JP2025125817A - Vehicle allocation management device and vehicle allocation management method - Google Patents

Abstract

To instruct supply of energy to a vehicle in a service target area at an appropriate timing.SOLUTION: The present invention is a vehicle allocation management device comprising: a travel actual result information database that stores travel actual result information of each vehicle in a service target area; a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information including the amount of energy remaining in each vehicle; a variation degree calculation unit that calculates, on the basis of the travel actual result information, the degree of variation of expected required time related to a movement between specific two points in the service target area; an energy supply reference value setting unit that sets an energy supply reference value for the vehicle on the basis of the degree of variation; an energy supply determination unit that determines whether supply of energy to the vehicle is necessary on the basis of the amount of energy remaining in each vehicle and the set energy supply reference value; and an energy supply instruction unit that performs energy supply instruction for a vehicle determined to require supply of energy.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle dispatch management device and a vehicle dispatch management method.

Mobility services provide smooth transportation of passengers and/or luggage by vehicle. Mobility services require efficient vehicle use to increase vehicle utilization rates and improve user convenience. For example, in on-demand vehicle dispatch services that dispatch vehicles quickly in response to real-time dispatch requests from users, it is necessary to appropriately instruct each vehicle to replenish or refuel with driving energy based on the vehicle's remaining driving energy (SOC) and the cruising range based on the remaining fuel.

For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses technology in which a vehicle dispatch management device that dispatches shared vehicles in response to dispatch requests from users calculates the cruising range of each shared vehicle, calculates the total cruising range of the multiple shared vehicles, and, if the total cruising range is less than a first predetermined value, determines whether the shared vehicles need to be replenished with running energy, and, based on the determination of whether the shared vehicles need to be replenished with running energy, issues a replenishment instruction to shared vehicles that are determined to need replenishment.

International Publication No. 2019/197854 https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/PU/JP-7008802/6DFF3D40AE6491F0DA66379C93AFB81FECA375F37E40DF90241917BC49BA12F4/15/ja

However, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 above does not issue instructions to replenish driving energy taking into account the degree of variability in the estimated travel time required for a shared vehicle to travel from a departure point to a destination in response to a user's dispatch request. Therefore, if instructions to replenish driving energy for a shared vehicle are not issued at the appropriate time, it may not be possible to dispatch a vehicle that satisfies the dispatch request. For example, even if it is determined that replenishment of driving energy for a shared vehicle is not necessary at the time of dispatch, if there is a significant delay in the estimated travel time required for travel from the departure point to the destination, there is a risk that the necessary driving energy may be insufficient.

The present invention aims to provide a vehicle dispatch management device and vehicle dispatch management method that can issue instructions to vehicles in a service area to replenish energy at appropriate times.

The present invention, which aims to solve the above problems, comprises the following invention-specific matters and technical features.

The present invention, according to one aspect, is a vehicle dispatch management device that manages the dispatch of vehicles in a service area. The vehicle dispatch management device includes a driving history information database that stores driving history information for each vehicle in the service area; a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information including at least the remaining energy amount of each vehicle; a variability calculation unit that calculates the degree of variation in the estimated required time for travel between two specific points in the service area based on the driving history information; an energy replenishment reference value setting unit that sets an energy replenishment reference value for each vehicle based on the calculated degree of variation; an energy replenishment determination unit that determines whether the vehicle needs to be replenished with energy based on the acquired remaining energy amount of each vehicle and the set energy replenishment reference value; and an energy replenishment instruction unit that issues an energy replenishment instruction to the vehicle if it is determined that the vehicle needs to be replenished with energy.

The present invention also encompasses a vehicle dispatch management method using a vehicle dispatch management device that manages vehicle dispatch in response to a dispatch request, a computer program for executing the method, and a recording medium on which the method is non-temporarily recorded.

In this disclosure, a "system" refers to a logical collection of multiple devices (or functional modules that realize specific functions), regardless of whether each device or functional module is contained within a single housing.

This invention takes into account the degree of variability in the expected travel time required for travel between two specific points in a service area, making it possible to instruct a vehicle to replenish energy at the appropriate time.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, even when there is a large degree of variability in the estimated travel time, it is possible to prepare in advance vehicles that have sufficient energy capacity to cope with significant delays in the estimated travel time.

Other technical features, objects, effects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following embodiments, which are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The effects described in this specification are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting, and other effects may also be present.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a vehicle dispatch management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration model of a vehicle dispatch control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of road link travel time information in the travel performance information database of the vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of details of the vehicle dispatch plan creation unit of the vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of a variation threshold value in the vehicle dispatch control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing related to an energy replenishment instruction for a vehicle V by a vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6B is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing related to an energy replenishment instruction to a vehicle V by a vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6C is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing related to an energy replenishment instruction to a vehicle V by a vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely examples, and are not intended to exclude various modifications or technological applications not explicitly stated below. The present invention can be implemented in various modifications (for example, by combining various embodiments) without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, in the following descriptions of the drawings, identical or similar parts are denoted by identical or similar reference numerals. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily correspond to actual dimensions, proportions, etc. Parts in the drawings may have different dimensional relationships or proportions.

Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the schematic configuration of a vehicle dispatch management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the vehicle dispatch management system 1 includes a vehicle dispatch management device 10, a terminal device 20, and a vehicle V, which are interconnected via a communication network N so that they can communicate with each other. The vehicle dispatch management system 1 can also be connected via the communication network N to a road traffic information management system 30, which provides various traffic information in real time.

The vehicle dispatch management system 1 of the present disclosure provides, for example, a vehicle dispatch service using multiple vehicles V targeting a certain area. The vehicle dispatch service may be either "on-demand" or "reserved." An "on-demand vehicle dispatch service" is a service that allocates (dispatches) a specific vehicle to a user in immediate response to a vehicle dispatch request from the user. In other words, with an on-demand vehicle dispatch service, there is no vehicle dispatch reservation time specified by the user. Furthermore, "immediate response" is a concept that not only means dispatching a vehicle immediately in response to a vehicle dispatch request from a user, but also includes a certain degree of time that the user would normally tolerate. In contrast, a "reserved vehicle dispatch service" is a service that dispatches a vehicle at the vehicle dispatch reservation time or within that time frame specified by the user.

The vehicle dispatch management device 10 is a computing device that comprehensively manages vehicle dispatch services using multiple vehicles V in a target area for the vehicle dispatch service (hereinafter referred to as the "service target area"). The service target area may be divided into several areas (sub-areas). The vehicle dispatch management device 10, for example, implements a vehicle dispatch management server program and executes the vehicle dispatch management server program under the control of a processor, thereby realizing the vehicle dispatch service.

The vehicle dispatch management device 10 includes various databases 12 that store and manage the data necessary to provide such a vehicle dispatch service. The databases 12 may include, for example, a user information database 12a, a road map information database 12b, a vehicle information database 12c, a vehicle dispatch plan database 12d, and a driving performance information database 12e (see Figure 2). The databases 12 may be configured as part of the vehicle dispatch management device 10, or all or part of them may be configured separately from the vehicle dispatch management device 10.

In general terms, based on a vehicle dispatch request received from a user requesting a vehicle V to be dispatched to a destination, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 references the vehicle information database 12c, extracts a vehicle V to be assigned to the user from among multiple vehicles V, creates a vehicle dispatch plan, and proposes the created vehicle dispatch plan to the user. The vehicle dispatch management device 10 confirms the proposed vehicle dispatch plan upon the user's consent, and issues dispatch instructions to the vehicle V in accordance with the confirmed vehicle dispatch plan.

The dispatch plan includes the vehicle V's driving route, which defines the route from the location where the vehicle V is waiting (the starting waiting location), via several points along the way where users board and disembark (boarding and disembarking points (departure and destination)), to the final waiting location (which may not be the same as the initial waiting location), and the average value of the expected travel time to each point (hereinafter referred to as the "average expected travel time"). If the vehicle V is waiting, the dispatch plan is created based on a new dispatch request, but if the vehicle V is already operating with a user on board, it can be updated based on a new dispatch request. In this disclosure, the dispatch plan for vehicle V is updated so that vehicle V stops at a specified service station to replenish energy when the vehicle V's remaining energy falls below an energy replenishment reference value. The energy replenishment reference value is a reference value used to determine whether or not energy needs to be replenished for vehicle V during service.

Vehicle V is a vehicle registered in the vehicle information database 12c that is available for use by a user. In this disclosure, vehicle V is assumed to be a so-called electric vehicle (BEV), but is not limited to this and may be a BEV, HV, PHEV, or ICEV. Vehicle V may also be a conventional manned vehicle. Alternatively, vehicle V may be an unmanned vehicle capable of autonomous driving using an automated driving system, regardless of the level of automation. Vehicle V is equipped with a control device CTL that controls vehicle V itself or its onboard equipment in accordance with dispatch instructions from the vehicle dispatch management device 10. Although not shown, the control device CTL is configured to include a processor, memory, etc., and realizes various functions by executing control programs. For example, the control device CTL acquires the geographical location information (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle location information") and remaining energy amount of the vehicle V via a GPS system, controls the transmission of this information to the vehicle dispatch management device 10, and also receives dispatch instructions from the vehicle dispatch management device 10 and controls the operation of various devices or equipment of the vehicle V in accordance with the dispatch instructions. An ECU (Engine Control Unit) is one form of the control device CTL.

The terminal device 20 is, for example, a computing device through which a user wishing to ride makes a vehicle dispatch request by operating a user interface. The terminal device 20 is, for example, a smartphone, a pad computer, a laptop personal computer, a desktop computer, etc., but is not limited to these. The terminal device 20 implements, for example, a vehicle dispatch management client program (a so-called vehicle dispatch app). The terminal device 20 executes the vehicle dispatch app under the control of a processor, thereby enabling the user to use the vehicle dispatch service of the vehicle dispatch management device 10. For example, a user can make a vehicle dispatch request from a vehicle dispatch request screen (not shown) on the user interface of the terminal device 20 and, in response, accept the vehicle dispatch plan created by the vehicle dispatch management device 10, thereby reserving a ride in vehicle V.

