Vehicle control device, vehicle control method, and storage medium

1 . A vehicle control device mounted in a vehicle, comprising:

a processor;

a storage unit storing a vehicle control program; and

an input/output interface for connection to external devices;

wherein the vehicle comprises:

a communication unit connected to the input/output interface and configured to communicate with a terminal device possessed by an occupant; and

a vehicle display unit connected to the input/output interface,

the processor, by executing the vehicle control program stored in the storage unit, operates as:

a body control unit connected to the communication unit and to the vehicle display unit; and

a vehicle control unit controlling autonomous driving of the vehicle, and,

in a state in which a driving operation by the occupant is required, the body control unit is configured to:

determine, based on information from the communication unit, whether the occupant is using the terminal device during automatic driving of the vehicle;

control a display unit of the terminal device to output a notification prompting the driving operation in response to a determination that the occupant is using the terminal device; and

control the vehicle display unit to output a notification prompting the driving operation in response to a determination that the occupant is not using the terminal device.

2 . The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal device includes a storage unit storing a body control application configured to operate in cooperation with the processor, and

the processor determines that the occupant is using the terminal device in a case where communication with the vehicle is being performed via the body control application.

3 . The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle further comprises a position adjustment mechanism connected to a seat and a steering wheel of the vehicle, and

the processor is configured to control the position adjustment mechanism to change a position of the seat and the steering wheel to a position in which the occupant is able to perform the driving operation in a case where the occupant accepts performing the driving operation.

4 . The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal device is a smartphone of the occupant, a tablet terminal of the occupant, or an operation terminal mounted on the vehicle and detachable from the vehicle.

5 . A vehicle control method comprising:

executing, by a processor of a vehicle control device mounted in a vehicle, the vehicle control device comprising an input/output interface and a vehicle control program stored in a storage unit, the processor operating as a vehicle control unit controlling autonomous driving of the vehicle and as a body control unit;

providing, in the vehicle, a communication unit connected to the input/output interface and the body control unit, and configured to communicate with a terminal device possessed by an occupant of the vehicle;

providing, in the vehicle, a vehicle display unit connected to the input/output interface and the body control unit; and,

in a state in which a driving operation by the occupant is required,

determining, by the body control unit based on information from the communication unit, whether the occupant is using the terminal device during automatic driving of the vehicle;

controlling, by the body control unit, a display unit of the terminal device to output a notification prompting the driving operation in response to a determination that the occupant is using the terminal device; and

controlling, by the body control unit, the vehicle display unit to output a notification prompting the driving operation in response to a determination that the occupant is not using the terminal device.

6 . The vehicle control method according to claim 5 , wherein the terminal device includes a storage unit storing a body control application configured to operate in cooperation with the processor, and

determining that the occupant is using the terminal device includes determining that communication with the vehicle is being performed via the body control application of the terminal device.

7 . The vehicle control method according to claim 5 , further comprising providing, in the vehicle, a position adjustment mechanism connected to a seat and a steering wheel of the vehicle, and

controlling the position adjustment mechanism to change a position of the seat and the steering wheel to a position in which the occupant is able to perform the driving operation in a case where the occupant accepts performing the driving operation.

8 . The vehicle control method according to claim 5 , wherein the terminal device is a smartphone of the occupant, a tablet terminal of the occupant, or an operation terminal mounted on the vehicle and detachable from the vehicle.

9 . A non-transitory storage medium storing a vehicle control program that, in a case executed by a processor of a vehicle control device comprising an input/output interface for connection to external devices, causes the processor to:

operate as a body control unit connected to a communication unit and to a vehicle display unit; and

operate as a vehicle control unit controlling autonomous driving of the vehicle,

wherein the vehicle comprises

the communication unit connected to the input/output interface and configured to communicate with a terminal device possessed by an occupant, and

the vehicle display unit connected to the input/output interface, and,

in a state in which a driving operation by the occupant is required, the processor is further caused to

determine, based on information from the communication unit, whether the occupant is using the terminal device during automatic driving of the vehicle,

control a display unit of the terminal device to output a notification prompting the driving operation in response to a determination that the occupant is using the terminal device, and

control the vehicle display unit to output a notification prompting the driving operation in response to a determination that the occupant is not using the terminal device.

10 . The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 9 , wherein the terminal device includes a storage unit storing a body control application configured to operate in cooperation with the processor, and

the processor determines that the occupant is using the terminal device in a case where communication with the vehicle is being performed via the body control application.

11 . The non-transitory storage medium according to claim 9 , wherein the vehicle further comprises a position adjustment mechanism connected to a seat and a steering wheel of the vehicle, and

the processor is configured to control the position adjustment mechanism to change a position of the seat and the steering wheel to a position in which the occupant is able to perform the driving operation in a case where the occupant accepts performing the driving operation.

12 . Non-transitory storage medium according to claim 9 , wherein the terminal device is a smartphone of the occupant, a tablet terminal of the occupant, or an operation terminal mounted on the vehicle and detachable from the vehicle.