U.S. patent application number 17/197686 was filed with the patent office on 2021-06-24 for driving assistance device, driving assistance method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing driving assistance program.
This patent application is currently assigned to Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha. The applicant listed for this patent is Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Makoto Akahane, Takashige Hori, Ken Ishikawa, Masatoshi Takahara.
Application Number | 20210188305 17/197686 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005447700 |
Filed Date | 2021-06-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210188305 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hori; Takashige ; et
al. |
June 24, 2021 |
DRIVING ASSISTANCE DEVICE, DRIVING ASSISTANCE METHOD, AND
NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM STORING DRIVING
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Abstract
A vehicle driving assistance device includes: a control unit
configured to identify a point at which a vehicle speed is likely
to increase, based on vehicle information collected from a
plurality of vehicles, the vehicle information including position
information for each of the vehicles and situation information for
each of the plurality of vehicles. The control unit is configured
to decide whether there is a vehicle deceleration factor due to
which the vehicle speed decreases within an area in which a vehicle
travels a prescribed distance from the point identified by the
control unit. The control unit is configured to alert a driver that
there is the vehicle deceleration factor, when there is the vehicle
deceleration factor.
Inventors: |
Hori; Takashige; (Aisai-shi,
JP) ; Akahane; Makoto; (Nagoya-shi, JP) ;
Ishikawa; Ken; (Nagakute-shi, JP) ; Takahara;
Masatoshi; (Okazaki-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha |
Toyota-shi Aichi-ken |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki
Kaisha
Toyota-shi Aichi-ken
JP
|
Family ID: |
1000005447700 |
Appl. No.: |
17/197686 |
Filed: |
March 10, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16223683 |
Dec 18, 2018 |
10974734 |
|
|
17197686 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60W 40/06 20130101;
B60W 2520/105 20130101; B60W 50/14 20130101; B60W 2710/30 20130101;
B60W 2556/65 20200201; B60W 2552/15 20200201; B60W 30/18 20130101;
B60W 50/0097 20130101; B60W 2552/00 20200201; B60W 30/00 20130101;
B60W 2555/60 20200201; B60W 2554/80 20200201 |
International
Class: |
B60W 50/14 20060101
B60W050/14; B60W 30/18 20060101 B60W030/18; B60W 50/00 20060101
B60W050/00; B60W 30/00 20060101 B60W030/00; B60W 40/06 20060101
B60W040/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 11, 2018 |
JP |
2018-002834 |
Claims
1. A vehicle driving assistance device, comprising: a control unit
configured to identify a point at which a vehicle speed is likely
to increase, based on information collected from a plurality of
vehicles, the control unit is configured to alert a driver when
there is a vehicle deceleration factor due to which the vehicle
speed decreases within an area in which a vehicle travels a
prescribed distance from the point.
2. The vehicle driving assistance device according to claim 1,
wherein the information includes position information for each of
the plurality of vehicles and situation information for each of the
plurality of vehicles.
3. The vehicle driving assistance device according to claim 1,
wherein the control unit is configured to decide whether there is
the vehicle deceleration factor.
4. The vehicle driving assistance device according to claim 1,
wherein the vehicle deceleration factor is at least one of the
following: an indication of temporary stop; a narrowing road width;
a congested road; or a point at which the vehicle speed is likely
to decrease.
5. The vehicle driving assistance device according to claim 1,
wherein the control unit is configured to determine, based on the
information, that there is another point at which a vehicle
elevation decreases by a value equal to more than a prescribed
value, the vehicle speed increases by a speed equal to more than a
prescribed speed, and a variation of an accelerator operation
amount is within a prescribed range, and wherein the control unit
is configured to identify the another point as the point at which
the vehicle speed is likely to increase.
6. The vehicle driving assistance device according to claim 1,
wherein the control unit is configured to determine, based on the
information, that there is another point at which a variation of a
vehicle elevation is within a prescribed range, the vehicle speed
increases by a speed equal to or more than a prescribed speed, and
an accelerator operation amount increases by an amount equal to or
more than a prescribed amount, and wherein the control unit is
configured to identify the another point as the point at which the
vehicle speed is likely to increase.
7. A vehicle driving assistance method, comprising: identifying a
point at which a vehicle speed is likely to increase, based on
information collected from a plurality of vehicles; and alerting a
driver when there is a vehicle deceleration factor due to which the
vehicle speed decreases within an area in which a vehicle travels a
prescribed distance from the point.
8. The vehicle driving assistance method according to claim 7,
wherein the information includes position information for each of
the plurality of vehicles and situation information for each of the
plurality of vehicles.
9. The vehicle driving assistance method according to claim 7
further comprising deciding whether there is the vehicle
deceleration factor.
