TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM, VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM, TRAFFIC REGULATION SYSTEM, AND TRAFFIC CONTROL METHOD

• US 20130124012A1
• Filed: 07/19/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Shida, Mitsuhisa, Aso, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 8,972,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/00 Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/08 according to detected number or speed of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

A traffic control system sets a target value related to a travel state based on a correlation between a vehicle travel speed and a traffic volume, and controls multiple vehicles (CS) on a road in accordance with the target value as a common target value. The target value can be set based on a predicted traffic volume at a region (103) that is ahead of, in a vehicle travel direction, the multiple vehicles on the road. For example, the traffic control system sets, as the target value, a target speed or a target value of a parameter related to an inter-vehicle distance.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A traffic control system comprising:

an infrastructure device that sets a target value related to a travel state based on a correlation between a vehicle travel speed and a traffic volume;

a road-vehicle communication device that transmits the target value to multiple vehicles that are on a road and are each capable of controlling their travel in accordance with the target value, the vehicles automatically controlling engine and brake systems of each of the vehicles based on the target value;

wherein the infrastructure device determines a predicted traffic volume at a vehicle travel direction ahead region that is located ahead of the multiple vehicles on the road in a vehicle travel direction; and

the infrastructure device sets the target value based on the predicted traffic volume.

13. The traffic control system according to claim 12, wherein the infrastructure device detects or estimates a traffic volume at the road and sets the target value based on the detected or estimated traffic volume.

14. The traffic control system according to claim 12, wherein the infrastructure device controls the multiple vehicles in accordance with the target value in a vehicle travel direction behind region that is located behind a merging point on the road in the vehicle travel direction, wherein

the merging point is a point at which a merging road merges into the road,

the predicted traffic volume is a predicted traffic volume at a region that is located ahead of the merging point on the road in the vehicle travel direction,

the infrastructure device detects or estimates a traffic volume at the vehicle travel direction behind region and a traffic volume at the merging road, and

the infrastructure device determines the predicted traffic volume based on the detected or estimated traffic volumes.

15. The traffic control system according to claim 12, wherein the infrastructure device sets, as the target value, a target speed such that a volume of traffic that is allowed to flow at the target speed in the vehicle travel direction ahead region is equal to or larger than the predicted traffic volume.

16. The traffic control system according to claim 12, wherein the target value is related to an inter-vehicle distance between a subject vehicle and a vehicle traveling immediately ahead of the subject vehicle,

the traffic control system controls predetermined vehicles that are capable of executing a predetermined control, in accordance with the target value,

the predetermined control is a control which obtains, by communication, information on deceleration of another vehicle that is travelling ahead of the subject vehicle, and which decelerates the subject vehicle in conjunction with deceleration of another vehicle based on the information related to the deceleration, wherein

the another vehicle and the subject vehicle are the predetermined vehicles, and

the target value is set such that a volume of traffic that is allowed to flow in the vehicle travel direction ahead region is equal to or larger than the predicted traffic volume if the predetermined vehicles are controlled in accordance with the target value.

17. The traffic control system according to claim 12, wherein the infrastructure device sets the target value based on an environmental travel condition ahead of the multiple vehicles on the road in the vehicle travel direction.

18. A vehicle control system for use in a traffic control system that sets a target value related to a travel state based on a correlation between a vehicle travel speed and a traffic volume and that transmits the target value to multiple vehicles that are on a road and are each capable of controlling their travel in accordance with the target value, the traffic control system determining a predicted traffic volume at a vehicle travel direction ahead region that is located ahead of the multiple vehicles on the road in a vehicle travel direction, and setting the target value based on the predicted traffic volume, the vehicle control system comprising:

a communication device by which the vehicle control system of a predetermined vehicle receives the target value from the traffic control system and sends information to the traffic control system; and

an electronic control unit that automatically controls an engine system and a brake system of the predetermined vehicle based on the received target value.

19. A traffic control method implemented by a traffic control system, the method comprising:

setting, via an infrastructure system that is separate from vehicles, a target value related to a travel state based on a correlation between a vehicle travel speed and a traffic volume; and

controlling a first vehicle and a second vehicle on a road in accordance with the target value, wherein

the target value is transmitted by the infrastructure system to the first and second vehicles, which are each capable of controlling their own travel in accordance with the target value,

the first and second vehicles automatically control themselves by controlling engine and brake systems of each of the vehicles based on the target value, and

the infrastructure system sets the target value based on a determined predicted traffic volume at a region that is located ahead of the first and second vehicles on the road in a vehicle travel direction.

20. The traffic control method according to claim 19, wherein a merging road merges into the road,

the first and second vehicles control themselves in accordance with the target value in an upstream region that is located upstream of a merging point at which the merging road merges into the road,

the predicted traffic volume is a predicted traffic volume at a downstream region that is located downstream of the merging point on the road,

a traffic volume at the upstream region and a traffic volume at the merging road are detected or estimated, and

the predicted traffic volume is determined based on the detected or estimated traffic volumes.

21. The traffic control method according to claim 19, wherein the second vehicle is travelling immediately ahead of the first vehicle,

information on deceleration of the second vehicle is obtained by communication between the infrastructure system and the second vehicle,

the first vehicle is decelerated in conjunction with the deceleration of the second vehicle based on the information related to the deceleration of the second vehicle, and

the target value is set such that a volume of traffic that is allowed to flow in the downstream region is equal to or larger than the predicted traffic volume if the first and second vehicles are controlled in accordance with the target value.

22. The traffic control method according to claim 21, wherein the target value is at least one of a target speed and a target inter-vehicle value of a parameter related to an inter-vehicle distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle.