JP7407056B2 - infrastructure system - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to infrastructure systems.

2. Description of the Related Art Infrastructure equipment that detects the state of a vehicle and provides various information to the vehicle is known from Patent Document 1 and the like.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-22304

By the way, when one side of a two-lane road is empty but there is traffic congestion on the other side, it is desirable for vehicles to run smoothly because one side is empty. However, since there is a possibility that a vehicle may attempt to change lanes from the other side to the one side, vehicles traveling on one side are forced to drive while assuming such a possibility. This situation is particularly likely to occur when a vehicle attempts to change lanes in a tunnel, at night, on a curve, or on a highway at a distance that cannot be directly seen from the vehicle.
Therefore, the present invention provides an infrastructure system that notifies vehicles traveling in the other lane that there is a vehicle attempting to change lanes from the congested vehicle line when one side is congested.

In order to achieve the above object, an infrastructure system according to one aspect of the present invention includes:
An infrastructure system equipped with multiple street lighting equipment,
The street light equipment is
a light source that irradiates light onto the road surface;
a first imaging unit that images a vehicle existing in a first area along the driving lane;
a second imaging unit that images a vehicle existing in a second area along the driving lane adjacent to the first area;
and a notification unit that notifies a vehicle traveling in the second area of a warning using at least one of light, sound, and road-to-vehicle communication,
The infrastructure system includes a control unit that controls the notification unit based on images output from the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit of each street light equipment,
The control unit may issue the notification when it is determined that there is a traffic jam in the first area and there is a first vehicle attempting to move from the first area to the second area. A warning is given to a second vehicle traveling within a predetermined distance behind the first vehicle within the second region.

In order to achieve the above object, an infrastructure system according to one aspect of the present invention includes:
An infrastructure system equipped with multiple street lighting equipment,
The street light equipment is
a light source that irradiates light onto the road surface;
a first imaging unit that images a vehicle existing in a first area along the driving lane;
a second imaging unit that images a vehicle existing in a second area along the driving lane adjacent to the first area;
and a notification unit that notifies a vehicle traveling in the first area of a warning using at least one of light, sound, and road-to-vehicle communication,
The infrastructure system includes a control unit that controls the notification unit based on images output from the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit,
The control unit determines that a traffic jam is occurring in the first area and that a first vehicle attempting to move from the first area to the second area has occurred, and When it is determined that there is a second vehicle traveling within the second area within a predetermined distance behind the first vehicle, the notification section notifies the first vehicle of a warning.

In the above infrastructure system,
The street light equipment may irradiate light onto the road surface of the expressway.

In the above infrastructure system,
The street light equipment may be installed on the wall of the tunnel and irradiate light onto the road surface within the tunnel.

In the above infrastructure system,
One of the first imaging units is provided in one of the street light equipment,
The intervals between the street light equipment may be such that an end of the angle of view of the first imaging unit overlaps an end of the angle of view of the adjacent first imaging unit.

In the above infrastructure system,
The predetermined distance may be determined depending on the traveling speed of a vehicle traveling in the second area.

According to the present invention, a light source unit capable of emitting light having a more uniform luminance distribution and a head-up display using the same are provided.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an infrastructure system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing how a warning is displayed on a vehicle running behind the vehicle. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating how a warning is displayed to a vehicle attempting to change lanes from a congested vehicle line.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the present embodiment) will be described below with reference to the drawings. The dimensions of each member shown in this drawing may differ from the actual dimensions of each member for convenience of explanation.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an infrastructure system 1 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the infrastructure system 1 includes a plurality of street light facilities 10 and a control unit 20 communicably connected to the street light facilities 10. Each street light facility 10 includes a light source 21, a first imaging section 22, a second imaging section 23, and a notification section 24.

Each street light facility 10 is installed near a road and functions as a street light. Street lights are installed, for example, on the side of expressways or in tunnels. Street lights are installed near roads having at least two lanes.

The light source 21 irradiates the road surface with light when the surroundings are dark, such as at night.
The first imaging section 22 and the second imaging section 23 can be configured with a camera, LiDAR, or the like.
The first image capturing unit 22 is capable of capturing an image of a vehicle existing within a certain area (within a first area) of a driving lane, for example.
The second imaging unit 23 can, for example, image a vehicle existing within a certain area (inside the second area) adjacent to the driving lane.
The first imaging unit 22 and the second imaging unit 23 may be configured with separate cameras or LiDARs, or may be configured with a common camera or LiDAR.
The control unit 20 controls the notification unit 24 based on images output from the first imaging unit 22 and the second imaging unit 23 of each street light equipment 10.