10. The vehicle driving assistance method according to claim 7,
wherein the vehicle deceleration factor is at least one of the
following: an indication of temporary stop; a narrowing road width;
a congested road; or a point at which the vehicle speed is likely
to decrease.
11. The vehicle driving assistance method according to claim 7
further comprising: determining, based on the information, that
there is another point at which a vehicle elevation decreases by a
value equal to more than a prescribed value, the vehicle speed
increases by a speed equal to more than a prescribed speed, and a
variation of an accelerator operation amount is within a prescribed
range; and identifying the another point as the point at which the
vehicle speed is likely to increase.
12. The vehicle driving assistance method according to claim 7
further comprising: determining, based on the information, that
there is another point at which a variation of a vehicle elevation
is within a prescribed range, the vehicle speed increases by a
speed equal to or more than a prescribed speed, and an accelerator
operation amount increases by an amount equal to or more than a
prescribed amount; and identify the another point as the point at
which the vehicle speed is likely to increase.
13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a
driving assistance program for executing a vehicle driving
assistance method, the method comprising: identifying a point at
which a vehicle speed is likely to increase, based on information
collected from a plurality of vehicles; and alerting a driver when
there is a vehicle deceleration factor due to which the vehicle
speed decreases within an area in which a vehicle travels a
prescribed distance from the point.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing the
driving assistance program for executing the vehicle driving
assistance method according to claim 13, wherein the information
includes position information for each of the plurality of vehicles
and situation information for each of the plurality of
vehicles.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing the
driving assistance program for executing the vehicle driving
assistance method according to claim 13 further comprising deciding
whether there is the vehicle deceleration factor.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing the
driving assistance program for executing the vehicle driving
assistance method according to claim 13, wherein the vehicle
deceleration factor is at least one of the following: an indication
of temporary stop; a narrowing road width; a congested road; or a
point at which the vehicle speed is likely to decrease.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing the
driving assistance program for executing the vehicle driving
assistance method according to claim 13 further comprising:
determining, based on the information, that there is another point
at which a vehicle elevation decreases by a value equal to more
than a prescribed value, the vehicle speed increases by a speed
equal to more than a prescribed speed, and a variation of an
accelerator operation amount is within a prescribed range; and
identifying the another point as the point at which the vehicle
speed is likely to increase.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing the
driving assistance program for executing the vehicle driving
assistance method according to claim 13 further comprising:
determining, based on the information, that there is another point
at which a variation of a vehicle elevation is within a prescribed
range, the vehicle speed increases by a speed equal to or more than
a prescribed speed, and an accelerator operation amount increases
by an amount equal to or more than a prescribed amount; and
identifying the another point as the point at which the vehicle
speed is likely to increase.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser.
No. 16/223,683 filed Dec. 18, 2018, which claims priority to
Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-002834 filed on Jan. 11, 2018,
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety including
the specification, drawings and abstract.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a driving assistance
device, a driving assistance method, and a non-transitory
computer-readable storage medium storing driving assistance
program.
2. Description of Related Art
[0003] In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-25735
(JP 2011-25735 A), a notification device for a vehicle which alerts
a driver to prompt the driver to reduce vehicle speed at a suitable
timing is disclosed. In JP 2011-25735 A, it is decided whether a
value indicating a vehicle speed or an accelerator operation
amount, which is input as vehicle information, tends to increase at
prescribed intervals, and when the value tends to increase, a
notification unit is operated.
SUMMARY
[0004] There are various factors for prompting the driver to
decelerate the vehicle. However, in JP 2011-25735 A, the disclosure
is limited to prompting deceleration when the value indicating the
vehicle speed or the accelerator operation amount tends to
increase. Thus, the alert to the driver is not enough and there is
room for improvement from a viewpoint of convenience.
[0005] The present disclosure provides a driving assistance device,
a driving assistance method, and a non-transitory computer-readable
storage medium storing driving assistance program that are able to
improve convenience of a driver with issuance of an alert.
[0006] An aspect of the disclosure relates to a driving assistance
device. The driving assistance device has a control unit configured
to identify a point at which a vehicle speed is likely to increase,
based on vehicle information collected from a plurality of
vehicles, the vehicle information including position information
for each of the vehicles and situation information for each of the
vehicles. The control unit is configured to decide whether there is
a vehicle deceleration factor due to which the vehicle speed
decreases within an area in which a vehicle travels a prescribed
distance from the point identified by the control unit, and the
control unit is configured to alert a driver that there is the
vehicle deceleration factor, when there is the vehicle deceleration
factor.
[0007] In the aspect described above, the vehicle deceleration
factor may be at least one of the following: an indication of
temporary stop; a narrowing road width; a congested road; or a
point at which the vehicle speed is likely to decrease.
