JP2021026552A - Evaluation device, running state evaluation method and running state evaluation program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of suppressing generation of congestion and a rear-end collision accident which is one of vehicle collisions by actively making a driver concentrate on vehicle driving.SOLUTION: A vehicle detection data input section is configured so that vehicle detection data of a vehicle detected within a detection object area provided in an inflow passage of an intersection is input. An evaluation section evaluates a running state when starting the vehicle, using an inter-vehicle distance from a preceding vehicle, for each vehicle of a group of vehicles stopped within the detection object area, on the basis of the vehicle detection data input into the vehicle detection data input section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for actively concentrating a driver on driving a vehicle.

Conventionally, in an inflow path or the like at an intersection where a signal lamp is installed, a plurality of vehicles stop continuously in the traveling direction due to a red light of the signal lamp or the like. Even if the traffic light is switched to a green light, the driver who is not concentrating on driving may not notice the start of the preceding vehicle (the vehicle immediately before the own vehicle) and delay the start of the own vehicle. This delay in starting may reduce the traffic flow rate and cause congestion on the traveling path of the vehicle such as the inflow path.

Patent Document 1 describes a device for preventing a start delay. The device described in Patent Document 1 is an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle. This device processes an image of the front of the own vehicle, and when it detects that the preceding vehicle (preceding vehicle) has started, it notifies that the own vehicle (own vehicle) can start. By this notification, the driver notices the start of the vehicle in front and starts the vehicle.

JP-A-2007-207274

However, the device described in Patent Document 1 only makes the driver aware that the vehicle in front has started and the own vehicle is ready to start. That is, the device described in Patent Document 1 shortens the time from the start of the vehicle in front until the driver (particularly, the driver who is not concentrating on driving) notices that the vehicle can start. It did not concentrate the driver on the driving of the vehicle to prevent the start delay.

Further, the device described in Patent Document 1 uses a function of notifying that the own vehicle is ready to start, and makes it a habit to start driving after the notification, and does not concentrate on driving the vehicle, but when the vehicle is stopped. There is also concern about increasing the number of drivers that operate mobile terminals such as smartphones and in-vehicle terminals such as audio equipment. An increase in drivers who are not concentrating on driving a vehicle leads to an increase in the occurrence of rear-end collisions in which vehicles collide.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for suppressing the occurrence of traffic jams and rear-end collisions in which vehicles collide by actively concentrating the driver on the driving of the vehicle.

The evaluation device of the present invention is configured as shown below in order to achieve the above object.

The vehicle detection data of the vehicle detected in the detection target area defined in the inflow path of the intersection is input to the vehicle detection data input unit. Based on the vehicle detection data input to the vehicle detection data input unit, the evaluation unit determines the running state of each vehicle at the time of starting of the vehicle group stopped in the detection target area, and the distance from the preceding vehicle. Evaluate using. For example, the evaluation unit does not evaluate the traveling state of the vehicle at the time of starting as appropriate unless the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle is within the set range. The preceding vehicle referred to here is a vehicle immediately before the own vehicle.

According to this configuration, the running state at the time of starting is evaluated using the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle. A driver who is not focused on driving a vehicle is delayed in noticing that the start of the preceding vehicle has made it possible to start, resulting in a start delay that unnecessarily delays the start of the vehicle. As the time required for this start delay (the time from when the preceding vehicle can start to the actual start) becomes longer, the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle becomes longer. Therefore, the evaluation unit properly evaluates whether or not the driver has caused a start delay. On the other hand, the driver is reluctant to be evaluated as having caused a start delay, and concentrates on driving in order to obtain an evaluation that the vehicle has started properly without causing a start delay. That is, the driver can actively concentrate on driving the vehicle. As a result, the occurrence of traffic congestion and the occurrence of rear-end collisions in which vehicles collide can be suppressed.

Further, the evaluation unit may be configured to use the time difference of the starting timing from the preceding vehicle in the evaluation of the running state of each vehicle at the time of starting. With this configuration, the start delay of the vehicle can be evaluated more appropriately.

In addition, a receiving unit that receives a request including position information indicating the position of the terminal, a vehicle specifying unit that specifies a vehicle corresponding to the request received by the receiving unit, and an evaluation unit for a vehicle specified by the vehicle specifying unit. A request processing unit for processing a received request may be provided by using the evaluation of. The terminal may be an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle or a mobile terminal such as a smartphone placed in the vehicle. That is, the terminal may be used as long as its position matches the position of the vehicle.

Further, the request processing unit may be configured to add value according to the evaluation of the evaluation unit. With this configuration, it is possible to further raise the driver's awareness that he / she can concentrate on driving the vehicle and do not cause a start delay. Further, the value to be given may be points in a known point service (those that can be used for settlement of the transaction amount in a transaction at a store or the like), or may be other types of values.

