JP2009252157A - Vehicle group traveling control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle group traveling control system which can perform vehicle traveling with superior fuel consumption efficiency in a vehicle group traveling. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicle group traveling control system which forms a vehicle group with a plurality of vehicles M1-M3 to travel, acquires fuel consumption information which shows fuel consumption to vehicle speed on each of vehicles M1-M3 which form a vehicle group (S10), computes a sum total of values of fuel consumption in each of vehicles M1-M3, and makes the vehicle group travel in a vehicle speed area in which the value of the total sum serves as not less than a reference value (S12, S14). Thereby travel control can be carried out so that the fuel consumption of the whole vehicle group may become the optimal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle group traveling control system that performs traveling control of vehicles forming a vehicle group.

Conventionally, as a system for performing travel control of vehicles forming a vehicle group, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-123894, a vehicle group having a probe car as a head is formed and travel of the probe car is adjusted. A vehicle group that controls the vehicle group is known. This system uses the average speed, fuel consumption, and the like as indicators for evaluation of travel validity, and attempts to perform vehicle group travel control in consideration of the efficiency and safety of the entire traffic flow.
JP 2002-123894 A

  However, the vehicles forming the vehicle group do not necessarily have the same fuel efficiency characteristics, and it is not easy to determine the travel speed of the vehicle group that is optimal for fuel efficiency.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve such a technical problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle group traveling control system that can perform vehicle traveling with high fuel efficiency in vehicle group traveling.

  That is, the vehicle group traveling control system according to the present invention acquires fuel consumption information indicating fuel consumption with respect to vehicle speed for each vehicle forming the vehicle group in a vehicle group traveling control system that forms a vehicle group by a plurality of vehicles and travels. Fuel consumption information acquisition means, and vehicle group travel control means for calculating the sum of the fuel consumption values in each vehicle and running the vehicle group in a vehicle speed region where the sum value is equal to or greater than a reference value. Yes.

  According to the present invention, by calculating the sum of the fuel consumption values in the vehicles forming the vehicle group and running the vehicle group in a vehicle speed region in which the total value is equal to or higher than the reference value, Travel control can be performed so as to optimize fuel consumption.

  Further, in the vehicle group traveling control system according to the present invention, the vehicle group traveling control unit includes fuel efficiency remaining amount information acquisition means for acquiring fuel remaining amount information when each vehicle forming the vehicle group travels to a destination. Is preferably a vehicle speed range in which the sum of the fuel consumption values is equal to or greater than a reference value, and the vehicle group travels at a vehicle speed at which the remaining amount of fuel does not disappear when each vehicle travels to the destination.

  According to the present invention, the vehicle group travels at a vehicle speed range in which the sum of the fuel economy values in the vehicle group is equal to or greater than the reference value and at which the remaining amount of fuel does not disappear when each vehicle travels to the destination. Accordingly, the fuel consumption of the entire vehicle group is good, and the vehicle group can be made to travel so that each vehicle can travel to the destination without running out of fuel.

  According to the present invention, by calculating the sum of the values of fuel consumption in each vehicle forming the vehicle group, and running the vehicle group as a vehicle group optimum speed in a speed region where the value of the sum is equal to or greater than a reference value, Travel control can be performed so that the fuel efficiency of the entire vehicle group is optimized.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.
(First embodiment)

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle group traveling control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle group traveling control system according to the present embodiment is configured by a traveling control device 1 mounted on vehicles M1 to M3 forming a vehicle group, and the vehicles M1 to M3 are configured through the traveling control device 1. Travel control is performed. As the vehicle group traveling, for example, the vehicle M2 performs the following traveling with respect to the leading vehicle M1 at a predetermined inter-vehicle distance, and the vehicle M3 performs the following traveling with respect to the vehicle M2 at the predetermined inter-vehicle distance. The vehicle M1 may travel by automatic driving control, or may travel by manual driving by the driver. In that case, the fuel consumption of the whole vehicle group can be improved by controlling the vehicle M1 so as to reduce the fuel consumption of the whole vehicle group.

