Patent ID: 12202494

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.

With reference toFIG.1, an overview of a system1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

The system1includes a vehicle10and an information processing apparatus20. The vehicle10and the information processing apparatus20are communicably connected to a network30.

The vehicle10may be, for example, an automobile, but is not limited thereto and may be any vehicle. The automobile may be, for example, a gasoline-powered vehicle, a battery electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a fuel cell electric vehicle, but is not limited thereto. The vehicle10may be driven by a driver or driven at any level of automation. The level of automation may be, for example, one of Level 1 to Level 5 classified by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) leveling. The vehicle10may be a vehicle dedicated to Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS).

The information processing apparatus20may be a computer, such as a server belonging to a cloud computing system or another computing system.

The network30includes the Internet, at least one wide area network (WAN), at least one metropolitan area network (MAN), or any combination thereof. The network30may include at least one wireless network, at least one optical network, or any combination thereof. An example of the wireless network includes an ad hoc network, a cellular network, a wireless local area network (LAN), a satellite communication network, or a terrestrial microwave network.

With reference toFIG.1, an overview of the present embodiment will be described.

A control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires the number of times of operations or an operation time of an operation unit14provided in the vehicle at a time at which the operation unit1410has operated. Further, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires surroundings information around the vehicle10at the time at which the operation unit14has operated. Further, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20calculates a wear degree of the operation unit14by multiplying a wear coefficient which corresponds to surroundings indicated by the acquired surroundings information by the acquired number of times of operations or operation time.

As described above, with the present embodiment, in calculating the wear degree of the operation unit14provided in the vehicle10, a wear coefficient according to the surroundings around the vehicle10is taken into consideration in addition to the number of times of operation or the operation time of the operation unit14. Therefore, it is possible to improve the technique for appropriately grasping the wear degree of the vehicle part. As such, it is possible to recommend replacement or maintenance of a vehicle part at an appropriate time.

With reference toFIG.2, a configuration of the vehicle10according to the present embodiment will be described.

The vehicle10includes a control unit11, a communication unit12, a storage unit13, the operation unit14, and a detection unit15.

The control unit11includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. An example of the processor includes a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process, but is not limited thereto. An example of the programmable circuit includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), but is not limited thereto. An example of the dedicated circuit includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), but is not limited thereto. The control unit11executes processing on an operation of the vehicle10while controlling each unit of the vehicle10. Further, the control unit11measures the number of times of operations or the operation time of the operation unit14.

The communication unit12includes at least one communication interface. The communication interface may be an interface corresponding to a mobile communication standard, such as Fourth Generation (4G) or Fifth Generation (5G). For example, an in-vehicle communication device, such as a data communication module (DCM), may function as the communication unit12. The communication unit12receives data used for the operation of the vehicle10and transmits data obtained by the operation of the vehicle10.

The storage unit13includes at least one semiconductor memory, at least one magnetic memory, at least one optical memory, or any combination thereof. An example of the semiconductor memory includes a random access memory (RAM) or a read-only memory (ROM). An example of the RAM includes a static random access memory (SRAM) or a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). An example of the ROM includes an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). The storage unit13functions as, for example, a primary storage device, a secondary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit13stores data used for the operation of the vehicle10and data obtained by the operation of the vehicle10. The data used for the operation of the vehicle10includes a system program, an application program, a database, and the like.

The operation unit14includes a vehicle part provided in the vehicle10. The vehicle part may be a main part having an electric control unit (ECU), or may be a component part having no ECU. An example of the operation unit14includes a wiper, an in-vehicle camera, a tire, a hybrid control ECU, or a brake.

The detection unit15includes at least one global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver. An example of the GNSS includes the Global Positioning System (GPS), the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), the BeiDou™ Navigation Satellite System (BDS), a Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), or Galileo. The detection unit15detects a position of the vehicle10.

With reference toFIG.3, a configuration of the information processing apparatus20according to the present embodiment will be described.

