JP2019020985A - Unmanned taxi control method and unmanned taxi control device - Google Patents

Abstract

To secure convenience and safety of a user even in the case of an unmanned taxi in which a taxi vehicle is in an unmanned operation and no driver exists.SOLUTION: When a passenger tries to ride on an unmanned taxi in an empty or reserved state, the passenger is specified in a step S12 by using short-range wireless communication between an on-vehicle device and a portable terminal of the passenger. Further, when it is detected in a step S15 that the passenger has approached the unmanned taxi, a vehicle door is automatically unlocked in a step S16 so that the passenger can get on the taxi. Using a seat pressure sensor and a seatbelt sensor, the presence or absence of passenger boarding completion is automatically identified in a step S19. After confirming the boarding completion in a step S31, input of destination information from the passengers is accepted in a step S32 and traveling is started. The unlock control of a luggage compartment is automatically performed in a step S18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an unmanned taxi control method and an unmanned taxi control device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in taxi service, it has been desired to efficiently distribute each vehicle to passengers who need a taxi and to reduce the burden on the driver. In the future, it is also assumed that taxis can be operated unattended by automatic computer operation.

  For example, the taxi dispatch acceptance method disclosed in Patent Document 1 shows a technique for providing sufficient information to the user. That is, when a user requests a taxi vehicle to be dispatched to a dispatch center via a mobile phone, it is possible to receive an image in which surrounding empty vehicle information and the like are displayed on a road map. The dispatch location can be specified on the road map or easily based on past usage records. Vehicle dispatch notifications and arrival notifications are also sent by e-mail.

  Moreover, patent document 2 has shown the locking / unlocking system in the door of a taxi. The receiving unit receives input data transmitted from a transmission device on the user side. In addition, as an operation when the taxi places a passenger, the input data registration unit transmits a verification signal that is verified by the input data received by the reception unit to the door locking / unlocking control unit. The door locking / unlocking control unit automatically locks and unlocks the door by transmitting a locking / unlocking signal to the door of the taxi by a combination of the engine stop signal and the verification signal.

JP 2003-317191 A JP-A-2005-273281

  For example, if the technique of Patent Document 1 is used, a taxi vehicle user can request a taxi vehicle to be dispatched to a dispatch center using a mobile phone. In addition, the user can specify a dispatch location, and can receive a dispatch notification and an arrival notification by e-mail. In addition, if the technology of Patent Document 2 is used, when a taxi places a passenger, data is exchanged between the transmission device on the user side and the receiving unit of the vehicle-mounted device, collation is performed, and the door is unlocked. And can be locked.

  However, since such a conventional technique is based on the assumption that a human crew member drives a taxi vehicle, the operation of the taxi vehicle when actually riding the taxi vehicle as a passenger is determined and operated by the crew member. It is entrusted to. Therefore, when a fully automatic driving vehicle that does not require a driver has been put into practical use, if the taxi vehicle is unattended, the convenience and safety of the user may not be sufficiently ensured.

  For example, the vehicle may begin to move before the user has fully boarded the unmanned taxi vehicle. In addition, there is a possibility that a user who made a reservation in advance and another customer mistakenly get on an unmanned taxi vehicle. In addition, there is a possibility that the operation for the user who gets on the unmanned taxi vehicle to use the luggage compartment of the vehicle becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is an unattended taxi control that can easily ensure the convenience and safety of the user even when the taxi vehicle is unmanned driving. It is to provide a method and an unmanned taxi control device.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the unmanned taxi control method and the unmanned taxi control device according to the present invention are characterized by the following (1) to (5).
(1) An unmanned taxi control method for an unmanned taxi vehicle in an empty state or a receiving state to welcome passengers into its own vehicle,
A procedure for carrying out predetermined short-range wireless communication between the in-vehicle terminal on the unmanned taxi vehicle and the portable terminal of the passenger;
Based on the short-range wireless communication, the in-vehicle terminal specifies a passenger,
A procedure for unlocking a door of the unmanned taxi vehicle when the passenger approaches the unmanned taxi vehicle;
A procedure for detecting a state in which the passenger has completed boarding the unmanned taxi vehicle;
An unmanned taxi control method characterized by comprising:

  According to the unmanned taxi control method having the above configuration (1), when a customer who intends to use an unmanned taxi vehicle has a predetermined portable terminal, a short-range wireless communication is performed between the portable terminal and the in-vehicle terminal. By performing communication, the door can be unlocked automatically when the customer gets on. In addition, since it is identified whether or not the customer has completed the boarding, safety during boarding can be ensured. Further, since the door is unlocked when the passenger approaches the unmanned taxi vehicle, it is possible to prevent the door from being unlocked due to a malfunction when a general passerby other than the passenger passes the road.

