Dynamic Cabin Unit Allocation for Ride-Share Cost Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In ride share platforms, existing vehicle allocation systems do not efficiently manage cabin units and traveling units, leading to increased transportation costs due to underutilization of resources and inefficient user allocation.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device and method that dynamically allocates and reallocates cabin units and traveling units based on user requests, allowing traveling units to pick up users when cabin units are underutilized and connecting/disconnecting units to optimize user capacity and reduce transportation costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traveling units continuously transport cabin units to meet user demands, then user service availability is improved, but transportation costs increase due to empty trips and underutilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cabin units onto a single traveling unit to form a composite vehicle system. This merging allows the traveling unit to transport multiple cabin units simultaneously, increasing resource utilization and reducing the number of empty trips needed, thereby lowering transportation costs while maintaining service availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the configuration of the composite vehicle by connecting or disconnecting cabin units based on real-time user demand. When demand is high, more cabin units are attached; when demand is low, fewer cabin units are transported. This dynamic adaptation optimizes resource utilization and reduces unnecessary transportation costs.
2Ease of operation
If cabin units are allocated to individual users, then user convenience is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates due to underutilization
Solution Approach 1:
Cabin units are designed to serve multiple users through the composite vehicle system. A single cabin unit can be shared by multiple users during different time periods or routes, transforming it from a dedicated single-user resource to a multi-functional resource that serves various users, thereby improving utilization efficiency while maintaining user convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary allocation of cabin units to traveling units based on predicted user demand patterns. By anticipating future demand and pre-positioning cabin units on appropriate traveling units, the system ensures quick response to user requests while optimizing the overall distribution of resources, balancing convenience and efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If traveling units maintain connection to cabin units, then user pickup service is improved, but transportation flexibility deteriorates due to inability to optimize routes
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle system is segmented into independent traveling units and cabin units that can connect and disconnect dynamically. This segmentation allows the traveling unit to maintain connection with cabin units when needed for user pickup, while retaining the flexibility to disconnect and optimize routes independently. The modular architecture enables both improved user service and transportation flexibility simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing device includes a controller. The controller is configured to generate, when information related to a request to use a cabin unit is acquired from a terminal of a first user who intends an activity in the cabin unit rather than traveling by the cabin unit, a command for causing a traveling unit to pick up the first user. The traveling unit is connected to and carrying a predetermined cabin unit associated with the activity of the first user. The controller is configured to generate, to the traveling unit connected to the predetermined cabin unit where a predetermined number of the first users or more is riding, a command for placing the predetermined cabin unit at a predetermined location.