Transportation mode integrating shared vehicles and grid‑based service stations

Abstract

A transportation mode integrating shared vehicles and grid‑based service stations, in which a shared vehicle serves as a direct point-to-point travel vehicle, and a short‑distance green travel mode is used to complete travel between an origin and a service station and between a destination and a service station. The mode comprises the steps: on a mobile APP, selecting a vehicle model, a destination, a real-time route, a real-time price, etc., to reserve a nearby shared vehicle; and upon successful reservation, reaching the service station on time by means of a green travel mode to pick up the vehicle for travel. The system consists of a central server, shared vehicles, grid-based service stations, a real-time traffic management map, a mobile phone APP, etc. By means of modern advanced technologies, a reliable travel mode is provided, replacing the travel by a large number of social vehicles; by using economic means for real-time regulation and control, traveling vehicles are as full as possible, thereby fully improving the road utilization rate; thus, the travel mode effectively integrates passenger travel demand, vehicle utilization demand, and road‑network smoothness demand.

Description

A transportation mode combining "car-sharing + grid-based service network" Technical Field

[0001] 0001. This invention belongs to the field of road transportation, and in particular relates to a new mode of daily urban transportation. Background Technology

[0002] 0002. In addition to the common modes of road transportation, car-sharing has emerged in recent years. Because this new mode of transportation is still in the exploratory stage, most car-sharing services we see today are essentially rentals disguised as sharing. Service points are not available near all departure points, nor do all service points have enough cars available; conversely, there may be no service points near the destination, or the service points may not have enough parking spaces. Furthermore, service points that can be returned are often far from the destination, significantly reducing convenience. This is the fundamental reason hindering the current development of car-sharing.

[0003] 0003. Given my country's leading position in mobile internet performance and coverage internationally, there is currently no fully developed car-sharing transportation system, both domestically and internationally; both are still in the exploratory stage. A true "urban car-sharing system" is based on advanced technologies such as the internet, big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, aiming to precisely match supply and demand resources. It involves multi-dimensional sharing in terms of usage time, space, vehicle usage rights, and urban road usage rights, effectively integrating passenger travel needs, vehicle utilization needs, and road network congestion needs. Future car-sharing will be a major force in road transportation. Through pre-booked rides and carpooling, it can significantly increase passenger capacity, thereby improving road utilization. Through modern technology, it can monitor real-time traffic flow on every road, completely solving road congestion problems. Simultaneously, by increasing vehicle utilization, it overcomes the enormous waste of resources caused by the extremely low utilization rate of current vehicles, significantly reducing social vehicle demand and the total number of vehicles, thus solving parking problems. This is the inevitable path to developing smart transportation and building a strong transportation nation. Like my country's high-speed rail construction, it will continue to drive my country's rapid economic growth.

[0004] 0004. To address this, a "car-sharing + grid-based service network" transportation model was designed to precisely fill the gaps in car-sharing services and improve their convenience and practicality. In the future, by incorporating it into new public transportation modes, it will significantly reduce the enormous resource waste currently plaguing my country's public transportation sector. Through precise matching and optimization of the urban public transportation system, a profitable business model can be achieved. This is an optimal project for fostering new industries, new models, and new drivers of growth through disruptive and cutting-edge technologies, developing new types of productivity, and possesses practical significance and promising application prospects. Summary of the Invention

[0005] 0005. The purpose of this invention is to provide a revolutionary new mode of road transportation that meets people's demand for "door-to-door direct transportation," significantly reducing people's travel time, travel costs, and travel physical exertion; significantly reducing the various huge resource wastes existing in the current road transportation system, rationally optimizing urban operating costs, continuously promoting the rapid growth of the urban economy, and effectively integrating passenger travel needs, vehicle utilization needs, and road network smoothness needs with contemporary mature technologies, so as to scientifically and thoroughly overcome the two major global urban problems of urban traffic congestion and urban parking difficulties.

[0006] 0006. This invention discloses a "shared car + grid-based service network" transportation mode, which uses shared cars as direct transportation, completing the journey from the origin and destination to the service network using short-distance green travel methods. The steps are as follows: by selecting the car model, destination, real-time route, and real-time price on a mobile APP, a shared car is booked nearby. After successful booking, the user arrives at the service network on time to pick up the car using green travel methods. The system consists of a central server, shared cars, grid-based service networks, a real-time traffic management map, and a mobile APP. It utilizes advanced technology to provide a reliable mode of transportation, replacing a large number of private vehicles. It uses economic means to regulate in real time, ensuring that vehicles are fully loaded and maximizing road utilization. Thus, it effectively integrates passenger travel needs, vehicle utilization needs, and road network congestion needs into a transportation mode.

