JP2021028744A - Vehicle rental system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicle rental system configured to provide a user with a private space while reducing the burden of driving on a user.SOLUTION: A vehicle rental system 1 includes: a plurality of vehicles 2; vehicle control units 3 which are arranged in the vehicles, respectively, to communicate with each other and configured to control the vehicles to follow a leading car selected from among the vehicles; and a management server 4 which communicates with each of the vehicle control units. The management server forms a group for platooning on the basis of multiple pieces of reservation application information, creates a travel plan of the group, transmits a reservation result including information on the travel plan and vehicles to be lent to user terminals, and transmits the travel plan to the vehicle control units. The vehicle control units communicate with each other to control the vehicles so as to implement platooning based on the travel plan.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle rental system.

A ride sharing system that determines the type of vehicle that a user should board based on the purpose and situation of the user is known (for example, Patent Document 1). For example, the ride-sharing system determines a vehicle suitable for the user based on whether the area where the user uses the ride-sharing is a city or a countryside, the distance traveled, the weather at the time of use, and the like.

U.S. Patent Publication 2016/018750

By using the ride sharing system, the user can move from the starting point to the destination without driving a vehicle. However, some users are reluctant to share the cabin with others. In particular, when the travel distance is long, it is preferable that the user is provided with a private space in which no one else rides. On the other hand, the user can avoid sharing the passenger compartment with others by using the car sharing system or the rental car, but there is a problem that the user needs to drive the vehicle from the departure point to the destination by himself / herself.

In view of the above background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle rental system capable of providing a private space to a user while reducing the burden of driving by the user.

In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention is a vehicle rental system (1), which is provided in each of a plurality of vehicles (2) and the plurality of vehicles, communicates with each other, and is included in the vehicles. It has a vehicle control unit (3) that controls the traveling of the vehicle so as to follow the leading vehicle selected from the above, and a management server (4) that communicates with each of the vehicle control units. The management server acquires reservation application information including at least the departure place, destination, and departure time from the user terminal (8), and based on the plurality of reservation application information, vehicles traveling on the same route in the same time zone When there are a plurality of vehicles, a group for traveling in a platoon is formed based on those vehicles, a traveling plan for the group is created, and a reservation result including information on the traveling plan and the rental vehicle is transmitted to the user terminal. The vehicle control unit is transmitted to the vehicle control unit, and the vehicle control units provided in each of the vehicles rented out to the group communicate with each other and perform platooning based on the travel plan. To control the running.

According to this aspect, each user is rented a rental car that no one else rides on. Since the rental vehicles form a group that travels in a platoon when they are scheduled to travel on the same route at the same time, the user set as a follow-up vehicle for the platooning can move to the destination without driving. As a result, it is possible to provide a vehicle rental system that can provide a private space to the user.

Further, in the above aspect, the reservation application information may include vehicle type information, and the management server may determine a vehicle to be rented to the user based on the vehicle type information.

According to this aspect, the user can select the vehicle according to the purpose by himself / herself.

Further, in the above aspect, the reservation application information may include desired condition information of the vehicle, and the management server may determine a vehicle to be rented to the user based on the desired condition information.

According to this aspect, the user can rent a vehicle according to the purpose without specifying a vehicle type.

Further, in the above aspect, the reservation application information may include the number of vehicles used, and the management server may determine the number of vehicles to be rented to the user based on the number of uses.

According to this aspect, the user can rent a plurality of vehicles. Since the rented plurality of vehicles can form a group capable of traveling in a platoon, it is possible to drive a plurality of vehicles even when there is only one user. For example, it is effective for one user to rent a plurality of vehicles when he / she wants to move a large amount of luggage or people.

Further, in the above aspect, the reservation application information includes follow-up desired information indicating whether or not the follow-up desired vehicle is desired to follow the leading vehicle, and the management server performs follow-up travel based on the follow-up desired information. It is preferable to select a user who follows and travels from the desired users.

According to this aspect, a user who does not want to follow the vehicle can drive by himself / herself without being set as a following vehicle.

Further, in the above aspect, the reservation application information includes the lead request information indicating whether or not the user wishes to become the lead vehicle, and the management server becomes the lead vehicle based on the lead desired information. It is preferable to select the user who drives the leading vehicle from the users who desire the above.

According to this aspect, the user's intention to become the leading vehicle can be reflected.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a vehicle rental system that can provide a private space to the user while reducing the driving burden on the user.

Configuration diagram of the vehicle rental system according to the embodiment Flow diagram of vehicle allocation process executed by the management server Flow diagram of grouping process executed by the management server Explanatory drawing for explaining mode of movement of vehicle in vertical-horizontal change processing

Hereinafter, embodiments of the vehicle rental system 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle rental system 1 includes a plurality of vehicles 2, a vehicle control unit 3 provided in each of the plurality of vehicles 2, and a management server 4. The management server 4 communicates with the vehicle control unit 3 by communication via the Internet 6 and also communicates with the user terminals 8 owned by a plurality of users. Further, the management server 4 communicates with the staff terminals 9 owned by the plurality of staffs by communicating via the Internet 6.

