Controller and vehicle control method for setting pick-up and drop-off zones of ride-sharing vehicle

A controller for a ride-sharing vehicle, the controller comprising:

• a memory that stores drop-off data regarding a first user who gets off the ride-sharing vehicle and pick-up data regarding a second user who gets on the ride-sharing vehicle, the drop-off data including data of a first scheduled position where drop-off is performed, and the pick-up data including data of a second scheduled position where pick-up is performed;
• and
• a processor configured to execute vehicle control including at least one of the drop-off of the first user and the pick-up of the second user based on at least one of the drop-off data and the pick-up data, wherein
• the vehicle control includes
• executing at least one of first zone setting processing and second zone setting processing based on at least one of the first scheduled position and the second scheduled position, the first zone setting processing being processing of setting a first zone where the drop-off is executed, on a road in front of the ride-sharing vehicle, and the second zone setting processing being processing of setting a second zone where the pick-up is executed, on the road in front of the ride-sharing vehicle,
• determining whether or not the first zone and the second zone overlap when both the first zone setting processing and the second zone setting processing are executed,
• setting, when determination is made that the first zone and the second zone do not overlap, a first target stop position of the ride-sharing vehicle within the first zone and setting a second target stop position of the ride-sharing vehicle within the second zone,
• setting, when determination is made that the first zone and the second zone overlap, the second target stop position within the second zone, executing first zone resetting processing of resetting the first zone in a space not overlapping the second zone, and setting the first target stop position within the reset first zone, and
• generating a target track based on the first target stop position or the second target stop position of the ride-sharing vehicle, and performing control of a traveling device of the ride-sharing vehicle to automatically move the ride-sharing vehicle along the target track, wherein
• the processor is configured to execute the second zone setting processing when a second distance between a current position of the ride-sharing vehicle and the second scheduled position is shorter than a second threshold value;
• and
• the second zone setting processing includes
• setting, when there is a plurality of the second scheduled positions each having the second distance shorter than the second threshold value, a candidate of the second zone for each of the second scheduled positions,
• determining whether or not the candidates of the second zone include a nearest second zone candidate having the second distance that is shortest and a second alternative candidate that is another candidate overlapping the nearest second zone candidate,
• setting the nearest second zone candidate as the second zone when determination is made that the candidates of the second zone include the nearest second zone candidate alone, and
• combining, when determination is made that the candidates of the second zone include the nearest second zone candidate and the second alternative candidate, the nearest second zone candidate and the second alternative candidate to set the second zone.