  Further, when the vehicle group travels, the inter-vehicle distance of the vehicles M1 to M3 is made shorter than the normal travel time when the vehicle group is not traveling, thereby preventing the interruption of other vehicles into the vehicle group and improving traveling safety. Can do. Further, by reducing the inter-vehicle distance of the vehicles M1 to M3 from that during normal traveling, the traveling air resistance in the rear traveling vehicle can be reduced, so that the fuel consumption can be reduced.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the travel control device 1 used in the vehicle group travel control system according to the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the travel control device 1 includes an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 2, a communication unit 3, a navigation system 4, a travel unit 5, and a notification unit 6.

  The ECU 2 is an electronic control unit that controls the entire travel control device 1 and is mainly configured by a computer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, for example. The ECU 2 functions as a travel control unit for the vehicle on which the vehicle is mounted, and for example, controls the travel of the vehicle according to a vehicle group travel speed pattern set so as to reduce the fuel consumption of the entire vehicle forming the vehicle group. In this case, the vehicle group traveling speed pattern is set by the traveling control device 1 mounted on any of the vehicles M1 to M3 forming the vehicle group, for example, the traveling control device 1 of the leading vehicle M1. At this time, the traveling control device 1 of the vehicle M1 functions as a vehicle group traveling control unit in the vehicle group traveling control system. The travel control device 1 of the vehicle M1 calculates the sum of the fuel consumption values in the vehicles M1 to M3, sets a speed region in which the sum value is equal to or greater than a reference value as the vehicle group optimum speed, and sets the vehicle group optimum speed as the vehicle group optimum speed. The travel control is performed so that the vehicle group travels.

  The communication unit 3 functions as a vehicle-to-vehicle communication unit between at least the vehicles M1 to M3, and preferably functions as a road-to-vehicle communication unit for acquiring infrastructure information. In this case, any communication system may be used as long as the vehicle-to-vehicle communication and the road-to-vehicle communication can be performed, and the communication system, the communication frequency, the communication wavelength, etc. are different between the vehicle-to-vehicle communication unit and the road-to-vehicle communication unit. There may be.

  The communication unit 3 communicates vehicle information such as the current position of the vehicle, a target speed pattern, and a control target position with each other through, for example, inter-vehicle communication. Further, fuel consumption information indicating the state of fuel consumption with respect to the vehicle speed of the vehicle is communicated with each other through inter-vehicle communication. Further, the communication unit 3 acquires, for example, road traffic information and weather information through road-to-vehicle communication.

  The navigation system 4 functions as position detecting means for detecting the position of the host vehicle, and for example, a navigation system having a GPS (Global Positioning System) is used. The traveling unit 5 controls or executes traveling driving, traveling braking, and traveling steering of the host vehicle, and for example, an engine ECU, a brake ECU, and a steering ECU are used. The traveling unit 5 causes the vehicle to travel in accordance with a traveling control signal output from the ECU 2.

  The notification unit 6 is for displaying to the driver of the vehicle that the vehicle is driving with high fuel efficiency, and for example, a lamp capable of emitting light is used.

  Next, the operation of the vehicle group traveling control system according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the vehicle group traveling control process in the vehicle group traveling control system according to the present embodiment. This vehicle group traveling control process is repeatedly executed by the ECU 2 of the traveling control device 1 of the leading vehicle M1, for example.

  First, as shown in S10 of FIG. 3, fuel consumption information reading processing is performed. The fuel consumption information reading process is a process of reading fuel consumption information for vehicle speeds of the vehicles M1 to M3 forming the vehicle group. What is necessary is just to acquire the fuel consumption information of another vehicle through the communication between vehicles by the communication part 3. FIG.

  By the fuel consumption information reading process, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, fuel efficiency information indicating the fuel efficiency E with respect to the vehicle speed V of each of the vehicles M1 to M3 forming the vehicle group can be acquired. The fuel consumption information is preferably in accordance with the fuel consumption characteristics measured when each of the vehicles M1 to M3 actually travels. The fuel consumption information may be set in advance according to the traveling characteristics of the vehicles M1 to M3.

The vehicle speed-fuel efficiency characteristics of the vehicles M1 to M3 differ depending on the type of vehicle, the installed engine, and the like. For example, the fuel efficiency characteristic E _M3 of the vehicle M3 that is a transportation vehicle is lower than the fuel efficiency characteristic E _M1 of the vehicle M1 that is a normal passenger car. Further, the fuel efficiency characteristic E _M1 of the vehicle _M1 is lower than the fuel efficiency characteristic E _M2 of the vehicle M2, which is a small vehicle.

