JP2010239697A - Vehicle configuration management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide technique which unitizes various types of components constituting a vehicle to facilitate management, or the like, of the vehicle for optional vehicle configuration. <P>SOLUTION: A terminal 20, an accessory unit 30 and a wheel unit 40 are detachably attached to a frame unit 10 with a fixing member. An ID is preliminarily provided to each of the frame unit 10, accessory unit 30 and wheel unit 40, and a terminal ID is also provided preliminarily to the terminal 20. A user can select and use what the user requests from among a plurality of kinds of the accessory unit 30, wheel unit 40 and frame unit 10 respectively. In the terminal ID, each selected ID is stored in own terminal end storage section, and the stored ID is used for authentication, when performing travel control. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle configuration management system.

  In recent years, various techniques for driving a vehicle using an in-wheel motor have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an in-wheel motor drive device that has excellent durability and high reliability by adopting a structure that can stably supply lubricating oil to a rolling bearing that supports a speed reduction portion, particularly a curved plate. Proposed.

JP 2009-58005 A

By employing an in-wheel motor as a power component, it is expected that the layout configuration of the entire vehicle or the degree of freedom of selection of various components to be employed will be dramatically improved. For example, unlike conventional vehicle designs, such as replacing in-wheel motors that are power parts and various accessories that make up the vehicle with any user-preferred ones, One vehicle can be freely combined. In this way, when the configuration of the vehicle can be freely selected by the user, it is preferable if management of each component (unit) constituting one vehicle can be easily performed.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described background, and provides a technique capable of easily managing a vehicle or the like in which various parts constituting the vehicle are unitized and the vehicle configuration can be arbitrarily changed. With the goal.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a vehicle configuration management system for a vehicle in which a single vehicle is configured by a plurality of unitized parts and can be reconfigured by changing the type or number of units. A wheel unit that includes a wheel, a driving unit that rotationally drives the wheel, and a drive control unit that controls rotational driving of the wheel by the driving unit, and wheel identification information that uniquely identifies the unit is given in advance, An accessory unit including a battery for supplying power to the drive unit or the drive control unit, and provided with accessory identification information for uniquely identifying the unit, and the wheel identification information and the accessory from the wheel unit and the accessory unit A terminal having an acquisition means for acquiring identification information, Wheel identification information and accessory identification information for identifying a wheel unit and an accessory unit placed under the control of the terminal are stored in advance, and the wheel identification information and the wheel identification information from the wheel unit and the accessory unit according to a start instruction by a user Acquire accessory identification information, authenticate the unit by comparing the acquired identification information with the previously stored identification information, and attach the wheel unit and / or accessory unit to the terminal on the condition that the authentication is successful. A vehicle configuration management system characterized by being placed under control.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the device further comprises a frame unit on which one or more of the wheel units are detachably mounted, and the terminal recognizes one or more wheel units mounted on the frame unit. And drive instruction means for instructing driving to a part or all of the drive control unit included in the wheel unit recognized by the recognition means.

  Further, in a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the terminal is preliminarily provided with terminal identification information for identifying the terminal, and supplies the terminal identification information to the wheel unit and the accessory unit. And the accessory unit is configured to store in advance terminal identification information supplied from the terminal, and the terminal transmits the terminal identification information to the wheel unit and the accessory unit in response to an activation instruction by a user, The wheel unit and the accessory unit may perform authentication by comparing the transmitted terminal identification information with the previously stored terminal identification information, and may accept control by the terminal on the condition that the authentication is successful.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily manage a vehicle using an in-wheel motor.

It is a perspective view which shows an example of a structure of a vehicle. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a structure of a vehicle. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of a wheel unit. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of a controller. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of a terminal. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a structure of a vehicle. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a structure of a vehicle. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a structure of a vehicle. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of a system. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of a server apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the management information storage area.

<A: First Embodiment>
<A-1: Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a vehicle 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle 100 is composed of a plurality of unitized parts, and can be rearranged by changing the type or number of units. In the figure, the frame unit 10 is a member constituting the framework of the vehicle 100. A terminal 20, an accessory unit 30, and a wheel unit 40 are attached to the frame unit 10 by a fixing member (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal 20, the accessory unit 30, and the wheel unit 40 are detachably attached to the frame unit 10. When the user gets on the vehicle 100, the vehicle 100 autonomously controls to maintain the vehicle posture in a steady state (for example, an upright state), and the rider can travel by tilting the entire vehicle in the traveling direction. Yes.

  FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing an example of the configuration of the wheel unit 40. FIG. 3 is a configuration example of a wheel unit 40 that is assumed to be attached as a traveling wheel of a four-wheeled vehicle. The wheel unit 40 is a wheel unit provided with a so-called in-wheel motor in which an electric motor for generating a driving force is provided in the wheel. The wheel unit 40 includes a bottomed cylindrical wheel 11 on which the tire 2 is mounted. A motor 12 and a braking device 13 are accommodated inside the wheel 11. The wheel 11 includes a disk part 111 and a cylinder part 112 extending substantially perpendicularly from the periphery of the disk part 111. A rotating shaft 14 that protrudes toward the vehicle body is provided at the center of the disk portion 111. The rotating shaft 14 is rotatably supported via a bearing at the tip of an axle 15 that protrudes laterally outward from the vehicle body. ing.

