Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program

Abstract

A server 5 comprises: an acquisition unit 501 that acquires tire damage information which pertains to the damage state of an evaluation target tire attached to a mobile body, a strain calculation result which, among the strain calculation results prepared for the respective sizes of tires, corresponds to the size of the evaluation target tire, and tire travel information which pertains to the travelling of the evaluation target tire; a damage calculation unit 502 that calculates a predicted damage progression length of the evaluation target tire during a prediction target period; a reaching time calculation unit 503 that uses the predicted damage progression length to calculate a predicted reaching time in which the limit of the damage depth set on the basis of a malfunction risk of the tire is reached; and a prediction unit 504 that predicts, on the basis of at least one of the travel distance and the damage state of the evaluation target tire, the timing of the maintenance of the evaluation target tire such that the timing does not exceed the predicted reaching time.

Description

Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program.

[0002] There are known technologies for detecting information related to tire running and managing tires based on the detected information. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-204422 discloses a technology for acquiring images of tire sidewalls at regular intervals, predicting the progression of damage based on the comparison results, and using the prediction results to determine the timing of tire maintenance.

[0003] However, there are cases where tire utility value is increased by not explicitly suggesting tire maintenance timing. For example, it is better to suggest tire repair timing when there is still time until the set upper limit of driving time, and to suggest tire replacement timing when the upper limit of driving time is approaching.

[0004] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program that are capable of predicting the timing of tire maintenance in order to propose usage methods that can improve the utility value of tires, taking into account the driving conditions of the tires.

[0005] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition unit that acquires tire damage information regarding the damage state of a tire to be evaluated that is attached to a moving body, a strain calculation result corresponding to the size of the tire to be evaluated from strain calculation results prepared for each tire size, and tire running information regarding the running of the tire to be evaluated; a flaw calculation unit that calculates a predicted flaw progression length of the tire to be evaluated during a prediction target period using the information acquired by the acquisition unit; a reach time calculation unit that calculates a predicted arrival time from the predicted flaw progression length calculated by the flaw calculation unit to a flaw depth limit value set based on the risk of tire failure; and a prediction unit that predicts the timing of maintenance of the tire to be evaluated within a range that does not exceed the predicted arrival time, based on at least one of the mileage and damage state of the tire to be evaluated.

[0006] An information processing device according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is the information processing device according to the first aspect, wherein the acquisition unit acquires, as the tire damage information, at least one of the position of a scratch that has occurred in the tire being evaluated, the length of the scratch, the depth of the scratch, the angle of the scratch in the radial direction of the tire, the angle of the scratch in the depth direction, and the branching state of the scratch inside the tire.

[0007] An information processing device according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is the information processing device according to the first aspect, wherein the prediction unit predicts the timing of repair or replacement of the tire to be evaluated based on information on the depth of scratches that require maintenance, which corresponds to at least one of the mileage and damage state of the tire to be evaluated.

[0008] An information processing device according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is the information processing device according to the third aspect, wherein the depth of the scratch that requires maintenance has an upper limit and a lower limit.

[0009] An information processing device according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is the information processing device according to the first aspect, wherein the prediction unit predicts the timing of maintenance of the tire to be evaluated based on the mileage and damage state of the tire to be evaluated.

[0010] An information processing device according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure is the information processing device according to the first aspect, wherein the prediction unit classifies the tire to be evaluated based on at least one of the mileage and damage state of the tire to be evaluated, determines a maintenance method according to the classification, and predicts the timing of maintenance of the tire to be evaluated based on the depth of the damage that requires the determined maintenance.

[0011] An information processing device according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure is the information processing device according to the first aspect, wherein the prediction unit sets a target mileage from at least the past driving history of the tire to be evaluated, and determines a maintenance method for the tire to be evaluated based on the target mileage.

[0012] An information processing device according to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure is the information processing device according to the first aspect, wherein the acquisition unit acquires planning data relating to a pre-set plan for maintenance, and the prediction unit compares the planning data with the timing of maintenance for the tire to be evaluated obtained by prediction to determine a maintenance method for the tire to be evaluated.

[0013] An information processing device according to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure is the information processing device according to the first aspect, wherein a usage fee is set for the tire to be evaluated based on at least one of the driving period and the driving distance, and the prediction unit predicts the timing of maintenance for the tire to be evaluated based on at least one of the driving period and the driving distance.