According to the present invention, the driver can be actively concentrated on the driving of the vehicle, and the occurrence of traffic congestion and the occurrence of a rear-end collision in which the vehicle collides can be suppressed.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the traffic smoothing promotion system to which the evaluation device concerning this example is applied. It is the schematic of the intersection to which the traffic facilitation promotion system according to this example was applied. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the main part of the evaluation apparatus which concerns on this example. It is a figure which shows the tracking data of a vehicle. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the main part of the signal control device which concerns on this example. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of a radio wave radar apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the evaluation apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the evaluation apparatus which concerns on modification 1. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the evaluation apparatus which concerns on modification 2. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the evaluation apparatus which concerns on modification 3. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the main part of the evaluation apparatus which concerns on modification 4. It is a flowchart which shows the point processing of the evaluation apparatus which concerns on modification 4.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

<1. Application example>
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a traffic smoothing promotion system to which the evaluation device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an intersection to which this traffic facilitation promotion system is applied. The traffic smoothing promotion system of this example includes an evaluation device 1, a signal control device 2, and a radio wave radar device 5. This example is a system that facilitates traffic of a group of vehicles (vehicles 100a to 100g) entering an intersection from the right side in FIG. The term "smoothing traffic" as used herein means suppressing a decrease in the traffic flow rate of the vehicle 100 in the inflow path of an intersection (smoothing the traffic flow in the inflow path). By facilitating this traffic, the occurrence of traffic jams and rear-end collisions with vehicles will be suppressed.

As is well known, the signal control device 2 controls the lighting / extinguishing of the light color lamps included in the signal lamps 3 (3a to 3d) installed at the intersection based on the signal control parameters. In this example, the signal lamp 3 will be described as including three lamps of blue, yellow, and red. Here, the signal lamp 3 will be described as not including a light color lamp such as a right turn arrow, but it goes without saying that the signal lamp 3 may be provided with a light color lamp such as a right turn arrow.

In FIG. 2, the signal lamp 3a is for the inflow path of the vehicle 100 entering the intersection from the right side. Further, the signal lamp 3b is for the inflow path of the vehicle 100 entering the intersection from the left side. Further, the signal lamp 3c is for the inflow path of the vehicle 100 entering the intersection from below. Further, the signal lamp 3d is for the inflow path of the vehicle 100 entering the intersection from above. The signal control device 2 controls turning on / off of the light color lamp in the signal lamp 3 for each of the signal lamps 3a to 3d. Further, the signal control device 2 outputs a light color signal (either blue, yellow, or red in this example) indicating the light color lamp lit in the signal light device 3a to the evaluation device 1.

In this example, the radio wave radar device 5 detects the vehicle 100 in the detection target area set in the inflow path of the vehicle 100 entering the intersection from the right side in FIG. As is well known, the radio wave radar device 5 uses radio waves as exploration waves and detects reflected waves when the detection target area is scanned by the exploration waves, so that each vehicle 100 located in the detection target area can be detected. It is a device that detects the position, speed, size (total width of the vehicle 100 (vehicle width), total length of the vehicle 100 (vehicle length)), and the like.

In this example, the radio wave radar device 5 scans the detection target area 10 times per second. That is, the radio wave radar device 5 detects the vehicle 100 located in the detection target area at intervals of 100 msec. The radio wave radar device 5 associates the vehicle 100 detected by scanning the detection target area this time with the vehicle 100 detected by scanning the detection target area last time, and tracks data of the vehicle 100 in the detection target area ( (Changes in position of vehicle 100, changes in speed, etc.) with the passage of time are acquired. The radio wave radar device 5 outputs vehicle detection data (data associated with the detection time, position, speed, etc. of the vehicle 100) related to the detected vehicle 100 to the evaluation device 1.

The evaluation device 1 uses the vehicle detection data input from the radio wave radar device 5 to acquire the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle 100 when the vehicle 100 (target vehicle 100) enters an intersection for each vehicle 100. The preceding vehicle 100 referred to in this example is not a general term for the entire vehicle 100 traveling in front of the target vehicle 100, but a name for the vehicle 100 traveling in front of (immediately before) the target vehicle 100. In the example shown in FIG. 2, for example, the preceding vehicle 100 of the vehicle 100b is the vehicle 100a, the preceding vehicle 100 of the vehicle 100c is the vehicle 100b, and the preceding vehicle 100 of the vehicle 100d is the vehicle 100c.

The evaluation device 1 evaluates the traveling state of the target vehicle 100 by using the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle 100 at the time of approaching the intersection. In this example, the evaluation device 1 evaluates which of the three levels the traveling state of the vehicle 100 is classified into appropriate, normal, and inappropriate.

As long as the evaluation device 1 evaluates the traveling state of the vehicle 100 in two or more stages, it may be in any number of stages. In this example, the evaluation device 1 evaluates as appropriate if the distance to the preceding vehicle 100 is within the range of Am to Bm, and is normal if the distance to the preceding vehicle 100 is within the range of Bm to Cm. The evaluation is made, and if the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle 100 is less than Am or more than Cm, it is evaluated as inappropriate. However, A, B, and C are preset lengths, and A <B <C. Further, the running state of the target vehicle 100 evaluated by the evaluation device 1 may be displayed by, for example, a guide display board (not shown) provided at the intersection, or by voice from a speaker (not shown) provided at the intersection. It may be output.

