JP7703853B2 - Vehicle control device, vehicle control method and program - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to technology for controlling vehicles.

In recent years, the number of car accidents caused by elderly people and others has been increasing. However, in areas where public transportation is poor, elderly people have no choice but to drive their own cars. The following literature discloses technology to reduce car accidents.

Patent document 1 discloses a control device that issues a warning or restricts the start of the vehicle engine based on the driver's answers to questions.

Patent document 2 describes a vehicle control device that renders the vehicle unsuitable for driving or does not start the engine if it determines there is a possibility of drowsiness based on the time required for a certain operation, the percentage of correct answers to certain questions, the driver's body movements, the degree to which the driver's eyes are open, etc.

Patent document 3 describes a vehicle runaway prevention device that forcibly reduces the rate of change of the vehicle's acceleration when a predetermined condition is detected in the driver's physical state that indicates a premonition of runaway behavior while the vehicle is traveling at or above a predetermined vehicle speed.

Patent document 4 describes a technology that changes the amount of control over the vehicle's control targets depending on the driver's driving inclination, driving proficiency, or level of fatigue.

Patent Document 5 describes an operation permission decision support device that estimates the examinee's dementia level based on the examinee's voice. When the examinee's dementia level meets a predetermined condition, the operation permission decision support device identifies the examinee's operation target, such as a vehicle, and outputs operation data related to operations on the identified operation target to a doctor's terminal that determines whether or not the operation can be performed. The operation data is a history of operations indicating poor driving ability and dangerous operations performed by the examinee while driving a vehicle, as well as a history of the examinee's violations and accidents.

Patent document 6 discloses an information processing device that asks about the driver's health condition before the driver starts driving a vehicle, and prohibits driving based on the driver's symptoms estimated as a result of the questioning. Patent document 6 also describes that when driving is prohibited, the information processing device stops the engine and prohibits the engine from starting.

Patent document 7 describes a device that evaluates the driver's traffic violation history, the driver's level of consciousness, and the vehicle's tire pressure level, and issues a warning to the driver if at least one of these is not within a safe range.

Patent document 8 describes a vehicle control method that detects changes in the driver's emotions while driving based on the driver's biometric information and emotional factors, and provides notification, deceleration assistance, and acceleration suppression when the occurrence of a specific emotion that affects driving is detected.

Patent Document 9 describes an air conditioning system for an electric vehicle that changes the scent released into the vehicle cabin when the remaining battery capacity falls below a predetermined value and the air conditioning mode is switched to ventilation mode. The air conditioning system in Patent Document 9 releases a scent that corresponds to the temperature inside the vehicle cabin, from among scents that have a cooling effect and scents that have a cooling effect.

Patent document 10 describes a system that estimates the condition of an occupant based on at least one of the acquired behavioral history of the occupant and the read physical information of the occupant, and creates a refreshment program to improve the occupant's condition. The system of Patent document 10 provides the created refreshment program in the vehicle cabin. Patent document 10 gives an example of an aroma negligence program as one of the refreshment programs.

Patent document 11 describes a display device that displays a first virtual image, which is a display along a horizontal plane indicating direction, etc., a second virtual image indicating the distance to a vehicle or pedestrian ahead, etc., and a third virtual image indicating the time, vehicle information, etc., so that the driver can see it in the space in front of the vehicle.

Patent Document 12 describes a display device that displays an AR (Augmented Reality) image viewed along the road surface ahead and a non-AR image viewed rising toward the viewer from the AR image, so that they are viewed as virtual images in front of the vehicle. The display device of Patent Document 12 displays images including, as AR images, an image that highlights the lane, a guide image that indicates the center of the driving lane, and an attention-calling image that indicates the position of objects and lanes ahead. The display device of Patent Document 12 displays images including, as non-AR images, an image of route guidance, an image of map information, and an image that indicates attention factors related to places included in the displayed map information that are not present in the forward field of view.

JP 2018-140741 A JP 2008-137639 A JP 2020-090224 A JP 2013-154876 A JP 2020-126419 A JP 2018-181094 A JP 2016-081511 A JP 2008-070966 A JP 2013-203357 A JP 2020-029108 A JP 2019-012483 A JP 2020-047153 A

Patent documents 1, 2, and 6 describe putting the vehicle in a state where it cannot be driven if a problem is found with the driver before the engine is started. Patent documents 3, 4, and 8 describe controlling the operation of the vehicle if a problem is found with the driver while driving, but do not control the operation of the vehicle based on the driver's state before driving. The technology of Patent document 5 notifies a doctor when the dementia level of the examinee meets a predetermined condition, but does not control the vehicle. The technology of Patent document 7 issues a warning to the driver, but does not control the running of the vehicle. The technology of Patent document 9 releases a scent based on the state of the air conditioner, but does not control the operation of the vehicle based on the state of the driver. The technology of Patent document 10 provides a refreshment program based on the status of the occupants, but does not control the operation of the vehicle. The technologies of Patent documents 11 and 12 display information using virtual images, but do not control the operation of the vehicle.

In summary, the technologies of Patent Documents 1, 2, and 6 cannot reduce the risk of an accident caused by a driver who is capable of driving. The technologies of Patent Documents 3, 4, and 8 cannot reduce the risk of an accident caused by a driver from the time the driver starts driving until the driver's condition becomes clear. The technologies of Patent Documents 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12 do not change the vehicle's operation itself, so they cannot fully reduce the risk of an accident caused by a driver with poor skills.

One of the objectives of this disclosure is to provide a vehicle control device and the like that can further reduce the risk of a vehicle driver causing an accident.

A vehicle control device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an execution means for executing a test on a driver of the vehicle before the vehicle engine is started, a determination means for determining the state of the driver based on the results of the test, and a setting means for setting the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling based on the state of the driver.

A vehicle control method according to one aspect of the present disclosure performs a test on a driver of a vehicle before the vehicle engine is started, determines the state of the driver based on the results of the test, and sets the operation of the vehicle while it is running based on the state of the driver.

A program according to one aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to execute an execution process for running a test on the driver of the vehicle before the vehicle engine is started, a determination process for determining the state of the driver based on the results of the test, and a setting process for setting the operation of the vehicle while it is running based on the state of the driver.

This disclosure has the effect of further reducing the risk of vehicle drivers causing accidents.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a vehicle control device according to a basic embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the vehicle control device according to the basic embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the vehicle control device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation before starting the engine, of the vehicle control device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of a test execution process of the vehicle control device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the vehicle control device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation before starting the engine, of the vehicle control device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the vehicle control device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure while the vehicle is traveling. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a vehicle control device according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation before starting the engine, of the vehicle control device according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a vehicle control device according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation of the vehicle control device according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure before the engine is started. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first operation of the vehicle control device according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure when the vehicle is traveling. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a second operation of the vehicle control device according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure when the vehicle is traveling. FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a vehicle control device according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16A is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation before starting the engine, of the vehicle control device according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16B is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation before starting the engine, of the vehicle control device according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation of a test execution process of the vehicle control device according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a vehicle control device according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the vehicle control device according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure before starting the engine. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the vehicle control device according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure while the vehicle is traveling. FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a vehicle control device according to the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing an example of the operation of the vehicle control device according to this embodiment before the engine is started. FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the vehicle control device according to the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure while the vehicle is traveling. FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer capable of realizing each of the vehicle control devices according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a vehicle control system according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 26 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a vehicle control system according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

The following describes in detail the embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings.

<Basic embodiment>
The basic embodiment represents an essential form common to each of the embodiments described below.

<Configuration>
1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle control device 10 according to a basic embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle control device 10 of the present embodiment is mounted on a vehicle.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle control device 10 includes an execution unit 110, a determination unit 120, and a setting unit 130. The execution unit 110 executes a test on the driver of the vehicle before the vehicle engine starts. The determination unit 120 determines the state of the driver based on the result of the test. The setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling based on the state of the driver.

The execution unit 110 performs the above-mentioned test by using, for example, at least one of the functions of the vehicle and the functions of the devices mounted on the vehicle, such as a car navigation device, a drive recorder, and a sensor. The above-mentioned test may be performed by a question and an answer by the driver to the question. In this case, the question may be a voice output by a speaker or a character displayed on a display or the like. The answer may be a voice and input by a microphone. The answer may be input using a touch panel or other input device. The test may be performed by measuring the driver by a sensor and analyzing the measurement data obtained by the measurement. The sensor may be, for example, a camera. In this case, the test may be to capture an image of the driver's face by a camera and analyze the obtained facial image of the driver. The facial image may be a still image. The facial image may be a moving image. The sensor may be a microphone. In this case, the test may be to record the driver's voice by a microphone and analyze the recorded voice data. The test is not limited to these examples. Details of the test will be described in detail later in the description of other embodiments.

The determination unit 120 may determine the degree of the driver's driving ability as the driver's state. The determination unit 120 may determine whether the driver is in a state where a decline in driving ability is expected, such as a state in which the driver's cognitive ability is reduced due to old age or lack of sleep, or a state in which the driver is experiencing some strong emotion, as the driver's state. The method by which the determination unit 120 determines the driver's state may be any of various existing methods.

The setting of the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling may be, for example, enabling an assist function that is provided in the vehicle and that assists the driver in driving. The setting of the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling may be enabling at least a part of the assist function. The setting of the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling may be increasing the types of assistance provided by the assist function. The setting of the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling may be increasing the degree to which the assist function assists the driver in driving. The setting of the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling may be a combination of any two or more of the above examples. The setting of the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling is not limited to the above examples. The details of the setting of the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling will also be described in detail later in the description of other embodiments.

<Operation>
Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the vehicle control device 10 according to the basic embodiment of the present disclosure. Before the engine of the vehicle starts, the vehicle control device 10 performs the operation shown in Fig. 2. For example, when the driver performs an operation to start the engine, the vehicle control device 10 performs the operation shown in Fig. 2.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, first, the execution unit 110 executes a test on the driver (step S11). The determination unit 120 determines the driver's state based on the result of the test (step S12). The setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling based on the estimated driver's state (step S13).

＜Effects＞
This embodiment has the advantage of further reducing the risk of the vehicle driver causing an accident, because the execution unit 110 executes a test before the vehicle engine is started, the determination unit 120 determines the driver's state based on the test result, and the setting unit 130 sets the vehicle's state while it is running based on the estimated driver's state.

First Embodiment
Next, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration>
Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the vehicle control device 11 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. In the example illustrated in Fig. 3, the vehicle control device 11 includes an execution unit 110, a determination unit 120, a setting unit 130, a control unit 140, a sensor 150, and an input/output unit 160. The vehicle control device 11 may further include a communication unit 170.

<Sensor 150>
The sensor 150 is a sensor that measures the driver. The sensor 150 is attached to the vehicle so as to measure the driver. The sensor is, for example, a camera attached to capture the face of the driver, a microphone attached to record the voice emitted by the driver, etc. The sensor 150 may be implemented as a dedicated sensor of the vehicle control device 11. A sensor provided in another device, such as a car navigation device and a drive recorder device, may operate as the sensor 150. In that case, the vehicle control device 11 is connected to the other device, such as the car navigation device and the drive recorder device, so as to be able to communicate with each other. In the following description, the sensor 150 represents one or more sensors. When a certain sensor is included in the multiple sensors represented as the sensor 150, the sensor 150 is represented as including the sensor.

Sensor 150 further includes sensors that measure the state of the vehicle while it is in operation, such as a speed sensor and an acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor is configured to be able to measure acceleration in directions other than the vehicle's traveling direction.

The sensor 150 may include a camera that captures an image of the area in front of the vehicle.

<Input/output unit 160>
The input/output unit 160 is a device that receives input from the driver and outputs information to the driver. The input/output unit 160 may be realized by, for example, a touch panel. The input/output unit 160 may be realized by, for example, a display device such as a display and an input device such as a pointing device or a remote control. The input/output unit 160 may be realized by a plurality of devices. The input/output unit 160 may be realized by a microphone and a speaker. The input/output unit 160 may be realized by a touch panel, a microphone, and a speaker. The input/output unit 160 is not limited to the above examples. The input/output unit 160 may be implemented as a device dedicated to the vehicle control device 11. An input/output device provided in another device such as a car navigation device and a drive recorder device may operate as the input/output unit 160. In this case, the vehicle control device 11 is connected to the other device such as the car navigation device and the drive recorder device so as to be able to communicate with each other.

The input/output unit 160 may be realized by an odor generating device that generates an odor (specifically, an odor generating device that generates an odor by releasing an odorous substance) as an output device, and an input device such as a touch panel, a pointing device, or a remote control.

<Executing Unit 110>
The execution unit 110 executes a test on the driver before the engine of the vehicle is started. The execution unit 110 executes the test using the input/output unit 160. The execution unit 110 may execute the test using the input/output unit 160 and the sensor 150.

The test may involve asking the driver a question. The question may be, for example, a quiz or a puzzle. In this case, the execution unit 110 outputs the question using the input/output unit 160. Specifically, the execution unit 110 may display the question on a display device of the input/output unit 160. The execution unit 110 may play the audio of the question using a speaker. The execution unit 110 further accepts input of an answer from the driver using the input/output unit 160. The execution unit 110 may accept input of an answer by the driver using an input device of the input/output unit 160. The execution unit 110 may accept voice data representing the driver's voice answer input by a microphone, and accept the answer by performing voice recognition on the received voice data.

The test may involve capturing a facial image. The execution unit 110 may execute the test by having the sensor 150, which is a camera, capture an image of the driver's face. The execution unit 110 may receive from the sensor 150 an image of the driver's face captured by the sensor 150, which is a camera.

The test may involve generating an odor and detecting a specific operation that indicates that the driver has sensed the generated odor. In this case, the execution unit 110 causes the odor generating device of the input/output unit 160 to generate an odor. Before generating the odor, the execution unit 110 instructs the driver using the input/output unit 160 to perform a specific operation on the input/output unit 160 if the odor is sensed. The execution unit 110 receives the specific operation by the driver.

The execution unit 110 may execute a combination of the above test examples as a test.

The execution unit 110 executes the above tests before the engine is started. These tests are also referred to as pre-start tests. The execution unit 110 executes the tests described below after the engine is started. The tests described below are also referred to as driving tests.

The driving test is, for example, measuring the acceleration of the vehicle using sensor 150, which is an acceleration sensor. The driving test is, for example, measuring the speed of the vehicle using sensor 150, which is a speed sensor. The driving test is, for example, measuring an image of the driver's face. The driving test is, for example, capturing an image of the area in front of the vehicle.

<Determination unit 120>
As described above, the determination unit 120 determines the degree of the driver's driving ability as the state of the driver. The determination unit 120 may determine the degree of the driver's driving ability by determining whether or not the driver is in a state in which a decline in driving ability is expected, such as a state in which the driver's cognitive ability is reduced due to old age and lack of sleep, or a state in which the driver has some strong emotion. The degree of driving ability may be, for example, either a "state in which driving may be inappropriate" or a "state in which safe driving is possible". In this case, the determination unit 120 may determine that the state of the driver may be inappropriate for driving (i.e., the driver is in a state in which driving may be inappropriate) when the state in which a decline in driving ability is expected. The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver is capable of safe driving (i.e., the driver's state is in a state in which safe driving is possible) when the state in which a decline in driving ability is not expected. The degree of driving ability is not limited to the above examples. For example, when the driver is in a specific state, the determination unit 120 may further determine that the state of the driver is inappropriate for driving (i.e., the driver is in an inappropriate state for driving). An example of such a determination will be described in detail in the description of the second embodiment described later.

<<Specific examples of judgment>>
A specific example of the determination when the test is a question will be described below.

The determination unit 120 may determine the level of the driver's driving ability, for example, based on the speed of reaction to a question, specifically, the time from when a question is asked until the driver responds (hereinafter referred to as reaction time). In this case, the definitions of the time when a question is asked and the time when the driver responds may be determined appropriately. The time when a question is asked is, for example, the time when the presentation of the content of the question ends, such as the time when the question text is displayed or the time when the playback of the sound representing the content of the question ends. The time when the answer is input is, for example, the time when input by the input device starts or the time when the driver starts making a sound that is not an interjection, when the input of the answer to the question starts.

For example, when the reaction time satisfies a reaction time condition that has been appropriately determined in advance, the determination unit 120 determines that the driver's state is such that safe driving is possible. For example, when the reaction time does not satisfy a reaction time condition that has been appropriately determined in advance, the determination unit 120 determines that the driver's state may be inappropriate for driving.

The reaction time condition may be, for example, that a statistical value of the reaction time (average value, mean value, median value, etc.) is smaller than a reaction time threshold value that is appropriately determined in advance. The reaction time condition may be, for example, that the number of times that the reaction time exceeds a predetermined threshold value is less than a predetermined number of times.

When the question is a quiz or puzzle, the determination unit 120 may determine the degree of the driver's driving ability based on the percentage of correct answers. In this case, specifically, when the correct answer number condition is satisfied (e.g., when the correct answer rate is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of correct answers), the determination unit 120 determines that the driver's condition is such that safe driving is possible. When the correct answer number condition is not satisfied (e.g., when the correct answer rate is less than a predetermined number of correct answers), the determination unit 120 determines that the driver's condition may be inappropriate for driving.