[0014] An information processing method according to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing device according to the first aspect, in which a processor acquires tire damage information regarding the damage state of a tire to be evaluated attached to a mobile body, a strain calculation result corresponding to the size of the tire to be evaluated from strain calculation results prepared for each tire size, and tire running information regarding the running of the tire to be evaluated, and uses the acquired information to calculate a predicted scratch progression length for the tire to be evaluated during a prediction period, calculates a predicted arrival time to a scratch depth limit value set based on the tire failure risk from the calculated predicted scratch progression length, and predicts the timing of maintenance for the tire to be evaluated within a range that does not exceed the predicted arrival time based on at least one of the mileage and damage state of the tire to be evaluated.

[0015] An information processing program according to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing device according to the first aspect, which causes a computer to acquire tire damage information regarding the damage state of a tire to be evaluated attached to a moving body, a strain calculation result corresponding to the size of the tire to be evaluated from strain calculation results prepared for each tire size, and tire running information regarding the running of the tire to be evaluated, calculate a predicted scratch progression length of the tire to be evaluated during a prediction target period using the acquired information, calculate a predicted arrival time to a scratch depth limit value set based on the tire failure risk from the calculated predicted scratch progression length, and predict the timing of maintenance of the tire to be evaluated within a range that does not exceed the predicted arrival time based on at least one of the mileage and damage state of the tire to be evaluated.

[0016] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program that are capable of predicting the timing of tire maintenance in order to propose usage methods that can improve the utility value of tires, taking into account the driving conditions of the tires.

[0017] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a moving body; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of a tire; FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of a user terminal; FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of a server device; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server device; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of information relating to the timing of tire maintenance; and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow of the server device.

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Components and processes that perform the same actions and functions are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings, and duplicated descriptions may be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope of the purpose of the present disclosure.

[0019] <Information Processing System> Fig. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment. The information processing system 1 is a system that collects information related to tires attached to a mobile object 2, such as a vehicle traveling through a mine, and performs processing related to the tire condition of the tires. As shown in Fig. 1, the information processing system 1 includes a user terminal 3 and a server device (hereinafter referred to as "server") 5 that operates as an information processing device. The server 5 is an example of an information processing device disclosed herein.

[0020] The user terminal 3 and the server 5 are connected to each other via a network 6. The network 6 is any network that can be connected by wire or wirelessly, such as a telephone line, a LAN, a WAN, the Internet, a wide area Ethernet network, etc. The network 6 may be configured such that the mobile object 2 is equipped with a communication device (not shown) and is connected to the mobile object 2 so that information can be transmitted and received.

[0021] The information processing system 1 may be realized by including a configuration of a network environment including a virtual network in which some networks and some or all devices are virtualized in a virtual space called a cloud. For example, the server 5 may be formed in a virtual space called a cloud, and a client terminal known as a client-server system may be connected to the server 5 via a network 6 to operate the server 5. Furthermore, to ensure redundancy of the information processing system 1, multiple servers 5 may be connected via a network.

[0022] 1 also shows an example in which a user terminal 3 is connected to the network 6. The present disclosure is not limited to a case in which one user terminal 3 is connected to the network, and multiple terminal devices may be connected as the user terminal 3. For example, the user terminal 3 may include one or more terminals provided within the same company or base. An example of multiple user terminals 3 may include a worker terminal used by a user who is a worker performing work related to mobile objects and tires, a manager terminal used by a user who is a manager who manages the work, and a supervisor terminal used by a user who is a supervisor who oversees the work, all of which may be linked together.

[0023] In this disclosure, the term "tire" refers to an elastically deformable member attached to a moving body such as a vehicle, and includes a member that can be attached to or detached from the moving body. The tire includes a pneumatic tire. The tire can indicate its condition using "tire-related parameters." The "tire-related parameters" include tire damage information, tire heat information, and tire driving information.

