200 are communicatively connected via any communication network. Note that the mobile object moving system 2 may include one or more power supply media 200.

[0061] In the second embodiment, it is assumed that there are multiple candidates for the second location. The information processing device 20 selects one of the candidates for the second location. The candidates for the second location (B, C, and D in FIG. 4 ) may be determined in advance, or may be determined together with the minimum amount of power required for the mobile object 100 to travel from the candidate second location to the destination of the mobile object 100.

[0062] 4, the first point where the moving body 100 connects to the power supply medium 200 and power supply to the moving body 100 (FIG. 4) begins is point A. The other points B, C, and D are candidates for the second point where power supply to the moving body 100 (FIG. 4) ends and the moving body 100 leaves the power supply medium 200.

[0063] The configuration and operation of the information processing device 20 will be described in detail below.

[0064] (Configuration of Information Processing Device 20) The configuration of the information processing device 20 provided in the mobile body movement system 2 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 20.

[0065] As described above, in the second embodiment, it is assumed that there are multiple candidates for the second location where the moving body 100 departs from the power supply medium 200. It is also assumed that the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 passes through the first location and all of the candidates for the second location.

[0066] 5, the information processing device 20 includes an acquisition unit 11, a calculation unit 12, and a determination unit 13. The information processing device 20 further includes a selection unit 24.

[0067] The selection unit 24 selects at least one of a first point where power supply to the moving body 100 starts and a second point where power supply to the moving body 100 ends on the planned movement path of the power supply medium 200. The selection unit 24 is an example of a selection means. Here, a configuration will be described in which the selection unit 24 selects the second point where power supply to the moving body 100 ends on the planned movement path of the power supply medium 200.

[0068] For example, the selection unit 24 acquires information indicating a planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 from the acquisition unit 11. The selection unit 24 selects a second location from among the candidates for the second location (B, C, and D in FIG. 4 ) so that the moving object 100 arrives at the destination earliest.

[0069] In Fig. 4, if the moving body 100 leaves the power supply medium 200 at point C, it will arrive at the destination earliest. Therefore, the selection unit 24 selects point C as the second point from among the candidates for the second point (B, C, and D in Fig. 4).

[0070] In another example, the selection unit 24 selects a second location from among the candidate second locations (B, C, D in FIG. 4) so ​​that the remaining battery charge of the mobile body 100 is the highest at the destination of the mobile body 100.

[0071] In Fig. 4, when the mobile object 100 leaves the power supply medium 200 at point D, the remaining battery charge of the mobile object 100 at the destination will be the highest. Therefore, the selection unit 24 selects point D as the second point from among the candidates for the second point (B, C, and D in Fig. 4).

[0072] Here, the configuration has been described in which the selection unit 24 selects the second location. However, if there are multiple candidates for the first location, the selection unit 24 can also select the first location from the candidates for the first location in the same way as selecting the second location from the candidates for the second location.

[0073] The selection unit 24 outputs information indicating the selected first location and / or second location to the calculation unit 12 .

[0074] As in the first embodiment, the calculation unit 12 calculates a predicted value of the remaining battery capacity of the mobile body 100 at the second location when the mobile body 100 is powered from the power supply medium 200 from the first location to the second location.

[0075] (Operation of Information Processing Device 20) The operation of the information processing device 20 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information processing device 20.

[0076] 6, the acquisition unit 11 acquires information indicating a planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 (FIG. 4) capable of supplying power to the moving object 100 (FIG. 4) (S201). The acquisition unit 11 outputs the information indicating the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 to the calculation unit 12 and the selection unit 24.

[0077] The selector 24 selects at least one of a first point at which power supply to the moving body 100 starts and a second point at which power supply to the moving body 100 ends on the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 .

[0078] The selection unit 24 outputs information indicating the selected first location and / or second location to the calculation unit 12 (S202).

[0079] The calculation unit 12 calculates a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile object 100 at the second point when the mobile object 100 is powered from the power supply medium 200 from the first point to the second point on the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 (S203). The calculation unit 12 outputs information indicating the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second point to the determination unit 13.

[0080] The determination unit 13 determines the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile body 100 will receive power, based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second location, so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body 100 can move independently from the second location to the destination of the mobile body 100 (S204).

[0081] The determination unit 13 transmits information identifying the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile object 100 receives power (e.g., an identification number of the power supply medium 200) to the mobile object 100 via the communication network. The mobile object 100 accesses the power supply medium 200 using the information identifying the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile object 100 receives power, and connects to the power supply medium 200 at the first location.

