U.S. patent application number 10/685474 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-29 for automobile car control method and traffic control system.
Invention is credited to Fushiki, Takumi, Yamane, Kenichiro, Yokota, Takayoshi.
Application Number | 20040083037 10/685474 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18798038 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040083037 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yamane, Kenichiro ; et
al. |
April 29, 2004 |
Automobile car control method and traffic control system
Abstract
It is possible to control a car group having a probe car at the
head thereof or a whole traffic flow including the car group, with
due regard to the efficiency, safety and environment. A probe car
system includes a device for inputting a control strategy and/or a
car group strategy, based on a road map database or traffic data; a
device for evaluating propriety of the strategy and determining a
proper strategy; and a device for transmitting the proper strategy
to the probe car.
Inventors: |
Yamane, Kenichiro; (Hitachi,
JP) ; Yokota, Takayoshi; (Hitachiota, JP) ;
Fushiki, Takumi; (Hitachi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANTONELLI, TERRY, STOUT & KRAUS, LLP
1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
SUITE 1800
ARLINGTON
VA
22209-9889
US
|
Family ID: |
18798038 |
Appl. No.: |
10/685474 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10685474 |
Oct 16, 2003 |
|
|
|
09793513 |
Feb 27, 2001 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/1 ;
701/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08G 1/0104 20130101;
G08G 1/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/001 ;
701/117 |
International
Class: |
G06F 019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 16, 2000 |
JP |
2000-319606 |
Claims
1. A probe car control method for controlling behavior of cars,
comprising the steps of: inputting a control strategy concerning
behavior of a probe car and/or a car group strategy concerning
behavior of a car group having a probe car at head thereof, based
on a road map database or traffic data collected in real time;
evaluating propriety of the strategy; and transmitting a proper
strategy to the probe car to control the probe car.
2. A probe car control apparatus for controlling behavior of cars,
comprising: a road map database; a car group control strategy input
section for inputting a control strategy concerning behavior of a
probe car and/or a car group strategy concerning behavior of a car
group having a probe car at head thereof, based on a road map
database or traffic data collected in real time; a car group
control strategy evaluating and determining section for evaluating
propriety of the strategy and determining a proper strategy; and a
car group control strategy transmission section for transmitting
the proper strategy to the probe car.
3. A probe car control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
control strategy of the probe car inputted by the car group control
strategy input section comprises an index concerning a speed such
as a desired speed of the probe car and/or an index concerning
steering operation such as a lane change.
4. A probe car control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
car group control strategy evaluating and determining section
comprises a traffic simulator for evaluating propriety of the
strategy.
5. A probe car control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
traffic data comprises: car traveling data transmitted from an
in-vehicle terminal having a transmission function via radio
communication means such as a beacon on a road or a base station of
portable telephone or PHS; fixed point passing traffic data
measured by a car sensor on a road; road image processing data
measured by an image sensor; or indication schedule data of
intersection signals.
6. A traffic control system comprising: a traffic data storage for
collecting and storing traffic data in real time; and a probe car
control apparatus according to claim 2; and a radio communication
section serving as intermediation means for coupling an in-vehicle
terminal, the probe car control apparatus, and the traffic data
storage, or an intersection signal by using radio communication,
wherein a car group having a probe car at head thereof or a whole
traffic flow including the car group is controlled by controlling a
probe car having the in-vehicle terminal.
7. A probe car control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
car group strategy of the probe car inputted by the car group
control strategy input section is forming car groups by disposing
probe cars in suitable positions based on traffic data; canceling a
car group by making a probe car leave a car group or making a probe
car an ordinary car; or integrate car groups into one car group by
controlling probe cars leading a plurality of car groups.
8. A probe car control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a
method for disposing probe cars in the control strategy or car
group strategy of probe cars inputted by the car group control
strategy input section is: a method of selecting suitable cars as
probe cars from among traveling ordinary cars, based on traffic
data; or a method of previously disposing cars dedicated cars to be
used as probe cars, selecting probe cars to be squeezed between
ordinary cars, and selecting positions and methods of
squeezing.
9. A probe car control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
subject cars of the control strategy or car group strategy of probe
cars inputted by the car group control strategy input section are
all cars traveling on a subject section.
10. A probe car control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
indices used in an evaluation function for evaluating propriety of
the strategy in the car group control strategy evaluating and
determining section comprises: travel time (average speed), traffic
jam length, a number of times of stop, and variation of speed
(standard deviation), serving as indices concerning efficiency; a
number of times of rapid deceleration occurrence, a number of times
abnormal approach between cars, a number of times of crashes, and
stability of a traffic flow at time of following movement (local
stability/asymptotic stability), serving as indices concerning
safety; or exhaust volume of matters determined by the
Environmental Pollution Prevention Act and the Air Pollution
Control Act, such as hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO),
nitrogen oxide (NOx), lead compounds, particulate matters, acoustic
power level of road traffic noise, exhaust volume of carbon
dioxide, fuel consumption, and road traffic vibration, serving as
indices concerning environment.
11. A probe car control apparatus for controlling an intersection
signal, comprising a map database; a car group strategy input
section for inputting signal indication schedule data so as not to
divide a car group having a probe car at head thereof by a red
light, based on the database or traffic data collected in real
time; and a car group control strategy evaluating and determining
section for evaluating propriety of the signal indication schedule
data and determining proper signal indication schedule data.
12. A probe car control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
the car group control strategy evaluating and determining section
comprises a traffic simulator for evaluating propriety of the
strategy.
13. A probe car control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
the traffic data comprises: car traveling data transmitted from an
in-vehicle terminal having a transmission function via radio
communication means such as a beacon on a road or a base station of
portable telephone or PHS; fixed point passing traffic data
measured by a car sensor on a road; road image processing data
measured by an image sensor; or indication schedule data of
intersection signals.
14. A traffic control system comprising: a traffic data storage for
collecting and storing traffic data in real time; a probe car
control apparatus according to claim 2; and a radio communication
section serving as intermediation means for coupling an in-vehicle
terminal, the probe car control apparatus, and the traffic data
storage, or an intersection signal by using radio communication,
wherein a car group having a probe car at head thereof or-a whole
traffic flow including the car group is controlled by controlling a
probe car having the in-vehicle terminal.
15. A traffic control system according to claim 14, wherein the car
group control strategy evaluating and determining section comprises
a traffic simulator for evaluating propriety of the strategy, and
derives a degree of contribution of a driver of a probe car based
on a difference of evaluation values derived by the traffic
simulator.
16. A traffic control system comprising: a traffic data storage for
collecting and storing traffic data in real time; and a probe car
control apparatus according to claim 11; a signal control device
for controlling indication of a signal; and a signal, wherein a car
group having a probe car at head thereof or a whole traffic flow
including the car group is controlled by controlling an
intersection signal so as not to divide a car group having a probe
car at head thereof by a red light.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a method, and apparatus,
for controlling the behavior of cars, and a traffic control system
using the control method. In particular, the present invention
relates to means for controlling car groups or the overall traffic
flow including the car groups.
[0002] As a conventional technique for controlling cars traveling
on a road by taking the efficiency, safety and environment into
consideration, there is a traffic control system for controlling
signals described in "Traffic Engineering," edited and written by
Iida, published by Kokumin Kagaku Sha in 1992, pp. 245-256.
