Autonomous Vehicle Allocation System With Real-Time Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users may experience dissatisfaction with allocated autonomous vehicles due to cleanliness, damage, or discomfort issues, leading to unpleasant riding experiences.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle allocation system and control server that allows users to request vehicle replacements via a mobile terminal, with authentication and assessment processes, enabling reallocation of vehicles before reaching a desired deboarding position, and adjusting usage fees based on vehicle state assessments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a vehicle allocation system allocates autonomous vehicles based on arrival time, then allocation efficiency is improved, but user satisfaction deteriorates when vehicles are dirty or damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveallocation efficiencyVSAvoiduser satisfaction
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary inspection of vehicle conditions (cleanliness, damage, smell, air-conditioning) before allocation. The inspection unit checks multiple parameters and only allocates vehicles that meet predetermined standards, preventing unsatisfactory vehicles from being assigned to users while maintaining efficient allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the system allows vehicle replacement requests, then user satisfaction is improved, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser satisfactionVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where users can submit replacement requests through mobile terminals if they are dissatisfied with allocated vehicles. The control center receives these requests, verifies them against inspection results, and reallocates vehicles accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that balances user satisfaction with operational management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If vehicle inspection is performed before allocation, then vehicle quality is improved, but allocation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle qualityVSAvoidallocation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection unit performs comprehensive vehicle inspections (cleanliness, damage, smell, air-conditioning) before allocation decisions are made. By conducting inspections in advance and establishing predetermined standards, the system ensures high vehicle quality while streamlining the allocation process to minimize time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3454291B1Vehicle allocation system and vehicle allocation control server
Publication Date: 2020.08.19 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3454291B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3454291B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3454291B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A vehicle allocation system (1) includes: an autonomous vehicle (40); a mobile terminal (30); and a control center (10) configured to communicate with the autonomous vehicle and the mobile terminal via a network (2), wherein the control center includes a vehicle allocation control unit (21) configured to receive a vehicle allocation request from the mobile terminal and to allocate the autonomous vehicle to a position which is designated in the vehicle allocation request, and a vehicle reallocation control unit (22) configured to allocate another autonomous vehicle when a vehicle replacement request has been received from the mobile terminal after the allocation has been completed.