DE102017011030A1 - Method of traffic control - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for traffic control of at least two vehicles (2, 3) moving in autonomous driving mode, which communicate with each other at least indirectly via a wireless communication link, each of the vehicles (2, 3) participating in one and the same rating system. According to the invention, each vehicle (2, 3) is assigned a point account of the rating system with a number of points, whereby in the event of an unclear traffic situation between the at least two vehicles (2, 3) the vehicle (2, 3) gives priority which has a higher score and the score of the vehicle (2, 3) granted priority is automatically reduced by one point and the score of the priority vehicle (3, 2) is automatically increased by one point, whereby at the same score of the point accounts of the at least two vehicles (2, 3) in the unclear traffic situation a random decision is automatically made.

Description

The invention relates to a method for traffic control of at least two vehicles moving in autonomous driving mode, which communicate with each other at least indirectly via a wireless communication link, each of the vehicles participating in one and the same rating system.

From the DE 10 2011 119 208 A1 For example, a traffic flow control method is known. The method provides that motor vehicles, in particular autonomously operated motor vehicles and / or road vehicles running on public roads communicate with each other via a wireless communication link. Each motor vehicle is assigned a priority value, whereby the priority values transmitted via the communication connection are compared and a motor vehicle with a lower priority value is operated to carry out at least one action favoring the motor vehicle with the higher priority value.

The invention has for its object to provide a comparison with the prior art improved method of traffic control.

The object is achieved by the features specified in claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

A method for traffic control of at least two vehicles moved in autonomous driving provides that the at least two vehicles communicate with each other at least indirectly via a wireless communication link, each of the vehicles participating in the same rating system. According to the invention, each vehicle is assigned a point account of the rating system with a number of points, whereby in the event of an unclear traffic situation between the at least two vehicles the vehicle is given priority, which has a higher score and the score of the vehicle, which is granted priority, automatically A point is reduced and the score of the priority vehicle is automatically increased by one point. At the same score of the points account of at least two vehicles is automatically made in the unclear traffic situation, a random decision.

The use of the method is used for relatively fair decision-making in an unclear traffic situation, in particular between two autonomously operated vehicles.

In addition, the method can be used for the general traffic control of autonomously operated vehicles.

Under an unclear traffic situation, for example, a not clearly regulated right-of-way situation, in particular at a bottleneck, at which both vehicles leave their lane at least partially, in order to arrive at a solution in relation to the right of way to understand. As a result, a further traffic flow can essentially be maintained.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.

• 1 schematisch einen zweispurigen Fahrbahnabschnitt mit einer Engstelle und zwei sich entgegenkommende, durch die Engstelle gegenüberstehende Fahrzeuge.

It shows:

• 1 schematically a two-lane road section with a bottleneck and two oncoming, opposed by the bottleneck vehicles.

The single figure is an example of an unclear traffic situation e in the form of a roadway section F with two opposing lanes F1 . F2 shown, due to on both lanes F1 . F2 parked vehicles 1 a bottleneck e is formed. The unclear traffic situation e is therefore also referred to below as a bottleneck e designated.

On a lane F1 holding a vehicle 2 as it is on the oncoming second lane F2 another vehicle 3 meets, with the two vehicles 2 . 3 are undecided about which of the vehicle 2 . 3 the bottleneck e can happen first.

Around the bottleneck e Both vehicles need to pass 2 . 3 their lane F1 . F2 partially leave and share the other lane F3, F2, where only one vehicle at a time 2 . 3 the bottleneck e can happen.

In particular, there is no statutory provision for regulating the right of way in such a case so far, so it is the already mentioned unclear traffic situation e which of the two vehicles 2 . 3 is to regulate.

The two vehicles 2 . 3 each have a driver assistance system, by means of which it is possible that the corresponding vehicle 2 . 3 can be moved in autonomous or semi-autonomous driving. For this purpose, a driver of the respective vehicle passes 2 . 3 his driving task completely or at least partially to the vehicle 2 . 3 so that the driver, for example, other activities in the vehicle 2 . 3 can dedicate. So it is for example possible that the driver during of autonomous driving or reading a movie in the vehicle 2 . 3 looks.