When the test involves taking a facial image of the driver, the determination unit 120 may estimate the driver's age based on the facial image. The method by which the determination unit 120 estimates the age based on the facial image may be any of various existing methods. When an elderly condition, which is a condition for determining whether the driver is elderly or not, is satisfied (e.g., when the estimated age is equal to or greater than a predetermined age), the determination unit 120 determines that the driver's condition may be unsuitable for driving. When the elderly condition is not satisfied (e.g., when the estimated age does not reach a predetermined age), the determination unit 120 determines that the driver's condition is such that safe driving is possible.

When the test is the generation of an odor, the determination unit 120 determines whether the driver has sensed an odor. It is generally said that as the level of cognitive function declines, it becomes harder to sense odors. There have also been reported cases where people suffering from viral infections such as influenza and COVID-19 have become harder to sense odors. When the determination unit 120 determines that the driver has sensed an odor, it determines that the driver's condition is such that safe driving is possible. When the determination unit 120 determines that the driver has not sensed an odor, it determines that the driver's condition may be inappropriate for driving. For example, when the odor determination conditions described below are satisfied, the determination unit 120 determines that the driver has sensed an odor.

The odor determination condition is, for example, a condition based on the relationship between the time when an odor occurs (hereinafter referred to as the odor occurrence time) and the time when the driver performs the above-mentioned specific operation. Specifically, the odor determination condition is that the time when the driver performs the specific operation is after the odor occurrence time and before a predetermined time has elapsed from the odor occurrence time. If the time when the driver performs the specific operation is between the odor occurrence time and the time when the predetermined time has elapsed from the odor occurrence time, the odor determination condition is met. If the time when the driver performs the specific operation is before the odor occurrence time, and if the time when the driver performs the specific operation is after the time when the predetermined time has elapsed from the odor occurrence time, the odor determination condition is not met.

The determination unit 120 may determine the degree of the driver's driving ability by a combination of any two or more of the multiple reaction time conditions, the number of correct answers conditions, the age conditions, and the odor determination conditions described above. Specifically, when the number of satisfied conditions is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the determination unit 120 determines that the driver's state is in a state in which safe driving is possible. When the number of satisfied conditions is less than a predetermined number, the determination unit 120 determines that the driver's state may be inappropriate for driving. The determination unit 120 may assign points to each of the multiple conditions in advance according to the importance, and when the total of the points assigned to the satisfied conditions is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's state is in a state in which safe driving is possible. When the total of the points assigned to the satisfied conditions is less than a predetermined value, the determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's state may be inappropriate for driving. The importance and points may be determined as appropriate.

The conditions for judgment are not limited to the above examples, such as multiple reaction time conditions, number of correct answers conditions, age conditions, and odor judgment conditions. Conditions other than these conditions may be used in the judgment by the judgment unit 120. These conditions may not be used in the judgment by the judgment unit 120.

The determination unit 120 makes the above determination based on the results of a test performed before the engine starts (i.e., a pre-start test). The determination unit 120 may make the above determination before the engine starts.

The determination unit 120 may further determine the degree of the driver's driving ability based on the results of the above-mentioned driving test after the engine has started.

The determination unit 120 may determine the degree of the driver's driving ability based on, for example, the number and frequency of the vehicle acceleration exceeding a predetermined acceleration threshold. Different acceleration thresholds may be set depending on the direction of the vehicle. For example, different acceleration thresholds may be set in the forward direction of the vehicle, the backward direction of the vehicle, and the left and right directions of the vehicle. Different acceleration thresholds may be set depending on the location where the vehicle is located (for example, a high-speed outbound route, a general road, a place other than a road). The determination unit 120 may determine the position of the vehicle based on, for example, road information acquired from a server that stores road information via the communication unit 170 described later, and vehicle position information obtained using, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System). The determination unit 120 may determine the position of the vehicle using the function of a car navigation device mounted on the vehicle. The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's condition may be inappropriate for driving when the number of times that the vehicle acceleration has exceeded a predetermined acceleration threshold, accumulated since the engine was started, reaches a predetermined number. The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's condition may be unsuitable for driving if the number of times that the vehicle acceleration exceeds a predetermined acceleration threshold per predetermined time period after the engine is started reaches a predetermined number.

The determination unit 120 may determine the degree of the driver's driving ability based on the number and frequency of the vehicle speed exceeding a predetermined speed threshold. The speed threshold may be determined according to the location of the vehicle (road, location other than road). The speed threshold on a road may be determined based on the speed limit of that road. The determination unit 120 may obtain information on the road's speed limit from a server or the like that stores road information via the communication unit 170 described below. The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's condition may be inappropriate for driving when the number of times that the vehicle speed has exceeded the predetermined speed threshold, accumulated since the engine was started, reaches a predetermined number. The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's condition may be inappropriate for driving when the number of times that the vehicle acceleration has exceeded the predetermined acceleration threshold per predetermined time after the engine was started reaches a predetermined number.

The determination unit 120 may determine the drowsiness of the driver based on a facial image of the driver. In general, when a driver is drowsy, the driver's driving ability decreases. The method by which the determination unit 120 determines the drowsiness of the driver is one of various existing methods, such as a method based on the degree to which the eyes are open. When the determination unit 120 determines that the driver is drowsy, it determines that the driver's state may be inappropriate for driving.

The determination unit 120 may determine the number of times the vehicle has deviated from the lane based on an image captured in front of the vehicle. The method by which the determination unit 120 determines that the vehicle has deviated from the lane is any of various existing methods. If the number of times the vehicle has deviated from the lane since the engine started reaches a predetermined number threshold, the determination unit 120 determines that the driver's condition may be unsuitable for driving. The number threshold may be set as appropriate.

The method by which the determination unit 120 determines the driver's state is not limited to the above example. The determination unit 120 may determine the driver's state by a method other than the above example.

<Setting Unit 130>
The setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling based on the state of the driver determined by the determination unit 120. Specifically, when the setting unit 130 determines that the state of the driver is such that safe driving is possible, the setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling to, for example, a normal state in which no special setting is made. When the setting unit 130 determines that the state of the driver is likely to be inappropriate for driving, the setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling to a high support mode.

The high support mode is a mode set to make it difficult for serious accidents due to driving errors to occur. The high support mode may be, for example, a state in which an assist function provided in the vehicle to assist the driver's driving is activated. The assist function may include, for example, a function to suppress sudden starts and sudden acceleration by suppressing the engine speed and the speed at which the engine speed increases. The assist function may be a function to suppress sudden steering by suppressing the engine speed, the speed at which the engine speed increases, the magnitude of change in the direction of the wheels in response to the operation of the steering wheel, and the like. The assist function may be a function to advance the timing of brake assist or auto light. The assist function is not limited to the above examples. The high support mode may be a state in which at least a part of the assist function is activated. The high support mode may be a state in which the type of assistance provided by the assist function is increased. The high support mode may be a state in which the degree to which the assist function assists the driver's driving is strengthened. The high support mode may be a combination of any two or more of the above examples. The high support mode is not limited to the above examples.

The setting unit 130 performs the above settings based on the result of a determination based on a test performed before the engine starts (i.e., a pre-start test). The setting unit 130 may perform the above settings before the engine starts.

The setting unit 130 may further perform the above-mentioned settings based on a determination based on a test during driving, in addition to a determination based on a pre-start test.

<<Execution Unit 110 and Determination Unit 120>>
In the above description, the tests performed by the execution unit 110 do not need to be determined in advance. The judgment unit 120 may make a judgment based on the results of some of the pre-boot tests before the pre-boot tests are completed. The execution unit 110 may determine the test to be executed based on the result of the judgment based on the results of some of the pre-boot tests (in other words, the test to be executed may be changed). The judgment unit 120 makes a judgment based on the obtained pre-boot test results after the pre-boot tests are completed.

The judgment made by the judgment unit 120 before the pre-start test is completed is referred to as an intermediate judgment. The result of the judgment made by the judgment unit 120 before the pre-start test is completed is referred to as an intermediate result. The intermediate judgment does not have to be a judgment of whether the driver's state is a state in which safe driving is possible or whether there is a possibility that driving is unsuitable. The intermediate result does not have to indicate whether the driver's state is a state in which safe driving is possible or whether there is a possibility that driving is unsuitable. The intermediate judgment includes a judgment of the accuracy of the intermediate result, which is the degree of certainty of the intermediate result. The intermediate result includes the accuracy of the intermediate result.

The intermediate judgment may be, for example, a judgment of whether the driver is an elderly person based on a facial image. The intermediate result in this case may indicate whether the driver is an elderly person. The intermediate judgment may be, for example, a judgment of whether the driver is in poor physical condition based on a facial image. The method by which the judgment unit 120 judges whether the driver is in poor physical condition is any of various existing methods. The intermediate result in this case may indicate whether the driver is in poor physical condition. The intermediate judgment may be a judgment of whether the driver senses an odor. The intermediate result in this case may indicate whether the driver senses an odor. The intermediate judgment may be, for example, a judgment on the content of the driver's answer to a predetermined question, such as a question for estimating cognitive ability or a question for estimating the driver's poor condition. For example, in this case, the judgment unit 120 may judge, for example, whether the content of the driver's answer indicates the possibility that cognitive ability is declining. The judgment unit 120 may judge, for example, whether the content of the driver's answer indicates the possibility that the driver's condition is poor.

The execution unit 110 may perform a test based on the intermediate result to more accurately determine the content indicated by the intermediate result. For example, the execution unit 110 may determine whether or not to ask the next question based on the intermediate result. The execution unit 110 may end the test based on the intermediate result. If the accuracy of the intermediate result is high, the execution unit 110 may decide not to ask the next question and end the test. If the accuracy of the intermediate result is low, the execution unit 110 may decide to ask the next question. The execution unit 110 may determine the next question based on the intermediate result. In other words, if the accuracy of the intermediate result is low, the execution unit 110 may determine that the next question is a question that increases the accuracy of the intermediate result.

For example, when the intermediate determination based on at least one of the driver's facial image and questions is determined to indicate that the driver may be in poor physical condition, the determination unit 120 may determine that the next question is a question for more accurately determining the degree of poor physical condition and ask such a question.For example, when the intermediate determination based on at least one of the driver's facial image and questions is determined to indicate that the driver may be elderly, the determination unit 120 may determine that the next question is a question for determining reaction speed and cognitive ability and ask such a question.

If the intermediate judgment results in a high degree of certainty that the driver's driving ability is low, the judgment unit 120 may decide not to ask the next question and end the test.If the intermediate judgment results in a high degree of certainty that the driver's driving ability is not low, the judgment unit 120 may decide not to ask the next question and end the test.

<Control Unit 140>
The control unit 140 controls the vehicle based on the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling, which is set by the setting unit 130. Specifically, when the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling is set to the above-mentioned high support mode by the setting unit 130, the control unit 140 causes the vehicle while it is traveling to operate in the high support mode.

<Communication Unit 170>
The communication unit 170 relays, for example by wireless communication, communication for acquiring road information from a server that stores the road information.

<Operation>
Next, the operation of the vehicle control device 11 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the overall operation of the vehicle control device 11 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The operation shown in Figure 4 is started before the vehicle engine is started.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle control device 11 first performs a test execution process (step S101). The test execution process will be described in detail later. Next, the judgment unit 120 judges the driver's state based on the test result obtained in step S101 (step S102). If the judgment result shows that the driver's state is not likely to be inappropriate for driving (NO in step S103), the vehicle control device 11 ends the operation shown in FIG. 4. If the judgment result shows that the driver's state is not likely to be inappropriate for driving (YES in step S103), the setting unit 130 sets the operation during driving of the vehicle to increase the degree of support for the driver's driving (step S104). In other words, the setting unit 130 sets the operation during driving of the vehicle to a high support mode. Then, the vehicle control device 11 ends the operation shown in FIG. 4.

Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a test execution process of the vehicle control device 11 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, first, the execution unit 110 acquires a facial image of the driver using the sensor 150, which is a camera. Then, the judgment unit 120 judges the driver's state based on the acquired facial image of the driver (step S111). The execution unit 110 further performs an odor test to confirm whether or not the driver senses an odor, using the input/output unit 160, which is, for example, an odor emitting device and an input device. The judgment unit 120 judges whether or not the driver senses an odor in the odor test. The judgment unit 120 judges the driver's state based on the result of the odor test, which is the result of judging whether or not the driver senses an odor (step S112).

Then, the determination unit 120 determines the next question to ask based on the driver's state (step S113). The determination unit 120 asks the driver the determined question (step S114). The determination unit 120 accepts the answer to the question (step S115).

Next, the determination unit 120 performs an analysis of the answer (step S116). The analysis of the answer is a process represented by the above description of the determination unit 120, which extracts data necessary for determining the driver's state from data representing the answer. The analysis of the answer is, for example, a process of identifying the content of the answer. The analysis of the answer may be a process of identifying the time from the question to the answer. The process of the answer may be a process of identifying the content of the answer by performing voice recognition on voice data representing the content of the answer. The process of the answer may be other processes.

The determination unit 120 determines the state of the driver (step S117). In step S117, the determination unit 120 performs the above-mentioned intermediate determination and determines the accuracy of the intermediate determination. In the example shown in FIG. 5, in step S117, the determination unit 120 may further determine whether the driver's state is one in which safe driving is possible or whether the driver's state may be unsuitable for driving, and may further determine the accuracy of the result of the determination.

Next, the execution unit 110 determines whether or not to end the question based on, for example, the determined accuracy. In step S113, the execution unit 110 may determine the next question according to a scenario prepared in advance for determining the next question depending on the answer to the question. Then, in step S118, the execution unit 110 may determine whether or not the next question exists according to such a scenario. The execution unit 110 may determine the presence or absence of the next question and the next question by an artificial intelligence system configured to determine the next question based on the answer, not the scenario. If it is determined that the next question does not exist, the execution unit 110 may determine that the question is to be ended. If it is determined that the next question exists, the execution unit 110 may determine that the question is not to be ended. If the execution unit 110 does not end the question (NO in step S113), the operation of the vehicle control device 11 returns to step S113. If the execution unit 110 ends the question (YES in step S118), the vehicle control device 11 ends the operation shown in FIG. 5.

＜Effects＞
This embodiment has the same effects as the basic embodiment, for the same reasons that the effects of the basic embodiment are obtained.

This embodiment also has the effect of further improving safety when the driver drives the vehicle. This is because the execution unit 110 determines the next question based on the result of the intermediate judgment by the judgment unit 120 (i.e., the intermediate result). This allows the judgment unit 120 to more accurately judge whether the driver's state is one in which safe driving is possible or whether the driver's state may be unsuitable for driving. This increases the likelihood that the vehicle's operation during driving will be set to the high support mode when the driver's state is one in which the driver's state may be unsuitable for driving, thereby further improving safety when the driver drives the vehicle.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, except for the differences described below.

<Configuration>
Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the vehicle control device 12 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the vehicle control device 12 of this embodiment includes, in addition to the components of the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment, a driver measurement unit 210, a driving state estimation unit 220, and a notification execution unit 230. In the following description, the driver measurement unit 210, the driving state estimation unit 220, and the notification execution unit 230 may be referred to as a second unit 200.

<Determination unit 120>
The determination unit 120 determines whether the driver's state is inappropriate for driving based on the result of the test. In other respects, the determination unit 120 of the present embodiment has the same functions as the determination unit 120 of the first embodiment and operates in the same manner as the determination unit 120 of the first embodiment. The determination unit 120 may determine whether the driver's state is a state in which safe driving is possible, a state that may be inappropriate for driving, or a state that is inappropriate for driving.

When the determination unit 120 determines that the possibility that the driver has dementia is higher than a predetermined standard based on the test result, the determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's condition is inappropriate for driving. When the test result satisfies a predetermined dementia condition, the determination unit 120 may determine that the possibility that the driver has dementia is higher than a predetermined standard, and may determine that the driver's condition is inappropriate for driving. The dementia determination condition may be defined by a conditional expression including at least one or more conditions similar to the above-mentioned multiple reaction time conditions, number of correct answers conditions, age conditions, and odor determination conditions. However, the dementia determination condition is set so that there are fewer drivers who satisfy the condition than the condition for determining that there is a possibility that the driver is inappropriate for driving. The determination unit 120 may determine whether or not the driver may have dementia based on the driver's voice data. The determination unit 120 may use an existing method as a method for determining whether or not the driver may have dementia based on the driver's voice data.

The judgment unit 120 may judge, based on the result of the test, whether or not there is a possibility that the driver is driving under the influence of alcohol or driving while intoxicated.
The determination unit 120 may determine whether or not the driver is likely to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drunk driving based on the face image of the driver. The determination unit 120 may use a classifier trained in advance by machine learning to determine whether or not the driver is likely to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drunk driving based on the face image of the driver. The determination unit 120 may determine whether or not the driver is likely to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drunk driving based on the voice data of the driver. The determination unit 120 may use a classifier trained in advance by machine learning to determine whether or not the driver is likely to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drunk driving based on the voice data of the driver. When the determination unit 120 determines that the driver is likely to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drunk driving, it may determine that the driver's state is inappropriate for driving.

The determination unit 120 may determine whether the driver's physical condition is unsuitable for driving based on the results of the test. The test in this case may be a question asking about the physical condition or medical condition. The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's physical condition is unsuitable for driving when the answer to the question meets a predetermined condition. The test in this case may be acquisition of a facial image. The determination unit 120 may determine whether the driver's physical condition is worse than a predetermined standard using a discriminator that has been trained by machine learning in advance to determine whether the physical condition is worse than a predetermined standard based on the facial image. When the determination unit 120 determines that the driver's physical condition is worse than the predetermined standard, it may determine whether the driver's physical condition is unsuitable for driving. The determination unit 120 may determine whether the voice data includes characteristics of coughing or shortness of breath. When the voice data includes characteristics of coughing or shortness of breath, the determination unit 120 may determine the frequency and severity of coughing, and the degree of shortness of breath. The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's physical condition is not suitable for driving if at least one of the severity and frequency of coughing and the severity of shortness of breath is greater than a predetermined standard.

