JP6025248B2 - Travelable route calculation device and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cruising route calculation device and a computer program.

  In recent years, electric vehicles have been developed, but at present, the cruising range is short (less than 200 km). Therefore, even if the electric vehicle is a day drive, it may be necessary to stop at the charging station on the way to go or return to charge the battery.

Therefore, information on the cruising distance indicating how much the vehicle can travel with the current remaining battery level is important for the driver.
In addition, grasping | ascertaining of the cruising range by a driver is not restricted to the case of an electric vehicle, It is needed also in the case of the motor vehicle which has an internal combustion engine.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-33095 describes a simple display of a cruising distance. By displaying the cruising distance numerically, the driver can grasp the cruising distance.

JP 2005-096647 A

However, it is difficult for the driver to intuitively grasp how far he can travel by simply displaying the cruising distance as a numerical value.
Here, if it is possible to show on a map where the vehicle can travel, intuitive understanding by the driver becomes easy.
For example, as shown in FIG. 14, it is conceivable to display on a map a circle C having a radius that is a cruising distance (for example, 100 km) centered on the current location. By displaying the circle C indicating the cruising range on the map, it becomes easy for the driver to intuitively understand how far the vehicle can travel.

However, if the circle C with the radius of the cruising range is simply displayed on the map, the display may be inaccurate.
In other words, since the vehicle travels on the road, the extent to which the vehicle can travel depends on which road is passed. Therefore, the actual cruising range is not a simple circle C centered on the current location, and may travel only to the inside of the circle C, or may travel to the outside of the circle C.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to calculate a route on which the vehicle can travel from the cruising range using road map data, and to display the road that can travel in light of the cruising range as a road that can be crushed.

  However, if there is no specific destination and the route is calculated from the cruising range, all roads (a huge number of roads including narrow streets) connected to the current location are subject to route calculation. Becomes larger. In addition, since the number of roads that can be traveled in light of the cruising range is enormous, the display data of the roads that can be traveled is enormous in size.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the computation load of route computation that can be navigated.

(1) The present invention viewed from one viewpoint is an apparatus for calculating a cruising route of a vehicle, based on a storage unit that stores road map data, and the road map data stored in the storage unit, And a calculation unit that obtains a cruising route on which the vehicle can travel from a reference point until the cruising surplus capacity of the vehicle becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.
Accordingly, it is possible to obtain a cruising route on which the vehicle can travel from the reference point until the vehicle cruising capacity becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value in accordance with the road map data.

The storage unit stores a plurality of road map data with different degrees of detail, and the calculation unit is configured according to a point from the reference point until a cruising remaining capacity of the vehicle becomes a predetermined value or less. One of a plurality of road map data is selected, and a cruising route is obtained using the selected road map data. Since any one of a plurality of road map data with different levels of detail is selected according to the point from the reference point until the vehicle's cruising capacity becomes a predetermined value or less, all of the cruising routes have the level of detail. It is possible to avoid the calculation of the cruising route using only the high road map data.
Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a calculation load for obtaining a cruising route.

(2) The plurality of road map data stored in the storage unit includes first road map data and second road map data having a road detail level higher than that of the first road map data. When obtaining a cruising route at a point where the cruising surplus is greater than a threshold, the unit obtains a cruising route using the first road map data, and a point where the cruising surplus becomes smaller than the threshold It is preferable to obtain a cruising route using the second road map data when obtaining a cruising route.
In this case, since road map data with a low degree of detail is used for a point with a large cruising capacity, it is possible to reduce a calculation load at a point with a large cruising capacity.

(3) When the calculation unit obtains a cruising route using the second road map data, the route closer to the reference point than the cruising route already obtained using the first road map data. It is preferable to perform processing that suppresses the requirement for a cruising route.
In this case, the return of the cruising route can be suppressed.

(4) The calculation unit may include the second road map at a point where the distance from the reference point on the route that can be reached does not exceed the reference distance even if the remaining cruising capacity is greater than the threshold. It is preferable to obtain a cruising route using data, and obtain a cruising route using the first road map data at a point exceeding the reference distance. In this case, when the distance from the reference point is relatively short, a detailed cruising route can be obtained using the second road map data having a higher degree of detail.

(5) It is preferable that the said calculating part produces | generates the display data for distinguishing and displaying the calculated | required cruising possible path | route according to the magnitude | size of the said cruising remaining power on the calculated | required cruising possible path | route. In this case, the cruising possible route can be distinguished and displayed according to the magnitude of the cruising remaining power.

(6) The calculation unit may generate display data for distinguishing and displaying the obtained navigable route according to the degree of detail of the road map data used for obtaining the navigable route. . For example, display data for generating a cruising route obtained using road map data with a lower level of detail is displayed thicker than a cruising route obtained using road map data with a higher level of detail. In this case, the cruising route obtained using the road map data having a lower level of detail can be displayed thickly.

(7) It is preferable to further include an acquisition unit that acquires surplus information indicating the remaining cruising power at the reference point, and it is preferable that the surplus information includes information indicating a remaining battery capacity of the vehicle.