[0024] The tire damage information is information about the state of damage to the tire attached to the mobile object 2. The tire damage information includes at least one of the following: the location of a scratch on the tire, the length of the scratch, the depth of the scratch, the angle of the scratch in the radial direction of the tire, the angle of the scratch in the depth direction, and the branching state of the scratch inside the tire. The tire damage information may be obtained by periodically capturing images of the tire based on a logo or the like engraved on the side of the tire, and analyzing the images to create a damage map. In addition to a normal camera, the device used to capture the images may also be a device capable of capturing thermographic images, for example. Because the temperature of the damaged area tends to be higher than the surrounding area due to the temperature inside the tire, using thermography has the advantage of making it easier to detect scratches that are not noticeable due to dust or dirt adhering to the tire surface. The tire damage information may also be obtained by an inspector inspecting the tire.

[0025] The tire running information is an example of a physical quantity that indicates the tire condition related to tire running, and is a concept that includes at least one of the amount of running of the tire and the amount of change in the tire structure that changes due to running of the tire.

[0026] For example, the tire travel information may include information such as the travel time, travel distance, and tire rotation count of the tire as the travel amount of the tire. Other examples of changes in tire structure may include the shape, size, and depth of the grooves provided in the tire, the thickness of the tire tread, and the degree of wear of the tire tread, such as uneven wear. The tire travel information preferably includes the travel time or travel distance of the tire. A known sensor capable of measuring at least one of the travel time and distance of the tire by sensing the rotation of the tire may be used as the measurement unit for measuring the tire travel information. The travel distance may be measured, for example, using a GPS record.

[0027] Tire thermal information is an example of a physical quantity that indicates the tire's thermal state, and is a concept that includes at least the tire's temperature. Tire thermal information can include the internal pressure, such as the air pressure of a pneumatic tire, and the internal temperature of the pneumatic tire. That is, the tire thermal information can be, for example, a physical quantity that indicates the thermal state of a tire component. Examples of tire component components include a bead, a carcass, a belt, and tread rubber. Furthermore, the temperature of a tire component can be, for example, applied to the physical quantity that indicates the thermal state of a tire component.

[0028] Generally, the temperature of a tire during running varies for each component. The temperature of each tire component can be calculated, for example, by attaching a temperature sensor to a chamber (i.e., the space between the inner surface of the tire and the rim / wheel), measuring the temperature in the chamber, and converting the measured temperature in the chamber into the temperature of each tire component. For example, by using a predetermined calculation formula to convert the temperature in the chamber into the temperature of each tire component (tread, belt, bead, etc.), the temperature of the component (tread, belt, bead, etc.) can be calculated from the measured temperature in the chamber. Furthermore, the temperature of each tire component (tread, belt, bead, etc.) can also be calculated by adding a constant based on past data, etc., to the measured temperature in the chamber.

[0029] Alternatively, the tire temperature can be predicted by known prediction methods depending on the tire's surrounding environment and tire running conditions.

[0030] <Mobile object> Fig. 2 shows an example of a mobile object 2 from which values ​​of tire-related parameters including tire heat information and tire running information are acquired. Fig. 2 conceptually shows a configuration including an on-board device 24 that collects information related to tires.

[0031] In this embodiment, the moving object 2 has six tires 20 in total, one on each of the front left and right and two on each of the rear left and right. The tires 20 are an example of tires to be evaluated in the present disclosure. The tires 20 are equipped with sensor modules 22. The sensor modules 22 measure tire conditions, i.e., acquire and transmit values ​​of tire-related parameters. The sensor modules 22 may also measure tire heat information and tire driving information. In this embodiment, the sensor modules 22 are capable of measuring and transmitting at least tire heat information. Note that in FIG. 2 , the tires 20 and the sensor modules 22 are assigned reference symbols according to their positions on the moving object 2. That is, the tire on the front right side of the moving object 2 in the traveling direction is indicated as tire 20 (FR), and the tire on the front left side is indicated as tire 20 (FL). Furthermore, of the two tires 20 on the rear right side, the outer tire is indicated as tire 20 (BRO) and the inner tire is indicated as tire 20 (BRI). Similarly, of the two tires 20 provided on the rear left side, the outer tire is indicated as tire 20 (BLO) and the inner tire is indicated as tire 20 (BLI). In the following explanation, when describing the position of the tires on the moving body 2, reference numerals are used, but in other cases, the tires 20 and sensor module 22 are collectively referred to.

