DE102008029112A1 - Speed control for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the invention, the speed of a vehicle is controlled based on external information. For this purpose, a cruise control is provided which receives from a vehicle-internal communication unit control information that has been transmitted to the communication unit by means of vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-infrastructure communication. An in-vehicle environment sensor is not required.

Description

Field of the invention

The The invention relates to the assistance technology for vehicles. In particular, it concerns the invention a speed control device for controlling a speed of a vehicle, a speed control system, the use of a speed control device in one Vehicle, a procedure, a computer program product, as well as a computer readable medium.

Technological background

With Help of a vehicle driver can increase the speed of the vehicle be determined. This speed is then from the cruise control held without the driver having to operate the gas pedal. The cruise control Hold this the speed until the driver engages.

Farther are Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) known which have a radar in addition to a cruise control. It is for example a distance to the next Vehicle specifiable. If this distance is exceeded, the Vehicle speed automatically reduced.

In order to the ACC can control the speed is an environment sensor (radar) required.

Summary of the invention

It It is an object of the invention to provide improved speed control for a Indicate vehicle.

It are a speed control device for controlling a Speed of a vehicle, a speed control system for Controlling a speed of a vehicle, using a Speed control device in a vehicle, a method for controlling a speed of a vehicle, a computer program product and a computer readable medium according to the features of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The relate to described embodiments equally the speed control device, the speed control system, the use, the procedure, the computer program product as well the computer readable medium.

According to one embodiment The invention relates to a speed control device for Controlling and / or regulating a speed of a vehicle indicated, which a communication unit in the vehicle for the reception of external information and a speed control unit for controlling a speed of the vehicle based on the received has external information.

With other words is for the control or regulation of the speed no environment sensors required inside the vehicle.

According to one another embodiment of the Invention is the speed control unit as cruise control executed.

For example is a conventional one Cruise control without environment sensor by vehicle-to-vehicle (FzF) or vehicle-to-infrastructure (FzI) communication. The Extensions are designed so that the basic Cruise control function not impaired is, d. H. that the cruise control works as usual, in case the FzF or the FzI communication is not possible.

at the vehicle is, for example, a motor vehicle, such as car, bus or truck, or even a rail vehicle, a ship, an aircraft, such as a helicopter or airplane, or for example, a bicycle.

According to one another embodiment of the The invention is the speed control device for controlling the vehicle speed based on external information executed transmitted by an infrastructure become.

According to one another embodiment of the Invention is the speed control device for control the vehicle speed based on external information executed which are transmitted by a neighboring vehicle.

So is it possible that a vehicle in front z. B. detects that a traffic light straight switched to red. This information may be from the preceding one Vehicle transmitted to the other vehicle then its speed control unit speed adjusted accordingly, so that the gas consumption can be optimized can. Alternatively, the information regarding the traffic light circuit directly from the traffic light (infrastructure) are transmitted to the vehicle, which then his speed optimally adjusted.

On this way it is possible that optimizes the flow of traffic and the gas mileage of each one Vehicle is lowered.

The external information can also transmitted from a central server to the individual vehicles become. This may be, for example, recommended straightening speeds to act from a traffic control system.

According to one another embodiment of the Invention is the communication unit for receiving external Information based on Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC).

Also The communication unit can receive information about others be executed short-range communication systems.

Also Is it possible, that wireless transmission or the wireless reception of information via GSM, UMTS, WLAN (eg 802.11p) or via WiMax. It is also the use other transmission protocols possible. The mentioned protocols offer the advantage of already done Standardization.

According to one another embodiment of the Invention is the speed control unit for use the external information for at least one of the following functions selected: adjustment of a set Speed at a traffic sign; Decrease the speed due to a red traffic light; Setting the speed so, that the vehicle is at an optimal speed with respect to moved several traffic lights; Prevent a minimum distance falls below a preceding vehicle; and customization the set speed to a recommended value.

On this way it is possible the traffic flow and the gas mileage of the individual vehicles to optimize. Furthermore you can the functions mentioned increase road safety.

According to one another embodiment of the Invention retains the speed control device their cruise control function if no external information is received.