The determination unit 120 performs the above determination before the engine starts.

<Sensor 150>
The sensor 150 further includes a thermometer, a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, and a sweating state measuring sensor that are built into the seat, the steering wheel, or the like.

<Driver Measurement Unit 210>
The driver measurement unit 210 measures the driver while the driver is driving the vehicle using the sensor 150. The measurement data obtained by measuring the driver while driving is referred to as driver data while driving.

The driver measurement unit 210 may acquire, as the driver data while driving, a facial image of the driver captured using the sensor 150, which is a camera. The facial image data of the driver while driving may be a moving image. The facial image data of the driver while driving may be a still image. The driver measurement unit 210 may acquire, as the driver data while driving, body temperature, heart rate, degree of sweating, and the like. The driver measurement unit 210 may acquire, as the driver data while driving, trends in body temperature, heart rate, degree of sweating, and the like. The driver measurement unit 210 may acquire, as the driver data while driving, audio data of sounds made by the driver. In that case, the driver measurement unit 210 may ask the driver a question using a speaker and acquire the answer to the question as audio data.

<Driving state estimation unit 220>
The driving state estimation unit 220 estimates the physical state of the driver based on the measurement result, i.e., the driving driver data. The driving state estimation unit 220 judges the driver's state based on the estimated physical state of the driver. In other words, the driving state estimation unit 220 judges the driver's state based on the measurement result, i.e., the driving driver data.

The driving condition estimation unit 220 may, for example, determine whether the body temperature, heart rate, and degree of sweating exceed their respective predefined thresholds, and if at least any of these exceed the threshold, may determine that the driver's physical condition is poor.

The driving condition estimation unit 220 may determine whether the driver is in poor health, for example, using a detector that has been trained by machine learning to determine whether a subject is in poor health based on a facial image. The driving condition estimation unit 220 may compare a facial image of the driver captured before starting the engine with a facial image captured while driving, detect areas that have changed beyond a predetermined standard, and determine whether the driver's physical condition has deteriorated based on the detection result. The driving condition estimation unit 220 may detect, for example, changes in facial color, eye movement, dark circles under the eyes, and corners of the mouth. If the driving condition estimation unit 220 determines that the physical condition has deteriorated, it may determine that the driver's physical condition is poor health.

The driving condition estimation unit 220 may determine whether the voice data includes characteristics of coughing or shortness of breath. If the voice data includes characteristics of coughing or shortness of breath, the driving condition estimation unit 220 may determine the frequency and severity of coughing, and the degree of shortness of breath. If at least one of the severity and frequency of coughing, and the degree of shortness of breath is greater than a predetermined standard, the driving condition estimation unit 220 may determine that the driver's physical condition is poor.

When the driving condition estimation unit 220 determines that the driver's physical condition is poor, it determines that the driver's condition is unsuitable for driving.

The driving state estimation unit 220 may use two criteria as criteria for determining the physical state of the driver. The driving state estimation unit 220 may use the two criteria to determine whether the driver's state is one in which safe driving is possible, one in which the driver's state may be unsuitable for driving, or one in which the driver's state is unsuitable for driving.

For example, the driving state estimation unit 220 may determine that the driver's state is inappropriate for driving if the driver's physical state determined based on the driver data while driving satisfies a first criterion. The driving state estimation unit 220 may determine that the driver's state may be inappropriate for driving if the driver's physical state determined based on the driver data while driving does not satisfy the first criterion and satisfies a second criterion indicating that the driver's physical state is not worse than the physical state indicated by the first criterion. The driving state estimation unit 220 may determine that the driver's state is in a state in which safe driving is possible if the driver's physical state determined based on the driver data while driving does not satisfy the second criterion. The first criterion and the second criterion may be set as appropriate.

<Notification Execution Unit 230>
When the notification execution unit 230 determines that the driver's state is inappropriate for driving, it notifies a predetermined contact of the driver's state via the communication unit 170. When the notification execution unit 230 determines that the driver's state is inappropriate for driving, it may further notify the predetermined contact of at least one of the stopping position and the change in the position of the vehicle while traveling.

<Setting Unit 130>
The setting unit 130 of this embodiment has the same functions as the setting unit 130 of the first embodiment, and operates in the same manner as the setting unit 130 of the first embodiment.

When the setting unit 130 determines that the driver's condition may be inappropriate for driving while the driver is operating the vehicle, it sets the vehicle's operating state to the high support mode described above.

When the driver's condition is determined to be inappropriate for driving, both before and after the engine is started, the setting unit 130 sets the vehicle's driving condition to drive to a predetermined stop position and stop at the stop position. The stop position is, for example, the driver's house, the house of the driver's relative, a police station, a convenience store, a gas station, or the like, which are set in advance. The setting unit 130 may determine a safe place to stop, such as a roadside, as the stop position based on an image captured by the sensor 150, which is a camera that captures an image in front of the vehicle. When the vehicle can perform autonomous driving, the setting unit 130 sets the vehicle to drive autonomously to the stop position. When the vehicle cannot perform autonomous driving, the setting unit 130 sets the car navigation device installed in the vehicle to guide the driver so that the vehicle heads to the stop position.

<Control Unit 140>
The control unit 140 of this embodiment has the same functions as the control unit 140 of the first embodiment, and operates in the same manner as the control unit 140 of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, if the vehicle is set to drive to a stopping position and stop there, if the vehicle has an automatic driving function, the control unit 140 drives the vehicle to the stopping position using the automatic driving function after the vehicle starts to drive, and stops the vehicle at the stopping position. If the vehicle does not have an automatic driving function, the control unit 140 controls the car navigation device to navigate to the stopping position after the vehicle starts to drive.

<Operation>
Next, the operation of the vehicle control device 12 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the overall operation of the vehicle control device 12 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, the vehicle control device 12 first performs a test execution process (step S101). The test execution process of step S101 in this embodiment is similar to the operation of step S101 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, i.e., the operation in FIG. 5. However, in this embodiment, the execution unit 110 performs the above-mentioned test in addition to the test in the first embodiment. The test execution process provides the test result. Next, the judgment unit 120 judges the driver's state based on the test result (step S102).

If the driver's condition is not inappropriate for driving (NO in step S203), i.e., if it is not determined that the driver's condition is inappropriate for driving, the vehicle control device 12 performs the operations from step S103 onwards. The operations from step S103 onwards in this embodiment are the same as those from step S103 onwards in the first embodiment shown in Figure 4. From step S103 onwards, the vehicle control device 12 performs the same operations as those from step S103 onwards in Figure 4.

If the driver's condition is not suitable for driving (YES in step S203), the setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling so that the vehicle travels to a stopping position and stops at the specified stopping position (step S204). The setting unit 130 also sets the vehicle to notify the specified contact of the stopping position (step S205). If the stopping position is fixed, the notification execution unit 230 may notify the specified contact of the stopping position in step S205. If the stopping position is not determined at the time of step S205 (for example, if the stopping position is determined based on an image of the front of the vehicle), the notification execution unit 230 notifies the specified contact of the stopping position while the vehicle is traveling after it is determined to maintain the stopping position. Furthermore, the setting unit 130 sets the vehicle to notify the specified contact of the position of the vehicle while it is traveling (step S206).

Then, the setting unit 130 performs the operation of step S104. As described above, the operation of step S104 in this embodiment is the same as the operation of step S104 in the operation shown in FIG. 3. Then, the vehicle control device 12 ends the operation shown in FIG. 7.

Figure 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the vehicle control device 12 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure while the vehicle is traveling. The vehicle control device 12 may repeat the operation of Figure 8 while the driver's condition is not determined to be inappropriate for driving.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the driver measurement unit 210 measures the driver (step S211). Next, the driving state estimation unit 220 judges the driver's state based on the measurement result (step S212). If the driver's state is not judged to be inappropriate for driving (NO in step S213), or if the driver's state is not judged to be possibly inappropriate for driving (NO in step S217), the vehicle control device 12 ends the operation shown in FIG. 8. If the driver's state is not judged to be inappropriate for driving (NO in step S213), or if the driver's state is judged to be possibly inappropriate for driving (NO in step S217), the vehicle control device 12 next performs the operation of step S218.

In step S218, the setting unit 130 sets the state of the vehicle while it is traveling to increase the degree of support for the driver's driving (step S218). In other words, the setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling to the high support mode. Then, the vehicle control device 12 ends the operation shown in FIG. 8. Note that the operations of steps S217 and S218 are the same as the operations of steps S103 and S104 shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, except that they are performed while the vehicle is traveling.

If it is determined that the driver's condition is not suitable for driving (YES in step S213), the setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while it is running so that the vehicle runs to a stopping position and stops at the stopping position (step S214). At an appropriately determined timing after step S214, the control unit 140 controls the vehicle so that the vehicle runs to a stopping position and stops at the stopping position.

The setting unit 130 further sets the predetermined contact to be notified of the stop position (step S215). If the stop position has been determined, in step S215, the notification execution unit 230 notifies the predetermined contact of the stop position. If the stop position has not been determined, the notification execution unit 230 notifies the predetermined contact of the stop position after the stop position has been determined.

The setting unit 130 further sets the predetermined contact to be notified of the location of the vehicle while it is moving (step S216). After step S216, the notification execution unit 230 notifies the predetermined contact of the location of the vehicle while it is moving, for example, at predetermined time intervals.

Note that the operations from step S213 to step S216 are the same as the operations from step S203 to step S206 shown in FIG. 4, except that these operations are performed while the vehicle is traveling.

The setting unit 130 then performs the operation of step S218. Then, the vehicle control device 14 ends the operation shown in FIG. 8.

＜Effects＞
This embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment, for the same reasons as those for the first embodiment.

This embodiment has the effect of further enhancing safety. The reason is that if the driver's condition is determined to be unsuitable for driving, the setting unit 130 sets the vehicle to travel to a predetermined stopping position and stop at the predetermined stopping position.

<Modification of the second embodiment>
The determination unit 120 may operate as the driving state estimation unit 220. Furthermore, the determination unit 120 may determine, based on the body temperature, heart rate, degree of sweating, and the like measured by the driver measurement unit 210, whether the driver's state is a state in which safe driving is possible, a state that may be unsuitable for driving, or a state that is unsuitable for driving.

Third Embodiment
Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, except for the differences described below.

<Configuration>
9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a vehicle control device 13 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle control device 13 of this embodiment is the same as the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment, except for the differences described below, and operates in the same manner as the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle control device 13 of this embodiment includes, in addition to the components of the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a data transmission unit 310, an evaluation acquisition unit 320, an evaluation output unit 330, and an evaluation notification unit 340. In the following description, the data transmission unit 310, the evaluation acquisition unit 320, the evaluation output unit 330, and the evaluation notification unit 340 are collectively referred to as the third unit 300.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle control system according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. In the example of FIG. 25, a plurality of vehicle control devices 13 are connected to a communication network 20, for example, by wireless communication. Each of the plurality of vehicle control devices 13 is communicatively connected to an evaluation device 30, which will be described later, via the communication network 20. Each of the vehicle control devices 13 will be described below.

<Executing Unit 110>
The execution unit 110 of this embodiment has the same functions as the execution unit 110 of the first embodiment, and performs the same operations as the execution unit 110 of the first embodiment. The execution unit 110 of this embodiment may ask a question to determine the driving ability of the driver. The question to determine the driving ability of the driver is, for example, an existing question created for determining the driving ability of the driver.

<Determination unit 120>
The determination unit 120 of this embodiment has the same functions as the determination unit 120 of the first embodiment, and performs the same operations as the determination unit 120 of the first embodiment.

The judgment unit 120 of this embodiment further judges the driving ability based on the results of the test. The method by which the judgment unit 120 judges the driving ability may be any of various existing methods. The judgment unit 120 may judge the driving ability based on the time from when a question is asked to when the driver responds. The judgment unit 120 may judge the driving ability based on the response to a question for judging the driver's driving ability.

Furthermore, the determination unit 120 may determine whether the evaluation value acquired from the evaluation device 30 described below satisfies a predetermined evaluation criterion. The evaluation criterion may be appropriately determined depending on the evaluation value.

<Data transmission unit 310>
The data transmission unit 310 transmits data including the test results and the driver's driving ability (hereinafter also referred to as ability-related data) to the evaluation device 30 via the communication unit 170. The test results transmitted by the data transmission unit 310 may be data calculated from the test answers and data related to the test answers, such as the percentage of correct answers and statistics on the time it takes to answer. The data transmission unit 310 transmits the driver's ability-related data and identification data for identifying the driver to the evaluation device 30.

<Evaluation Device 30>
The evaluation device 30 receives the ability-related data and the identification data of the driver, and accumulates the received ability-related data and the identification data of the driver. The evaluation device 30 generates transition data representing a transition of the ability-related data for each driver. The evaluation device 30 calculates an evaluation value representing a relative evaluation of the driving ability of each driver among the drivers for whom the ability-related data is accumulated. The evaluation value may be, for example, a ranking of the driving ability of the driver. The evaluation value may be, for example, a value indicating a percentage of the ranking of the driving ability of the driver from the top among the drivers for whom the ability-related data is accumulated. The evaluation value may be, for example, a deviation value of the driving ability of the driver. The evaluation value may be another value representing a relative evaluation of the driving ability of the driver. The evaluation device 30 may calculate an evaluation value for each type of value included in the ability-related data. The evaluation device 30 may calculate an evaluation value for a value representing a comprehensive evaluation based on each type of value included in the ability-related data. The evaluation device 30 may calculate a plurality of types of evaluation values.

The evaluation device 30 transmits the driver's evaluation value to the vehicle in response to a request from the vehicle. Specifically, the evaluation device 30 receives a request for an evaluation value that specifies the driver's identification data from the vehicle. When the evaluation device 30 receives the request for an evaluation value, it transmits the evaluation value of the driver identified by the specified identification data to the vehicle that transmitted the request for the evaluation value.

The evaluation device 30 further transmits transition data of the driver's ability-related data to the vehicle in response to a request for transition data from the vehicle. Specifically, the evaluation device 30 receives a request for transition data from the vehicle that specifies the driver's identification data. When the evaluation device 30 receives the request for transition data, it transmits transition data representing the transition of the driver's ability-related data identified by the specified identification data to the vehicle that transmitted the transition data.

The evaluation device 30 may create transition data including data representing the transition of the evaluation value as the transition data. The evaluation device 30 may transmit data on the transition of the evaluation value, including the latest evaluation value, to the vehicle as the evaluation value.

<Evaluation Acquisition Unit 320>
The evaluation acquisition unit 320 acquires an evaluation value of the driver from the evaluation device 30. Specifically, the evaluation acquisition unit 320 transmits a request for an evaluation value, specifying the identification data of the driver, to the evaluation device 30 via the communication unit 170. The evaluation acquisition unit 320 receives the evaluation value of the driver from the evaluation device 30 via the communication unit 170.

The evaluation acquisition unit 320 acquires transition data representing the transition of the driver's ability-related data from the evaluation device 30. Specifically, the evaluation acquisition unit 320 transmits a request for transition data, specifying the driver's identification data, to the evaluation device 30 via the communication unit 170. The evaluation acquisition unit 320 receives the transition data representing the transition of the driver's ability-related data from the evaluation device 30 via the communication unit 170.

As described above, the acquired transition data may include data representing a transition of the evaluation value. The acquired evaluation value may be data of the transition of the evaluation value, including the latest evaluation value.

<Evaluation Output Unit 330>
The evaluation output unit 330 outputs the evaluation value acquired from the evaluation device 30. Specifically, the evaluation output unit 330 displays the acquired evaluation value on an output device such as a display or touch panel of the input/output unit 160. When the evaluation output unit 330 receives data on the transition of the evaluation value as the evaluation value, the evaluation output unit 330 may display the evaluation value in the form of a graph. When multiple types of evaluation values have been calculated, the evaluation output unit 330 may output a predetermined type of evaluation value or a type of evaluation value specified by the driver using, for example, the input/output unit 160.

The evaluation output unit 330 may output the transition of the ability-related data. Specifically, the evaluation output unit 330 displays the transition data representing the transition of the ability-related data, for example in the form of a graph, on an output device such as a display or touch panel of the input/output unit 160. The evaluation output unit 330 may output the transition data representing the transition of a predetermined type of data among the ability-related data, or a type of data specified by the driver using the input/output unit 160, for example.

When the judgment unit 120 judges that the latest evaluation value received does not reach a predetermined evaluation standard, the evaluation output unit 330 may output a message indicating that it is not recommended for the driver to drive as part of the evaluation. The message indicating that it is not recommended for the driver to drive may be a message encouraging the driver to stop driving or a message encouraging the driver to surrender his or her driver's license. The message indicating that it is not recommended for the driver to drive may be determined as appropriate.

<Evaluation Notification Unit 340>
The evaluation notification unit 340 notifies a predetermined evaluation notification destination of the evaluation value acquired from the evaluation device 30. In other words, the evaluation notification unit 340 transmits the evaluation value acquired from the evaluation device 30 to the predetermined evaluation notification destination via the communication unit 170. When multiple types of evaluation values are calculated, the evaluation notification unit 340 may notify the predetermined notification destination of the evaluation value of a predetermined type.