[0032] In this embodiment, the mobile body 2 is described as having six tires 20, but the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the technology of the present disclosure is applicable to a mobile body 2 having three or more tires 20. Preferably, the technology is applicable to a mobile body 2 having four to ten tires 20, and is also applicable to a mobile body 2 having ten or more tires 20. Furthermore, the arrangement of the tires 20 on the mobile body 2 is not limited to an equal number of tires on the left and right, but the number may be determined depending on the position of the tires 2 relative to the mobile body 2. Furthermore, the arrangement of the tires 20 is not limited to front-to-back or left-to-right. For example, the tire 20 may be arranged in the center between at least one of the front-to-back and left-to-right positions.

[0033] The mobile object 2 is equipped with an on-board device 24 that collects and transmits values ​​of tire-related parameters (in this embodiment, temperature data indicating tire heat information). The on-board device 24 acquires information from each sensor module 22. The sensor module 22 is attached to the wheel of the tire 20, or inside the tire, or to the vehicle body outside the tire, and measures at least the temperature of the tire 20 and transmits the measured temperature data to the on-board device 24.

[0034] The vehicle-mounted device 24 receives the temperature data of each tire sent from the sensor module 22 and controls the transmission of the tire temperature data associated with the tire's mounting position to the outside of the mobile object 2. The tire's mounting position can be identified from a correspondence table that matches the tire's mounting position with the unique identification code of the sensor module 22 of that tire. The vehicle-mounted device 24 includes an electronic control unit (ECU), a transceiver unit, and a memory (not shown). The memory (not shown) can record the correspondence table that matches the tire's mounting position with the unique identification code of the sensor module 22, as well as information from the sensor module 22 (temperature data of the tire 20) as a log. The vehicle-mounted device 24 can also have a function to output the log recorded in the memory (not shown) to the outside of the mobile object 2.

[0035] In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the in-vehicle device 24 acquires and records temperature data from the sensor module 22 and outputs the temperature data to the outside of the mobile object 2, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, data from the sensor module 22 may be output directly to an external device such as the server 5 via the network 6 without going through the in-vehicle device 24. In this case, the correspondence table related to the sensor module 22 may also be stored in a device included in the information processing system 1 (for example, the server 5) without being stored in the in-vehicle device 24.

[0036] The tire temperature data is also provided with time information when the data is transmitted from the sensor module 22. This makes it possible to identify the date and time of the tire temperature data.

[0037] Furthermore, the vehicle-mounted device 24 may acquire and transmit at least one of the tire travel amount (e.g., tire travel time, travel distance, tire rotation count, etc.) and the amount of change in tire structure as tire travel information. Note that this tire travel information does not necessarily have to be acquired by the vehicle-mounted device 24. For example, the tire travel information may be acquired by measurement using an external device of the mobile object 2.

[0038] Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of the configuration of the tire 20. Fig. 3 shows a tire tread portion TR, a tire belt BL, and a carcass CS as typical tire components of the tire 20. Values ​​of tire-related parameters of the tire 20 (e.g., running time of the tire 20, temperature data of the tire 20) are measured by a measurement unit 34 such as a measurement device or a sensor module 22.

[0039] <User Terminal> Next, an example of the configuration of a terminal in the information processing system 1 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG.

[0040] The user terminal 3 is a terminal device provided at a base where processing of tires attached to a mobile object 2 such as a vehicle is performed (for example, a management base where the condition of the tires is managed). A user operating the user terminal 3 performs processing of the tire based on the tire condition of the tire. The user terminal 3 transmits information related to the tire (i.e., tire heat information and tire-related parameter values ​​including tire driving information) to the server 5 and receives a reply from the server 5 in response. Note that the user terminal 3 can be a general-purpose computer device such as a personal computer (PC).

[0041] The user terminal 3 includes a computer main unit 30, which includes a CPU 30A, RAM 30B, ROM 30C, and I / O 30D, all of which are connected to one another via a bus 30E. An auxiliary storage device 35, which may be implemented by a HDD or non-volatile flash memory, is connected to the bus 30E. Also connected to the I / O 30D are a communication unit 31 that communicates with external devices, an input unit 32 through which the user inputs data, and a display unit 33 through which the user can check the data.