(2) An unmanned taxi control device mounted as an onboard device in an unmanned taxi vehicle in an empty state or a receiving state, and for accepting passengers into the own vehicle,
An in-vehicle wireless terminal that is mounted on the unmanned taxi vehicle and performs predetermined short-range wireless communication with a passenger's mobile terminal;
A passenger identifying unit for identifying a passenger based on the short-range wireless communication;
A door unlock control unit for unlocking the door of the unmanned taxi vehicle when the passenger detects a state of approaching the unmanned taxi vehicle;
A boarding completion detection unit for detecting a state in which the passenger has completed boarding the unmanned taxi vehicle;
An unmanned taxi control device comprising:

  According to the unmanned taxi control device configured as described in (2) above, when a customer who intends to use an unmanned taxi vehicle has a predetermined portable terminal, the short-range wireless communication is performed between the portable terminal and the in-vehicle terminal. By performing communication, the door can be unlocked automatically when the customer gets on. In addition, since it is identified whether or not the customer has completed the boarding, safety during boarding can be ensured. Further, since the door is unlocked when the passenger approaches the unmanned taxi vehicle, it is possible to prevent the door from being unlocked due to a malfunction when a general passerby other than the passenger passes the road.

(3) The boarding completion detection unit identifies whether or not the passenger has boarded the unmanned taxi vehicle based on at least one of a passenger seating state and a seat belt wearing state in a passenger seat. ,
The unmanned taxi control device as described in (2) above.

  According to the unmanned taxi control device having the above configuration (3), even when there is no driver, it is confirmed whether the passenger is seated in the passenger compartment seat and / or whether the seat belt is attached. By confirming, it is possible to recognize whether or not the unmanned taxi vehicle is safe even if it starts to move.

(4) The door unlocking control unit detects a state in which the passenger approaches the unmanned taxi vehicle based on the radio wave reception intensity in the in-vehicle wireless terminal.
The unmanned taxi control device as described in (2) above.

  According to the unmanned taxi control device having the above configuration (4), it is possible to automatically recognize whether or not a passenger using the own vehicle is approaching the own vehicle even when there is no driver. Unlocking can be controlled with

(5) The vehicle-mounted device receives a destination input from the passenger after the boarding completion detection unit detects the passenger's boarding completion.
The unmanned taxi control device according to any one of the above (2) to (4).

  According to the unmanned taxi control device having the above configuration (5), it is possible to prevent the unmanned taxi vehicle from starting before detecting the completion of the passenger's boarding, so it is possible to ensure the safety of the passengers on board.

  According to the unmanned taxi control method and the unmanned taxi control device of the present invention, it is easy to ensure the convenience and safety of the user even when the taxi vehicle is unattended. In other words, when a customer who intends to use an unmanned taxi vehicle has a predetermined portable terminal, by performing short-range wireless communication between the portable terminal and the in-vehicle terminal, The door can be unlocked automatically. In addition, since it is identified whether or not the customer has completed the boarding, safety during boarding can be ensured. Further, since the door is unlocked when the passenger approaches the unmanned taxi vehicle, it is possible to prevent the door from being unlocked due to a malfunction when a general passerby other than the passenger passes the road.

  The present invention has been briefly described above. Further, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through a mode for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) with reference to the accompanying drawings. .

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a specific example of a state in which a front is viewed from the rear side in a passenger compartment of an unmanned taxi vehicle equipped with an unmanned taxi control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main components mounted on the unmanned taxi vehicle of FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an external server included in the taximeter system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of the taximeter system in an unmanned taxi vehicle. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation example of passenger boarding processing in the unmanned taxi control device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the on-board taximeter from the passenger boarding to the getting off.

Specific embodiments relating to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
First, an overview of the system will be described.
The unmanned taxi control device of the present invention is mounted on a taxi vehicle as a function built in, for example, a taxi onboard unit. Moreover, a taximeter system is comprised by this taximeter onboard equipment and the external server installed in the appropriate location outside a vehicle. The taximeter-mounted device and the external server are connected by wide-area wireless communication, and necessary data is transmitted and received between them. Various controls necessary for the operation of the unmanned taxi are performed by controlling either one of the on-board taximeter and the external server, or by cooperative control of both.

Next, a configuration example of a passenger compartment of an unmanned taxi will be described.
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a specific example of a state in which the front is viewed from the rear side in the passenger compartment of an unmanned taxi vehicle using the unmanned taxi meter system of the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, an in-vehicle camera 17, a microphone 18, and a display 21 a are arranged near the upper center of the front window (windshield) of an unmanned taxi vehicle. The in-vehicle camera 17 is arranged so that it can take a picture of a passenger seated in the rear seat of the unmanned taxi vehicle. The microphone 18 is arranged so as to be able to detect passenger voices and other vehicle interior sounds. The display 21a is arranged in such a manner that it is easy for a passenger seated in a rear seat or the like to see and is used to display various information required by the passenger in an unmanned taxi vehicle.

