Ride-Sharing Transfer Vehicle Selection by Joining Cost
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ride-sharing systems do not effectively determine a suitable transfer destination for users within a shared vehicle, leading to inefficiencies and increased travel burdens.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that acquires requests for vehicle joining, determines joining costs based on route information and current vehicle locations, and identifies a suitable transfer vehicle and joining point to minimize costs and travel burdens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ride sharing is implemented without transfer determination, then automobile transport efficiency is improved, but user travel burden increases and convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The ride-sharing journey is segmented into multiple legs with transfer points. Instead of requiring a single vehicle to complete the entire route, the system divides the journey into segments that can be completed by different vehicles. This allows the system to maintain high transport efficiency while reducing user burden by enabling transfers at convenient locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces transfer points as intermediary locations where users can switch between vehicles. These transfer points act as mediators that connect different vehicle routes, allowing users to complete their journeys even when no single vehicle can provide direct service, thereby maintaining convenience while improving overall system efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If a single vehicle is assigned to complete entire routes, then user convenience is maintained, but vehicle utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple vehicle routes are merged at transfer points to form complete user journeys. By combining segments from different vehicles that share common transfer points, the system creates efficient multi-vehicle routes that improve vehicle utilization while maintaining user convenience through coordinated transfers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically determines transfer points and vehicle assignments based on real-time conditions such as vehicle locations, user destinations, and route overlaps. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize vehicle utilization by assigning vehicles to routes where they can efficiently pick up and drop off users at transfer points.
3Device complexity
If transfer points are not determined, then route planning is simplified, but travel time and distance for users increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system preliminarily identifies potential transfer points by analyzing vehicle routes and user destinations before finalizing assignments. By pre-determining transfer points based on route overlap analysis, the system simplifies the routing process while ensuring that transfer locations are optimally positioned to minimize user travel time and distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters such as transfer point locations, vehicle assignments, and route segments to optimize user travel time. By adjusting these parameters based on real-time conditions and pre-calculated route information, the system minimizes additional travel time and distance introduced by transfers while maintaining simplified route planning.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus comprising a controller comprising at least one processor configured to perform: acquiring a request that a first vehicle join up with a different vehicle; determining, on the basis of a piece of route information indicating a travel route for the first vehicle and current locations of a plurality of vehicles different from the first vehicle, a joining cost related to joining up with the first vehicle for each of the plurality of vehicles; determining a second vehicle that is to join up with the first vehicle and a joining point such that the joining cost satisfies a prescribed condition.