[0042] The auxiliary storage device 35 can store a user terminal program 35P. The user terminal 3 reads the user terminal program 35P from the auxiliary storage device 35, loads it into RAM 30B, and executes the processing. As a result, the user terminal 3 that executes the user terminal program 35P operates as a device that performs processing on the tire condition of tires in the store. The user terminal program 35P may be provided on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

[0043] The auxiliary storage device 35 also stores various data 35D used by the user terminal 3.

[0044] The communication unit 31 can acquire tire information (values ​​of tire-related parameters), i.e., temperature data that is tire thermal information, from the vehicle-mounted device 24 of the moving object 2 via a wired or wireless connection.

[0045] The I / O 30D can be connected to a measurement unit 34 that measures the tire condition. The measurement unit 34 is a measurement device that measures tire running information (values ​​of tire-related parameters).

[0046] It is not essential that the measurement unit 34 be connected to the user terminal 3. For example, instead of the measurement unit 34, the user may measure the tire condition and input it from the input unit 32.

[0047] <Server> Next, an example of the configuration of the server 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 . The server 5 is an example of a server device connected to the network 6, capable of acquiring tire-related information, i.e., tire heat information and tire running information (values ​​of tire-related parameters), from the user terminal 3, and transmitting information to assist in processing the tire. The server 5 includes a computer main unit 50, which includes a CPU 50A, a RAM 50B, a ROM 50C, and an I / O 50D, all of which are connected to one another via a bus 50E. An auxiliary storage device 55 is also connected to the bus 50E. The I / O 50D is also connected to a communication unit 51 that communicates with devices on the network 6, an input unit 52 for user data input, and a display unit 53. Note that if the server 5 is configured to be operable by a client terminal (not shown), the input unit 52 and the display unit 53 are not required components.

[0048] The auxiliary storage device 55 stores various data 55D used by the server 5. The auxiliary storage device 55 also stores a table 55T indicating information for supporting processing for tires, and a server program 55P. The table 55T will be described later.

[0049] The server 5 reads the server program 55P from the auxiliary storage device 55, loads it into the RAM 50B, and executes processing. The server 5 that executes the server program 55P operates as an information processing device that outputs information to support processing for the tire 20 in accordance with information from the user terminal 3. The server 5 according to this embodiment outputs information regarding the timing of maintenance for the tire 20 as information to support processing for the tire 20. Note that maintenance for the tire 20 refers to either repairing or replacing the tire 20.

[0050] Since the mobile object 2 travels through a mine, the tire 20 may be damaged by stepping on a stone while traveling, for example. If the damaged tire 20 is left as is, the tire 20 may eventually become inoperable and need to be replaced. If the tire 20 becomes inoperable, the mobile object 2 will no longer be able to move on its own, and transportation by the mobile object 2 will no longer be possible until the tire 20 that is no longer inoperable is replaced with a new tire 20, resulting in a decrease in productivity.

[0051] Furthermore, a usage fee may be set for the tire 20 provided on the mobile object 2 based on, for example, at least one of the driving period and the driving distance. For example, a lease period may be set for the tire 20 so that the tire 20 can be rented as a leased item. That is, the tire 20 is expected to be provided on the mobile object 2 and used for the set lease period. However, since the mobile object 2 travels through mines, the tire 20 may be damaged due to, for example, stepping on a stone while traveling. If a damaged tire 20 is left as is, the tire 20 may no longer be in a condition to be driven before the lease period expires and may need to be replaced. For example, if the lease period is set at 1,000 hours but the tire 20 needs to be replaced 500 hours before the lease period expires, the useful value of the tire 20 for the business entity leasing the tire will be diminished.

[0052] The server 5 according to the present embodiment predicts and proposes the timing of maintenance for the tire 20. By predicting and proposing the timing of maintenance for the tire 20, the server 5 can prevent a decrease in productivity and a decrease in utility value.

[0053] 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server 5 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, a CPU 50A of the server 5 functions as the information processing device of the present disclosure by executing a server program 55P. The server 5 includes an acquisition unit 501, a flaw calculation unit 502, a travel time calculation unit 503, and a prediction unit 504.