[0082] This completes the operation of the information processing device 20 according to the second embodiment.

[0083] (Effects of this embodiment) According to the configuration of this embodiment, the acquisition unit 11 acquires information indicating a planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 capable of supplying power to the mobile body 100. The calculation unit 12 calculates a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile body 100 at a second point on the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 when the mobile body 100 is supplied with power from the power supply medium 200 from a first point to a second point on the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200. The determination unit 13 determines the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile body 100 will receive power, based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second point, so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body 100 is capable of self-propelling from the second point to the destination of the mobile body 100.

[0084] Furthermore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the selection unit 24 selects at least one of a first point on the planned movement path of the power supply medium 200 where power supply to the moving body 100 begins and a second point where power supply to the moving body 100 ends.

[0085] In this way, based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second location, the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile body 100 receives power is determined from among the power supply media 200 capable of supplying power to the mobile body 100. According to the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second location, the mobile body 100 can travel by itself from the second location to the destination of the mobile body 100.

[0086] This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of determining whether the mobile body 100 can move to a destination under its own power in a mobile body movement system that moves the mobile body 100 to a remote location.

[0087] 7 to 9, a third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, a configuration will be described in which, if there are no first and second locations that satisfy the condition that the mobile body 100 can self-propel from the second location to the destination of the mobile body 100 (FIG. 7), the power supply medium 200 (FIG. 7) is requested to change the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200.

[0088] In the third embodiment, the same components as those in the first or second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first or second embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0089] (Mobile object moving system 3) Fig. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a mobile object moving system 3 according to the present embodiment 3. As shown in Fig. 7, the mobile object moving system 3 includes an information processing device 30, a mobile object 100, and a power supply medium 200.

[0090] In the mobile object moving system 3, the information processing device 30, the mobile object 100, and the power supply medium 200 are communicably connected via any communication network. Note that the mobile object moving system 3 may include one or more power supply media 200.

[0091] In the third embodiment, it is assumed that there are no first or second locations that satisfy the condition that the mobile object 100 can travel by itself from the second location to the destination of the mobile object 100.

[0092] In FIG. 7, point A is the first point where the moving body 100 connects to the power supply medium 200 and power supply to the moving body 100 (FIG. 4) begins.

[0093] On the old route of the power supply medium 200, the predicted remaining battery charge of the mobile unit 100 at point B, which is a candidate for the second location, is less than the minimum amount of power required for the mobile unit 100 to travel to the destination of the mobile unit 100. Therefore, if the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 is the old route, the mobile unit 100 cannot travel by itself to the destination of the mobile unit 100 (FIG. 7).

[0094] In this case, the information processing device 30 requests the power supply medium 200 ( FIG. 7 ) to change the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200. The information processing device 30 requests the power supply medium 200 to change the planned movement route via the communication network. The power supply medium 200 changes the planned movement route in response to the request from the information processing device 30. Then, the power supply medium 200 transmits information indicating the changed planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 (referred to as a new route) to the information processing device 30 via the communication network.

[0095] 7, on the new route of the power supply medium 200, at point B, which is a candidate for the second location, the predicted remaining battery charge of the mobile unit 100 is equal to or greater than the minimum amount of power required for the mobile unit 100 to travel to the destination of the mobile unit 100. Therefore, when the planned travel path of the power supply medium 200 is the new route, the mobile unit 100 can travel by itself to the destination of the mobile unit 100 (FIG. 7).

[0096] Even if the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 is changed to a new route, the mobile object 100 may not be able to travel by itself to the destination of the mobile object 100 (FIG. 7). In such a case, the information processing device 30 requests the power supply medium 200 again to change the planned travel route.

[0097] The configuration and operation of the information processing device 30 will be described in detail below.

[0098] (Configuration of Information Processing Device 30) The configuration of the information processing device 30 provided in the mobile body movement system 3 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 30.

[0099] As described above, in the third embodiment, it is assumed that there are no first or second locations that satisfy the condition that the mobile object 100 can travel by itself from the second location to the destination of the mobile object 100 (FIG. 7).

[0100] 8, the information processing device 30 includes an acquisition unit 11, a calculation unit 12, and a determination unit 13. The information processing device 30 further includes a request unit .

[0101] If there are no first and second locations that satisfy the condition that the mobile object 100 can move independently from the second location to the destination of the mobile object 100, the request unit 34 requests the power supply medium 200 to change the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200. The request unit 34 is an example of a request means. For example, the request unit 34 requests the power supply medium 200 to change the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 so that the power supply medium 200 moves away from the destination of the mobile object 100.