The plurality of vehicles 2 are distributed and held in a plurality of stations that are parking lots, and are rented out to the user according to the user's reservation. The plurality of vehicles 2 include a plurality of vehicle types so as to be adapted to various purposes of use. For example, the plurality of vehicles 2 include sedans, minivans, wagons, SUVs, sports, compact cars, light vehicles, luxury cars, trucks, and the like. Further, the plurality of vehicles 2 may include aerial work platforms, construction machines such as buses and excavators, and the like.

The vehicle control unit 3 provided in each vehicle 2 communicates with each other and travels on the vehicle 2 so that the leading vehicle selected from the plurality of vehicles 2 follows the vehicle 2 provided with the vehicle control unit 3. Control. The vehicle control unit 3 includes an HMI 3A (Human Machine Interface), a vehicle sensor 3B, a position acquisition device 3C, an outside world recognition device 3D, a communication device 3E, a signal information receiver 3F, and a control device 3G. There is. The HMI 3A, the vehicle sensor 3B, the position acquisition device 3C, the outside world recognition device 3D, the signal information receiver 3F, and the communication device 3E are connected to the control device 3G by communication means such as CAN (Controller Area Network).

The HMI3A is provided in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 2, notifies the occupants of various information by display and voice, and accepts input operations by the occupants. The HMI is, for example, a touch panel display.

The position acquisition device 3C is a device that acquires the current position of the own vehicle 2 (absolute coordinate values displayed in latitude and longitude), and acquires the current position of the own vehicle 2 based on, for example, a GPS signal. The external world recognition device 3D is a device for recognizing an object existing around the own vehicle 2, and includes, for example, a camera, a radar, a rider, a sonar, and the like. Objects existing around the own vehicle 2 include other vehicles 2. Further, the camera included in the outside world recognition device 3D recognizes the identification code attached to the outer surface of the other vehicle 2.

The vehicle sensor 3B is a sensor that detects the traveling state of the own vehicle 2. The vehicle sensor 3B includes, for example, a vehicle speed sensor that detects the speed of the own vehicle 2, an acceleration sensor that detects the acceleration of the own vehicle 2, an angular velocity sensor that detects the angular velocity of the three axes of the own vehicle 2, an accelerator pedal sensor, and a brake pedal sensor. Includes steering angle sensor.

The communication device 3E includes an inter-vehicle communication device 3EA and a mobile communication device 3EB. The inter-vehicle communication device 3EA connects the control devices 3G between different vehicles 2 by wireless communication. The mobile communication device 3EB wirelessly communicates with the base station of the mobile communication system, and connects the control device 3G to the management server 4 via the Internet 6. The mobile communication device 3EB may be based on, for example, a 4th or 5th generation mobile communication system.

The signal information receiver 3F receives the signal transmitted from the signal information transmitting device provided on the road and acquires the signal information. The signal information receiver 3F may be, for example, a receiver of an optical beacon.

The control device 3G is an electronic control device (ECU) composed of a computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The control device 3G executes arithmetic processing according to the program by the CPU, and executes the running control of the vehicle 2 by controlling the steering device of the own vehicle, the driving device such as the engine and the motor, and the braking device such as the disc brake. To do. Specifically, the control device 3G adjusts the steering angle of the vehicle 2 by controlling the steering device, and adjusts the acceleration, deceleration, and speed of the vehicle 2 by controlling the drive device and the braking device. The control device 3G communicates with the control device 3G provided on the other vehicles 2 constituting the platooning group, and executes electronic connection control for making the platooning state with each other and platooning control for platooning the own vehicle. To do. The platoon running control follows the leading running control that is executed when the own vehicle is set as the leading vehicle and the other vehicle 2 that is set as the leading vehicle when the own vehicle is set as the following vehicle. Includes follow-up running control to run. The control device 3G sets the own vehicle as the leading vehicle or the following vehicle based on the traveling plan received from the management server 4.

The vehicle 2 set as the following vehicle can follow the leading vehicle by the following traveling control by the control device 3G. It is said that each vehicle 2 is traveling in a platoon when the following vehicle is following the leading vehicle. In addition, a group of vehicles traveling in a platoon is called a platooning group. The platooning group includes one leading vehicle and at least one following vehicle. The maximum number of vehicles included in the platooning group is limited to, for example, 3-6.

The management server 4 is a computer including a CPU, a memory, a storage device, and a communication device. The user terminal 8 and the staff terminal 9 are computers including a CPU, a memory, a storage device, a communication device 3E, and an HMI (Humana Machine Interface), such as a smartphone, a tablet PC, a mobile phone, and a PDA. The HMI of the user terminal 8 is a device capable of input / output, for example, a touch panel display. The user terminal 8 has an application for communicating with the management server 4 and using the vehicle rental system 1. The user terminal 8 creates reservation application data (reservation application information) based on the operation of the HMI by the user, transmits the reservation application data to the management server 4, and receives the reservation result data (reservation result data) from the management server 4. Is displayed on the HMI.

