JPH1038594A - Route search device for vehicle, and travel control unit using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a route search in consideration of fuel consumption. SOLUTION: A map data base 14 stores data regarding road gradient for every link (unit obtained sectioning a road at every specific intersection) and when a route is searched for, the fuel consumption is taken into consideration. Specially, after routes are set by an ordinary route search, driving conditions of respective travels are determined and a route is determined in consideration of the fuel consumption of the driving to search for the route of the best fuel consumption. Further, a travel of the best fuel consumption can be made under the determined driving conditions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle route search device that calculates fuel efficiency during route travel when searching for a route from a start point to an end point, and a travel control device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a navigation device for performing route guidance is known, and vehicles equipped with the navigation device are increasing. In this navigation device, the current position is displayed on a map while detecting the current position to assist the driver in driving.

Further, the navigation device has a function of searching for a route to a destination. That is, when the destination is input by an appropriate method, the navigation device searches for the optimum route from the current position to the destination based on the map data. Therefore, the driver can know the optimum route to the destination simply by setting the destination. Then, the navigation device stores the obtained traveling route, and displays this on the map. Therefore, the current location and the traveling route are displayed on a map on the display during traveling. In addition, since the travel route is set, the intersection at which the vehicle should make a right or left turn is known in advance, and the traveling direction at the intersection is displayed in an enlarged manner in front of the intersection, and voice guidance is also provided. Therefore, such a navigation device facilitates traveling on a route to a destination.

Further, optical beacons and radio beacons are installed on the roadside, and from here traffic congestion information and the like on the road in the traveling direction and a system for providing traffic congestion information and the like by FM multiplex broadcasting have been put into practical use. I have. If such information is used, more suitable route guidance can be performed by the navigation device.

Here, an optimization planning method such as the Dijkstra method is usually used for the route search. This optimization planning method basically calculates the cost of all routes from the current position to the destination, and selects the one with the minimum cost. Here, in order to enable this calculation, the map data divides roads into units called “links” for each intersection (node) that can be used for planning and turning (branching),
Each link has a cost. The distance is basically used for this cost. As a result, the route with the shortest distance from the current location to the destination is selected as the optimal route.

[0006] On the other hand, fuel efficiency is also a factor in route selection. Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-278116 discloses a technique for searching for the highest fuel efficiency route to a destination. In the device of this publication, a plurality of routes are set in advance as a route from a start point to an end point, and a branch point in these routes is designated, and each route is divided into predetermined sections. Then, when the vehicle actually travels between the start point and the end point, the fuel efficiency in each section is measured and stored in association with the section. Therefore, after the data on the fuel efficiency is stored for each of the plurality of routes, it is possible to know which route has the highest fuel efficiency.

[0007]

In the apparatus disclosed in the above publication,
The route with the highest fuel efficiency can be searched, because the fuel efficiency data when the vehicle has traveled in the past is stored. The operator must also specify each section, and this search
Unlike a normal route search, it is a very limited search.

On the other hand, if the technique disclosed in this publication is to be used for a normal route search, the fuel consumption data at the time of actual driving is registered for each link.

However, according to such a method, data on fuel efficiency can be obtained only for a link that has been run once, and comparison cannot be performed unless various routes are taken. Therefore, a route search based on fuel efficiency can be performed only in a very limited range. Further, even when data on all routes is obtained, actual fuel efficiency data is stored for all links. For this reason, the amount of data to be stored becomes enormous, and the capacity of the RAM for storing the data becomes very large, which is not practical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a vehicle route search device capable of efficiently calculating fuel efficiency at the time of route search and a travel control device using the same. With the goal.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided road data storage means for storing data on a road including road gradient data at each link which is a predetermined unit of the road. Link fuel efficiency calculating means for calculating the estimated fuel efficiency at each link using the road gradient data in the data storage means, and utilizing the calculation result in the link fuel efficiency calculating means when searching for a route from the start point to the end point. It is characterized by doing.

As described above, according to the present invention, the road gradient data is stored in the road data storage means. For this reason,
Using this road gradient data, an accurate fuel economy can be calculated. The road gradient data is stored for each link. Therefore, when searching for a route to the destination, the fuel efficiency of each link can be integrated to obtain the fuel efficiency of the route, and the optimum route can be searched in consideration of the fuel efficiency.

[0013] The present invention is also a travel control device using the above-described vehicle route search device. It is characterized by controlling.

As described above, in actual running, by controlling the operation of the equipment, running can be performed according to the estimated fuel efficiency. In particular, after determining the driving conditions when traveling on the route,
By taking the fuel efficiency into account, a very accurate calculation of the fuel efficiency can be performed, and by performing the control as determined, traveling at the expected fuel efficiency can be ensured.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration. The navigation ECU 10 includes a DGPS device 1.
2. The map database 14 is connected. DGPS
(Differential Global Positioning System) The device 12 combines the error information in the GPS device supplied from FM multiplex broadcasting or the like with the position information from the GPS device that detects the current position using a signal from an artificial satellite, Perform accurate current position detection. The map database 14 stores map information including road information and the like nationwide. In particular, the map database 14 contains road gradient data in addition to the two-dimensional road shape data for each link. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, n points are provided at a predetermined distance (not necessarily at a constant interval) in one link, and for each point,
X (longitude), Y (latitude), road gradient (vertical direction) and the like are stored. It is also preferable that all of the road data in the map database 14 be three-dimensional data.