The notification unit 24 notifies the vehicle of a warning using at least one of light, sound, and road-to-vehicle communication. The notification unit 24 can be configured, for example, by a road drawing device that draws an image on the road surface using light. Alternatively, the notification unit 24 may be configured with a speaker that notifies the vehicle of a warning with a warning sound or guidance voice. Alternatively, if the vehicle is configured to be able to acquire information from infrastructure equipment, the notification unit 24 may be configured to transmit a signal that causes a warning sound or a warning display to be displayed inside the vehicle.
Note that in this embodiment, the notification section 24 is constituted by a road surface drawing device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how the present system 1 is used to display a warning to a vehicle traveling behind. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the street light equipment 10 is provided near a road with two lanes, a left lane and a right lane. In the figure, it is assumed that the vehicle travels from left to right. Further, the left lane L is the driving lane, and the right lane R is the passing lane.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the first imaging section 22 and the second imaging section 23 of each street light facility 10 have an angle of view A that allows imaging of three vehicles approximately lined up in the traveling direction. For the purpose of explanation, it is assumed here that each imaging unit has such an angle of view A, but in reality, even if it has an angle of view A that can image 10 or more vehicles lined up in the direction of travel. good.

Moreover, one first imaging unit 22 is provided in one street light equipment 10, and the interval between the street light equipment 10 is such that the end portions of the angle of view A1 of the first imaging unit 22 are adjacent to each other. It is preferable that the end portion of the angle of view A2 be overlapped with the end portion of the angle of view A2. As a result, there will not be a region in the lane that the first imaging section 22 is unable to image. Similarly, it is preferable that the intervals between the street light equipment 10 are provided such that the end of the angle of view B1 of the second imaging unit 23 overlaps the end of the angle of view B2 of the adjacent second imaging unit 23. .

In the illustrated example, a traffic jam is occurring in the left lane L. Such congestion often occurs before expressway ramps, before branching points in tunnels, and at the entrances of popular stores and parking lots on general roads.

In such a situation where a traffic jam occurs, a vehicle may move from the left lane L to the right lane R in order to escape from the traffic jam. A vehicle attempting to move from this congested lane may be referred to as a first vehicle V in the following description. However, in the right lane R, there is also a vehicle (sometimes referred to as a second vehicle X) traveling at a normal speed from behind the first vehicle V.

For example, when the lane is curved as shown in FIG. 2, the first vehicle V cannot be seen from the second vehicle X, and the second vehicle X cannot be seen from the first vehicle V. I can't. In this case, the second vehicle X is forced to travel at a slower speed than the normal travel speed so that the second vehicle X can visually recognize the first vehicle V and then avoid the first vehicle V. For this reason, even though the vehicle can travel smoothly in the right lane R if there is no traffic jam, if a traffic jam occurs, smooth travel may be hindered even in the right lane R where there is no traffic jam.

Such a situation also occurs on straight roads, for example, when traffic jams extend over long distances. For example, at night, on rainy days, or on cloudy days, visibility becomes poor and the distance over which the first vehicle V can be seen from the second vehicle X becomes shorter, forcing the second vehicle X to travel at a slower speed than normal. A similar situation also occurs inside the tunnel, where visibility is poor because it is always dark.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 20 determines that a traffic jam is occurring in the left lane L (first area) and a first vehicle V attempts to move from the left lane L to the right lane R. When it is determined that there is a second vehicle X traveling in the second area within a predetermined distance behind the first vehicle V, the notification unit 24 notifies the first vehicle V of a warning.

For example, the control unit 20 determines, based on the image captured by the first imaging unit 22, that the number of vehicles traveling in the left lane L is at least a predetermined number (first condition) and the traveling speed is at most a predetermined value (second condition). ), it is determined that there is a traffic jam in the left lane L. In the illustrated example, when three or more vehicles are present in the image acquired by the first imaging unit 22 of the first street light equipment 11, the control unit 20 determines that the first condition is satisfied. In addition, the first imaging unit 22 of the first street light equipment 11 calculates the traveling speed of the vehicle traveling in the left lane L based on the two images acquired with a specific time difference, and the traveling speed is 20 km/h or less. It is determined that the second condition is satisfied when . Note that the method by which the control unit 20 determines that traffic congestion is occurring is not limited to this method. For example, in addition to the above-mentioned first and second conditions, traffic jams depend on whether or not the first and second conditions are satisfied in a plurality of areas imaged by the first imaging units 22 of a plurality of street light facilities 10. It may be determined whether or not this has occurred.