The reservation application data is a record including at least a user identification number, a departure place, a destination, a return place, a departure time, and a return time. In addition, the reservation application data includes follow-up desired information (Yes or No) indicating whether or not the vehicle wants to follow the leading vehicle, and leading desired information (Yes or No) indicating whether or not the vehicle wants to follow the leading vehicle. No) may be included. In addition, the reservation application data may include vehicle type information regarding the vehicle type that the user wishes to borrow, or desired condition information regarding the desired condition of the vehicle 2 by the user. In addition, the reservation application data may include the number of vehicles that the user wants to rent. In the present embodiment, the reservation application data includes the user identification number, the departure place, the destination, the return place, the departure time, the return time, the follow-up desired information, the lead desired information, one of the vehicle type information and the purpose of use information, and the vehicle. Including the number used.

The reservation application data is created by the user inputting into the cell corresponding to each information on the reservation application screen displayed on the HMI of the user terminal 8. In the cell corresponding to each information, selectable information is displayed by pull-down or the like, and the user may select the cell.

In the present embodiment, the departure place, destination, and return place in the reservation application data are selected from a plurality of stations. For example, different stations may be selected for the departure place, destination, and return place. Further, the same station may be selected as the departure place and the return place, and a station different from the departure place and the return place may be selected as the destination. In addition, different stations may be selected for the departure point and the destination, and the same station as the destination may be selected for the return point. In other embodiments, it may be possible to enter points other than stations in the departure, destination, and return points.

The departure time in the reservation application data is the time when the user wants to start using the vehicle 2, and the range can be set using the start point and the end point. It is preferable that the range can be arbitrarily set by the user. As for the departure time, the start point and the end point of the time may be the same and the range may be limited to one point. The return time is the time when the user wishes to return the vehicle 2. On the reservation application screen, it is preferable to display a plurality of times separated by, for example, 15-minute intervals in the cell corresponding to the departure time, and let the user select them.

The follow-up desired information and the lead-desired information are data that are either desired (Yes) or undesired (No). At least one of the follow-up desired information and the lead-desired information is set to No.

The number of vehicles is the number of vehicles that the user wants to use. The maximum value of the number of selectable vehicles is set to be equal to or less than the number of vehicles capable of platooning, and is set to, for example, 3 to 6.

The vehicle type information may be, for example, a vehicle name. The reservation application screen may display a plurality of selectable vehicle names and allow the user to select the desired vehicle name. The desired condition information includes, for example, the purpose of use of a vehicle suitable for commuting, a vehicle suitable for carrying luggage, a vehicle suitable for leisure, a grade of a vehicle such as a luxury car or an overseas brand, and a vehicle shape such as a sedan or a wagon. Includes vehicle conditions such as the number of passengers, the size of the vehicle, smoking allowed, and the presence or absence of studless tires. The reservation application screen may display a plurality of selectable desired conditions and allow the user to select some of the desired desired conditions. Each condition included in the desired condition information is numbered, and the number corresponding to the desired condition information selected by the user is stored as the reservation application data. In the present embodiment, the reservation application screen does not accept the input of the desired condition information when the vehicle type information is input, and does not accept the input of the vehicle type information when the desired condition information is input. As a result, the reservation application data has only one of the vehicle type information and the desired condition information. When there are a plurality of vehicles desired to be used, the vehicle type information and the desired condition information may be selectable for each.

The destination in the reservation application data may be omitted when the follow-up desired information and the lead desired information are No. When at least one of the follow-up desired information and the lead desired information in the reservation application data is Yes, the destination becomes indispensable information, and the reservation application screen prompts the user to input.

The user terminal 8 creates reservation application data based on an input operation on the reservation application screen by the user, and transmits the reservation application data to the management server 4 via the Internet 6.

The management server 4 has a reservation reception unit 21, a vehicle allocation unit 22, a travel planning unit 23, a result transmission unit 24, a vehicle control unit 25, a vehicle allocation planning unit 26, and a data storage unit 27.

The reservation reception unit 21 creates processing data for each of the received reservation application data, and writes the created processing data as a record in the processing data table stored in the data storage unit 27. The processing data includes a processing number, a user identification number, a departure place, a destination, a return place, a departure time, a return time, a number of vehicles, a follow-up desired information, a lead desired information, a vehicle type information, and a desired condition information. Further, in the processing data, reservation result data, assigned vehicle information, and travel plan are stored by the processing of the management server 4 described later.

Further, the data storage unit 27 stores a vehicle basic information table, a vehicle schedule table, and a travel plan table in addition to the processing data table. The vehicle basic information table includes vehicle basic data set for all vehicles 2 owned by the vehicle rental system 1, and the vehicle basic data includes at least a vehicle identification number, a vehicle name, and feature information. The feature information is information corresponding to the desired condition information of the reservation application data, for example, the purpose of use of a vehicle suitable for commuting, a vehicle suitable for carrying luggage, a vehicle suitable for leisure, a luxury car or an overseas brand. It includes features such as the grade of the vehicle such as, the shape of the vehicle such as a sedan and a wagon, the number of passengers, the size of the vehicle and the ability to smoke, and the presence or absence of studless tires. The feature data is assigned a number corresponding to each condition of the desired condition information, and a number corresponding to the feature possessed by the vehicle 2 is stored. In the vehicle schedule table, data regarding the station name where the vehicle 2 exists at each time of each vehicle 2 and whether or not the vehicle 2 is scheduled to be rented is stored.

