Environmental load management device, environmental load management method, and recording medium

Abstract

This environmental load management device comprises a first acquisition unit, a difference identification unit, a second acquisition unit, and a reflection unit. The first acquisition unit acquires scheduled route information indicating a planned route scheduled before a mobile body that delivers a package starts to travel, and an actual route information indicating an actual route on which the mobile body has actually traveled. The difference identification unit identifies a difference between the planned route and the actual route using the planned route information and the actual route information. The second acquisition unit acquires reference information likely to indicate the cause of the difference. When the reference information meets criteria, the reflection unit performs reflection processing that reflects at least a portion of the variance in an environmental load caused by the difference in the actual environmental load of the mobile body.

Description

Environmental load management device, environmental load management method, and recording medium

[0001] The present invention relates to an environmental load management device, an environmental load management method, and a recording medium.

[0002] When delivering packages using a mobile object such as a vehicle, the movement of the mobile object creates an environmental load. In response to this, Patent Document 1 describes a device that performs the following process. This device compares a predicted value of carbon dioxide emissions expected when delivering packages according to a created candidate delivery plan with the actual carbon dioxide emissions of past vehicle dispatch plans, and if the predicted CO2 emissions exceed the actual carbon dioxide emissions of the past, creates another candidate vehicle dispatch plan. The device then determines the candidate delivery plan whose predicted carbon dioxide emissions are equal to or less than the actual carbon dioxide emissions of the past as the final delivery plan.

[0003] JP 2012-083882 A

[0004] In recent years, various people have been delivering packages at various times. For this reason, it may not be appropriate to attribute all of the environmental load generated by a mobile object during delivery to the environmental load caused by the delivery of the package. One example of a problem that the present invention aims to solve is to appropriately attribute the environmental load caused by the delivery of a package when the package is delivered using a mobile object.

[0005] The environmental load management device of the present disclosure comprises: a first acquisition means for acquiring planned route information indicating a planned route that a mobile body delivering a package had planned before starting its movement, and actual route information indicating an actual route that the mobile body actually traveled; a difference identification means for identifying a difference between the planned route and the actual route using the planned route information and the actual route information; a second acquisition means for acquiring reference information that may indicate the cause of the difference; and a reflection means for performing a reflection process that, when the reference information satisfies a criterion, reflects at least a portion of the increase or decrease in environmental load caused by the difference in the actual environmental load amount by the mobile body.

[0006] The environmental load management method disclosed herein involves a computer acquiring planned route information indicating a planned route that a mobile body delivering a package had planned before starting its movement, and actual route information indicating an actual route that the mobile body actually traveled, using the planned route information and the actual route information to identify a difference between the planned route and the actual route, acquiring reference information that may indicate the cause of the difference, and, when the reference information meets a criterion, performing a reflection process to reflect at least a portion of the increase or decrease in environmental load caused by the difference in the actual environmental load amount caused by the mobile body.

[0007] The program of the present disclosure has a computer equipped with: a first acquisition means for acquiring planned route information indicating a planned route that a mobile body delivering a package had planned before starting its movement, and actual route information indicating an actual route that the mobile body actually traveled; a difference identification means for identifying a difference between the planned route and the actual route using the planned route information and the actual route information; a second acquisition means for acquiring reference information that may indicate the cause of the difference; and a reflection means for performing a reflection process that, when the reference information satisfies a criterion, reflects at least a portion of the increase or decrease in environmental load caused by the difference in the actual environmental load amount caused by the mobile body.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, when a package is delivered using a mobile object, the environmental load caused by the delivery of the package can be kept at an appropriate level.

[0009] It is a figure which shows the functional configuration example of the environmental load management apparatus which concerns on this disclosure. It is a figure for demonstrating the difference between the planned route and the actual route. It is a figure which shows the hardware configuration example of the environmental load management apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which an environmental load management apparatus performs.

[0010] Hereinafter, in this disclosure, the drawings relate to one or more embodiments. In addition, in all drawings, similar components are given similar reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0011] The environmental load management device 10 identifies the magnitude of the environmental load caused by delivery when a package is delivered using a mobile object.