  In addition, a settlement terminal 16 and a printer 16A necessary for settlement of taxi fare are arranged in the central portion in front of the rear seat. The payment terminal 16 is equipped with functions necessary for communicating with a smartphone 22 carried by a passenger and electronically paying a fare using a credit card or the like. The printer 16A is provided for issuing a receipt when the fee is settled.

  On the right side of the payment terminal 16, an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) vehicle-mounted device 23 is installed. Passengers can also pay for charges using the ETC on-board unit 23. A remote controller 19 with a microphone is installed at a position on the left side in front of the rear seat. The remote controller 19 with a microphone is a terminal for passenger operation, and is used for inputting information such as a destination in an unmanned taxi and displaying information required by the passenger. Information such as a destination can also be input by voice using the microphone of the remote control 19 with a microphone. It is also possible to operate using a smartphone 22 carried by each passenger instead of the microphone-equipped remote control 19.

  In addition, the short-range wireless communication unit 20 is disposed at a position on the right side of the rear seat. This short-range wireless communication unit 20 is equipped with a short-range wireless communication function conforming to a standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), for example, and exists within a distance range of several meters to several tens of meters. Wireless communication can be performed with other devices. As a representative example of other devices, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone 22 carried by various passengers is assumed.

  Further, one or a plurality of seat pressure sensors 26 are embedded inside the seat seating portion of the rear seat. The seat pressure sensor 26 is constituted by a switch that turns on and off by detecting the presence or absence of pressurization when a passenger is seated. In addition, a seat belt sensor 27 that detects whether or not the seat belt is mounted is built in a seat belt buckle (not shown) used by passengers in the rear seat.

  Next, main components on the unmanned taxi vehicle will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main components mounted on the unmanned taxi vehicle of FIG.

  2 includes a taxi management unit 11, a passenger state detection unit 12, a wireless communication module 13, a boarding / alighting detection unit 14, a GPS receiver 15, a payment terminal 16, and a printer 16A. .

  The taxi management part 11 is comprised with the electric circuit which makes a microcomputer a main body, and implement | achieves the various functions required for the taximeter onboard equipment 10 by running the program incorporated previously.

  In the case of a general taxi meter, the taxi status such as “empty car”, “actual car”, “payment” is switched by the driver's button operation, but in the case of an unattended taxi, there is no driver, It is necessary to automatically switch the taximeter status. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the taxi management unit 11 automatically identifies the state based on a program incorporated therein or receives an instruction from the external server 30 shown in FIG. .

  A plurality of in-vehicle cameras 17 and a microphone 18 are connected to the input of the passenger state detection unit 12. The passenger state detection unit 12 is in this unmanned taxi vehicle by monitoring and analyzing in real time a passenger image captured by the in-vehicle camera 17 and a voice signal collected by the microphone 18. Detects passenger status. The passenger state to be detected includes information indicating the health state. Passenger boarding / exiting can be detected by analyzing the video.

  The wireless communication module 13 uses a wide-area wireless communication line provided by a mobile communication operator or the like between the taximeter onboard device 10 and the external server 30 shown in FIG. This is a communication module for wireless connection so that data can be constantly transmitted and received.

  The boarding / alighting detection unit 14 detects the passengers getting on and off the vehicle by monitoring the signal SG2 indicating opening / closing of the door of the taxi vehicle and the signal SG3 of the seat pressure sensor 26 that detects the seating of the passenger on the seat. Can do. Moreover, the boarding / alighting detection part 14 can discriminate | determine whether the passenger of a rear seat is mounting | wearing with the seatbelt by monitoring the belt mounting signal SG4 from the seatbelt sensor 27. FIG.

  A GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 15 obtains position information representing the current position (latitude / longitude) of a taxi vehicle by receiving radio waves from a plurality of satellites such as GPS and performing predetermined calculation processing. can do.

  The automatic operation control unit 21 performs various controls for automatically driving a vehicle such as a taxi. That is, when information on the destination and the travel route to the destination is input, the automatic operation control unit 21 automatically understands the situation and automatically performs driving operations such as accelerator operation, steering operation, and brake operation of the vehicle. Control and drive the vehicle unattended to the destination destination. In order to grasp the situation of the road, the positional relationship between the road and the own vehicle, the positional relationship between the own vehicle and another vehicle or an obstacle, images of each part outside the vehicle are taken and analyzed with a plurality of in-vehicle cameras not shown, Use radar equipment.

  Since the taxi management unit 11 shown in FIG. 2 is connected to the automatic driving control unit 21, the taxi management unit 11 can provide the automatic driving control unit 21 with information on the destination and the travel route to the destination. Moreover, the taxi management part 11 can acquire the various vehicle information which the automatic driving control part 21 grasps.

