Automatic Operation Vehicle Control Unit and Automated Operation Vehicle Using Automated Operation Vehicle Control Unit

Abstract

An automated operation vehicle control unit is configured to perform a detection process in which an abnormal condition of a passenger of a vehicle is detected and a notification process in which pedestrians are notified of the abnormal condition detected in the detection process in a case where the abnormal condition of the passenger is detected in the detection process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automated operation vehicle control unit for an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the autonomous vehicle to perform processes comprising
 a detection process which detects an abnormal condition of a passenger of the vehicle; 
 a stop process which autonomously stops the autonomous vehicle when the abnormal condition of the passenger is detected by the detection process while the vehicle is traveling; and 
 a notification process which notifies, to regions exterior to the autonomous vehicle, of the abnormal condition of the passenger when the abnormal condition of the passenger is detected by the detection process. 
   
     
     
         2 . The automated operation vehicle control unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the autonomous vehicle to perform an unlock process which causes an automatic lock mechanism of doors of the vehicle to be unlocked automatically after the vehicle is stopped by the stop process. 
     
     
         3 . The automated operation vehicle control unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the autonomous vehicle to perform a door opening process which causes automatic doors of the vehicle to be opened automatically after the vehicle is stopped by the stop process unit. 
     
     
         4 . The automated operation vehicle control unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the autonomous vehicle to perform a window opening process which causes power windows of the vehicle to be opened after the vehicle is stopped by the stop process unit. 
     
     
         5 . The automated operation vehicle control unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the notification process further causes abnormality of the passenger to be notified to the regions exterior to the autonomous vehicle with lighting modes. 
     
     
         6 . The automated operation vehicle control unit according to  claim 1 , wherein a display unit is mounted on the automated operation vehicle control unit, the display unit being configured to display legible information to the regions exterior to the autonomous vehicle; and
 wherein the notification process causes the display unit to display messages including the passenger's personal information on the display unit.   
     
     
         7 . The automated operation vehicle control unit according to  claim 6 , wherein the notification process causes the display unit to display messages including the passenger's personal information on the display unit after a predetermined time period for observation has elapsed after the vehicle has been caused to stop by the stop process. 
     
     
         8 . The automated operation vehicle control unit according to  claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the autonomous vehicle to perform
 a conversation process which performs conversation to the passenger when the abnormal condition of the passenger is detected by the detection process unit; and   a conscious level determination process which determines conscious level of the passenger based on contents of the conversation performed by the conversation process,   wherein the notification process causes to be displayed on the display unit messages including the passenger's personal information when the conscious level determination process determines that the passenger's conscious level is at incommunicable level.   
     
     
         9 . The automated operation vehicle control unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the autonomous vehicle to perform a restart process which causes the vehicle to travel to the nearest hospital in a case where the passenger is in the vehicle after a predetermined time period for waiting a rescue has elapsed since the vehicle has been caused to stop by the stop process. 
     
     
         10 . An autonomous vehicle having;
 the automated operation vehicle control unit according to  claim 1 ; and   a transmissive display disposed on a window of the vehicle,   wherein the notification process causes to be displayed on the transmissive display rescue-information about the abnormal condition.   
     
     
         11 . The automated operation vehicle control unit according to  claim 1  further having a seat-reclining actuator, the seat reclining actuator being programmed to cause to be adjusted an angle of a backrest of a seat of the passenger having the detected abnormal condition after the vehicle has been caused to stop by the stop process.