  The motor 12 is a drive unit that rotationally drives the wheel, and includes a rotor 121 and a stator 122 that are arranged to face each other in a direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft 14. The rotor 121 is composed of a permanent magnet 121a. The stator 122 extends from the cylindrical portion 112 so that the rotor 121 and the stator 122 face each other in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis. The stator 122 has a magnetic core portion 122a provided around the cylindrical portion 112, and a coil 122b is wound around the magnetic core portion 122a.

  The braking device 13 includes a rotating body that rotates integrally with the wheel 11, and a brake that contacts the rotating body and brakes the rotation of the wheel 11 with a frictional force. For example, the rotating body is a brake drum, and the brake is a brake shoe. A disc-shaped support body 16 is provided in the middle of the axle 15, and the brake is supported by the support body 16. The damper 18 is a vibration absorbing member and is supported by a spring 19. The wheel unit 40 is attached to the vehicle frame via the damper 18, and the wheel 11 is rotated by the motor 12 of the wheel unit 40, so that the vehicle on which the wheel unit 40 is mounted travels. In this embodiment, the wheel unit 40 is fixed to the frame unit 10 via the damper 18.

  The controller 17 communicates with a terminal used by a user. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the controller 17. In the figure, a communication unit 171 performs wired communication using a shield line or the like (not shown) with the terminal 20 operated by a user. In addition, although this embodiment demonstrates the case where the controller 17 and the terminal 20 communicate by a wire, you may make it communicate not only in this but by radio | wireless. The control unit 172 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and the like, and executes various processes according to signals received by the communication unit 171. Identification information (wheel ID) for uniquely identifying the wheel unit 40 is stored in the ROM of the control unit 172. The storage unit 173 is a storage unit such as a flash memory or an EPROM.

  Next, the configuration of the terminal 20 operated by the user will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the terminal 20. The terminal 20 is a terminal operated by a user. In the figure, the control unit 21 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and reads and executes a computer program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 22 to control each unit of the terminal 20 via the bus BUS. The storage unit 22 is a storage unit for storing a computer program executed by the control unit 21 and data used at the time of execution, and is, for example, a flash memory or a hard disk device. Identification information (terminal ID) for identifying the terminal 20 is stored in advance in the storage unit 22 of the terminal 20. The display unit 23 includes a liquid crystal panel and the like, and displays various images under the control of the control unit 21. The operation unit 24 outputs a signal corresponding to the operation by the user of the terminal 20 to the control unit 21. The communication unit 25 includes various communication devices and receives a signal transmitted from the communication unit 171 of the wheel unit 40.

  Returning to the description of FIG. In FIG. 1, the accessory unit 30 includes a battery that supplies power to the motor 12 and the braking device 13 of the wheel unit 40, and includes an audio unit (such as a speaker), a security device, a communication interface, and the like. Moreover, the accessory unit 30 is provided with the control part containing CPU, ROM, and RAM. Further, identification information (accessory ID) for identifying each accessory unit 30 is assigned to the accessory unit 30 in advance. A predetermined memory is built in the accessory unit 30 in advance, and an accessory ID is stored in advance in this memory.

  The frame unit 10 includes a control unit including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and identification information (frame ID) for identifying each of the frame units 10 is assigned to the frame unit 10 in advance. A predetermined memory is built in the frame unit 10 in advance, and a frame ID is stored in advance in this memory.

  As described above, the frame unit 10, the terminal 20, the accessory unit 30, and the wheel unit 40 are each given an ID for identifying each in advance. In the following description, for convenience of description, when it is not necessary to distinguish the frame unit 10, the accessory unit 30, and the wheel unit 40, they will be referred to as “units”. The terminal 20 reads IDs assigned to the frame unit 10, the accessory unit 30, and the wheel unit 40, and manages and identifies IDs of a plurality of units constituting one vehicle. In addition, the frame unit 10, the accessory unit 30, and the wheel unit 40 store the ID of the terminal 20 serving as the master.

  Further, as described above, the frame unit 10, the accessory unit 30, and the wheel unit 40 each include a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and are configured to be capable of autonomous control. Control program setting data according to the vehicle configuration is loaded from the terminal 20 to each unit, and each unit performs an operation according to the uploaded program.

<A-2: Operation>
<A-2-1: Initial setting operation>
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, the initial setting operation will be described. As described above, the terminal 20, the accessory unit 30, and the wheel unit 40 are detachably attached to the frame unit 10. For each of the accessory unit 30, the wheel unit 40, and the frame unit 10, the user can select and use what he / she desires from a plurality of types. The terminal 20 is a terminal owned by the user. The user attaches the terminal 20, the accessory unit 30 selected by the user, and the wheel unit 40 to the frame unit 10 selected by the user, and connects each unit to the terminal 20 using a connection cable such as a shielded wire. Connect to. In the initial state, each unit does not store the ID of the terminal 20 serving as its own master. Also, the terminal 20 does not store the ID of the unit that is the master itself. Next, the user uses the operation unit 24 of the terminal 20 to perform an operation for associating each unit connected to the terminal 20 with the terminal 20. The operation unit 24 outputs a signal corresponding to a user operation. In response to the signal output from the operation unit 24, the control unit 21 transmits the terminal ID of the terminal itself to each unit connected to the terminal 20.