In In other words, the cruise control function remains, if no Input from the outside he follows. If external information is received, the Cruise control be controlled or regulated accordingly.

According to one another embodiment of the Invention further provides the speed control device an environment sensor for detecting measured values, wherein the speed control unit for controlling a speed of the vehicle also based on the measured values is.

The Speed control device so on the one hand receives information from an external unit, over which the speed is adjustable. Furthermore, that takes Vehicle still own measurements before, in order to adjust the speed to optimize. These metrics are for example to distance measurements to a vehicle ahead by means of a Radar. However, this may also be the measured values of an ESP sensor (ESP: Electronic Stability Program), an ASR sensor (ASR: traction control) or the ABS system. For example, if black ice is detected, the speed be reduced accordingly. The same applies to the detection from other hazards, such as an oil spill on the road. These Hazard warning can be transmitted, for example, from a vehicle in front become.

In addition, can the speed control device with a digital map, for example in connection with a vehicle navigation system or a driver assistance system. On the digital Card can Warnings be stored, which in combination with the external Information about an optimal speed setting.

Under the term "digital Cards are also cards for advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS, Advanced Driver Assistance System) to understand without a navigation takes place.

Farther It should be noted that in the context of the present invention GPS representative of all Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as GPS, Galileo, GLONASS (Russia), Compass (China), IRNSS (India), ...

According to one another embodiment of the The invention is a speed control system for controlling a Speed of a vehicle specified which one described above Speed control device included in the vehicle is arranged. Furthermore, the system still has an external communication unit to submit the external information to the speed control device.

The external communication unit can be designed, for example, centrally and stationarily in the form of a control center. But it can also be a communication unit, which, for example, at a traffic light or on a Shield is mounted and transmitted by means of a short-range communication link local information to neighboring vehicles. It may also be a communication unit which is mounted in an adjacent vehicle.

Especially the communication unit may be part of a speed control device according to the invention be a neighboring vehicle.

The Speed control device according to the invention So on the one hand to control the vehicle speed and on the other hand, to transmit of tax information to neighboring vehicles or even one Control center executed be. The control center can then send this information to others Pass on vehicles.

According to one Further Ausfürungsbeispiel the The invention is the use of a speed control device described above indicated in a vehicle.

According to one another embodiment of the The invention is a method for controlling a speed of a Vehicle specified in which external information in the vehicle be received and the speed of the vehicle based the received external information is set or controlled becomes.

The in-vehicle Sensor (environment sensor) is not required.

According to one another embodiment of the Invention, the speed is controlled such that an adaptation the set speed to a traffic sign. Also, or alternatively, the speed may be due to a red Traffic lights are reduced or it is adjusting the speed such that the vehicle is at an optimal speed moved in relation to several traffic lights. Furthermore, by the transmitted External information prevents a minimum distance to falls below a preceding vehicle. this happens for example about the transmission from position information of the preceding vehicle to the behind moving vehicle whose speed is to be adjusted. Furthermore, an adjustment can be made by the speed control the set speed to a recommended standard value respectively. This happens, for example, with the help of a traffic control center.

According to one another embodiment of the Invention is a computer program product which, if it running on a processor will guide the processor, the process steps described above perform.

According to one another embodiment of the Invention is given a computer readable medium on which a Computer program product that is stored on a computer Processor executed will guide the processor, the process steps described above perform.

in the The following will be preferred embodiments with reference to the figures of the invention.

1 shows a schematic representation of a speed control device according to an embodiment of the invention.

2 shows a schematic representation of a speed control system according to an embodiment of the invention.

3 shows a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

The Representation in the figures is schematic and not to scale.

In The following figure description will be for the same or similar Elements use the same reference numbers.

1 shows a schematic representation of components of a speed control device 100 , The speed control device 100 For example, it is installed in a vehicle and serves to control, regulate and adjust the vehicle speed based on externally transmitted information and possibly additional internally acquired measurements.

The speed control device 100 has a detection unit 119 (optional), a speed control unit 102 and a communication unit 115 with an antenna 116 on.