[0007] 0007. This invention discloses a "shared car + grid-based service network" transportation mode, wherein the shared car + grid-based service network forms a brand-new road transportation system. The shared car serves as a direct route for travel, and the journey from the origin to the destination and to the service network is completed using a short-distance green travel mode. It coexists and complements existing transportation systems such as rail transit and public transportation systems, replacing a large number of private vehicles and optimizing the road transportation system.

[0008] 0008. This invention provides a "shared car + grid-based service network" transportation mode, wherein the traveler needs to apply via a mobile app when leaving home. If the traveler is a non-driving member, they are automatically identified as a hitchhiker. They simply input their destination, and through big data matching, they select acceptable (including travel time, route, etc.) nearby grid-based service networks to prepare for a same-direction vehicle and its price. After confirmation, they travel to the designated location and wait for the pre-booked shared car to take them to their destination. If the traveler is a driving member, they then select whether they are willing to drive; "No" indicates they only wish to be a hitchhiker as described above. Choose your mode of transportation; "Yes" indicates you are currently willing to drive, enter your destination, and the real-time map will provide several different routes and prices. Select one of the planned routes; choose whether you are willing to be a rideshare driver and share the fare. Selecting "No" means you will not be a rideshare driver and will bear the full fare. Go directly to the grid-based service point and pick up the car on time according to the prompts. Selecting "Yes" means you are willing to be a rideshare driver. Based on big data, you will select passengers who are going in the same direction nearby. Arrive at the grid-based service point at the time indicated by the system after the matching, pick up the car on time according to the prompts, and pick up the passengers at the prompts and head to the destination according to the planned route.

[0009] 0009. This invention discloses a "shared car + grid-based service network" transportation mode, wherein the shared cars included in the system include various types of shared cars of high, medium and low cost, all equipped with a high-precision (BeiDou) satellite positioning system and real-time city-wide traffic management map software; operating under the unified management of a city-wide central server, when the driving route deviates from the planned route, the driver will be reminded, or the route will be corrected or the fare will be increased to continue; when there is a sudden congestion on the planned route, a route change prompt will be issued in a timely manner to avoid road congestion.

[0010] 0010. This invention discloses a "shared car + grid-based service network" transportation mode. The service network included in the system refers to dedicated shared car service network points, which are evenly distributed in a grid pattern within a certain area based on population density and usage demand. Each service network point is no more than one kilometer apart according to the traveler's car usage habits, with denser distribution in high-usage areas. The service network points select different types of parking options based on the population density and usage demand within the area, such as roadside parking, underground parking, mechanical parking garages, and super intelligent parking garages, etc., with various forms combined as needed. Each shared car service network point must be integrated into the unified central server management system of the entire city.

[0011] 0011. This invention presents a "shared car + grid-based service network" transportation mode, aiming to completely solve the urban traffic problem that has plagued the world for a century. It replaces the vast majority of underutilized private vehicles with shared cars, which consume significant resources, providing a mode of travel closest to private car ownership. This overcomes the drawbacks of existing public transportation, such as long waiting times, tiring transfers, and detours; it meets people's travel needs by providing a "door-to-door" direct service. The shared cars used are also specially designed with modern technology, featuring "vehicle-road-garage" collaborative functions. Future development will incorporate remote driving and autonomous driving capabilities, with different features for different regions, further highlighting regional characteristics.

[0012] 0012. This invention utilizes the concept of a grid-based shared car service network, with service points spaced no more than one kilometer apart, to solve users' problems with convenient car pickup and parking, closely mimicking the private car travel model. The network of shared car service points of varying sizes is planned and set up based on population density and car usage demand in different areas. In areas with low population mobility and low daily car usage demand, roadside parking or surface parking lots are directly planned as service points, such as in typical rural areas. A reasonable grid-based planning of nearby roadside and surface parking spots suffices. In areas with high population mobility and tidal demand, with high instantaneous demand, large-capacity underground parking garages or various types of mechanical parking garages are needed as service points, such as in towns and cities on the outskirts of urban areas. In addition to reasonably planning roadside or surface parking lots, large-capacity underground parking garages or efficient small and medium-sized mechanical parking garages are also needed in areas with high usage demand. In areas with a particularly large population mobility and consistently high car usage demand, innovative construction of ultra-large-capacity intelligent parking garages is required as service points. Traffic problems in major Chinese cities are becoming increasingly severe, with road congestion and parking difficulties intensifying. In these prime urban environments, constructing large-scale, grid-like service stations requires extremely small footprints, massive storage capacity, multiple entrances and exits, and fully automated, reliable operation without requiring human entry to ensure safety. Simultaneously, it must not negatively impact the urban landscape. Therefore, utilizing deep underground space and employing modern vertical tunneling and other technologies to develop underground parking garages with minimal footprints, centrally located parking spaces, and four complementary car elevators around the perimeter, allows for a specially designed parking capacity of 400-500 vehicles. The four side entrances and exits are separate, with 8-32 entrances and exits in total. This results in a fully automated, high-density intelligent parking garage (refer to the inventor's patent number ZL2016106921644). Currently, the number of vehicles in Chinese cities is already saturated, and it is unrealistic to expect a complete "replacement" overnight. The only solution is to utilize modern technology to gradually build super-intelligent parking garages in a grid-like manner, primarily serving as dedicated service points for car-sharing. This will improve the new car-sharing travel model, gradually reduce the number of existing private vehicles, and free up existing parking space. Reasonable car-sharing service points can then be set up locally, supplemented by roadside parking or other existing types of parking areas. By using economic means, the needs of special groups (such as the disabled, the elderly, or those in urgent need of travel) can be met, thus better satisfying people's travel needs.