The driver evaluates the running state of the vehicle 100 (that is, the driving operation of the driver's own vehicle 100) by the evaluation device 1, and outputs the evaluation result. Therefore, in order to improve the evaluation result, the driver actively drives. concentrate. That is, the traffic smoothing promotion system of this example can actively concentrate the driver on the driving of the vehicle 100. As a result, traffic due to a start delay in which the time from the start of the preceding vehicle 100 to the start of the vehicle 100 (target vehicle 100) becomes unnecessarily long, and low-speed traveling with a speed difference exceeding a certain degree compared to the preceding vehicle 100, etc. The decrease in flow rate can be suppressed. Therefore, the traffic flow in the inflow route of the intersection becomes smooth, and the frequency of congestion is suppressed. Further, since the driver concentrates on driving the vehicle 100, the occurrence of an accident that collides with another vehicle 100 (for example, a rear-end collision) can be suppressed.

<2. Configuration example>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the evaluation device according to this example. The evaluation device 1 includes a control unit 11, a vehicle detection data input unit 12, a light color signal input unit 13, a tracking data storage unit 14, and an evaluation result output unit 15.

The control unit 11 controls the operation of each part of the evaluation device 1 main body. Further, the control unit 11 has a vehicle detection data processing unit 11a and an evaluation unit 11b. Details of the vehicle detection data processing unit 11a and the evaluation unit 11b included in the control unit 11 will be described later.

Vehicle detection data is input from the radio wave radar device 5 to the vehicle detection data input unit 12. By scanning the detection target area set in the inflow path of the intersection with the exploration wave as described above, the radio wave radar device 5 determines the size of the vehicle 100 and the size of the vehicle 100 for each vehicle 100 located in the detection target area. The position of the vehicle 100 and the speed of the vehicle 100 are detected. The radio wave radar device 5 uses the ID of the vehicle 100, the detection time of the vehicle 100, the size of the vehicle 100, the position of the vehicle 100, and the vehicle 100 for each vehicle 100 detected by scanning the exploration wave. The vehicle detection data associated with the speed of is output to the evaluation device 1. The ID of the vehicle 100 identifies the vehicle 100, and is assigned to the vehicle 100 detected by the radio wave radar device 5 so as not to overlap with the other vehicles 100. The detection time of the vehicle 100 is the time when the scanning of the exploration wave is started for the detection target area, the time when the scanning of the exploration wave is finished, or the time between the time when the scanning of the exploration wave is started and the time when the scanning of the exploration wave is finished. Is.

A light color signal (either blue, yellow, or red in this example) indicating a light color lamp lit in the signal light device 3a is input from the signal control device 2 to the light color signal input unit 13.

The tracking data storage unit 14 stores tracking data for each vehicle 100 detected by the radio wave radar device 5. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing vehicle tracking data stored in the evaluation device. As shown in FIG. 4, the tracking data includes a vehicle ID that identifies the vehicle 100, a preceding vehicle ID that identifies the preceding vehicle 100, an evaluation result of a running state, a size of the vehicle, and a speed and position for each detection time. It is the data associated with (latitude, longitude). This tracking data is generated by the vehicle detection data processing unit 11a and the evaluation unit 11b, which will be described later. The tracking data storage unit 14 is a storage medium such as a hard disk, SSD (Solid State Drive), and memory.

An alarm (not shown) is connected to the evaluation result output unit 15. The alarm may be a guidance display board installed at an intersection or a speaker. The evaluation result output unit 15 outputs the evaluation result of the traveling state of the vehicle 100 to the alarm.

Next, the vehicle detection data processing unit 11a and the evaluation unit 11b included in the control unit 11 will be described. The vehicle detection data processing unit 11a aggregates the vehicle detection data input to the vehicle detection data input unit 12 for each vehicle ID, and performs a process of generating the tracking data shown in FIG. 4 for each vehicle 100. The vehicle detection data processing unit 11a stores the generated tracking data in the tracking data storage unit 14.

The evaluation unit 11b evaluates the traveling state of the vehicle 100 in which the tracking data is stored in the tracking data storage unit 14 and the evaluation result is not registered, at the time of approaching the intersection. That is, the evaluation unit 11b evaluates the running state of the vehicle 100 that has entered the intersection. The evaluation unit 11b additionally registers the evaluation result of evaluating the traveling state in the tracking data of the corresponding vehicle 100, and causes the evaluation result output unit 15 to output the evaluation result.

The control unit 11 of the evaluation device 1 is composed of a hardware CPU, a memory, and other electronic circuits. When the hardware CPU executes the running state evaluation program according to the present invention, it operates as the vehicle detection data processing unit 11a and the evaluation unit 11b. Further, the memory has an area for developing the traveling state evaluation program according to the present invention and an area for temporarily storing data and the like generated when the traveling state evaluation program is executed. The control unit 11 may be an LSI in which a hardware CPU, a memory, and the like are integrated. Further, the hardware CPU is a computer that executes the running state evaluation method according to the present invention.

Next, the signal control device 2 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the signal control device. The signal control device 2 includes a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, a signal lamp output unit 23, and a light color signal output unit 24.

The control unit 21 controls the operation of each part of the signal control device 2 main body. Further, the control unit 21 has a signal control parameter storage unit 21a and a lighting control signal generation unit 21b. Details of the signal control parameter storage unit 21a and the lighting control signal generation unit 21b will be described later.

The communication unit 22 communicates with a control center (not shown) and receives signal control parameters transmitted from the control center. The signal control parameter is a parameter that defines the cycle, split, and offset of the signal lamp 3 installed at the intersection as is known.

The signal lamp output unit 23 outputs a signal corresponding to the color lamp of the color to be lit in the signal lamp 3 for each signal lamp 3 installed at the intersection.