  Taking the wheel unit 40 as an example, when the wheel unit 40 receives the terminal ID from the terminal 20, the wheel unit 40 stores the received terminal ID in the storage unit 173 as the ID of the terminal 20 serving as its own master, and the terminal 20 or manufacturer or maintenance Hold until a reset instruction is received from the maintenance terminal used by the supplier. The terminal ID stored here is used to identify the terminal 20 that can control the wheel unit 40. In this case, the terminal ID and the password may be stored in association with each other, and the authentication process may be performed using the password. After storing the terminal ID in the storage unit 173, the wheel unit 40 then transmits its own identification information (wheel ID) to the terminal 20. The terminal 20 stores the received identification information (wheel ID) in the storage unit 22. The stored identification information is held until a deletion instruction is received from the user via the operation unit 24.

  The terminal 20 exchanges ID with each unit (the wheel unit 40, the frame unit 10, and the accessory unit 30) connected to the terminal 20. Here, when each unit receives the terminal ID from the terminal 20, if the ID of the master unit is not stored in the predetermined memory of the own unit, information indicating that control acceptance is allowed together with the identification information. In other cases, only the identification information is transmitted to the terminal 20. The terminal 20 additionally stores the received identification information in the storage unit 22 together with information indicating that control acceptance is permitted. In this way, the terminal 20 obtains IDs of a plurality of units constituting one vehicle connected to the terminal and identifies a predetermined memory (such as the storage unit 22) as information for identifying the unit that is the master. ). Further, the frame unit 10, the accessory unit 30, and the wheel unit 40 store the ID of the terminal 20 serving as the master in a predetermined memory (such as the storage unit 173).

  The storage unit 22 of the terminal 20 stores a control program or control data corresponding to each unit, and the terminal 20 is connected at an initial setting operation, a startup control operation described later, or at an arbitrary time. In addition, a control program or control data can be supplied to each unit. For example, the storage unit 22 of the terminal 20 stores a control program related to traveling control of the wheel unit 40 and various setting information related to traveling control of the wheel unit 40. When the control program or data is supplied from the terminal 20, the control program executed by the CPU of each unit is added to the basic program stored in advance in the ROM of each unit, and the control program supplied from the terminal 20 described above. To data.

<A-2-2: Startup control operation>
Next, the activation control operation of the vehicle 100 will be described. In this operation, the terminal 20 functions as a “key” for starting each unit. The user uses the operation unit 24 of the terminal 20 to perform an operation for starting the vehicle. The operation unit 24 outputs a signal corresponding to the content operated by the user, and the control unit 21 sends its own terminal to each unit connected to the terminal 20 according to the signal output from the operation unit 24. Terminal ID and a signal for instructing activation (hereinafter referred to as “activation signal”). At this time, the user may input a password using the operation unit 24, and the control unit 21 may transmit the terminal ID and password of the own terminal to the wheel unit 40.

  Each unit compares the terminal ID previously registered in a predetermined memory as a master terminal with the terminal ID received together with the activation instruction in accordance with the activation instruction from the terminal 20 and the terminal ID of the terminal ID. Check consistency. In addition, each unit transmits identification information (wheel ID, frame ID, accessory ID) assigned to itself to the terminal 20 in response to an activation instruction from the terminal 20.

  The terminal 20 collates the identification information received from each unit (wheel ID, frame ID, accessory ID transmitted by each unit that transmitted the activation instruction) with the identification information stored in the storage unit 22. The unit is authenticated, and each unit is placed under the control of the terminal 20 on the condition that the authentication is successful. That is, the terminal 20 starts drive control of the unit when the authentication is successful, and does not perform drive control of the unit when the authentication fails. Here, if the identification information received from the unit as described above is received together with information indicating that control acceptance is permitted, the initial setting operation is executed at this point, and the terminal 20 receives the received identification information. Information may be additionally stored in the storage unit 22, and the activation instruction may be transmitted to the unit again. The drive control includes various controls corresponding to connected units, such as ON / OFF control of rotational drive for the wheel unit 40, and control of the power supply state from the accessory unit 30 to other units.

  The terminal 20 may stop the start-up as a whole system when an ID mismatch unit is detected at the time of start-up, or may start the vehicle while ignoring the unit and be able to run You may make it. However, if the unit whose ID is inconsistent is a wheel unit or a security equipment unit, it may cause a serious accident or failure in driving. In this case, stop the entire system startup. However, it is preferable to control the vehicle so that it cannot travel. Further, in addition to ID verification between the terminal 20 and each unit, ID verification between the units may be performed. Also, the terminal 20 could not obtain the corresponding identification information from the units connected in the startup control operation among the identification information stored in the storage unit 22 (for example, it was removed during the startup matching operation, In such a case, the identification information may be automatically deleted from the storage unit 22.