[0054] The acquisition unit 501 acquires tire damage information related to the damage state of the tire 20 attached to the moving object 2, strain calculation results corresponding to the size of the tire 20 from among strain calculation results prepared for each size of the tire 20, and tire running information related to the running of the tire 20. The acquisition unit 501 may acquire, as the tire damage information, at least one of the position of a scratch occurring in the tire 20, the length of the scratch, the depth of the scratch, the angle of the scratch in the tire radial direction, the angle of the scratch in the depth direction, and the branching state of the scratch inside the tire. The strain calculation results prepared for each size of the tire 20 are stored in, for example, a table 55T. The acquisition unit 501 may also acquire plan data related to a predetermined plan for maintenance of the tire 20.

[0055] The flaw calculation unit 502 uses the information acquired by the acquisition unit 501 to calculate a predicted flaw progression length, which is the length by which a flaw is predicted to progress during the prediction period of the tire 20. Specifically, the flaw calculation unit 502 uses the information acquired by the acquisition unit 501 to calculate a flaw progression length, which is the length by which a flaw will progress per one rotation of the tire 20. Furthermore, the flaw calculation unit 502 calculates the total number of rotations of the tire 20 during the prediction period of the tire 20 using the information acquired by the acquisition unit 501. Then, the flaw calculation unit 502 multiplies the flaw progression length per rotation by the total number of rotations during the prediction period of the tire 20 to calculate a predicted flaw progression length, which is the length by which a flaw is predicted to progress during the prediction period of the tire 20.

[0056] The arrival time calculation unit 503 calculates, from the predicted damage progression length calculated by the damage calculation unit 502, a predicted arrival time until the damage depth reaches a limit value set based on the risk of tire failure.

[0057] The prediction unit 504 predicts the timing of maintenance for the tire 20 to be evaluated, within a range that does not exceed the predicted arrival time calculated by the arrival time calculation unit 503, based on at least one of the mileage and damage state of the tire 20 to be evaluated. The prediction unit 504 may predict the timing of repair or replacement of the tire 20 to be evaluated based on information on the depth of scratches that require maintenance, which corresponds to at least one of the mileage and damage state of the tire 20 to be evaluated. In this case, the depth of scratches that require maintenance has upper and lower limits. By setting an upper limit for the scratch depth, it is possible to avoid situations in which the effect is small or the maintenance leads to disadvantages, taking into account the distance that can be driven after maintenance, the cost of the maintenance, and the impact on vehicle operation. Furthermore, by setting a lower limit for the scratch depth, it is possible to avoid disadvantages, such as the impact on vehicle operation, that would be caused by performing maintenance when the damage is shallow and maintenance is not yet necessary or is only effective. Furthermore, if a usage fee is set for the tire 20 based on at least one of the driving period and the amount of usage (such as mileage), the prediction unit 504 may predict the timing of maintenance for the tire 20 to be evaluated based on at least one of the driving period and the amount of usage. For example, if a leasing period is set for the tire 20, the prediction unit 504 may predict or determine the timing of maintenance for the tire 20 to be evaluated based on the leasing period. Note that the present disclosure can be applied to services other than leasing, such as rentals and subscriptions, in which a driving period or amount of usage is determined and a fee is charged to the user by a flat rate or a pay-as-you-go basis, or to services in which a fee is charged to the user by a combination of these.

[0058] The server 5 transmits information about the timing of maintenance of the tire 20 predicted by the prediction unit 504 to the user terminal 3. The user terminal 3 acquires the information about the timing of maintenance of the tire 20 predicted by the server 5 and presents it on the display unit 33.

[0059] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of information related to the timing of tire 20 maintenance predicted by the prediction unit 504. The serial number column is a column storing a number identifying the tire 20. The status column is a column storing the status of the tire 20. The vehicle number column is a column storing a number identifying the vehicle on which the tire 20 is mounted. The position column is a column storing a number corresponding to the position of the vehicle on which the tire 20 is mounted. For example, if the tire 20 is mounted on the moving object 2 as shown in FIG. 2 , FR may be 1, FL may be 2, BRO may be 3, BRI may be 4, BLO may be 5, and BLI may be 6. The remaining time column is a column storing the remaining time until tire 20 maintenance is performed. The recommended content column is a column storing recommended maintenance methods. The recommended date is a column storing the date on which tire 20 maintenance is recommended. The predicted driving time column is a column storing the predicted driving time if tire 20 maintenance is performed.

[0060] By displaying the information shown in FIG. 7 on the display unit 33, the manager of the tire 20 can propose appropriate maintenance timing to the user of the tire 20.