The communication device 16 communicates with optical beacons and radio beacons provided on the roadside and other vehicles, and further includes an FM multiplex broadcast receiver. The navigation ECU 10 acquires various information supplied from the outside from the communication device 16. For example, traffic information,
Information on traffic restrictions and new map data can also be obtained. In particular, light and radio beacons provide fairly detailed information on traffic congestion information and regulation information for a predetermined range ahead of a running road. Therefore, the navigation ECU 10 can use this information for route search and the like.
Furthermore, FM multiplex broadcasting provides a wide range of traffic information, the latest map data, and the like, which can be used for route search or as map data. Although not shown, it also has a vehicle speed sensor, a direction sensor, an acceleration sensor, and the like.

A display 18 and a speaker 20 are connected to the navigation ECU 10. The navigation ECU 10 is provided with a predetermined input means (not shown).
With the setting of the destination using the map database 14
Search and set the optimal route to the destination using the map information of. Here, when searching for a route, the fuel efficiency is calculated in consideration of the longitudinal gradient of the road on which the vehicle is traveling and the traveling state there. Then, a search for a route that maximizes fuel efficiency is performed.

When the vehicle is running, a map around the current position is displayed on the display 18 and a current position mark is displayed on the map. Further, the set route is displayed so as to be distinguished from other roads. When entering an intersection where a right or left turn is made, the display 18
, An enlarged guidance display indicating a right / left turn at an intersection is performed, and a right / left turn instruction is issued from the speaker 20 to provide route guidance.

Further, the navigation ECU 10 includes:
The operation control unit 22 is connected. This operation control unit 22
Controls the throttle opening, fuel cut, air / fuel mixture ratio, shift position, and the like according to a command from the navigation ECU 10. Then, by this control, appropriate traveling control in consideration of fuel efficiency is performed.

Next, the operation of the apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. First, the current position is searched (S1
1). This is performed, for example, by acquiring the current location from the output of the DGPS device 12. Next, an input of a destination is received (S12). Usually, since the display 18 is configured as a touch panel, the display 18 is performed by touching a corresponding position on the map. In addition, address, telephone number,
Various inputs such as station names can also be used to enter destinations.

Since the current position and the destination are determined, a plurality of n (for example, five) routes to the destination are calculated (S13). This search is based on a normal shortest distance (other conditions may be considered).

Then, conditions such as the road gradient are obtained for all the obtained routes (S14). That is, the road gradient data of each point is obtained from the map database 14 for the link that has become the route. Note that the curvature of the curve, the cant (road lateral gradient), the road type, the number of signals, and the like may be stored in the map database 14 and acquired.

Next, the driving conditions (fuel cut, air / fuel ratio, shift position) corresponding to the conditions such as the road gradient are determined (S15). This calculates the vehicle running optimization at that time according to the road shape,
This is performed by calculating the optimum conditions for the traveling. Throttle opening, brake operation, etc. may be considered. In determining the traveling conditions, a traffic jam situation may be considered.

When the running conditions are determined, it is determined whether the running conditions have been determined for all of the plurality of routes (S16). If all the processes have not been completed, the process returns to S15 and the process is repeated.

In S16, if the setting of the driving condition has been completed, the fuel consumption cost for each route is calculated (S17). That is, as described above, since the traveling condition of each route is determined, the traveling condition of each link is also determined. Therefore, the fuel efficiency of each link becomes the cost of the link. Therefore, the fuel cost for the n routes is calculated based on the cost.

Then, the order is determined according to the fuel cost (S18). At this time, the fuel efficiency of each route may be displayed on the display 18 and the operator may wait for the selection. further,
Another optimal route considering the time, the distance, and the like may be displayed, and the operator may select the optimal route.

In this way, the route with the highest fuel efficiency can be searched for using the road gradient data in the map database 14.

When the search is completed in this way, the determined route is stored. At this time, the driving control conditions determined in S16 are also stored for each of the main points (S19).

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the main points Rij where the running conditions of the n routes from the current position to the destination are changed (i indicates the route number, and j indicates the position of the point there). The running conditions (various operation conditions) are stored every time.

During traveling, route guidance is performed using the display 18 and the speaker 20 according to the set route. Then, when the stored main point Rij is reached as described above, the stored traveling conditions are called, and the operation of the vehicle is controlled via the operation control unit 22. For example, in the case of a fuel cut, the control is performed. With this, according to the conditions determined for the search,
Running is performed. Therefore, the vehicle travels to the destination with the expected highest fuel efficiency.

As described above, according to this embodiment, first, a plurality of routes from the current position to the destination are searched. Then, the driving conditions are determined for each of the plurality of obtained routes, and the fuel consumption cost is calculated. Therefore, fuel cost is obtained for each of the plurality of routes. Thus, fuel economy costs for a plurality of routes can be compared, and optimal route selection can be performed.

Information on driving conditions and routes is as follows:
It is good to memorize everything obtained by calculation. As a result, even when there is a route change due to a change in conditions after the start of traveling, optimal traveling can be performed based on data already calculated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of fuel consumption cost calculation.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing main points on a route to a destination.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 navigation ECU, 12 DGPS device, 1
4 map database, 16 communication devices, 18 displays, 20 speakers, 22 operation control unit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A road data storage means for storing data on a road including road gradient data for each link which is a predetermined unit of the road, and a road gradient in the road data storage means. And a link fuel consumption calculating means for calculating an estimated fuel consumption at each link using data, and wherein a calculation result of the link fuel consumption calculating means is used when searching for a route from a starting point to an end point. Route search device. 2. A travel control device using the vehicle route search device according to claim 1, wherein the operation of a device for traveling such as an on-vehicle engine and a transmission so that the vehicle can travel at an estimated fuel efficiency in each link. A travel control device characterized by controlling the following.