(8) The acquisition unit further acquires information indicating power usage of auxiliary equipment of the vehicle, and the calculation unit uses the information indicating power usage of auxiliary equipment of the vehicle on a cruising route. It is preferable to calculate the remaining cruising capacity. In this case, the remaining cruising capacity is calculated more appropriately.

(9) The acquisition unit further acquires information indicating the number of passengers in the vehicle, and the calculation unit calculates a cruising remaining capacity on a cruising route using the information indicating the number of passengers in the vehicle. Is preferred. In this case, the remaining cruising capacity is calculated more appropriately.

(10) It is preferable that the calculation unit calculates a cruising surplus capacity on a cruising route using dynamic traffic information that changes over time. In this case, the remaining cruising capacity is calculated more appropriately.

(11) The present invention viewed from another viewpoint is a computer program that causes a computer to function as a calculation unit that calculates a cruising possible route of the vehicle, wherein the calculation unit has a cruising margin of the vehicle equal to or less than a predetermined value. A plurality of road map data corresponding to points from the reference point until the cruising remaining capacity of the vehicle becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. The computer program is characterized in that any one of the above is selected and a cruising route is obtained using the selected road map data.

  According to the present invention, since any one of a plurality of road map data having different degrees of detail is selected in accordance with a point from the reference point until the remaining cruising capacity of the vehicle becomes a predetermined value or less, a cruising route is possible. It is possible to reduce the calculation load for obtaining.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the information system provided with the navigable route calculation apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows several road map data. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the cruising route calculating apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the calculation process of a cruising possible route. It is a flowchart which shows a road map data selection process. It is a figure which shows switching of road map data. It is explanatory drawing regarding selection of a road link. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a battery remaining charge and a display color. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a cruising possible path | route. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a cruising possible path | route. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a cruising possible path | route. It is explanatory drawing of the return | turnback of a cruising possible path | route. It is explanatory drawing of the road link which cannot drive | work. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the cruising range.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[1. Information system]
FIG. 1 shows an example of an information system provided with a calculation device for a cruising route used for determining a cruising range. The information system includes an in-vehicle device 3 and a server 5.
The server 5 can communicate with the in-vehicle device 3 having a wireless communication function via the roadside communication device 4 that performs wireless communication.
The in-vehicle device 3 is not limited to a device that is fixedly mounted on the vehicle, and may be any device that is used on the vehicle. As the in-vehicle device 3, other than a device that is fixedly installed on the vehicle 2, for example, A mobile terminal such as a smartphone carried by a driver (passenger) may be used.

  The vehicle 2 of the present embodiment is an electric vehicle that has a rechargeable battery 7 and travels by a travel motor (main machine) that is driven by using the battery 7 as a power source. The vehicle 2 includes an auxiliary machine in addition to the traveling motor that is the main machine. An auxiliary machine is a device that uses the power of the battery 7 in the vehicle 2, such as a headlight, a wiper, and an air conditioner, although it is not directly related to traveling.

  The in-vehicle device 3 has a computer, acquires information on the electric vehicle 2 in which the in-vehicle device 3 is mounted, and transmits the information to the server 5 via the roadside communication device 4. Furthermore, information generated by the server 5 (display data, which will be described later) is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 3 via the roadside communication device 4.

The in-vehicle device 3 includes an input unit 3a for a driver (passenger; user) to input various information, a position acquisition unit 3b that can acquire information on the current position, and a display unit 3c. I have.
The input unit 3a includes, for example, a touch panel operated by a driver, and the driver can input various information such as the number of passengers of the vehicle by inputting characters.
The position acquisition unit 3b is composed of a device having a GPS function, for example, and acquires information on the current position.
The display unit 3c includes a display and can display various display data on the screen.
Further, the in-vehicle device 3 can acquire information on the remaining battery level (remaining power amount) in the battery 7 of the vehicle 2 and the power usage amount of the auxiliary equipment (usage status of the auxiliary equipment).

  A large number of roadside communication devices 4 are installed on roads in each region. Each roadside communication device 4 includes a communication device and a communication controller, can wirelessly communicate with the in-vehicle device 3, and can communicate with the server 5 by wire (or wirelessly). The roadside communication device 4 may be a wireless base station that performs wireless communication with a mobile terminal as the in-vehicle device 3.

  The server 5 includes one or a plurality of computers, a storage unit 15 including a hard disk storing a computer program and various information, a communication device 16 including a communication interface for communicating with the roadside communication device 4, And an arithmetic device 17 having a function of performing arithmetic processing.

The storage unit 15 includes a road network database 15a that stores road map data (road network data) of each region, and a traffic information database 15b that stores traffic information. Note that the storage unit 15 is not required to be built in the computer as long as the arithmetic device 15 can acquire data via an internal bus or an external interface of the computer.
The road network database 15a has information on the road network, and the length, gradient, road type, etc. of each road link constituting the road network, and other requirements for the electric vehicle 2 to travel on each road link. Static traffic information necessary for calculating the power consumption of the battery 7 is included.