  When the taxi meter calculates the taxi fare, information on the taxi travel distance is required. Therefore, the taxi management part 11 monitors the vehicle speed pulse signal SG1 given from the vehicle side, and grasps | ascertains a travel distance similarly to a general taximeter. That is, the travel distance from the boarding point of the passenger is calculated by counting the number of pulses of the vehicle speed pulse signal SG1.

  In addition, the taxi management unit 11 controls the locking / unlocking of a door lock mechanism (not shown) connected to each of a door used by passengers of the own vehicle to get on and off and a door that opens and closes the luggage compartment. Lock signals SG5 and SG6 can be generated and applied to each door lock mechanism.

  On the other hand, the passenger's smartphone 22 can communicate with the taxi management unit 11 of the taximeter onboard device 10 by performing short-range wireless communication with the short-range wireless communication unit 20. The smartphone 22 can be used when a passenger gets in a taxi, and can also be used to settle a taxi fare.

  For example, the information of the credit card 25 possessed by the passenger can be read with the predetermined card reader 22A connected to the smartphone 22. Further, by executing predetermined application software for fee settlement on the smartphone 22, communication is performed with the settlement terminal 16 via the short-range wireless communication unit 20 and the taxi management unit 11, and a credit card The fare charge settlement can be performed by giving the information read from 25 to the settlement terminal 16 or inputting information such as a password required for the authentication of the credit card 25. The payment terminal 16 can perform wireless communication with the management center outside the vehicle that manages the information on the credit card 25 via the wireless communication module 13 and perform procedures necessary for the payment. .

Next, a configuration example of the external server will be described.
A configuration example of the external server 30 included in the taximeter system of the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The external server 30 is installed in a predetermined data center, for example. As shown in FIG. 3, a wireless communication device 38 is connected to the external server 30. The wireless communication device 38 secures a communication line necessary for wireless communication with the taximeter vehicle-mounted device 10 mounted on each unmanned taxi vehicle.

  The external server 30 includes a computer main body operable as a server, a mass storage device, a communication device, and the like. Since this external server 30 is connected to each taximeter on-vehicle device 10 via the wireless communication device 38, the taximeter on-vehicle device 10 is connected to the taximeter on-vehicle device 10 by transmitting and receiving data to and from the taximeter on-vehicle device 10. Can be operated remotely.

  Inside the external server 30 shown in FIG. 3, there are a route calculation unit 31, a charge calculation unit 32, a vehicle inspection unit 33, a dispatching processing unit 34, an information providing unit 35, a passenger management unit 36, and a map information database (DB) 37a. The vehicle information database 37b, the boarding demand database 37c, the commercial facility database 37d, and the personal information database 37e are included.

  For each unmanned taxi vehicle, the route calculation unit 31 performs appropriate travel representing a route on the road from the current position to the destination based on the destination information designated by the passenger, the current position of the vehicle, and the map information database 37a. It has a function to calculate a route.

  The fare calculation unit 32 determines an appropriate fare (fare) based on a fare system determined in advance with respect to the operation of the taxi vehicle and the actual travel distance and elapsed time of the taxi vehicle from the time when the passenger boarded. ) Is automatically calculated.

  The vehicle inspection unit 33 periodically acquires vehicle information representing, for example, the hydraulic pressure, water temperature, power supply voltage, current, vehicle speed, engine speed, and the like of each part of the vehicle from each taxi vehicle, and accumulates and manages the vehicle information in the vehicle information database 37b. . In addition, the vehicle inspection unit 33 automatically analyzes the vehicle information stored in the vehicle information database 37b to identify whether there is an abnormality in the vehicle. When an abnormality is detected, measures for vehicle inspection and maintenance are executed.

  The dispatch processing unit 34 accumulates and manages the destination information acquired from each taxi vehicle and the position information of the position where the passenger has boarded in the boarding demand database 37c. In addition, the vehicle allocation processing unit 34 calculates an estimated value of the magnitude of the boarding demand for each point by analyzing various position information accumulated in the boarding demand database 37c. In addition, the vehicle allocation processing unit 34 instructs each taxi vehicle currently in an empty state to move preferentially to a point where the expected value of the boarding demand is large and wait.

  The information providing unit 35 automatically extracts the commercial facility information required by the corresponding passenger from the commercial facility database 37d and provides it to the corresponding vehicle for the passengers in each unmanned taxi vehicle.

  The commercial facility database 37d holds, for example, information on the types of commercial facilities, business hours, charges, and the like associated with the location information of various commercial facilities, and is updated to the latest information as necessary. Is done. Therefore, the information provision part 35 can extract automatically the information of the commercial facility close | similar to each passenger's present position and the destination position.

