WO2020038683A1

WO2020038683A1 - Apparatus, method and system for ascertaining a driving attribute of another vehicle in surroundings of an ego vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2020038683A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/070003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Elmar Koch; Achim Kartenberg
Original assignee: Zf Friedrichshafen Ag; Trw Automotive Gmbh
Priority date: 2018-08-24
Filing date: 2019-07-25
Publication date: 2020-02-27
Also published as: DE102018006752A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus (18) for ascertaining a driving attribute of another vehicle (16) in surroundings of an ego vehicle (12), having: an input interface (22) for receiving a sensor signal from an ambient sensor (38), wherein the sensor signal comprises information pertaining to the other vehicle; an identification unit (24) for ascertaining type data on the basis of the sensor signal, wherein the type data comprise information pertaining to a vehicle type of the other vehicle; and a communication interface (26) for communicating with a central database (14) in order to transmit the type data and to receive at least one vehicle parameter of the other vehicle that is associated with the vehicle type of the other vehicle. The present invention furthermore relates to a corresponding system (10) and method.

Description

Device, method and system for determining a driving property of another vehicle in the environment of its own vehicle

The present invention relates to a device for determining the driving characteristics of another vehicle in the vicinity of a vehicle of its own, and to a corresponding method and a system. The invention further relates to a vehicle control unit and a vehicle.

Modern vehicles (cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, etc.) include a large number of driver assistance systems that provide the driver with information and control individual functions of the vehicle in a partially or fully automated manner. Sensors record the surroundings of the vehicle and other road users. A model of the vehicle environment can be generated based on the recorded data. Due to the progressive development in the field of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles, the influence and scope of driver assistance systems are increasing. The development of ever more precise sensors has made it possible to record the surroundings and traffic and to control individual functions of the vehicle more or less without driver intervention. Driver assistance systems can in particular contribute to increasing safety in traffic and improving driving comfort.

With regard to autonomous driving, the detection of other vehicles in the environment of your own vehicle is of crucial importance. Using ambient sensors, such as radar, lidar and camera sensors, data is recorded and other road users or vehicles are identified. Based on the recorded data, an adequate reaction of your own vehicle in traffic can then be determined. Reliability in the detection of other vehicles is of great importance, especially with regard to safety-relevant functions.

In this context, DE 10 2016 216 738 A1 discloses a method and a device for controlling a vehicle. Danger point information that represents at least one danger point in the vicinity of the vehicle, and an approach information representing an approach of at least one other vehicle traveling alongside the vehicle to the vehicle is read. At least one collision parameter of a collision between the vehicle and the further vehicle is determined using the approximation information. Finally, a control signal is generated using the collision parameter and the danger point information in order to steer the vehicle in a direction away from the danger point.

A disadvantage of previous approaches to recognizing other vehicles is that by recognizing the presence of another vehicle, statements about its behavior can only be made to a certain degree. Different vehicle types often have different driving characteristics, so that when forecasting behavior, inaccuracies often have to be taken into account. A worst-case scenario often has to be assumed, which can trigger unnecessary reactions from your own vehicle

Proceeding from this, the following invention has the problem of providing an approach for determining a driving characteristic of another vehicle in an environment of the own vehicle. It should enable a more precise determination of the driving characteristics of other vehicles compared to previous approaches. A situation-appropriate, partially or fully autonomous reaction of your own vehicle can then take place.

To achieve this object, the present invention relates to a device for determining a driving characteristic of another vehicle in the environment of its own vehicle, with:

an input interface for receiving a sensor signal from an environmental sensor, the sensor signal comprising information about the other vehicle;

an identification unit for determining type data on the basis of the sensor signal, the type data comprising information on a vehicle type of the other vehicle; and a communication interface for communicating with a central database in order to transmit the type data and to receive at least one vehicle parameter of the other vehicle associated with the vehicle type of the other vehicle.

Type data is understood to mean any type of information that enables identification of a vehicle type. Type data can in particular be features that have been extracted from the raw sensor data (sensor signal). A vehicle type denotes a unique identification of a type of vehicle. A vehicle type can include a corresponding specification of a fier plate and a model. A vehicle parameter is information that is assigned to a vehicle type. For example, a vehicle parameter is information that is identical for the different individual vehicles of the same type.