The data to be sent (this is information for other vehicles or for a control center) supplied by the control unit 102 , which is implemented, for example, in the form of a CPU, to the communication unit 115 can be transmitted via an encryption device 114 be encrypted. Similarly, the received data sent by the communication unit 115 to the control unit 102 transmitted by the encryption unit 114 be decrypted.

On this way, the risk of abuse can be reduced.

With the control unit 102 is an input unit 112 connected. Through the input unit 112 For example, various settings of the speed control device and (if provided) a related navigation unit may be made. However, a navigation unit is not required for the invention.

Furthermore, an optical output unit is in the form of a monitor 110 provided on the example, guidance information can be output. In addition, the route guidance information can also be transmitted via an acoustic output unit 111 be issued. The output of route guidance information and possibly also warnings about the acoustic output unit 111 has the advantage that the driver is less distracted from the current traffic.

In a memory element 113 that with the control unit 102 is connected or in the control unit 102 is integrated, the digital map data are stored in the form of data records. For example, in the memory element 113 also stored additional information about traffic restrictions and the like and associated with the records.

Furthermore, a driver assistance system 117 provided, which is supplied with the digital map data.

To determine the current vehicle position, the speed control device 100 a positioning unit with a satellite navigation receiver 106 on, which is designed to receive position signals from, for example, Galileo satellites or GPS satellites. Of course, the positioning unit with the satellite navigation receiver 106 also be implemented for other satellite navigation systems.

Since the positioning unit is not always receivable, for example, in the inner city area, the speed control device also has a direction sensor for performing dead reckoning 107 , a distance sensor 108 , a steering wheel angle sensor 109 , a spring travel sensor 118 as well as an ESP sensor 104 and optionally an optical detector 105 or a beam sensor 120 (for example radar).

The signals of the GPS receiver and the other sensors are in the control unit 102 edited and analyzed. This data can then be used in combination with the externally received information for optimal speed control. The vehicle position determined from these signals is compared to the road maps via map matching. The route guidance information obtained in this way is transmitted via the monitor 110 finally spent.

2 shows a schematic representation of a speed control system, which is a first vehicle 201 , a second vehicle 208 , an infrastructure 205 and a central office 200 having.

The center includes a communication unit 202 with an antenna 203 , The communication unit 202 is to a central server 204 connected.

There is also a speaker 212 provided over the received voice information can be played. To play video files is a monitor 213 intended.

It should be noted that the data and information transmitted by the vehicles from the in-vehicle control units 102 be converted before the transmission and then, for example, as a voice information in the form of a voice file or as video information in the form of a video file can be transmitted.

at the control center is a traffic center of a traffic control system, which can perform the traffic control fully automatically.

At the infrastructure 205 For example, it is a traffic light to which a communication unit 206 with an antenna 207 connected to transmit the information to each vehicle.

The transmission of information between the infrastructure 205 or the central office 200 via the communication links 209 . 210 , The information transfer between the vehicle 201 . 208 takes place via the communication connection 211 which is, for example, a short-range communication path.

Each of the vehicles 201 . 208 has a speed control device according to the invention 100 on.

• – Per FzI kann die eingestellte Geschwindigkeit (Setspeed) an die Verkehrszeichen angepasst werden. Somit können Geschwindigkeitsbeschränkungen direkt berücksichtigt werden.
• – An roten Ampeln kann mittels FzI das Fahrzeug heruntergebremst werden, um dem Fahrer einen Hinweis auf das notwendige Anhalten zu geben.
• – An Ampeln kann mittels FzI die Geschwindigkeit des Fahrzeugs so eingestellt werden, dass sich das Fahrzeug hinsichtlich der Ampelschaltung mit einer grünen Welle mitbewegt.
• – Wird der Abstand zum Vorausfahrzeug zu klein, kann dies mittels FzF erkannt werden und die Geschwindigkeit reduziert werden. Dadurch ist eine Funktion ähnlich einem ACC möglich, jedoch nicht im selben Umfang.
• – Per FzI kann die Geschwindigkeit an einen empfohlenen Wert angepasst werden. Diese Geschwindigkeit wird von einer Verkehrszentrale vorgegeben mit dem Ziel, selbst bei hoher Verkehrsdichte fließenden Verkehr sicherzustellen und damit Staus zu vermeiden.