The evaluation notification unit 340 may notify a predetermined evaluation notification destination of transition data representing a transition of the ability-related data acquired from the evaluation device 30. In other words, the evaluation notification unit 340 may transmit the transition data representing a transition of the ability-related data acquired from the evaluation device 30 to the predetermined evaluation notification destination via the communication unit 170. The evaluation notification unit 340 may notify the predetermined evaluation notification destination of transition data representing a transition of a predetermined type of data among the ability-related data.

The evaluation notification unit 340 may further notify a specified evaluation notification destination of information indicating whether the most recently received evaluation value, as determined by the determination unit 120, has reached a specified evaluation criterion.

<Operation>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the vehicle control device 13 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure before starting the engine.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, the vehicle control device 13 first performs a test execution process (step S101). The test execution process in step S101 is the same as the test execution process in step S101 in FIG. 4. In step S1010, the execution unit 110 of this embodiment performs the test execution process shown in FIG. 5. However, in this embodiment, the test includes a test for estimating the driver's driving ability.

Next, the judgment unit 120 judges the driver's driving ability and the driver's condition based on the test results (step S302). The data transmission unit 310 transmits data including the test results and the driving ability (i.e., ability-related data) to the evaluation device 30 (step S303).

Next, the evaluation acquisition unit 320 acquires an evaluation from the evaluation device 30 (step S304). In step S304, the evaluation acquisition unit 320 may acquire the above-mentioned evaluation value as the evaluation. The evaluation acquisition unit 320 may acquire the above-mentioned evaluation value and transition data representing the transition of the ability-related data as the evaluation.

Next, the evaluation output unit 330 outputs the acquired evaluation. For example, the evaluation output unit 330 displays the acquired evaluation on an indication device such as a display or touch panel included in the input/output unit 160 (step S305). The evaluation output unit 330 may display the above-mentioned evaluation value as the evaluation. The evaluation output unit 330 may display the evaluation value and transition data as the evaluation. In step 305, when the determination unit 120 determines that the latest evaluation value received does not reach the predetermined evaluation standard, the evaluation output unit 330 may output, as part of the evaluation, a message indicating that it is not recommended that the driver drive.

The evaluation notification unit 340 notifies the evaluation notification destination of the acquired evaluation. In other words, the evaluation notification unit 340 outputs the acquired evaluation to the evaluation notification destination via the communication unit 170 (step S306). The evaluation notification unit 340 may transmit the above-mentioned evaluation value as the evaluation. The evaluation notification unit 340 may transmit the evaluation value and transition data as the evaluation. In step S306, the evaluation notification unit 340 may further notify the specified evaluation notification destination of information indicating whether or not the latest evaluation value received, as determined by the determination unit 120, has reached a specified evaluation criterion.

Next, the vehicle control device 13 performs the operations from step S103 onwards. The operations from step S103 onwards in this embodiment are the same as the operations from step S103 onwards in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4. From step S103 onwards, the vehicle control device 13 performs the same operations as the operations from step S103 onwards of the vehicle control device 11 in the first embodiment.

＜Effects＞
This embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment, for the same reasons that the effects of the first embodiment are obtained.

This embodiment has the effect of further improving the safety of the driver while driving. This is because the evaluation output unit 330 outputs the trends in the evaluation value and ability-related data. By knowing the trends in his/her own evaluation value and ability-related data, the driver is expected to drive safely without being overconfident in his/her driving ability. Therefore, the safety of the driver while driving is further improved.

Fourth Embodiment
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, except for the differences described below.

<Configuration>
11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle control device 14 according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle control device 14 of this embodiment has the same functions as the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment, except for the differences described below, and performs the same operations as the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the vehicle control device 14 includes a danger information receiving unit 410 and a danger information notifying unit 420 in addition to the components of the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3. In the following description, the danger information receiving unit 410 and the danger information notifying unit 420 are also referred to as a fourth unit 400.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle control system according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. In the example of FIG. 24, a plurality of vehicle control devices 14 are connected to a communication network 20, for example, by wireless communication. Each of the plurality of vehicle control devices 14 is communicatively connected to a danger information server 40, which will be described later, via the communication network 20. Each of the vehicle control devices 14 will be described below.

<Executing Unit 110>
The execution unit 110 of this embodiment has the same functions as the execution unit 110 of the first embodiment, and performs the same operations as the execution unit 110 of the first embodiment. However, the execution unit 110 may ask questions to determine whether or not the driver is a dangerous driver in a test before starting the engine. The questions to determine whether or not the driver is a dangerous driver may be existing questions created in advance to determine whether or not the driver is a dangerous driver. A dangerous driver is a driver who may perform dangerous driving. Dangerous driving includes sudden acceleration, sudden deceleration, abrupt steering, tailgating, and driving across lanes. A dangerous vehicle, which will be described later, is a vehicle driven by a dangerous driver.

The execution unit 110 of this embodiment further measures the state of the vehicle, such as speed and acceleration, using a speedometer and an accelerometer among the sensors 150 while the vehicle is traveling. The execution unit 110 captures an image of the area in front of the vehicle using a camera among the sensors 150 that is attached to capture an image of the area in front of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling. The execution unit 110 captures an image of the area around the vehicle using a camera among the sensors 150 that is attached to capture an image of the area around the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling.

<Determination unit 120>
The determination unit 120 of this embodiment has the same functions as the determination unit 120 of the first embodiment, and performs the same operations as those performed by the determination unit 120 of the first embodiment.

The determination unit 120 of this embodiment further determines whether the driver is a dangerous driver based on the test results before starting the engine. The determination unit 120 may store, for each driver, whether or not the driver engaged in dangerous driving while driving. Then, face recognition may be performed on the face image of the driver received as a result of the test to identify the driver, and if the identified driver engaged in dangerous driving while driving in the past, the determination unit 120 may determine that the driver is a dangerous driver based on the answer to a question for determining whether the driver is a dangerous driver. The determination unit 120 may determine whether or not the driver is a dangerous driver by other methods.

The determination unit 120 further determines whether the driver is a risky driver based on the results of the measurements performed by the execution unit 110 while the vehicle is traveling.

The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver is a reckless driver, for example, if the number of times that the vehicle speed has exceeded a reference speed based on the speed limit since the engine was started exceeds a predetermined number of times. In this case, the determination unit 120 may identify the vehicle's position using a GPS or the like, and obtain the speed limit at the identified location from a server that stores road information via the communication unit 170. The determination unit 120 may then determine the reference speed based on the speed limit. The reference speed may be a value obtained by adding a predetermined constant to the speed limit, or a value obtained by multiplying the speed limit by a predetermined constant. The reference speed when the vehicle is not traveling on a road may be determined as appropriate.

The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver is a dangerous driver if the number of times the vehicle acceleration has exceeded a predetermined reference acceleration since the engine started exceeds a predetermined number of high accelerations. The reference acceleration may be determined according to the location where the vehicle is traveling (such as a general road, a highway, or a location that is not a road). The determination unit 120 may obtain information on the location where the vehicle is traveling from a server that stores road information via the communication unit 170. The reference acceleration may be determined according to the direction relative to the vehicle (such as the front of the vehicle, the rear of the vehicle, or the left and right directions of the vehicle).

The determination unit 120 may calculate the vehicle distance ahead of the vehicle based on an image captured in front of the vehicle, the camera parameters of the camera that captured the image, and the mounting position of the camera. In this case, the determination unit 120 stores the camera parameters and mounting position that have been measured in advance. The calculation of the vehicle distance ahead of the vehicle may be performed by any of various existing methods. The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver is a reckless driver if the number of times that the driver has traveled in a state where the vehicle distance ahead does not meet the predetermined vehicle distance standard while traveling at a predetermined speed or higher exceeds a predetermined number of times. The determination unit 120 may also determine that the driver is a reckless driver if the time that the driver has traveled in a state where the vehicle distance ahead does not meet the predetermined vehicle distance standard while traveling at a predetermined speed or higher exceeds a predetermined time.

The determination unit 120 may determine whether the vehicle is crossing lanes based on an image captured in front of the vehicle. The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver is a reckless driver if the number of times the vehicle crosses lanes exceeds a predetermined number. The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver is a reckless driver if the time the vehicle crosses lanes exceeds a predetermined time.

The determination unit 120 may determine whether the driver is dozing off based on an image capturing the face of the driver while driving. If the determination unit 120 determines that the driver is dozing off, the determination unit 120 may determine that the driver is a reckless driver.

The method by which the determination unit 120 determines whether or not the driver is a dangerous driver is not limited to the above examples. The determination unit 120 may determine whether or not the driver is a dangerous driver using any of various existing methods for determining a dangerous driver that are different from the above examples.

The determination unit 120 may determine the driving ability of the driver. The method for determining the driving ability of the driver may be any of the existing determination methods. The determination unit 120 determines the driving ability of the driver based on, for example, the speed, the distance between vehicles ahead, the position of the vehicle in the lane, and the like. The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's ability is poor when the driver's driving ability does not meet a predetermined level (i.e., the stability of the vehicle during travel does not meet the stability standard), for example, as follows. The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's ability is sufficient when the driver's driving ability meets a predetermined level (i.e., the stability of the vehicle during travel meets the stability standard), for example, as follows. The method by which the determination unit 120 determines the driver's driving ability is not limited to these examples.

The determination unit 120, for example, determines whether the vehicle is in a state where it can travel at a constant speed without other vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, traffic lights, crosswalks, etc. ahead. The determination unit 120 determines the stability of the vehicle's speed while the vehicle is in such a state. The stability of the vehicle's speed may be represented, for example, by the variance of the speed measured at a predetermined time interval. The stability of the vehicle's speed may be represented by other values. The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's driving ability is poor if the stability of the vehicle's speed does not satisfy a predetermined stability standard. Otherwise, the determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's driving ability is sufficient.

The determination unit 120, for example, determines whether the vehicle is in a state where it can travel at a constant speed. The state where the vehicle can travel at a constant speed is, for example, a state where the brake lights of the vehicle ahead are not on and there are no pedestrians, bicycles, or red lights ahead. The state where the vehicle can travel at a constant speed is not limited to this example. The determination unit 120 may determine the driver's driving ability based on the stability of the distance ahead while the vehicle is in a state where it can travel at a constant speed. The determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's driving ability is poor if the stability of the distance ahead does not meet a predetermined stability standard. Otherwise, the determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's driving ability is sufficient.

The determination unit 120 may determine the driver's ability based on, for example, the stability of the vehicle's position in the lane (e.g., the stability of the distance between the center of the lane and the center line of the vehicle) while the driver is not flashing the vehicle's turn signal. If the stability of the vehicle's position does not satisfy a predetermined stability standard, the determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's driving ability is poor. Otherwise, the determination unit 120 may determine that the driver's driving ability is sufficient.

<Danger Information Receiving Unit 410>
The danger information receiving unit 410 receives information about a vehicle (e.g., information indicating the position of the vehicle) from another vehicle whose driver is determined to be a reckless driver, for example, by vehicle-to-vehicle communication via the communication unit 170. The danger information receiving unit 410 may receive information indicating the position of the reckless vehicle from a danger information server 40 that notifies a plurality of vehicles of information about the reckless vehicle. In this case, for example, periodically, the danger information receiving unit 410 acquires the position of the vehicle in which the vehicle control device 14 including the danger information receiving unit 410 is mounted, for example, by GPS or the like. Then, similarly periodically, the danger information receiving unit 410 transmits a request for the position of the reckless vehicle to the danger information server 40, in which the acquired position of the vehicle is specified.

<Danger Information Server 40>
The danger information server 40 receives information indicating the positions of reckless vehicles and holds the latest positions of each reckless vehicle. When the danger information server 40 receives a request for the position of a reckless vehicle in which the position of the vehicle is specified, the danger information server 40 transmits the positions of reckless vehicles traveling within a predetermined range from the position specified in the request to the vehicle that sent the request.

<Danger information notification unit 420>
When the determination unit 120 determines that the driver is a reckless driver, the danger information notification unit 420 acquires the vehicle position by GPS or the like, and notifies surrounding vehicles of the acquired information indicating the vehicle position, for example, by vehicle-to-vehicle communication via the communication unit 170. The surrounding vehicles are, for example, vehicles capable of communication by vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

When the determination unit 120 determines that the driver is a reckless driver, the danger information notification unit 420 may acquire the vehicle's position using a GPS or the like, and transmit information indicating the reckless vehicle, the vehicle's position, and the vehicle's identification information to the danger information server 40 via the communication unit 170.

<Setting Unit 130>
When the setting unit 130 receives information on the location of a reckless vehicle, if the distance between the vehicle in which the vehicle control device 14 including the setting unit 130 is mounted and the location of the reckless vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined distance, the setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle to a risk avoidance mode. The risk avoidance mode is, for example, a state in which the vehicle performs an operation to reduce the impact of the reckless vehicle. The risk avoidance mode is, for example, a mode in which the movement of the vehicle is controlled so that the movement of the vehicle is not too slow or too sudden. The control of the movement of the vehicle in the risk avoidance mode will be described in detail later.

When the distance between the vehicle in which the vehicle control device 14 including the setting unit 130 is installed and the location of the dangerous vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined distance, the setting unit 130 may display a message to alert the driver on the display device included in the input/output unit 160. The message to alert the driver may be determined in advance. The message to alert the driver may differ depending on the driving ability of the driver. In this case, the determination unit 120 determines the driving ability of the driver. The setting unit 130 outputs a message to alert the driver according to the driving ability determined by the determination unit 120.

When the driver of the vehicle is determined to be a reckless driver, the setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while traveling so that the magnitude of the vehicle's acceleration satisfies a predetermined standard. This predetermined standard may be, for example, that the acceleration of the vehicle does not exceed a predetermined acceleration threshold when the vehicle accelerates. The acceleration threshold may differ depending on the location of the vehicle (general road, expressway, location other than a road, etc.). The predetermined standard may be, for example, that the magnitude of the vehicle's acceleration does not exceed a predetermined deceleration threshold when the vehicle decelerates when there is no object ahead. The object may be, for example, a building, a person, a bicycle, a vehicle, etc.

When the driver of the vehicle is determined to be a dangerous driver, the setting unit 130 may set the operation of the vehicle while traveling to a high support mode. When the driver is determined to be poorly capable (i.e., does not meet a predetermined standard), the setting unit 130 may set the operation of the vehicle while traveling to a high support mode.

<Control Unit 140>
An example of the control of the vehicle by the control unit 140 when the movement of the vehicle is set to the risk avoidance mode will be described below. Note that the control of the vehicle by the control unit 140 in the risk avoidance mode is not limited to the following example.

For example, when a dangerous vehicle is present behind the vehicle, the control unit 140 controls the acceleration of the vehicle when accelerating without a vehicle ahead within a predetermined distance ahead so that it does not become smaller than a predetermined acceleration (also referred to as the second standard). For example, when a dangerous vehicle is present behind the vehicle, the control unit 140 controls the acceleration of the vehicle when decelerating so that it does not become larger than a predetermined acceleration (also referred to as the second standard). For example, when a dangerous vehicle is present ahead of the vehicle, the control unit 140 controls the movement of the vehicle so that the inter-vehicle distance does not become shorter than a predetermined distance.

<Operation>
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the vehicle control device 14 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure before the engine is started.

In the example shown in FIG. 12, the vehicle control device 14 first performs a test execution process (step S101). The operation of the test execution process of step S101 of the vehicle control device 14 of this embodiment is the same as the operation of the test execution process of step S101 of the vehicle control device 14 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4. The operation of the test execution process of step S101 of the vehicle control device 14 of this embodiment is represented by the flowchart shown in FIG. 5. However, the execution unit 110 of this embodiment performs a test in step S101 that includes a test to determine whether or not the driver is a reckless driver.

Next, the judgment unit 120 judges the driver's condition based on the test results (step S102). In step S102, the judgment unit 120 of this embodiment performs the same operation as the judgment unit 120 of the first embodiment performs in step S102. In step S102, the judgment unit 120 of this embodiment further judges whether the driver is a reckless driver.

If the driver is not determined to be a reckless driver (NO in step S403), the vehicle control device 14 performs the operations from step S103 onward. The operations from step S103 onward of the vehicle control device 14 are the same as the operations from step S103 onward of the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

If the driver is determined to be a reckless driver (YES in step S403), the setting unit 130 sets the vehicle's location to be notified as the location of a reckless vehicle while the vehicle is traveling (step S404). In this case, the danger information notification unit 420 notifies other vehicles with which communication is possible of the vehicle's location as the location of a reckless vehicle while the vehicle is traveling.

The setting unit 130 further sets the state of the vehicle while it is traveling so that the magnitude of change in the movement of the vehicle satisfies a predetermined standard (step S405). In this case, the control unit 140 controls the operation of the vehicle, for example, so that the acceleration of the vehicle during acceleration while the vehicle is traveling does not exceed the acceleration threshold. The control unit 140 further controls the operation of the vehicle, for example, so that the magnitude of the acceleration of the vehicle during deceleration when there is no object or the like in front of the vehicle does not exceed the deceleration threshold.

Then, the setting unit 130 performs the operation of step S104. As described above, the operation of step S104 in this embodiment is the same as the operation of step S104 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4. Then, the vehicle control device 14 ends the operation shown in FIG. 12.

