Autonomous Vehicle Scheduling for Substitute Fleet Introduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous travel vehicle systems lack effective mechanisms to adjust operation configurations when a vehicle becomes non-operable, leading to inefficiencies and reduced convenience in transportation systems.
Innovation Solution
An operation management apparatus and method that creates a substitute vehicle introduction schedule to maintain equal operation intervals by adjusting stopping times and target velocities, allowing for the safe introduction of a substitute vehicle and advancing schedules when necessary, utilizing an operation schedule creator, provider, vehicle information acquisition unit, and introduction controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a vehicle becomes non-operable due to failure, then the transportation system must adjust its operation configuration, but existing systems lack sufficient mechanisms for such adjustment leading to reduced convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores substitute vehicle introduction schedules before failures occur. When a vehicle becomes non-operable, the pre-prepared schedule is immediately activated, allowing for seamless operation configuration adjustment without disrupting service convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The operation schedule is dynamically adjusted based on real-time vehicle status. The system modifies stopping times and target velocities of remaining operating vehicles to accommodate the introduction of substitute vehicles, maintaining equal operation intervals despite changes in vehicle availability
2Reliability
If the operation schedule is adjusted to accommodate a non-operable vehicle, then substitute vehicles can be introduced, but this requires enlarging operation intervals which may affect productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes operational parameters (stopping time and target velocity) of remaining vehicles to create appropriate intervals for substitute vehicle introduction. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system ensures safe substitute vehicle integration while minimizing impact on overall operation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains periodic operation patterns by adjusting the timing of stopping and departure for remaining vehicles. This periodic adjustment ensures that enlarged operation intervals are filled efficiently, allowing substitute vehicles to be introduced safely without permanently reducing productivity
3Productivity
If equal operation intervals are maintained among all vehicles, then the transportation system operates efficiently, but this becomes difficult when a vehicle becomes non-operable
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors vehicle status and provides feedback to the operation schedule creator. When a vehicle becomes non-operable, this feedback triggers automatic recalculation of operation schedules to maintain equal intervals among remaining vehicles while accommodating substitute vehicle introduction
Solution Approach 2:
The operation schedule is dynamically recalculated to maintain equal operation intervals despite changes in vehicle availability. The system adjusts stopping times and target velocities in real-time, demonstrating dynamic adaptability while preserving operational efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
When a non-operable notification is output from any of a plurality of operating vehicles, an operation schedule creator creates a substitute vehicle introduction operation schedule based on planned stopping times and a target velocity determined by a normal operation schedule, as an operation schedule to be provided, to each of operating vehicles other than a non-operable vehicle which has output the non-operable notification, when the operating vehicle passes an operation schedule updating location for a first time after the non-operable notification is output.