[0003] In that system, complicated cars are separated as far as
possible and signal waiting is reduced by controlling indications
of signals and control parameters (cycle length, split, and
offset). Especially, in system control for controlling timing of a
plurality of signal groups disposed along a route, signal offset is
determined by suitably designing a time width (through band) during
which a traveling car can pass continuously without being stopped
by a red light, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0004] As a different conventional technique for controlling
traveling cars, there is an automatic driving control technique for
suitably controlling the car speed and so on, on the basis of
communication information from a road and communication information
between cars, as described in "ITS" edited by Asahi Shinbunsha and
Asahi Original, published in 1998, pp. 42-47.
[0005] In the above described conventional signal control
technique, traveling cars are controlled signals. In a road section
other than signal intersections, control of traveling cars is
difficult. For example, therefore, the traveling cars travel in a
way remarkably different from hypothesis made when determining the
offset of the signals. In this way, completely free traveling is
possible. If cars conduct unnecessary acceleration and stop,
therefore, smoothness and efficiency of the traffic flow are
hampered. In addition, the hampered smoothness sometimes exerts bad
influences upon the safety and environment.
[0006] Furthermore, in the conventional automatic driving control
technique, the car control becomes difficult if there are
automatically driven cars and ordinary cars are mixedly present on
the same lane.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to control
traveling cars efficiently even on a simple road section other than
signal intersections by setting probe cars which lead traveling
cars and suitably controlling the probe cars.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
traffic control system for controlling car groups each having a
probe car at the head thereof or the overall traffic flow including
the car groups by suitably controlling the probe cars.
[0009] Still another object of the present invention is to conduct
signal control so as not to divide a car group having a probe car
at the head thereof by a red light.
[0010] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide
such an operational form of a traffic control system that drivers
of probe cars are supplied with an incentive according to the
driver's degree of contribution and persons participating in the
benefits of the probe cars cast a burden according to the
degree.
[0011] The above described objects are achieved by a probe car
control method for controlling behavior of cars, including the
steps of: inputting a control strategy concerning behavior of a
probe car and/or a car group strategy concerning behavior of a car
group having a probe car at head thereof, on the basis of a road
map database or traffic data collected in real time; evaluating
propriety of the strategy; and transmitting a proper strategy to
the probe car to control the probe car. Or the above described
objects are achieved by a storage medium storing a program for
executing the probe car control method.
[0012] The probe car control according to the present invention
includes a road map database; a car group control strategy input
section for inputting a control strategy concerning behavior of a
probe car and/or a car group strategy concerning behavior of a car
group having a probe car at head thereof, based on a road map
database or traffic data collected in real time; a car group
control strategy evaluating and determining section for evaluating
propriety of the strategy and determining a proper strategy; and a
car group control strategy transmission section for transmitting
the proper strategy to the probe car.
[0013] As the control strategy of the probe car inputted by the car
group control strategy input section, the following can be
mentioned. The control strategy indicates an index concerning a
speed such as a desired speed of the probe car and/or an index
concerning steering operation such as a lane change. In a place
where the driver lowers the traveling speed, such as a tunnel, a
tollgate, a gate, fog, or road freezing, the control strategy is to
set a desired speed before entering the place is lower than the
current speed or a recommended'speed of the place. In a place where
the traveling speed is physically lowered, such as a sag or
climbing section, the control strategy is to set a desired speed
before entering the place is higher than the current speed or a
recommended speed of the place. Or on a multilane road having two
or more lanes for each way, the control strategy indicates that
probe cars are disposed on all lanes and probe cars on respective
lanes are made to travel in parallel.
[0014] In accordance with a different aspect of the probe car
control apparatus, the car group strategy of the probe car inputted
by the car group control strategy input section is forming car
groups by disposing probe cars in suitable positions based on
traffic data; canceling a car group by making a probe car leave a
car group or making a probe car an ordinary car; or integrate car
groups into one car group by controlling probe cars leading a
plurality of car groups. In accordance with a different aspect of
the probe car control apparatus, a method for disposing probe cars
in the control strategy or car group strategy of probe cars
inputted by the car group control strategy input section is: a
method of selecting suitable cars as probe cars from among
traveling ordinary cars, based on traffic data; or a method of
previously disposing cars dedicated cars to be used as probe cars,
selecting probe cars to be squeezed between ordinary cars, and
selecting positions and methods of squeezing.
[0015] In accordance with a different aspect of the probe car
control apparatus, subject cars of the control strategy or car
group strategy of probe cars inputted by the car group control
strategy input section are all cars traveling on a subject
section.
[0016] In accordance with a different aspect of the probe car
control apparatus, indices used in an evaluation function for
evaluating propriety of the strategy in the car group control
strategy evaluating and determining section includes: travel time
(average speed), traffic jam length, a number of times of stop, and
variation of speed (standard deviation), serving as indices
concerning efficiency; the number of times of rapid deceleration
occurrence, the number of times abnormal approach between cars, the
number of times of crashes, and stability of a traffic flow at the
time of following movement (local stability/asymptotic stability),
serving as indices concerning safety; or exhaust volume of matters
determined by the Environmental Pollution Prevention Act and the
Air Pollution Control Act, such as hydrocarbon (HC), carbon
monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NOx), lead compounds, particulate
matters, acoustic power level of road traffic noise, exhaust volume
of carbon dioxide, fuel consumption, and road traffic vibration,
serving as indices concerning environment.
[0017] A probe car control apparatus which achieves the above
described objects may be a probe car control apparatus including a
map database; a car group strategy input section for inputting
signal indication schedule data so as not to divide a car group
having a probe car at head thereof by a red light, based on the
database or traffic data collected in real time; and a car group
control strategy evaluating and determining section for evaluating
propriety of the signal indication schedule data and determining
proper signal indication schedule data.
[0018] In accordance with a different aspect of the probe car
control apparatus, the car group control strategy evaluating and
determining section includes a traffic simulator for evaluating
propriety of the strategy.
[0019] In accordance with a different aspect of the probe car
control apparatus, the traffic data includes: car traveling data
transmitted from an in-vehicle terminal having a transmission
function via radio communication means such as a beacon on a road
or a base station of portable telephone or PHS; fixed point passing
traffic data measured by a car sensor on a road; road image
processing data measured by an image sensor; or indication schedule
data of intersection signals.
[0020] In order to achieve the above described objects, in a
traffic control system according to the present invention includes:
a traffic data storage for collecting and storing traffic data in
real time; the above described probe car control apparatus; and a
radio communication section serving as intermediation means for
coupling an in-vehicle terminal, the probe car control apparatus,
and the traffic data storage, or an intersection signal by using
radio communication, a car group having a probe car at head thereof
or a whole traffic flow including the car group is controlled by
controlling a probe car having the in-vehicle terminal.
[0021] In accordance with a different aspect of the traffic control
system, there is provided such an operational form that some
incentive is given to drivers of probe cars depending upon the
degree of contribution, and persons who benefit from the probe cars
bear the expense.