Figure 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a first operation of the vehicle control device 14 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure when the vehicle is traveling. The operation shown in Figure 13 shows the operation when the vehicle control device 14 determines whether the driver is a risky driver and estimates the driver's ability while the vehicle is traveling.

First, the execution unit 110 uses the sensor 150 to measure the driving condition of the driver (step S411). Based on the measurement result, the determination unit 120 determines whether the driver is a risky driver.

If the driver is not determined to be a risky driver (NO in step S403), the determination unit 120 determines the driver's driving ability (step S416). The setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while traveling to support the driver based on the determined driving ability of the driver (step S417). If the driver's driving ability is determined to be poor, the setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while traveling to the high support mode in step S417. If the driver's driving ability is not determined to be poor, the setting unit 130 does not need to change the operation of the vehicle while traveling in step S417. Then, the vehicle control device 14 ends the operation shown in FIG. 13.

If the driver is determined to be a reckless driver (YES in step S403), the setting unit 130 sets the vehicle's location to be notified as the location of a reckless vehicle while the vehicle is traveling (step S404). In this case, the danger information notification unit 420 notifies other vehicles with which communication is possible of the vehicle's location as the location of a reckless vehicle.

The setting unit 130 further sets the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling so that the change in the movement of the vehicle satisfies a predetermined standard (step S405). In this case, the control unit 140 controls the operation of the vehicle, for example, so that the acceleration of the vehicle during acceleration while the vehicle is traveling does not exceed the acceleration threshold. The control unit 140 further controls the operation of the vehicle, for example, so that the magnitude of the acceleration of the vehicle during deceleration when there is no object or the like in front of the vehicle does not exceed the deceleration threshold.

Then, the vehicle control device 14 performs the operations of steps S416 and S417 described above, and ends the operations shown in FIG. 13.

Figure 14 is a flowchart showing a second operation of the vehicle control device 14 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure when the vehicle is traveling. The operation shown in Figure 14 shows the operation when the vehicle receives information on the location of a dangerous vehicle.

In the example shown in FIG. 14, the danger information receiving unit 410 receives the position of the dangerous vehicle (step S421). The determination unit 120 determines the relative position between the vehicle and the dangerous vehicle (step S422). In step S422, the determination unit 120 may, for example, calculate the distance between the vehicle and the dangerous vehicle.

If the relative position does not satisfy the predetermined positional relationship (NO in step S423), for example, if the distance between the vehicle and the reckless vehicle is greater than the predetermined distance, the determination unit 120 determines whether the vehicle will end its journey (step S426). For example, if the vehicle is located in a place other than a road and the driver stops the engine, the determination unit 120 determines that the vehicle will end its journey. Otherwise, the determination unit 120 determines that the vehicle will not end its journey. If the vehicle will end its journey (YES in step S427), the vehicle control device 14 ends the operation shown in FIG. 14. If the vehicle will not end its journey (NO in step S427), the operation of the vehicle control device 14 returns to step S421.

If the relative position satisfies the predetermined positional relationship (YES in step S423), for example, if the distance between the vehicle and the dangerous vehicle is less than or equal to a predetermined distance, the vehicle control device 14 performs the operations from step S424 onwards.

In step S424, the setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while it is moving so as to reduce the influence between the vehicle and a dangerous vehicle (step S424). In step S424, the setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while it is moving, for example, to a risk avoidance mode.

Next, the setting unit 130 notifies the driver of the presence of a reckless vehicle using a display device such as a display or touch panel of the input/output unit 160 (step S425).

Then, the vehicle control device 14 performs the operations from step S426 onwards described above.

＜Effects＞
This embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment, for the same reasons that the effects of the first embodiment are obtained.

This embodiment has the effect of further improving the safety of the driver's driving. This is because the setting unit 130 sets the vehicle's operation to a risk avoidance mode when a reckless vehicle is present within a predetermined range. As a result, the risk that the vehicle driven by the driver will be victimized by a reckless vehicle, such as by tailgating, is reduced. As a result, the safety of the driver's driving is further improved.

Fifth embodiment
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, before the engine is started, the driver's purpose is determined based on the test result, and the destination is determined based on the estimated purpose. This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, except for the differences described below.

<Configuration>
FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle control device 15 according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle control device 15 of this embodiment is the same as the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 except for the differences described below, and performs the same operation as the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 15, the vehicle control device 15 of the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a purpose estimation unit 510 and a destination determination unit 520 in addition to each of the components of the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3. In the following description, the purpose estimation unit 510 and the destination determination unit 520 are also referred to as a fifth unit 500.

<Determination unit 120>
The determination unit 120 of this embodiment has the same functions as the determination unit 120 of the first embodiment, and performs the same operations as the determination unit 120 of the first embodiment. The following describes the differences between the determination unit 120 of this embodiment and the determination unit 120 of the first embodiment.

The judgment unit 120 may judge the driver's state based on some of the test results, rather than all of the test results, before the results of all the tests are obtained. In other words, the judgment unit 120 may perform the above-mentioned intermediate judgment. The judgment unit 120 may judge the driver's state (the above-mentioned intermediate result) by the intermediate judgment.

If the vehicle is capable of moving by autonomous driving, the determination unit 120 may further determine, based on the determined driver's condition, whether to set the vehicle to move to the destination by autonomous driving, or to guide the driver to the destination, for example, by a car navigation device. For example, if the driver's condition is, for example, an injury or a high fever, the determination unit 120 may determine that the vehicle will move to the destination by autonomous driving. If the driver's condition is an excited state, the determination unit 120 may determine that the vehicle will move to the destination by autonomous driving. If the driver's condition is healthy and calm, the determination unit 120 may determine that the vehicle will guide the driver to the destination by a car navigation device.

<Objective estimation unit 510>
The intention estimation unit 510 estimates the driver's driving intention based on the result of the test. The intention estimation unit 510 estimates the intention based on, for example, the driver's answer to a question as a result of the test. The intention estimation unit 510 may estimate the driver's intention further based on the determined state of the driver.

The purpose estimation unit 510 may estimate the driver's driving purpose based on partial test results rather than all test results before all test results are obtained. The driver's driving purpose estimated based on partial test results is referred to as a purpose candidate. The purpose estimation unit 510 may estimate the driver's driving purpose further based on the above-mentioned intermediate results. The purpose estimation unit 510 may notify the execution unit 110 of the purpose candidate.

The purpose estimation unit 510 may estimate the driver's driving purpose based on the face image of the driver captured by the camera obtained as a result of the test. For example, the purpose estimation unit 510 determines whether or not the driver is likely to be in poor physical condition based on the face image of the driver. The purpose estimation unit 510 determines whether or not the driver is likely to be in poor physical condition based on the face image of the driver, for example, using a determiner that has been trained in advance by machine learning to determine whether or not the driver is in poor physical condition based on the face image of the driver.

The purpose estimation unit 510 may estimate the driver's driving purpose based on the results of a test to determine whether the driver can sense an odor (i.e., information indicating whether the driver can sense an odor). For example, if the purpose estimation unit 510 determines that the driver cannot sense an odor, it determines that the driver may be in poor health. If the purpose estimation unit 510 determines that the driver can sense an odor, it determines that the driver is not necessarily in poor health.

<Executing Unit 110>
The execution unit 110 of this embodiment has the same functions as the execution unit 110 of the first embodiment, and performs the same operations as the execution unit 110 of the first embodiment. The differences between the execution unit 110 of this embodiment and the execution unit 110 of the first embodiment will be described below.

In this embodiment, the execution unit 110 asks a question to estimate the driver's driving purpose as a test. The execution unit 110 may determine the next question based on the driver's purpose estimated based on the test results (i.e., the above-mentioned candidate purpose). Specifically, when a candidate purpose is estimated, the execution unit 110 may next ask a question to verify whether the estimated candidate purpose is correct. The execution unit 110 may ask a question to further narrow down the purpose based on the estimated candidate purpose.

For example, if the estimated candidate purpose is to go to the hospital due to poor health, the execution unit 110 may determine that the next question is a question to ascertain whether the driver or a passenger is in poor health. For example, if the estimated candidate purpose is the driver's poor health, the execution unit 110 may determine what symptoms the driver has.

For example, if the estimated destination candidate is eating, the execution unit 110 may determine the next question to be a question ascertaining what the driver wants to eat. For example, if the estimated destination is shopping, the execution unit 110 may determine the next question to be a question ascertaining what kind of thing the driver plans to buy.

<Destination determination unit 520>
The destination determination unit 520 may determine a driving destination to which the driver will drive, based on the purpose estimated by the purpose estimation unit 510. The destination determination unit 520 may determine one or more destination candidates and present the determined destination candidates to the driver using the input/output unit 160. The destination determination unit 520 may receive a designation of a destination selected by the driver from the destination candidates using the input/output unit 160. In this case, the destination determination unit 520 may determine the destination candidate indicated by the received designation as the driving destination.

Specifically, for example, if the purpose of driving is to go to a hospital or clinic due to a certain type of symptom of the driver or passenger, the destination determination unit 520 may determine a hospital or clinic that can treat patients with that type of symptom as the driving destination. More specifically, if the purpose of driving is to take a passenger with high fever and cough symptoms to a hospital or clinic, the destination determination unit 520 may present to the driver a list of a predetermined number of internal medicine or respiratory hospitals and clinics in order of distance from the vehicle position. If the purpose of driving is to go to a hospital or clinic because the driver or passenger is injured, the destination determination unit 520 may present to the driver a list of a predetermined number of surgical hospitals and clinics in order of distance from the vehicle position. If the purpose of driving is to go to a hospital or clinic because the driver or passenger is burned, the destination determination unit 520 may present to the driver a list of a predetermined number of dermatology hospitals and clinics in order of distance from the vehicle position. The destination determination unit 520 may receive a designation of a hospital or clinic selected from the presented list, and may determine the hospital or clinic indicated by the received designation as the driving destination. Note that the destination determination unit 520 may determine the hospital or clinic that is closest to the vehicle's location and that matches the estimated purpose as the driving destination, without presenting a list of hospitals or clinics.

For example, if the purpose of driving is to go shopping for food and daily necessities, the destination determination unit 520 may present the driver with a list of a predetermined number of stores, such as supermarkets, starting from the closest store to the vehicle's location. If the purpose of driving is to purchase tools and materials for DIY (Do It Yourself), the destination determination unit 520 may present the driver with a list of a predetermined number of home improvement stores, starting from the closest store to the vehicle's location. The destination determination unit 520 may receive a designation of a store selected from the presented list, and determine the store indicated by the received designation as the driving destination. The destination determination unit 520 may determine the store that is closest to the vehicle's location and matches the estimated purpose as the driving destination, without presenting a list of stores.

For example, if the purpose of driving is to have a meal, the destination determination unit 520 may present the driver with a list of a predetermined number of restaurants, starting from the closest restaurant to the vehicle's location. If the purpose of driving is to have a meal of a particular category (e.g., Japanese food), the destination determination unit 520 may present the driver with a list of a predetermined number of restaurants of that category (e.g., Japanese food), starting from the closest restaurant to the vehicle's location. The destination determination unit 520 may receive a designation of a restaurant selected from the presented list, and determine the restaurant indicated by the received designation as the driving destination. The destination determination unit 520 may determine the restaurant that is closest to the vehicle's location and matches the estimated purpose as the driving destination, without presenting a list of restaurants.

<Setting Unit 130>
The setting unit 130 of this embodiment has the same functions as the setting unit 130 of the first embodiment, and performs the same operations as the setting unit 130 of the first embodiment. The following describes the differences between the setting unit 130 of this embodiment and the setting unit 130 of the first embodiment.

When it is determined that the vehicle will drive to the destination by autonomous driving, the setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while driving to drive to the destination by autonomous driving.When it is determined that the vehicle will guide the driver to the destination by a car navigation device, the setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while driving to guide the driver to the destination by the car navigation device.

<Control Unit 140>
The control unit 140 of this embodiment has the same functions as the control unit 140 of the first embodiment, and performs the same operations as the control unit 140 of the first embodiment. The following describes the differences between the control unit 140 of this embodiment and the control unit 140 of the first embodiment.

When the vehicle is set to travel to the destination by autonomous driving, the control unit 140 drives the vehicle so that the vehicle travels to the destination by autonomous driving.When the vehicle is set to guide the driver to the destination by a car navigation device, the control unit 140 controls the car navigation device to guide the driver to the destination.

<Operation>
Next, the operation of the vehicle control device 15 according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

16A and 16B are flowcharts showing an example of the operation of the vehicle control device 15 according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure before starting the engine. The vehicle control device 15 performs the operations shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B before starting the vehicle engine.

In the example shown in FIG. 16A, the vehicle control device 15 first performs a test execution process (step S501). The vehicle execution process of this embodiment will be described in detail later.

Next, the determination unit 120 determines the driver's state based on the test results (step S102).
Next, the intention estimation unit 510 estimates the intention of the driver based on the result of the test (step S503). The intention estimation unit 510 may estimate the intention of the driver based on the result of the test and the determined state of the driver.

Next, the destination determination unit 520 determines destination candidates based on the estimated purpose (step S504). In other words, the destination determination unit 520 determines one or more destinations (i.e., destination candidates) that match the estimated purpose.

The destination determination unit 520 uses the input/output unit 160 to present the determined destination candidates to the driver (step S505). In other words, the destination determination unit 520 uses the input/output unit 160 to present a list of one or more determined destinations (i.e., destination candidates) to the driver. In step S505, the destination determination unit 520 accepts the driver's specification of a destination (in other words, information representing the destination specified by the driver).

The destination determination unit 520 determines the specified destination candidate as the destination (step S506). Then, the operation of the vehicle control device 15 proceeds to step S507 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 16B.

In the example shown in FIG. 16B, the determination unit 120 determines whether or not to perform autonomous driving based on the estimated driver's state (step S507). Note that if the vehicle cannot perform autonomous driving, the determination unit 120 may always determine not to perform autonomous driving.

When autonomous driving is to be performed (YES in step S508), that is, when it is determined that the vehicle will perform autonomous driving, the setting unit 130 sets the operation of the traveling vehicle so that the vehicle moves to the destination by autonomous driving (step S508). Then, the vehicle control device 15 performs the operation from step S103 onwards. The operation from step S103 onwards of the vehicle control device 15 of this embodiment is the same as the operation from step S103 onwards of the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

If autonomous driving is not performed (NO in step S508), that is, if the vehicle has decided not to perform autonomous driving, the setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while traveling so that the vehicle moves to the destination by navigation (step S510). That is, the setting unit 130 sets the operation of the vehicle while traveling so that the vehicle guides the driver to the destination by the navigation device. Then, the vehicle control device 15 performs the operations from step S103 onwards.

Figure 17 is a flowchart showing the operation of the test execution process of the vehicle control device 15 according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the example shown in FIG. 17, first, the determination unit 120 determines the driver's state based on the driver's facial image and the results of the odor test (step S511). The operation of step S511 is the same as the operation of steps S111 and S112 shown in FIG. 5.

Next, the purpose estimation unit 510 estimates the purpose of the driver based on the face image of the driver and the result of the odor search (step S512). In step S512, the purpose estimation unit 510 may determine, for example, whether or not the driver's purpose is likely to be that the driver is trying to go somewhere due to poor physical condition.

The execution unit 110 determines the next question based on the driver's state and purpose (step S513). The execution unit 110 asks the driver the determined question (step S114). The execution unit 110 accepts an answer to the asked question (step S115). The execution unit 110 analyzes the answer (step S116). The operations from step S114 to step S116 in this embodiment are similar to the operations from step S114 to step S116 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

Next, the vehicle control device 15 estimates the driver's state and purpose (step S517). In step S517, the determination unit 120 determines the driver's state based on the answer to the question. Then, the purpose estimation unit 510 estimates the driving purpose based on the answer to the question or the answer to the question and the driver's state determined to be the answer to the question.

If the question is not to be ended (NO in step S118), the operation of the vehicle control device 15 returns to step S513. In step S118, the execution unit 110 may determine that the question is to be ended, for example, when all the questions according to a pre-prepared scenario for determining the driver's state and estimating the driving purpose and for determining the next question according to the answer have been completed. If the questions according to such a scenario have not been completed, the execution unit 110 may determine that the question is not to be ended. In step S513, the execution unit 110 may determine the next question according to such a scenario. The execution unit 110 may determine the next question in step S513 by an artificial intelligence system configured to determine the presence or absence of the next question and the next question based on the answer, not the scenario, and may determine the presence or absence of the next question in step S118. If the question is to be ended (YES in step S118), the vehicle control device 15 ends the operation shown in FIG. 17.

＜Effects＞
This embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment, for the same reasons as those for the first embodiment.

This embodiment also has the advantage that the driver can reach a destination that matches the driving purpose even if the driver does not have knowledge of the destination to achieve the driving purpose. This is because the purpose estimation unit 510 estimates the driving purpose, and the destination determination unit 520 determines a destination that matches the estimated driving purpose.

This embodiment also has the advantage of being able to further improve the safety of the driver's driving. This is because the determination unit 120 determines whether to move the vehicle to the destination by automatic driving or to guide the driver to the destination by navigation, based on the determined driver's state.

Sixth Embodiment
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the scent to be released into the vehicle cabin is determined based on the determined driver's state. This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, except for the differences described below.