[0102] For example, if the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 is the old route, the determination unit 13 cannot determine the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile body 100 will receive power so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body 100 can self-propel to the destination of the mobile body 100.

[0103] In this case, the determination unit 13 notifies the request unit 34 that it is not possible to determine the power supply medium 200 from which the moving object 100 receives power.

[0104] When the request unit 34 is notified by the determination unit 13 that it is not possible to determine the power supply medium 200 from which the moving body 100 will receive power, the request unit 34 requests the power supply medium 200 to change the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200.

[0105] As described above, the power supply medium 200 changes the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 from the old route to the new route. Here, when the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 is the new route, it is assumed that there is at least one pair of a first location and a second location that satisfies the condition that the mobile object 100 can travel by itself from the second location to the destination of the mobile object 100.

[0106] After the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 is changed from the old route to the new route, similarly to the first or second embodiment, the acquisition unit 11 acquires information indicating the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 that can supply power to the mobile body 100. The calculation unit 12 calculates a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile body 100 at a second point when the mobile body 100 is powered from the power supply medium 200 from a first point to a second point on the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200. The determination unit 13 determines the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile body 100 will receive power based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second point, so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body 100 is capable of self-propelling from the second point to the destination of the mobile body 100.

[0107] The determination unit 13 transmits information identifying the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile object 100 receives power (e.g., an identification number of the power supply medium 200) to the mobile object 100 via the communication network. The mobile object 100 accesses the power supply medium 200 using the information identifying the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile object 100 receives power, and connects to the power supply medium 200 at the first location.

[0108] (Variation) In one variation of the third embodiment, the request unit 34 may transmit, to the power supply medium 200, information indicating a new route ( FIG. 7 ) of the power supply medium 200, instead of requesting the power supply medium 200 to change the planned movement path of the power supply medium 200. In this case, the power supply medium 200 changes the planned movement path of the power supply medium 200 from the old route ( FIG. 7 ) to the new route in accordance with the information indicating the new route received from the request unit 34.

[0109] In this modification, the request unit 34 determines a new route and causes the power supply medium 200 to change the planned travel path so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body 100 is capable of self-propelling from the second point to the destination of the mobile body 100. For example, the request unit 34 can determine a new route so that the minimum amount of power required is charged to the battery of the mobile body 100 before the power supply medium 200 passes the second point (B in FIG. 7 ).

[0110] (Operation of Information Processing Device 30) The operation of the information processing device 30 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information processing device 30.

[0111] 9, the acquisition unit 11 acquires information indicating a planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 (FIG. 7) capable of supplying power to the moving body 100 (FIG. 7) (S301). The acquisition unit 11 outputs the information indicating the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 to the calculation unit 12.

[0112] The calculation unit 12 calculates a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile object 100 at the second point when the mobile object 100 is powered from the power supply medium 200 from the first point to the second point on the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 (S302). The calculation unit 12 outputs information indicating the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second point to the determination unit 13.

[0113] When the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 is the old route ( FIG. 7 ), the determination unit 13 cannot determine the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile object 100 receives power so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile object 100 is capable of self-propelling to the destination of the mobile object 100. In this case (No in S303), the determination unit 13 notifies the request unit 34 that the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile object 100 receives power cannot be determined.

[0114] When the request unit 34 is notified by the determination unit 13 that the moving object 100 cannot determine the power supply medium 200 from which the moving object 100 receives power, the request unit 34 requests the power supply medium 200 to change the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 (S304). The power supply medium 200 changes the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 from the old route to the new route (FIG. 7). Then, the flow returns to step S301.

[0115] On the other hand, if the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 is the new route (FIG. 7), the determination unit 13 can determine the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile body 100 receives power so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body 100 is capable of self-propelling to the destination of the mobile body 100. In this case (Yes in S303), the determination unit 13 determines the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile body 100 receives power so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body 100 is capable of self-propelling from the second point to the destination of the mobile body 100 (S305).

[0116] This completes the operation of the information processing device 30 according to the third embodiment.

[0117] (Effects of this embodiment) According to the configuration of this embodiment, the acquisition unit 11 acquires information indicating a planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 capable of supplying power to the mobile body 100. The calculation unit 12 calculates a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile body 100 at a second point on the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200 when the mobile body 100 is supplied with power from the power supply medium 200 from a first point to a second point on the planned travel route of the power supply medium 200. The determination unit 13 determines the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile body 100 will receive power, based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second point, so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body 100 is capable of self-propelling from the second point to the destination of the mobile body 100.