  In addition, for passengers who have consented to the use of personal information in advance, the information providing unit 35 provides the user with personal information such as boarding points, destinations, and types of commercial facilities existing in the vicinity when used in the past. Each is individually stored and managed in the personal information database 37e. For passengers whose personal information is managed in the personal information database 37e, the information providing unit 35 uses the corresponding personal information to extract more appropriate commercial facility information from the commercial facility database 37d. For example, information on commercial facilities of the same type as commercial facilities that have a high possibility of being used in the past is preferentially extracted.

  The passenger management unit 36 acquires and manages state information, mainly health status, from the taximeter onboard device 10 for each passenger in each unmanned taxi vehicle. And when it detects that abnormality has generate | occur | produced in the passenger, the passenger management part 36 implements a special process. For example, the scheduled travel route of the corresponding taxi vehicle is automatically corrected. For example, if a passenger loses consciousness or develops an illness, he / she stops at a nearby hospital or police station for help before the unmanned taxi vehicle arrives at the destination (destination). Is possible.

Next, an outline of the operation of the system will be described.
An outline of the operation of the taximeter system in an unmanned taxi vehicle is shown in FIG.
When starting the operation of the unmanned taxi vehicle, information on passengers using the unmanned taxi is automatically input to the external server 30 in step S01. For example, when a user before boarding requests a taxi dispatch using a telephone or a portable terminal, passenger information corresponding to the request is input to the external server 30.

  In accordance with this request, the external server 30 instructs the taximeter onboard device 10 to specify the vehicle allocation destination and the travel route so as to operate the unmanned taxi vehicle to the designated location. The taximeter on-vehicle device 10 gives the vehicle allocation designation destination and the travel route to the automatic operation control unit 21. As a result, the unmanned taxi vehicle operates automatically from the first point to the user's destination for dispatch (S02).

  Further, when there is no user request, the external server 30 gives an instruction to the taximeter on-vehicle device 10 so that the unmanned taxi vehicle drifts and operates in a predetermined initial information area (S02).

  When the unmanned taxi vehicle is running, the taximeter onboard device 10 executes a predetermined passenger search process, and autonomously searches for potential passengers who can become passengers of the host vehicle based on the images taken outside the vehicle. It is possible.

  When the unmanned taxi vehicle arrives at the designated vehicle assignment destination or is in the running operation, if the taxi meter on-board device 10 or the automatic operation control unit 21 detects a passenger before boarding based on the image of the on-vehicle camera (S03), A predetermined boarding process is performed (S04). That is, after unlocking the door lock and automatically opening and closing the door to get on the passenger, the taximeter on-vehicle device 10 receives the input of destination information by the user operation of the remote controller 19 with microphone or the smartphone 22. Then, based on the input destination information, the external server 30 determines an optimal travel route to the destination. When the information on the travel route is input to the automatic operation control unit 21 via the taxi-mounted device 10, the automatic operation control unit 21 operates the unmanned taxi vehicle along the designated travel route.

  When the unmanned taxi vehicle arrives at the destination specified by the user (passenger who is currently on board), the external server 30 and the taximeter on-vehicle device 10 perform a predetermined termination process (S05). That is, the fare regarding the operation from the current boarding to the arrival of the passenger is determined, and the settlement of the fee by the settlement terminal 16 is performed. Furthermore, unlocking of the door and automatic opening and closing are performed to complete the passenger getting off.

  If the system detects another passenger after the passenger gets off, that is, after switching to “empty vehicle”, the process returns to step S01 or S02 to repeat the operation of the unmanned taxi vehicle.

<Characteristic operation of the system>
<Overview>
When passengers use general taxis, the driver can judge the situation properly and perform appropriate operations when boarding, ensuring passenger convenience and safety It's easy to do. However, since there is no driver in the case of an unmanned taxi, when passengers get on, the convenience and safety of passengers must be ensured only by judging the status of the system and automatic control.

  In other words, the system performs all operations such as passenger identification, door locking / unlocking, and confirmation of boarding completion, and autonomous control is performed so as not to impair passenger convenience or reduce safety. carry out.

<Explanation of passenger boarding process>
Therefore, the taximeter on-board device 10 shown in FIG. 2 is used when a passenger gets on an unmanned taxi vehicle in an “empty” or “passing” state, that is, in steps S03 and S04 shown in FIG. Perform time processing. A specific example of the passenger boarding process is shown in FIG. The passenger boarding process in FIG. 5 will be described below.

  In step S <b> 11, the taxi management unit 11 performs near field communication using the near field communication unit 20. If the communication between the short-range wireless communication unit 20 and the passenger terminal is successful, the process proceeds to the next S12.

  For example, when a passenger or the like who has a smartphone 22 running predetermined application software capable of performing short-range wireless communication is within a distance of about several meters from an unmanned taxi vehicle (outside the vehicle) Is capable of short-range wireless communication between the smartphone 22 and the short-range wireless communication unit 20.