The traffic information database 15b stores dynamic traffic information that changes over time. Examples of the dynamic traffic information include information on road congestion, temperature, weather, accident occurrence, and the like. The dynamic traffic information is also used to calculate the power consumption of the battery 7 required for traveling on the road link.
Note that the static traffic information and the dynamic traffic information may be stored outside the server 5. In this case, the server 5 may acquire static traffic information or dynamic traffic information stored outside as needed.

The road network database 15a has road map data W, M, and L of a plurality of layers (three layers) as shown in FIG. Each of the road map data W, M, and L includes road link information including a combination of nodes and road links.
Of the road map data of a plurality of layers, the first road map data W as the first layer is main road map data, the second road map data M as the second layer is general road map data, and the third layer The third road map data L is detailed road map data.

  The main road map data W is road map data including only main roads such as highways and national roads. The general road map data M is road map data including general roads (road width of 5.5 m or more) in addition to main roads such as highways and national roads. The detailed road map data L is road map data including a life road (road width of 3.3 m or more) in addition to a main road and a general road.

  The level of detail of the road map data is the lowest in the main road map data W, and the level of detail increases in the order of the general road map data M and the detailed road map data L.

[2. Travelable route calculation device]
The server 5 has a plurality of functional units having various functions, and one of these functional units is the cruising route verification device 1. The server 5 includes a computer having a CPU, an internal memory, and the like, and a computer program for causing the server 5 to function as the cruising route calculation device 1 is installed in the storage unit 15. Each function (the functions of the acquisition unit 18 and the calculation unit 19) provided in the cruising route calculation device 1 is exhibited when the computer program is executed by the server 5 (computer).

As shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle device 3 transmits request information i <b> 1 in order to obtain display data of a cruising route of the vehicle 2 from the server 5. The request information i1 may be transmitted based on an operation performed by the input unit 3a by the driver (user of the in-vehicle device 3), or may be transmitted periodically.
When the request information i1 is transmitted, the in-vehicle device 3 transmits to the server 5 information used for calculating the cruising route of the vehicle 2 together with the request information i1.
Information used for calculating the cruising route of the vehicle 2 includes, for example, the current location (reference point) of the vehicle 2, the time (current time), the remaining battery level of the battery 7, the vehicle ID of the vehicle 2 (the vehicle 2 Information) such as the type), the amount of electric power used by the auxiliary equipment of the vehicle 2, and the number of passengers of the vehicle 2.

The current location transmitted to the server 5 is acquired by the position acquisition unit 3b. The time transmitted to the server 5 is acquired by a time measuring function unit (not shown) of the in-vehicle device 3.
The battery remaining amount transmitted to the server 5 is acquired from a battery remaining amount monitoring function unit (not shown) of the battery 7. The battery remaining amount is an example of surplus information indicating the cruising surplus capacity at the current location (current time) of the vehicle 2.
Note that the remaining power information transmitted to the server 5 is not limited to the remaining battery level, but the cruising range calculated by the remaining fuel level (in the case of the vehicle 2 having an engine), the remaining battery level or the remaining fuel level (cruising possible). (Remaining distance) or information indicating a cruising time may be used.
Further, the surplus information transmitted to the server 5 may be information indicating the power consumption of the vehicle 2. For example, when the server 5 knows the remaining battery level of the vehicle 2 in the past, the in-vehicle device 3 transmits information indicating the power consumption from the past time to the server 5. Also good. In this case, the server can obtain the battery remaining amount of the vehicle 2 at the present time by subtracting the power consumption from the battery remaining amount at the past time. Note that the amount of fuel consumed may be used instead of the amount of power consumed.

The vehicle ID (vehicle type) transmitted to the server 5 may be acquired from a control unit (not shown) of the vehicle 3 or may be registered in the storage device 15 of the in-vehicle device 3.
The auxiliary machine power transmitted to the server may be obtained from a control unit (not shown) that controls the auxiliary machine in the vehicle 3, or the usage status of the control unit (not shown) that controls the auxiliary machine in the vehicle 3. And the in-vehicle device 3 may calculate the power used by the auxiliary device.
The number of passengers transmitted to the server is input from the input unit 3a. Further, when there is no input from the input unit 3a, the number of persons set as a default value (for example, one or two persons) may be transmitted to the server 5.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the acquisition unit 18 of the server 5 together with the request information i <b> 1 transmitted from the in-vehicle device 3, the current location of the vehicle 2, the time (current time), the remaining battery level (remaining power information) of the battery 7, Information such as the vehicle ID of the vehicle 2 (model of the vehicle 2), the amount of electric power used by the auxiliary equipment of the vehicle 2, and the number of passengers of the vehicle 2 is acquired (step S1).
When the server 5 acquires the request information i1, it uses the information such as the remaining battery level (remaining power information) acquired together with the request information i1 to perform an operation for obtaining a cruising route of the vehicle 2 (step S2). This calculation is performed by the calculation unit 19.
In the present embodiment, the cruising route refers to a road (route) on which a vehicle 2 with a certain remaining battery level can travel from the current location before the remaining battery level becomes zero.
When the server 5 obtains the cruising route, the server 5 generates display data for displaying the obtained cruising route on the road map on the display unit 3c of the in-vehicle device 3, and transmits the display data to the in-vehicle device 3. (Step S3).