The information processing apparatus20includes the control unit21, a communication unit22, and a storage unit23.

The control unit21includes at least one processor, at least one programmable circuit, at least one dedicated circuit, or any combination thereof. An example of the processor includes a general-purpose processor, such as a CPU or a GPU, or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process, but is not limited thereto. An example of the programmable circuit includes an FPGA, but is not limited thereto. An example of the dedicated circuit includes an ASIC, but is not limited thereto. The control unit21executes processing on an operation of the information processing apparatus20while controlling each unit of the information processing apparatus20.

The communication unit22includes at least one communication interface. The communication interface corresponds to, for example, a mobile communication standard, a wired LAN standard, or a wireless LAN standard, but is not limited thereto, and may correspond to any communication standard. The communication unit22receives data used for the operation of the information processing apparatus20and transmits data obtained by the operation of the information processing apparatus20.

The storage unit23includes at least one semiconductor memory, at least one magnetic memory, at least one optical memory, or any combination thereof. An example of the semiconductor memory includes a RAM or a ROM. An example of the RAM includes an SRAM or a DRAM. An example of the ROM includes an EEPROM. The storage unit23functions as, for example, a primary storage device, a secondary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit23stores the data used for the operation of the information processing apparatus20and the data obtained by the operation of the information processing apparatus20. In the present embodiment, the data used for the operation of the information processing apparatus20includes a system program, an application program, a database, and the like.

With reference toFIG.4, an operation example 1 of the information processing apparatus20according to the present embodiment will be described.

In this example, it is described that the weather around the vehicle10changes from sunny weather to rainy or snowy weather during one trip of the vehicle10, and a wiper corresponding to the operation unit14operates. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the operation unit14may be an in-vehicle camera or a tire. The one trip of the vehicle10means a traveling movement of the vehicle10from a time at which an ignition switch or a power switch of the vehicle10is turned on to a time at which it is turned off.

Step S10: The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires position information of the vehicle10at the time at which the operation unit14provided in the vehicle10has operated.

Specifically, upon sensing the operation of the operation unit14provided in the vehicle10, the control unit11of the vehicle10acquires the position information of the vehicle10via the detection unit15. Next, the control unit11of the vehicle10transmits the acquired position information of the vehicle10to the information processing apparatus20via the communication unit12. Next, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires the position information of the vehicle10from the vehicle10via the communication unit22. Next, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20stores the acquired position information of the vehicle10in the storage unit23.

Step S11: The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires weather information at a position indicated by the position information, acquired in step S10, of the vehicle10. The weather information corresponds to the surroundings information around the vehicle10at the time at which the operation unit14provided in the vehicle10has operated.

Specifically, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires the weather information at the position indicated by the position information, acquired in step S10, of the vehicle10from a server or the like of a business operator who offers the weather information via the communication unit22. For example, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20associates the position information of the vehicle10and the weather information by acquiring the weather information at a plurality of points provided at predetermined intervals on a traveling route in one trip of the vehicle10. Next, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20stores the acquired weather information in the storage unit23.

Step S12: The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires the number of times of operations of the operation unit14at the time at which the operation unit14provided in the vehicle10has operated. The operation time may be acquired instead of the number of times of operation.

Specifically, upon sensing the operation of the operation unit14provided in the vehicle10, the control unit11of the vehicle10measures the number of times of operations of the operation unit14. Next, the control unit11of the vehicle10associates the position information, acquired in step S10, of the vehicle10with the measured number of times of operation of the operation unit14, and transmits it to the information processing apparatus20via the communication unit12. Next, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires, from the vehicle10via the communication unit22, the position information, acquired in step S10, of the vehicle10and the number of times of operation of the operation unit14associated with the position information. Here, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20may specify, based on the weather information, acquired in step S11, corresponding to the surroundings information, the number of times of operations (hereinafter, referred to as “the number of times of operations in the rainy or the snowy weather”) of the operation unit14in the rainy or the snowy weather and the number of times of operations (hereinafter, referred to as “the number of times of operations in the sunny weather”) of the operation unit14in the sunny weather from among the number of times of operations of the operation unit14acquired by the above method.