The light color signal output unit 24 outputs a light color signal indicating the color of the light color lamp lit in the signal light device 3a to the evaluation device 1.

Next, the signal control parameter storage unit 21a and the lighting control signal generation unit 21b included in the control unit 21 will be described. The signal control parameter storage unit 21a is composed of a memory such as a RAM provided in the control unit 21, and stores the signal control parameters received by the communication unit 22. As described above, the communication unit 22 receives the signal control parameter from the control center.

The lighting control signal generation unit 21b generates a control signal indicating a light color lamp to be turned on for each signal lamp 3. The lighting control signal generation unit 21b generates a control signal for switching the lighting color lamp for each signal lamp 3 based on the signal control parameter stored in the signal control parameter storage unit 21a. The signal output from the signal lamp output unit 23 to each signal lamp 3 is a signal based on the control signal generated by the lighting control signal generation unit 21b. Further, the light color signal of the signal lamp 3a output from the light color signal output unit 24 to the evaluation device 1 is also a signal based on the control signal generated by the lighting control signal generation unit 21b.

The control unit 21 of the signal control device 2 is composed of a hardware CPU, a memory, and other electronic circuits. When the hardware CPU executes the signal lamp control program, it operates as a lighting signal generator. Further, the memory has an area used as the signal control parameter storage unit 21a, an area for developing the signal lamp control program, an area for temporarily storing data and the like generated when the signal lamp control program is executed, and the like. The control unit 21 may be an LSI in which a hardware CPU, a memory, and the like are integrated. Further, the hardware CPU is a computer that executes the running state evaluation method according to the present invention.

The signal control device 2 has a configuration that performs sensitive control such as shortening or extending the blue time of the signal lamp 3a according to the position, the number of vehicles 100, etc. detected by the radio wave radar device 5. May be good.

<3. Operation example>
Next, the operations of the evaluation device 1, the signal control device 2, and the radio wave radar device 5 of the smoothing promotion system according to this example will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the radio wave radar device. When the scanning timing of the detection target area comes (s1), the radio wave radar device 5 scans the detection target area defined in the inflow path entering the intersection from the right side with the exploration wave and detects the reflected wave. The vehicle detection process for detecting the vehicle 100 located in the detection target area is performed (s2). In s2, the radio wave radar device 5 detects the time until the reflected wave is detected (the flight time of the exploration wave) and the frequency of the reflected wave for each irradiation direction of the exploration wave, and the object (vehicle) that reflects the exploration wave. 100, road surface, etc.) position, the size of this object, and the speed of this object are detected.

When the detection process for s2 is completed, the radio wave radar device 5 detects the vehicle 100 detected by scanning the previous detection target area by the exploration wave and the vehicle 100 detected by scanning the detection target area this time by the exploration wave. The associating process is performed (s3). The associative process for s3 is performed using the size, position, and speed of the vehicle 100. The radio wave radar device 5 assigns an ID assigned to the associated vehicle 100 to the vehicle 100 (vehicle 100 detected in this scan) that could be associated with the vehicle 100 detected in the previous scan. On the other hand, the radio wave radar device 5 generates a new ID and assigns a new ID to the vehicle 100 (vehicle 100 detected in this scan) that could not be associated with the vehicle 100 detected in the previous scan.

The radio wave radar device 5 generates vehicle detection data associated with an ID, detection time, size, position, and speed for each vehicle 100 detected in this scan, and evaluates the vehicle detection data generated here. Output to 1 (s4) and return to s1.

In this example, the radio wave radar device 5 scans the detection target area with the exploration wave at intervals of 100 msec, and outputs the vehicle detection data related to the detected vehicle 100 to the evaluation device 1.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the evaluation device according to this example. The evaluation device 1 waits for the vehicle detection data to be input from the radio wave radar device 5 to the vehicle detection data input unit 12 (s11). As described above, in this example, the radio wave radar device 5 repeatedly scans the detection target area at intervals of 100 msec, and evaluates vehicle detection data for each vehicle 100 detected in this scan for each scan of the detection target area. Output to 1.

In the evaluation device 1, the vehicle detection data processing unit 11a processes the vehicle detection data input to the vehicle detection data input unit 12 and performs a tracking data generation process to be registered in the tracking data storage unit 14 (s12). In the tracking data generation process related to s12, the input vehicle detection data is added to the tracking data of the corresponding vehicle 100 stored in the tracking data storage unit 14. If the tracking data of the vehicle 100 related to the input vehicle detection data is not stored in the tracking data storage unit 14, the tracking data in which the vehicle detection data of the vehicle 100 is registered is newly stored in the tracking data storage unit 14. Let me. In s12, the vehicle 100 is specified by the vehicle ID included in the vehicle detection data.

The evaluation unit 11b of the evaluation device 1 detects the presence or absence of the vehicle 100 (target vehicle 100) that has crossed the stop line and entered the intersection (s13). In s13, the evaluation unit 11b refers to the tracking data of each vehicle 100 stored in the tracking data storage unit 14, and the position of the latest vehicle detection data is a position beyond the stop line, which is the latest one. The vehicle 100 whose front position is the position before the stop line is detected. When the evaluation unit 11b determines in s13 that there is no vehicle 100 that has crossed the stop line and entered the intersection, it returns to s11.