  In step S12, the taxi management unit 11 communicates with the smartphone 22 via the short-range wireless communication unit 20, and performs authentication for identifying the passenger. As a specific example, the taxi management unit 11 acquires information such as a passenger number assigned at the time of boarding reservation made in advance by a passenger, a telephone number of the smartphone 22, or an ID for identifying an individual from the smartphone 22.

  When the host vehicle is in a “car-in-car” state where a specific passenger reserved in advance is picked up, the processing of the taxi management unit 11 proceeds from S13 to S14. If the own vehicle is in the “empty vehicle” state, the taxi management unit 11 proceeds from S13 to S15.

  In step S14, the taxi management unit 11 compares the information acquired from the passenger's smart phone 22 or the like in S12 with the information of the specific passenger that has been reserved in advance (acquired from the external server 30). The process proceeds to S15, and if they do not match, the process returns to S11.

  In step S15, the taxi management unit 11 monitors the reception state of radio waves in the short-range wireless communication unit 20, and grasps the magnitude of the distance between the short-range wireless communication unit 20 and the smartphone 22 based on the received signal strength and the like. . Then, by comparing this distance with a predetermined threshold, for example, it is identified whether or not the passenger has approached the host vehicle up to a distance of about 1 m or less. When the approach of the passenger is detected, the process proceeds to S16, and when the approach is not detected, the process returns to S11.

  In step S16, the taxi management unit 11 outputs an unlock signal as the door lock signal SG5 so that the passenger can get on the own vehicle, and controls the unlocking of the vehicle door at the entrance. In the case of a vehicle equipped with an automatic door opening / closing mechanism, control is performed to open the door on the left side of the rear seat.

  In step S17, the taxi management unit 11 identifies whether the passenger uses the luggage compartment of the host vehicle. If the luggage room is used, the process proceeds to S18, and if not used, the process proceeds to S19. For example, when a passenger reserves the use of a taxi, if there is a baggage or the information that he / she wishes to use a luggage room is specified, the taxi management unit 11 obtains this information from the external server 30 so that the taxi management unit 11 Recognize that there is room use. In addition, when it is detected that the passenger has performed a specific operation when boarding, when the presence of a large baggage is detected from the video of the in-vehicle camera 17, or when the passenger has moved behind the host vehicle Also recognize that the luggage room is available. For example, when the passenger operates the smartphone 22 and sends a predetermined signal to the taxi management unit 11, it is recognized that the luggage room is being used.

  In step S18, the taxi management unit 11 outputs an unlock signal as the door lock signal SG6, and controls unlocking of the luggage compartment door. Therefore, the passenger can store large luggage in the luggage compartment of the unmanned taxi vehicle.

  In step S19, the taxi management unit 11 monitors the states of the output signals of the seat pressure sensor 26 and the seat belt sensor 27 to grasp these states. Then, when it is recognized from the seating detection signal SG3 of the seat pressure sensor 26 that the passenger is seated and from the belt mounting signal SG4 of the seatbelt sensor 27, it is recognized that the passenger is seated. The taxi manager 11 recognizes that the boarding has been completed and proceeds to S20. In addition, you may change so that a passenger's boarding completion may be recognized only by either one of seating detection signal SG3 and belt mounting signal SG4.

  In step S20, the taxi management unit 11 outputs locking signals as door lock signals SG5 and SG6, respectively, and controls the locking of each door of the host vehicle. Thereby, it is possible to ensure safety by preventing the door from opening while the vehicle is running. Moreover, since the passenger boarding was completed, the taxi management part 11 sets the boarding completion flag showing the state. This boarding completion flag is information allocated on the internal memory of the taxi management unit 11, for example.

<Example of operation between passenger unmanned taxi ride and getting off>
FIG. 6 shows an example of the operation of the on-board taximeter between the passenger boarding and getting off corresponding to steps S04 and S05 shown in FIG. The operation shown in FIG. 6 will be described below.

  In step S31, the taxi management unit 11 of the taximeter on-vehicle device 10 identifies whether or not a new passenger has been boarded when the host vehicle (unmanned taxi vehicle) is in an “empty vehicle” state. When the boarding is detected, the process proceeds to the next step S32. For example, when the passenger boarding is completed as described above and the boarding completion flag is set in S20 shown in FIG. 5, the process proceeds from S31 to S32 in FIG.

  In step S32, the taxi management unit 11 switches the operation state of the own vehicle (unmanned taxi vehicle) from the “empty vehicle” state to the “real vehicle” state, and then receives destination information input from the user by the remote controller 19 with the microphone or the smartphone 22. .

  In step S <b> 33, the taxi management unit 11 acquires information on the current position of the host vehicle using the GPS receiver 15.