The vehicle allocation unit 22 executes the vehicle allocation process shown in FIG. 2 for each processing data, and determines whether the reservation is established or not, and the rental vehicle to be rented to the user. If there is no vehicle 2 that can be rented to the user, it is determined that the reservation has not been established and that there is no vehicle to be rented.

In the vehicle allocation process, the vehicle allocation unit 22 first selects the station as the departure point at the time set as the start point of the departure time based on the departure place and departure time of the processing data and the vehicle schedule table. The vehicle 2 existing in the station and the surrounding stations is extracted as the first vehicle group (S1). Here, surrounding stations are preset for each station. For example, a station that exists within a predetermined distance from the target station is set as a surrounding station. For example, when stations No. 6, 7, and 8 exist within a predetermined distance from station No. 5, it is preferable that stations No. 6, 7, and 8 are set as stations around station No. 5.

Next, the vehicle allocation unit 22 plans to rent out the extracted first vehicle group during the user's usage period in the first vehicle group based on the departure time and return time of the processing data and the vehicle schedule information. The vehicle 2 without the vehicle 2 is extracted as the second vehicle group (S2). Here, the user's usage period refers to the period from the start point of the departure time to the return time. The vehicle allocation unit 22 refers to the vehicle schedule table, and extracts, among the vehicles 2 of the vehicles 2 included in the first vehicle group, the vehicle 2 that is not scheduled to be rented during the user's usage period as the second vehicle group.

Next, the vehicle allocation unit 22 determines whether or not the processed data has vehicle type information (S3). When the processed data includes vehicle type information (the determination in S3 is Yes), the vehicle allocation unit 22 matches the vehicle type information of the processed data in the second vehicle group based on the vehicle basic information table and the vehicle type of the processed data. Vehicles to be used are extracted as a third vehicle group (S4). Then, the vehicle allocation unit 22 determines whether or not the number of vehicles in the third vehicle group is equal to or greater than the number of vehicles used in the processing data (S5). When the number of vehicles in the third vehicle group is equal to or greater than the number of vehicles used in the processing data (the determination in S5 is Yes), the rental vehicle is set from the third vehicle group (S6). The rental vehicle is set according to the number of vehicles used in the processing data. Then, the vehicle allocation unit 22 writes the data (for example, 1) corresponding to the reservation establishment in the item of the reservation result of the processing data, and writes the vehicle identification number of the determined rental vehicle in the item of the rental vehicle of the processing data. In the process of step S6, when the number of vehicles in the third vehicle group is larger than the number of vehicles used in the processed data, the vehicle allocation unit 22 is set to the vehicle arranged at the station set as the departure point or the departure point. It is advisable to set the rental vehicles in order from the vehicle arranged in the station having the shorter distance from the station.

When the number of vehicles in the third vehicle group is less than the number of vehicles used in the processing data (the determination in S5 is No), the rental vehicle is not set (S7). Then, the vehicle allocation unit 22 writes data (for example, 0) corresponding to the reservation failure in the item of the reservation result of the processing data, and data indicating that there is no rental vehicle in the item of the rental vehicle of the processing data (for example, vehicle). Write the identification number 0).

When the reservation application data does not include the vehicle type information in the determination in step S3 (the determination in S3 is No), all the desired condition information from the second vehicle group is collected based on the vehicle basic information and the desired condition information of the processing data. The vehicle to be satisfied is extracted as the fourth vehicle group (S8). Then, the vehicle allocation unit 22 determines whether or not the number of vehicles in the fourth vehicle group is equal to or greater than the number of vehicles used in the processing data (S9). When the number of vehicles in the fourth vehicle group is equal to or greater than the number of vehicles used in the processing data (the determination in S9 is Yes), the rental vehicle is set from the fourth vehicle group (S10). The rental vehicle is set according to the number of vehicles used in the processing data. Then, the vehicle allocation unit 22 writes the data (for example, 1) corresponding to the reservation establishment in the item of the reservation result of the processing data, and writes the vehicle identification number of the determined rental vehicle in the item of the rental vehicle of the processing data. In the process of step S10, when the number of vehicles in the fourth vehicle group is larger than the number of vehicles used in the processed data, the vehicle allocation unit 22 is set to the vehicle arranged at the station set as the departure point or the departure point. It is advisable to set the rental vehicle in order from the vehicle arranged in the station having the shorter distance from the station.

When the number of vehicles in the fourth vehicle group is less than the number of vehicles used in the processing data (the determination in S9 is No), the rental vehicle is not set (S11). Then, the vehicle allocation unit 22 writes data (for example, 0) corresponding to the reservation failure in the item of the reservation result of the processing data, and data indicating that there is no rental vehicle in the item of the rental vehicle of the processing data (for example, vehicle). Write the identification number 0).