[0118] In this way, based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second location, the power supply medium 200 from which the mobile body 100 receives power is determined from among the power supply media 200 capable of supplying power to the mobile body 100. According to the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second location, the mobile body 100 can travel by itself from the second location to the destination of the mobile body 100.

[0119] This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of determining whether the mobile body 100 can move to a destination under its own power in a mobile body movement system that moves the mobile body 100 to a remote location.

[0120] Furthermore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, if there are no first and second locations that satisfy the condition that the mobile body 100 can move independently from the second location to the destination of the mobile body 100, the request unit 34 requests the power supply medium 200 to change the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200.

[0121] The planned movement route of the power supply medium 200 is changed (from the old route to the new route) in response to the request for the power supply medium 200. By changing the planned movement route of the power supply medium 200, the mobile body 100 may be able to move independently from the second point to the destination of the mobile body 100.

[0122] (Hardware Configuration) Each of the components of the information processing devices 10, 20, and 30 described in the first to third embodiments represents a functional block. Some or all of these components are realized by an information processing device such as that shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device.

[0123] 10 , the computer 110 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, a main memory 112, a storage device 113, an input interface 114, a display controller 115, a data reader / writer 116, and a communication interface 117. These components are connected to each other via a bus 121 so as to be able to communicate data with each other. Note that the computer 110 may include a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) in addition to or instead of the CPU 111.

[0124] The CPU 111 loads the program (code) of this embodiment stored in the storage device 113 into the main memory 112 and executes it in a predetermined order to perform various calculations. The main memory 112 is typically a volatile storage device such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). The program of this embodiment is provided in a state stored in a computer-readable recording medium 120. The program of this embodiment may be distributed over the Internet connected via the communication interface 117.

[0125] Specific examples of the storage device 113 include a hard disk drive and a semiconductor storage device such as a flash memory. The input interface 114 mediates data transmission between the CPU 111 and input devices 118 such as a keyboard and a mouse. The display controller 115 is connected to a display device 119 and controls the display on the display device 119.

[0126] The data reader / writer 116 mediates data transmission between the CPU 111 and the recording medium 120, reads programs from the recording medium 120, and writes processing results from the computer 110 to the recording medium 120. The communication interface 117 mediates data transmission between the CPU 111 and other computers.

[0127] Specific examples of the recording medium 120 include general-purpose semiconductor storage devices such as CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) and SD (Secure Digital), magnetic recording media such as flexible disks, or optical recording media such as CD-ROMs (Compact Disk Read Only Memory).

[0128] Some or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0129] (Supplementary Note 1) A mobile body movement system comprising: an acquisition means for acquiring information indicating a planned movement route of a power supply medium capable of supplying power to a mobile body; a calculation means for calculating a predicted value of a remaining battery charge of the mobile body at a first point on the planned movement route of the power supply medium when the mobile body is supplied with power from the power supply medium from the first point to the second point; and a determination means for determining a power supply medium from which the mobile body will receive power based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second point, so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body is capable of self-propelling from the second point to the destination of the mobile body.

[0130] (Appendix 2) The mobile body movement system described in Appendix 1 is characterized in that the determination means determines the power supply medium from which the mobile body receives power based on the power supply capacity of each of the power supply media, in addition to the condition that the mobile body is capable of self-propelling from the second point to the destination of the mobile body.

[0131] (Supplementary Note 3) The mobile body movement system according to Supplementary Note 2, wherein the level of the power supply capability of the power supply medium is expressed based on the power supply capacity of the power supply medium or the power supply speed of the power supply medium.

[0132] (Appendix 4) The mobile body movement system described in Appendix 1, further comprising a selection means for selecting at least one of the first point where power supply to the mobile body starts and the second point where power supply to the mobile body ends on the planned movement route of the power supply medium.

[0133] (Supplementary Note 5) The mobile body movement system according to Supplementary Note 4, wherein the selection means selects at least one of the first location and the second location so that the mobile body arrives at the destination earliest.

[0134] (Supplementary Note 6) The mobile body movement system according to Supplementary Note 4, characterized in that the selection means selects at least one of the first location and the second location so that the remaining battery charge of the mobile body at the destination is the highest.

[0135] (Supplementary Note 7) The mobile body movement system described in any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3, further comprising a request means for requesting the power supply medium to change the planned movement route of the power supply medium when there are no first point and second point that satisfy the condition that the mobile body can move self-propelled from the second point to the destination of the mobile body.

