Route Cost Adjustment for Automated Driving Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing number of automated driving vehicles traveling in a not-in-service state leads to road congestion, which can delay service provision for vehicles allocated with demands and negatively impact on-demand mobility services.

Innovation Solution

A traveling route determination system that calculates a second route cost different from the first route cost for automated driving vehicles not allocated with demands, using a congestion-based coefficient to avoid congested roads and prevent further congestion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If automated driving vehicles not allocated with demands travel to destinations using the same routing as vehicles with demands, then the not-in-service vehicles can reach their destinations, but road congestion is aggravated and service provision is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice provision timeVSAvoidroad usage efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing different routing strategies for different vehicle types based on their service status. Vehicles with demands (first automated driving vehicles) use one routing determination method, while vehicles without demands (second automated driving vehicles) use a different method that specifically avoids congested roads. This differentiated approach allows each vehicle type to be optimized for its specific operational context, resolving the contradiction between maintaining service provision timelines and preventing road congestion aggravation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If multiple automated driving vehicles travel simultaneously on the same roads, then the system can efficiently utilize available routes, but congestion increases and delays service delivery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroute utilization efficiencyVSAvoidcongestion impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the fleet into two distinct groups: first automated driving vehicles allocated with demands and second automated driving vehicles not allocated with demands. Each segment is assigned a different routing determination strategy. This segmentation allows the system to manage congestion by separating service-critical vehicles from non-service vehicles, enabling route utilization optimization without compromising service delivery timelines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The routing determination system acts as an intermediary that mediates between the needs of vehicles with demands and the congestion status of roads. By introducing this intermediary control layer, the system can dynamically adjust the routing of not-in-service vehicles based on real-time congestion information, preventing them from exacerbating congestion on already heavily utilized routes while still maintaining overall system productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11821745B2Traveling route determination system, traveling route determination method, and computer program

Publication Date: 2023.11.21 SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

A traveling route determination system of this disclosure includes a processor configured to operate so as to determine, by using a second route cost different from a first route cost that is used for determining a first traveling route for a first automated driving vehicle allocated with a demand of an on-demand mobility service, a second traveling route for a second automated driving vehicle not allocated with the demand.