<Configuration>
Fig. 18 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle control device 16 according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle control device 16 of this embodiment is the same as the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment, except for the differences described below, and performs the same operations as the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment. In the example shown in Fig. 18, the vehicle control device 16 of this embodiment includes a fragrance determination unit 610 and a fragrance emission unit 620 in addition to each of the components of the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 3. In the following description, the fragrance determination unit 610 and the fragrance emission unit 620 are referred to as a sixth unit 600.

<Sensor 150>
The sensor 150 includes a camera that captures an image of the driver's face and a microphone that records the driver's voice, as well as a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, a thermometer, etc. that are built into the steering wheel, for example.

<Executing Unit 110>
The execution unit 110 of this embodiment has the same functions as the execution unit 110 of the first embodiment, and performs the same operations as the execution unit 110 of the first embodiment.

The execution unit 110 of this embodiment further measures the driver using a heart rate monitor, blood pressure monitor, thermometer, etc. as part of the test before starting the engine. The execution unit 110 of this embodiment measures the driver using a heart rate monitor, blood pressure monitor, thermometer, etc. while the vehicle is running.

<Determination unit 120>
The determination unit 120 of this embodiment has the same functions as the determination unit 120 of the first embodiment, and performs the same operations as the determination unit 120 of the first embodiment.

The determination unit 120 of this embodiment recognizes the driver by performing personal authentication of the driver based on data acquired by the sensor 150. The determination unit 120 of this embodiment recognizes the driver by performing face authentication based on a face image captured by the sensor 150, which is, for example, a camera. The determination unit 120 of this embodiment recognizes the driver by performing voice matching, such as voiceprint matching, based on voice data recorded by the sensor 150, which is, for example, a microphone. Data for recognizing the driver is input in advance to the vehicle control device 16 by a driver who may drive the vehicle. Then, for example, the determination unit 120 extracts information (for example, feature data) used for matching to recognize the driver (for example, face matching, voice matching, etc.) from the data for recognizing the driver in advance. Then, for example, the determination unit 120 holds the information used for matching to recognize the driver in advance.

The determination unit 120 recognizes the driver as part of a pre-start test before the engine starts. The determination unit 120 also determines the driver's state before the engine starts. The determination unit 120 also determines the driver's state while the vehicle is running.

The determination unit 120 may determine the driver's condition based on the results of measurements of the driver (e.g., a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, and a thermometer included in the sensor 150).

<Scent determination unit 610>
For example, before the engine is started, the scent determination unit 610 determines which scent to release into the vehicle cabin from a plurality of scents depending on the recognized driver. The scent determination unit 610 may determine not to release a scent depending on the recognized driver. The scent determination unit 610 may store the preferred scents of each driver in advance and determine the scent preferred by the recognized driver as the scent to release into the vehicle cabin.

The scent determination unit 610 may determine the scent to be released into the vehicle cabin based on the recognized driver and the determined driver's state. The scent determination unit 610 may determine not to release a scent based on the recognized driver and the determined driver's state. Scents based on the determined driver's state are, for example, scents that reduce drowsiness, scents that alleviate irritation, and scents that move from a tense state to a relaxed state. In this case, the scent determination unit 610 stores in advance scent information that is information on the scent to be released according to the driver's state for each driver. The scent may be selected in advance according to a combination of the driver and the driver's state so that the scent improves the driver's state while driving. The scent determination unit 610 uses the stored scent information to determine the scent to be released.

The scent determination unit 610 may determine the scent to be released based on the results of measurements of the driver (e.g., a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, and a thermometer included in the sensor 150), in other words, when at least one of those measurements satisfies a predetermined condition.

The scent determination unit 610 may determine the scent to be released into the vehicle cabin based on the recognized driver and the determined state of the driver before the engine is started. The scent determination unit 610 may further determine the scent to be released into the vehicle cabin while the vehicle is traveling based on the recognized driver and the determined state of the driver.

<Aroma releasing unit 620>
The scent emitting unit 620 emits the scent (specifically, the scent substance) determined by the scent determining unit 610. The scent emitting unit 620 emits the determined scent by, for example, driving a device that emits a plurality of scent substances, which is incorporated in an air conditioner or a dashboard, so as to emit the determined scent.

The scent emitting unit 620 may emit the determined scent before the engine starts. The scent emitting unit 620 may emit the determined scent while the vehicle is running.

<Operation>
19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the vehicle control device 16 according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure before starting the engine. The vehicle control device 16 of the present embodiment performs the operation illustrated in FIG. 19 before starting the engine of the vehicle.

In the example shown in FIG. 19, the vehicle control device 16 first performs a test execution process (step S101). Next, the judgment unit 120 judges the driver's state based on the test results (step S102). The operations of steps S101 and S102 in this embodiment are the same as the operations of steps S101 and S102 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

Next, the determination unit 120 recognizes the driver through facial recognition (or voice matching) using the facial image (or voice data) acquired as at least part of the test (step S603).

The scent determination unit 610 determines the scent based on the result of the recognition (i.e., the recognized driver) and the determined state of the driver (step S604). The scent determination unit 610 may further determine the scent based on the result of the test.

The scent emitting unit 620 emits the determined scent (step S605). Next, the vehicle control device 16 performs the operations from step S103 onwards. The operations from step S103 onwards of the vehicle control device 16 of this embodiment are the same as the operations from step S103 onwards of the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the vehicle control device 16 according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure while the vehicle is traveling. The vehicle control device 16 may perform the operation shown in FIG. 20, for example, periodically.

In the example shown in FIG. 20, for example, the execution unit 110 measures the driver using the sensor 150 (step S611). The sensor 150 used is, for example, a camera. The sensor 150 used may include, for example, a thermometer, a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, etc., attached to the steering wheel, etc.

Then, for example, the determination unit 120 determines the driver's state based on the measurement results (step S611). The determination unit 120 may determine the driver's state using a determiner that determines the driver's state from multiple states based on, for example, at least one of the measurement data obtained by measurement using a sensor and the feature data extracted from the measurement data. In this case, the determiner is a determiner that has been trained in advance by machine learning to determine the driver's state from multiple states based on at least one of the measurement data obtained by measurement using a sensor and the feature data extracted from the measurement data.

The fragrance determination unit 610 determines a fragrance based on the result of the driver's recognition and the driver's state (step S604). Then, the fragrance emission unit 620 emits the determined fragrance (step S605).

＜Effects＞
This embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment, for the same reasons that the effects of the first embodiment are obtained.

This embodiment has the effect of further improving driving safety. This is because the fragrance determination unit 610 determines the fragrance based on the result of the driver's recognition and the driver's state. Then, the fragrance emission unit 620 emits the determined fragrance. By selecting in advance the fragrance to be emitted according to the driver and the driver's state, for example so that the fragrance improves the driver's driving state, the possibility of the driver causing an accident can be reduced. This improves safety.

Seventh embodiment
Next, a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, except for the differences described below.

<Configuration>
21 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle control device 17 according to a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle control device 17 of this embodiment is the same as the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment, except for the differences described below, and performs the same operation as the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 21, the vehicle control device 17 includes a display unit 710, a vehicle state measurement unit 720, and a place determination unit 730 in addition to each of the components of the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3. In the following description, the display unit 710, the vehicle state measurement unit 720, and the place determination unit 730 are also referred to as a seventh unit 700.

<Sensor 150>
In this embodiment, the sensors 150 further include a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, a thermometer, etc., attached to, for example, a steering wheel or the like.

<Executing Unit 110>
The execution unit 110 of this embodiment has the same functions as the execution unit 110 of the first embodiment, and performs the same operations as the execution unit 110 of the first embodiment.

The execution unit 110 further measures the driver using sensors 150, such as a camera, microphone, heart rate monitor, blood pressure monitor, and thermometer.

<Determination unit 120>
The determination unit 120 of this embodiment has the same functions as the determination unit 120 of the first embodiment, and performs the same operations as the determination unit 120 of the first embodiment.

The determination unit 120 of this embodiment further estimates the driver's driving ability related to speed (hereinafter referred to as speed-related ability) based on the test results. Specifically, the determination unit 120 determines whether the driver is an elderly person or not based on the test results. The determination unit 120 further determines whether the driver is a novice or not based on the test results. The determination unit 120 determines whether the driver's driving tends to be overspeeding based on the test results. In this case, the determination unit 120 makes a determination using a determiner that determines whether the driver's driving tends to be overspeeding based on, for example, the driver's answer to one or more predetermined questions. Such a determiner is generated by training the driver to determine whether the driver's driving tends to be overspeeding from the answer by machine learning based on the relationship between the answer to the question and information indicating whether the driver's driving tends to be overspeeding. The determination unit 120 determines whether the driver's driving tends to be underspeeding based on the test results. In this case, the determination unit 120 makes the determination using a determiner that determines whether or not the driver's driving tends to be insufficient in speed, for example, based on the driver's answers to one or more predetermined questions. Such a determiner is generated by training the driver to determine whether or not the driver's driving tends to be insufficient in speed from the answers by machine learning, based on the relationship between the answers to the questions and information indicating whether or not the driver's driving tends to be insufficient in speed.

When the driver is determined to be elderly or a novice, the determination unit 120 determines that the driver's speed-related ability is low. When the driver is determined to have a tendency to drive at an excessive speed or a tendency to drive at an insufficient speed, the determination unit 120 determines that the driver's speed-related ability is low. When the driver does not fall into either case, the determination unit 120 determines that the driver's speed-related ability is not low.

The determination unit 120 of this embodiment further determines the mental and physical state of the driver based on the measurement data obtained by measuring the driver with the sensor 150. The determination unit 120 extracts feature data from the measurement data, and determines the mental and physical state of the driver based on the extracted measurement data. The determination unit 120 may determine whether the mental and physical state of the driver is in a predetermined state (e.g., an excited state) as the mental and physical state of the driver.

<Setting Unit 130>
When the speed-related ability of the driver is determined to be low, the setting unit 130 determines that a pattern emphasizing a sense of speed through an optical illusion is to be displayed at the position of the windshield while driving. When the mental and physical state of the driver is in a predetermined state, the setting unit 130 sets a pattern emphasizing a sense of speed through an optical illusion to be displayed at the position of the windshield while driving. When it is determined that such a pattern is to be displayed, the setting unit 130 sets such a pattern to be displayed at the position of the windshield.

The pattern emphasizing the sense of speed may be, for example, radial lines around the periphery of the windshield, radiating from a point indicating the forward direction of the vehicle. The lines emphasizing the sense of speed may be lines indicating the boundaries of the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, and one or more lines (straight lines or dashed lines) drawn parallel to the lines indicating the boundaries of the lane closer to the center of the lane.

<Display section 710>
The display unit 710 displays the above-mentioned pattern so that it can be seen by the driver. The display unit 710 may display the above-mentioned pattern as a virtual image using, for example, a projector and a mirror. The display unit 710 may display the above-mentioned pattern using, for example, a liquid crystal display device that is superimposed on the front window and is transparent when the above-mentioned pattern is not displayed. However, the display unit 710 displays a pattern such that the front is not hidden by the pattern, for example, by displaying the lines of the pattern using thin lines or displaying the pattern semi-transparently rather than opaquely. The display unit 710 is not limited to the above examples.

<Location Determination Unit 730>
The place determination unit 730 detects objects such as other vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, and obstacles ahead of the vehicle based on, for example, images captured by a camera that captures the view ahead of the vehicle.

<Vehicle condition measuring unit 720>
The vehicle state measurement unit 720 measures the speed of the vehicle, and further obtains the speed limit at the location where the vehicle is traveling. The vehicle state measurement unit 720 obtains information on the speed of the vehicle from the vehicle's speedometer. The vehicle state measurement unit 720 obtains information on the location where the vehicle is traveling (general road, expressway, location other than road) and information on the speed limit at that location, for example, from a road condition server that provides road information. At that time, the vehicle state measurement unit 720 measures the location where the vehicle is measuring, for example, by using a GPS function.

<Determination unit 120>
The determination unit 120 determines whether or not the driver's state and the vehicle state satisfy the display conditions, which are conditions for displaying the above-mentioned patterns, while the vehicle is traveling. In other words, the determination unit 120 determines whether or not the display conditions are satisfied while the vehicle is traveling.

The display condition is, for example, that the driver's speed-related ability is determined to be low, and the value obtained by subtracting the speed limit of the location where the vehicle is traveling from the vehicle speed is greater than the first speed difference threshold. The display condition is, for example, that the driver's speed-related ability is determined to be low, an object is detected in front of the vehicle, and the value obtained by subtracting the speed limit of the location where the vehicle is traveling from the vehicle speed is greater than the second speed difference threshold. The second speed difference threshold is set to be smaller than the first speed difference threshold.

In this case, for example, while the vehicle is traveling, the determination unit 120 calculates the difference between the vehicle speed and the speed limit at the location where the vehicle is traveling. Then, the determination unit 120 determines whether the above-mentioned display condition is satisfied.

<Setting Unit 130>
When the determination unit 120 determines that the determination conditions are satisfied, the setting unit 130 determines the pattern to be displayed to be the above-mentioned pattern, and sets the display unit 710 to display the above-mentioned pattern. When the determination unit 120 determines that the determination conditions are not satisfied, the setting unit 130 determines the pattern to be displayed to be "none", and sets the display unit 710 not to display any pattern.

<Control Unit 140>
When the setting unit 130 has set the display unit 710 to display the above-mentioned pattern, the control unit 140 controls the display unit 710 to display the above-mentioned pattern. When the setting unit 130 has set the display unit 710 not to display the above-mentioned pattern, the control unit 140 controls the display unit 710 not to display the above-mentioned pattern.

<Operation>
Fig. 22 is a block diagram showing an example of the operation of the vehicle control device 17 according to this embodiment before starting the engine. In the example shown in Fig. 22, the vehicle control device 17 first performs a test execution process (step S101). The test execution process in step S101 in this embodiment is the same as the test execution process in step S101 in the first embodiment shown in Fig. 4.

Next, the judgment unit 120 judges the driver's condition based on the test results (step S102). In this embodiment, in step S102, the judgment unit 120 judges whether the driver's speed-related ability is low.

Next, the setting unit 130 determines the pattern to be displayed at the windshield position based on the estimated driver's state (step S703). Specifically, if the setting unit 130 determines that the driver's speed-related stress is low, the setting unit 130 determines that the pattern to be displayed at the windshield position is a speed-emphasis pattern that emphasizes the sense of speed. If the setting unit 130 determines that the driver's speed-related ability is not low, the setting unit 130 determines that the pattern to be displayed at the windshield position is no pattern.

The setting unit 130 sets the determined pattern to be displayed at the front window position while the vehicle is traveling (step S704). Then, the vehicle control device 17 ends the operation shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the vehicle control device 17 according to the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure while the vehicle is traveling. The vehicle control device 17 may perform the operation shown in FIG. 23, for example, at predetermined time intervals while the vehicle is traveling.

In the example shown in FIG. 23, if the display unit 710 is set to display a pattern at the windshield (YES in step S711), the vehicle control device 17 then performs the operation of step S716. As described above, if it is determined that the driver's speed-related ability is low before the engine is started, the setting unit 130 sets the display unit 710 to display a pattern at the windshield. If it is not determined that the driver's speed-related ability is low before the engine is started, the setting unit 130 does not set the display unit 710 to display a pattern at the windshield.

If the display unit 710 is not set to display a pattern at the front window position (NO in step S711), the execution unit 110 uses the sensor 150 to measure the driver (step S712).

Next, the judgment unit 120 judges the state of the driver based on the measurement result (step S713). The judgment unit 120 may judge whether the driver's state is, for example, an excited state, or a dangerous driver state. The dangerous driver state is a dangerous state for driving, such as an excited state. The dangerous driver state is not limited to this example. For example, the dangerous driver state may include, for example, a frustrated state and an angry state. Note that in the modified example described below, the dangerous driver state includes a state in which the driver feels fear.

If the driver's state is not determined to be a reckless driver state (NO in step S714), the setting unit 130 sets the pattern not to be displayed at the front window position (step S719). Then, the vehicle control device 17 ends the operation shown in FIG. 23.

If the driver's state is not determined to be a dangerous driver state (NO in step S714), the setting unit 130 determines the pattern to be displayed at the windshield position based on the determined driver's state (step S715). For example, if the driver's state is one of an excited state, an irritated state, and an angry state, the setting unit 130 determines the pattern to be displayed at the windshield position to be a pattern that emphasizes the sense of speed. Note that in a modified example described below, if the specified driver state is a state in which the driver is feeling fear in step S715, the setting unit 130 may determine the pattern to be displayed at the windshield position to be a pattern that alleviates the sense of fear due to speed, as described below.

In the next step S716, the vehicle state measurement unit 720 measures the state of the vehicle (step S716). The vehicle state measurement unit 720 measures, for example, the speed of the vehicle as the state of the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle state measurement unit 720 measures the position of the vehicle using, for example, a GPS function, and acquires the speed limit of the road at the measured position of the vehicle from, for example, the above-mentioned road information server. In step S716, the location determination unit 730 determines the location where the vehicle is traveling. Specifically, the location determination unit 730 determines whether or not there is an object or the like in front of the vehicle. Note that the front of the vehicle may be the lane in which the vehicle is traveling and the area in front of the vehicle on the lane adjacent to the lane in which the vehicle is traveling. The front of the vehicle may include the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, and the area in front of the lane in which the vehicle is traveling and the lane adjacent to the lane in which the vehicle is traveling and the area in front of the vehicle on the shoulder.