Each of the two vehicles 2 . 3 has a communication unit 4 that enables vehicle-to-vehicle communication and / or vehicle-to-infrastructure communication so that the two vehicles 2 . 3 at least indirectly communicate with each other via a communication link.

In the vehicle-to-vehicle communication is between the two vehicles 2 . 3 established a direct communication connection, wherein the communication in the vehicle-to-infrastructure communication via a central computer unit.

To decide which vehicle 2 . 3 In such an unclear traffic situation, priority is given to take, a procedure described below is provided.

The two vehicles 2 . 3 participate in a rating system in which each of the two vehicles 2 . 3 a points account is assigned. Each point account has an initial inventory of points, with the number of points, which may also be referred to as "karma points", assigned to a vehicle 2 . 3 is equal to.

That the respective vehicle 2 . 3 associated points account is stored in the central computer unit and / or decentralized in a vehicle-side computer unit. In this case, the respective point account is managed in the central computer unit and / or the vehicle-side computer unit, for which purpose a cryptographic chaining, such as, for example, a so-called block chain, can be used. This cryptographic chaining serves to exclude as far as possible local manipulation of the respective point account.

There are two autonomously moving vehicles 2 . 3 in a contentious, ie unclear traffic situation e by means of the communication link between the two vehicles 2 . 3 To be clarified to which vehicle 2 . 3 Priority will be given to the scores in the unclear traffic situation e located vehicles 2 . 3 used.

In such an unclear traffic situation e in particular in a bottleneck shown in the present embodiment e , According to the method, the vehicle 2 . 3 Priority granted, whose points account has a higher score.

For this lies the vehicle 2 the score of the other vehicle 3 and vice versa, wherein the two scores are compared in the central computer unit and / or the on-board computer unit and the respective other vehicle 2 . 3 is informed about the result of the comparison.

After the decision was made on the basis of the scores, which vehicle 2 . 3 Priority is given to the score of the vehicle 2 . 3 which has been given priority, reduced by one point and the score of the vehicle 3 . 2 , which has given priority due to his score, will be increased by one point.

Assign both vehicles 2 . 3 On the same score on, a random decision is made, for this randomly generated by random numbers and by means of headlights 5 generated light signals between the vehicles 2 . 3 exchanged and compared with each other. This preserves the vehicle 2 . 3 the precedence, which has received by value the larger number by value.

Also in this decision making via random generator is provided that the score of the vehicle 2 . 3 , which has been given priority, is reduced by one point, whereas the score of the vehicle 3 . 2 , which has given priority, is increased by one point.

By using such a rating system, it is possible to actively intervene in a traffic event, so that a traffic flow can be controlled.

So it is for example also conceivable, not shown in detail, certain vehicles, eg. B. in autonomous driving operation emergency vehicles to assign a current score of "infinite" in a current use to always give these particular vehicles a priority.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

parked vehicle

2

vehicle

3

another vehicle

4

communication unit

5

headlights

e

unclear traffic situation, bottleneck

F

road section

F1

first lane

F2

second lane

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102011119208 A1 [0002]

Claims (5)

Method for traffic control of at least two vehicles (2, 3) moving in autonomous driving mode, which communicate with each other at least indirectly via a wireless communication link, each of the vehicles (2, 3) participating in one and the same rating system, characterized in that each vehicle ( 2, 3) a precedence is given to the vehicle (2, 3) in the presence of an unclear traffic situation (E) between the at least two vehicles (2, 3) Score, and - the score of the vehicle (2, 3) granted priority is automatically reduced by one point and the score of the priority vehicle (3, 2) is automatically increased by one point, whereby - at the same score the point account of at least two vehicles (2, 3) in the unclear traffic situation (E) automatically a random decision ge is hit. Method according to Claim 1 , characterized in that a comparison of the number of points on the points account in a central computer unit and / or in a vehicle-side computer unit is performed and the respective vehicle (2, 3) is informed via the communication connection of a result of the comparison. Method according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that for the decision-making at the same score in the respective vehicle (2, 3) by means of a random number generating random numbers, exchanged by means of light signals and compared with each other. Method according to Claim 3 , characterized in that priority is given to the vehicle (2, 3) having the value-wise larger number. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when participating in the rating system, the same number of points is awarded to each vehicle (2, 3).

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