The road traffic information management system 30 is an information and communications system that provides road traffic information in real time. For example, the road traffic information management system 30 collects road traffic data from vehicle sensors and cameras installed on roads, as well as driving data from a control device CTL mounted on the vehicle V, and manages road traffic information that is processed and edited in an integrated manner. The edited road traffic information may include, for example, information on road closures and detour routes, and the travel time between points via specific routes. The road traffic information management system 30 provides road traffic information to the vehicle dispatch management device 10 and the vehicle V as appropriate.

In the vehicle dispatch management system 1 described above, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 calculates the degree of variation (e.g., variance or standard deviation) of the estimated travel time required for travel between two specific points in the service area based on the travel history information stored in the travel history information database 12e, and sets an energy replenishment reference value for each vehicle V based on the calculated degree of variation. Furthermore, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 acquires the remaining energy amount of each vehicle V in the service area, and determines whether energy replenishment is required for that vehicle V based on the acquired remaining energy amount of the vehicle V and the energy replenishment reference value. If the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that energy replenishment is required for the vehicle V, it issues an energy replenishment instruction to the vehicle V. This allows the energy replenishment reference value to be set taking into account the degree of variation in the estimated travel time required for travel between two specific points in the service area, making it possible to issue an energy replenishment instruction at an appropriate time to vehicles V that do not have enough remaining energy for the vehicle dispatch service.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration model of a vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 is configured as a functional configuration model including functional components such as a front-end processing unit 110, a vehicle dispatch planning unit 120, and a vehicle communication unit 130. As described above, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 also includes various databases 12. This functional configuration model is realized when the vehicle dispatch management device 10, under the control of a processor, executes a vehicle dispatch management server program and cooperates with various hardware resources. The functional configuration model shown here is an example, and all or part of the functions of a certain functional component may be realized by other functional components. For ease of explanation, the figure also shows a user's terminal device 20 and a control device CTL installed in the vehicle V.

The user information database 12a stores information about users who use the ride-hailing service (hereinafter referred to as "user information"). User information includes, for example, a user ID and password, personal attributes (gender, age, etc.), and information about service usage. User information is registered in the user information database 12a under the control of the ride-hailing management device 10, for example, when the user first launches the ride-hailing app and inputs certain information.

The road map information database 12b stores road map information for the area covered by the vehicle dispatch service. The road map information includes map data on addresses, place names, road networks (links and nodes), facilities, etc. The road map information may also include information necessary for searching for a driving route, such as road information (road type, road standards, traffic regulations, signal control information, etc.) and feature information. The road map information may also include information on designated service stations for replenishing energy for the vehicle V. The information on designated service stations may include, for example, location information, the number of refilling facilities (charging facilities and refueling facilities), the size of waiting areas, and other ancillary facilities.

The vehicle information database 12c stores information (vehicle information) about vehicles V available for use by users. The vehicle information includes, for example, the vehicle ID, vehicle attributes (vehicle registration number, vehicle model, maximum occupancy/maximum load capacity, whether driven or unmanned, etc.), vehicle characteristics, other specifications, the current dispatch plan, location and direction, service status, energy status (battery SOC and remaining fuel), cruising range, and occupancy information. The vehicle information obtained from the vehicle V via the vehicle communication unit 130 can be updated as needed.

The vehicle dispatch plan database 12d stores a vehicle dispatch plan for each vehicle V created by the vehicle dispatch plan formulation unit 120 based on a dispatch request. As described above, the vehicle dispatch plan includes a driving route from a waiting location serving as a starting point, passing through several boarding and disembarking points (departure and arrival points), to a waiting location serving as a terminal point, as well as an estimated arrival time at each intermediate point. In addition, the vehicle dispatch plan (driving route) is updated to stop at specified service stations in accordance with energy replenishment instructions.

The driving history information database 12e stores information relating to the past driving history of each vehicle V (hereinafter referred to as "driving history information"). The driving history information includes, for example, various specifications for each vehicle V, such as the operating date and time (such as the start and end times of operation), the driving route, the arrival and departure times at each point (such as the destination), the driving distance, and fuel economy (electricity cost). The driving route is, for example, composed of the links and nodes traveled by the vehicle V. The driving history information also includes road link required time information indicating the required time for each link. The road link required time information is created, for example, by the driving history information management unit 129, which will be described later.

Figure 3 shows an example of road link travel time information in the driving performance information database of a vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 3(a), the road link travel time information includes the average travel time for each date type and time period for each link identified by an identifier (ID). The road link travel time information is used to calculate the degree of variation in the travel time from the departure point to the destination for each travel route based on the user's vehicle dispatch request. Figure 3(b) shows the average expected travel time between two points from the departure point to the destination calculated based on Figure 3(a).