[0012] An example of a moving body is a vehicle, but it may also be an air vehicle such as a drone. The moving body may be operated by a driver or may be self-propelled. The moving body is powered by at least one of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor such as a motor. As an example, the moving body may be an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle having both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.

[0013] The environmental load includes, for example, carbon dioxide emissions, but is not limited to this.

[0014] The environmental load management apparatus 10 can use a storage unit 150, as shown in Fig. 1, for example. The storage unit 150 stores various types of information used by the environmental load management apparatus 10. As an example, the storage unit 150 stores various types of information related to delivery. The storage unit 150 may be a single device or multiple devices.

[0015] At least a part of the storage unit 150 and the environmental load management apparatus 10 are connected via a communication line such as the Internet. The environmental load management apparatus 10 and the storage unit 150 may be managed by the same administrator, or may be managed by different administrators. An example of an administrator is an organization such as a company.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1 , the environmental load management apparatus 10 includes a first acquisition unit 110 , a difference identification unit 120 , a second acquisition unit 130 , and a reflection unit 140 .

[0017] The first acquisition unit 110 acquires planned route information and actual route information. These pieces of information are stored in the storage unit 150, for example.

[0018] The planned route information indicates a planned route that a mobile object delivering a package has planned before starting to move, and is generated, for example, using a route generation device before the mobile object starts to deliver the package. The planned route includes, for example, a departure point, a destination, waypoints, and a route to arrive at the destination via the waypoints. Note that the planned route does not have to include the waypoints. The route generation device generates planned route information using, for example, a function similar to that of a car navigation device, and stores this planned route information in the storage unit 150 in association with the identification information of the mobile object. Note that the identification information of the mobile object is information for identifying multiple mobile objects from each other.

[0019] The actual route information indicates the actual route that the mobile object actually traveled. The actual route information is generated, for example, using a GPS device mounted on the mobile object. The actual route also includes, for example, a departure point, a destination, waypoints, and a route to arrive at the destination via the waypoints. Note that if the planned route does not include waypoints, the actual route also does not include waypoints. This GPS device may be built into the mobile object. Furthermore, if a person is riding in the mobile object, this GPS device may be a portable communication device carried by the person. An example of this communication device is a so-called smartphone. The GPS device then associates the generated actual route information with the identification information of the mobile object and stores it in the storage unit 150.

[0020] The difference identification unit 120 identifies the difference between the planned route and the actual route using the planned route information and the actual route information. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , a mobile object may take a route that deviates from the planned route, for example, a road that was not planned, for some reason. The difference is information that indicates, for example, the route that deviated from the planned route. For example, the difference indicates a first point and the date and time at which the mobile object deviated from the planned route, a second point and the date and time at which the mobile object returned to the planned route, and the difference route that was actually taken between the first point and the second point. The difference route may be indicated by location information and a history of the date and time at which the mobile object was located at that location.

[0021] The second acquisition unit 130 acquires reference information. The reference information is information that may indicate the cause of the difference. Detailed examples of the reference information will be described later.

[0022] When the reference information satisfies a criterion, the reflection unit 140 performs a reflection process to reflect at least a portion of the increase or decrease in the environmental load amount caused by the difference in the actual environmental load amount of the mobile object. For example, when the reference information indicates that the difference was unavoidable, the reflection unit 140 reflects the increase or decrease in the environmental load amount caused by the difference as is in the actual environmental load amount of the mobile object. Furthermore, when the reference information indicates that the difference was partially the driver's fault, the reflection unit 140 reflects a portion of the increase or decrease in the environmental load amount caused by the difference in the actual environmental load amount of the mobile object. Here, the reflection unit 140 determines to what extent the increase or decrease in the environmental load amount is reflected in the actual environmental load amount based on, for example, the proportion of the portion of the difference route that was attributable to the driver's fault. Furthermore, when the reference information indicates that the difference was the driver's fault, the reflection unit 140 does not reflect the increase or decrease in the environmental load amount caused by the difference in the actual environmental load amount of the mobile object.