[0022] In order to achieve the above described objects, a traffic
control system according to the present invention includes: a
traffic data storage for collecting and storing traffic data in
real time; and a probe car control apparatus according to claim 11;
a signal control device for controlling indication of a signal; and
a signal. A a car group having a probe car at head thereof or a
whole traffic flow including the car group is controlled by
controlling an intersection signal so as not to divide a car group
having a probe car at head thereof by a red light.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a traffic
control system having a probe car control apparatus according to
the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a signal system
control which is a conventional traffic control technique;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a table showing car traveling data transmitted
from an in-vehicle terminal;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing fixed point passing traffic data
measured by a car sensor;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an intersection having a
signal;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a table showing time series indication schedule
data corresponding to the signal of FIG. 5;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a traveling locus of a car
passing through a tunnel;
[0030] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a traveling locus of a car
passing through a sag;
[0031] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a traveling
situation of cars;
[0032] FIG. 10 is a flow chart of processing conducted in the case
where car groups are formed;
[0033] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example in the case where a
car group forming decision criterion is based on the number of cars
and an average speed;
[0034] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example in the case where a
car group forming decision criterion is based on the number of cars
and a distance between cars;
[0035] FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing a flow of processing
conducted in a car group control strategy evaluating and
determining section;
[0036] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of reproduction of
traveling loci of a car passing through a tunnel obtained by using
a traffic simulator;
[0037] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of reproduction of
traveling loci of a car passing through a sag obtained by using a
traffic simulator;
[0038] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a probe car
mounting thereon an in-vehicle terminal for receiving strategy
information and outputting the strategy information as characters,
an icon, or speech;
[0039] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a probe car
mounting thereon an in-vehicle terminal for receiving strategy
information and automatically controlling car behavior;
[0040] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a traveling situation of cars
on a road reduced in number of lanes;
[0041] FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a different embodiment of
a traffic control system having a probe car control apparatus
according to the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 20 is a flow chart of processing for controlling a
signal so as not to divide a car group by a red light;
[0043] FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of the case where
strategy information is outputted to a display of a probe car;
[0044] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of the case where
strategy information is outputted to a speaker of a probe car;
[0045] FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a configuration example
of an in-vehicle terminal of a probe car; and
[0046] FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a probe car having an electric
bulletin board on a back part of a car.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0047] Hereafter, embodiments of a probe car control method, a
probe car control apparatus, and a traffic control system using the
probe car control method will be described by referring to the
drawing. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a
traffic control system having a probe car control apparatus 11
according to the present invention. A traffic control system of the
present embodiment includes a traffic data storage 10, a probe car
control apparatus 11 according to the present invention, a traffic
simulator 12, radio communication means 13, a probe car 14, and
following cars 15. The probe car control apparatus 11 includes a
map database 110, a car group control strategy input section 115, a
car group control strategy evaluating and determining section 113,
and a car group control strategy transmission section 114. The car
group control strategy input section 115 includes a control
strategy input section 111 and/or a car group strategy input
section 112.
[0048] The traffic data storage 10 stores statistical data based
upon traffic data collected in real time or traffic data collected
in the past. As an example of collected traffic data, there is car
traveling data transmitted from an in-vehicle terminal having a
transmission function and received via the radio communication
means 13 such as a beacon on a road or a base station of portable
telephone or PHS. FIG. 3 shows an example of car traveling data
transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal and received by the radio
communication means 13. The car traveling data is administered by
using received time and an ID of a base station. The car traveling
data includes traveling information of the own car such as a car ID
of the traveling car, a traveling position (latitude and
longitude), a car speed, and a car kind. The car traveling data may
further include various kinds of information such as phenomena
around the own car like the weather. By the way, the in-vehicle
terminal for collecting and transmitting the car traveling data
will be described later in description of the probe car 14 as
well.
[0049] Other traffic data collected by the traffic data storage 10
may be fixed point passing traffic data measured by a car sensor on
a road, or road image processing data of traffic jams and accidents
measured by an image sensor located in the sky such as in an
artificial satellite. FIG. 4 shows an example of the fixed point
traffic data measured by a car sensor. The car sensor is a device
for measuring a volume of traffic per unit time, an occupation
factor, an average speed, and so on. Finer measurements with a
higher real time property may be conducted by shortening a period
of the measurement (five minutes in the example of FIG. 4.
Furthermore, the period of the measurement may also be set to
passage of each car, and thereby the passage speed of each car can
be measured.
[0050] Other collected traffic data may be time series indication
schedule data of signals in the near future subsequent to the
present time. The time series indication schedule data is obtained
from an intersection signal, or a signal control device which is a
high rank device. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an intersection
having a signal. Numerals 51 and 53 denote pedestrian signals for
respective directions. Numerals 52 and 54 denote car signals for
respective directions. FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of time
series indication schedule data. For each of the signals 51 to 54,
signal indications for steps 1 to 10 are set. For each of steps,
start time and duration in seconds are set.
[0051] As described above, the probe car control apparatus 11
includes the map database 110, the control strategy input section
111, the car group strategy input section 112, the car group
control strategy evaluating and determining section 113, and the
car group control strategy transmission section 114. The probe car
control apparatus 11 has a function of determining a control
strategy for suitably controlling probe cars or a strategy for
forming car groups on the basis of real time information of the
traffic data storage 10 and transmitting the determined strategy to
the probe car 14.
[0052] Each of the components included in the probe car control
apparatus 11 will now be described in detail. The map database 110
is a database having an electronic road map. For example, road
points are defined as nodes. A section between nodes is defined as
a link to represent a road section. The map database 110 stores
information used on the computer as a road map. In other words, the
map database 110 stores linear structures of a road such as node
coordinates, link lengths and link connection relations, tunnels,
tollgates, sags (valleys formed by connecting a down grade to an
uphill grade), intersections, road structures such as signals, and
link attributes. The map database 110 is electronic data. By using
the map database 110 together with program software on the
computer, therefore, the retrieval speed is increased and data
access is facilitated.
[0053] The control strategy input section 111 serves to input a
control strategy concerning the behavior of the probe car 14. On
the basis of data of the traffic data storage 10 or the map
database 110, the control strategy input section 111 may select a
control strategy from among a plurality of preset control
strategies and input it. Or by using a man-machine interface or the
like, the user may suitably input a control strategy manually. As
an example of an index of a control strategy, there is an index
concerning a desired speed of the probe car. For example, in the
case where it is known on the basis of data of the traffic data
storage 10 that there is a traffic jam ahead of the probe car, a
low desired speed is indicated beforehand as the desired speed in
order to prevent the occurrence of a rear-end collision.
Furthermore, for a car traveling at high speed in a low traffic
volume situation such as the night time, there occurs a situation
which is not desirable for the safety and environment, such as
compulsion of rapid deceleration caused by a red light of a signal
intersection. In such a situation, it is predicted whether a car
traveling at high speed will stop at a red light of an
intersection, on the basis of the traveling speed of a car and
indication schedule data of a signal supplied from the traffic data
storage 10, and a distance between the car and the signal
intersection supplied from the map database 110. If the car is
judged to stop, then a suitable speed as designed with a through
band of FIG. 2 or a speed corresponding to deceleration is
indicated so that the car may pass through each intersection
smoothly.