  Further, in each unit, authentication is performed by comparing the terminal ID received together with the activation instruction signal and the terminal ID stored in a predetermined memory, and only when the authentication is successful, the connected terminal 20 Accept drive control. If the authentication fails, it may wait until a signal instructing activation is received from another terminal 20, or the power may be turned off as it is. Some or all of the units that have been successfully authenticated with the terminal 20 perform a polling process to acquire a terminal ID for the terminal 20 at predetermined unit times. For example, the controller 17 of the wheel unit 40 collates with the terminal ID stored in the storage unit 173 every time the terminal ID is acquired, and if the collation is continued, the driving process is continued. The driving process is stopped. Specifically, for example, when the power of the terminal 20 is turned off, the controller 17 cannot acquire the terminal ID from the terminal 20, and in such a case, the driving process is stopped.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, identification information (ID) is assigned to each of the terminal 20, the accessory unit 30, and the wheel unit 40, and the user can use the unit by combining them. Can be selected and used. Further, since an ID is assigned to each unit, management can be performed in unit units or terminal 20 units. In addition, for example, the user can easily replace the unit such as replacing the battery (accessory unit 30) at the destination. Furthermore, even when the units are replaced, the units can be easily managed by assigning IDs to the respective units.

<B: Second Embodiment>
<B-1: Configuration>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle 200 is a two-wheeled vehicle that is used with two wheel units. In the figure, the frame unit 10 </ b> B is a member constituting the framework of the vehicle 200. A terminal 20B, an accessory unit 30B, a wheel unit 40B, and a wheel unit 40D are detachably attached to the frame unit 10B to the frame unit 10B. The terminal 20B is a terminal operated by a user, and has the same configuration as that of the terminal 20 shown in the first embodiment. The configuration of the wheel units 40B and 40D is the same as the configuration of the wheel unit 40 shown in the first embodiment described above. In the following description, the same components as those of the terminal 20 described above in the terminal 20B are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate. Similarly, in the wheel units 40B and 40D, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those of the wheel unit 40 described above, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  As in the first embodiment described above, each unit can be arbitrarily rearranged and added. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to attach a terminal 20C or a terminal 20D to the frame unit 10B instead of the terminal 20B. For example, instead of the accessory unit 30B, the accessory unit 30C can be attached to the frame unit 10B. Further, for example, instead of the wheel unit 40B, the wheel unit 40C can be mounted on the frame unit 10B. In the following description, for convenience of description, when it is not necessary to distinguish the terminals 20B, 20C, and 20D, these will be referred to as “terminal 20”. Similarly, when there is no need to distinguish between the accessory unit 30B and the accessory unit 30C, these will be referred to as “accessory unit 30”. Further, when it is not necessary to distinguish the wheel unit 40B and the wheel unit 40C from each other, these will be referred to as “wheel units 40”.

<B-2: Operation>
<B-2-1: Initial setting operation>
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, the initial setting operation will be described. As described above, the terminal 20, the accessory unit 30, and the wheel unit 40 are detachably attached to the frame unit 10B. For each of the accessory unit 30 and the wheel unit 40, the user can select and use what he / she desires from a plurality of types. The user attaches the terminal 20, the accessory unit 30 selected by the user, and the wheel unit 40 to the frame unit 10 selected by the user. Next, the user uses the operation unit 24 of the terminal 20 to perform an operation for associating the wheel unit 40 with the terminal 20.

  In this operation example, each unit can be controlled by a plurality of terminals 20, and each unit stores a plurality of terminal IDs corresponding to the plurality of terminals 20. In this case, the terminal 20 that does not store an ID in each unit cannot be controlled. For example, when the terminal ID of the terminal 20B and the terminal ID of the terminal 20C are stored in each unit, each unit can be controlled by the terminal 20B and the terminal 20C, but each unit cannot be controlled by the terminal 20D. . In this case, a priority order may be given to a terminal that permits control. For example, the terminal 20B may have a higher priority than the terminal 20C. In addition, for example, an audio unit included in the accessory unit 30 or the like unit that does not interfere with traveling control may be permitted to be controlled only in some terminals (for example, the terminal 20B).

  The setting of each unit and the setting of configuration change (including the setting of the master terminal such as the setting of the terminal ID stored in each unit or the setting of the priority among the plurality of stored terminal IDs) are the terminal 20B or the terminal 20C. It can only be changed with Or it is good also as changeable only in a specific terminal (for example, terminal 20B). In addition, when each unit is mounted or initially set, the information on the units constituting the vehicle is updated while checking the type of the unit connected on the terminal 20B (or the terminal 20C) and the configuration of the entire vehicle. Unit identification information and terminal ID stored in the unit may be stored or deleted). In this case, the unit itself uses a function of detecting the position of each unit or a sound emitting means such as a light emitting means such as an LED provided in the unit or a speaker so that the user can easily recognize the corresponding unit. It is desirable to provide a function for notifying that the setting target is set.

  When replacing or recombining the attached unit, the terminal 20B (or terminal 20C) performs a configuration replacement process. In this case, each unit updates the terminal ID (and / or the ID of another unit governed by the terminal ID) in accordance with the configuration replacement instruction from the terminal 20B (or terminal 20C). At the time of initial setting or configuration replacement, the control program, setting data, etc. may be updated as appropriate.