When receiving the display data from the server 5, the in-vehicle device 3 generates a display screen using the display data and displays the display screen on the display unit 3c. The in-vehicle device 3 generates a display screen in which the road that is the cruising route of the vehicle 2 is highlighted on the display road map with a colored line based on the display data.
This makes it easy for the driver of the vehicle 2 to intuitively understand how far the vehicle 2 can travel.

[3. Calculation of cruising routes]
FIG. 4 shows the procedure for calculating a cruising route (step S2).
In the calculation of the cruising route, the battery remaining amount setting process as the cruising reserve value used for the calculation (step S21), the selection process of the road map data W, M, and L to be used (step S22), and the road that becomes the cruising route A link extraction process (step S23), a battery remaining amount calculation process (step S24), and an end confirmation process (step S25) of the cruising route calculation process are performed.

In the setting process (step S21), information on the remaining amount of battery included in the information acquired from the in-vehicle device 3 (remaining capacity information indicating the remaining cruising capacity at the current location) is set as the remaining battery capacity as a cruising remaining capacity value in the cruising available route calculation. To do.
The battery remaining amount as the cruising surplus value is used to calculate the battery remaining amount (the cruising surplus value on the cruising route) when it is assumed that the vehicle 2 has traveled on the cruising route that has already been obtained by calculating the cruising route. (Step S24).

  Note that the remaining cruising power value may not be the remaining battery capacity. For example, the remaining cruising value may be the remaining fuel amount of the vehicle 2. Further, a cruising range (cruising range) calculated based on information on the remaining battery level (or remaining fuel level) included in the information acquired from the in-vehicle device 3 may be used as the cruising remaining power value. Further, the cruising reserve value may be a cruising time.

In the road map data selection processing (step S22), road map data used for extracting (selecting) a cruising route is stored in the storage unit 15 in accordance with the remaining battery capacity (cruising leeway) as a cruising surplus value. One of the plurality of road map data W, M, and L is selected.
Here, the remaining battery capacity as the cruising surplus value decreases in accordance with the distance (road) from the current location (reference point). Accordingly, the road map data W, M, and L to be selected differ depending on the point from the current location (reference point) until the remaining cruising capacity is eliminated.

  FIG. 5 shows the detailed procedure of the selection process (S22). The road map data is determined according to the remaining battery level (cruising reserve power value) at the end point (point X in FIG. 7) at that point of the cruising route that has already been obtained during the calculation (step S221). It should be noted that in the first stage of the calculation for obtaining the cruising route, there is no cruising route that has already been obtained. Selected.

In the present embodiment, a first threshold value and a second threshold value are provided for the remaining battery capacity as the cruising reserve value. In the present embodiment, the first threshold value is set to the remaining battery level = 10% (the ratio of the remaining power when the electric energy at full charge is set to 100%), and the second threshold value is set to the remaining battery level = 20%.
Note that the threshold value is not particularly limited. The number of threshold values is not particularly limited, and only one threshold value may be set or three or more threshold values may be set according to the number of selectable road map data. .

If it is determined in step S221 that the remaining battery level is less than the first threshold (10%), the most detailed third road map data (third layer) L is selected (step S222).
In step S221 , when it is determined that the remaining battery level is equal to or greater than the first threshold (10%) and less than the second threshold (20%), the second road map data (detail level lower than the third road map data L) ( The second layer M is selected (step S223).
When it is determined in step S221 that the remaining battery level is equal to or greater than the second threshold value (20%), basically, the first road map data (first layer) having a lower level of detail than the second road map data M. ) W is selected (step S225).

  In other words, in the present embodiment, as the battery remaining amount as the cruising surplus value becomes smaller (as the end point of the already determined cruising route departs from the current location), the road map data W and M used to obtain the cruising route , L are changed to those with higher levels of detail.

However, in the present embodiment, even if the battery remaining amount as the cruising surplus value is equal to or greater than the second threshold value (20%), depending on the cruising distance D from the current location (reference point) of the vehicle 2, The road map data L or the second road map data M may be selected.
Specifically, even if it is determined in step S221 that the remaining battery capacity as the cruising surplus value is greater than or equal to the second threshold (20%), any one of the road map data W, M, L is selected (step S224).

In the present embodiment, in order to determine the road map data W, M, and L selected according to the distance D, a first reference distance and a second reference distance are provided. In the present embodiment, the first reference distance is 10 km and the second reference distance is 20 km.
Note that the value of the reference distance is not particularly limited. The number of reference distances is not particularly limited, and only one reference distance may be set according to the number of selectable road map data, or three or more reference distances may be set. May be.