Further, when the evaluation unit 11b determines that there is a vehicle 100 (target vehicle 100) that has crossed the stop line and entered the intersection, the evaluation unit 11b acquires the inter-vehicle distance of the target vehicle 100 from the preceding vehicle 100 at the time of entering the intersection. Since the vehicle detection data includes not only the position of the vehicle 100 but also the size as described above, it is possible to obtain the inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle 100 and the target vehicle 100 by referring to the tracking data. it can.

The evaluation unit 11b evaluates the traveling state of the target vehicle 100 based on the inter-vehicle distance acquired in s14 (s15). In this example, the evaluation unit 11b evaluates as appropriate if the inter-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle 100 acquired in s14 is within the range of Am to Bm, and the inter-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle 100 is within the range of Bm to Cm. If there is, it is evaluated as normal, and if the distance to the preceding vehicle 100 is less than Am or more than Cm, it is evaluated as inappropriate (however, A, B, and C are preset lengths and are evaluated as inappropriate. A <B <C.). In this example, when the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle 100 is less than Am, it is determined that the driving is dangerous (for example, fanning driving) in which the inter-vehicle distance is not secured, and the traveling state is evaluated as inappropriate. Further, as the time difference between the start time of the preceding vehicle 100 and the start time of the target vehicle 100 becomes longer, that is, as the time in which the start is delayed becomes longer, the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle 100 becomes longer. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately evaluate whether or not the target vehicle 100 is in a traveling state in which the traffic flow is reduced due to a start delay, low-speed traveling, or the like, based on the distance between the target vehicle 100 and the preceding vehicle 100 when entering the intersection.

The evaluation device 1 outputs the evaluation result of the evaluation unit 11b in s15 (s16), and returns to s11. In s16, the evaluation unit 11b adds the current evaluation result to the tracking data of the corresponding vehicle 100 stored in the tracking data storage unit 14.

Further, the evaluation result output in s16 is displayed on, for example, a guide display board (not shown) provided at the intersection, and is notified to the driver of the vehicle 100. Further, the evaluation result output in s16 may be output by voice from a speaker (not shown) provided at the intersection, or may be output in another output form and notified to the driver of the vehicle 100. May be good.

As described above, the evaluation device 1 according to this example notifies the driver of the evaluation result of evaluating the traveling state of the vehicle 100.

The driver dislikes being evaluated as having reduced the traffic flow due to a delay in starting or traveling at a low speed, and concentrates on driving in order to obtain an evaluation that the vehicle 100 has been properly driven. That is, the driver can be actively concentrated on the driving of the vehicle 100, and the occurrence of start delay can be suppressed. Therefore, the occurrence of traffic congestion can be suppressed. Further, since the driver concentrates on driving the vehicle 100, the occurrence of an accident (for example, a rear-end collision) that collides with another vehicle 100 can be suppressed.

<4. Modification example>
-Modification example 1
In the above example, the evaluation device 1 has been described as performing the processing related to s11 to s16 regardless of the lighting lamp of the signal lamp 3a, but the evaluation device 1 according to the modification 1 is The processing related to s11 to s16 is executed with reference to the time when the green light color lamp of the signal lamp 3a is lit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the evaluation device according to the first modification. In FIG. 8, the same step numbers are assigned to the same processes as in FIG. 7.

The evaluation device 1 according to the modified example 1 has the configuration shown in FIG.

The evaluation device 1 determines whether or not the signal lamp 3a has switched from the red signal to the green signal based on the lamp color signal input to the lamp color signal input unit 13 (s21). When the evaluation device 1 determines that the signal lamp 3a has switched from the red signal to the green signal, the evaluation device 1 starts the processing related to the above-mentioned s11 to s16. Further, when the preset evaluation time T0 elapses from the time when the signal lamp 3a determines in s21 that the signal lamp 3a has switched from the red light to the green light (s22), the evaluation device 1 ends the processing related to the above-mentioned s11 to s16. Then return to s21. The evaluation time T0 used for the determination of s22 is set to a time equal to or less than the blue time of the signal lamp 3a. Further, s22 may be replaced with a process of determining the timing at which the signal lamp 3a switches from the green signal to the yellow signal.

With this configuration, the evaluation device 1 does not execute the processes related to s11 to s16 when the signal lamp 3a has a red light. As a result, the processing load of the evaluation device 1 can be reduced. Further, when the signal lamp 3a is a red light, the vehicle 100 whose traveling state is evaluated by the evaluation unit 11b is a vehicle 100 that ignores the signal, and therefore warns that the signal is ignored.

-Modification example 2
In the above example, the traveling state of the target vehicle 100 is determined by the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle 100 at the time of approaching the intersection. However, the distance between the vehicles, the starting time of the preceding vehicle 100, and the starting time of the target vehicle 100 are used. The running state may be determined by using the time difference of.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the evaluation device according to the second modification. In FIG. 9, the same step numbers are assigned to the same processes as in FIG. 7. The evaluation device 1 acquires the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle 100 at the time of entering the intersection for the target vehicle 10 that has crossed the stop line detected in s13 and entered the intersection, and also acquires the starting time of the preceding vehicle 100 and the target vehicle 100. The time difference from the start time is acquired (s14, s31). The time difference between the start time of the preceding vehicle 100 and the start time of the target vehicle 100 can be obtained by referring to the tracking data stored in the tracking data storage unit 14. The evaluation unit 11b may execute either the process related to s14 or s31 first.

