Transport service method, vehicle platooning method, vehicle group navigation system, self-driving vehicle capable of platooning, and grouped vehicle guidance device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11623663-B2
Application number	US-202016893484-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2020
Priority date	Dec 5, 2017
Publication date	Apr 11, 2023
Grant date	Apr 11, 2023

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a transport service method comprises organizing a vehicle group of a plurality of self-driving vehicles in which a parameter value inherent to vehicles falls within a predetermined range, and controlling cooperative travel of the self-driving vehicles in the vehicle group to perform transport service of baggage, persons, animals, and the like.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transport service method for a plurality of self-driving vehicles in which a parameter value inherent to vehicles falls within a predetermined range, the method comprising:
organizing the plurality of self-driving vehicles into a vehicle group including a self-driving command vehicle and at least one self-driving following vehicle;
performing transport service of a load using an inter-vehicle distance measurement unit, a communication control unit, and a travel control unit, the inter-vehicle distance measurement unit measuring an inter-vehicle distance from a front vehicle, the communication control unit allowing exchange of information with other vehicles in the vehicle group, and the travel control unit controlling cooperative travel of the plurality of self-driving vehicles;
obtaining, by a server which manages navigation of the plurality of self-driving vehicles, information about the plurality of self-driving vehicles at an acceptance of reservation performed prior to performing the transport service, wherein the information includes at least the parameter value of each of the plurality of self-driving vehicles; and
achieving an organization condition of the vehicle group based on the information.

2. The transport service method of claim 1 , wherein:
the parameter value comprises a gross weight when loaded with the load; and
a ratio of a maximum value to a minimum value of the parameter value of each of the self-driving vehicles in the same vehicle group is set to 1000 or less.

3. The transport service method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the server, adaptability of a predetermined self-driving following vehicle for the vehicle group before the predetermined self-driving following vehicle merges with the vehicle group; and
making a notice to the predetermined self-driving following vehicle when it is determined that the predetermined self-driving following vehicle does not have an aptitude for the vehicle group.

4. The transport service method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the self-driving command vehicle, adaptability of a predetermined self-driving following vehicle for the vehicle group when the predetermined self-driving following vehicle is in cooperative traveling in the vehicle group, and
making a notice to the server when it is determined that the predetermined self-driving following vehicle does not have an aptitude for the vehicle group.

5. The transport service method of claim 1 , wherein:
the parameter value comprises an overtaking acceleration when loaded with the load; and
a ratio of a maximum value to a minimum value of the parameter value of each of the self-driving vehicles in the same vehicle group is set to 1000 or less.

Assignees

• Toshiba Digital Solutions Corp

Inventors

• Kobayashi Megumi
• Hatafuku Yasuto
• Samejima Masahiro
• Kubo Hideki
• Iwasaki Motokazu
• Ikeda Yoko
• IUCHI Shinsuke
• Takemoto Kiyoshi
• Higashi Keishi
• Kitami Kaori
• Doi Masaharu
• Shiraishi Tatsuki
• Ogata Keiji
• Yamaoka Yoshiki
• Watabiki Masaru
• Nagai Takeshi
• Uozumi Masao
• Saito Masatomo
• Sato Michiyo
• Takahashi Masanori

Classifications

• G08G1/202

  Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching · CPC title

• B60W2300/12

  Trucks; Load vehicles · CPC title

• B60W30/16

  Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle · CPC title

• B60W60/0025

  specially adapted for specific operations · CPC title

• B60W40/04

  Traffic conditions · CPC title