If it is determined in step S224 that the cruising distance D is less than the first reference distance (10 km), the most detailed third road map data (third layer) L is selected (step S226).
In step S224, when it is determined that the distance D is greater than or equal to the first reference distance (10 km) and less than the second reference distance (20 km), the second road map data having a lower level of detail than the third road map data L. (Second layer) M is selected (step S227).
If it is determined in step S224 that the distance D is equal to or greater than the second reference distance (20 km), the first road map data (first layer) W having a lower level of detail than the second road map data M is selected. ( Step S225 ).

That is, as shown in FIG. 6B, as the cruising distance (calculated) by the obtained cruising route becomes longer, road map data W, M, and L used for obtaining the cruising route are more It will be changed to a less detailed one.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, a cruising route is obtained using the road map data L having a higher degree of detail at the vicinity of the current location and immediately before the remaining cruising capacity, but it is far away from the current location and the cruising range. In the case of a point where the remaining battery level is sufficient as the reserve power value, the cruising route is obtained using the road map data W having a lower level of detail.

Returning to FIG. 4, in the extraction process of step S23, the road map data W, M., etc. selected in step S22. Using L, a road link that is a cruising route is extracted.
FIG. 7 shows how to extract road links. A point X in FIG. 7 indicates the end point node (one of the end points of the reachable route as viewed from the current location) of the road link R at the tip of the reachable route that has already been obtained. Note that, in the first stage of the calculation for obtaining the cruising route, there is no cruising route that has already been obtained, so the current location (reference point) of the vehicle 2 is the point X.

  In the extraction process in step S23, the road map data W, M., etc. selected in step S22. In L, when there are unselected (unextracted) road links A, B, and C connected to the node of the point X, these road links A, B, and C are added to the already determined cruising route. Selected (extracted) as a road link. Therefore, the cruising possible route is further extended by branching from the point X to each of the road links A, B, and C. That is, the route links A, B, and C become a new part of the updated route that can be continued.

However, if it is assumed that the vehicle 2 has traveled on a cruising route starting from the current location and ending at the point X, the remaining battery level (the remaining battery level at the point X) at the point X is zero. When there is no cruising capacity, selection (extraction) of new road links A, B, and C is not performed.
In addition, even when there is no unselected (unextracted) road link connected to the point X in the selected road map data W, M, and L, of course, selection (extraction) of the road link is not performed) .

The extraction process in step S23 is repeatedly performed until the remaining battery level (cruising surplus capacity) is zero when it is considered that the vehicle 2 has traveled on the obtained cruising possible route.
Therefore, the cruising route is required as a road network that spreads radially like a mesh around the current location.

Here, it is preferable to use road map data with a high degree of detail in order to more appropriately obtain a cruising route. However, if the calculation for obtaining the cruising route is performed using only the road map data having a high degree of detail, the number of road links extracted in step S23 increases, and accordingly, the cruising route such as the calculation of the remaining battery level is obtained. The calculation load in the entire calculation for obtaining is increased.
On the other hand, when road map data with a low level of detail is used as in this embodiment, the number of road links selected is reduced because the number of road links connected to a certain node is relatively small. Can be suppressed. In this embodiment, a part of the cruising route is obtained using road map data with a low level of detail, so that the amount of calculation can be suppressed.

In step S23, when new road links A, B, and C constituting the cruising route are extracted, the battery at each of the end points XA, XB, and XC (end points of the updated cruising route) of the new road link. The remaining amount (cruising surplus value) is calculated (step S24).
The remaining battery level calculated in step 24 is used in step S23 described above and step S25 described later.

  In the present embodiment, the calculation of the remaining battery capacity as the cruising surplus value is acquired from not only the road map data W, M, and L in the storage unit 15 but also the static traffic information and the dynamic traffic information, and the in-vehicle device 3. Information (time, vehicle ID (vehicle type), auxiliary machine power consumption, number of passengers) is also used.

When calculating the remaining battery level simply, the remaining battery level at the points XA, XB, and XC may be calculated by knowing the remaining battery level at the point X and the power consumption of the motor according to the distance between the road links A, B, and C. .
However, since the power consumption of the motor of the vehicle 2 changes not only by the distance but also by the road gradient, a more appropriate battery can be obtained by performing a calculation taking into account the road gradient information included in the static traffic information. The remaining amount can be calculated. In addition, since the power consumption of the vehicle changes due to accidents and traffic jams even at the same distance, a more appropriate battery level can be calculated by performing calculations that also take into account dynamic traffic information such as accident and traffic jam information on the relevant road links. can do.

In addition, since the motor performance and the like differ depending on the vehicle type, a more appropriate remaining battery level can be calculated by performing a calculation in consideration of the vehicle ID (vehicle type).
Furthermore, since the power consumption of the vehicle is affected by the power consumption of the auxiliary equipment (headlight, wiper, air conditioner) of the vehicle 2, it is more appropriate to perform the calculation in consideration of the power consumption of the auxiliary equipment. The remaining battery level can be calculated.
Furthermore, since the power consumption of the vehicle 2 is influenced by the number of passengers, an appropriate remaining battery level can be calculated by performing a calculation that takes into account the number of passengers.