For example, the control unit 20 determines, based on the image captured by the first imaging unit 22, that a certain vehicle existing in the left lane L is separated from a vehicle located in front of it by a predetermined distance or more (third condition), and that a certain vehicle When the steering angle of the steered wheel is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle (fourth condition), it is determined that the first vehicle V attempting to move from the left lane L to the right lane R has occurred. In the illustrated example, regarding the vehicle V existing in the image captured by the first imaging unit 22 of the fifth street light equipment 15, the distance between the vehicle and the vehicle in front is 3 m or more, and the front wheel that is the steered wheel of the vehicle V The steering angle is 10° or more. In this case, the control unit 20 determines that the vehicle corresponds to the first vehicle V.

For example, the control unit 20 determines whether there is a second vehicle X traveling in the second region within a predetermined distance behind the first vehicle V, based on the image captured by the second imaging unit 23. In the illustrated example, when the first vehicle V is detected by the fifth street light equipment 15, the image captured by the second imaging unit 23 of the street light equipment 10 located up to five locations upstream in the traveling direction of the lane is Determine whether a vehicle is present. In this embodiment, the control unit 20 controls the second imaging unit 23 of the first street light equipment 11, the second street light equipment 12, the third street light equipment 13, the fourth street light equipment 14, and the fifth street light equipment 15. It is determined whether a vehicle is present in the image captured by. Here, the vehicle X is present in the image captured by the second imaging unit 23 of the first street light equipment 11. Therefore, this vehicle X is determined to be the second vehicle X.

In the present embodiment, the predetermined distance is defined as a range of five street light facilities 10 upstream from the street light facility 10 where the first vehicle V was detected, but it is not limited to this. For example, the predetermined distance may be defined as a distance in a strict sense, such as 500 m.

Alternatively, this predetermined distance may be determined depending on the traveling speed of the vehicle present in the image output from the second imaging unit 23. For example, the second imaging unit 23 is configured to always calculate the average vehicle speed of vehicles traveling in the right lane R regardless of the presence or absence of the first vehicle V. When the control unit 20 determines that the first vehicle V is present, it determines a predetermined distance according to the average vehicle speed of vehicles traveling in the right lane R, and determines a predetermined distance according to the determined predetermined distance. It may be determined whether or not there exists.
For example, if there is a vehicle traveling at high speed in the right lane R when the first vehicle V occurs, it is preferable to issue a warning to this vehicle early.

In this embodiment, the notification unit 24 is a road surface drawing device as described above. The control unit 20 causes the first vehicle V to display a warning W1. In the illustrated example, the control unit 20 displays an inverted triangle indicating deceleration at a position approximately 5 m ahead of the road surface on which the first vehicle V travels. Note that the position and shape of the warning display are not limited to this example. Furthermore, as described above, the control unit 20 may notify the first vehicle V of a warning through the notification unit 24 by sound or road-to-vehicle communication in addition to light.

According to the infrastructure system 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to notify vehicles traveling in the other lane that there is a vehicle that is attempting to change lanes from a congested vehicle line. For this reason, for example, if there is a traffic jam in one lane of a road where the legal speed is originally 80 km/h, without this system 1, there will be no system in place to prepare for the occurrence of vehicles trying to move from the congested lane to another lane. They are also forced to drive at 30 km/h in other lanes. However, according to the present system 1, since it is possible to know from a distance that a vehicle is attempting to move from a congested lane to another lane, it is possible to travel at a speed faster than 30 km/h. This allows for smoother traffic.

Note that when the control unit 20 determines that there are a plurality of first vehicles V in the left lane L, it determines whether there is a second vehicle X traveling within a predetermined distance behind the last first vehicle V. It may be configured to make a determination.
Further, when the control unit 20 determines that there are a plurality of second vehicles X in the right lane R, a warning may be sent to the second vehicles It may be configured to notify the vehicle X of a warning.

It is preferable that the street light equipment 10 is one that irradiates light onto the road surface of an expressway. This is because the problems assumed in this embodiment tend to occur on expressways.
For the same reason, it is preferable that the street light equipment 10 is installed on the wall of the tunnel and irradiates the road surface within the tunnel with light.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, an indication W2 of the destination of the first vehicle V may be displayed in front of the first vehicle V by a road drawing device. This makes it easier for the second vehicle X approaching from behind to know which vehicle is entering its own lane.