[0054] A concrete example of the control strategy will now be
described by referring to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 shows an example of
a traveling speed change of a car in a range from this side of a
tunnel to the tunnel. A broken line in a graph of FIG. 7 represents
the behavior of the car, in the case where control information is
not supplied to the probe car at all, i.e., in the case where the
car travels freely. It is shown that in such a case the driver
rapidly decelerates the car consciously near the tunnel because of
a visual cause or the like. This sometimes poses a problem in
safety or efficiency. On the other hand, a solid line of the graph
represents an example of a traveling speed change, in the case
where there is provided to a car (probe car) such a control
strategy as to indicate a desired speed slightly lower than the
current speed so as to gradually lower the speed before the tunnel
beforehand, in order to prevent rapid speed lowering before the
tunnel from the viewpoint of safety insurance. It is also possible
to preset a recommended speed for traveling near the tunnel. When
the current speed of a traveling car approaching the tunnel is in
this case equal to or less than the recommended speed, the
recommended speed is given as a control strategy and increase of
the traveling speed of the car is indicated. These control
strategies are effective not only in tunnels but also in such roads
that drivers consciously lower the traveling speed, such as roads
having tollgates or gates, roads on which the visibility is poor
because of fog or the like, and roads frozen on road surface.
[0055] FIG. 8 shows an example of a traveling speed change of a car
in a range from this side of a tunnel to beyond the tunnel. A
broken line in a graph of FIG. 8 represents a traveling speed
change, in the case where control information is not supplied to
the probe car at all, i.e., in the case where the car travels
freely. As represented by this graph, the driver rapidly
decelerates the car unconsciously at a sag where a down grade is
changed to uphill grade. This sometimes poses a problem in safety
or efficiency. On the other hand, a solid line of the graph
represents an example of a traveling speed change, in the case
where there is provided to a car (probe car) such a control
strategy as to indicate a desired speed slightly higher than the
current speed to the car so as to make the driver ready to
accelerate before passing through the sag, in order to prevent
rapid speed lowering before the sag from the viewpoint of safety
and efficiency insurance. It is also possible to preset a
recommended speed for traveling near the sag. Even when the current
speed is in this case equal to at least the recommended speed, the
recommended speed is given as a control strategy. These control
strategies are effective not only in sags but also in places, such
as climbing sections, where physically speed lowering necessarily
occurs and consequently the traffic volume suddenly lowers, and
roads where there is a great risk of a rear-end collision.
[0056] The places where these control strategies are applied can be
determined by referring to the road shapes, road structures and so
on stored in the map database 110. These control strategies may be
applied to places known beforehand on the basis of statistical data
of past traffic accidents and traffic jams.
[0057] Besides the desired speed, the index of the control strategy
may be an index relating to the desired speed such as a desired
accelerator opening or a desired brake hardness, an index relating
to steering operation such as a lane change, or an index having a
combination of a desired speed and steering operation such as
squeezing between cars A and B at a speed of 60 km/h.
[0058] For the purpose of grasping the traveling situation of cars
on the basis of data of the traffic data storage 10 and the map
database 110 and forming, canceling, or integrating car groups, the
car group strategy input section 112 serves to input control
information concerning behavior of probe cars which are a part of
traveling cars. For example, the car group strategy input section
112 inputs control information for disposing probe cars in suitable
positions in traveling cars to form car groups each having a probe
car at the head thereof, control information for making a probe car
leave a car group or handling the probe car as an ordinary car
without giving control orders to cancel a car group, or control
information for suitably controlling probe cars of a plurality of
car groups to integrate car groups into one car group. In this case
as well, the car group strategy input section 112 may select
control information from among a plurality of preset control
strategies and input it. Or by using a man-machine interface or the
like, the user may suitably input a control strategy manually.
[0059] A concrete method for car group formation, cancel, and
integration will now be described by referring to several examples.
First, an example of the case where car groups are formed will now
be described by referring to a flow chart of FIG. 10.
[0060] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a traveling situation of cars 90
to 96. The traveling situation of cars is grasped by referring to
data of the traffic data storage 10 and the map database 110 at
certain time. As a concrete traffic situation, data such as the
number of cars traveling on a subject road section, and positions,
speeds, car kinds, destinations, and distances from immediately
preceding cars of respective cars are used (100). Subsequently, on
the basis of a traveling situation such as the number of ordinary
cars running in a line grasped by referring to data of all cars in
the subject section, it is determined whether car groups should be
formed by using probe cars (101). For determining whether car
groups should be formed, there can be used, for example, a decision
criterion determined on the basis of relations among the number of
cars except a probe car (hereafter referred to as ordinary cars)
traveling on the subject road, their average speed, their car
kinds, and their distances between cars. Concrete examples of the
decision criterion are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In the case of
FIG. 11, it is determined on the basis of the number of ordinary
cars and their average speed whether car groups should be formed.
In the case of FIG. 12, it is determined on the basis of the number
of ordinary cars and their average distance between cars whether
car groups should be formed. The example of FIG. 11 means such a
decision criterion that the scales of car groups are made large
(i.e., small car groups are not formed) in the case where the
average speed is large (i.e., cars flow smoothly to some degree).
In the same way, the example of FIG. 12 represents such a decision
criterion that small car groups are formed if the distances between
cars are large and a large car groups are formed if the distances
between cars are small. Besides, there are such a criterion that
each group is formed of a predetermined number of cars, such a
criterion that a plurality of car kinds such as large size and
small size are not mixedly present in the same car group, and such
a criterion that a car group is not formed if a distance between
cars is at least a predetermined value.
[0061] Subsequently, in disposing a probe car, one of two methods
described hereafter is employed (102). A first method is
implemented by selecting suitable cars as probe cars from among
traveling cars each having an in-vehicle terminal (103), and
transmitting control information to the selected cars via the radio
communication means 13 (105). According to an example of control
information, the cars selected as the probe cars are changed from
ordinary cars to the probe cars, and a suitable desired speed is
transmitted to each of them so that succeeding cars may follow each
probe car. For example, in the case where two cars 90 and 93 are
selected as probe cars from seven ordinary cars shown in FIG. 9,
two groups (cars 90 to 92 and cars 93 to 96) having the two cars 90
and 93 as heads thereof are formed. Which cars should be selected
as probe cars are determined on the basis of the scheduled number
of cars for forming car groups, car kinds, destinations, and the
distances between cars, and data of the traffic data storage 10
such as the scheduled phase pattern data of intersection
signals.
[0062] According to a second method, dedicated cars to be used as
probe cars are disposed at a plurality of points of a subject road
beforehand. The probe car control apparatus 11 selects probe cars
to be squeezed between ordinary cars, and selects positions and
methods of squeezing (104). The probe car control apparatus 11
transmits control information to the probe cars as behavior
commands via the radio communication means 13 (105). As for an
example of the squeezing position and method, it may be, for
example, "a car is squeezed between the cars 92 and 93 of FIG. 9 at
a speed of 60 km/h." Which cars should be squeezed where are
determined on the basis of waiting positions of the probe cars, the
scheduled number of cars forming car groups, car kinds,
destinations, and the distances between cars, and data of the
traffic data storage 10 such as the scheduled phase pattern data of
intersection signals. By the way, in the case where many
large-sized cars are traveling in a line, braking behavior of each
large-sized car is poorer than that of small-sized cars, resulting
in an increased risk of dangers sometimes. If the second method of
using dedicated probe cars is used as a measure against this and
control is conducted so as to squeeze a small-sized probe car in a
suitable position in the group of large-sized cars, then the safety
is increased.
