KR-102963287-B1 - Server and Management Method for Dispatch and Return of Autonomous Vehicles Used in Car Sharing

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a dispatch management and automatic return management server for autonomous vehicles used in car sharing. When an autonomous vehicle is returned in an area where autonomous driving is possible, the vehicle is controlled to move autonomously to a return zone, parked at a designated parking location within the return zone using an autonomous valet function, and can be controlled to roam around the return zone autonomously until a parking space within the return zone is secured.

Inventors

• 박준현
• 김재은
• 조해인

Assignees

• 주식회사 쏘카

Dates

Publication Date

20260511

Application Date

20250630

Claims (20)

1. This concerns a vehicle dispatch management server, A communication module that communicates with an autonomous vehicle used in a car-sharing service; A memory storing at least one process for managing the automatic return of the above-mentioned autonomous vehicle; and It includes a processor configured to execute at least one process, and The above processor is, Based on the vehicle usage information of a user using the above car-sharing service, a reminder is generated to induce return of the vehicle before a preset time from the scheduled return time and provided to the user's terminal. Based on the current location of the vehicle or the destination location immediately before the user returns the vehicle, the return method is determined as either a first return method by manual driving return by the user or a second return method by autonomous driving remote return. If the above second return method is determined, determine whether the user's destination satisfies the preset autonomous driving capability conditions, and determine the remote return location of the vehicle according to the determined result. When it is determined that the vehicle has been returned at the remote return location, for each of the multiple autonomous driving routes, a route is selected based on the road accident history, real-time traffic volume, weather and illumination information, a safety index, estimated travel time, and estimated energy consumption, and the vehicle is controlled to autonomously valet park in the return zone. The above reminder includes the estimated time required to reach the above return zone and reward information according to the above return method, and The above processor is, Calculate a priority for each of the multiple return zones searched based on the current location of the vehicle or the destination location and provide it to the terminal, and calculate a return distance optimization index based on the priority and the actual return location. Calculating the final reward score according to the following mathematical formula 1 based on the basic reward score, the time efficiency index of the actual return time compared to the above-mentioned scheduled return time, the above-mentioned return distance optimization index, and the battery remaining capacity index, [Mathematical Formula 1] R: Final reward score R_base: Base reward score T: Time efficiency index based on actual return time compared to the above-mentioned return time (-1 to 1) D: Return distance optimization index (-1~1) E: Battery level index (0~1) W_t, W_d, W_e: Weights of each element (sum=1) Vehicle dispatch management server.
2. In paragraph 1, The above conditions for autonomous driving are, Including whether the vehicle can exit from the location where it is stopped, road illumination, real-time weather conditions, communication network availability, and surrounding vehicle traffic volume, Vehicle dispatch management server.
3. In paragraph 1, The above processor is, Characterized by determining at least one location as the return location by considering accessibility from the current location of the vehicle within an area where autonomous driving is possible. Vehicle dispatch management server.
4. In paragraph 1, The above processor is, Characterized by checking whether there is an area where autonomous driving is possible within a preset distance from the above destination location, and determining the above return location within the area confirmed to be capable of autonomous driving. Vehicle dispatch management server.
5. In paragraph 4, The above processor is, If an area where autonomous driving is possible is not identified within a preset distance from the current location of the vehicle or the destination, Propose a location confirmed to be accessible to the above destination via public transportation and capable of autonomous driving as the above return location to the above user, and Characterized by controlling the vehicle to roam a preset path in autonomous driving when the above-mentioned return zone is occupied by another vehicle and there is no available return zone for parking, and controlling the vehicle to move to the corresponding return zone and park via autonomous valet when a available return zone becomes available. Vehicle dispatch management server.
6. In paragraph 1, The above processor is, Characterized by dynamically determining the timing of generating the reminder based on the time required for the vehicle to move to an autonomous driving area from the scheduled return time. Vehicle dispatch management server.
7. In paragraph 6, The above processor is, Characterized by determining the timing for generating the reminder by considering the above-mentioned scheduled return time, the distance from the current location to the nearest return zone, the average travel speed coefficient, the traffic congestion index, and the traffic congestion adjustment coefficient. Vehicle dispatch management server.
8. In paragraph 1, The above processor is, If multiple return zones where the above vehicle can be returned are identified, One return zone is selected from the plurality of return zones based on the distance and return location score of each return zone from the current location of the vehicle, and Characterized by calculating the return location score for each return zone based on the total number of vehicles that can be accommodated in each return zone and the number of vehicles that can currently be accommodated in each return zone. Vehicle dispatch management server.
9. In paragraph 8, The above processor is, Characterized by calculating the return location score based on the number of vehicles currently available for return in the return zone, the total number of vehicles that can be accommodated in the return zone, the distance from the current location to the return zone, the expected demand index and parking ease index of the return zone within the next 24 hours. Vehicle dispatch management server.
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13. In paragraph 1, The above processor is, Identifying multiple autonomous driving paths from the location returned by the above autonomous driving to the above return zone, and Characterized by selecting one of the plurality of autonomous driving paths based on the estimated travel time, estimated energy consumption, and safety index for each of the plurality of autonomous driving paths. Vehicle dispatch management server.
14. In Paragraph 13, The above processor is, Characterized by calculating a path score for each autonomous driving path based on estimated travel time, estimated energy consumption, and safety index, Vehicle dispatch management server.
15. In Paragraph 13, The above processor is, Characterized by calculating the above safety index based on accident history of roads or intersections, real-time traffic volume, weather and road illumination information, Vehicle dispatch management server.
16. In paragraph 1, The above processor is, A remote return possibility score (A) is calculated based on the possibility of the vehicle being released, the difference between the user's last vehicle usage time and the current time, and the distance information between the user and the vehicle. Characterized by performing the remote return of the vehicle only when the remote return possibility score is greater than or equal to a preset threshold. Vehicle dispatch management server.
17. In Paragraph 16, The above processor is, Characterized by calculating the remote return possibility score (A) based on the vehicle release possibility index, the difference between the user's last vehicle usage time and the current time, and the distance between the user and the vehicle. Vehicle dispatch management server.
18. In paragraph 1, The above processor is, If the use of the above vehicle is reserved within a preset time from the above scheduled return time, Characterized by proposing a location close to the boarding location included in the above reservation as the return location of the above vehicle. Vehicle dispatch management server.
19. A method performed by a vehicle dispatch management server providing a car-sharing service, A step of generating a reminder to induce return of the vehicle before a preset time from the scheduled return time, based on the vehicle usage information of a user using the car-sharing service, and providing the reminder to the user's terminal; A step of determining one of a first return method by manual driving return by the user and a second return method by autonomous driving remote return, based on the current location of the vehicle or the destination location immediately before the user returns the vehicle; When the second return method is determined, a step of determining whether the user's destination satisfies a preset autonomous driving capability condition, and determining the remote return location of the vehicle according to the determined result; and When it is determined that the vehicle has been returned at the remote return location, the method includes the step of selecting a route for each of the multiple autonomous driving routes based on a safety index calculated from road accident history, real-time traffic volume, weather and illumination information, estimated travel time, and estimated energy consumption, and controlling the vehicle to autonomously drive to a pre-set return zone within the remote return location and park via autonomous valet. The above reminder is, Includes the estimated time required to reach the above-mentioned return zone and reward information according to the above-mentioned return method, and The above server is, Calculate a priority for each of the multiple return zones searched based on the current location of the vehicle or the destination location and provide it to the terminal, and calculate a return distance optimization index based on the priority and the actual return location. Calculating the final reward score according to the following mathematical formula 1 based on the basic reward score, the time efficiency index of the actual return time compared to the above-mentioned scheduled return time, the above-mentioned return distance optimization index, and the battery remaining capacity index, [Mathematical Formula 1] R: Final reward score R_base: Base reward score T: Time efficiency index based on actual return time compared to the above-mentioned return time (-1 to 1) D: Return distance optimization index (-1~1) E: Battery level index (0~1) W_t, W_d, W_e: Weights of each element (sum=1) Vehicle dispatch management method.
20. A computer-readable recording medium on which a computer program for performing the method of paragraph 19 is recorded.