The evaluation unit 11b determines the traveling state by using the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle 100 at the time of approaching the intersection and the time difference between the starting time of the preceding vehicle 100 and the starting time of the target vehicle 100 (s32). In s32, for example, it is appropriate if the inter-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle 100 acquired in s14 is within the range of Am to Bm, and the time difference between the starting time of the preceding vehicle 100 and the starting time of the target vehicle 100 is T1 or less. Evaluate as. Further, the evaluation unit 11b indicates that the distance from the preceding vehicle 100 is within the range of Bm to Cm, and the time difference between the starting time of the preceding vehicle 100 and the starting time of the target vehicle 100 is T2 or less, or precedes. When the distance from the vehicle 100 is within the range of Am to Bm, and the time difference between the start time of the preceding vehicle 100 and the start time of the target vehicle 100 is within the range of T1 to T2, it is evaluated as normal. Further, the evaluation unit 11b evaluates that it is inappropriate if the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle 100 is less than Am or more than Cm. Further, the evaluation unit 11b evaluates that it is inappropriate if the time difference between the start time of the preceding vehicle 100 and the start time of the target vehicle 100 exceeds T2. However, A <B <C as in the above example. Further, T1 <T2. Therefore, the evaluation device 1 can directly detect the start delay and evaluate the running state of the vehicle 100.

-Modification example 3
Further, the traveling state of the target vehicle 100 is determined by determining the distance between the target vehicle 100 and the preceding vehicle 100 when approaching the intersection and the speed difference from the preceding vehicle 100 when entering the intersection (speed of the target vehicle 100-speed of the preceding vehicle 100). It may be used for evaluation.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the evaluation device according to the third modification. In FIG. 10, the same step numbers are assigned to the same processes as in FIG. 7. The evaluation device 1 acquires the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle 100 when entering the intersection and the speed difference from the preceding vehicle 100 when entering the intersection for the target vehicle 10 that has entered the intersection beyond the stop line detected in s13. (S14, s41). The speed difference between the preceding vehicle 100 and the target vehicle 100 when approaching an intersection can be obtained by referring to the tracking data stored in the tracking data storage unit 14. The evaluation unit 11b may execute either the process related to s14 or s41 first.

The evaluation unit 11b determines the traveling state by using the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle 100 when approaching the intersection and the speed difference from the preceding vehicle 100 when entering the intersection (s42). In s42, for example, if the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle 100 acquired in s14 is within the range of Am to Bm and the speed difference from the preceding vehicle 100 acquired in s41 is within the range of V0 to V1, it is appropriate. evaluate. Further, the evaluation unit 11b is in the case where the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle 100 acquired in s14 is within the range of Bm to Cm and the speed difference from the preceding vehicle 100 acquired in s41 is within the range of V0 to V2. Or, when the inter-vehicle distance with the preceding vehicle 100 acquired in s14 is within the range of Am to Bm and the speed difference with the preceding vehicle 100 acquired in s41 is within the range of V1 to V2, it is evaluated as normal. .. Further, the evaluation unit 11b evaluates that the distance to the preceding vehicle 100 acquired in s14 is less than Am or more than Cm as inappropriate. Further, the evaluation unit 11b evaluates that the speed difference from the preceding vehicle 100 at the time of approaching the intersection acquired in s41 is less than V0 or more than V2, which is inappropriate. However, A <B <C as in the above example. Further, V1 <V2.

With this configuration, when the target vehicle 100 with a delayed start enters the intersection at a speed higher than that of the preceding vehicle 100, the traveling state of the target vehicle 100 may be erroneously evaluated as appropriate or normal. Can be prevented from doing so.

Further, the evaluation device 1 relates to the distance between the preceding vehicle 100 and the preceding vehicle 100 when approaching the intersection, the time difference between the starting time of the preceding vehicle 100 and the starting time of the target vehicle 100, and the preceding vehicle 100 when entering the intersection. The traveling state of the target vehicle 100 may be evaluated using the three elements of the speed difference. Further, the evaluation device 1 uses the two elements of the time difference between the start time of the preceding vehicle 100 and the start time of the target vehicle 100 and the speed difference from the preceding vehicle 100 when approaching the intersection, and uses the target vehicle 100. The running condition of the vehicle may be evaluated.

The radio wave radar device 5 may or may not detect the stopped vehicle 100 based on the reflected wave intensity of the exploration wave.

-Modification example 4
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the evaluation device according to the modified example 4. In FIG. 11, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those in FIG. The evaluation device 1A according to the modified example 4 has a configuration in which the communication unit 16 is added to the configuration shown in FIG. The wireless communication area of the communication unit 16 is an area around the intersection including the intersection shown in FIG. Therefore, the evaluation device 1A can perform wireless communication with the mobile terminal 101 (smartphone or the like) placed in the vehicle 100 entering the intersection in the communication unit 16. The communication unit 16 corresponds to the receiving unit referred to in the present invention.

Here, an example will be described in which the other party terminal that wirelessly communicates with the evaluation device 1A is the mobile terminal 101, but other types of in-vehicle terminals (navigation devices, etc.) mounted on the vehicle 100 entering the intersection will be described. It may be a terminal. Further, the mobile terminal 101 or the in-vehicle terminal has a configuration for acquiring the position (latitude, longitude) of the own terminal. This configuration may be based on a known GPS, or may be a function of acquiring the position of the own terminal from another device.