[0136] (Supplementary Note 8) The mobile body movement system described in Supplementary Note 7, characterized in that the request means requests the power supply medium to change the planned movement route of the power supply medium so that the power supply medium moves away from the destination of the mobile body.

[0137] (Supplementary Note 9) An information processing method in which a computer acquires information indicating a planned travel route of a power supply medium capable of supplying power to a mobile body, calculates a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile body at a first point on the planned travel route of the power supply medium when the mobile body is powered from the power supply medium from the first point to a second point, and determines a power supply medium from which the mobile body will receive power based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second point so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body is capable of self-propelling from the second point to the destination of the mobile body.

[0138] (Supplementary Note 10) A program for causing a computer to execute the following steps: acquiring information indicating a planned travel route of a power supply medium capable of supplying power to a mobile body; calculating a predicted value of the remaining battery charge of the mobile body at a first point on the planned travel route of the power supply medium when the mobile body is powered from the power supply medium from the first point to a second point; and determining a power supply medium from which the mobile body will receive power based on the predicted value of the remaining battery charge at the second point, so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body is capable of self-propelling from the second point to the destination of the mobile body.

[0139] The present disclosure has been described above with reference to several embodiments. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configurations and details of the above embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0140] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-103499, filed on June 23, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0141] The present disclosure can be used, for example, in a mobile object moving system that moves a mobile object to a remote location.

[0142] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1, 2, 3 Mobile body movement system 10 Information processing device 11 Acquisition unit 12 Calculation unit 13 Determination unit 20 Information processing device 24 Selection unit 30 Information processing device 34 Request unit 100 Mobile body 200 Power supply medium

Claims

1. an acquisition means for acquiring information indicating a planned travel route of a power supply medium capable of supplying power to a moving object; a calculation means for calculating a predicted value of a remaining battery charge of the mobile body at a second point when the mobile body is supplied with power from the power supply medium from the first point to the second point on the planned movement route of the power supply medium; and a determination means for determining a power supply medium from which the mobile body receives power based on the predicted value of the remaining charge of the battery at the second location so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body is capable of self-propelling from the second location to the destination of the mobile body. Mobile transport systems.

2. The determining means determines the power supply medium from which the moving body receives power based on the condition that the moving body is capable of self-propelling from the second point to the destination of the moving body as well as the level of the power supply capacity of each of the power supply media.

2. The mobile object movement system according to claim 1.

3. The level of the power supply capability of the power supply medium is expressed based on the power supply capacity of the power supply medium or the power supply speed of the power supply medium.

3. The mobile object movement system according to claim 2.

4. The power supply system further includes a selection unit for selecting at least one of the first point at which power supply to the moving body is started and the second point at which power supply to the moving body is ended on the planned moving path of the power supply medium.

2. The mobile object movement system according to claim 1.

5. The selection means selects at least one of the first location and the second location so that the moving body arrives at the destination earliest.

5. A mobile object movement system according to claim 4.

6. The selection means selects at least one of the first location and the second location so that the remaining amount of the battery of the mobile body at the destination is maximized.

5. A mobile object movement system according to claim 4.

7. The system further includes a request means for requesting the power supply medium to change the planned movement route of the power supply medium when there are no first and second points that satisfy the condition that the mobile body is self-propelled from the second point to the destination of the mobile body.

4. A mobile body movement system according to claim 1.

8. The request means requests the power supply medium to change the planned movement route of the power supply medium so that the power supply medium moves away from the destination of the moving object.

8. A mobile object movement system according to claim 7.

9. The computer acquiring information indicating a planned travel route of a power supply medium capable of supplying power to the moving object; calculating a predicted value of a remaining battery charge of the mobile body at a second point when the mobile body is supplied with power from the power supply medium from a first point to a second point on the planned movement route of the power supply medium; Based on the predicted value of the remaining capacity of the battery at the second location, a power supply medium from which the mobile body receives power is determined so as to satisfy the condition that the mobile body is capable of self-propelling from the second location to the destination of the mobile body. Information processing methods.

10. Obtaining information indicating a planned travel route of a power supply medium capable of supplying power to a moving object; calculating a predicted value of a remaining battery charge of the moving body at a second point when the moving body is powered from the power supply medium from a first point to a second point on the planned movement route of the power supply medium; determining a power supply medium from which the moving body will receive power based on the predicted value of the remaining charge of the battery at the second location so as to satisfy a condition that the moving body is capable of self-propelling from the second location to the destination of the moving body; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.