<B-2-2: Start control operation>
Next, the activation control operation of the vehicle 200 will be described. As in the first embodiment, the user uses the operation unit 24 of the terminal 20 to perform an operation for starting each unit. The operation unit 24 outputs a signal corresponding to the content operated by the user, and the control unit 21 outputs a signal for instructing activation to each unit and the terminal ID according to the signal output from the operation unit 24. Authentication is performed by checking the ID of each unit received from each unit in response to the ID stored in the storage unit 22 as a response, and each unit is controlled on the condition that the authentication is successful. Put it down. Note that details of the activation control process performed by the control unit 21 are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, and a detailed description thereof is omitted here. In the case of the second embodiment, a plurality of wheel units that are power components are mounted, and in addition to the drive control described in the first embodiment, the control unit 21 rotates the rotation speed of the plurality of wheel units 40. You may make it perform the control which synchronizes.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, identification information (ID) is assigned to each of the terminal 20, the accessory unit 30, and the wheel unit 40, and the user can use the unit by combining them. Can be selected and used. Further, since an ID is assigned to each unit, management can be performed in unit units or terminal 20 units. Even when the units are exchanged, the units can be easily managed by assigning IDs to the respective units.

<C: Third Embodiment>
<C-1: Configuration>
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle 300 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle 300 is a four-wheeled vehicle that is used with four wheel units. In the figure, the frame unit 10 </ b> C is a member constituting the framework of the vehicle 300. A terminal 20E, an accessory unit 30E, and wheel units 40E, 40F, 40G, and 40H are detachably attached to the frame unit 10C. As illustrated, the vehicle 300 is used with a plurality of wheel units 40E, 40F, 40G, and 40H attached to a frame unit 10C. As in the first and second embodiments described above, each unit can be arbitrarily rearranged and added. In the following description, when it is not necessary to distinguish the wheel units 40E, 40F, 40G, and 40H, they will be referred to as “wheel units 40”.

  The wheel unit 40 need not be directly grounded. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the wheel unit 40I is installed on the frame unit 10C at a position where it does not come in contact with the ground, and the power is transmitted to the wheel unit via a gear, a chain, a shaft, etc. You may comprise as follows. In this case, the power transmission destination from the wheel unit 40I may be transmitted to all the wheel units 40 attached to the frame unit 10C, or to a part (one or a plurality) of wheel units 40. It may be configured to transmit only. Further, the mechanical mechanism for transmitting power may be a form assembled to the frame unit 10C.

<C-2: Operation>
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Since the initial setting operation and the startup control operation in this embodiment are substantially the same as those shown in the first and second embodiments described above, in the following description, the first and second embodiments described above and Different operations will be mainly described, and the description of the same operations as those of the first and second embodiments described above will be omitted as appropriate.

  During the start control operation, the plurality of wheel units 40E, 40F, 40G, 40H (and 40I) may communicate with each other to authenticate the terminal ID of the terminal 20 serving as a master. In this case, each wheel unit 40 accepts drive control by the terminal 20 on condition that the terminal 20 as a master is the same in all the wheel units 40 (terminal IDs match). As described in the second embodiment, when each unit stores a plurality of terminal IDs, there is a terminal ID that matches in all wheel units, and the terminal ID received from the terminal 20 is all the wheels. Drive control by the terminal 20 may be accepted on condition that the terminal ID matches with the unit. Further, the wheel units 40E, 40F, 40G, and 40H communicate with each other or drive control from the terminal 20 to control the inner ring difference that creates the difference between the rotational speeds inside and outside the curve according to the curve, Control may be performed.

  Each of the wheel units 40E, 40F, 40G, and 40H detects how an abnormal load is applied to the wheel, and notifies the terminal of the detection result. In response to signals output from the wheel units 40E, 40F, 40G, and 40H, the terminal notifies that effect when an abnormal load is applied to the wheel. Specifically, for example, when the vehicle 300 rolls over due to an accident, the fact may be notified to a predetermined contact.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, identification information (ID) is given to each of the terminal 20E, the accessory unit 30E, and the wheel unit 40, and by using them in combination, the user desires a unit that the user desires. Can be selected and used. Further, since an ID is assigned to each unit, management can be performed in units or in units of terminals 20E.

<D: Fourth Embodiment>
<D-1: Configuration>
Next explained is the fourth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, this system is configured by connecting a server device 70 and a plurality of terminals 20a, 20b, and 20c to a communication network 80 such as the Internet. The server device 70 is a general-purpose server device, for example, and manages various data transmitted from the terminals 20a, 20b, and 20c. The terminals 20a, 20b, and 20c are the same as the terminal 20 shown in the first embodiment described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted here. In the following description, when it is not necessary to distinguish the terminals 20a, 20b, and 20c, they will be referred to as “terminal 20”. Further, FIG. 9 illustrates three terminals 20a, 20b, and 20c, but the number of terminals is not limited to this and may be more or less than this.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the server device 70. In the figure, a control unit 71 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and reads and executes a computer program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 72 to control each unit of the server device 70 via the bus BUS. . The storage unit 72 is a storage unit for storing a computer program executed by the control unit 71 and data used at the time of execution, and is, for example, a hard disk device. The display unit 73 includes a liquid crystal panel or the like, and displays various images under the control of the control unit 71. The operation unit 74 outputs a signal corresponding to an operation by the user of the server device 70 to the control unit 71. The communication unit 75 includes various communication devices and receives data transmitted from other devices such as the terminal 20.