The calculated battery remaining amount (estimated battery remaining amount) is stored in the storage unit 15 for each road link constituting the cruising route. Information indicating the road map data W, M, and L used for extraction (selection) is also accumulated in the storage unit 15 for each selected (extracted) road link . Information indicating the remaining battery level and road map data for each road link is used to generate display data for display in the in-vehicle device 3.

When the remaining battery level, which is a cruising surplus value, is zero (no cruising surplus) at all of many end points in the cruising route obtained as a road network (step S25), processing including extraction processing in step S24 Exiting the loop, the cruising route calculation process (step S2) ends.
In the present embodiment, the cruising route is continuously obtained until the remaining battery level becomes zero (no cruising surplus), but the cruising route calculation uses a predetermined value (for example, the remaining battery level (cruising surplus power)). This may be done until the remaining battery level is 5% or less.

When the calculation process of the cruising route (step S2) is completed, the calculation unit 19 generates the above-described data and transmits it (step S3). Here, display data transmitted to the in-vehicle device 3 will be described.
The display data includes road link information indicating the road links constituting the cruising route obtained in step S2. By including the road link information in the display data, the in-vehicle device 3 can indicate the road obtained as the cruising route and the cruising range based on the lane on the road map for display.

In the present embodiment, the display data further includes information (classification information) for distinguishing (color-coding) and displaying the road obtained as the cruising route according to the battery remaining amount (estimated battery remaining amount). included.
In the present embodiment, the classification information is color information indicating in what color the road indicated by the road link information is displayed on the in-vehicle device 3 side. The relationship between the remaining battery level and the display color in the in-vehicle device 3 is shown in FIG.
Based on the battery remaining amount (estimated battery remaining amount) for each road link accumulated in the storage unit 15, the calculation unit 19 determines the display color for each road link constituting the cruising route according to the relationship shown in FIG. The information indicating the determined display color is used as color information (section information) for each road link.

  By including color information (classification information) in the display data, the display unit 3c of the in-vehicle device 3 distinguishes the road obtained as a cruising route according to the amount of remaining battery power (cruising capacity) (color coding). Can be displayed. It is easier for the driver (user) to intuitively understand the relationship between the remaining battery level and the cruising point by displaying the distinguishable (color-coded) cruising route according to the battery level. It becomes.

  In the in-vehicle device 3, there is no need to perform color-coded display according to the classification information. For example, in the in-vehicle device 3 capable of three-dimensional display, the battery remaining amount indicated by the height is displayed on the two-dimensional road map. It may be displayed.

In the present embodiment, the display data can be crushed according to the road map data W, M, and L used for obtaining a cruising route (to extract road links constituting the cruising route). Line width information for varying the thickness of a line indicating a road as a route is included.
In the present embodiment, the line width indicating the road of the cruising route (road link) obtained using the first road map data having the lowest level of detail is maximized, and the level of detail of the used road map data is increased. Accordingly, the line width information is set to be narrow so that the line width indicating the road becomes small.

  That is, if the line width at the time of displaying the road link extracted using the first road map data is “large”, the line width at the time of displaying the road link extracted using the second road map data is “medium”. The line width when the road link extracted using the third road map data is displayed is “small”.

  When a cruising route is obtained using road map data with a low degree of detail, roads exist in the vicinity of the cruising route, although the road map data with a low degree of detail is omitted. Therefore, the cruising route obtained using the road map data with a low degree of detail is a road network with a coarse mesh, but the fact that the road map data with a low degree of detail is used has a relatively large amount of remaining battery power. Therefore, it is highly possible to reach the mesh.

  Accordingly, display data for distinguishing and displaying the obtained cruising route according to the level of detail of the road map data used to obtain the cruising route may be generated. For example, a road map with a low level of detail is used to indicate that a road around a cruising route that is omitted in road map data with a low level of detail (a road that has not been extracted as a cruising route) can be reached. By increasing the line width at the time of displaying the road link extracted by using the driver, the driver (user) can be shown the possibility of cruising to a road that is not extracted as a cruising route.

  For example, when a national road is selected as a cruising route, the line width when displaying the national road is a thick line that covers the road around the national road so that it can also travel around the national road. This can be shown to the driver (user).

[4. Display example of cruising routes]
FIG. 9 shows a road map screen displayed on the display unit 3c by the in-vehicle device 3 that has received the display data. In FIG. 9, roads arranged in only the vertical and horizontal (east, west, north, and south) directions are shown for simplification, but actually, the roads correspond to actual road shapes.
In FIG. 9, the thinnest line indicates a road that is not a reachable route, and the thicker line indicates that the route is a reachable route.