Further, the control unit 11 of the evaluation device 1A of the modified example 4 has a vehicle identification unit 11c and a point processing unit 11d in addition to the vehicle detection data processing unit 11a and the evaluation unit 11b described above. The vehicle identification unit 11c identifies the vehicle 100 in which the mobile terminal 101 that has transmitted the point processing request received by the communication unit 16 is placed from among the vehicles 100 that store the tracking data in the tracking data storage unit 14. To do. That is, the vehicle identification unit 11c corresponds to the vehicle 100 in which the mobile terminal 101 that has transmitted the point processing request received by the communication unit 16 is placed, and the vehicle 100 that stores the tracking data in the tracking data storage unit 14. Perform the process of attaching. The point processing request corresponds to the request referred to in the present invention.

The mobile terminal 101 corresponds to the evaluation device 1A for a point processing request including the position (latitude, longitude) of the own terminal and the detection time of the position of the own terminal. The vehicle identification unit 11c searches for the tracking data stored in the tracking data storage unit 14 for each vehicle 100 by using the position and the detection time included in the received point processing request as keys, and the corresponding vehicle. Extract 100 tracking data.

The point processing unit 11d determines the points to be given according to the evaluation result of the running state of the vehicle 100 specified by the vehicle identification unit 11c. For example, the point processing unit 11d determines that the given points are 3 points if the evaluation of the running state is appropriate, and determines that the given points are 1 point if the evaluation of the running state is normal, and evaluates the running state. If is inappropriate, the points granted are determined to be 0 points. The point processing unit 11d corresponds to the request processing unit referred to in the present invention.

The point processing unit 11d performs a point awarding process for awarding points according to the evaluation of the running state of the corresponding vehicle 100 to the mobile terminal 101 that has transmitted the point processing request. Points may be managed by a point server (not shown). This point server may be used in a known point service system, and stores a member's ID in association with the number of points given to the member. In this example, the ID of the mobile terminal 101 is the ID of the member.

The point processing unit 11d transmits a point update request including the ID of the mobile terminal 101 and the number of points to be given this time to the server. The point server updates the number of points associated with the ID of the corresponding mobile terminal 101 in response to the point update request from the evaluation device 1.

The points given to the mobile terminal 101 may be those that can be used to receive the provision of some kind of service at the time of a transaction at a store or the like.

Further, the point processing unit 11d transmits the evaluation result of the running state of the vehicle 100, the number of points to be given this time, and the like to the mobile terminal 101 that has transmitted the point processing request via the communication unit 16.

The smoothing promotion system to which the evaluation device 1A of this modification is applied also has the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and the radio wave radar device 5 executes the process shown in FIG. Further, the evaluation device 1 executes any of the processes shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 and also executes the point process shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing point processing.

The evaluation device 1 waits for the communication unit 16 to receive the point processing request (s51). When the mobile terminal 101 is located near an intersection where the traveling state of the vehicle 100 is evaluated, point processing including the ID of the own terminal, the position (latitude, longitude) of the own terminal, and the detection time of the position of the own terminal is included. An application program (hereinafter referred to simply as an application) that automatically sends a request is installed.

When the evaluation device 1 receives the point processing request in the communication unit 16, the vehicle identification unit 11c sends the vehicle 100 on which the mobile terminal 101 that has transmitted the point processing request received this time is placed to the tracking data storage unit 14. It is associated with the vehicle 100 that stores the tracking data (s52). The vehicle identification unit 11c cannot associate the vehicle 100 on which the mobile terminal 101 that has transmitted the point processing request received this time is placed with the vehicle 100 that stores the tracking data in the tracking data storage unit 14. If so, the process returns to s51.

The vehicle identification unit 11c can associate the vehicle 100 on which the mobile terminal 101 that has transmitted the point processing request received this time is placed with the vehicle 100 that stores the tracking data in the tracking data storage unit 14. , It is determined whether or not the traveling state at the time of entering the intersection has been evaluated for the associated vehicle 100 (s53). The vehicle identification unit 11c waits for the running state of the vehicle 100 on which the mobile terminal 101 that has transmitted the point processing request received this time is placed, if the running state at the time of approaching the intersection is not evaluated. (S54). The vehicle identification unit 11c determines the s54 depending on whether or not the evaluation result is registered in the tracking data of the corresponding vehicle 100 stored in the tracking data storage unit 14.

When the vehicle identification unit 11c determines in s54 that the traveling state of the corresponding vehicle 100 at the time of approaching the intersection has been evaluated, the point processing unit 11d determines the number of points to be given according to the evaluation result of the traveling state of the vehicle 100. Judge (s55). The point processing unit 11d transmits the evaluation result of the running state of the vehicle 100, the number of points to be given this time, and the like to the mobile terminal 101 that has transmitted the point processing request via the communication unit 16 (s56). Further, the point processing unit 11d sends a point update request to the point server, including the ID of the mobile terminal 101 that has sent the point processing request this time and the number of points to be given this time, to the point server (not shown). It transmits (s57) and returns to s51.