The storage unit 72 of the server device 70 includes a user management information storage area 721, a wheel management information storage area 722, and an accessory management information storage area 723. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the content of data stored in the user management information storage area 721. In this area, as shown in the figure, items of “terminal ID”, “wheel ID”, and “accessory ID” are stored in association with each other. Among these items, the “terminal ID” item stores identification information (terminal ID) for identifying the terminal 20. In the item of “wheel ID”, identification information (wheel ID) for identifying the wheel unit 40 is stored. In the “accessory ID” item, identification information (accessory ID) for identifying the accessory unit 30 is stored.
The content of data stored in the user management information storage area 721 is not limited to the aspect illustrated in FIG. When expressed as a table as shown in FIG. 11, one line may be formed corresponding to one terminal ID, and two or more pieces of identification information may be stored in association with one terminal ID. Correspondingly, one row may be formed, and identification information (terminal ID) for identifying the terminal 20 may be stored for the unit identification information. In the latter case, a separate table may be provided for each category (wheel, accessory, etc.).

  Next, in the wheel management information storage area 722, for each wheel unit 40, information (hereinafter referred to as “wheel management information”) indicating the usage status, damage state, and the like of the wheel unit 40 is stored. The accessory management information storage area 723 stores, for each accessory unit 30, information (hereinafter referred to as “accessory management information”) indicating the number of times that the accessory unit (for example, battery) is used, the damage state, and the like.

  The terminal 20 can acquire a control program, setting information, and the like according to the vehicle configuration from a server or the like via the communication network 80 as appropriate. In addition, a user may be able to create a control program, setting data, and the like using a personal computer, the terminal 20, or the like.

  The terminal 20 controls traveling of one or a plurality of wheel units 40 according to the setting information stored in the storage unit 22. In this way, it is possible to perform the travel control desired by the user. For example, as setting information, a driving control such as “FR mode” or “FF mode” that can be selected when a plurality of wheel units 40 are mounted, and driving control such as “sport driving mode” or “slow driving mode”. It contains mode information indicating the mode. When “FR mode” is selected, the rear wheels of the wheel units 40 mounted on the front and rear of the vehicle serve as driving wheels. When “FF mode” is selected, traveling control is performed with the front wheels serving as driving wheels. When “sport driving mode” is selected, the response of the motor to the acceleration instruction (accelerator) instructed using the operation unit 24 is accelerated, and when “economy mode” is selected, the motor response to the acceleration instruction. Such control is performed as to slow down. In addition to the modes exemplified above, other modes such as an all-wheel drive mode (a mode in which travel control is performed with all mounted wheel units 40 serving as drive wheels) may be provided. A user who likes the front engine / rear drive system can perform his or her desired travel control by selecting the FR mode.

<D-2: Operation>
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. As in the first to third embodiments described above, the user selects a desired one from a plurality of types for each of the frame unit 10, the accessory unit 30, and the wheel unit 40, and the terminal 20 Connecting. Next, the user uses the operation unit 24 of the terminal 20 to perform an operation for executing an initial setting operation or an activation control operation. When the terminal 20 acquires the ID from each unit, the terminal 20 associates the acquired ID with the ID of its own terminal, and transmits it to the server device 70. Upon receiving the ID of each unit and the ID of its own terminal, the server device 70 stores the received ID in association with each other in the user management information storage area 721.

  In addition, the terminal 20 generates wheel management information indicating the usage status and damage status of the wheel unit 40 in the travel control process of the terminal itself, and transmits the generated wheel management information and the wheel ID in association with each other to the server device 70. To do. Further, the terminal 20 generates accessory management information indicating the usage status, damage state, and the like of the accessory unit 30 in the travel control process of the terminal, and transmits the generated accessory management information and the accessory ID to the server device 70 in association with each other. To do. Upon receiving the wheel management information and the accessory management information, the server device 70 stores the received wheel management information in the wheel management information storage area 722 and stores the received accessory management information in the accessory management information storage area 723.

  In this embodiment, the terminal 20 generates the wheel management information and the accessory management information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the wheel unit 40 includes a sensor that detects its own usage state, damage state, and the like. The terminal 20 receives the signal output from the sensor, so that the use state or damage state of the wheel unit 40 may be detected. Similarly, the accessory unit 30 is configured to include a sensor that detects the number of times of use, damage status, and the like, and the terminal 20 receives a signal output from the sensor, whereby the usage status and damage status of the wheel unit 40 are received. May be detected.

  The user can check the wheel management information and the accessory management information stored in the server device 70 using the terminal 20. Specifically, for example, when the user performs an operation of referring to the wheel management information and the accessory management information using the terminal 20, the terminal 20 changes its own terminal according to the operated content. The terminal ID is transmitted to the server device 70. When receiving the terminal ID from the terminal 20, the server device 70 first identifies the wheel ID and accessory ID corresponding to the received terminal ID with reference to the user management information storage area 721. Next, the server device 70 reads the wheel management information corresponding to the specified wheel ID from the wheel management information storage area 722, and also reads the accessory management information corresponding to the specified accessory ID from the accessory management information storage area 723, and reads it out. Wheel management information and accessory management information are transmitted to the terminal 20. When the terminal 20 receives the wheel management information and the accessory management information, the terminal 20 notifies the user of the received wheel management information and accessory management information on the display unit 23, for example. The user can grasp the damage state of the wheel unit 40 and the accessory unit 30 used by the user by referring to the screen displayed on the display unit 23.