As shown in FIG. 9, the cruising route is displayed separately from the roads that are not cruising routes (actually color-coded display), so the driver (user) can display the road map displayed on the display unit 3c. In the above, it is possible to intuitively grasp the cruising range from the current location. The outermost peripheral part of the cruising range is a point where the remaining battery capacity (cruising remaining power) becomes zero.
In FIG. 9, the color-coded display according to the battery remaining amount of the cruising route is omitted for simplification.

  In FIG. 9, there are two types of thick lines indicating cruising routes: a thicker line and a thinner line. In FIG. 9, for the sake of simplification, two types of road map data are used for obtaining a cruising route, and the cruising route obtained using road map data W having a lower level of detail is indicated by a thicker line. In addition, the cruising route obtained using the road map data M having a higher level of detail is indicated by a thinner line.

  In the selection process (step 22) shown in FIG. 5, when steps S222 and S226 relating to the third road map data selection are omitted, as shown in FIG. The far-ranging range F in which the remaining force) becomes small is indicated by a thinner line. The cruising range I of the circumferential range I between the current location N and the far range F is indicated by a thicker line.

In the remote range F where the remaining battery capacity (cruising capacity) is small, it is better to know exactly which point the vehicle can reach, so it is better to show the cruising routes including narrow roads such as narrow streets. In the relatively large range I, there is no problem even if only a relatively large road such as a main road is shown.
In addition, since there is a possibility of driving on various roads such as narrow streets in the vicinity of the current location N (not necessarily on the main road immediately from the present time), the route that can be navigated in more detail in the vicinity of the current location The display will be appropriate.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, the cruising possible route in the vicinity of the current location may be displayed with a rough display. That is, steps S224, 226, and 227 in FIG. 5 may be omitted. When emphasizing the display of the outermost periphery of the cruising range, even the display as shown in FIG. 10 is appropriate.

  FIG. 11 is a reference example of a display example of a cruising route. FIG. 11 shows a display screen when a cruising route is obtained using only one type of road map data M. That is, the selection process of FIG. 5 is omitted. Also in FIG. 11, the color-coded display according to the battery remaining amount of the cruising route is omitted for simplification.

[5. Folding suppression processing in lower-level road map data]
In the present embodiment, the road map data used to obtain the cruising route may be switched from a lower level of detail to a higher level of road map data. In this case, FIG. The phenomenon shown will occur.

In FIG. 12A, the cruising route obtained using road map data (for example, first road map data W) having a lower level of detail is indicated by hatching. In FIG. 12A, a dotted line indicates a road included in road map data (for example, first road map data W) having a lower level of detail. As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 12A, the road map data includes few roads.
Further, the cruising possible route indicated by hatching in FIG. 12A is displayed in a display color corresponding to the estimated remaining battery level, and here, it is assumed that it is indicated by a yellow-green color YG.

It is assumed that the road map data is switched to road map data (for example, road map data M) having a higher level of detail in a state where a cruising route is obtained up to the state of FIG. In the road map data M having a higher level of detail, there are more roads (road links) than in FIG. 12A, as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG.
Therefore, when switching to road map data M having a higher level of detail, when selecting a new road link that constitutes a cruising route, in FIG. 12 (b), the already obtained cruising route (yellowish green YG Many of the road links around the road shown) can be selected.

Here, the color of the road of the road link selected using the road map data M having a higher level of detail is indicated by yellow Y indicating that the remaining battery level is lower than yellow-green YG (FIG. 8). reference).
In FIG. 12B, most of the roads indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 12B become new cruising routes, and the new cruising route is displayed in yellow Y.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the road closer to the current location is indicated by yellow Y than the cruising possible route (road indicated by yellow green YG) already obtained in FIG. 12 (a). It will be. That is, yellow Y indicating that the remaining battery level is lower is displayed on the current location side than yellow-green YG indicating that the remaining battery level is higher.

When such a display is switched to road map data M with a higher level of detail, a route (road link) is determined so as to return to the current location side from a point that can be reached with road map data W with a lower level of detail. Arise.
That is, when switching to road map data M with a higher level of detail, it becomes possible to select a road link that did not exist in road map data W with a lower level of detail, so such a reason link is selected. This is because it is possible to obtain a route that turns back to approach the current location.

Even if such a route is turned back, there is no particular problem if the cruising possible route is not distinguished (color-coded) according to the remaining battery capacity (cruising remaining power).
However, in the case where the display is differentiated (color-coded) according to the cruising capacity, the display color Y indicating that the remaining battery level is lower is displayed on the current location side than the display color YG indicating that the remaining battery level is higher. Will be displayed on the screen, giving the driver (user) unnaturalness.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the road map data used for obtaining the cruising route is switched from the road map data W having a lower level of detail to the road map data M having a higher level of detail. The cruising available route (the road link group selected using the road map data W having a lower level of detail) is set as a road link that cannot travel (including crossing) (turnback suppression processing) ).