[0061] By having such a configuration, the server 5 is able to predict the timing of maintenance for the tire 20 in order to suggest a way of using the tire 20 that will improve its usefulness, taking into account the driving conditions of the tire 20.

[0062] When predicting the timing of maintenance for the tire 20 to be evaluated, the prediction unit 504 may classify the tire 20 based on at least one of the mileage and the state of damage of the tire 20, determine a maintenance method according to the classification, and predict the timing of maintenance for the tire 20 based on the depth of damage that requires the determined maintenance. For example, the prediction unit 504 may classify the tires 20 into those whose mileage is less than a predetermined threshold and those whose mileage is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and determine that repair is the maintenance method for tires whose mileage is less than the threshold, and that replacement is the maintenance method for tires whose mileage is equal to or greater than the threshold. The prediction unit 504 may then predict the timing of repair or replacement of the tire 20 based on the determined depth of damage that requires the determined maintenance.

[0063] The prediction unit 504 may set a target mileage from at least the past driving record of the tire 20 to be evaluated, and determine a maintenance method for the tire 20 to be evaluated based on the target mileage.

[0064] The prediction unit 504 may also compare planning data relating to a preset maintenance plan with the timing of maintenance of the tire 20 to be evaluated obtained by the prediction, and determine a maintenance method for the tire 20 to be evaluated. Here, the acquisition unit 501 may acquire the planning data.

[0065] (Information Processing) Next, the information processing executed in the information processing system 1 will be described, focusing on the processing executed in the server 5.

[0066] 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of server processing executed in the server 5. The processing routine shown in FIG. 8 is an example of the flow of processing of the server program 55P stored in the server 5. The processing routine shown in FIG. 8 is executed by the CPU 50A in the server 5.

[0067] The information processing shown in FIG. 8 is an example of processing executed by an information processing method and an information processing program disclosed herein.

[0068] In step S101, the CPU 50A, as the acquisition unit 501, acquires tire damage information regarding the damage state of the tire 20 attached to the moving body 2, a strain calculation result corresponding to the size of the tire 20 from the strain calculation results prepared for each size of the tire 20, and tire running information regarding the running of the tire 20.

[0069] Following step S101, in step S102, the CPU 50A, as the flaw calculation unit 502, uses the information acquired in step S101 to calculate a predicted flaw progression length, which is the length by which a flaw is predicted to progress during the prediction target period of the tire 20. Specifically, the CPU 50A, as the flaw calculation unit 502, uses the information acquired in step S101 to calculate a flaw progression length, which is the length by which a flaw will progress per one rotation of the tire 20. Furthermore, the CPU 50A, as the flaw calculation unit 502, calculates the total number of rotations of the tire 20 during the prediction target period using the information acquired in step S101. Then, the CPU 50A, as the flaw calculation unit 502, calculates the predicted flaw progression length, which is the length by which a flaw is predicted to progress during the prediction target period of the tire 20, by multiplying the flaw progression length per rotation by the total number of rotations during the prediction target period.

[0070] Following step S102, in step S103, the CPU 50A, as the arrival time calculation unit 503, calculates the predicted arrival time from the predicted scratch progression length calculated in step S102 to the scratch depth limit value set based on the tire failure risk.

[0071] Following step S103, in step S104, the CPU 50A, as the prediction unit 504, predicts the timing of maintenance for the tire 20 being evaluated based on at least one of the mileage and damage state of the tire 20 being evaluated, within a range that does not exceed the predicted arrival time calculated in step S103.

[0072] By executing this processing, the server 5 can predict the timing of maintenance for the tire 20 in order to propose a use method that can improve the utility value of the tire 20, taking into account the driving conditions of the tire 20. By the server 5 predicting the timing of maintenance for the tire 20, the information processing system 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can instruct appropriate work and processing depending on the condition of the tire, and can provide support to the user.

[0073] Although the technology of the present disclosure has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the gist of the technology, and such modifications or improvements are also included in the technical scope of the disclosed technology.

[0074] In the above embodiment, the processing is performed by executing a program stored in an auxiliary storage device, but at least a part of the processing of the program may be realized by hardware. The processing flow of the program described in the above embodiment is also an example, and unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the processing order may be changed within the scope of the gist.