[0008] In the aspect described above, the control unit may be
configured to determine, based on the vehicle information, that
there is a point at which a vehicle elevation decreases by a value
equal to more than a prescribed value, the vehicle speed increases
by a speed equal to more than a prescribed speed, and a variation
of an accelerator operation amount is within a prescribed range,
and the control unit may be configured to identify the point as a
point at which the vehicle speed is likely to increase.
[0009] In the aspect described above, the control unit may be
configured to determine, based on the vehicle information, that
there is a point at which a variation of a vehicle elevation is
within a prescribed range, the vehicle speed increases by a speed
equal to or more than a prescribed speed, and an accelerator
operation amount increases by an amount equal to or more than a
prescribed amount, and the control unit is configured to identify
the point as a point at which the vehicle speed is likely to
increase.
[0010] Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a driving
assistance method. The driving assistance method includes:
identifying a point at which a vehicle speed is likely to increase,
based on vehicle information collected from a plurality of
vehicles, the vehicle information including position information
for each of the vehicles and situation information for each of the
vehicles; deciding whether there is a vehicle deceleration factor
due to which the vehicle speed decreases within an area in which a
vehicle travels a prescribed distance from the identified point;
and alerting a driver that there is the vehicle deceleration
factor, when there is the vehicle deceleration factor.
[0011] Yet another aspect of the disclosure relates to a
non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a driving
assistance program for executing a vehicle driving assistance
method. The driving assistance method includes: identifying a point
at which a vehicle speed is likely to increase, based on vehicle
information collected from a plurality of vehicles, the vehicle
information including position information for each of the vehicles
and situation information for each of the vehicles; deciding
whether there is a vehicle deceleration factor due to which the
vehicle speed decreases within an area in which a vehicle travels a
prescribed distance from the identified point; and alerting a
driver that there is the vehicle deceleration factor when there is
the vehicle deceleration factor.
[0012] With the above configurations, it is possible to improve
convenience of a driver with issuance of an alert.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial
significance of exemplary embodiments will be described below with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals
denote like elements, and wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration of a
driving assistance system according to an embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating a transition of elevation,
speed, and accelerator operation amount of a vehicle; and
[0016] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the
driving assistance system according to the embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0017] An embodiment will be described with reference to the
attached drawings. In the drawings, elements with the same
reference signs have the same or similar configurations.
[0018] The configuration of a driving assistance system according
to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. For
example, a driving assistance system 100 includes an information
terminal 1 that a user uses and a server 2 that is disposed at a
data center etc. The information terminal 1 and the server 2 are
configured so that they can communicate with each other via a
network including a wireless network, for example.
[0019] The information terminal 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a
terminal device such as a vehicle navigation device, an on-vehicle
device with a navigation function, or a smart phone. The
information terminal 1 has a control section 11, an input section
12, an output section 13, a storing section 14, and a communication
section 15 etc. as a functional configuration. The information
terminal 1 has a control unit including a central processing unit
(CPU) and a memory, an operation section, a display, a speaker, a
storing unit, and a communication unit etc., as a physical
configuration. The CPU executes a prescribed program stored in the
memory to realize functions of the control section 11, the input
section 12, the output section 13, the storing section 14, and the
communication section 15.
[0020] The server 2 has a point identification section 21, a
situation decision section 22, an alert section 23, a storing
section 24, and a communication section 25 etc., as a functional
configuration. The server 2 has a control unit including a CPU and
a memory, a storing unit, and a communication unit etc., as a
physical configuration. The CPU executes a prescribed program
stored in the memory to realize functions of the point
identification section 21, the situation decision section 22, the
alert section 23, the storing section 24, and the communication
section 25. The functions of the point identification section 21,
the situation decision section 22, and the alert section 23 will be
described in detail below.
[0021] The point identification section 21 identifies a point at
which the vehicle speed is likely to increase, based on vehicle
information collected from a plurality of vehicles. The vehicle
information is stored in the storing unit.
[0022] Position information for the vehicle, situation information
for the vehicle, attribute information for the vehicle, and the
time at which the data was collected etc. are included in the
vehicle information. Speed information and accelerator operation
amount information for the vehicle etc. are included in the
situation information for the vehicle.
[0023] The point identification section 21 identifies a point at
which the vehicle speed is likely to increase, based on the vehicle
information. For example, a downward slope and a flat straight road
correspond to the point at which the vehicle speed is likely to
increase.
[0024] Identification of the point at which the vehicle speed is
likely to increase will be described in detail referring to FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating a transition of a vehicle elevation
H, a vehicle speed V, and an accelerator operation amount A, of a
vehicle. The vehicle elevation H, the vehicle speed V, and the
accelerator operation amount A can be decided based on the vehicle
information.