A driving characteristic of a vehicle here means in particular a behavioral characteristic of a vehicle when driving. A driving characteristic denotes a technical characteristic of a motor vehicle that emerges when driving.

An environment of a vehicle is understood to mean an immediate environment, in particular the environment denotes an area that lies in a field of vision from a vehicle. A sensor signal can in particular correspond to the raw data of a sensor. In particular, a sensor signal can be an image signal. The sensor signal can be available continuously or at a time.

Furthermore, one aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle control device with a device as described above. In addition, one aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle with a device as described above or with a vehicle control device and an environmental sensor, which is preferably designed as a camera.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a system with a device, with a vehicle control unit or with a vehicle as previously described. wrote; and a central database, which is preferably designed as an Internet database.

Further aspects of the invention relate to a method designed in accordance with the device and a computer program product with program code for carrying out the steps of the method when the program code is executed on a computer, and a storage medium on which a computer program is stored, the when executed on a computer causes the method described herein to be performed.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, it is provided that a sensor signal from an environmental sensor preferably attached to the vehicle, such as a radar, lidar camera or ultrasound sensor, is received. The sensor signal includes information about another vehicle that is in the vicinity of the own vehicle. Type data are determined based on the received sensor signal. The type data include information on a vehicle type of the other vehicle.

A central database, that is to say a database that is not located in the vehicle, is contacted by means of a communication interface. The determined type data are transmitted to the central database in order to receive a vehicle parameter assigned to the other vehicle. To this extent, the vehicle type is identified in the database on the basis of the type data. In the database, the corresponding vehicle type is assigned vehicle parameters of the other vehicle, which have been stored, for example, by the petitioner and can be queried. One or more vehicle parameters are transmitted to the own vehicle and allow an estimation of a driving characteristic of the other vehicle. According to the invention, another vehicle can be identified. It enables specific properties of another vehicle, which are reflected in vehicle parameters of the other vehicle, to be taken into account in assistance systems of the own vehicle. These specific properties cannot be determined directly based on your own environmental sensor. By including this additional information, a precise reaction to the behavior of other vehicles can take place. A better understanding of the driving characteristics of the other vehicle can improve the safety of your own vehicle. It is possible for a reaction of the own vehicle to be coordinated with the other vehicle.

In comparison to the approach presented in DE 10 2016 216 738 A1, the inclusion of a central database, that is to say a database which is not located in the driver's own vehicle and which is easy to update due to its centrality, makes it much more precise Determination of the driving characteristics of the other vehicle achieved. The safety of your own vehicle can be increased. Driving comfort can also be increased because unnecessary evasive action or other maneuvers are avoided. In the event of an accident, an accurate assessment of the behavior of the other vehicle can be made in order to plan the reaction of your own vehicle.

In a preferred embodiment, the communication interface is designed to receive a mass of the other vehicle and a further vehicle parameter. The further vehicle parameters can include a dimension, a maximum number of passengers, an age, a motorization, tires, a trailer load, a bumper height, a drive axle, a body strength, a body structure, an engine arrangement, a tank position, a battery position and / or one Describe the safety functional equipment of the other vehicle. By taking the mass into account alone, it is already possible to estimate the driving behavior of the other vehicle. By taking a further vehicle parameter into account, the driving properties of the other vehicle can be determined more precisely. A further improvement in the safety of your own vehicle and driving comfort is achieved. In a preferred embodiment, the identification unit is designed to determine accessory data on the basis of the sensor signal. The accessory data includes information about an accessory of the other vehicle. Furthermore, the communication interface is designed to transmit the accessory data and to receive at least one accessory parameter of the other vehicle associated with the accessory.

In addition to determining the vehicle type, information about an accessory of the other vehicle is accordingly determined. An accessory can in particular designate an interchangeable or interchangeable part connected to the vehicle, for example a trailer, a roof rack but also a rim etc. First of all an accessory is identified. Additional information (accessory parameters) is then determined by querying the central database and cannot be determined directly based on the sensor signal of the environmental sensor. By taking the accessories parameter into account, safety can be further improved and driving comfort increased further. A reliable and precise determination of a driving characteristic of the other vehicle can take place.