[0023] The reflection unit 140 calculates the increase or decrease in the amount of environmental load caused by the difference, for example, as follows: First, the reflection unit 140 calculates the amount of environmental load, for example, carbon dioxide emissions, when the mobile object travels along the differential route. Next, the reflection unit 140 calculates the amount of environmental load that would occur if the mobile object had traveled through an area of ​​the planned route that corresponds to the differential route. The reflection unit 140 then determines the difference between the two amounts of environmental load as the increase or decrease in the amount of environmental load caused by the difference.

[0024] The reflection unit 140 calculates the carbon dioxide emissions using, for example, the conventional ton-kilometer method or the improved ton-kilometer method. However, the reflection unit 140 may also calculate the carbon dioxide emissions using other methods, for example, the fuel method or the fuel efficiency method.

[0025] The environmental load management apparatus 10 has, as its hardware configuration, a bus 1010, a processor 1020, a memory 1030, a storage device 1040, an input / output interface 1050, and a network interface 1060, as shown in FIG.

[0026] The bus 1010 is a data transmission path for transmitting and receiving data among the processor 1020, memory 1030, storage device 1040, input / output interface 1050, and network interface 1060. However, the method of connecting the processor 1020 and the like to each other is not limited to bus connection.

[0027] The processor 1020 is implemented by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or the like.

[0028] The memory 1030 is a main storage device realized by a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like.

[0029] The storage device 1040 is an auxiliary storage device realized by removable media such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a memory card, or a read-only memory (ROM), and has a recording medium. The recording medium of the storage device 1040 stores program modules that realize each function of the environmental load management apparatus 10 (e.g., the first acquisition unit 110, the difference identification unit 120, the second acquisition unit 130, and the reflection unit 140). The processor 1020 loads each of these program modules into the memory 1030 and executes them, thereby realizing each function corresponding to the program module. The storage device 1040 may also function as a memory unit (e.g., the memory unit 150) that stores various types of information.

[0030] The input / output interface 1050 is an interface for connecting the environmental load management apparatus 10 to various input / output devices.

[0031] The network interface 1060 is an interface for connecting the environmental load management apparatus 10 to a network. This network may be, for example, a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). The network interface 1060 may be connected to the network wirelessly or by wire.

[0032] The environmental load management device 10 may be realized by a plurality of devices each having the configuration shown in FIG.

[0033] The environmental load management apparatus 10 operates, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 . First, the first acquisition unit 110 acquires planned route information and actual route information (step S10). Next, the difference identification unit 120 uses the planned route information and actual route information to identify the difference between the planned route and the actual route (step S20). The second acquisition unit 130 acquires reference information (step S30). Then, if the reference information satisfies the criteria (step S40: Yes), the reflection unit 140 executes a reflection process (step S50).

[0034] As described above, according to this embodiment, the second acquisition unit 130 of the environmental load management apparatus 10 acquires reference information. The reference information is information that may indicate the cause of the difference. The reflection unit 140 of the environmental load management apparatus 10 then performs a reflection process when the reference information satisfies a criterion. The reflection process is a process of reflecting at least a portion of the increase or decrease in the amount of environmental load caused by the difference in the actual amount of environmental load caused by the mobile object. Therefore, by using the environmental load management apparatus 10, when a package is delivered using a mobile object, the environmental load caused by the delivery of the package can be adjusted to an appropriate level.

[0035] Next, specific examples of reference information and criteria used by the reflection unit 140 will be described.

[0036] (1) When the reference information includes traffic information, the traffic information includes, for example, at least one of the following: the required time from one point to another, a section where traffic restrictions are in place due to construction or the like, and a congested section. For example, the second acquisition unit 130 identifies a first point and a second point, which are the two ends of the section where the difference occurs, and acquires traffic information for the section between the first point and the second point on the planned travel route, for example, from an external device that manages traffic information. Then, if the traffic information for that section indicates that at least a portion of the section is included in a congested section or a section where traffic restrictions are in place, the reflection unit 140 reflects at least a portion of the increase or decrease in the environmental load caused by the difference in the actual environmental load of the moving object. The reflection unit 140 may reflect all of the increase or decrease in the environmental load in the actual environmental load.

[0037] The planned route information may include an estimated travel time for each section. In this case, even if the travel time from the first point to the second point based on the traffic information is longer than the estimated travel time from the first point to the second point based on the planned route information and the difference is equal to or greater than a reference value, the reflection unit 140 may reflect at least a part of the increase or decrease in the environmental load caused by the difference in the actual amount of environmental load caused by the mobile object.

[0038] (2) When the reference information indicates the presence or absence of transmission information The transmission information is information transmitted to a communication device traveling with the mobile body, and is information that recommends or instructs that the mobile body's travel route be changed from the planned route. An example of a communication device is an in-vehicle communication device or a portable communication terminal carried by a passenger in the mobile body. The transmission information may also indicate the changed route. The transmission information is transmitted to the mobile body, for example, from a management center that manages the mobile body. In other words, the transmission information is information generated by a person in charge of the management center. When there is transmission information, the second acquisition unit 130 reflects all increases or decreases in the amount of environmental load caused by the difference in the actual amount of environmental load caused by the mobile body.

[0039] (3) When the moving object is operated by a driver and the reference information includes at least one of the operation information and the driver information.

[0040] The operation information is information that can identify the operation of the mobile body at the target date and time when the difference occurred. The operation of the mobile body includes at least one of the on / off of the power source of the mobile body, the state of the gear of the transmission, the on / off of the power of the devices mounted on the mobile body, and the location history of the mobile body. Examples of such devices are air conditioning equipment and audio equipment. The operation information is generated, for example, by a sensor mounted on the mobile body and stored in the memory unit 150 via a communication device mounted on the mobile body.

[0041] The operation information may include an image, such as a video, of the vehicle interior, or may be generated by processing the image, for example, generated by a drive recorder.

[0042] The driver information is information that can identify the driver's condition at a target date and time. For example, the driver information includes an image, such as a video, of the driver's seat. This image is generated, for example, by a drive recorder. However, the driver information may also include a steering wheel operation history and a brake and accelerator operation history. The driver information is generated, for example, by a sensor, such as an imaging device, mounted on the mobile object, and stored in the storage unit 150 via a communication device mounted on the mobile object.

[0043] Consider a case where the reference information includes both operation information and driver information, and the operation information includes information that can identify the stop time of the mobile object during a time period corresponding to the difference between the planned travel route and the actual travel route. An example of this information is the mobile object's location history. When there was a stop time but the driver was not in a specific state during the stop time, the reflection unit 140 reflects at least a portion, for example, all, of the increase or decrease in the environmental load amount resulting from the difference in the actual environmental load amount of the mobile object. An example of the driver being in a specific state is when the driver is resting without driving. In other words, when the driver changes the route and takes a rest, the change in the route is caused by the driver, and the increase or decrease in the environmental load amount resulting from this change is not caused by the delivery of goods. Therefore, the reflection unit 140 determines whether to reflect at least a portion of the increase or decrease in the environmental load amount resulting from the difference in the actual environmental load amount based on the above-mentioned criteria.

[0044] The reflection unit 140 may determine that the driver is taking a rest if, for example, the driver's hands are off the steering wheel for a predetermined period of time or more. The time when the driver is not in the driver's seat is also counted as the time when the driver's hands are off the steering wheel. The reflection unit 140 may further add, to the conditions for determining that the driver is taking a rest, the operation information that the power source of the vehicle is off or the gear is in neutral.

[0045] Furthermore, if the length of the stop time of the mobile object in the time period corresponding to the difference between the planned travel route and the actual travel route is equal to or greater than a reference value, it is presumed that the driver changed the route to take a rest. Therefore, if the reference information includes operation information and the operation information indicates that the length of the stop time of the mobile object is less than the reference value, it is presumed that the route change was not for a rest, and the reflection unit 140 reflects at least a part, for example, all, of the increase or decrease in the environmental load caused by the difference in the actual environmental load amount caused by the mobile object.