Returning to Figure 2, the front-end processing unit 110 performs various processes between the user and the terminal device 20. As an example, the front-end processing unit 110 refers to the user information database 12a and performs login authentication processing in response to a login request from a ride-hailing app on the user's terminal device 20. The front-end processing unit 110 also communicates with the terminal device 20 in order to respond to a ride-hailing request from the ride-hailing app on the user's terminal device 20.

Based on the given dispatch request, the vehicle dispatch planning unit 120 extracts candidate vehicles (candidate vehicles) to be allocated to the user from among the vehicles V in the target area and creates a provisional dispatch plan. The vehicle dispatch planning unit 120 proposes the provisional dispatch plan to the user and confirms it upon receiving the user's approval. The vehicle dispatch planning unit 120 then stores the confirmed dispatch plan in the vehicle dispatch plan database 12d and issues dispatch instructions to the corresponding vehicles V via the vehicle communication unit 130. Once the vehicle V dispatched (allocated) based on the dispatch request completes the dispatch service, it transmits driving history information to the vehicle dispatch management device 10, and the vehicle dispatch planning unit 120 stores this in the driving history information database 12e.

In the present disclosure, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 calculates the degree of variability in the estimated travel time required for travel between two specific points in the service area based on the travel history information stored in the travel history information database 12e, and issues an energy replenishment instruction to vehicles V whose remaining energy amount is below an energy replenishment reference value set according to the calculated degree of variability. As a result, the energy replenishment reference value is set taking into account the degree of variability in the estimated travel time required for travel between two specific points in the service area, making it possible to issue an energy replenishment instruction at an appropriate time to vehicles V with low remaining energy amounts when providing a vehicle dispatch service.

The vehicle communication unit 130 exchanges various information with the vehicle V via the communication network N. For example, the vehicle communication unit 130 acquires vehicle information including vehicle position information and remaining energy amount of the vehicle V and passes this information to the vehicle allocation planning unit 120, and also transmits driving instructions to the vehicle V in accordance with the vehicle allocation plan made by the vehicle allocation planning unit 120. The vehicle communication unit 130 also acquires driving performance information from the vehicle V that has completed the vehicle allocation service and passes this information to the vehicle allocation planning unit 120.

Next, the details of the vehicle dispatch planning unit 120 will be described. Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the details of the vehicle dispatch plan creation unit of a vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in the figure, the vehicle dispatch planning unit 120 includes a vehicle dispatch request acquisition unit 1201, a driving route determination unit 1202, a vehicle information acquisition unit 1203, a vehicle selection unit 1204, a vehicle dispatch plan creation unit 1205, a vehicle dispatch plan proposal unit 1206, a vehicle dispatch instruction unit 1207, a driving performance information management unit 1208, a demand amount calculation unit 1209, a variability calculation unit 1210, an energy replenishment reference value setting unit 1211, an energy replenishment determination unit 1212, and an energy replenishment instruction unit 1213.

The dispatch request acquisition unit 1201 acquires or accepts a dispatch request from a user via the front-end processing unit 110. The time at which the dispatch request acquisition unit 1201 acquires the dispatch request becomes the start time for timing various time limits (for example, the boarding limit time and disembarking limit time, which are the limit times by which the user must board or disembark).

The driving route determination unit 1202 determines the optimal driving route based on the dispatch request. Typically, a driving route is associated with its average expected travel time. For example, the driving route determination unit 1202 determines the driving route by having the route search engine perform a route search while referencing the road map information database 12b based on the boarding location (departure point) and disembarking location (destination) indicated in the dispatch request, and also calculates the average expected travel time by referencing the driving performance information database 12e. When the energy replenishment determination unit 1212 determines that the vehicle V needs to be replenished with energy, the driving route determination unit 1202 updates the driving route so that the vehicle V stops at a specified service station.

The vehicle information acquisition unit 1203 acquires vehicle information from each vehicle V via the vehicle communication unit 130 at a predetermined timing. The vehicle information may include vehicle position information and remaining energy amount of the vehicle V. For example, the vehicle information acquisition unit 1203 may acquire vehicle information transmitted from each vehicle V periodically, or may request a specific vehicle V to transmit vehicle information periodically or irregularly, and acquire vehicle information transmitted from the specific vehicle V in response. The vehicle information acquisition unit 1203 stores the acquired vehicle information of each vehicle V in the vehicle information database 12C.

The vehicle selection unit 1204 selects a vehicle V to be allocated to a user based on the received vehicle allocation request. For example, the vehicle selection unit 1204 selects a vehicle V that is available for allocation and traveling in the vicinity based on the boarding and disembarking points (starting point and destination) of the travel route indicated in the vehicle allocation request and the vehicle position indicated by the vehicle position information of vehicle V.

The vehicle allocation plan creation unit 1205 creates a vehicle allocation plan based on the travel route and the assigned vehicle V. At this point, the vehicle allocation plan is provisional because it has not yet been approved by the user. The vehicle allocation plan creation unit 1205 passes the provisional vehicle allocation plan to the vehicle allocation plan proposal unit 1210.