Accessory data are understood to mean, in particular, information about an object or equipment element that is detachably connected or individually selectable to a vehicle. A central database is central insofar as it is not individually assigned to a single vehicle, but can be queried by a large number of vehicles.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the device comprises an evaluation unit for determining at least one individual parameter of the other vehicle assigned to the other vehicle. The individual parameter is determined based on the sensor signal and the at least one vehicle parameter and / or accessory parameter. The individual parameter can be, for example, an acceleration and / or a loading state of the other vehicle. The vehicle parameters and / or accessory parameters received from the central database are therefore viewed in conjunction with the data from the environment sensor. processed to further improve the determination of the driving characteristics of the other vehicle. The individual parameter accordingly relates to a property that is specifically assigned to the currently identified other vehicle and that cannot be taken directly from the signal from the environment sensor. The reliability in assessing the movement of the other vehicle is further increased. In this way, the safety and driving comfort of your own vehicle can be improved.

An individual parameter is information that differs from vehicle to vehicle, even if it concerns vehicles of the same vehicle type. For example, an individual parameter can denote a property of a vehicle that is different between two different vehicles of the same vehicle type. Both a vehicle parameter and an individual parameter can be specified in the form of a single value or a value vector or in another way.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the device comprises a control unit for controlling a functional unit of the own vehicle based on the at least one vehicle parameter and / or the at least one individual parameter. Here, the control unit is preferably designed to control a brake assistant, a lane departure warning system, an airbag ignition, an airbag deployment, a belt tightening, a seat adjustment and / or a longitudinal and transverse dynamics of the own vehicle. The determined vehicle and / or individual parameters are processed directly in order to adapt the behavior of the own vehicle. In the event of an accident, for example, a safety-relevant function can be controlled and configured accordingly. However, it is also possible for another control function to be influenced. The direct feedback permits immediate processing of the precise information received on the vehicle type and on the individual design of the other vehicle. The accuracy in determining the driving characteristics of the other vehicle is further improved. In a further embodiment, the identification unit is designed to determine the type data and / or the accessory data based on a feature extraction. By using a feature extraction it is achieved that only an excerpt of the sensor data of the environment sensor has to be transmitted. An efficient query of the database is made possible. The vehicle parameter assigned to the other vehicle can be detected quickly and reliably.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the communication interface for mobile communication with the central database is designed on an Internet server. The central database is preferably understood to be a database accessible via the Internet. An Internet connection can be established via a mobile communication unit in the vehicle in order to query the Internet database. An efficient query is achieved. A reliable detection of the vehicle parameters of the other vehicle is made possible.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the input interface is designed to receive the sensor signal from a camera aimed at the surroundings of one's own vehicle. The sensor signal comprises an image of the other vehicle, preferably an image of a vehicle front of the other vehicle. A camera is preferably used as the environmental sensor. So-called face detection can be carried out by detecting a vehicle front. The vehicle fronts of vehicles mostly have characteristic features that enable identification of the vehicle type of the other vehicle. The other vehicle can be identified precisely and reliably. The driving characteristics of the other vehicle can be determined reliably and efficiently.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the identification unit is designed to determine image features in the image of the other vehicle. A feature extraction of image features usually takes place. Then these ascertained features are used to query the vehicle parameters to the central database. An efficient query can take place. Fast processing and thus a quick reaction to the behavior of the other vehicle is made possible. The device, the interfaces and the system can be partially or completely implemented in hardware and / or software.

The computer program can be stored / distributed on a non-volatile data carrier, for example on an optical memory or on a semiconductor drive (SSD). A computer program can be distributed together with hardware and / or as part of hardware, for example by means of the Internet or by means of wired or wireless communication systems.

The invention is described and explained in more detail below on the basis of a few selected exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1 shows a schematic illustration of a system according to the invention for determining a driving characteristic of another vehicle;

2 shows a schematic illustration of a device according to the invention;

3 shows a schematic illustration of a vehicle according to the invention;

4 shows a schematic illustration of a further embodiment of a system according to the invention;

5 shows a schematic representation of a method according to the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a method according to the invention.