And it transfers to S12 of FIG. 3, and the calculation process of a vehicle group optimal speed is performed. In this vehicle group optimum speed calculation process, the sum of the values of the fuel consumptions E _{M1 to} E _M3 in the vehicles M1 to _M3 is calculated, and the vehicle group optimum speed is calculated as a speed region where the value of the sum is equal to or greater than a reference value. It is processing.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the fuel efficiency total value Ea is obtained by adding the values of the fuel efficiency E _{M1 to} E _{M3 in} the vehicles M1 to M3 for each vehicle speed, and not for each of the vehicles M1 to M3 but for the entire vehicle group. It shows fuel consumption. In this fuel consumption sum Ea, speed range as a reference value E ₀ or more is calculated as the vehicle group optimum speed Vg. The reference value E _0, e.g., set any value 85% to 95% of the fuel consumption sum Ea is preferably set 90% of the value of fuel consumption sum Ea.

  And it transfers to S14 of FIG. 3, and vehicle group travel control processing is performed. The vehicle group traveling control process is a process for traveling control of the vehicles M1 to M3 forming the vehicle group at the vehicle group optimum speed Vg. For example, the leading vehicle M1 travels within the range of the vehicle group optimum speed Vg, the vehicle M2 travels following the vehicle M1, and the vehicle M3 travels following the vehicle M2.

  As the travel control of the vehicle M1, for example, when the vehicle M1 is in automatic operation, the travel control of the vehicle M1 may be performed with a target speed pattern set so as to travel within the range of the vehicle group optimum speed Vg. Further, when the vehicle M1 is operated manually by the driver, the eco lamp is lit when the vehicle M1 is traveling within the range of the vehicle group optimum speed Vg, and the eco lamp is lit. When the process of S14 is finished, a series of control processes are finished.

As described above, according to the vehicle group traveling control system according to the present embodiment, the total value Ea of the fuel consumption values in the vehicles M1 to M3 forming the vehicle group is calculated, and the total value Ea is the reference value Ea. By running the vehicle group with the speed region as described above as the vehicle group optimum speed Vg, it is possible to perform travel control so that the fuel efficiency of the entire vehicle group is optimized.
(Second embodiment)

  Next, a vehicle group traveling system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The vehicle group traveling system according to the present embodiment has the same hardware configuration as the vehicle group traveling system according to the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 and performs substantially the same vehicle group traveling control. This is different from the vehicle group traveling system according to the first embodiment in that the vehicle group traveling control is performed in consideration of the fuel necessary for the vehicle to reach the destination.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a vehicle group traveling control process in the vehicle group traveling control system according to the present embodiment. This vehicle group traveling control process is repeatedly executed by the ECU 2 of the traveling control device 1 of the leading vehicle M1, for example.

  First, as shown in S20 of FIG. 6, a fuel consumption information reading process is performed. The fuel consumption information reading process is a process of reading fuel consumption information for vehicle speeds of the vehicles M1 to M3 forming the vehicle group. The fuel consumption information of other vehicles may be acquired through inter-vehicle communication by the communication unit 3. The process of S20 may be performed in the same manner as S10 of FIG.

And it transfers to S22 and the calculation process of vehicle group optimal speed is performed. In this vehicle group optimum speed calculation process, the sum of the values of the fuel consumptions E _{M1 to} E _M3 in the vehicles M1 to _M3 is calculated, and the vehicle group optimum speed is calculated as a speed region where the value of the sum is equal to or greater than a reference value. It is processing. The process of S22 may be performed in the same manner as S12 of FIG.

  Then, the process proceeds to S24, and the remaining fuel calculation process is performed. The calculation process of the remaining amount of fuel is a process of calculating the remaining amount of fuel for each vehicle speed when the vehicle M1 to M3 travels to the destination. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the remaining fuel amounts F1 to F3 when traveling to the destination at each vehicle speed V are calculated. The remaining fuel amount F1 indicates the remaining amount of fuel when the vehicle M1 travels to its destination at the vehicle speed V. The remaining fuel amount F2 indicates the remaining amount of fuel when the vehicle M2 travels to the destination at the vehicle speed V. The remaining fuel amount F3 indicates the remaining amount of fuel when the vehicle M3 travels to the destination at the vehicle speed V. In addition, as this fuel remaining amount, it is good also considering the last point of the path | route common to vehicles M1-M3 as a destination.