Description

Server and Management Method for Dispatch and Return of Autonomous Vehicles Used in Car Sharing The present disclosure relates to a server that performs dispatch management and return management for autonomous vehicles used in car sharing. Recently, with the commercialization of autonomous driving technology, self-driving vehicles are gradually being introduced into car-sharing services. In particular, as the operation of driverless vehicles becomes possible, automation and efficiency are expected in the vehicle rental and return processes, requiring technological means to simultaneously achieve user convenience, vehicle turnover, and dispatch efficiency. However, most existing car-sharing systems have the problem that users must drive the vehicle themselves to a specific return zone, and when the return location is fixed, there is little flexibility other than route guidance. Consequently, there is a need for an autonomous valet function to prevent vehicles from wandering around unable to find a return point due to a lack of empty space within the return zone during autonomous return, or to ensure that returned vehicles are parked at designated locations. Furthermore, since the autonomous driving function of self-driving vehicles does not operate in all regions, there is a need for a method to select areas where autonomous driving is possible and to suggest appropriate return routes; however, technology capable of practically solving these problems has not yet been disclosed. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an automatic return management system for an autonomous vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an automatic dispatch management and return management server for an autonomous vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an automatic return management method for an autonomous vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a vehicle return reminder being provided to a user's terminal. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of requesting a user to select a return method using their terminal. Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the return method and expected reward when the manual return method is selected. Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the return method and expected reward when the automatic return method is selected. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a request for return at a location where autonomous driving is possible by selecting an automatic return mode. Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating an example where a vehicle is moved to a location where autonomous driving is possible and can be returned. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a request for the user to move the vehicle directly to the return zone as the manual return mode is selected. Throughout this disclosure, the same reference numerals denote the same components. This disclosure does not describe all elements of the embodiments, and general content in the art to which this disclosure pertains or content that overlaps between embodiments is omitted. The terms ‘part, module, component, block’ as used in the specification may be implemented in software or hardware, and depending on the embodiments, a plurality of ‘parts, modules, components, blocks’ may be implemented as a single component, or a single ‘part, module, component, block’ may include a plurality of components. Throughout the specification, when a part is described as being "connected" to another part, this includes not only cases where they are directly connected but also cases where they are indirectly connected, and indirect connections include connections made via a wireless communication network. Furthermore, when it is stated that a part "includes" a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components. Throughout the specification, when it is stated that a component is located "on" another component, this includes not only cases where a component is in contact with another component, but also cases where another component exists between the two components. Terms such as "first," "second," etc., are used to distinguish one component from another, and the components are not limited by the aforementioned terms. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless there is an obvious exception in the context. In each step, identification codes are used for convenience of explanation and do not describe the order of the steps; the steps may be performed differently from the specified order unless a specific order is clearly indicated in the context. The operating principles and embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. In this specification, the 'automatic dispatch management and return management server for an autonomous vehicle according to the present disclosu