[0046] The reflecting unit 140 may further add the condition that the stopping location of the mobile object was not a specific location to the conditions for reflecting at least a portion, for example, all, of the increase or decrease in the environmental load amount due to the difference in the actual environmental load amount of the mobile object. The specific location here means, for example, being at or near a specific facility. Examples of specific facilities include, but are not limited to, stores and educational facilities such as schools, kindergartens, nursery schools, and daycare centers. This is because, if the driver uses these facilities for personal use, the change in route is due to the driver, and the increase or decrease in the environmental load amount due to this change can be said to be not due to the delivery of packages. Therefore, if the stopping location of the mobile object is a specific location, the reflecting unit 140 does not reflect the increase or decrease in the environmental load amount due to the difference in the actual environmental load amount of the mobile object.

[0047] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present disclosure within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, each embodiment can be combined with other embodiments as appropriate.

[0048] In addition, although the flowcharts used in the above description show a number of steps (processes) in a sequential order, the order of the steps executed in the embodiments is not limited to the order shown in the flowcharts. In each embodiment, the order of the steps shown in the drawings can be changed as long as it does not cause any problems in terms of the content.

[0049] Some or all of the above embodiments can be described as, but are not limited to, the following notes. 1. An environmental load management device comprising: a first acquisition means for acquiring planned route information indicating a planned route that a mobile object delivering a package had planned before starting its movement, and actual route information indicating an actual route that the mobile object actually traveled; a difference identification means for identifying a difference between the planned route and the actual route using the planned route information and the actual route information; a second acquisition means for acquiring reference information that may indicate the cause of the difference; and a reflection means for performing a reflection process to reflect, when the reference information satisfies a criterion, at least a part of the increase or decrease in environmental load caused by the difference in the actual amount of environmental load caused by the mobile object. 2. The environmental load management device described in above 1, wherein the amount of environmental load includes carbon dioxide emissions. 3. The environmental load management device described in above 1 or 2, wherein the reference information includes traffic information for a portion of the planned route that corresponds to the difference, and the criterion includes congestion in the portion that corresponds to the difference. 4. 4. The environmental load management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 above, wherein the reference information is information transmitted to a communication device traveling together with the mobile object, and indicates the presence or absence of transmitted information recommending or instructing that the mobile object's travel route be changed from the planned route, and the criterion is the presence of the transmitted information. 5. The environmental load management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 above, wherein the mobile object is operated by a driver, and the reference information includes at least one of operation information capable of identifying the operation of the mobile object at a target date and time when the difference occurred, and driver information capable of identifying the driver's condition at the target date and time. 6. The environmental load management device according to claim 5, wherein the driver information includes a photographed image of the driver.7. The environmental load management device described in above 5 or 6, wherein the reference information includes the operation information and the driver information, the operation information includes information that can identify the stopped time of the mobile object in a time period corresponding to the difference, and the criterion is that the stopped time occurred but the driver was not in a specific state during the stopped time. 8. The environmental load management device described in above 5 or 6, wherein the reference information includes the operation information, the operation information includes information that can identify the stopped time of the mobile object at a date and time corresponding to the difference, and the criterion is that the length of the stopped time is less than a standard value. 9. The environmental load management device described in above 8, wherein the operation information includes information that can identify the position where the mobile object was stopped, and the criterion further includes that the position where the mobile object was stopped was not a specific position. 10. 11. An environmental load management method in which a computer acquires planned route information indicating the planned route that a mobile body delivering a package had planned before starting its movement, and actual route information indicating the actual route that the mobile body actually traveled, identifies a difference between the planned route and the actual route using the planned route information and the actual route information, acquires reference information that may indicate the cause of the difference, and, when the reference information meets a criterion, performs a reflection process to reflect at least a portion of the increase or decrease in environmental load caused by the difference in the actual environmental load amount by the mobile body. A recording medium having recorded thereon a program for providing a computer with: a first acquisition means for acquiring planned route information indicating a planned route that a mobile body delivering a package had planned before starting its movement, and actual route information indicating an actual route that the mobile body actually traveled; a difference identification means for identifying a difference between the planned route and the actual route using the planned route information and the actual route information; a second acquisition means for acquiring reference information that may indicate the cause of the difference; and a reflection means for performing a reflection process to reflect, when the reference information satisfies a criterion, at least a part of the increase or decrease in environmental load caused by the difference in the actual environmental load amount caused by the mobile body.12. The program according to 11 above.