Next, the determination unit 120 determines whether the measured vehicle state is a dangerous vehicle state (step S717). The dangerous vehicle state is, for example, a state in which the vehicle speed indicates a risk of an accident. The dangerous vehicle state may be determined according to whether an object or the like is present in front of the vehicle. Specifically, the dangerous vehicle state is, for example, a state in which an object or the like is not detected in front of the vehicle, and the value obtained by subtracting the speed limit at the vehicle's traveling position from the vehicle's speed is greater than the first speed difference threshold. The dangerous vehicle state is, for example, a state in which an object or the like is detected in front of the vehicle, and the value obtained by subtracting the speed limit at the vehicle's traveling position from the vehicle's speed is greater than a second speed difference threshold that is smaller than the first speed difference threshold. The first speed difference threshold may be set as appropriate. The second speed difference threshold may be set as appropriate so that the second speed difference threshold is smaller than the first speed difference threshold. In addition, in a modified example described later, the dangerous vehicle state may be, for example, a state in which an object or the like is not detected in front of the vehicle, and the vehicle's speed is smaller than the speed limit at the vehicle's traveling position.

If the vehicle is not in a dangerous vehicle state (NO in step S717), the setting unit 130 sets the pattern not to be displayed at the front window position (step S719). Then, the vehicle control device 17 ends the operation shown in FIG. 23.

If the vehicle state is a dangerous vehicle state (YES in step S717), the setting unit 130 displays a pattern based on the vehicle state at the position of the windshield (step S718). After step S718, the vehicle control device 17 ends the operation shown in FIG. 23. Specifically, in step S718, the setting unit 130 sets the pattern based on the vehicle state to be displayed at the position of the windshield. Then, the control unit 140 controls the display unit 710 to display the pattern based on the vehicle state at the position of the windshield. The pattern based on the vehicle state is a pattern that emphasizes the sense of speed when the vehicle state is a state in which no object or the like is detected in front of the vehicle and the value obtained by subtracting the speed limit at the vehicle's running position from the speed of the vehicle is greater than the first speed difference threshold. The pattern based on the vehicle state is a pattern that emphasizes the sense of speed when the vehicle state is a state in which, for example, an object or the like is detected in front of the vehicle and the value obtained by subtracting the speed limit at the vehicle's running position from the speed of the vehicle is greater than a second speed difference threshold that is smaller than the first speed difference threshold. In a modified example described below, the pattern based on the vehicle state is a pattern that reduces the sense of fear caused by speed when the vehicle state is, for example, a state in which no objects are detected in front of the vehicle and the vehicle's speed is slower than the speed limit at the vehicle's driving position.

＜Effects＞
This embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment, for the same reasons that the effects of the first embodiment are obtained.

This embodiment has the effect of further improving the safety of the driver's driving. This is because, when the driver's state is a reckless driver state and the vehicle state is a reckless vehicle state, the setting unit 130 sets the display unit 710 to display a pattern emphasizing the sense of speed at the front window. In this case, the control unit 140 further controls the display unit 710 to display a pattern emphasizing the sense of speed at the front window. When such a pattern is displayed, the driver is expected to slow down the vehicle's speed. This improves the safety of the driver's driving.

<Modification of the Seventh Embodiment>
The determination unit 120 may determine whether the driver is scared. In this case, the risky driver state described above includes a state in which the driver is scared. When it is determined that the driver is scared, the setting unit 130 determines the pattern to be displayed at the position of the front window to be a pattern that reduces the sense of fear. When it is determined that the driver's driving tends to be insufficient in speed, the driver is scared, the speed of the vehicle is lower than the speed limit in the place where the vehicle is traveling, and there is no object in front of the vehicle, the determination unit 120 may determine to display a pattern that reduces the sense of fear. The pattern that reduces the sense of fear (i.e., reduces the sense of fear due to speed) is, for example, a line drawn at the estimated position of the center line when the vehicle is traveling on a two-way road without a center line. When it is determined that such a pattern is to be displayed, the setting unit 130 sets the display unit 710 to display such a pattern. When the display unit 710 is set to display such a pattern, the control unit 140 uses the display unit 710 to display such a pattern.

<Other embodiments>
At least any combination of the second to seventh embodiments can be applied to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. In that case, the configuration of the vehicle control device is a configuration in which a unit related to the combination of the embodiments to be combined is incorporated among the units according to the second to seventh embodiments into the configuration of the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3. When any unit is incorporated into the configuration of the vehicle control device 11 of the first embodiment, if the functions of any of the components overlap, those components may be configured so that one of those components has that function. Note that the units according to the twenty-second to seventh embodiments are the second unit 200 in FIG. 6, the third unit 300 in FIG. 9, the fourth unit 400 in FIG. 11, the fifth unit 500 in FIG. 15, the sixth unit 600 in FIG. 18, and the seventh unit 700 in FIG. 12.

Each of the vehicle control devices according to the embodiments of the present disclosure can be realized by a computer including a memory into which a program read from a storage medium is loaded, and a processor that executes the program. Each of the vehicle control devices according to the embodiments of the present disclosure can also be realized by dedicated hardware. Each of the vehicle control devices according to the embodiments of the present disclosure can also be realized by a combination of the aforementioned computer and dedicated hardware.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a computer 1000 capable of realizing each of the vehicle control devices according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 24, the computer 1000 includes a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a storage device 1003, and an I/O (Input/Output) interface 1004. The computer 1000 can also access a storage medium 1005. The memory 1002 and the storage device 1003 are, for example, storage devices such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a hard disk. The storage medium 1005 is, for example, a storage device such as a RAM or a hard disk, a ROM (Read Only Memory), or a portable storage medium. The storage device 1003 may be the storage medium 1005. The processor 1001 can read and write data and programs from the memory 1002 and the storage device 1003. The processor 1001 can access devices such as a vehicle controller or a server via the I/O interface 1004. The processor 1001 can access a storage medium 1005. The storage medium 1005 stores a program that causes the computer 1000 to operate as a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The processor 1001 loads into the memory 1002 a program stored in the storage medium 1005 that causes the computer 1000 to operate as a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The processor 1001 then executes the program loaded into the memory 1002, causing the computer 1000 to operate as a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The execution unit 110, the determination unit 120, the setting unit 130, and the control unit 140 can be realized, for example, by a processor 1001 that executes a program loaded into a memory 1002. Some or all of the execution unit 110, the determination unit 120, the setting unit 130, the control unit 140, the sensor 150, the input/output unit 160, and the communication unit 170 can also be realized by dedicated circuits that realize the functions of each unit.

The driver measurement unit 210, the driving state estimation unit 220, and the notification execution unit 230 can be realized, for example, by a processor 1001 that executes a program loaded into a memory 1002. A part or all of the driver measurement unit 210, the driving state estimation unit 220, and the notification execution unit 230 can also be realized by a dedicated circuit that realizes the function of each unit.

The data transmission unit 310, the evaluation acquisition unit 320, the evaluation output unit 330, and the evaluation notification unit 340 can be realized, for example, by the processor 1001 that executes a program loaded into the memory 1002. Some or all of the data transmission unit 310, the evaluation acquisition unit 320, the evaluation output unit 330, and the evaluation notification unit 340 can also be realized by dedicated circuits that realize the functions of each unit.

The danger information receiving unit 410 and the danger information notifying unit 420 can be realized, for example, by the processor 1001 that executes a program loaded into the memory 1002. A part or the whole of the danger information receiving unit 410 and the danger information notifying unit 420 can also be realized by a dedicated circuit that realizes the function of each unit.

The purpose estimation unit 510 and the destination determination unit 520 can be realized, for example, by a processor 1001 that executes a program loaded into memory 1002. A part or all of the purpose estimation unit 510 and the destination determination unit 520 can also be realized by a dedicated circuit that realizes the function of each unit.

The fragrance determination unit 610 and the fragrance emission unit 620 can be realized, for example, by a processor 1001 that executes a program loaded into memory 1002. A part or all of the fragrance determination unit 610 and the fragrance emission unit 620 can also be realized by a dedicated circuit that realizes the function of each unit.

The vehicle state measurement unit 720 and the location determination unit 730 can be realized, for example, by a processor 1001 that executes a program loaded into a memory 1002. A part or all of the display unit 710, the vehicle state measurement unit 720, and the location determination unit 730 can also be realized by a dedicated circuit that realizes the function of each unit.

In addition, some or all of the above embodiments can be described as follows, but are not limited to the following:

(Appendix 1)
means for administering a test to a driver of the vehicle before the engine of the vehicle is started;
A determination means for determining the state of the driver based on the result of the test;
A setting means for setting an operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is running based on a state of the driver;
A vehicle control device comprising:

(Appendix 2)
The test includes questions for the driver;
The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the execution means determines the questions to be asked as part of the test based on the results of the test and on the driver's answers to the questions.

(Appendix 3)
The vehicle control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the execution means performs, as the test, an estimation of a state of the driver based on a captured face image.

(Appendix 4)
The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the execution means performs the test by confirming whether or not the released odor substance can be sensed.

(Appendix 5)
A driving state estimation means for estimating a driving state of the driver while driving,
The vehicle control device according to any one of appendix 1 to 4, wherein the setting means sets an operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling so as to increase a degree of support for the driver's driving based on the estimated driving state of the driver.

(Appendix 6)
A driver measurement means for measuring the driver while driving;
a driving state estimating means for estimating a physical state of the driver while driving based on a result of the measurement of the driver;
6. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

(Appendix 7)
The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the setting means sets the traveling state of the vehicle to a high support state when it is determined that the driver's state may be unsuitable for driving.

(Appendix 8)
The vehicle control device according to any one of appendixes 1 to 7, wherein the setting means sets a state during driving of the vehicle to a state in which the vehicle is driven to a predetermined stopping position and stopped at the predetermined stopping position when the driver's state is determined to be unsuitable for driving.

(Appendix 9)
The setting means sets the driver's condition to be notified to a predetermined contact when the driver's condition is determined to be inappropriate for driving,
The vehicle control device includes:
The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: a notification execution means for notifying the predetermined contact of a state of the driver while the vehicle is traveling.

(Appendix 10)
The vehicle control device according to claim 9, wherein the notification execution means further notifies the predetermined contact point of a position of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling.

(Appendix 11)
The determination means determines the driving ability of the driver as the state of the driver,
The vehicle control device includes:
a data transmission means for transmitting data including the result of the test and the driving ability of the driver to an evaluation device;
an evaluation receiving means for receiving an evaluation of the driver from the evaluation device;
An evaluation output means for outputting the received evaluation;
The vehicle control device according to any one of appendix 1 to 10, further comprising:

(Appendix 12)
The vehicle control device according to claim 11, wherein the evaluation includes a relative evaluation of the driving ability of the driver among a plurality of drivers whose data is held by the evaluation device.

(Appendix 13)
The vehicle control device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the evaluation includes a transition of the data of the driver.

(Appendix 14)
The vehicle control device according to any one of appendixes 11 to 13, wherein the evaluation includes a recommendation to the driver not to drive the vehicle if the evaluation does not reach a predetermined evaluation standard.

(Appendix 15)
The vehicle control device according to any one of appendices 11 to 14, further comprising: an evaluation notification means for notifying a predetermined evaluation notification destination of the evaluation.

(Appendix 16)
A danger information receiving means for receiving information on a dangerous vehicle which is a vehicle driven by a dangerous driver,
The vehicle control device according to any one of appendixes 1 to 15, wherein the setting means changes the operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling so as to reduce an impact between the reckless vehicle and the vehicle, further based on the information of the reckless vehicle.

(Appendix 17)
17. The vehicle control device according to claim 16, further comprising: a reckless vehicle information notifying means for notifying the driver based on the information about the reckless vehicle while the vehicle is traveling.

(Appendix 18)
The determination means determines whether the driver of the vehicle is a reckless driver,
The vehicle control device according to claim 16 or 17, further comprising: when the driver of the vehicle is determined to be a reckless driver, the setting means controls an operation of the vehicle while traveling so as to reduce a magnitude of a change in a motion of the vehicle.

(Appendix 19)
19. The vehicle control device according to claim 18, further comprising a danger information notifying means for notifying other vehicles of a location of the vehicle as a location of the reckless vehicle when the driver of the vehicle is determined to be a reckless driver.

(Appendix 20)
The determination means determines the driving ability of the driver as the state of the driver,
The vehicle control device described in any one of Appendices 16 to 19, wherein the setting means sets the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling to be controlled so that a magnitude of change in the movement of the vehicle does not exceed a first criterion when a positional relationship between the vehicle and the dangerous vehicle satisfies a predetermined positional relationship condition.

(Appendix 21)
The vehicle control device described in Appendix 20, wherein the setting means further sets the operation while the vehicle is traveling so that, if the determined driving ability of the driver does not satisfy a predetermined ability level, the operation is controlled so that a magnitude of change in the movement of the vehicle does not fall below a first standard.

(Appendix 22)
The test includes a purpose estimation question, which is a question for estimating the driving purpose of the driver,
The vehicle control device includes:
a purpose estimation means for estimating a purpose of the driving of the driver based on a response to the purpose estimation question,
The vehicle control device according to any one of appendixes 1 to 21, wherein the setting means sets an operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling based on the estimated purpose.

(Appendix 23)
a destination determination means for determining a destination of the driver based on the purpose estimated by the purpose estimation means,
The vehicle control device according to claim 22, wherein the setting means sets an operation of the vehicle while traveling so as to guide the vehicle to the estimated destination.

(Appendix 24)
The vehicle control device described in Appendix 23, wherein the setting means determines, based on a state of the driver, whether to move the vehicle to the destination by automatic driving or to guide the vehicle to the destination by navigation, as an operation of the vehicle while traveling.

(Appendix 25)
The purpose estimation means further estimates a candidate purpose that is a candidate of the purpose based on the answer to the question,
The execution means determines a next question based on the estimated goal candidate,
The vehicle control device according to any one of appendices 22 to 24, wherein the purpose estimating means estimates the purpose further based on an answer to the question determined based on the purpose candidate.

(Appendix 26)
A fragrance determination means for determining a fragrance based on a state of the driver;
An aroma emitting means for emitting the determined aroma into the vehicle;
26. The vehicle control device according to any one of appendix 1 to 25, further comprising:

(Appendix 27)
The test includes a recognition process for recognizing the driver;
The vehicle control device according to claim 26, wherein the fragrance determination means determines the fragrance further based on a result of the recognition of the driver.

(Appendix 28)
The setting means determines a pattern to be displayed at a position of a windshield of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling, based on the estimated state of the driver,
The vehicle control device includes:
28. The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 27, further comprising: a display unit for displaying the determined pattern.

(Appendix 29)
The vehicle control device described in Appendix 28, wherein the setting means, when the estimated state of the driver is a reckless driver state, determines the pattern to be a speed-emphasizing pattern that emphasizes a sense of speed by an optical illusion.

(Appendix 30)
The determination means further determines a driving state of the driver,
The vehicle control device according to claim 29, wherein the setting means determines the pattern to be the speed emphasis pattern when the determined driving state of the driver is the reckless driver state.

(Appendix 31)
A vehicle state measuring means for measuring a state of the vehicle is further provided,
The vehicle control device according to any one of appendices 28 to 30, wherein the display means displays the pattern when the measured state of the vehicle is a dangerous vehicle state.

(Appendix 32)
a location determination means for determining a state of a location where the vehicle is traveling;
The vehicle control device according to any one of appendices 28 to 31, wherein the display means displays the pattern when a state of the location is a predetermined environmental state.

(Appendix 33)
administering a test to an operator of the vehicle before the engine of the vehicle is started;
determining the driver's condition based on the results of the test;
setting an operation of the vehicle while it is traveling based on the state of the driver;
A vehicle control method.

(Appendix 34)
The test includes questions for the driver;
34. The vehicle control method of claim 33, further comprising determining the questions to be asked as part of the test based on the results of the test and the driver's responses to the questions.

(Appendix 35)
The vehicle control method according to claim 33 or 34, wherein the test is to estimate the state of the driver based on a captured face image.

(Appendix 36)
The vehicle control method according to any one of appendices 33 to 35, wherein the test is to confirm whether or not the released odorous substance can be sensed.

(Appendix 37)
Estimating a driving state of the driver while driving;
37. The vehicle control method according to any one of appendixes 33 to 36, further comprising setting an operation of the vehicle while traveling so as to increase a degree of support for the driver's driving based on the estimated driving state of the driver.

(Appendix 38)
Measuring the driver while driving;
A driving method for estimating a physical state of the driver while driving based on the results of the measurement of the driver;
38. A vehicle control method according to any one of appendix 33 to 37.

(Appendix 39)
39. The vehicle control method according to any one of appendixes 33 to 38, further comprising setting the driving state of the vehicle to a high support state when it is determined that the driver's state may be unsuitable for driving.

(Appendix 40)
40. The vehicle control method according to any one of appendices 33 to 39, further comprising setting a driving state of the vehicle to a predetermined stopping position and stopping the vehicle at the predetermined stopping position when the driver's state is determined to be unsuitable for driving.

(Appendix 41)
When the driver's condition is determined to be unsuitable for driving, the driver's condition is set to be notified to a predetermined contact point;
The vehicle control method according to any one of appendixes 33 to 40, further comprising notifying the predetermined contact of a state of the driver while the vehicle is traveling.

(Appendix 42)
The vehicle control method according to claim 41, further comprising: notifying the predetermined contact of the position of the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion.

(Appendix 43)
Determining the driving ability of the driver as the state of the driver;
transmitting data including the results of the test and the driving ability of the driver to an evaluation method;
receiving a rating of the driver from the rating method;
outputting the received evaluation;
43. A vehicle control method according to any one of appendix 33 to 42.

