Vehicle control device and vehicle travel control system

Abstract

A vehicle control device including: a remote operation signal reception section configured to be input with a remote operation signal based on an operation by an operator at a command center external to a vehicle; a control section configured to control the vehicle in a remote operation mode, based on the remote operation signal output from the command center, in a state in which remote operation of the vehicle from the command center side has been enabled; and a speech communication device configured to enable conversation between an occupant of the vehicle and an operator at the command center.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle control device comprising:
 a remote operation signal reception section configured to be input with a remote operation signal based on an operation by an operator at a command center external to a vehicle;   a control section configured to:
 control the vehicle in a remote operation mode, based on the remote operation signal output from the command center, in a state in which the command center is configured to remotely operate the vehicle from the command center, and 
 switch between a manual driving mode and the remote operation mode, based on a selection from an occupant of the vehicle; 
   a speech communication device configured to enable conversation between the occupant of the vehicle and an operator at the command center; and   a navigation device communicatively connected to the control section, the navigation device being configured to acquire a current location of the vehicle and receive a destination and a route to the destination based on an operation by the occupant of the vehicle,   wherein the control section is configured to control the speech communication device so as to enable conversation between the occupant of the vehicle and the operator at the command center when the current location of the vehicle enters a predetermined section of a road, the predetermined section including the destination, and   wherein, in the remote operation mode, the operator at the command center can offer, to the occupant of the vehicle, local information including sightseeing information on the way to the destination, and in a case in which the occupant of the vehicle agrees to the offer, the control section changes the destination or the route to the destination based on an instruction received from the command center via the remote operation signal reception section.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle control device of  claim 1 , wherein the speech communication device is configured to enable conversation between the occupant of the vehicle and a guide who is different from the operator at the command center. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle control device of  claim 1 , wherein the control section is configured to switch from the manual driving mode or from the remote operation mode to an autonomous driving mode. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle control device of  claim 3 , wherein during activation of the autonomous driving mode, the control section receives images from a situation detection device mounted on the vehicle and a distance to an obstacle from a distance measurement device mounted on the vehicle, and controls operation of the vehicle based on the images and the distance to the obstacle. 
     
     
         5 . A vehicle travel control system comprising:
 a command center located externally to a vehicle, the command center including a controller configured to be operated by an operator, and to output a remote operation signal based on operation of the controller by the operator;   a vehicle control device installed in the vehicle, the vehicle control device being configured to:
 control the vehicle in a remote operation mode, based on operation of the controller by the operator by being input with the remote operation signal in a state in which the command center is configured to remotely operate the vehicle, and 
 switch between a manual driving mode and the remote operation mode, based on a selection from an occupant of the vehicle; 
   a speech communication device configured to enable conversation between the occupant of the vehicle and an operator at the command center; and   a navigation device communicatively connected to the vehicle control device, the navigation device being configured to acquire a current location of the vehicle, and the navigation device being input with a destination and a route to the destination based on an operation by the occupant of the vehicle,   wherein the vehicle control device is configured to control the speech communication device so as to enable conversation between the occupant of the vehicle and the operator at the command center when the current location of the vehicle enters a predetermined section of a road, the predetermined section including the destination, and   wherein, in the remote operation mode, the operator at the command center can offer, to the occupant of the vehicle, local information including sightseeing information on the way to the destination, and in a case in which the occupant of the vehicle agrees to the offer, the vehicle control device changes the destination or the route to the destination based on an instruction received from the command center.   
     
     
         6 . The vehicle travel control system of  claim 5 , wherein the speech communication device is configured to enable conversation between the occupant of the vehicle and a guide who is different from the operator at the command center. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle travel control system of  claim 5 , wherein the command center includes a replica accelerator pedal, a replica brake pedal, and a replica steering wheel, each of which is configured to be operated by the operator so as to control the vehicle in the remote operation mode. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle travel control system of  claim 5 , wherein the command center includes a command center-side speech communication device configured to enable the conversation between the occupant of the vehicle and the operator at the command center. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle travel control system of  claim 5 , wherein the command center includes a display that displays an image from surroundings of the vehicle, the image being transmitted from the vehicle to the command center. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle travel control system of  claim 5 , wherein the vehicle control device is configured to switch from the manual driving mode or from the remote operation mode to an autonomous driving mode. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle travel control system of  claim 10 , wherein during activation of the autonomous driving mode, the vehicle control device receives images from a situation detection device mounted on the vehicle and a distance to an obstacle from a distance measurement device mounted on the vehicle, and controls operation of the vehicle based on the images and the distance to the obstacle. 
     
     
         12 . A vehicle control device comprising:
 an antenna configured to be input with a remote operation signal based on an operation by an operator at a command center external to a vehicle;   a memory;   a processor coupled to the memory and the antenna, the processor being configured to:
 control the vehicle in a remote operation mode, based on the remote operation signal output from the command center, in a state in which the command center is configured to remotely operate the vehicle from the command center, and 
 switch between a manual driving mode and the remote operation mode, based on a selection from an occupant of the vehicle; 
   a microphone and a speaker arranged in the vehicle that are configured to enable conversation between the occupant of the vehicle and an operator at the command center; and   a navigation device communicatively connected to the processor, the navigation device being configured to acquire a current location of the vehicle and receive a destination and a route to the destination based on an operation by the occupant of the vehicle,   wherein the processor is configured to control the microphone and the speaker so as to enable conversation between the occupant of the vehicle and the operator at the command center when the current location of the vehicle enters a predetermined section of a road, the predetermined section including the destination, and   wherein, in the remote operation mode, the operator at the command center can offer, to the occupant of the vehicle, local information including sightseeing information on the way to the destination, and in a case in which the occupant of the vehicle agrees to the offer, the processor changes the destination or the route to the destination based on an instruction received from the command center.   
     
     
         13 . The vehicle control device of  claim 12 , wherein the microphone and the speaker are configured to enable conversation between the occupant of the vehicle and a guide who is different from the operator at the command center. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle control device of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to switch from the manual driving mode or from the remote operation mode to an autonomous driving mode. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle control device of  claim 14 , wherein during activation of the autonomous driving mode, the processor receives images from a camera mounted on the vehicle and a distance to an obstacle from a sensor mounted on the vehicle, and controls operation of the vehicle based on the images and the distance to the obstacle.