The travel planning unit 23 has a route setting unit 31, a grouping unit 32, and a travel plan setting unit 33. The route setting unit 31 sets an estimated travel route for the processed data in which the reservation result is established and the follow-up desired information is Yes or the lead desired information is Yes in each processed data. The route setting unit 31 may set an estimated travel route based on the starting point and the destination of the processed data by using, for example, a known method such as Dijkstra's algorithm. The route setting unit 31 stores the created estimated travel route in the corresponding processing data.

The grouping unit 32 performs grouping processing on each of the processed data in which the estimated traveling route is set in the processed data and the follow-up desired information is Yes, and creates a platoon traveling group. The grouping unit 32 extracts a plurality of processed data in which the estimated travel routes overlap in the same time zone, and groups them as a platoon travel group. FIG. 3 shows an example of the grouping process.

In the grouping process, the grouping unit 32 first extracts the processed data in which the lead desired information is Yes among the other processed data in which the estimated traveling route is stored as the first extraction group (S21).

Next, the grouping unit 32 extracts the processed data within a predetermined distance from the starting point of the processing data whose departure point is the target in the first extraction group as the second extraction group (S22). In a certain embodiment, the grouping unit 32 may extract the processing data that is the same as the departure station of the processing data for which the departure station is the target in the first extraction group as the second extraction group.

Next, the grouping unit 32 extracts the processing data whose departure time overlaps with the departure time of the target processing data in the second extraction group as the third extraction group (S23). As described above, the departure time has a range defined by the start point and the end point.

Next, the grouping unit 32 extracts the processing data having the estimated traveling route whose overlap with the estimated traveling route of the target processing data is equal to or more than a predetermined distance from the third extraction group as the fourth extraction group. (S24).

Next, the grouping unit 32 extracts the processed data in the third extraction group in which the number of following vehicles stored in the processed data is equal to or less than a predetermined value as the fifth extraction group (S25). The number of following vehicles in the processed data increases each time the vehicle 2 corresponding to the processed data becomes the leading vehicle and the following vehicle is set. In the process of step S25, for example, the process data in which the number of following vehicles is 3 or less may be extracted as the fifth extraction group.

Next, the grouping unit 32 determines whether or not the processing data included in the fifth extraction group exists (S26). When the processing data included in the fifth extraction group exists (the determination in S26 is Yes), the grouping unit 32 selects one processing data from the fifth extraction group and becomes a target with the selected processing data. Group the processed data (S27). Then, the data indicating that the grouping is established between the selected processing data and the target processing data and the common group number are written. As a method of selecting one processing data from the fifth extraction group, various methods can be selected. For example, it is preferable that the processing data having the smallest number of following vehicles is selected. In addition, the processing data having the departure point closest to the departure point of the target processing data may be selected. Further, the grouping unit 32 writes in the selected processing data data indicating that the platooning group has been set as the leading vehicle. If the selected processing data already contains data indicating that the platooning group has been set as the leading vehicle, this processing is omitted. In addition, the grouping unit 32 increments the number of following vehicles in the selected processing data by +1. In addition, the grouping unit 32 writes data indicating that the following vehicle has been set in the target processing data.

When the processing data included in the fifth extraction group does not exist (the determination in step S26 is No), it is written in the target processing data that the grouping is not established (S28).

Further, the grouping unit 32 creates a subgroup in which one of the allocated vehicles is the leading vehicle and the remaining allocated vehicles are the following vehicles for the processing data in which a plurality of allocated vehicles are set. All vehicles included in the subgroup can be followers in the platooning group, including vehicles other than the subgroup. In addition, the leading vehicle included in the subgroup can be the leading vehicle of the platooning group including vehicles other than the subgroup.

The travel plan setting unit 33 executes the travel plan creation process based on the processing data having a common group number, and for each of the platooning groups, the travel route, the confluence point between the leading vehicle and the following vehicle, the confluence time, and the like. Create travel plan information including separation point and separation time. The travel plan setting unit 33 stores the created travel plan data in the travel plan table. The travel plan data includes a vehicle identification number and a user identification number set for the leading vehicle, a vehicle identification number and a user identification number set for the following vehicle.

The result transmission unit 24 creates reservation result data based on the processing data and the travel plan data, and transmits the reservation result data to the terminal of the user who applied for the reservation. The reservation result data includes user identification number, departure place, destination, return place, departure time, return time, reservation result (established or unsuccessful), assigned vehicle (rental vehicle) information (vehicle name, color, model, etc.), Includes at least information on whether or not to participate in the platooning group, merging point, separation point, merging time, separation time, and leading vehicle information (vehicle name, color, model, etc.). If the reservation result is unsuccessful, the information on the assigned vehicle, the presence or absence of platooning, the merging point, the separation point, the merging time, the separation time, and the information on the leading vehicle are omitted. In addition, if there is no participation in the platooning group, information on the merging point, separation point, merging time, separation time, and leading vehicle is omitted. Information on the assigned vehicle and the leading vehicle may be set with reference to the vehicle basic information table.