[0075] Furthermore, in order to execute the processing in the above-described embodiment by a computer, a program in which the above-described processing is written in code that can be processed by a computer may be stored on a storage medium such as an optical disk and distributed.

[0076] In the above-described embodiment, a CPU has been used as an example of a general-purpose processor. However, in the above-described embodiment, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0077] Furthermore, the operation of the processor in the above-described embodiments may not only be performed by a single processor, but may also be performed by multiple processors working together, or may be performed by multiple processors located in physically separate locations working together.

[0078] All publications, patent applications, and technical standards mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent application, or technical standard was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

[0079] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-170811, filed on September 29, 2023, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In addition, all documents, patent applications, and technical standards described herein are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual document, patent application, and technical standard were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires tire damage information regarding the damage state of a tire to be evaluated attached to a moving body, a strain calculation result corresponding to the size of the tire to be evaluated from strain calculation results prepared for each tire size, and tire running information regarding the running of the tire to be evaluated; a damage calculation unit that calculates a predicted damage progression length of the tire to be evaluated during a prediction target period using the information acquired by the acquisition unit; a reach time calculation unit that calculates a predicted arrival time to a damage depth limit value set based on a tire failure risk from the predicted damage progression length calculated by the damage calculation unit; and a prediction unit that predicts the timing of maintenance of the tire to be evaluated, within a range not exceeding the predicted arrival time, based on at least one of the traveling distance and damage state of the tire to be evaluated.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires as the tire damage information at least any one of the position of the damage occurring in the tire being evaluated, the length of the damage, the depth of the damage, the radial angle of the damage in the tire, the depth-wise angle of the damage, and the branching state of the damage inside the tire.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the prediction unit predicts the timing of repair or replacement of the tire to be evaluated based on information on the depth of damage that requires maintenance, which corresponds to at least one of the mileage and damage state of the tire to be evaluated.

4. The information processing device according to claim 3, wherein the depth of the scratch at which maintenance is required has an upper limit and a lower limit.

5. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the prediction unit predicts the timing of maintenance of the tire to be evaluated based on the mileage and damage state of the tire to be evaluated.

6. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the prediction unit classifies the tire to be evaluated based on at least one of the mileage and damage state of the tire to be evaluated, determines a maintenance method according to the classification, and predicts the timing of maintenance of the tire to be evaluated based on the depth of the damage that requires the determined maintenance.

7. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the prediction unit sets a target mileage from at least a past driving record of the tire to be evaluated, and determines a maintenance method for the tire to be evaluated based on the target mileage.

8. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires planning data relating to a predetermined plan for maintenance, and the prediction unit compares the planning data with the timing of maintenance for the tire to be evaluated obtained by prediction to determine a maintenance method for the tire to be evaluated.

9. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein a usage fee is set for the tire to be evaluated based on at least one of a driving period and a driving distance, and the prediction unit predicts the timing of maintenance for the tire to be evaluated based on at least one of the driving period and the driving distance.

10. An information processing method in which a processor acquires tire damage information relating to the damage state of a tire to be evaluated attached to a moving body, a strain calculation result corresponding to the size of the tire to be evaluated from strain calculation results prepared for each tire size, and tire running information relating to the running of the tire to be evaluated, calculates a predicted scratch progression length for the tire to be evaluated during a prediction period using the acquired information, calculates a predicted arrival time to a scratch depth limit value set based on the risk of tire failure from the calculated predicted scratch progression length, and predicts the timing of maintenance of the tire to be evaluated within a range not exceeding the predicted arrival time based on at least one of the mileage and damage state of the tire to be evaluated.

11. An information processing program that causes a computer to execute the following processes: acquire tire damage information relating to the damage state of a tire to be evaluated attached to a moving object, a strain calculation result corresponding to the size of the tire to be evaluated from strain calculation results prepared for each tire size, and tire running information relating to the running of the tire to be evaluated; calculate a predicted scratch progression length for the tire to be evaluated during a prediction period using the acquired information; calculate a predicted arrival time to a scratch depth limit value set based on a tire failure risk from the calculated predicted scratch progression length; and predict the timing of maintenance of the tire to be evaluated within a range not exceeding the predicted arrival time based on at least one of the mileage and the damage state of the tire to be evaluated.

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