The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20executes the above-described processes of steps S10to S12at a predetermined timing. An example of the predetermined timing may be the end of one trip of the vehicle10or once a day, but is not limited thereto.

Step S13: The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires a wear coefficient which corresponds to the weather indicated by the weather information, acquired in step S11, corresponding to the surroundings information.

Specifically, the storage unit23of the information processing apparatus20stores in advance wear coefficients which correspond to any weather conditions, respectively. The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires the wear coefficient which corresponds to the weather indicated by the weather information acquired in step S11, from among the wear coefficients which correspond to any weather conditions, stored in the storage unit23, respectively. For example, the storage unit23of the information processing apparatus20stores in advance a wear coefficient (hereinafter, referred to as a “wear coefficient in the rainy or the snowy weather”) multiplied by the number of times of operations in the rainy or the snowy weather, and a wear coefficient (hereinafter, referred to as a “wear coefficient in the sunny weather”) multiplied by the number of times of operations in the sunny weather. Here, a value of the wear coefficient in the rainy or the snowy weather may be higher than a value of the wear coefficient in the sunny weather. For example, the value of the wear coefficient in the rainy or the snowy weather may be “2”. Further, for example, the value of the wear coefficient in the sunny weather may be “1”. This is because the wiper corresponding to the operation unit14is heavily worn in an area in which it rains or snows a lot, and it is recommended that maintenance be executed in a cycle of approximately half the cycle that maintenance is executed in an area in which it is mostly sunny.

Step S14: The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20calculates the wear degree of the operation unit14by multiplying the wear coefficient acquired in step S13by the number of times of operations acquired in step S12.

Specifically, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20calculates the wear degree using the following equation (1). The wear degree may be a cumulative value of a wear degree calculated in each trip.
[Formula 1]
Wear degree=[wear coefficient in rainy or snowy weather]×[number of times of operations in rainy or snowy weather]+[wear coefficient in sunny weather]×[number of times of operation in sunny weather]  (1)

Step S15: The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20determines whether to replace the operation unit14based on a comparison between the wear degree calculated in step S14and a predetermined threshold value.

Specifically, when the wear degree calculated in step S14exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20determines to replace the operation unit14. The predetermined threshold value may be set in advance by any method and stored in advance in the storage unit23such that the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20can refer to it when executing this step.

Step S16: The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20outputs a determination result of step S15.

Specifically, upon determining to replace the operation unit14in step S15, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20notifies the vehicle10or any user terminal of the determination result via the communication unit22. As such, it is possible to notify the user of an appropriate replacement time of the wiper corresponding to the operation unit14in, for example, the area in which it rains or snows a lot.

With reference toFIG.5, an operation example 2 of the information processing apparatus20according to the present embodiment will be described.

In this example, it is described that the vehicle10travels on a flat ground and on a slope during one trip of a hybrid electric vehicle corresponding to the vehicle10. Further, in this example, it is described that the operation unit14is a hybrid control ECU. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the vehicle10may be a vehicle other than a hybrid electric vehicle. Further, the operation unit14may be, for example, a brake or a tire. The slope may be defined as, for example, an uphill or downhill vehicle road having a gradient equal to or higher than 4 degrees. Further, the flat ground may be defined as, for example, a vehicle road having a gradient lower than 4 degrees.

Step S20: The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires the position information of the vehicle10at the time at which the operation unit14provided in the vehicle10has operated.

Specifically, upon sensing the operation of the operation unit14provided in the vehicle10, the control unit11of the vehicle10acquires the position information of the vehicle10via the detection unit15. Next, the control unit11of the vehicle10transmits the acquired position information of the vehicle10to the information processing apparatus20via the communication unit12. Next, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires the position information of the vehicle10from the vehicle10via the communication unit22. Next, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20stores the acquired position information of the vehicle10in the storage unit23.