1 schematically shows a system 10 according to the invention for determining a driving characteristic of another vehicle. The system 10 comprises its own vehicle 12, which is in communication with a central database 14. The own vehicle 12 has an environmental sensor with which another Vehicle 16 is detected. Based on the acquired sensor data, type data of the other vehicle 16 are ascertained in the own vehicle 12, which are then transmitted to the central database 14, which can be designed, for example, as an Internet database. The transmitted type data serve to identify a vehicle parameter assigned to the vehicle type of the other vehicle 16 and then to transmit this to the own vehicle 12.

The system 10 according to the invention makes it possible to supplement the data of the other vehicle 16 recorded within the own vehicle 12 with data obtained from outside. In particular, it is possible to determine vehicle parameters of the other vehicle 16 that cannot be taken directly from the sensor signal of the environmental sensor.

A device 18 according to the invention for determining a driving characteristic of another vehicle is shown schematically in FIG. 2. The device 18 can be implemented in Flard and / or software and can be integrated, for example, in a vehicle control unit 20 of an own vehicle. The device 18 comprises an input interface 22, an identification unit 24 and a communication interface 26. Furthermore, as indicated by the dashed line, the device can optionally include an evaluation unit 30 and a control unit 32.

The input interface 22 serves to detect a sensor signal from an environmental sensor. In particular, an image signal from a camera, a signal from a radar sensor, a signal from a lidar sensor, a signal from an ultrasound sensor or a combination of data from different sensors can be received. The sensor signal can include the raw data of the sensor or preprocessed data. For this purpose, the input interface 22 can in particular be connected to a sensor of one's own vehicle and receive its sensor data and (pre) process it if necessary.

Preferably, the use of a camera as an environmental sensor is possible, from which an image signal is received as a sensor signal, which another vehicle in the Shows surroundings of your own vehicle. An image of a vehicle in the vicinity of the own vehicle is therefore received. The sensor signal includes information on the other vehicle insofar as data on the weight, size, speed, type, appearance, etc. of the other vehicle can be taken from the sensor signal. The input interface 22 can, for example, be connected to a corresponding bus system within the vehicle and connected to the corresponding sensors of the vehicle. It is also possible that the input interface receives data from several sensors and, if necessary, pre-processes them.

The received sensor signal is processed in the identification unit 24 and type data are determined. In particular, the identification unit 24 can be designed to carry out a feature extraction on the basis of the received sensor signal. If an image signal is received as a sensor signal, appropriate image processing can be carried out in order to ascertain unique identifiers of the other vehicle. In this respect, the identification unit 24 preferably corresponds to a processor.

A vehicle front of the other vehicle is preferably analyzed in the image in the identification unit 24. The front can be recognized by a so-called face detection and the vehicle type can be identified on the basis of this. Based on the fact that the vehicle front has characteristic features for a specific vehicle model, corresponding features can be extracted from the picture (type data).

The determined type data are transmitted to the central database via the communication interface 26. An assignment to a specific vehicle type is made in the central database. Vehicle parameters are assigned to the vehicle type and can be queried from the database. The vehicle parameters in the database and the required comparison values for the type data can come from the vehicle manufacturers, for example. At least one vehicle parameter assigned to the vehicle type of the other vehicle is received by the database via the communication interface 26 of the device 18. to catch. As a result, the vehicle parameter is then available as additional information within the own vehicle.

This vehicle parameter corresponds to additional information insofar as it cannot be taken directly from the sensor signal of the environment sensor. For example, a vehicle parameter can include a mass, a dimension, a number of seats, a production period or age, a possible motorization, permissible tires, a maximum trailer load, a height of a bumper, a driven axle, a rigidity of a body, a structure, a position of the motor (front, middle, rear motor), a position of a tank or a battery in an electric vehicle, equipment with safety functions (as far as known), such as airbags, ESP, ABS, AEB etc ., knowledge of crash behavior, crash severity prediction, optimized emergency rescue and other information. This information allows a statement about a driving characteristic of the other vehicle.