[0013] 0013. This invention proposes a "shared car + grid-based service network" transportation mode. By addressing the shortcomings of grid-based service networks for shared cars, it improves the practical application scenarios of shared car travel, substantially advancing the construction of intelligent transportation systems, and truly achieving real-time control of road traffic flow, overcoming the current awkward phenomenon of so-called intelligent transportation that only "monitors but does not control." Such a significant transformation in transportation will inevitably impact the current social traffic situation. Adopting the scheme of this application, with grid-based construction of service networks primarily consisting of super-intelligent parking garages and supplemented by other forms of parking, will be a transitional solution with minimal impact on social traffic. In the future, by integrating it into the social public transportation system, it will not only solve the problems of huge investment and daily operating costs in building super-intelligent parking garages, but also significantly reduce the demand for social vehicles, thereby significantly reducing people's transportation costs and travel time, improving the urban environment, reducing urban carbon emissions, and significantly improving people's quality of life.

[0014] 0014. This invention introduces the concept of ridesharing into the car-sharing mode of transportation, solving the legal issues of private cars engaging in pseudo-ridesharing; the network-wide ridesharing concept during peak hours solves the problem of wasting road resources due to single-person use of vehicles; the entire "car-sharing + grid-based service network" system is networked across the entire region, allowing city managers to use an "integrated" urban traffic management system, employing modern technologies such as big data, cloud computing, blockchain, and AI, and supplemented by reasonable economic means, to control the real-time traffic flow of every road within the entire region. In the future, by gradually incorporating other social vehicles, the problem of urban traffic congestion can be completely solved; by optimizing the existing public transportation system, various economic losses caused by urban traffic (which can directly affect the GDP of the year) can be significantly reduced, thereby directly boosting the economic growth of the entire region. Attached Figure Description

[0015] 0015. Figure 1 is a flowchart of a transportation mode of "car sharing + grid-based service network".

[0016] 0016. Figure 2 is a flowchart of the operation of a "car-sharing + grid-based service network" travel system. Detailed Implementation

[0017] 0017. The travel mode of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] 0018. Figure 1 illustrates a new daily mode of car-sharing for people. Before leaving home, users open a mobile app, enter their destination, and confirm various options based on prompts. They then travel to a car-sharing service point or designated waiting area using a green transportation system. They drive or ride a shared car along the selected route to a designated location or service point near their destination. Finally, they travel a short distance to their final destination, completing their trip. This mode of transportation closely resembles a "door-to-door" service, providing various grid-like dedicated car-sharing service points near both the departure and destination points. This eliminates the need to spend significant time and energy searching for parking spaces or waiting to pick up a car, fully meeting the demand for "arrival and departure" for shared cars. The journey between the departure point and the service point is completed using short-distance green transportation methods. Walking and shared bicycles are suitable for healthy individuals, while the elderly, infirm, disabled, and young can use nearby electric shuttle buses within their community. The entire mode of transportation avoids the drawbacks of current rail transit and public transportation, such as long waiting times, long detours, and long walking transfers, thus meeting people's growing needs for a better life in terms of road transportation.

[0019] Figure 2 illustrates how travelers first register as members on a mobile app. After passing a series of verifications, they become driving members. Before each trip, the user opens the app and is shown whether they are a driving member. If not, they enter their destination, and the app map provides different travel options (walking, cycling, public transport, rail transit, and car sharing) and estimated arrival times for the user to choose from. When choosing a car sharing option, the system matches several options traveling in the same direction. The user selects an option based on factors such as proximity, price, and time. They then arrive at the designated time (automatically calculated by the app) and location as indicated by the app to board the car and travel to their destination.