The vehicle allocation plan proposal unit 1206 proposes to the user a vehicle allocation plan for vehicle V created based on the determined driving route, and upon receiving the user's acceptance, confirms the vehicle allocation plan. That is, the vehicle allocation plan proposal unit 1206 transmits the vehicle allocation plan for vehicle V to the user's terminal device 20 via the front-end processing unit 110 and displays the vehicle allocation plan on the user interface of the terminal device 20. The user accepts or rejects the vehicle allocation plan, and in response, the terminal device 20 transmits a notification of acceptance or rejection. Upon receiving the user's acceptance notification via the front-end processing unit 110, the vehicle allocation plan proposal unit 1206 confirms the vehicle allocation plan and registers it in the vehicle allocation plan database 12d.

The dispatch instruction unit 1207 issues dispatch instructions to the vehicle V according to the confirmed dispatch plan. The control device CTL of the vehicle V that receives the dispatch instruction uses its navigation function to display a driving route according to the dispatch plan, for example, on a user interface. Alternatively, in the case of an unmanned vehicle, the control device CTL determines a detailed actual driving route according to the driving route in the dispatch plan and controls the vehicle to drive autonomously along the actual driving route.

When the driving history information management unit 1208 acquires driving history information transmitted from a vehicle V that has completed a dispatch service in accordance with a dispatch plan via the vehicle communication unit 130, it stores this information in the driving history information database 12e. In addition, the driving history information management unit 120811 creates road link travel time information such as that shown in Figure 3 based on the driving history information acquired from the vehicle V.

The demand calculation unit 1209, for example, references various databases 12 to calculate the demand for vehicle V dispatch during a specified time period. The demand may include current and/or predicted future demand for vehicle V dispatch. For example, the current demand may be the number of vehicles V (waiting) currently in dispatch service and currently being planned based on other dispatch requests at the time a certain dispatch request is received, based on the dispatch plan database 12d. Furthermore, the future demand may be the number of vehicles V expected to be in demand (dispatch requests) at a specific future time or time period, such as 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, or 1 hour after a reference time (e.g., the current time), based on the driving performance information in the driving performance information database 12e. As described below, for example, if current and/or future demand is high, the energy replenishment reference value setting unit 1211 sets a low energy replenishment reference value. Time periods with high demand may include, for example, commuting hours or times when events are held. This makes it possible to ensure a sufficient number of vehicles V available for the vehicle dispatch service when demand for dispatching vehicles V is high. Furthermore, the demand calculation unit 1209 may calculate demand by taking into account, in addition to driving performance information, environmental factors such as time, seasonal factors, and event hosting. The demand calculation unit 1209 may include a demand prediction model that has been subjected to machine learning according to a predetermined machine learning algorithm, with operation performance information and the like as explanatory variables and predicted demand as a target variable, for example.

The variability calculation unit 1210 calculates the variability of the estimated travel time for travel between specific two points, for example, based on the driving performance information stored in the driving performance information database 12e. More specifically, the variability calculation unit 1210 calculates the variability of the average estimated travel time by calculating the probability distribution of the average estimated travel time for travel between specific two points based on the road link travel time information stored in the driving performance information database 12e. In other words, the variability calculation unit 1210 calculates the variability based on the difference between the average estimated travel time (average value) for travel between specific two points and the effective estimated travel time corresponding to a predetermined variability threshold. As a result, by appropriately setting the predetermined variability threshold, it becomes possible to calculate the variability of the desired estimated travel time. The variability calculation unit 1210 calculates the variability, for example, at predetermined time intervals. Alternatively, the variability calculation unit 1210 may be configured to calculate the variability when it determines that the demand for dispatching vehicle V exceeds a predetermined demand threshold.

Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the degree of variability in estimated travel times calculated by a vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the figure shows a graph of the probability distribution of estimated travel times based on actual travel history information for a point-to-point route AB connecting a departure point A and a destination B and a point-to-point route CD connecting a departure point A and a destination B at a given time. The variability threshold is a value indicating the probability of deviation from a reference value (mean value). For example, |±σ| and |±2σ| in the standard normal distribution are examples of variability thresholds. In other words, the variability is the difference between the mean value of the estimated travel time in the probability distribution of estimated travel times and the travel time corresponding to the variability threshold. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the range from the mean value to the variability threshold is larger for the point-to-point route AB than for the point-to-point route CD, indicating a greater degree of variability in the estimated travel time. Note that the variability may be calculated using the third quartile instead of the standard deviation as described above. The figure also shows a first and second predetermined value for the probability distribution between two points A and B. The first and second predetermined values represent the lower and upper limits of the degree of variation.

It is also possible to calculate a probability distribution of the expected travel time for a driving route connecting two specific points. The expected travel time for a driving route can be determined, for example, by referencing the road map information database 12b, and then determined for the determined driving route based on the driving history information in the driving history information database 12e. When a driving route is not determined, the variability calculation unit 1210 simply uses the expected travel time for traveling between two points, thereby reducing the amount of calculation. On the other hand, when the expected travel time for a driving route connecting two specific points is used, the variability calculation unit 1210 can more accurately determine the degree of variability.

