US-12626544-B2 - Controller and control method

Abstract

A controller includes a determining unit configured to determine a work assistance operation to be performed by a target moving object, the work assistance operation being an operation to assist work on a moving object, the target moving object including at least one of the moving object and another moving object being located around the moving object, the moving object configured to be operable by unmanned driving, the another moving object configured to be operable by unmanned driving and an instructing unit configured to instruct the target moving object to perform the work assistance operation determined by the determining unit.

Inventors

• Kento IWAHORI
• Daiki Yokoyama

Assignees

• TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240227

Priority Date

20230417

Claims (12)

1. 1 . A controller comprising: a memory storing a program; and at least one processor operatively connected to the memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the program to: acquire step information, the step information being an information relating to a manufacturing step of manufacturing a moving object; based on the step information, determine a work assistance operation to be performed by a target moving object, wherein the work assistance operation is an operation to assist work on the moving object in the manufacturing of the moving object, the target moving object including at least one of the moving object and another moving object being located around the moving object, the moving object configured to be operable by unmanned driving, the another moving object configured to be operable by unmanned driving; and instruct the target moving object to perform the work assistance operation.
2. 2 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the work assistance operation includes an operation of changing the orientation of at least a part of the moving object.
3. 3 . The controller according to claim 2 , wherein the work is to inspect an appearance of the moving object, the moving object includes a power-folding mirror, and the work assistance operation includes an operation of changing the orientation of the power-folding mirror.
4. 4 . The controller according to claim 2 , wherein the work is to inspect an appearance of the moving object, and the work assistance operation includes an operation of causing the moving object to run in a serpentine manner.
5. 5 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the target moving object is the another moving object, the another moving object includes an illumination device configured to emit light, and the work assistance operation includes an operation of emitting light to the moving object from the illumination device of the another moving object.
6. 6 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the target moving object includes at least one device of a sound device configured to output sound and an illumination device configured to emit light, and the work assistance operation includes an operation of providing information to a worker who performs the work using the at least one device.
7. 7 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the target moving object includes an illumination device configured to emit light changeable in color, and the work assistance operation includes an operation of changing the color of light emitted from the illumination device in response to a progress in the work.
8. 8 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the target moving object includes an abnormality information acquiring unit configured to acquire abnormality information as information indicating abnormality at another moving object having been finished the work, and the work assistance operation includes an operation of notifying the occurrence of the abnormality from the target moving object to a worker who performs the work.
9. 9 . The controller according to claim 8 , wherein the target moving object is a vehicle and includes a sound device arranged inside the vehicle, and the work assistance operation includes an operation of notifying the occurrence of the abnormality to the worker using the sound device.
10. 10 . The controller according to claim 9 , wherein the target moving object further includes a power window, and the work assistance operation includes an operation of notifying the occurrence of the abnormality to the worker using the sound device after the power window is opened.
11. 11 . The controller according to claim 8 , wherein the work assistance operation includes an operation of notifying the occurrence of the abnormality and a measure to prevent the recurrence of the abnormality to the worker.
12. 12 . A control method comprising: acquiring step information, the step information being an information relating to a manufacturing step of manufacturing a moving object; based on the step information, determining a work assistance operation to be performed by a target moving object, wherein the work assistance operation is an operation to assist work on the moving object in the manufacturing of the moving object, the target moving object including at least one of the moving object and another moving object being located around the moving object, the moving object configured to be operable by unmanned driving, the another moving object configured to be operable by unmanned driving; and instructing the target moving object to perform the work assistance operation.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The patent application claims the priority based on Japanese Patent Applications No. 2023-067144 filed on Apr. 17, 2023, and No. 2023-222219 filed on Dec. 28, 2023, the disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. BACKGROUND Field The present disclosure relates to a controller and a control method. There is a known technique that causes a vehicle to run by unmanned driving in a step of manufacturing the vehicle (for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2017-538619). In moving a moving object such as a vehicle by unmanned driving instead of conveying the moving object by a conveyor or the like, sufficient consideration has not been given to improving workability of work on the moving object. SUMMARY The present disclosure is feasible in the following aspects. (1) According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a controller is provided. The controller comprises: a determining unit configured to determine a work assistance operation to be performed by a target moving object, the work assistance operation being an operation to assist work on a moving object, the target moving object including at least one of the moving object and another moving object being located around the moving object, the moving object configured to be operable by unmanned driving, the another moving object configured to be operable by unmanned driving; and an instructing unit configured to instruct the target moving object to perform the work assistance operation determined by the determining unit. The controller of this aspect allows the work assistance operation to be performed by the target moving object, making it possible to improve performance of the work on the moving object. (2) In the controller of the above-described aspect, the work assistance operation may include an operation of changing the orientation of at least a part of the moving object. According to the controller of this aspect, by changing the operation of at least a part of the moving object to be subjected to the work, it becomes possible to improve performance of the work on the moving object. (3) In the controller of the above-described aspect, the work may be to inspect an appearance of the moving object, the moving object may include a power-folding mirror, and the work assistance operation may include an operation of changing the orientation of the power-folding mirror. According to the controller of this aspect, by changing the operation of the power-folding mirror, it becomes possible to facilitate inspection on an appearance of the power-folding mirror. (4) In the controller of the above-described aspect, the work may be to inspect an appearance of the moving object, and the work assistance operation may include an operation of causing the moving object to run in a serpentine manner. According to the controller of this aspect, by changing the position of the moving object, it becomes possible to facilitate inspection on the appearance of the moving object. (5) In the controller of the above-described aspect, the target moving object may be the another moving object, the another moving object may include an illumination device configured to emit light, and the work assistance operation may include an operation of emitting light to the moving object from the illumination device of the another moving object. According to the controller of this aspect, it is possible to improve visibility around a rear part of the moving object. (6) In the controller of the above-described aspect, the target moving object may include at least one device of a sound device configured to output sound and an illumination device configured to emit light, and the work assistance operation may include an operation of providing information to a worker who performs the work using the at least one device. According to the controller of this aspect, by providing the information to the worker, it becomes possible to improve performance of the work by the worker. (7) In the controller of the above-described aspect, the target moving object may include an illumination device configured to emit light changeable in color, and the work assistance operation may include an operation of changing the color of light emitted from the illumination device in response to a progress in the work. The controller of this aspect allows the worker to recognize a progress in the work. (8) In the controller of the above-described aspect, the target moving object may include an abnormality information acquiring unit configured to acquire abnormality information as information indicating abnormality at another moving object having been finished the work, and the work assistance operation may include an operation of notifying the occurrence of the abnormality from the target moving object to a worker who performs the work. According to the controller of this aspect, it is possible to no