[0063] The above described probe car disposition method may be used
in the same way not only in the car group strategy input section
112 but also in the control strategy input section 111.
[0064] An example of the case where car groups are canceled will
now be described. First, it is now assumed two car groups (cars 90
to 92 and cars 93 to 96) have been formed by the two probe cars 90
and 93 in FIG. 9. Subsequently, control information is transmitted
to the probe cars 90 and 93 heading the car groups to be canceled,
via the radio communication means 13 so as to make the probe cars
90 and 93 behave not as probe cars but as ordinary cars. As a
result, all the cars 90 to 96 become ordinary cars. The cars 90 to
96 travel freely without depending upon the control information.
Thus, the car groups are naturally canceled. There may be used such
a method as to forcibly cancel car groups by transmitting control
information to the probe cars 90 and 93 heading the car groups to
be canceled, via the radio communication means 13 so as to make the
probe cars 90 and 93 leave the car groups by making, for example,
the probe cars 90 and 93 stop on the shoulder of a road.
[0065] Finally, an example of the case where a plurality of car
groups are integrated will now be described. First, it is now
assumed two car groups (cars 90 to 92 and cars 93 to 96) have been
formed by the two probe cars 90 and 93 in FIG. 9. Subsequently,
control information is transmitted to the probe car 93 heading the
subsequent car group which is not the head car group, via the radio
communication means 13 so as to make the probe car 93 follow the
last car 92 of the head car group to participate in the head car
group and so as to change the probe car 93 from a probe car to an
ordinary car. In the case where the ordinary cars 93 to 96 of the
subsequent car group do not catch up with the head car group and
consequently the car groups are not integrated, control information
is transmitted to the probe car 90 of the head car group in order
to make the probe car 90 lower the desired speed so that the
subsequent car group may catch up.
[0066] Which of the car group formation, cancel and integration
should be conducted is determined by using the scheduled number of
cars for forming car groups, car kinds, destinations, and the
distances between cars, and data of the traffic data storage 10
such as the indication schedule data of intersection signals. For
example, since one probe car and ordinary cars capable of freely
traveling are included in a car group, whether the car group can be
maintained depends upon the number of cars (scale) belonging to the
car group. By conducting the car group formation, cancel or
integration on the basis of the scheduled number of cars
(predetermined value) forming a car group, therefore, it becomes
possible to maintain such a suitable car group scale as to make
possible car group control using probe cars. By conducting car
group formation, cancel or integration on the basis of indication
schedule data of intersection signals, it becomes possible to form
car groups so that each car group may not be divided by a red
light.
[0067] The car group control strategy evaluating and determining
section 113 functions to evaluate the propriety of strategy
information inputted by the control strategy input section 111
and/or the car group strategy input section 112, and determine
strategy information to be transmitted to the probe car 14 via the
radio communication means 13.
[0068] Hereafter, a flow of processing of the car group control
strategy evaluating and determining section 113 will be described
by referring to a flow chart of FIG. 13. First, control strategy
information from the control strategy input section 111 and/or car
group strategy information from the car group strategy input
section 112 is acquired (130).
[0069] In order to evaluate the propriety of the above described
inputted strategy information, an evaluation value of the strategy
is calculated as hereafter described (131). For example, by
defining an evaluation function having the following form from the
viewpoint of efficiency, safety and environment beforehand, an
evaluation value E is calculated. 1 E = i f i ( a , b , c , d , ) (
1 )
[0070] In the expression (1), i denotes the number of cars to be
evaluated, and variables a, b, c, d, . . . denote evaluation
indices concerning the efficiency, safety and environment obtained
from data of the traffic data storage 10 and the map database 110.
As evaluation indices concerning the efficiency, there are travel
time (average speed), traffic jam length, the number of times of
stop, variation of speed (standard deviation), and so on. As
evaluation indices concerning the safety, there are the number of
times of rapid deceleration occurrence, the number of times
abnormal approach between cars, the number of times of crashes,
stability of a traffic flow at the time of following movement
(local stability/asymptotic stability), and so on. As evaluation
indices concerning the safety, there are exhaust volume of matters
determined by the Environmental Pollution Prevention Act and the
Air Pollution Control Act, such as hydrocarbon (HC), carbon
monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NOx), lead compounds, particulate
matters, acoustic power level of road traffic noise, exhaust volume
of carbon dioxide, fuel consumption, road traffic vibration, and so
on. By summing strategy evaluation values fi derived for respective
cars on the basis of these indices, an evaluation value E of
strategy information is derived.
[0071] For calculating an evaluation value of the inputted strategy
information, a method using a tool such as the traffic simulator 12
for reproducing the movement of each car in detail may be adopted,
besides the method of calculating the evaluation value in the car
group control strategy evaluating and determining section 113 on
the basis of the above described evaluation expression. Detailed
functions of the traffic simulator 12 will be described later.
[0072] Subsequently, it is determined on the basis of the
evaluation value E derived by using the above described evaluation
function whether the above described input strategy information is
proper (132). As a method for determining whether strategy
information is proper, there is, for example, a method of
presetting a threshold value for the above described evaluation
value, comparing the threshold value with the evaluation value, and
thereby judging the propriety. If the strategy information having
the evaluation value calculated by using this method is judged to
be improper, then processing returns to the processing of the
control strategy input section 111 or the car group strategy input
section 112, and new strategy information is inputted (130). Until
the strategy information is judged to be proper at the step 132,
steps 130 to 132 are repeated.
[0073] According to a different method for determining whether
strategy information is proper, a plurality of strategy information
pieces are inputted by the control strategy input section 111 or
the car group strategy input section 112 beforehand, and an
evaluation value is calculated for each of these inputted strategy
information pieces. There may be used such a method as to adopt
strategy information that has outputted an optimum evaluation value
among the calculated evaluation values. Or there may be used a
method of temporarily inputting strategy information as an initial
value by using the control strategy input section 111 or the car
group strategy input section 112, and obtaining optimum strategy
information by using a numerical solution such as the steepest
descent method or the Newton method until an optimum value is
obtained.
[0074] If the inputted strategy information is judged at the step
132 to be proper, then the strategy -.information is transmitted to
the car group control strategy transmission section 114 as control
information to be transmitted to the probe car, and the strategy
information is transmitted from the car group control strategy
transmission section 114 to the probe car 14 via the radio
communication means 13 (133).
[0075] The car group control strategy transmission section 114
functions to transmit strategy information determined by the car
group control strategy evaluating and determining section 113 to
the probe car 14 via the radio communication means 13. Concrete
hardware may be a communication device using a wire medium or a
wireless medium, such as a network card, a modem, a terminal
adapter, a dial up router, corresponding to a local area network
(LAN). The hardware may be a device having an equivalent
function.
[0076] The traffic simulator 12 is utilized in the car group
control strategy evaluating and determining section 113 to
calculate the evaluation value of the input strategy information.
By estimating and calculating the movement of each car according to
a natural law or the like on the basis of the data of the traffic
data storage 10, the traffic simulator 12 reproduces the traffic
situation of the subject road. Furthermore, the traffic simulator
12 can conduct simulation to represent how the traffic flow around
probe cars are changed by the behavior of the probe cars when the
probe cars are controlled according to the inputted strategy
information. On the basis of the simulation result, the traffic
simulator 12 calculates the evaluation value of the inputted
strategy information. After the evaluation value has been
calculated, processing similar to that subsequent to the step 132
in the flow chart of FIG. 13 is conducted.