[0020] 0020. When registering as a driver member and logging in, you will be prompted whether you are willing to drive for this trip. Selecting "No" indicates that you are willing to be a rideshare passenger, and you can complete the process as described in the previous section. Selecting "Yes" indicates that you are willing to drive. Follow the system prompts to select a nearby grid service point with available cars, choose a car model, and enter your destination. The system will provide several different routes and prices based on real-time traffic conditions. Routes that take congested areas will incur additional charges, while detours will have no or lower additional charges. Choose one according to your needs. The system will then prompt you again to ask if you are willing to share the fare with other passengers. If you select "No," it means you are not willing to be a rideshare driver and will bear all the costs yourself. Travel to the designated grid service point using green transportation methods according to the time indicated by the system. Before approaching the grid service point, the system will provide the specific exit location of the shared car. After confirming again, you can go directly to pick up the car and depart. If you select "Yes," it means you are willing to be a rideshare driver. The system will automatically publish your information and guide you to the grid-based service points via green transportation. Before arriving, you will confirm the exit location of the shared car again. You will also receive the location and arrival time of the successfully matched passenger. Pick up the car and go to the location as prompted. After picking up the rideshare passenger, follow the route planned by the software to the service points along the passenger's route and destination. Return the vehicle at the entrance as prompted and then travel to your respective destination via green transportation to complete your trip.

[0021] 0021. The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept of the present invention and should not be used to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention should fall within the scope of protection defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A "car sharing + grid service point" traffic mode, characterized in that: This system utilizes car-sharing as a direct route for travel, facilitating short-distance, green transportation between the origin and destination and service points. The process involves using a mobile app to select the car model, destination, real-time route, and price to reserve a shared car at the nearest location. Once booked, passengers arrive at the service point on time to pick up the car and begin their journey. The system comprises a central server, shared cars, a grid-based service network, a real-time traffic management map, and a mobile app. It leverages advanced technology to provide a reliable mode of transportation, replacing a large number of private vehicles. Real-time economic adjustments are used to ensure vehicles are fully loaded, maximizing road utilization. This effectively integrates passenger travel needs, vehicle utilization needs, and the need for smooth road network traffic flow.

2. The traffic travel mode of "car sharing + grid service network point" according to claim 1, characterized in that: A brand-new road transportation system is formed by car sharing and grid-based service outlets. Car sharing serves as a direct route for travel, with short-distance green travel between the origin and destination and the service outlets. It coexists and complements existing transportation systems such as rail transit and public transportation, replacing a large number of private vehicles and optimizing the road transportation system.

3. The "car-sharing + grid-based service network" transportation mode according to claim 1, characterized in that: Travelers need to apply on the mobile app when they go out. If they are not a driver member, they will be automatically identified as a rideshare passenger. They only need to enter their destination, and after big data matching, they can select an acceptable nearby grid service point to prepare a vehicle going in the same direction and along the same route, as well as the price. After confirmation, they can take a green trip to the designated location and wait for the reserved shared car to take them to their destination. If you are a driver member, then select whether you are willing to drive. "No" means you only want to be a hitchhiker and travel in the above way. "Yes" indicates willingness to drive. Enter your destination, and the real-time map will provide several different routes and prices. Choose one of the planned routes. Select whether you are willing to share the fare as a rideshare driver. Selecting "No" means you will not be a rideshare driver and will bear the full fare. Go directly to the grid service point and pick up the car on time according to the prompts. Selecting "Yes" means you are willing to be a rideshare driver. Based on big data, you will select passengers who are going in the same direction nearby. Arrive at the grid service point at the time indicated by the system after the matching, pick up the car on time according to the prompts, and pick up the passengers at the prompts to go to the destination according to the planned route.

4. The traffic travel mode of "car sharing + grid service network point" according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shared cars included in the system include high-end, medium-end, and low-end models, all equipped with a high-precision (BeiDou) satellite positioning system and real-time citywide traffic management map software. They operate under the unified management of a central server throughout the city. When the driving route deviates from the planned route, the system will remind the driver and either correct the route or charge an additional fare to continue. When there is a sudden congestion on the planned route, the system will promptly issue a route change prompt to avoid road congestion.

5. The traffic travel mode of "car sharing + grid service network point" according to claim 1, characterized in that: The service points included in the system refer to dedicated car-sharing service points, which are evenly distributed in a grid pattern within a certain area based on population density and usage demand. Each service point is no more than one kilometer apart, and denser deployment is carried out in high-usage areas. Service points select different types of parking options based on the population density and usage demand in the area, such as roadside parking, underground parking, mechanical parking garages, and super intelligent parking garages, with various combinations available as needed. Each car-sharing service point must be managed by a unified central server throughout the city.

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