Selection of a road link that passes (crosses) a road link that cannot travel when a new road link that constitutes a cruising route is extracted (selected) using road map data M having a higher degree of detail. Is forbidden.
For example, when a new road link is selected from the point X in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the road links A and B are set as road links that cannot be traveled. When the road links A and B are not travelable, it is possible to select the unselected road link B as a cruising route, but here, it is prohibited to pass (cross) the road links A and B. Therefore, the road link B is not selected. That is, a new cruising route is not extended from the point X.

In many cases, the cruising route is a mesh-like road network centered on the current location, so that the road link that is already a cruising route is not allowed to travel. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of a cruising route (road link) that turns back inside.
Therefore, even if a non-travelable road (road link) is set and a switch to road map data with a higher level of detail occurs, a cruising route that has already been obtained using road map data with a lower level of detail. It is suppressed that the route on the current location (reference point) side is newly obtained as a cruising route. Therefore, the return of the cruising route is suppressed, and an unnatural display can be suppressed.

It is impossible to travel as a process (return suppression process) that suppresses the need for a route that is closer to the current location (reference point) than a route that has already been obtained using road map data that is less detailed. Not limited to road (road link) setting processing, unextracted (unselected) road links on the current location (reference point) side of the cruising route already determined using road map data with a lower level of detail, The processing may be regarded as an extracted (selected) road link.
By considering it as an extracted (selected) road link, an unextracted (unselected) road link closer to the current location (reference point) than the already obtained cruising route is newly calculated as a cruising route. Can be suppressed.

[6. Addendum]
In addition, embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes all modifications within the scope equivalent to the configurations described in the claims.

1: Traveling route calculation device 2: Vehicle (electric vehicle)
5: Server 7: Battery 15: Storage unit 17: Computing device 18: Acquisition unit 19: Computing unit

Claims (11)

An apparatus for calculating a cruising route of a vehicle,
A storage unit for storing road map data;
Based on the road map data stored in the storage unit, a calculation unit for obtaining a cruising route on which the vehicle can travel from a reference point until the cruising remaining capacity of the vehicle becomes a predetermined value or less;
With
Wherein the storage unit, degree of detail of the road is storing a plurality of different road map data,
The calculation unit is any one of a plurality of road map data having different road details according to the cruising remaining capacity of the vehicle at a point from the reference point until the cruising remaining capacity of the vehicle becomes a preset value or less. cruising route One select, using the selected road map data, and obtains the road which the vehicle can travel up to cruising reserve capacity of the vehicle is below a predetermined value as a cruising route Arithmetic unit. The plurality of road map data stored in the storage unit includes first road map data and second road map data having a road detail level higher than that of the first road map data.
The computing unit is
When obtaining a cruising route at a point where the cruising surplus is greater than a threshold, obtain a cruising route using the first road map data,
The cruising route calculation device according to claim 1, wherein the cruising route is obtained using the second road map data when the cruising route is obtained at a point where the remaining cruising power is smaller than the threshold value. When the calculation unit obtains a cruising route using the second road map data, the route closer to the reference point than the cruising route already obtained using the first road map data is a cruising route. The cruising route calculating device according to claim 2, wherein processing for suppressing the demand is performed. The calculation unit uses the second road map data at a point where the distance from the reference point on the route that can be reached does not exceed the reference distance even if the remaining cruising capacity is greater than the threshold. The cruising route calculation device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a cruising route is obtained, and a cruising route is obtained using the first road map data at a point exceeding the reference distance. The said calculating part produces | generates the display data for distinguishing and displaying the calculated | required cruising route according to the magnitude | size of the said cruising surplus power on the calculated | required cruising possible route. The described cruising route calculation device. The said calculating part produces | generates the display data for distinguishing and displaying the calculated | required navigable route according to the detail of the road map data used for obtaining the said navigable route. The cruising route calculation device according to item 1. An acquisition unit for acquiring surplus information indicating the remaining cruising capacity at the reference point;
The cruising route calculation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the remaining power information includes information indicating a remaining battery capacity of the vehicle. The acquisition unit further acquires information indicating power usage of auxiliary equipment of the vehicle,
The cruising route calculation device according to claim 7, wherein the calculation unit calculates a cruising remaining capacity on a cruising route using the information indicating the electric power used by an auxiliary device of the vehicle. The acquisition unit further acquires information indicating the number of passengers of the vehicle,
The cruising route calculation device according to claim 7, wherein the calculation unit calculates a cruising surplus capacity on a cruising route using the information indicating the number of passengers of the vehicle. The cruising route calculation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the calculation unit calculates a cruising surplus capacity on a cruising route using dynamic traffic information that changes over time. A computer program that causes a computer to function as a calculation unit that calculates a cruising route of a vehicle,
The computing unit is
Obtaining a cruising route on which the vehicle can travel from a reference point until the cruising margin of the vehicle becomes a predetermined value or less;
According to the cruising remaining capacity of the vehicle at a point from the reference point until the cruising remaining capacity of the vehicle becomes a preset value or less, select any one of a plurality of road map data having different road details , using the selected road map data, computer program and obtains the road which the vehicle can travel up to cruising reserve capacity of the vehicle is below a predetermined value as a cruising route.

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