  In step S34, the taxi management unit 11 transmits the destination information input in step S32 and the current location information acquired in step S33 to the external server 30 via the wireless communication module 13.

  On the other hand, when the external server 30 receives the information transmitted by the taxi meter onboard device 10 of each unmanned taxi vehicle in step S34, the route calculation unit 31 determines an appropriate travel route of the corresponding unmanned taxi vehicle based on this information. Calculate automatically. Then, the external server 30 wirelessly transmits the route information indicating the calculated planned traveling route to the taximeter on-vehicle device 10.

  When the taxi management unit 11 of the taximeter on-vehicle device 10 receives the route information transmitted by the external server 30 in step S35, the taxi management unit 11 proceeds to the processing of the next step S36.

  In step S <b> 36, the taxi management unit 11 provides the automatic driving control unit 21 with information on the planned travel route to the destination designated by the passenger based on the route information received from the external server 30. As a result, the automatic driving control unit 21 starts operation of the host vehicle by automatic driving.

  In step S <b> 37, the taxi management unit 11 executes processing while the host vehicle is traveling in the “actual vehicle” state. Specifically, the taxi management unit calculates the travel distance based on the vehicle speed pulse SG1, calculates the elapsed time from the time of switching to the “actual vehicle”, updates the current position information, and wirelessly transmits each information to the external server 30. 11 will do.

  On the other hand, in the external server 30, the fee calculation unit 32 constantly calculates the passenger's fee (fare) in each unmanned taxi vehicle based on the latest information transmitted from the taximeter onboard device 10. That is, the fee calculation unit 32 calculates the sum of the basic fee, the added fee according to the travel distance, the added fee according to the elapsed time, and the like as a fee. The external server 30 sequentially wirelessly transmits the information on the fee calculated by the fee calculating unit 32 to the taximeter on-vehicle device 10 mounted on the corresponding unmanned taxi vehicle.

  The taxi management unit 11 of the taximeter on-vehicle device 10 receives the information on the fee transmitted by the external server 30 in step S38. And the taxi management part 11 which received the information of the newest charge updates the display content of the charge shown to a passenger by step S39. This charge display is displayed on the screen of the display 21a, the screen of the remote controller 19 with a microphone, the screen of the smartphone 22, or the like, for example.

  At least one of the external server 30 and the on-vehicle taximeter 10 determines whether or not the destination, that is, the destination, has been reached by sequentially comparing the destination position of the unmanned taxi vehicle designated by the passenger and the current position. Identify. When the destination arrives, the process proceeds from step S40 to step S41.

  In step S <b> 41, the fee calculation unit 32 determines the fee by an instruction from the taxi management unit 11 or by automatic identification of the fee calculation unit 32 on the external server 30. Thereby, the state of the taximeter on-vehicle device 10 shifts to the “payment” state, and the settlement process is executed. In other words, the payment calculation unit 32 processes the passenger's payment for the confirmed fee using the payment terminal 16. When the passenger's payment is completed and the passenger's getting off is detected, the state of the taximeter on-board device 10 is automatically switched from “payment” to “empty vehicle”, and proceeds to the process of step S31 or S06 of FIG. Repeat the operation.

<Advantages of taximeter on-vehicle device 10>
The above-described taximeter on-vehicle device 10 performs the operation shown in FIG. 5 when the passenger gets into the taxi. Therefore, even in the case of an unmanned taxi without a driver, the convenience and safety of the passenger Can be easily secured.

  That is, since the passenger can unlock the door by using the short-range wireless communication function of the mobile terminal such as the smartphone 22 just by approaching an unoccupied taxi in an empty vehicle or an incoming state, the passenger can easily get on. Moreover, it becomes possible to distinguish a general passerby and a passenger by detecting the approach. Moreover, since the unmanned taxi does not start until the taxi-mounted device 10 detects the completion of the passenger's boarding in S19 by seating the passenger or wearing the seat belt, safety at the start of traveling can be ensured.

  In addition, by identifying and authenticating passengers in S12 before boarding, the unmanned taxi in the pick-up state will not get a customer who is different from the reservation passenger, and trouble will occur when unmanned taxis are dispatched. Can be prevented. In addition, since the taxi-mounted device 10 automatically identifies whether or not the passenger is using the luggage room in S17, it is possible to ensure convenience when the passenger uses the unmanned taxi luggage room.