Step S21: The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires gradient information at a position indicated by the position information, acquired in step S20, of the vehicle10. The gradient information corresponds to the surroundings information around the vehicle10at the time at which the operation unit14provided in the vehicle10has operated.

Specifically, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20specifies the traveling route of the vehicle10by analyzing a temporal transition of the position indicated by the position information, acquired in step S20, of the vehicle10. Next, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires altitude information indicating altitudes of any two points on the specified traveling route, from a server or the like of a business operator who offers three-dimensional map information via the communication unit22. Next, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20calculates a gradient between any two points (for example, a predetermined minute section) on the traveling route from the acquired altitude information. Next, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20stores, in the storage unit23, the gradient information indicated by the calculated gradient.

Step S22: The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires the operation time of the operation unit14at the time at which the operation unit14provided in the vehicle10has operated. The number of times of operations may be acquired instead of the operation time.

Specifically, upon sensing the operation of the operation unit14provided in the vehicle10, the control unit11of the vehicle10measures the operation time of the operation unit14. Next, the control unit11of the vehicle10associates the position information, acquired in step S20, of the vehicle10with the measured operation time of the operation unit14, and transmits it to the information processing apparatus20via the communication unit12. Next, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires, from the vehicle10via the communication unit22, the position information, acquired in step S20, of the vehicle10and the operation time of the operation unit14associated with the position information. Here, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20may specify, based on the gradient information, acquired in step S21, corresponding to the surroundings information, the operation time (hereinafter, referred to as an “operation time on the slope”) of the operation unit14on the traveling route of the vehicle10having a gradient equal to or higher than a predetermined value and the operation time (hereinafter, referred to as an “operation time on the flat ground”) of the operation unit14on the traveling route of the vehicle10having a gradient lower than the predetermined value from among the operation time of the operation unit14acquired by the above method.

The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20executes the above-described processes of steps S20to S22at a predetermined timing. An example of the predetermined timing may be the end of one trip of the vehicle10or once a day, but is not limited thereto.

Step S23: The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires a wear coefficient which corresponds to the gradient indicated by the gradient information, acquired in step S21, corresponding to the surroundings information.

Specifically, the storage unit23of the information processing apparatus20stores in advance wear coefficients which correspond to any gradients, respectively. The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires the wear coefficient which corresponds to the gradient indicated by the gradient information acquired in step S21, from among the wear coefficients which correspond to any gradients, stored in the storage unit23, respectively. For example, the storage unit23of the information processing apparatus20stores in advance a wear coefficient (hereinafter, referred to as a “wear coefficient on the slope”) multiplied by the operation time on the traveling route of the vehicle10having a gradient equal to or higher than the predetermined value, and a wear coefficient (hereinafter, referred to as a “wear coefficient on the flat ground”) multiplied by the operation time on the traveling route of the vehicle10having a gradient lower than the predetermined value. Here, a value of the wear coefficient on the slope may be higher than a value of the wear coefficient on the flat ground. For example, the value of the wear coefficient on the slope may be “2”. Further, for example, the value of the wear coefficient on the flat ground may be “1”. This is because, for example, in a hybrid electric vehicle, the hybrid control ECU tends to be more remarkably worn on the slope than on the flat ground.

Step S24: The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20calculates the wear degree of the operation unit14by multiplying the wear coefficient acquired in step S23by the operation time acquired in step S22.

Specifically, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20calculates the wear degree by the following equation (2). The wear degree may be a cumulative value of a wear degree calculated in each trip.
[Formula 2]
Wear degree=[wear coefficient on slope]×[operation time on slope]+[wear coefficient on flat ground]×[operation time on flat ground]  (2)

Step S25: The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20determines whether to maintain the operation unit14based on a comparison between the wear degree calculated in step S24and a predetermined threshold value.

