Platooning formation pattern proposal method, platooning formation pattern proposal device, and platooning formation pattern proposal system

1 . A platooning formation pattern proposal method for proposing a formation pattern of platooning when a plurality of vehicles perform the platooning, the method comprising:

collecting information related to the formation pattern;

extracting, as an index factor, information in a predetermined index from the collected information, wherein the predetermined index includes at least two indices;

calculating a score of the index as an index score based on the extracted index factor;

proposing, as a recommendation formation pattern, the formation pattern for which the index score has been calculated, when the calculated index score satisfies a predetermined condition;

when calculating the score, calculating the index score of at least two indices;

when at least two index scores satisfy the predetermined condition, proposing, as the recommendation formation pattern, the formation pattern for which the index score has been calculated;

wirelessly communicating with a vehicle controller mounted on the plurality of vehicles;

providing the proposed recommendation formation pattern to the vehicle controller;

receiving approval information which is transmitted from the vehicle controller in response to an operation of an approval button mounted on the plurality of vehicles and indicates that the recommendation formation pattern has been approved; and

causing the vehicle controller mounted on the plurality of vehicles to perform platoon traveling control that controls at least one of acceleration, deceleration, or steering for causing the plurality of vehicles to travel according to the proposed recommendation formation pattern.

2 . The platooning formation pattern proposal method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

when a sum of the at least two index scores is maximum and also a difference between the at least two index scores is minimum, proposing the formation pattern for which the index score has been calculated as the recommendation formation pattern.

3 . The platooning formation pattern proposal method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

when a sum of the at least two index scores is maximum and also a difference between the at least two index scores is minimum, acquiring, as a solution of a combination optimization process, the formation pattern for which the index score has been calculated; and

proposing the formation pattern for which the solution has been acquired, as the recommendation formation pattern.

4 . The platooning formation pattern proposal method according to claim 1 , wherein:

a fuel consumption index for prioritizing improvement of a fuel consumption, a request index for prioritizing a request condition of a vehicle participating in the platooning, a personnel cost index for prioritizing reduction in a personnel cost required for performing the platooning, or a safety index for prioritizing a safety during the platooning is set as the at least two indices, and

the method further includes calculating the index score of the at least two indices among the fuel consumption index, the request index, the personnel cost index, and the safety index.

5 . The platooning formation pattern proposal method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

classifying the collected information into a target information group with a possibility of generating a platooning formation or a non-target information group with no possibility of generating the platooning formation, between collection of the information and calculation of the index score; and

when calculating the index score,

extracting, as the index factor, information in the predetermined index from the target information group, and calculating the score of the index as the index score based on the extracted index factor.

6 . A platooning formation pattern proposal device for proposing a formation pattern of platooning when a plurality of vehicles perform the platooning, the device comprising:

at least one processor and memory configured to serve as:

an information collection unit configured to collect information related to the formation pattern;

an index score calculation unit configured to extract, as an index factor, information in a predetermined index from the information collected by the information collection unit, and calculate a score of the index as an index score based on the extracted index factor;

a formation pattern proposal unit configured to propose, as a recommendation formation pattern, the formation pattern of which index score has been calculated, when the index score calculated by the index score calculation unit satisfies a predetermined condition; and

an external communication unit configured to:

wirelessly communicate with a vehicle controller mounted on the plurality of vehicles;

provide the proposed recommendation formation pattern to the vehicle controller; and

receive approval information which is transmitted from the vehicle controller in response to an operation of an approval button mounted on the plurality of vehicles and indicates that the recommendation formation pattern has been approved;

wherein:

the at least one processor and memory are further configured to cause the vehicle controller mounted on the plurality of vehicles to perform platoon traveling control that controls at least one of acceleration, deceleration, or steering for causing the plurality of vehicles to travel according to the proposed recommendation formation pattern;

the index score calculation unit is further configured to calculate the index score of at least two indices; and

the formation pattern proposal unit is further configured to propose, as the recommendation formation pattern, the formation pattern for which the index score has been calculated, when the at least two index scores satisfy the predetermined condition.

7 . A platooning formation pattern proposal system for proposing a formation pattern of platooning when a plurality of vehicles perform the platooning, the system comprising:

at least one processor and memory configured to serve as:

an information collection unit configured to collect information related to the formation pattern;

an index score calculation unit configured to extract, as an index factor, information in a predetermined index from the information collected by the information collection unit, and calculate a score of the index as an index score based on the extracted index factor;

a formation pattern proposal unit configured to propose, as a recommendation formation pattern, the formation pattern of which index score has been calculated, when the index score calculated by the index score calculation unit satisfies a predetermined condition;

an external communication unit configured to:

wirelessly communicate with a vehicle controller mounted on the plurality of vehicles;

provide the proposed recommendation formation pattern to the vehicle controller; and

receive approval information which is transmitted from the vehicle controller in response to an operation of an approval button mounted on the plurality of vehicles and indicates that the recommendation formation pattern has been approved; and

a user terminal;

wherein:

the at least one processor and memory are further configured to cause the vehicle controller mounted on the plurality of vehicles to perform platoon traveling control that controls at least one of acceleration, deceleration, or steering for causing the plurality of vehicles to travel according to the proposed recommendation formation pattern;

the information collection unit is further configured to collect the information related to the formation pattern from the user terminal;

the index score calculation unit is further configured to calculate the index score of at least two indices; and

the formation pattern proposal unit is further configured to propose, as the recommendation formation pattern, the formation pattern for which the index score has been calculated, when the at least two index scores satisfy the predetermined condition.