Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and vehicle

An information processing method comprising the following steps of processing executed by a computer:

• the first determination step of, when a first vehicle body unit on which a first vending machine is mounted is laid at a specific place, determining a first time for maintenance defined as a time to perform maintenance of the first vending machine;
• and
• the sending step of sending a replacement command to a chassis unit that is configured in such a way as to be capable of travelling autonomously and being coupled to and separated from a vehicle body unit, as per the first time for maintenance, the replacement command being a command to transport a second vehicle body unit on which a second vending machine is mounted to the specific place and retrieve the first vehicle body unit from the specific place,
• wherein the replacement command includes:
• a command to couple the chassis unit with the second vehicle body unit;
• a command to cause the chassis unit to travel to the specific place:
• a command to separate the chassis unit from the second vehicle body unit at the specific place;
• a command to couple the chassis unit with the first vehicle body unit at the specific place;
• and
• a command to cause the chassis unit to travel to a place where maintenance of the first vending machine is to be performed,
• wherein in the first determination step, the first time for maintenance is determined as a time when the remaining capacity of a battery that supplies electrical power on which the first vending machine operates becomes smaller than a predetermined lower limit.

A vehicle comprising a controller configured to execute the processing of:

• when a first vehicle body unit on which a first vending machine is mounted is laid at a specific place, determining a first time for maintenance defined as a time to perform maintenance of the first vending machine;
• and
• causing the vehicle to transport a second vehicle body unit on which a second vending machine is mounted to the specific place and retrieve the first vehicle body unit from the specific place as per the first maintenance time,
• wherein the replacement command includes:
• a command to couple the chassis unit with the second vehicle body unit;
• a command to cause the chassis unit to travel to the specific place:
• a command to separate the chassis unit from the second vehicle body unit at the specific place;
• a command to couple the chassis unit with the first vehicle body unit at the specific place;
• and
• a command to cause the chassis unit to travel to a place where maintenance of the first vending machine is to be performed,
• wherein the controller determines the first time for maintenance as a time when the remaining capacity of a battery that supplies electrical power on which the first vending machine operates becomes smaller than a predetermined lower limit.