(Appendix 44)
The vehicle control method according to claim 43, wherein the evaluation includes a relative evaluation of the driving ability of the driver among a plurality of drivers for which the evaluation method holds data.

(Appendix 45)
The vehicle control method according to claim 43 or 44, wherein the evaluation includes a transition of the data of the driver.

(Appendix 46)
The vehicle control method according to any one of appendix 43 to 45, wherein the evaluation includes a recommendation to the driver not to drive the vehicle if the evaluation does not reach a predetermined evaluation standard.

(Appendix 47)
The vehicle control method according to any one of appendixes 43 to 46, further comprising notifying a predetermined evaluation notification destination of the evaluation.

(Appendix 48)
Receive information about dangerous vehicles, which are vehicles driven by dangerous drivers;
48. The vehicle control method according to any one of claims 33 to 47, further comprising changing the operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling so as to reduce an impact between the reckless vehicle and the vehicle, further based on the information of the reckless vehicle.

(Appendix 49)
The vehicle control method according to claim 48, further comprising: notifying the driver based on the information about the reckless vehicle while the vehicle is traveling.

(Appendix 50)
determining whether the driver of the vehicle is a reckless driver;
50. The vehicle control method according to claim 48 or 49, further comprising controlling an operation of the vehicle while traveling so as to reduce a magnitude of change in motion of the vehicle when the driver of the vehicle is determined to be a reckless driver.

(Appendix 51)
The vehicle control method according to claim 50, further comprising the steps of: notifying other vehicles of a location of the vehicle as a location of the reckless vehicle when the driver of the vehicle is determined to be a reckless driver.

(Appendix 52)
determining a driving ability of the driver as the state of the driver;
A vehicle control method as described in any one of Appendices 48 to 51, wherein, when the positional relationship between the vehicle and the dangerous vehicle satisfies a predetermined positional relationship condition, the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling is controlled so that the magnitude of change in the movement of the vehicle does not exceed a first criterion.

(Appendix 53)
Further, if the determined driving ability of the driver does not satisfy a predetermined ability level, the operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling is set to be controlled so that the magnitude of change in the movement of the vehicle does not fall below a first standard.

(Appendix 54)
The test includes a purpose estimation question, which is a question for estimating the driving purpose of the driver,
Estimating the purpose of the driver's driving based on the answer to the purpose estimation question;
The vehicle control method according to any one of appendixes 33 to 53, further comprising setting an operation of the vehicle while traveling based on the estimated purpose.

(Appendix 55)
determining a destination for the driver based on the estimated purpose;
55. The vehicle control method of claim 54, further comprising: configuring an operation of the vehicle while traveling to guide the vehicle to the estimated destination.

(Appendix 56)
The vehicle control method according to claim 55, further comprising determining whether to move the vehicle to the destination by automatic driving or to guide the vehicle to the destination by navigation, as the operation of the vehicle while traveling, based on the state of the driver.

(Appendix 57)
Furthermore, estimating a candidate destination, which is a candidate destination, based on an answer to the question;
determining a next question based on the estimated candidate purpose;
The vehicle control method according to any one of claims 54 to 56, further comprising estimating the purpose based on an answer to the question determined based on the candidate purpose.

(Appendix 58)
determining a scent based on the state of the driver;
Emitting the determined scent into the vehicle.
58. A vehicle control method as recited in any one of appendix 33 to 57.

(Appendix 59)
The test includes a recognition process for recognizing the driver;
The vehicle control method of claim 58, further comprising determining the scent based on a result of the driver's recognition.

(Appendix 60)
determining a pattern to be displayed at a front window of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling based on the estimated state of the driver;
The vehicle control method according to any one of appendixes 33 to 59, further comprising displaying the determined pattern.

(Appendix 61)
The vehicle control method according to claim 60, further comprising determining, when the estimated state of the driver is a reckless driver state, that the pattern is a speed-emphasizing pattern that emphasizes a sense of speed by an optical illusion.

(Appendix 62)
Further determining a driving state of the driver;
The vehicle control method according to claim 61, further comprising determining that the pattern is the speed emphasis pattern when the determined driving state of the driver is the reckless driver state.

(Appendix 63)
Measuring a state of the vehicle;
63. The vehicle control method according to any one of claims 60 to 62, further comprising displaying the pattern when the measured vehicle state is a dangerous vehicle state.

(Appendix 64)
determining the conditions of the location in which the vehicle is traveling;
64. The vehicle control method according to any one of claims 60 to 63, further comprising displaying the pattern when the state of the location is a predetermined environmental state.

(Appendix 65)
an execution process for executing a test on a driver of the vehicle before the engine of the vehicle is started;
a determination process for determining the state of the driver based on the results of the test;
A setting process for setting an operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling based on a state of the driver;
A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

(Appendix 66)
The test includes questions for the driver;
66. The program of claim 65, wherein the executive process determines the questions to be asked as part of the test based on the results of the test and based on the driver's responses to the questions.

(Appendix 67)
The program according to claim 65 or 66, wherein the execution process performs, as the test, an estimation of the driver's state based on a captured face image.

(Appendix 68)
The program described in any one of appendices 65 to 67, wherein the execution process performs, as the test, a check as to whether or not the released odor substance can be sensed.

(Appendix 69)
A driving state estimation process for estimating a driving state of the driver while driving the vehicle is further performed by the computer;
The program described in any one of appendix 65 to 68, wherein the setting process sets an operation of the vehicle while traveling to increase a degree of support for the driver's driving based on the estimated driving state of the driver.

(Appendix 70)
A driver measurement process for measuring the driver while driving;
A driving state estimation process for estimating a physical state of the driver while driving based on a result of the measurement of the driver;
70. The program according to any one of appendices 65 to 69, further causing a computer to execute the steps.

(Appendix 71)
71. The program according to any one of appendices 65 to 70, wherein the setting process sets the traveling state of the vehicle to a high support state when it is determined that the driver's state may be unsuitable for driving.

(Appendix 72)
The program described in any one of Appendices 65 to 71, wherein the setting process sets the state of the vehicle while it is traveling to a state in which the vehicle is driven to a predetermined stopping position and stopped at the predetermined stopping position when it is determined that the driver's state is unsuitable for driving.

(Appendix 73)
The setting process includes setting a notification of the driver's condition to a predetermined contact when the driver's condition is determined to be inappropriate for driving,
The program is
73. The program according to any one of appendices 65 to 72, further causing a computer to execute a notification execution process of notifying the predetermined contact of the driver's state while the vehicle is traveling.

(Appendix 74)
The program according to claim 73, wherein the notification execution process further notifies the predetermined contact of a location of the vehicle while it is traveling.

(Appendix 75)
The determination process determines the driving ability of the driver as the state of the driver,
The program is
a data transmission process for transmitting data including the results of the test and the driving ability of the driver to an evaluation device;
an evaluation receiving process for receiving an evaluation of the driver from the evaluation device;
a rating output process for outputting the received rating;
75. The program according to any one of appendices 65 to 74, further causing a computer to execute the program.

(Appendix 76)
The program described in Appendix 75, wherein the evaluation includes a relative evaluation of the driving ability of the driver among a plurality of drivers for which the evaluation device holds data.

(Appendix 77)
The program of claim 75 or 76, wherein the evaluation includes a transition of the data of the driver.

(Appendix 78)
80. The program of claim 75, wherein the evaluation includes a recommendation to the driver not to drive if the evaluation does not reach a predetermined evaluation standard.

(Appendix 79)
80. The program according to any one of appendices 75 to 78, further comprising: a rating notification process for notifying a predetermined rating notification destination of the rating.

(Appendix 80)
A process for receiving information on a reckless vehicle that is a vehicle driven by a reckless driver is further executed by the computer;
The program according to any one of appendix 65 to 79, wherein the setting process changes the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling so as to reduce an impact between the reckless vehicle and the vehicle, further based on information about the reckless vehicle.

(Appendix 81)
81. The program according to claim 80, further comprising: a reckless vehicle information notification process for notifying the driver based on the information about the reckless vehicle while the vehicle is traveling.

(Appendix 82)
The determination process determines whether the driver of the vehicle is a reckless driver,
The program according to claim 80 or 81, further comprising causing a computer to execute the setting process to control an operation of the vehicle while traveling so as to reduce a magnitude of change in the motion of the vehicle when the driver of the vehicle is determined to be a reckless driver.

(Appendix 83)
A program described in Appendix 82, comprising a danger information notification process for notifying other vehicles of the location of the vehicle as the location of the reckless vehicle when the driver of the vehicle is determined to be a reckless driver.

(Appendix 84)
The determination process determines a driving ability of the driver as the state of the driver,
The program described in any one of Appendices 80 to 83, wherein the setting process sets the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling to be controlled so that the magnitude of change in the movement of the vehicle does not exceed a first standard when the positional relationship between the vehicle and the dangerous vehicle satisfies a predetermined positional relationship condition.

(Appendix 85)
The setting process further sets the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling so that, if the determined driving ability of the driver does not satisfy a predetermined ability level, the operation of the vehicle while it is traveling is controlled so that the magnitude of change in the movement of the vehicle does not fall below a first standard. The program described in Appendix 84.

(Appendix 86)
The test includes a purpose estimation question, which is a question for estimating the driving purpose of the driver,
The program is
further causing the computer to execute a purpose estimation process of estimating a purpose of the driver's driving based on an answer to the purpose estimation question;
The program according to any one of appendixes 65 to 85, wherein the setting process sets an operation of the vehicle while traveling based on the estimated purpose.

(Appendix 87)
a destination determination process for determining a destination of the driver based on the purpose estimated by the purpose estimation process,
The program according to claim 86, wherein the setting process sets an operation of the vehicle while traveling to guide the vehicle to the estimated destination.

(Appendix 88)
The program described in Appendix 87, wherein the setting process determines, based on the state of the driver, whether to move the vehicle to the destination by automatic driving or to guide the vehicle to the destination by navigation as the operation of the vehicle while traveling.

(Appendix 89)
The purpose estimating process further includes estimating a candidate purpose, which is a candidate of the purpose, based on an answer to the question;
The execution process determines a next question based on the estimated candidate purpose;
The program according to any one of appendices 86 to 88, wherein the purpose estimation process estimates the purpose further based on an answer to the question determined based on the purpose candidate.

(Appendix 90)
A fragrance determination process for determining a fragrance based on a state of the driver;
A scent emitting process for emitting the determined scent into the vehicle;
90. The program according to any one of appendices 65 to 89, further causing a computer to execute the above steps.

(Appendix 91)
The test includes a recognition process for recognizing the driver;
The program described in Appendix 90, wherein the fragrance determination process determines the fragrance further based on a result of the driver's recognition.

(Appendix 92)
The setting process determines a pattern to be displayed at a front window of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling, based on the estimated state of the driver;
The program is
92. The program according to any one of appendices 65 to 91, further causing a computer to execute a display process for displaying the determined pattern.

(Appendix 93)
The program described in Appendix 92, wherein the setting process determines, when the estimated state of the driver is a reckless driver state, the pattern to be a speed-emphasizing pattern that emphasizes a sense of speed by an optical illusion.

(Appendix 94)
The determination process further determines a driving state of the driver,
The program according to claim 93, wherein the setting process determines the pattern to be the speed emphasis pattern when the determined driving state of the driver is the reckless driver state.

(Appendix 95)
A vehicle state measurement process for measuring a state of the vehicle is further performed by the computer;
The program according to any one of appendices 92 to 94, wherein the display process displays the pattern when the measured state of the vehicle is a dangerous vehicle state.

(Appendix 96)
a location determination process for determining a state of a location where the vehicle is traveling;
The program according to any one of appendices 92 to 95, wherein the display process displays the pattern when the state of the location is a predetermined environmental state.

(Appendix 97)
A measuring means for measuring the driver while driving;
a driving state estimating means for estimating a physical state of the driver while driving based on a result of the measurement of the driver;
Further comprising:
The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the setting means sets the traveling state of the vehicle to a high support state when it is determined that the driver's state may be unsuitable for driving.

(Appendix 98)
The test includes a purpose estimation question, which is a question for estimating the driving purpose of the driver,
The vehicle control device includes:
a purpose estimation means for estimating a purpose of the driver's driving based on an answer to the purpose estimation question;
a destination candidate determining means for determining a destination of the driver based on the purpose estimated by the purpose estimating means;
Further equipped with
The vehicle control device according to any one of appendixes 1 to 21, wherein the setting means sets an operation of the vehicle while traveling so as to guide the vehicle to the estimated destination.

(Appendix 99)
A fragrance determination means for determining a fragrance based on a state of the driver;
An aroma emitting means for emitting the determined aroma into the vehicle;
Further equipped with
The test includes a recognition process for recognizing the driver;
The driving control device according to any one of appendixes 1 to 25, wherein the fragrance determination means determines the fragrance further based on a result of the driver's recognition.

(Appendix 100)
The setting means determines a pattern to be displayed at a position of a windshield of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling, based on the estimated state of the driver,
The operation control device includes:
A display means for displaying the determined pattern is further provided,
The driving control device described in any one of appendix 1 to 27, wherein the setting means determines the pattern to be a speed-emphasizing pattern that emphasizes a sense of speed by an optical illusion when the estimated state of the driver is a reckless driver state.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

LIST OF SYMBOLS 10 VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE 11 VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE 12 VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE 13 VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE 14 VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE 15 VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE 16 VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE 17 VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE 20 COMMUNICATION NETWORK 30 EVALUATION DEVICE 40 Danger information server 110 Execution unit 120 Determination unit 130 Setting unit 140 Control unit 150 Sensor 160 Input/output unit 170 Communication unit 200 Second unit 210 Driver measurement unit 220 Driving state estimation unit 230 Notification execution unit 300 Third unit 305 Step 310 Data transmission unit 320 Evaluation acquisition unit 330 Evaluation output unit 340 Evaluation notification unit 400 Fourth unit 410 Danger information receiving unit 420 Danger information notification unit 500 Fifth unit 510 Purpose estimation unit 520 Destination determination unit 600 Sixth unit 610 Determination unit 620 Emission unit 700 Seventh unit 710 Display unit 720 Vehicle state measurement unit 730 Location determination unit 1000 Computer 1001 Processor 1002 Memory 1003 Storage device 1004 I/O interface 1005 Storage medium

Claims (10)

an execution means for executing a test including questioning a driver of the vehicle before the engine of the vehicle is started , generating an odor, and detecting a specific action indicative of the driver having sensed the generated odor;
a determination means for determining the state of the driver based on the results of the test, including the time from when the question was asked until the driver responded and whether or not the driver sensed the odor; and
A setting means for setting an operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is running based on a state of the driver;
A vehicle control device comprising: The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein the execution means determines the questions to be asked as part of the test based on a result of the test including the driver's answers to the questions. A measuring means for measuring the driver while driving;
a driving state estimating means for estimating a physical state of the driver while driving based on a result of the measurement of the driver;
Further comprising:
The vehicle control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the setting means sets the traveling state of the vehicle to a high support state when it is determined that the driver's state may be unsuitable for driving. The determination means determines the driving ability of the driver as the state of the driver,
The vehicle control device includes:
a data transmission means for transmitting data including the result of the test and the driving ability of the driver to an evaluation device;
a receiving means for receiving an evaluation of the driver from the evaluation device;
An evaluation output means for outputting the received evaluation;
The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , further comprising: A reckless vehicle information receiving means for receiving information on a reckless vehicle which is a vehicle driven by a reckless driver,
The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein the setting means changes the operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling so as to reduce an impact between the reckless vehicle and the vehicle, further based on information about the reckless vehicle. The test includes a purpose estimation question, which is a question for estimating the driving purpose of the driver,
The vehicle control device includes:
a purpose estimation means for estimating a purpose of the driver's driving based on an answer to the purpose estimation question;
a destination candidate determining means for determining a destination of the driver based on the purpose estimated by the purpose estimating means;
Further equipped with
The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein the setting means sets an operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling so as to guide the vehicle to the estimated destination. A fragrance determination means for determining a fragrance based on a state of the driver;
An aroma emitting means for emitting the determined aroma into the vehicle;
Further equipped with
The test includes a recognition process for recognizing the driver;
The vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein the fragrance determination means determines the fragrance further based on a result of the driver's recognition. The setting means determines a pattern to be displayed at a position of a windshield of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling, based on the estimated state of the driver,
The vehicle control device includes:
A display means for displaying the determined pattern is further provided,
The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the setting means determines the pattern to be a speed-emphasizing pattern that emphasizes a sense of speed by an optical illusion when the estimated state of the driver is a predetermined mental and physical state. conducting a test including, before an engine of the vehicle is started, questioning an operator of the vehicle , generating an odor, and detecting a particular action indicative of the operator sensing the generated odor;
determining the state of the driver based on the results of the test, including the time between when the question is asked and when the driver responds and whether the driver sensed the odor;
setting an operation of the vehicle while it is traveling based on the state of the driver;
A vehicle control method. an execution process for executing a test including questioning a driver of the vehicle before the engine of the vehicle is started , generating an odor, and detecting a specific action indicative of the driver having sensed the generated odor;
a determination process for determining the state of the driver based on the results of the test, including the time from when the question was asked until the driver responded and whether or not the driver sensed the odor; and
A setting process for setting an operation of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling based on a state of the driver;
A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

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