  As a method for calculating the remaining amount of fuel, for example, the fuel required to travel to the destination is calculated by dividing the distance to the destination by the fuel efficiency, and the required fuel is subtracted from the current fuel value. The remaining amount of fuel when traveling to the destination is calculated.

  In FIG. 7, if the values of the remaining fuel amounts F1 to F3 are not all positive, the vehicles M1 to M3 cannot reach their destinations. Therefore, the values of the remaining fuel amounts F1 to F3 are all positive. The vehicle speed range is calculated as the appropriate fuel vehicle speed Vh.

  And it transfers to S26 of FIG. 6, and a vehicle group travel control process is performed. The vehicle group traveling control process is a process for traveling control of the vehicles M1 to M3 forming the vehicle group at the vehicle group optimum speed Vg and the appropriate fuel vehicle speed Vh. For example, the leading vehicle M1 travels within the vehicle speed range where the vehicle group optimum speed Vg and the fuel proper vehicle speed Vh are reached, the vehicle M2 travels following the vehicle M1, and the vehicle M3 follows the vehicle M2. Run.

  As the travel control of the vehicle M1, for example, when the vehicle M1 is in automatic operation, the vehicle M1 is traveled by a target speed pattern set so as to travel within the vehicle speed range that is the vehicle group optimum speed Vg and the fuel proper vehicle speed Vh. What is necessary is just to control. Further, when the vehicle M1 is operated manually by the driver, the lamp is turned on when the vehicle M1 is traveling within the vehicle speed range that is the vehicle group optimum speed Vg and the fuel appropriate vehicle speed Vh, and the vehicle M1 is allowed to travel so that the lamp is lit. That's fine.

  If there is no overlapping vehicle speed range between the vehicle group optimum speed Vg and the appropriate fuel speed Vh, it is preferable to prioritize the appropriate fuel speed Vh and control the traveling within the appropriate fuel speed Vh range. When the process of S26 is finished, a series of control processes are finished.

  As described above, according to the vehicle group traveling control system according to the present embodiment, in addition to the same functions and effects of the vehicle group traveling control system according to the first embodiment, the vehicles M1 to M3 forming the vehicle group are The vehicle group can be made to travel to the destination without running out of fuel. At that time, since refueling is not required to the destination, it is possible to suppress the entire vehicle group from stopping traveling for some vehicles, and to perform efficient vehicle group traveling.

  The embodiment described above shows an example of a vehicle group traveling control system according to the present invention. The vehicle group traveling control system according to the present invention is not limited to the vehicle group traveling control system according to this embodiment, and the vehicle group traveling control system according to the embodiment is within a range not changing the gist described in each claim. May be modified or applied to others.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle group traveling control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a structure schematic diagram of the traveling control apparatus used for the vehicle group traveling control system of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the vehicle group traveling control system of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the fuel consumption state of the vehicle in the vehicle group traveling control system of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the vehicle group optimal speed in the vehicle group travel control system of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the vehicle group traveling control system which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the fuel residual amount in the vehicle group traveling control system which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Travel control apparatus, 2 ... ECU, 3 ... Navigation system, 4 ... Communication part, 5 ... Traveling part, 6 ... Notification part, Vehicle ... M1-M3.

Claims (2)

In a vehicle group traveling control system for traveling by forming a vehicle group with a plurality of vehicles,
Fuel consumption information acquisition means for acquiring fuel consumption information indicating fuel consumption with respect to vehicle speed for each vehicle forming the vehicle group,
Vehicle group travel control means for calculating the sum of the fuel consumption values in each vehicle and causing the vehicle group to travel in a vehicle speed region in which the sum value is equal to or greater than a reference value;
A vehicle group running control system. Fuel consumption remaining amount information acquisition means for acquiring fuel remaining amount information when traveling to the destination for each vehicle forming the vehicle group,
The vehicle group running control means is a vehicle group running at a vehicle speed that is a vehicle speed region in which the sum of the fuel consumption values is equal to or greater than a reference value, and the remaining amount of fuel does not disappear when each vehicle travels to the destination. Let
The vehicle group traveling control system according to claim 1.

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