[0077] The traffic simulator 12 is effective in the case where it
is necessary to conduct strategy evaluation simultaneously on a
large number of cars and especially in the case where a road
network is evaluated as a whole. Furthermore, the traffic simulator
is effective also in that behavior of cars can be visually
understood by displaying the simulation result on an indication
device such as a display. When it is determined whether a strategy
is proper at the step 132 in FIG. 13, therefore, it is also
possible for the user to judge subjectively by watching the screen
of the indication device.
[0078] It is now assumed that a car group includes five cars and
one car located at the head serves as a probe car whereas four
remaining cars travel freely. Traveling states of the car group
near a tunnel and a sag are reproduced by using the traffic
simulator 12. FIGS. 14 and 15 show the reproduced traveling states
in a graph form.
[0079] In FIG. 14, broken lines represent behavior in the case
where control information is not supplied to the probe car located
at the head of the car group at all, i.e., in the case where all
cars travel freely. Solid lines represent behavior of the car group
in the case where control information is supplied to the probe car
to indicate such a desired speed that slight deceleration is
previously conducted before (on the upper stream of) a tunnel, so
as not to conduct rapid deceleration when the car has entered the
tunnel, by taking safety into consideration. In the present
example, there is only one probe car at the head. Four remaining
following cars travel freely. Since the four cars are preceded by
the probe car, they follow the probe car while lowering their
speeds.
[0080] In FIG. 15 as well, broken lines represent behavior in the
case where control information is not supplied to the probe car at
all, i.e., in the case where all cars travel freely. Solid lines
represent behavior of the car group in the case where control
information is supplied to the probe car to indicate such a desired
speed that slight acceleration is previously conducted before (on
the upper stream of) a sag, in order to lighten the deceleration
conducted when the car has entered the sag, by taking the safety
and efficiency into consideration. In the present example as well,
there is only one probe car at the head. Four remaining following
cars travel freely. Since the four cars are preceded by the probe
car, they follow the probe car while increasing their speeds. As a
result, the speed lowering caused by the sag is lightened.
[0081] Models handled by the traffic simulator 12 can be divided
broadly into two categories: micro models for reproducing detailed
behavior of each car as described earlier; and macro models for
macroscopically grasping a traffic flow as in fluid models. The
traffic simulator 12 in the present invention may use either model,
so long as the model is such a model that the above described
evaluation value can be calculated. Even a component other than the
traffic simulator may be utilized in the same way, so long as the
component has such a function as to be capable of calculating the
above described evaluation value.
[0082] The radio communication means 13 is intermediation means for
coupling the in-vehicle terminal of the probe car 14 to the probe
car control apparatus 11 and the traffic data storage 10 by using a
radio communication technique such as a beacon on a road, or a base
station of portable telephone, PHS or FM multiplex broadcasting. In
general, beacons are installed on roads. When a car having an
in-vehicle terminal passes near a beacon, information communication
is conducted in both directions. Beacons are thus used for
so-called narrow area communication. Base stations of portable
telephone, PHS or FM multiplex broadcasting are installed on
buildings, towers, or public telephone booths. When a car having an
in-vehicle terminal exists in a radio wave arrival area of a base
station, information communication is conducted. The base stations
are used for so-called wide area communication. Beacons and base
stations are different in application. In the traffic control
system using the probe car control method of the present invention,
either radio communication means can be utilized.
[0083] The probe car 14 is a car having a dedicated in-vehicle
terminal. Driving of the probe car 14 is conducted according to the
strategy information supplied from the probe car control apparatus
11. Depending upon given strategy information, an ordinary car
might become a probe car, and a probe car might become an ordinary
car. The in-vehicle terminal receives strategy information from the
probe car control apparatus 11 via the radio communication means
13, and utilizes the strategy information by using either of two
strategy information reception means.
[0084] First strategy information reception means is shown in FIG.
16. Strategy information received from he radio communication means
13 is outputted as character and icon information or voice
information by a display 141 or a speaker 142 connected to an
in-vehicle terminal 140. The driver drives according to this
information. An example of output of the in-vehicle terminal 140
using the display 141 is shown in FIG. 21. An example of output of
the in-vehicle terminal 140 using the speaker 142 is shown in FIG.
22. In order to make sure the recognition of the driver, outputting
of the display 141 and outputting of the speaker 142 may be
conducted simultaneously. In the case of the first strategy
information reception means, it is determined at the driver's will
whether the driver comply with the received strategy
information.
[0085] Second strategy information reception means is shown in FIG.
17. The in-vehicle terminal 140 transmits strategy information
received from the radio communication means 13, to a control unit
143 of the car. On the basis of the strategy information, the
control unit 143 controls an engine 144, a steering wheel 145, a
brake 146, and a throttle 147. In the case of the second strategy
reception means, a part or all of the driving operation of the car
is automatized. In accordance with the strategy information
transmitted from the probe car control apparatus 11, the probe car
travels. Therefore, a phenomenon previously evaluated by using the
traffic simulator 12 can be reproduced. In other words, the
possibility of attaining a previously intended ideal traffic
situation is increased.
[0086] The in-vehicle terminal 140 has a function of measuring data
of various traffic situations obtained with traveling of the car as
shown in FIG. 3 and transmitting the data to the traffic data
storage 10 via the radio communication means 13. An example of the
in-vehicle terminal 140 is shown in FIG. 23. The in-vehicle
terminal 140 includes a disk drive 240, a memory 241, a CPU 242, an
external device controller 243, a radio unit 244, a clock 245, and
a GPS 246. The radio unit 244 includes a transmission-reception
controller 2440 and an antenna 2441. The disk drive 240 is a
reading device of a disk, such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or a hard
disk, which mainly stores map data. The memory 241 is a storage
used when the CPU 242 conducts various kinds of processing or
computation. Furthermore, the memory 241 is also used to store
information transmitted and received by the radio unit 244. The CPU
242 is a main processor for conducting various kinds of processing
and computation. The external device controller 243 transmits
strategy information to the display 141 shown in FIG. 16, the
speaker 142 shown in FIG. 16, or the control unit 143 shown in FIG.
17 after converting it into a pertinent format.
[0087] The transmission-reception controller 2440 of the radio unit
244 has a function of conducting bilateral information
communication with the external radio communication means 13 via
the antenna 2441. Information transmitted to the radio
communication means 13 is car travel data as shown in FIG. 3.
Information received from the radio communication means 13 is
strategy information supplied from the probe car control apparatus
11. The clock 245 is used for time management of transmitted and
received information, and traveling time measurement. The GPS 246
is an antenna for receiving information from a plurality of GPS
satellites going round the earth. By conducting processing on the
information, the absolute position of the GPS 246 (car) can be
obtained.
[0088] Furthermore, if the subsequent following cars are made to
recognize the car as the probe car, safer and smoother traveling of
the probe car and the following cars can be anticipated. As means
for making the following cars recognize the own car as the probe
car, the probe car has an electric bulletin board 250 at the back
thereof so that it may be watched easily from the following cars.