Further, in the above example, the infrastructure system 1 including the street light equipment 10 installed on a road consisting of two lanes, the left lane L and the right lane R, is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The infrastructure system 1 may include street light equipment 10 installed on a road having three or more lanes. In this case, one or more lanes in which the branch occurs are set as the first lane to monitor whether there is a traffic jam or the first vehicle V is present, and the lane adjacent to this first lane is Therefore, a lane in which there is no traffic congestion can be set as a lane to monitor whether or not the second vehicle X is present. Additionally, although the explanation above assumes an area where the driving lane is set on the left side and the passing lane is set on the right side, this system 1 is applicable to areas where the driving lane is set on the right side and the passing lane is set on the left side. You may.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the infrastructure system 1 is configured to notify the second vehicle X of the warning, but the infrastructure system 1 may notify the first vehicle V of the warning. This example will be explained using FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing how a warning is displayed on the first vehicle V using the present system 1.

In the illustrated example, it is determined that a traffic jam is occurring based on the images captured by the first imaging units 22 of the plurality of street light equipment 10, and the image captured by the first imaging unit 22 of the fourth street light equipment 10 Therefore, it is determined that the first vehicle V moving from the left lane L to the right lane R is occurring. Furthermore, when it is determined that there is a second vehicle X traveling in the right lane R within a predetermined distance behind the first vehicle V, the notification unit 24 issues a warning W3 to the first vehicle V indicating that forward movement is prohibited. It is displayed in front of the vehicle V in the direction of travel.
According to such a configuration, the first vehicle V, which is difficult to see that the second vehicle X is approaching from behind, is informed that the second vehicle X is approaching from the rear and is discouraged from changing lanes. be able to. Further, the second vehicle X, which knows that such a system 1 is operating, is less likely to be forced to run at low speed because the first vehicle V is less likely to jump out unexpectedly.

However, it is also possible to notify the warning to the first vehicle V and also notify the second vehicle X as shown in FIG. 2. By giving a warning to both the first vehicle V and the second vehicle X, it is possible to alert them to each other's presence.

1 Infrastructure system 20 Control unit 21 Light source 22 First imaging unit 23 Second imaging unit 24 Notification unit L Left lane R Right lane V First vehicle X Second vehicle

Claims (6)

An infrastructure system equipped with multiple street lighting equipment,
The street light equipment is
a light source that illuminates the road surface;
a first imaging unit that images a vehicle existing in a first area along the driving lane;
a second imaging unit that images a vehicle existing in a second area along the driving lane adjacent to the first area;
and a notification unit that notifies a vehicle traveling in the second area of a warning using at least one of light, sound, and road-to-vehicle communication,
The infrastructure system includes a control unit that controls the notification unit based on images output from the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit of each street light equipment,
The control unit may issue the notification when it is determined that there is a traffic jam in the first area and there is a first vehicle attempting to move from the first area to the second area. An infrastructure system that notifies a second vehicle traveling within a predetermined distance behind the first vehicle in the second region by a second vehicle. An infrastructure system equipped with multiple street lighting equipment,
The street light equipment is
a light source that irradiates light onto the road surface;
a first imaging unit that images a vehicle existing in a first area along the driving lane;
a second imaging unit that images a vehicle existing in a second area along the driving lane adjacent to the first area;
and a notification unit that notifies a vehicle traveling in the first area of a warning using at least one of light, sound, and road-to-vehicle communication,
The infrastructure system includes a control unit that controls the notification unit based on images output from the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit,
The control unit determines that a traffic jam is occurring in the first area and that a first vehicle attempting to move from the first area to the second area has occurred, and An infrastructure system in which the notification unit notifies the first vehicle of a warning when it is determined that there is a second vehicle traveling within the second area within a predetermined distance behind the first vehicle. The infrastructure system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the street light equipment irradiates light onto a road surface of an expressway. 3. The infrastructure system according to claim 1, wherein the street light equipment is installed on a wall of a tunnel and irradiates light onto a road surface inside the tunnel. One of the first imaging units is provided in one of the street light equipment,
3. The street light equipment is spaced apart such that an end of the angle of view of the first imaging unit overlaps an end of the angle of view of the adjacent first imaging unit. infrastructure system. The infrastructure system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined distance is determined depending on the traveling speed of a vehicle traveling in the second area.

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