Vehicle Interval Control Using Stop Time Data

Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle control systems for cyclic routes do not effectively account for stop points such as stations or bus stops when determining vehicle intervals, leading to inefficiencies in passenger transportation.

Innovation Solution

An operation control apparatus that acquires vehicle interval information by considering the time period of a preceding vehicle's stop and the distance from a succeeding vehicle to the stop point, allowing for precise control of vehicle intervals based on standard stop times and distances, and transmits this information to vehicles for accurate positioning and user terminals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If vehicle interval control is performed based only on distance from succeeding vehicle to stop point, then control simplicity is maintained, but accuracy of vehicle interval information deteriorates because stop time variations are not considered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle interval information accuracyVSAvoidcontrol calculation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-acquiring standard stop time information for each stop point and pre-calculating the relationship between stop time and vehicle interval. This allows the control apparatus to accurately determine vehicle interval information by simply adding the actual stop time to the pre-calculated baseline, without performing complex real-time calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary element - the standard stop time information stored in advance - that mediates between the simple distance-based control and the need for accurate vehicle interval information. This intermediary data serves as a bridge, allowing the system to achieve high accuracy by combining pre-stored standard values with actual measured stop times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multiple vehicles are operated on a cyclic route with stop points, then transportation coverage is improved, but determining appropriate vehicle intervals becomes difficult without considering stop times

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransportation efficiencyVSAvoidvehicle interval determination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The control apparatus acquires actual stop time information from vehicles during operation and uses this feedback to determine accurate vehicle interval information. The system continuously monitors stop times at each stop point and adjusts vehicle intervals based on this real-world feedback, ensuring optimal transportation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-acquiring standard stop time information for each stop point before operation begins. This advance preparation enables the control apparatus to quickly and accurately determine vehicle intervals when multiple vehicles are operating on the cyclic route, without losing critical timing information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If vehicle control does not consider actual stop times at stop points, then control system simplicity is maintained, but transportation efficiency deteriorates due to inaccurate vehicle interval timing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system simplicityVSAvoidpassenger transportation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary element - the standard stop time information stored in advance - that mediates between the simple distance-based control and the need for accurate vehicle interval information. This intermediary data serves as a bridge, allowing the system to achieve high accuracy by combining pre-stored standard values with actual measured stop times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-acquiring standard stop time information for each stop point and pre-calculating the relationship between stop time and vehicle interval. This allows the control apparatus to accurately determine vehicle interval information by simply adding the actual stop time to the pre-calculated baseline, without performing complex real-time calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11275384B2Operation control apparatus and vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.03.15 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

An operation control apparatus is for a plurality of vehicles traveling in a self-driving manner on a cyclic route having a plurality of stop points. The operation control apparatus includes a controller that acquires vehicle interval information between a preceding vehicle and a succeeding vehicle, based on a time period of a stop of the preceding vehicle at a stop point and a distance from the succeeding vehicle to the stop point when the preceding vehicle is stopping at the stop point, and controls the plurality of vehicles based on the information.