The electric bulletin board 250 indicates that the car is traveling
as a probe car. Instead of the electric bulletin board 250, the
probe car may have a predetermined probe car mark such as a
revolving light, a lamp, or an LED. While the car is an ordinary
car, the mark is not presented. When the in-vehicle terminal has
received such strategy information as to request the car to behave
as the probe car, from the probe car control apparatus 11, the
probe car presents the mark. Until the car resigns probe car (i.e.,
the car changes from a probe car to an ordinary car) in response to
the strategy information of the probe car control apparatus 11 or
at the probe car driver's will, the probe car continues the
presentation. Operation itself of mark presentation or
discontinuance thereof is either manual operation of the driver or
automatic operation according to strategy information received from
the probe car control apparatus 11.
[0089] In some cases, the probe car 14 traveling at the head of a
car group gets out of the route on the way for the reason that, for
example, its destination is different from that of the following
cars 15a to 15c. At that time, information to the effect that the
probe car will become an ordinary car and gets out of the car group
is transmitted from the in-vehicle terminal to the traffic data
storage 10 via the radio communication means 13 for the probe car.
Upon receiving the information, the probe car control apparatus 11
may update the adopted control strategy by using a control strategy
supplied from the control strategy input section 111 or the car
group strategy input section 112, or may update the control
strategy by selecting a new probe car.
[0090] In the case where the probe car becomes an ordinary car and
gets out of the car group, a control signal to the effect that the
probe car will become an ordinary car is transmitted to the traffic
data storage 10 via the in-vehicle terminal. As the operation
method, an input through a remote controller or a touch panel which
is not illustrated, or a voice input (speech recognition) is used.
By this operation, the display on the electric bulletin board shown
in FIG. 24 is changed. As for the driver's own driving behavior,
the car stops on a road shoulder or goes into a parking lot. Or the
car decelerates and travels at such a speed that the following cars
pass the car or the following cars do not follow the car. Or the
car joins another car group by, for example, following the tail end
of a preceding car group. Or the car begins to travel freely at the
driver's will and conducts traveling without regard to existing car
groups. In this case, the car may behave according to a (last)
command of the probe car control apparatus.
[0091] Whether a dedicated in-vehicle terminal is mounted or not,
each of the following cars 15a to 15c is an ordinary car which
travels freely at its driver's will. Since the way is blocked by
the probe car 14 traveling ahead, however, the following cars 15a
to 15c must follow the probe car and travel in many cases so long
as they do not pass the probe car. Furthermore, each of the
following cars 15 may not be an ordinary car driven by a driver,
but may be an automatic driven car which is automatically driven so
as to follow the probe car. In that case, it can be anticipated
that the smoothness and safety are further improved.
[0092] As heretofore described, it becomes possible to suitably
control a car group having a probe car at the head thereof or a
whole traffic flow including the car group with due regard to the
efficiency, safety and environment, by suitably controlling the
probe car.
[0093] A different embodiment of a probe car control method, a
probe car control apparatus, and a traffic control system using the
probe car control method will now be described. It is now assumed
that a road is a multilane road having two or more lanes for each
of the two ways. Even if a probe car is disposed on only one lane
in such a multilane road, each of the following cars travels freely
by changing its lane. Therefore, it is conceivable that the traffic
situation differs remarkably from a result previously predicted in
the probe car control apparatus and the efficiency, safety and
environment are aggravated. As a measure against such a situation,
it is possible to dispose a probe car on every lane and make the
probe cars on respective lanes travel in parallel.
[0094] FIG. 18 shows an example of a travel situation of cars
including a probe car in a such a traffic merging place where two
lanes per way are reduced to one lane per way. In FIG. 18, numerals
190 to 192 denote probe cars. Numerals 193 to 195 denote car groups
each having one of the probe cars at the head thereof. In the place
where the number of lanes is reduced (traffic merging place),
strategy information is transmitted to the probe cars so that the
car groups will travel in cooperation. For example, strategy
information is transmitted so that the car groups 193 and 195
traveling on the first lane and the car group 194 traveling on the
second lane will alternately enter the lane reducing place. First,
therefore, probe cars are selected so as to form car groups each
having a suitable length, and car groups 193 to 195 are formed.
Orders are given to the probe cars so that a car group located
nearer the lane reducing place will speed up and car groups located
apart from the lane reducing place will reduce the speed. And
control is conducted so as to leave a space between the car group
193 and the car group 195 traveling on the first lane to such a
degree that the car group 194 traveling on the second lane can
enter the lane reducing place by the time the car group 194 arrives
at the place. Before the lane reducing place, control is conducted
so that the car groups enter the lane reducing place alternately
from the two lanes. By doing so, the safety and efficiency are
improved also in ordinary cars other than the probe cars.
[0095] As heretofore described, it becomes possible to suitably
control car groups each having a probe car at the head thereof or a
whole traffic flow including the car groups with due regard to the
efficiency, safety and environment, by suitably controlling the
probe cars.
[0096] A different embodiment of a probe car control method, a
probe car control apparatus, and a traffic control system using the
probe car control method will now be described. When selecting
probe cars and transmitting a strategy, specific cars are not
selected, but all cars traveling on the subject section are made
subjects. The control strategy input section 111 or the car group
strategy input section 112 of the probe car control apparatus 11
supplies input information to the effect that the same car group
control strategy is given to all of the cars. The propriety of the
input information is evaluated and determined in the car group
control strategy evaluating and determining section 113. Then the
car group control strategy is transmitted to all of the cars.
[0097] By doing so, the car group control strategy information can
be given to all cars each of which has a dedicated in-vehicle
terminal and is able to become a probe car, among all cars on the
subject section. While including ordinary cars which can behave
freely, therefore, reproduction of the situation evaluated in the
car group control strategy evaluating and determining section 113
is facilitated. As a result, it becomes possible to suitably
control the whole traffic flow including the probe cars or car
groups with due regard to the efficiency, safety and
environment.
[0098] A different embodiment of a probe car control method, a
probe car control apparatus, and a traffic control system using the
probe car control method will now be described. FIG. 19 is a block
diagram showing a different embodiment of a traffic control system
having a probe car control apparatus 11 according to the present
invention. The traffic control system of the present embodiment
includes a traffic data storage 10, the probe car control apparatus
11 according to the present invention, a traffic simulator 12, a
signal control device 16, and a signal 17. On the basis of the real
time information concerning car groups, indication of the signal 17
is suitably controlled so as not to divide the current car groups
by a red light.
[0099] However, an object of the present embodiment is to control
the signal rather than a probe car. Accordingly, it is not
necessary to transmit strategy information to the probe car. The
control strategy input section 111 and the car group control
strategy transmission section 114 of the probe car control
apparatus 11 shown in FIG. 1 are not necessarily required. The
traffic data storage 10 has the same function as that of the
embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1. Thus, the traffic
data storage 10 functions to store traffic data collected in real
time or traffic data n the past as statistical. The probe car
control apparatus 11 includes a map database 110, a car group
strategy input section 112, and a car group control strategy
evaluating and determining section 113. The probe car control
apparatus 11 has a function of determining a signal control
strategy for suitably controlling indication of the signal 17 on
the basis of real time information of the traffic data storage 10
and transmitting the determined strategy to the signal control
device 16.