Further, the server device 70 refers to the storage contents of the wheel management information storage area 722 and the accessory management information storage area 723, and when the stored wheel management information and accessory management information satisfy a predetermined condition (for example, use Corresponding to the wheel unit corresponding to the wheel management information and the accessory unit 30 corresponding to the accessory management information when the number of times is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold or the travel distance exceeds a preset value, etc. A process of notifying the attached terminal 20 is performed.
Alternatively, the accessory unit 30 or the terminal 20 or the server device 70 determines how much the performance of the secondary battery is deteriorated as compared with a new battery state based on information such as the number of times of charging and the discharging time. In this way, this information may be included in the accessory management information. In this case, the server device 70 can appropriately determine a battery replacement time or the like for each user (terminal 20) to be managed or each accessory 30.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, since the terminal ID, the wheel ID, and the accessory ID are collectively managed by the server device 70, the management of the ID can be facilitated. Further, since the damage state of the wheel unit 40 and the accessory unit 30 is also managed, a user (and a maintenance service company that uses information stored in the server device 70, a manufacturer that manufactures the unit, etc.) can be used by the user. It is possible to easily grasp the usage status and damage state of the unit 30 and the like.

<E: Modification>
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, It can implement with another various form. An example is shown below. In addition, you may combine each following aspect suitably.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the wheel unit 40 and the terminal 20 are connected by wire using a shield wire or the like. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the wheel unit 40 and the terminal 20 are connected wirelessly. You may make it do. Preferably, noise / fault countermeasures are taken.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, each unit stores identification information (wheel unit ID, etc.) in a memory. Instead, the identification information of each unit is given by RFID or the like at the terminal 20. It may be readable. In addition to the electrical storage of identification information, an optically readable pattern code such as a barcode is printed on the exterior surface of each unit, and the terminal 20 optically reads the code. Also good.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, each unit is directly connected to the terminal 20, but the terminal 20 may be configured to be connected to another unit via the frame unit 10. In this case, the frame unit 10 may detect attachment / detachment of the wheel unit 40 or the accessory unit. In this case, the frame unit 10 to which each unit is assembled is also configured as a part of the terminal, and includes a sensor that detects attachment / detachment of other units with respect to the frame unit 10, and configuration replacement is performed according to detection of this sensor. These processes may be automatically executed.

(4) When performing an initial configuration operation or performing configuration replacement, a program / setting for controlling each unit may be automatically determined from a combination of units constituting the vehicle. More specifically, for example, when a unit essential for public road driving (for example, a unit corresponding to a safety part such as a winker) is missing as a motorized vehicle, the wheel unit outputs a predetermined speed or more. The control program may be controlled so that security restrictions are taken. Further, the frame unit 10 (or the terminal 20) recognizes one or a plurality of wheel units 40 mounted on the frame unit 10, and the terminal 20 recognizes a part or all of the drive control unit included in the recognized wheel unit 40. May be instructed to drive the wheel.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the motor is built in the wheel unit 40. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the motor may not be built in the wheel unit 40. Moreover, you may make it provide the wheel unit 40 of two types of structures, the wheel unit 40 of the structure which has a motor, and the wheel unit 40 of the structure which does not have a motor. In this case, for example, in the vehicle 200 shown in FIG. 6, any of the wheel units 40B, 40C, and 40D may be the wheel unit 40 that does not have a motor. Further, for example, in the vehicle 300 shown in FIG. 7, among the wheel units 40 of the wheel units 40 </ b> E to 40 </ b> H, a part (one or a plurality) of the wheel units 40 may have no power. Further, in the vehicle 300 shown in FIG. 8, all of the wheel units 40E to 40H may have no power. According to this aspect, the user can select and use two types of wheel units, a wheel unit with power and a wheel unit without power. Even in the case of a wheel unit that does not include a motor, similarly to the wheel unit in the above-described embodiment, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM are provided, and ID information is exchanged with the terminal 20 and drive control is performed according to a control program. (For example, braking control or steering angle control) is appropriately performed.

(6) In the first to third embodiments described above, the terminal 20 or each unit communicates with a system outside the vehicle, and receives various information distributions from the outside at an arbitrary timing. Good. In this case, examples of the system outside the vehicle include a road information system such as GPS and ITS, various information providing servers such as a weather forecast, and other vehicles. In addition, for example, when an emergency vehicle approaches, the approach is detected by GPS or a road information system to notify that the emergency vehicle is approaching, and further, between the own vehicle (terminal 20) and the emergency vehicle. The direction of the emergency vehicle may be detected from the relative positional relationship, and the direction of the approaching emergency vehicle may be notified. Alternatively, the speed may be automatically adjusted based on the information on the road condition in the traveling direction and the road shape obtained from the GPS and the road information system, and the inner wheel difference and the snake angle may be controlled.