Returning to FIG. 4, the energy replenishment reference value setting unit 1211 sets an energy replenishment reference value for vehicle V based on the calculated degree of variation. For example, if the calculated degree of variation exceeds a first predetermined value, the energy replenishment reference value setting unit 1211 may change the energy replenishment reference value so that the energy replenishment reference value is increased. Here, the first predetermined value is a predetermined width in the probability distribution of the estimated required time (e.g., the length on the horizontal axis of the graph in FIG. 3). For example, the first predetermined value is set to a value approximately 1.3 times the estimated average required time. This makes it possible to set the energy replenishment reference value taking into account the degree of variation in the estimated required time, and to issue an energy replenishment instruction at an appropriate time to vehicles V with low remaining energy.

The energy replenishment reference value setting unit 1211 may also change the energy replenishment reference value so that the greater the degree of variation, the higher the energy replenishment reference value. This makes it possible to issue an energy replenishment instruction earlier to a vehicle V with a low remaining energy amount.

Furthermore, the energy replenishment reference value setting unit 1211 may change the energy replenishment reference value so that it increases until the degree of variability reaches a second predetermined value. The second predetermined value is a value greater than the first predetermined value. For example, the second predetermined value is set to a value approximately twice the expected average required time. In other words, the energy replenishment reference value setting unit 1211 may change the energy replenishment reference value in accordance with the degree of variability, with the second predetermined value as the upper limit. For example, the energy replenishment reference value may be changed so that it increases as the degree of variability increases. This reduces the number of energy replenishments and the number of vehicles V whose service is temporarily interrupted due to such replenishment. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the number of vehicles V available for dispatch while reducing congestion at the refueling facilities of specified service stations.

The energy replenishment reference value setting unit 1211 may also change the energy replenishment reference value so that it is higher for some of the vehicles V among all the vehicles V under the vehicle dispatch service. For example, the energy replenishment reference value setting unit 1211 may change the energy replenishment reference value so that it is higher for vehicles V that have a higher remaining energy amount than the average remaining energy amount of all the vehicles V under the vehicle dispatch service. This makes it possible to reduce the number of energy replenishments and the number of vehicles V whose service is temporarily interrupted due to this. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the number of vehicles V available for dispatch while reducing congestion at the refueling facilities of a specified service station.

Furthermore, when the demand amount calculated by the demand amount calculation unit 1209 exceeds a predetermined demand threshold, the energy replenishment reference value setting unit 1211 can set an energy replenishment reference value according to the demand amount in addition to the degree of variability. This makes it possible to limit the number of vehicles V whose dispatch service is temporarily suspended for energy replenishment when demand for dispatching vehicles V is high, thereby ensuring the number of vehicles V available for dispatch service.

The energy replenishment determination unit 1212 determines whether or not energy replenishment is required for each vehicle V based on the remaining energy amount of the vehicle V and the energy replenishment reference value. Specifically, the energy replenishment determination unit 1212 compares the remaining energy amount of each vehicle V acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit 1203 with the energy replenishment reference value set by the energy replenishment reference value setting unit 1211, and if the result of the comparison indicates that the remaining energy amount of the vehicle V is below the energy replenishment reference value, determines that energy replenishment is required for the vehicle V. The energy replenishment determination unit 1212 may also calculate the average value of the remaining energy amounts for all vehicles V under the vehicle dispatch service, and determine whether or not energy replenishment is required for each vehicle V based on the average value and the energy replenishment reference value. This makes it possible to avoid unintended service interruptions due to a lack of remaining energy in the vehicle V.

The energy replenishment instruction unit 1213 issues an energy replenishment instruction to a vehicle V that is determined to need energy replenishment via the vehicle communication unit 130. Specifically, when it is determined that vehicle V needs energy replenishment, the energy replenishment instruction unit 1213 requests an update of the vehicle V's dispatch plan (driving route) so that the vehicle V stops at a specified service station, and in response issues an energy replenishment instruction to the vehicle V in accordance with the updated dispatch plan. In this case, the dispatch plan creation unit 1205 may update the dispatch plan so that each vehicle V does not gather at a specific service station. A vehicle V that has received an energy replenishment instruction will move to the specified service station in accordance with the updated dispatch plan. Typically, a vehicle V that is traveling to a destination with a user on board will drop the user off at the destination and then head to the specified service station. The energy replenishment instruction unit 1213 may issue an energy replenishment instruction to a vehicle V that has a low remaining energy amount, for example. Specifically, the energy replenishment instruction unit 1213 gives priority to issuing energy replenishment instructions to vehicles V that are determined to need energy replenishment and have a lower current remaining energy amount. As a result, vehicles V whose remaining energy amount is below the energy replenishment reference value will head to a designated service station with a time lag, thereby avoiding congestion at the designated service station.