When the processing data is rewritten after the reservation result data is transmitted, the result transmission unit 24 recreates the reservation result data based on the rewritten processing data and transmits the reservation result data to the user terminal again. For example, the processing data is rewritten when the vehicle of the user who did not participate in the platooning group is set as the leading vehicle or when the number of following vehicles increases.

Based on the processing data, the vehicle allocation planning unit 26 creates a vehicle allocation plan for delivering the assigned vehicle assigned to the user to the user's departure point by the start point of the departure time. The vehicle allocation plan includes the vehicle identification number of the vehicle 2 to be moved, the source station, the destination station, the movement start time, the movement completion time, and the identification number of the staff who executes the movement of the vehicle 2. It is composed of vehicle allocation plan data including. The vehicle allocation planning unit 26 transmits the vehicle allocation plan data to the staff terminal 9 possessed by the staff who executes the movement of the vehicle 2. The staff is convinced of the vehicle allocation plan data by the staff terminal 9, and moves the target vehicle 2 from the movement source station to the movement destination station at the movement start time. As a result, the user can use the vehicle 2 from the departure place at the departure time.

The vehicle control unit 25 generates a vehicle control command for controlling the vehicle 2 included in the platooning group based on the travel plan data. The vehicle control command is created for each vehicle 2 included in the platooning group. The vehicle control command includes a vehicle identification number of the target vehicle 2, data indicating whether the target vehicle 2 is set as a leading vehicle or a following vehicle, and other vehicles 2 included in the same platooning group. It includes at least the vehicle identification number, the travel route of the platooning group, and the merging point and merging time of the platooning group. The vehicle control command includes the vehicle identification number of the following vehicle when the target vehicle 2 is set as the leading vehicle, and the vehicle identification number of the leading vehicle when the target vehicle 2 is set as the following vehicle. including. The vehicle control unit 25 transmits the vehicle control command to the control device 3G of the vehicle control unit 3 of the corresponding vehicle 2.

The control device 3G of each vehicle control unit 3 executes electronic connection control and platooning control based on the received vehicle control command. Here, the electronic connection means that when the distance between the leading vehicle and the following vehicle is within a predetermined range, the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle and the vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle identify each other and wirelessly communicate with each other. By doing so, it means that the platooning becomes possible. The vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle may identify the vehicle 2 (vehicle control unit 3) to form a platooning group by the vehicle identification number acquired by wireless communication, and the image information acquired by the camera may be used. They may be distinguished from each other based on. For example, the vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle may recognize the leading vehicle by acquiring an image code attached to the outer surface of the leading vehicle by a camera. In the electronically connected state, the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle communicates the speed, acceleration, steering angle, accelerator position, brake position, own vehicle 2 position, and formation information of each vehicle 2 with each other. The formation information is information that determines the target relative position of the following vehicle with respect to the leading vehicle. The formation information includes, for example, a vertical formation in which platooning groups are lined up in a vertical direction (lane direction) (see FIG. 4 (A)) and a horizontal formation spread in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction (Fig. 4 (D)). It may include information about the selected formation, such as (see), and information about where the followers will be placed in the formation. The formation information is generated by the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle and transmitted to the vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle.

The control device 3G of the following vehicle executes follow-up travel control (platooning control) to follow the leading vehicle in a state of being electronically connected to the leading vehicle. The vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle calculates the traveling track of the leading vehicle, calculates the traveling track of the following vehicle so as to maintain a predetermined relative position with respect to the leading vehicle, and creates the own vehicle 2. The drive device, braking device, and steering device of the own vehicle 2 are controlled so as to follow the traveling track.

Next, the operation of the vehicle rental system 1 will be described. The user who wants to use the vehicle 2 first starts the application installed on the user terminal 8 and displays the reservation application screen on the user terminal 8. When the user inputs information in each item of the reservation application screen, the application creates reservation application data and sends it to the management server 4. The management server 4 creates processing data based on each of the reservation application data transmitted from each user terminal 8, executes vehicle allocation processing for each processing data, and rents out the vehicle 2 (allocated vehicle) to the user. , And determine the establishment or failure of the reservation. At this time, if the vehicle 2 that matches the processing data does not exist, the management server 4 determines that there is no allocated vehicle and makes the reservation unsuccessful.

Next, the management server 4 performs grouping processing on each of the processing data in which the assigned vehicle is set and the follow-up desired information is Yes, and creates a platooning group. Then, the management server 4 executes a travel plan creation process for the created platooning group, and creates a traveling plan for each platooning group. After executing the vehicle allocation process, the grouping process, and the travel plan creation process, the management server 4 creates reservation result data based on the processing data and transmits the reservation result data to the corresponding user terminal 8. As a result, the user can confirm the result of the reservation application. Further, the management server 4 transmits a vehicle control command to the vehicle control unit 3 of each vehicle 2 included in the platooning group. Upon receiving the vehicle control command, the vehicle control unit 3 controls each vehicle 2 so that it can be electronically connected to other vehicles 2 included in the platooning group during the merging time.