Here, the features of the unmanned taxi control method and the unmanned taxi control device according to the embodiment of the present invention described above are summarized and listed in the following [1] to [5], respectively.
[1] An unmanned taxi control method for an unmanned taxi vehicle in an empty state or a reception state to welcome passengers into the own vehicle,
A procedure (S11) of performing predetermined short-range wireless communication between the vehicle-mounted terminal (short-range wireless communication unit 20) on the unmanned taxi vehicle and the passenger's mobile terminal (smartphone 22);
Based on the short-range wireless communication, the in-vehicle terminal specifies a passenger (S12),
A procedure (S15, S16) for unlocking the door of the unmanned taxi vehicle when the passenger approaches the unmanned taxi vehicle;
A procedure (S19) for detecting a state in which the passenger has successfully boarded the unmanned taxi vehicle;
An unmanned taxi control method characterized by comprising:

[2] An unmanned taxi control device that is mounted on an unmanned taxi vehicle in an empty state or a receiving state as a vehicle-mounted device (taximeter on-vehicle device 10), and that welcomes passengers into the vehicle.
An in-vehicle wireless terminal (short-range wireless communication unit 20) that is mounted on the unmanned taxi vehicle and performs predetermined short-range wireless communication with a passenger's mobile terminal;
A passenger identification unit (taxi management unit 11, S12) for identifying a passenger based on the short-range wireless communication;
A door unlock control unit (taxi management unit 11, S15, S16) for unlocking the door of the unmanned taxi vehicle when the passenger detects a state of approaching the unmanned taxi vehicle;
A boarding completion detection unit (taxi management unit 11, S15, S16) for detecting a state in which the passenger has completed boarding the unmanned taxi vehicle;
An unmanned taxi control device comprising:

[3] The boarding completion detection unit is configured to detect the unmanned taxi vehicle based on at least one of a passenger seating state (seat detection signal SG3) and a seat belt wearing state (belt wearing signal SG4) in a passenger seat. Identifying whether or not the boarding has been completed (S19),
The unmanned taxi control device as described in [2] above.

[4] The door unlocking control unit detects a state in which the passenger approaches the unmanned taxi vehicle based on the radio wave reception intensity in the in-vehicle wireless terminal (S15),
The unmanned taxi control device as described in [2] above.

[5] The on-vehicle device receives a destination input from the passenger after the boarding completion detection unit detects the passenger's boarding completion (S20, S31, S32),
The unmanned taxi control device according to any one of the above [2] to [4].

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Taximeter vehicle equipment 11 Taxi management part 12 Passenger state detection part 13 Wireless communication module 14 Boarding / alighting detection part 15 GPS receiver 16 Payment terminal 16A Printer 17 Car-mounted camera 18 Microphone 19 Remote control with microphone 20 Short-distance wireless communication unit 21 Automatic operation control Unit 21a Display 22 Smartphone 22A Card reader 23 ETC in-vehicle device 25 Credit card 26 Seat pressure sensor 27 Seat belt sensor 30 External server 31 Route calculation unit 32 Fee calculation unit 33 Vehicle inspection unit 34 Vehicle allocation processing unit 35 Information providing unit 36 Passenger management unit 37a Map information database 37b Vehicle information database 37c Ride demand database 37d Commercial facility database 37e Personal information database 38 Wireless communication device SG2 Door open / close signal G3 seating detection signal SG4 belt wearing signal SG5, SG6 door lock signal

Claims (5)

An unmanned taxi vehicle in an unoccupied state or an unoccupied state is an unmanned taxi control method for accepting passengers into the own vehicle,
A procedure for carrying out predetermined short-range wireless communication between the in-vehicle terminal on the unmanned taxi vehicle and the portable terminal of the passenger;
Based on the short-range wireless communication, the in-vehicle terminal specifies a passenger,
A procedure for unlocking a door of the unmanned taxi vehicle when the passenger approaches the unmanned taxi vehicle;
A procedure for detecting a state in which the passenger has completed boarding the unmanned taxi vehicle;
Having unmanned taxi control method. An unmanned taxi control device that is mounted as an onboard device in an unmanned taxi vehicle in an empty state or a receiving state, and that welcomes passengers into the vehicle,
An in-vehicle wireless terminal that is mounted on the unmanned taxi vehicle and performs predetermined short-range wireless communication with a passenger's mobile terminal;
A passenger identifying unit for identifying a passenger based on the short-range wireless communication;
A door unlock control unit for unlocking the door of the unmanned taxi vehicle when the passenger detects a state of approaching the unmanned taxi vehicle;
A boarding completion detection unit for detecting a state in which the passenger has completed boarding the unmanned taxi vehicle;
Unmanned taxi control device with. The boarding completion detection unit identifies whether the passenger has completed boarding the unmanned taxi vehicle based on at least one of a passenger seating state and a seat belt wearing state in a vehicle interior seat,
The unmanned taxi control device according to claim 2. The door unlocking control unit detects a state in which the passenger approaches the unmanned taxi vehicle based on radio wave reception intensity in the in-vehicle wireless terminal.
The unmanned taxi control device according to claim 2. The vehicle-mounted device receives a destination input from the passenger after the boarding completion detection unit detects the passenger's boarding completion,
The unmanned taxi control device according to any one of claims 2 to 4.