The following functions can be added to a cruise control system by means of vehicle-to-vehicle communication or vehicle-to-infrastructure communication or to improve cruise control:

• - By FzI the set speed (setspeed) can be adapted to the traffic signs. Thus, speed Be restrictions are taken into account directly.
• - At red traffic lights, the vehicle can be braked down by FzI to give the driver an indication of the necessary stop.
• - At traffic lights, the speed of the vehicle can be set by FzI so that the vehicle moves with respect to the traffic light circuit with a green wave.
• - If the distance to the vehicle ahead is too small, this can be detected by FzF and the speed can be reduced. This allows a function similar to an ACC, but not to the same extent.
• - By FzI, the speed can be adjusted to a recommended value. This speed is set by a traffic control center with the aim of ensuring traffic even in high traffic density and thus avoid congestion.

Partially These extensions are also available with ACC or Full Speed Range ACC useful and helpful. The extensions of the invention, however, set no ACC ahead.

3 shows a flowchart of a method in which in step 301 external information is received in the vehicle. In step 302 the vehicle speed is controlled on the basis of this received external information and in step 303 the driver is visually, acoustically or haptically informed that and for what reason the speed of the vehicle has been changed. The speed changes may be a speed reduction or an increase in speed.

In addition to that noted that "comprising" and "having" no other elements or excludes steps and "one" or "one" does not exclude a multitude. Further It should be noted that features or steps with reference to one of the above embodiments have been described, also in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above can. Reference signs in the claims are not limitations to watch.

Claims (14)

A speed control device for controlling a speed of a vehicle, the speed control device comprising: a communication unit ( 115 . 116 ) in the vehicle for receiving external information; and a speed control unit ( 102 ) for controlling a speed of the vehicle based on the received external information. A speed control device according to claim 1, wherein the speed control unit ( 102 ) is designed as cruise control. Speed control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the external information is transmitted from an infrastructure become. Speed control device after a of the preceding claims, wherein the external information is transmitted from an adjacent vehicle become. Speed control device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication unit ( 115 . 116 ) is designed to receive external information based on Dedicated Short Range Communication. Speed control device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the speed control unit ( 102 ) is adapted to use the external information for at least one function selected from the group consisting of: adapting a set speed to a traffic sign; Reducing the speed due to a red traffic light; Adjusting the speed such that the vehicle moves at an optimum speed with respect to a plurality of traffic lights; Preventing a minimum distance to a preceding vehicle is fallen below; and adjusting the set speed to a recommended value. Speed control device after a of the preceding claims, wherein the speed control means a cruise control function maintains, if no external information is received. A speed control device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: an environment sensor such as a camera 105 and / or a beam sensor 120 for acquiring measured values; wherein the speed control unit ( 102 ) for controlling a speed of the vehicle is also performed on the basis of the detected measured values. A speed control system for controlling a speed of a vehicle, the speed control system comprising: a speed control device ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, which is arranged in the vehicle; an external communication unit ( 100 . 202 . 206 ) for transmitting the external information to the speed control device ( 100 ). Use of a speed control device according to one of the claims 1 to 8 in a vehicle. Method for controlling a speed of a Vehicle, the method comprising the steps: Reception of external information; and Controlling a speed of Vehicle based on the received external information. The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling the speed has at least one of the steps: Adaptation a set speed to a traffic sign; Reduce the speed due to a red traffic light; To adjust the speed so that the vehicle with an optimal Speed in relation to several traffic lights moved; Prevent, that a minimum distance to a vehicle in front falls below becomes; and Adaptation of the set speed to one recommended value. Computer program product that, if it is on one Processor executed will guide the processor to perform the following steps: reception from external information; and Controlling a speed of the vehicle based on the received external information. Computer-readable medium on which a computer program product which, when executed on a processor, is stored instruct the processor to perform the following steps: reception from external information; and Controlling a speed of the vehicle based on the received external information.