[0050] Furthermore, some or all of the configurations described in Supplementary Notes 2 to 9 that are dependent on Supplementary Note 1 above may also be dependent on Supplementary Notes 10, 11, and 12 in the same dependent relationship as Supplementary Notes 2 to 9. Furthermore, not limited to Supplementary Notes 1, 10, 11, and 12, some or all of the configurations described as Supplements may be made dependent on various hardware, software, various recording means for recording software, or systems, within the scope of each of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0051] 10 Environmental load management device 110 First acquisition unit 120 Difference identification unit 130 Second acquisition unit 140 Reflection unit

Claims

1. An environmental load management device comprising: a first acquisition means for acquiring planned route information indicating the planned route that a mobile body delivering a package had planned before starting its movement, and actual route information indicating the actual route that the mobile body actually traveled; a difference identification means for identifying the difference between the planned route and the actual route using the planned route information and the actual route information; a second acquisition means for acquiring reference information that may indicate the cause of the difference; and a reflection means for performing a reflection process that reflects at least a portion of the increase or decrease in environmental load caused by the difference in the actual environmental load amount by the mobile body when the reference information satisfies a criterion.

2. An environmental load management device according to claim 1, wherein the amount of environmental load includes an amount of carbon dioxide emissions.

3. An environmental load management device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reference information includes traffic information for a portion of the planned route that corresponds to the difference, and the criteria include the fact that the portion that corresponds to the difference is congested.

4. An environmental load management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the reference information is information transmitted to a communication device traveling together with the mobile body, and indicates the presence or absence of transmitted information recommending or instructing that the mobile body's travel route be changed from the planned route, and the criterion is the presence of the transmitted information.

5. An environmental load management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mobile body is operated by a driver, and the reference information includes at least one of operation information that can identify the operation of the mobile body at a target date and time when the difference occurred, and driver information that can identify the state of the driver at the target date and time.

6. An environmental load management device according to claim 5, wherein the driver information includes an image of the driver.

7. An environmental load management device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the reference information includes the operation information and the driver information, the operation information includes information that can identify the stop time of the mobile body in the time period corresponding to the difference, and the criterion is that the stop time occurred, but the driver was not in a specific state during the stop time.

8. An environmental load management device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the reference information includes the operation information, the operation information includes information that can identify the stop time of the mobile body at the date and time corresponding to the difference, and the criterion is that the length of the stop time is less than a reference value.

9. An environmental load management device according to claim 8, wherein the operation information includes information that can identify the location where the moving body was stopped, and the criteria further include the fact that the location where the moving body was stopped was not a specific location.

10. An environmental load management method in which a computer acquires planned route information indicating the planned route that a mobile body delivering a package had planned before starting its movement, and actual route information indicating the actual route that the mobile body actually traveled, identifies a difference between the planned route and the actual route using the planned route information and the actual route information, acquires reference information that may indicate the cause of the difference, and, when the reference information meets a criterion, performs a reflection process to reflect at least a portion of the increase or decrease in environmental load caused by the difference in the actual environmental load amount by the mobile body.

11. A recording medium having recorded thereon a program that causes a computer to have: a first acquisition means for acquiring planned route information indicating the planned route that a mobile body delivering a package had planned before starting its movement, and actual route information indicating the actual route that the mobile body actually traveled; a difference identification means for identifying the difference between the planned route and the actual route using the planned route information and the actual route information; a second acquisition means for acquiring reference information that may indicate the cause of the difference; and a reflection means for performing a reflection process that reflects at least a portion of the increase or decrease in environmental load caused by the difference in the actual environmental load amount caused by the mobile body when the reference information satisfies a criterion.

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