In addition, the management server 4 transmits the delivery plan to the staff terminal 9. The staff confirms the delivery plan data using the staff terminal 9, and moves the vehicle 2 according to the delivery plan data. This allows the user to use the vehicle 2 at the departure time at the departure point.

The key for using the vehicle 2 may be handed to the user by the staff at the place of departure, or may be distributed to the user in advance. The key is preferably an electronic key, and it is preferable that the key can be used only between the start point of the departure time of the user and the return time under the control of the management server 4.

The user who uses the vehicle 2 set in the platooning group moves the vehicle 2 so as to reach the merging point by the merging time. When the merging point is the starting point, the user does not need to move the vehicle 2. When the leading vehicle and the vehicle 2 set as the following vehicle gather at the merging point and have a predetermined relative positional relationship, the leading vehicle and the vehicle 2 set as the following vehicle identify each other and perform wireless communication with each other. That is, the vehicle control units 3 of each vehicle 2 are electronically connected so that they can travel in a platoon. Here, the relative positional relationship in which the leading vehicle and the following vehicle can be electronically connected includes the positional relationship in which the following vehicle is located immediately after the leading vehicle, the positional relationship in which the leading vehicle and the following vehicle are parallel to each other, and the leading vehicle and the following vehicle. It includes the positional relationship in which the distance between the leading vehicle and the following vehicle is within a predetermined value regardless of the direction of the following vehicle. When the electronic connection becomes possible, the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle may operate the HMI 3A of the vehicle 2 to inquire the user whether or not to electronically connect. Then, the vehicle control unit 3 may execute the electronic connection according to the input operation to the HMI 3A by the user.

When the leading vehicle and the following vehicle are electronically connected, the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle executes platooning control (leading traveling control, following traveling control). The vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle, as the leading traveling control, has the position, vehicle speed, acceleration, angular velocity, accelerator position, brake position, steering angle, etc. of the own vehicle 2 based on the signals from the position acquisition device 3C and the vehicle sensor 3B. The traveling state information including the above is acquired and transmitted to the vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle via the inter-vehicle communication device 3EA.

The vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle acquires the traveling state information of the leading vehicle via the inter-vehicle communication device 3EA as the following traveling control, and acquires the position, vehicle speed, and acceleration of the leading vehicle by the outside world recognition device 3D. The driving device calculates the traveling track of the leading vehicle, creates a target trajectory of the own vehicle 2 so as to maintain a predetermined relative position with respect to the leading vehicle, and causes the own vehicle 2 to travel along the target trajectory. , Braking device, and steering device.

Each of the following vehicles is electronically connected to the leading vehicle and follows the vehicle, so that the leading vehicle and the following vehicle travel in a platoon. For example, when the following vehicle follows the leading vehicle in a line and follows the vehicle, the vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle sets the own vehicle 2 so as to pass the point where the leading vehicle has passed after the inter-vehicle time set for each. It is good to control. The vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle transmits the position of the own vehicle 2 acquired by the position acquisition device 3C to the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle while the following vehicle is traveling.

The form of the formation formed by the following vehicle following the leading vehicle includes two or more forms having different total lengths from each other. Formations include vertical and horizontal formations as described above. The HMI of the vehicle 2 set as the leading vehicle displays a formation change button for changing the formation. When the formation change button is operated by the user, the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle and the following vehicle executes the formation change process. The vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle may display a formation change button based on the number of lanes on the road acquired based on the outside world recognition device 3D of the leading vehicle and map information, and the signal information received from the signal information transmitting device. ..

In the present embodiment, the formation change process includes a vertical / horizontal change process for changing from a vertical formation to a horizontal formation. FIG. 4 shows a movement mode of the following vehicle when the formation mode is changed from a vertical formation to a horizontal formation in the vertical / horizontal change process. In the following, it is assumed that the vertical formation is changed to a horizontal formation with N formations in the vertical / horizontal change process.

As shown in FIG. 4A, in the vertical / horizontal change process, first, the following vehicles located from the first to the Nth vehicle are changed to different lanes from the leading vehicle and different lanes from each other. Move. After that, as shown in FIG. 4B, the vehicle 2 located at the N + 1th vehicle from the beginning is moved to the traveling lane of the vehicle 2 (leading vehicle) located at the first vehicle from the beginning. At the same time, the vehicle 2 located at the N + 2nd vehicle from the head is moved to the traveling lane of the following vehicle located at the 2nd vehicle from the head. By repeating such movement, as shown in FIG. 4C, all the vehicles 2 constituting the formation are allocated to each row as evenly as possible. After that, as shown in FIG. 4D, the vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle increases the speed of the own vehicle 2 in order to reduce the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle.

The formation change process includes a horizontal / vertical change process for changing the formation mode from a horizontal formation to a vertical formation. In the present embodiment, in the horizontal / vertical change process, the steps of the vertical / horizontal change process are performed in the reverse order. As a result, it is possible to prevent the order of the vehicles 2 in the vertical formation from being changed due to the change in formation.