(7) In each of the above-described embodiments, the case of a one-wheel vehicle, a two-wheel vehicle, and a four-wheel vehicle has been described. The number of wheels may be any number.

(8) In the above-described embodiment, a signal may be output from the wheel unit 40 to the terminal 20, and the terminal 20 may execute various processes according to the signal output from the wheel unit 40. For example, the terminal 20 may play music according to the travel distance. Further, for example, music may be played at a tempo corresponding to the number of rotations and the rotation speed of the wheel. For example, the operation of the wiper or winker may be matched with the tempo of the music to be played. Further, for example, music that is played in accordance with a left turn or right turn operation may be transposed.

(9) In the above-described embodiment, the accessory unit 30 includes a battery, an audio, a security device, a communication interface, and the like. However, the accessory unit 30 includes, for example, a handle, a pedal, and the like. It may be configured. Further, the accessory unit 30 may be configured to include an operation interface, an arithmetic unit that substitutes processing for advanced vehicle control, and the like. Further, the accessory unit 30 may include only a battery. In this case, battery identification information (battery ID) for identifying the battery is used as the accessory ID.

(10) In the above-described embodiment, the wheel unit 40 is controlled by the terminal. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and other operation elements (for example, a handle type operation element) are externally connected. The user may perform a driving operation using the operated operator. Specifically, for example, a handle-type operation element may be attached to the frame unit 10, and the terminal 20 may control the wheel unit 40 according to a signal output from the operation element.

(11) In the above-described embodiment, when the terminal 20 is not attached to the frame unit 10, the vehicle to which the wheel unit 40 is attached may move according to the movement of the terminal 20. Specifically, for example, the wheel unit 40 is mounted on a vehicle such as a carry bag, and the wheel unit 40 receives from the terminal when the distance between the terminal and the wheel unit 40 exceeds a predetermined threshold. The direction of the terminal may be detected according to the signal to be transmitted, and the vehicle may be moved in the detected direction.

(12) The configuration of the wheel unit 40 is not limited to the configuration described in the first embodiment. A mounting method for a motor, a braking component, a suspension, or another unit (frame unit) can be selected as appropriate. For example, the suspension is built in the wheel unit 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the wheel unit 40 may be configured without a suspension. A motor or braking component configured as a part of the wheel unit 40 may be used. Alternatively, the “motor unit” or “braking unit” may be configured as a unit independent of the wheel unit 40.

(13) The programs executed by the control unit 172, the control unit 21, the control unit 71, etc. in the above-described embodiment are a magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk, etc.), an optical recording medium (optical disk, etc.), and a magneto-optical recording. It may be provided in a state where it is stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a medium or a semiconductor memory. It is also possible to download to each device via a network such as the Internet. Various devices other than the CPU can be applied as the control means for performing such control. For example, a dedicated processor may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Tire, 11 ... Wheel, 12 ... Motor, 13 ... Braking device, 14 ... Rotating shaft, 15 ... Axle, 16 ... Support, 17 ... Controller, 18 ... Damper, 19 ... Spring, 20 ... Terminal, 21, 172 ... Control part, 22,173 ... Memory | storage part, 23 ... Display part, 24 ... Operation part, 25,171 ... Communication part, 30 ... Accessory unit, 40 ... Wheel unit, 100, 200, 300 ... Vehicle, 70 ... Server apparatus .

Claims (3)

A vehicle configuration management system for a vehicle in which a single vehicle is configured by a plurality of unitized parts and can be reconfigured by changing the type or number of units,
A wheel unit that includes a wheel, a driving unit that rotationally drives the wheel, and a drive control unit that controls rotational driving of the wheel by the driving unit, and wheel identification information that uniquely identifies the unit is given in advance;
An accessory unit including a battery that supplies power to the driving unit or the driving control unit, and accessory identification information uniquely identifying the unit;
A terminal provided with an acquisition means for acquiring the wheel identification information and the accessory identification information from the wheel unit and the accessory unit;
The terminal stores in advance wheel identification information and accessory identification information for identifying a wheel unit and an accessory unit placed under the control of the terminal, and the wheel unit and the accessory unit from the wheel unit and the accessory unit according to an activation instruction by a user. The wheel unit and / or accessory unit is acquired by acquiring wheel identification information and accessory identification information, authenticating the unit by comparing the acquired identification information with the previously stored identification information, and on the condition that the authentication is successful. Is placed under the control of the terminal. And a frame unit on which one or a plurality of the wheel units are detachably mounted,
The terminal
Recognition means for recognizing one or more wheel units mounted on the frame unit;
The vehicle configuration management system according to claim 1, further comprising: a drive instructing unit that instructs driving to a part or all of the drive control unit included in the wheel unit recognized by the recognizing unit. The terminal is provided with terminal identification information for identifying the terminal in advance, and supplies the terminal identification information to the wheel unit and the accessory unit,
The wheel unit and the accessory unit are configured to store in advance terminal identification information supplied from the terminal,
The terminal transmits the terminal identification information to the wheel unit and the accessory unit in response to an activation instruction by a user, and the wheel unit and the accessory unit transmit the transmitted terminal identification information and the previously stored terminal identification. The vehicle configuration management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein authentication is performed by collating with information, and control by the terminal is accepted on the condition that the authentication is successful.

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