Figures 6A to 6C are flowcharts illustrating an example of processing related to an energy replenishment instruction for vehicle V by a vehicle dispatch management device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Note that Figure 6B shows details of process S603 shown in Figure 6A, and Figure 6C shows details of process S604 shown in Figure 6A. This processing is realized by the vehicle dispatch management device 10 executing a vehicle dispatch management server program under the control of a processor, in cooperation with various hardware resources. For example, the vehicle dispatch planning unit 120 of the vehicle dispatch management device 10 executes this processing at a predetermined timing (e.g., every 30 minutes, every 60 minutes, or every 3 hours).

As shown in Figure A, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 acquires vehicle information from each vehicle V (S601). Here, the vehicle information may include vehicle position information and remaining energy amount of vehicle V. Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 calculates the degree of variability in the estimated travel time for travel between two specific points based on, for example, the travel history information stored in the travel history information database 12e (S602). The degree of variability depends on the difference between the average estimated travel time in the probability distribution of the estimated travel time and the travel time corresponding to a predetermined variability threshold.

Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 sets or updates the energy replenishment reference value based on the calculated degree of variation (S603). That is, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines whether the degree of variation is greater than a first predetermined value (S6031 in FIG. 6B). If the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that the degree of variation is not greater than the first predetermined value (No in S6031), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 proceeds to the energy replenishment determination processing step (S604) described below. In other words, at this timing, the energy replenishment reference value is not set based on the degree of variation, and the need for energy replenishment for vehicle V is determined based on the current energy replenishment reference value.

On the other hand, if the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that the degree of variation is greater than the first predetermined value (Yes in S6031), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 then determines whether the degree of variation is less than the second predetermined value (S6032). Also, if the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that the degree of variation is not less than the second predetermined value (No in S6032), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 proceeds to the energy replenishment determination processing step (S604) described below. In other words, if the degree of variation has reached the second predetermined value, the energy replenishment reference value is no longer changed.

On the other hand, if the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that the degree of variation is smaller than the second predetermined value (Yes in S6032), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 then calculates the demand volume for dispatching vehicle V during a predetermined time period (S6033). The demand volume is calculated, for example, based on the driving performance information in the driving performance information database 12e. Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines whether the calculated demand volume is greater than a predetermined demand threshold value (S6034).

If the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that the calculated demand amount is greater than the predetermined demand threshold (Yes in S6034), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 sets an energy replenishment reference value based on the degree of variability and the demand amount (S6035). For example, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 may temporarily set an energy replenishment reference value according to the degree of variability, and then further adjust or modify the energy replenishment reference value according to the demand amount, thereby setting the energy replenishment reference value. In this case, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 may set the energy replenishment reference value so that the greater the degree of variability, the higher the energy replenishment reference value.

On the other hand, if the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that the calculated demand amount is not greater than the predetermined demand threshold (No in S6034), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 sets an energy replenishment standard value based on the degree of variability (S6036).

After the energy replenishment reference value setting process step (S603) as described above, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 performs an energy replenishment determination process (S604). That is, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 compares the acquired remaining energy amount of each vehicle V with the energy replenishment reference value (S6041 in FIG. 6C). The remaining energy amount may be the average value of the remaining energy amounts for all vehicles V under the vehicle dispatch service. Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines, as a result of the comparison, whether there is any vehicle V whose remaining energy amount is below the energy replenishment reference value (S6042).

If the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that there is no vehicle V whose remaining energy amount is below the energy replenishment reference value (No in S6042), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 does not issue an energy replenishment instruction to the vehicle V at this timing and terminates the processing.

On the other hand, if the vehicle dispatch management device 10 determines that there is a vehicle V whose remaining energy amount is below the energy replenishment reference value (Yes in S6042), the vehicle dispatch management device 10 then selects a vehicle V to be targeted for energy replenishment (S6043). Typically, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 selects all vehicles V whose remaining energy amount is below the energy replenishment reference value, but if, for example, congestion at a specified service station is expected, only some of the vehicles V may be selected. As an example, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 may select vehicles in order, giving priority to vehicles with the lowest current remaining energy amount. Therefore, vehicles V whose remaining energy amount is below the energy replenishment reference value will head to the specified service station with a time lag, thereby avoiding congestion at the specified service station.

After the energy replenishment determination processing step (S604) described above, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 updates the vehicle dispatch plan for the vehicle V selected as the target for energy replenishment (S605). In other words, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 changes the driving route so that the selected vehicle V stops at a specified service station, and updates the vehicle dispatch plan.

Next, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 issues an energy replenishment instruction to the vehicle V that is the target of energy replenishment in accordance with the updated vehicle dispatch plan (S606). The vehicle V that has received the energy replenishment instruction will move to a specified service station in accordance with the updated vehicle dispatch plan.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 sets an energy replenishment reference value based on the degree of variability in the estimated travel time between two specific points in the service area and determines whether the remaining energy amount of a vehicle V has fallen below the energy replenishment reference value, making it possible to issue an energy replenishment instruction at an appropriate time to a vehicle V that does not have enough remaining energy for the vehicle dispatch service. In particular, according to this embodiment, if the degree of variability in the estimated travel time for the trip is large, the vehicle dispatch management device 10 sets a correspondingly high energy replenishment reference value, making it possible to prepare in advance a vehicle V that has sufficient energy required for a significant delay in the estimated travel time.