An evaluation unit 30 can be provided for further processing of the vehicle parameter received via the communication interface 26. The evaluation unit 30 preferably also corresponds to a processor which is designed to execute various evaluation algorithms. In the evaluation unit 30, both the sensor signal of the environment sensor and the received at least one vehicle parameter are further processed. For example, a dimension of the other vehicle (received vehicle parameter) and a mono-camera image (sensor signal from the environment sensor) can be used to calculate back to a distance and an orientation of the other vehicle.

Based on this, a back calculation based on vehicle dynamics data, such as a speed, an acceleration, a jerk, a loading (via a nick-wank gear frequency) can be carried out. An improved prediction of a vehicle movement of the other vehicle is made possible. The evaluation unit 30 is designed to determine an individual parameter based on the sensor signal and the vehicle parameter. An individual parameter is a property specifically assigned to a single vehicle, which can differ between two vehicles of the same vehicle type.

Furthermore, it is possible that the device 18 according to the invention comprises a control unit 32. The control unit serves to control a functional unit or a function of one's own vehicle on the basis of the vehicle parameter and / or the individual parameter. The control unit 32 preferably also corresponds to a processor which is designed to control a functional unit of the driver's own vehicle. Accordingly, it is possible, based on the improved prediction of the vehicle behavior, to carry out an optimized activation or deactivation of active vehicle functions, such as longitudinal and lateral dynamics, a braking assistant, a lane departure warning system or an active accident assistant. For example, airbag ignition can be controlled in an improved manner, airbag deployment can be regulated, belt tensioning can be initiated and / or seat adjustment to a presafe position in the event of an impending accident.

In addition, the control unit 32 is connected to a corresponding functional unit of the own vehicle. Both the input interface 22 and the communication interface 26 and the control unit 32 can be connected, for example, to a vehicle bus system of the vehicle or can also be connected directly to corresponding other units. A bus system for connecting the various units and interfaces can also be provided within the device 18.

A vehicle 12 according to the invention is shown schematically in FIG. 3. The vehicle comprises the device 18 described above. In the embodiment shown, the vehicle further comprises a functional unit 34, a communication unit 36 and an environmental sensor 38.

The environment sensor 38 corresponds in particular to a camera which is mounted in a front area of the own vehicle 12 in order to detect oncoming and passing other vehicles. The functional unit 34 can also if integrated in a vehicle control unit. The communication unit 36 can comprise an antenna for mobile communication via a GMS, UMTS and / or LTE network.

A further embodiment of a system 10 according to the invention is shown schematically in FIG. 4. In addition to the detection of the other vehicle 16, the device in the own vehicle 12 can furthermore be designed to detect an accessory 40 of the other vehicle 16. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the other vehicle 16 has a trailer that corresponds to the accessory 40. Here, the trailer shown is only to be understood as an example of an accessory 40. Other vehicle details, which can also be identified as accessories based on the received sensor signal, are tires, attachments (e.g. spoilers), a towbar, a roof rack, a bike rack on the roof or on the towbar, one color of the vehicle, one Interior of the vehicle (for example, a material of the interior to determine a coefficient of friction to occupants), lowering, other conversions, etc.

If the sensor signal includes information about an accessory 40 of the other vehicle, the identification unit of the device according to the invention can be designed to also determine accessory data analogously to the determination of the type data. For this accessory data, it is also possible to communicate with the central database 14 via the communication interface in order to receive an accessory parameter associated with the accessory 40 from the latter. For example, a length, a width and a flea of the trailer can be determined as accessory data based on the sensor signal. These accessory data can then be used to obtain a permissible total mass of the trailer as an accessory parameter by querying the database 18.

It is also possible that characteristic features such as color, shape etc. are identified in an image of the trailer, which can then serve as the basis for a database query. The determined additional parameter can be used in determining the individual parameter for the other vehicle 16 and in the appropriate control of the functional unit are taken into account. It goes without saying that a vehicle with a loaded trailer, for example, has completely different driving characteristics than a vehicle without or with an unloaded trailer.