In each formation including vertical formation and horizontal formation, the relative position of the following vehicle with respect to the leading vehicle is preset. The vehicle control unit 3 of the following vehicle creates a traveling track so as to maintain a relative position with respect to the leading vehicle preset in each formation, and the driving device and braking so that the own vehicle 2 travels along the traveling track. Controls the device and steering device.

The following is an example of the case where the vehicle control unit 3 displays the formation change button. When the leading vehicle arrives just before the intersection, the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle determines whether all the vehicles forming the platoon can pass through the intersection. At this time, the vehicle control unit 3 of the leading vehicle is based on the signal from the signal information receiver 3F, the position of the following vehicle acquired via inter-vehicle communication, and the vehicle speed of the own vehicle 2 acquired by the vehicle sensor 3B. Then, it is determined whether or not the last following vehicle in the current formation can pass the intersection before the signal turns red. Then, when the determination result is No, it is determined whether or not the trailing following vehicle can pass through the intersection before the signal turns red when the formation is changed to another changeable formation. As a result, when the vehicle control unit 3 determines that the last following vehicle can pass the intersection before the traffic light turns red by changing to another platoon, the vehicle control unit 3 platoons to the leading vehicle HMI. It is good to display the change button.

According to the above configuration, the vehicle rental system 1 can rent the vehicle 2 to the user and set the leading vehicle to be followed by the rented vehicle 2. This allows the user to move to the destination without driving. In addition, since rental vehicles that other people do not ride on are rented to each user, it is possible to meet various requests such as users who do not like ride sharing and users who want to carry luggage.

The user can select the vehicle type he / she wants to use according to the purpose. Further, the user can use the vehicle 2 according to the purpose by inputting the purpose of use without specifying the vehicle type.

Since the vehicle 2 rented out to the user can follow the leading vehicle without the occupant driving, one user can drive a plurality of vehicles 2. As a result, one user can load and carry the luggage on the plurality of vehicles 2, or can carry a plurality of occupants who do not drive on the plurality of vehicles 2 and move them.

Since the user can display his / her intention as to whether the vehicle 2 he / she drives will be the following vehicle or the leading vehicle, the vehicle rental system 1 can respond to the request of the user who does not want to travel in a platoon.

Although the description of the specific embodiment is completed above, the present invention can be widely modified without being limited to the above embodiment. For example, various methods can be adopted for the grouping process. The grouping process in the above embodiment is a method of matching a user who wants to be a leading vehicle to a user who wants to be a leading vehicle, but the following driving is performed for a user who wants to be a leading vehicle. May be changed to a method of matching the desired user.

1: Vehicle rental system 2: Vehicle 3: Vehicle control unit 3B: Vehicle sensor 3C: Position acquisition device 3D: External world recognition device 3E: Communication device 3EA: Vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 3EB: Mobile communication device 3F: Signal information receiver 3G: Control device 4: Management server 6: Internet 8: User terminal 9: Staff terminal 21: Reservation reception unit 22: Vehicle allocation unit 23: Travel planning unit 24: Result transmission unit 25: Vehicle control unit 26: Vehicle allocation planning unit 27: Data Storage unit 31: Route setting unit 32: Grouping unit 33: Travel plan setting unit

Claims (6)

It is a vehicle rental system
With multiple vehicles
A vehicle control unit provided in each of the plurality of the vehicles, communicating with each other, and controlling the traveling of the vehicle so as to follow the leading vehicle selected from the vehicles.
It has a management server that communicates with each of the vehicle control units.
The management server
Obtain reservation application information including at least the departure place, destination, and departure time from the user terminal,
When there are a plurality of vehicles traveling on the same route in the same time zone based on the plurality of reservation application information, a group for platooning based on those vehicles is formed, and a traveling plan for the group is created. ,
A reservation result including the travel plan and information about the rental vehicle is transmitted to the user terminal, and the travel plan is transmitted to the vehicle control unit.
A vehicle rental system in which the vehicle control units provided for each of the vehicles rented to the group communicate with each other and control the vehicles so as to perform platooning based on the travel plan. The reservation application information includes vehicle type information.
The vehicle rental system according to claim 1, wherein the management server determines a vehicle to be rented to a user based on the vehicle type information. The reservation application information includes desired condition information of the vehicle.
The vehicle rental system according to claim 1, wherein the management server determines a vehicle to be rented to a user based on the desired condition information. The reservation application information includes the number of vehicles used.
The vehicle lending system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the management server determines the number of vehicles to be rented to the user based on the number of vehicles used. The reservation application information includes follow-up desired information indicating whether or not the follow-up travel is desired to follow the leading vehicle.
The vehicle rental system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the management server selects a user who follows the user who wants to follow the vehicle based on the information desired to follow. The reservation application information includes lead request information indicating whether or not the user wishes to become the lead vehicle.
The management server according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the management server selects a user who drives the leading vehicle from among users who desire to become the leading vehicle based on the leading desired information. Vehicle rental system.

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