Specifically, when the wear degree calculated in step S24exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20determines to maintain the operation unit14. The predetermined threshold value may be set in advance by any method and stored in advance in the storage unit23such that the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20can refer to it when executing this step.

Step S26: The control unit21of the information processing apparatus20outputs a determination result of step S25.

Specifically, upon determining to maintain the operation unit14in step S25, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20notifies the vehicle10or any user terminal of the determination result via the communication unit22. As such, it is possible to notify the user of an appropriate maintenance time of, for example, a hybrid electric vehicle used in an area with many slopes.

As described above, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20according to the present embodiment acquires the number of times of operations or the operation time of the operation unit14provided in the vehicle10at the time at which the operation unit14has operated. Further, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20acquires surroundings information around the vehicle10at the time at which the operation unit14has operated. Further, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20calculates the wear degree of the operation unit14by multiplying a wear coefficient which corresponds to surroundings indicated by the acquired surroundings information by the acquired number of times of operations or operation time.

With the above configuration, in calculating the wear degree of the operation unit14provided in the vehicle10, the wear coefficient according to the surroundings around the vehicle10is taken into consideration in addition to the number of times of operation or the operation time of the operation unit14. Therefore, it is possible to improve the technique for appropriately grasping the wear degree of the vehicle part. As such, it is possible to recommend replacement or maintenance of the vehicle part at an appropriate time.

Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations based on the present disclosure. It should be noted, therefore, that these modifications and variations are within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions and the like included in each element, each step, or the like can be rearranged so as not to be logically contradictory, and a plurality of elements, steps, operation examples, or the like can be combined into one or divided.

As a modified example, an embodiment in which the configuration and the operation of the information processing apparatus20are distributed to a plurality of computers capable of communicating with each other is also possible. Further, for example, an embodiment in which a part or all the components of the information processing apparatus20are provided in the vehicle10is also possible.

As a modified example, instead of step S15or S25described above, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20may infer a replacement time or a maintenance time of the operation unit14based on the method of accumulating the wear degree calculated in step S14or S24. For example, upon inferring that the wear degree between a vehicle inspection next time and a vehicle inspection subsequently after the next time exceeds a predetermined threshold value based on how much the wear degree between a vehicle inspection subsequently before the last time and a vehicle inspection last time has increased, and a current wear degree, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20may determine to replace or maintain the operation unit14at the next vehicle inspection.

As a modified example, instead of steps S15and S16, or steps S25and S26described above, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20may output the wear degree calculated in step S14or S24.

As a modified example, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20may calculate the wear coefficient based on a type of the vehicle10or a driving skill or a driving habit of a driver. For example, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20learns a correspondence between the type of vehicle10or the driving skill or the driving habit of the driver, and a replacement frequency or a maintenance frequency of the operation unit14, using any machine learning technique. Next, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20calculates the wear coefficient according to the type of the vehicle10, or the driving skill or the driving habit of the driver, based on a learning result. For example, with respect to a tire or a brake corresponding to the operation unit14, a heavy vehicle10, a vehicle10of a driver with a poor driving skill, or a vehicle10of a driver with a high frequency of sudden braking tends to have a higher replacement frequency or maintenance frequency than a light vehicle10, a vehicle10of a driver with a high driving skill, or a vehicle10of a driver with a low frequency of sudden braking, and thus a higher wear coefficient is set to the former case than the latter case. Next, the control unit21of the information processing apparatus20stores, in the storage unit23, the calculated wear coefficient. As such, the wear coefficient is customized according to the type of the vehicle or the driving skill or the driving habit of the driver.

As a modified example, an embodiment in which a general-purpose computer functions as the information processing apparatus20according to the above-described embodiment is also possible. Specifically, a program describing processing contents that implements each function of the information processing apparatus20according to the above-described embodiment is stored in a memory of the general-purpose computer, and the program is read and executed by a processor. Therefore, the disclosure according to the present embodiment can also be implemented as a program that can be executed by a processor or a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing the program. The non-transitory computer-readable medium is an example of a storage medium.