The above embodiments are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to these embodiments. The present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, in the methods disclosed herein, steps, operations, or functions may be performed in parallel or in a different order, provided that the results are consistent. The steps, operations, and functions described are provided merely as examples, and some of the steps, operations, and functions may be omitted or combined into one, or other steps, operations, or functions may be added, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In addition, while various embodiments are disclosed in this specification, specific features (technical matters) in one embodiment may be added to or substituted for specific features in other embodiments, with appropriate modifications, and such forms are also within the scope of the present invention.

1... Vehicle dispatch management system 10... Vehicle dispatch management device 110... Front-end processing unit 120... Vehicle dispatch planning unit 1201... Vehicle dispatch request acquisition unit 1202... Travel route determination unit 1203... Vehicle information acquisition unit 1204... Vehicle selection unit 1205... Vehicle dispatch plan creation unit 1206... Vehicle dispatch plan proposal unit 1207... Vehicle dispatch instruction unit 1208... Travel performance information management unit 1209... Demand amount calculation unit 1210... Variation calculation unit 1211... Energy replenishment standard value setting unit 1213... Energy replenishment determination unit 1214... Energy replenishment instruction unit 130... Vehicle communication unit 12... Database 12a... User information database 12b... Road map information database 12c... Vehicle information database 12d... Vehicle dispatch plan database 12e... Driving performance information database 20... Terminal device 30... Road traffic information management system N... Communication network V... Vehicle CTL... Control device

Claims (12)

A vehicle allocation management device that manages vehicle allocation in a service area,
a driving record information database that stores driving record information of each of the vehicles in the service area;
a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information including at least a remaining energy amount of each of the vehicles;
a variation calculation unit that calculates a variation in an expected travel time for travel between two specific points in the service area based on the travel history information;
an energy replenishment reference value setting unit that sets an energy replenishment reference value for the vehicle based on the calculated degree of variation;
an energy replenishment determination unit that determines whether or not energy replenishment is required for each vehicle based on the acquired remaining energy amount of each vehicle and the set energy replenishment reference value;
an energy replenishment instruction unit that issues an energy replenishment instruction to the vehicle when it is determined that energy replenishment to the vehicle is necessary;
Vehicle dispatch management device. the energy replenishment reference value setting unit changes the energy replenishment reference value so as to increase the energy replenishment reference value when the degree of variation exceeds a first predetermined value.
The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 . the energy replenishment reference value setting unit changes the energy replenishment reference value so that the energy replenishment reference value becomes higher as the degree of variation increases.
The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 2. the energy replenishment reference value setting unit changes the energy replenishment reference value so as to increase the energy replenishment reference value until the degree of variation reaches a second predetermined value that is greater than the first predetermined value.
The vehicle allocation management device according to claim 3. the energy replenishment reference value setting unit changes the energy replenishment reference value for some of the plurality of vehicles.
The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 . a demand amount calculation unit that calculates a demand amount related to the dispatch of the vehicle in a predetermined time period;
The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 . the energy replenishment reference value setting unit sets the energy replenishment reference value in accordance with the demand amount when the demand amount exceeds a predetermined demand threshold value.
The vehicle allocation management device according to claim 6. the energy replenishment determination unit determines whether or not energy replenishment is required for each vehicle based on an average value of the remaining energy amounts of all the vehicles and the energy replenishment reference value.
The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 . the energy replenishment instruction unit gives an energy replenishment instruction preferentially to a vehicle having a low remaining energy amount among all of the vehicles.
The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 8. the variation calculation unit calculates the variation of the predicted required time for the travel route between the specific two points;
The vehicle dispatch control device according to claim 1 . A vehicle allocation management method for managing vehicle allocation in a service area, comprising:
managing driving history information of each of the vehicles in a driving history information database;
acquiring vehicle information including at least a remaining energy amount of each of the vehicles;
Calculating a degree of variation in an expected travel time between two specific points in the service area based on the travel history information;
setting an energy replenishment reference value for the vehicle based on the calculated degree of variation;
determining whether or not energy replenishment is required for each vehicle based on the acquired remaining energy amount of each vehicle and the set energy replenishment reference value;
When it is determined that the vehicle needs to be replenished with energy, issuing an energy replenishment instruction to the vehicle.
Vehicle allocation management method. 1. A computer program product causing a computing device, under control of a processor, to perform a method for managing the dispatch of vehicles in a service area, the computer program product comprising:
The method comprises:
managing driving history information of each of the vehicles in a driving history information database;
acquiring vehicle information including at least a remaining energy amount of each of the vehicles;
Calculating a degree of variation in an expected travel time between two specific points in the service area based on the travel history information;
setting an energy replenishment reference value for the vehicle based on the calculated degree of variation;
determining whether or not energy replenishment is required for each vehicle based on the acquired remaining energy amount of each vehicle and the set energy replenishment reference value;
When it is determined that the vehicle needs to be replenished with energy, issuing an energy replenishment instruction to the vehicle.
Computer program.