[0100] Each of the components included in the probe car control
apparatus 11 will now be described in detail. In the same way as
the foregoing embodiment, the map database 110 is a database having
an electronic road map. The car group strategy input section 112
functions to grasp the traveling situation of cars on the basis of
the data of the traffic data storage 10 and the map database 110,
and input a suitable signal control strategy (signal indication
schedule data as shown in FIG. 6) so as not to divide the current
car groups by a red light. When conducting evaluation to determine
whether car groups are divided under the current signal control
strategy, the car group strategy input section 112 inputs the
signal control strategy. As such a signal control strategy as not
to divide a car group, there is a signal control strategy which
predicts the time when the car group enters an intersection, and
prolongs the duration of a green light or corrects an offset so as
to indicate a green light at that time.
[0101] The car group control strategy evaluating and determining
section 113 evaluates the propriety of the signal control strategy
inputted by the car group strategy input section 112, and determine
whether the signal control strategy of the signal 17 should be
updated from the current signal control strategy, or transmits an
optimum signal control strategy to the signal control device 16. In
an evaluation function for evaluating the propriety of the signal
control strategy, there is used an index obtained by quantizing the
division of car groups, such as the number of times (percentage) of
division of car groups. As evaluation indices used in the
evaluation function, the efficiency, safety, or environment may be
included as represented by the expression (1). As a method for
determining whether strategy information is proper, there is, for
example, a method of presetting a threshold value for the
evaluation value obtained by the evaluation function, comparing the
threshold value with the evaluation value, and thereby judging the
propriety.
[0102] The traffic simulator 12 is used to calculate the evaluation
value of the signal indication schedule data in the car group
control strategy evaluating and determining section 113. The
traffic simulator 12 has a function similar to that described in
the foregoing embodiment. The signal control device 16 has a
function of controlling the indication of the signal 17 so as to
correspond to the indication schedule data of the signal serving as
strategy information determined by the car group control strategy
evaluating and determining section 113 of the probe car control
apparatus 11. In addition, the signal control device 16 also has a
function of transmitting the indication schedule data to the
signal. The signal 17 has lights such as a green light, a red
light, a yellow light, and an arrow light. The signal 17 has a
function of receiving the indication-schedule data from the signal
control device 16, and turning on, turning off or flashing lights
in response to the indication schedule data.
[0103] Concrete processing of the present embodiment will now be
described by referring to a flow chart of FIG. 20 and taking an
example. First, the traveling situation is grasped by referring to
data of the traffic data storage 10 and the map database 110 at
certain time (210). Concretely, data such as the number of cars
traveling on a subject road section, and positions, speeds, car
kinds, destinations, and distances from immediately preceding cars
of respective cars, and the current signal indication schedule data
are obtained. The current traffic situation is reproduced by the
traffic simulator 12 on the basis of the data, and an evaluation
value of the current signal control strategy is calculated (211).
By comparing the evaluation value of the signal control strategy
with a predetermined threshold value, it is determined whether the
signal control strategy is proper (212). If the signal control
strategy evaluated at the step 212 is judged to be improper, then a
new signal control strategy is inputted (213). Until the signal
control strategy is judged to be proper at the step 212, steps 211
to 213 are repeated. If the signal control strategy is judged at
the step 212 to be proper, then the signal control strategy judged
to be proper is transmitted to the signal control device 16 (214).
The signal control device 16 transmits the signal control strategy
to the signal 17. The signal 17 functions in accordance with the
received signal control strategy (215).
[0104] By the processing heretofore described, it becomes possible
to conduct suitable signal control so as not to divide the current
car group by a red light. In the case where strategy information is
already supplied to the probe car and the cars are traveling, the
necessity for reconsideration of the strategy information, such as
re-inputting and re-evaluation of the control strategy and the car
group strategy is reduced.
[0105] An operational form of a traffic control system using the
probe car control method of the present invention will now be
described. It is expected that the rate of propagation of the
in-vehicle terminal is not high, in an initial operational stage of
the present system. In the initial operational stage, therefore,
cars which can become probe cars are limited to some cars, and
ordinary cars having no in-vehicle terminals and probe cars are
mixedly present on the same lane. As the rate of propagation of the
in-vehicle terminal becomes higher, the amount of data collected in
the traffic data storage becomes large, the traffic situation can
be grasped more accurately, and the control effect of the present
system is also increased. Therefore, a measure for prompting the
spread of the in-vehicle terminal to drivers becomes necessary. On
the other hand, from the viewpoint of drivers of probe cars, they
only contribute to mitigation of the psychological burden of the
following ordinary drivers, and improvement of the efficiency,
safety and environment of the traffic flow as a whole. The drivers
of probe cars must travel in accordance with the above described
control strategy information. Thus, few advantages are offered to
the drivers of probe cars.
[0106] For prompting the spread of the in-vehicle terminal and
making the operation of the present system more effective,
therefore, there is conceivable such a measure as to give some
incentive to drivers of cars which have become probe cars. As
concrete examples of the incentive, there can be mentioned cash
payment (including electronic payment), discounts of charges for
using toll roads, and free offers of information services such as
traffic information, depending upon he degree of contribution made
by becoming probe cars. As a concrete example of quantizing the
degree of contribution made as a probe car, a degree of
contribution Ec represented by the following expression can be
mentioned. On the basis of the accumulated time and accumulated
number of times of behavior of a car as a probe car, and the
evaluation value according to the expression (1), an evaluation
value E1 in the case where the car does not become a probe car is
compared with an evaluation value E2 in the case where the car has
become a probe car by using the traffic simulator 12. 2 Ec = j ( E
2 ( j ) - E 1 ( j ) ) ( 2 )
[0107] In the expression (2), .alpha. is a factor and j is the
number of times of behavior as a probe car. The following relation
is satisfied.
E.sub.2(j)-E.sub.1(j)>0 (3)
[0108] For paying the above described incentive, some income must
be obtained. An individual, an organization such as a corporation,
a road manager, or a country which benefits from the probe car can
bear the income. As a method for quantizing the amount to be borne
as well, a calculation method similar to that of the degree of
contribution can be used.
[0109] By the measure heretofore described, the spread of the
in-vehicle terminal can be prompted. As a result, the traffic
situation can be grasped more accurately. In addition, by more
suitable probe car control, the whole traffic flow can be
controlled more suitably with due regard to the efficiency, safety
and environment.
[0110] According to the present invention, traveling cars can be
controlled with due regard to the efficiency, safety and
environment even in simple road portions other than signal
intersections, by using probe cars and suitably controlling the
probe cars on the basis of traffic data or the map database. In
addition, it can be achieved to provide a probe car control method,
and apparatus, which can easily implement it without depending upon
the automatic driving control technique, and a storage medium
storing a program for executing the method.
[0111] It can also be achieved to provide a traffic control system
for controlling car groups each having a probe car at the head
thereof or a whole traffic flow including the car groups, by
suitably controlling probe cars with the probe car control method
or probe car control apparatus.
[0112] It can also be achieved to conduct signal control so as not
to divide a car group having a probe at the head thereof by a red
light.
[0113] It can also be achieved to provide such an operational form
of a traffic control system that some incentive is given to drivers
of probe cars depending upon the degree of contribution, and
persons who benefit from the probe cars bear the expense.
* * * * *