[0025] A point Pa indicated in FIG. 2 is a downward slope. The
point Pa is point at which the vehicle elevation H decreases, the
vehicle speed V increases, and the accelerator operation amount A
hardly changes. In this way, the speed tends to increase at the
downward slope, even if the accelerator pedal is not stepped
on.
[0026] Thus, the point identification section 21 identifies the
point as a downward slope based on the vehicle information, when
there is a point at which the vehicle elevation H decreases by a
value equal to or more than the prescribed value, the vehicle speed
V increases by a value equal to or more than the prescribed value,
and the variation of the accelerator operation amount A is within
the prescribed range. The point identification section 21 then
decides that the point Pa is a point at which the vehicle speed is
likely to increase.
[0027] The point Pb indicated in FIG. 2 is a flat straight road.
The point Pb is a point at which there is hardly any variation in
the vehicle elevation H, the vehicle speed V increases, and the
accelerator operation amount increases. In this way, on the flat
straight road, the driver tends to step on the accelerator pedal
and accelerate the vehicle.
[0028] Thus, when there is a point at which the variation of the
vehicle elevation is within a prescribed range, the vehicle speed
increases by a speed equal to or more than a prescribed speed, and
the accelerator operation amount increases by a prescribed amount
or more, the point identification section 21 decides that a road is
a flat straight road and identifies the point Pb as a point at
which the vehicle speed is likely to increase, based on the vehicle
information.
[0029] The description will return to FIG. 1. The situation
decision section 22 decides whether there is a vehicle deceleration
factor due to which the vehicle speed decreases within an area in
which the vehicle travels a prescribed distance from the point
identified by the point identification section 21. The vehicle
deceleration factors include: an indication of a temporary stop; a
narrowing road width; a congested road; and a point at which the
vehicle speed is likely to decrease etc.
[0030] It is possible to decide whether there is the vehicle
deceleration factor in a traveling direction of the vehicle based
on map information and traffic information etc.
[0031] When there is the deceleration factor, the alert section 23
alerts the driver that there is the deceleration factor. The alert
is performed by outputting from the speaker of the information
terminal 1 or by indicating on the display of the information
terminal 1, a message such as "The road is congested ahead of the
continuous downward slope. Please drive at a decreased speed." or
"Even if you accelerate now, there is a temporary stop ahead."
[0032] An example of an operation of the driving assistance system
100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to
FIG. 3.
[0033] First, the point identification section 21 identifies a
point at which the vehicle speed is likely to increase, based on
the vehicle information collected from the plurality of vehicles
(step S101).
[0034] Then, the situation decision section 22 decides whether
there is the vehicle deceleration factor within the area in which
the vehicle travels the prescribed distance from the point
identified in step S101 described above (step S102). When the
decision results in "NO" (step S102; NO), the processing moves on
to step S101 described above.
[0035] In step S102, when it is decided that there is the vehicle
deceleration factor within the area in which the vehicle travels
the prescribed distance from the identified point (step S102; YES),
the alert section 23 alerts the driver that there is the
deceleration factor (step S103). The processing then moves on to
step S101.
[0036] As described above, in the driving assistance system 100
according to the embodiment, it is possible to identify the point
at which the vehicle speed is likely to increase, decide whether
there is the vehicle deceleration factor within the area in which
the vehicle travels the prescribed distance from the identified
point, and alert the driver that there is the deceleration factor
when there is the vehicle deceleration factor, based on the vehicle
information collected from the plurality of vehicles and including
the position information for each of the vehicles and the situation
information for each of the vehicles.
[0037] That is, based on the point at which the vehicle speed is
likely to increase and the situation in which there is the
deceleration factor ahead of the point, it is possible to suitably
alert the driver.
[0038] Thus, in the driving assistance system 100 according to the
embodiment, it is possible to improve the convenience of the driver
with an alert.
Modification
[0039] The disclosure is not limited to the embodiment describe
above, and may be implemented in various modes without departing
from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the embodiment described
above is by way of example in all respects and should not be
interpreted as limited. For example, the order of the processing
steps described above may be changed as appropriate within a range
in which inconsistency does not occur in content of processing, or
the processing steps may be executed in parallel.
[0040] In the embodiment describe above, the server 2 has the point
identification section 21, the situation decision section 22, and
the alert section 23. However, the disclosure is not limited to
this, and the information terminal 1 may have a part of or all of
the functions of the point identification section 21, the situation
decision section 22, and the alert section 23. Both the information
terminal 1 and the server 2 can be the driving assistance
device.
[0041] The components of the information terminal 1 and the server
2 are not limited to the components according to the embodiment
described above, and any components may be added if necessary.
* * * * *