In this way, in the traffic smoothing promotion system according to this example, points that can be used to receive some kind of service at the time of transactions at stores, etc., depending on the evaluation of the driving condition at the time of approaching the intersection. Granted. The awarding of these points motivates the driver of the vehicle 100 entering the intersection to concentrate on driving. Therefore, the driver can be more focused on driving the vehicle. As a result, a decrease in the traffic flow rate of the vehicle 100 in the inflow path of the intersection can be suppressed. Therefore, the frequency of traffic congestion can be suppressed. Further, since the driver concentrates on driving the vehicle 100, the occurrence of an accident that collides with another vehicle 100 (for example, a rear-end collision) can be suppressed.

Further, in this modification, a configuration may be configured in which points are prohibited from being given a certain number of times to the vehicle 100 which is evaluated to have an improper running state when entering an intersection. Further, a negative point may be given to the vehicle 100 which is evaluated to have an improper running state when entering an intersection.

Further, in the above description, the traveling state of the vehicle 100 is evaluated only for a specific inflow path at the intersection (the inflow path entering the intersection from the right side shown in FIG. 2), but the vehicle 100 is also evaluated for other inflow paths. It may be configured to evaluate the running state of. In this case, a detection target area may be set for each inflow path, and a radio wave radar device 5 that scans the detection target area with a search wave may be installed for each set detection target area.

Further, the radio wave radar device 5 may be replaced with a laser radar device in which the exploration wave is a laser beam, or may be replaced with a video camera that captures a moving image of a detection target area. That is, the radio wave radar device 5 may be replaced with any configuration as long as it can obtain tracking data of the vehicle 100.

Further, in the above example, the evaluation device 1 has been described on the premise that it is installed around the intersection, but it may be installed at a control center or the like away from the intersection. Further, in this case, the evaluation device 1 may be configured to evaluate the traveling state of the vehicle 100 at each intersection by targeting a plurality of intersections.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment as it is, and at the implementation stage, the constituent elements can be modified and embodied within a range that does not deviate from the gist thereof. In addition, various inventions can be formed by an appropriate combination of a plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiment. For example, some components may be removed from all the components shown in the embodiments. In addition, components from different embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

Further, the correspondence between the configuration according to the present invention and the configuration according to the above-described embodiment can be described as described in the following appendix.
<Additional notes>
The vehicle detection data input unit (12) into which the vehicle detection data of the vehicle (100) detected in the detection target area defined in the inflow path of the intersection is input, and
Based on the vehicle detection data input to the vehicle detection data input unit (12), for each vehicle group stopped in the detection target area, the running state at the time of starting the vehicle (100). An evaluation device including an evaluation unit (11b) that evaluates the data using the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle (100).

1, 1A ... Evaluation device 2 ... Signal control device 3 (3a to 3d) ... Signal lamp 5 ... Radio radar device 10 ... Target vehicle 11 ... Control unit 11a ... Vehicle detection data processing unit 11b ... Evaluation unit 11c ... Vehicle identification unit 11d ... Point processing unit 12 ... Vehicle detection data input unit 13 ... Light color signal input unit 14 ... Tracking data storage unit 15 ... Evaluation result output unit 16 ... Communication unit 21 ... Control unit 21a ... Signal control parameter storage unit 21b ... Lighting control signal Generation unit 22 ... Communication unit 23 ... Signal lamp output unit 24 ... Light color signal output unit 100 ... Vehicle, preceding vehicle, target vehicle 101 ... Mobile terminal

Claims (8)

A vehicle detection data input unit that inputs vehicle detection data of a vehicle detected within the detection target area defined in the inflow path of an intersection, and a vehicle detection data input unit.
Based on the vehicle detection data input to the vehicle detection data input unit, for each vehicle group stopped in the detection target area, the running state of the vehicle at the time of starting and the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle are determined. An evaluation device equipped with an evaluation unit for evaluation using. The evaluation device according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit also uses a time difference in starting timing from the preceding vehicle for evaluating the running state of each vehicle at the time of starting. The evaluation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the evaluation unit does not evaluate the traveling state of the vehicle at the time of starting unless the distance to the preceding vehicle is within the set range. The evaluation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the evaluation unit evaluates a start delay with respect to a preceding vehicle as a running state at the time of starting the vehicle. A receiver that receives a request that includes location information that indicates the location of the terminal,
A vehicle identification unit that identifies a vehicle corresponding to the request received by the reception unit, and a vehicle identification unit.
The evaluation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a request processing unit that processes a received request by using the evaluation of the evaluation unit for the vehicle specified by the vehicle identification unit. The evaluation device according to claim 5, wherein the request processing unit adds value according to the evaluation of the evaluation unit. The vehicle detection data of the vehicle detected in the detection target area defined in the inflow path of the intersection is input to the vehicle detection data input unit.
Based on the vehicle detection data input to the vehicle detection data input unit, for each vehicle group stopped in the detection target area, the running state of the vehicle at the time of starting and the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle are determined. A running condition evaluation method to be evaluated using. The vehicle detection data of the vehicle detected in the detection target area defined in the inflow path of the intersection is input to the vehicle detection data input unit.
Based on the vehicle detection data input to the vehicle detection data input unit, for each vehicle group stopped in the detection target area, the running state of the vehicle at the time of starting and the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle are determined. A driving condition evaluation program that causes a computer to perform the steps to be evaluated using it.

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