A method according to the invention is shown schematically in FIG. 5. The method comprises the steps of receiving S10 a sensor signal, determining S12 type data on the basis of the sensor signal and communicating S14 with a central database. The method can in particular be implemented as software that extends the functionality of an existing driver assistance system and that uses the sensor and control technology that is already present in a vehicle. It is therefore possible to use sensors and communication means already present in the vehicle, so that it is not necessary to change the hardware.

6 shows an alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention. In addition to the steps of receiving S10, determining S12 and communicating S14, a step of determining S16 of accessory data is provided. In the S14 communicating step, additional accessory parameters are received. The received parameters are processed in a step of determining at least one individual parameter assigned to the other vehicle based on the sensor signal and the at least one vehicle parameter and / or accessory parameter.

System reference

Own vehicle

central database

other vehicle

contraption

Vehicle control unit

Input interface

identification unit

Communication Interface

evaluation

control unit

functional unit

communication unit

environment sensor

equipment

Claims

claims

1. Device (18) for determining a driving characteristic of another vehicle (16) in the vicinity of a vehicle (12), comprising:

- an input interface (22) for receiving a sensor signal from an environmental sensor (38), the sensor signal comprising information about the other vehicle;

- an identification unit (24) for determining type data on the basis of the sensor signal, the type data comprising information on a vehicle type of the other vehicle; and

- a communication interface (26) for communicating with a central database (14) in order to transmit the type data and to receive at least one vehicle parameter of the other vehicle associated with the vehicle type of the other vehicle.

2. Device (18) according to claim 1, wherein the communication interface (26) is designed to receive a mass of the other vehicle (16) and a further vehicle parameter, in particular a dimension, a maximum number of passengers, an age, one Motorization, a tire, a trailer load, a bumper height, a drive axle, a body stiffness, a body structure, an engine arrangement, a fuel position, a battery position and / or a safety function equipment of the other vehicle can be.

3. Device (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein

- The identification unit (24) is designed to determine accessory data on the basis of the sensor signal, the accessory data comprising information about an accessory (40) of the other vehicle (16); and

- The communication interface (26) is designed to transmit the accessory data and to receive at least one accessory parameter associated with the accessory of the other vehicle.

4. Device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, with an evaluation unit (30) for determining at least one individual parameter of the other vehicle assigned to the other vehicle based on the sensor signal and the at least one vehicle parameter and / or accessory parameter, the evaluation unit (30) preferably being designed to determine a position, a speed, an acceleration and / or a loading state of the other vehicle (16).

5. Device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, with a control unit (32) for controlling a functional unit (34) of one's own vehicle (12) based on the at least one vehicle parameter and / or the at least one individual parameter, the control unit is preferably designed to control a brake assistant, a lane departure warning system, an airbag ignition, an airbag deployment, a belt tensioner, a seat adjustment and / or a longitudinal and transverse dynamics of one's own vehicle.

6. The device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the identification unit (24) is designed to determine the type data and / or the accessory data based on a feature extraction.

7. Device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication interface (26) for mobile communication with the central database (14) is designed on an Internet server.

8. The device (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein

- The input interface (22) is designed to receive the sensor signal from a camera aimed at the surroundings of the vehicle (12); and the sensor signal comprises an image of the other vehicle (16), preferably an image of a vehicle front of the other vehicle.

9. The device (18) according to claim 8, wherein the identification unit (24) is designed to determine image features in the image of the other vehicle (16).

10. Vehicle control unit (20) with a device (18) according to one of the preceding claims.

11. Vehicle (12) with:

-a device (18) according to one of claims 1 to 9 or with a vehicle control unit (20) according to claim 10; and

- an environmental sensor (38), which is preferably designed as a camera.

12. System (10) for determining a driving characteristic of another vehicle (16) in the environment of an own vehicle (12) with:

a device (18) according to one of claims 1 to 9, a vehicle control unit (20) according to claim 10 or a vehicle according to claim 11; and a central database (14), which is preferably designed as an Internet database.

13. A method for determining a driving characteristic of another vehicle (16) in the vicinity of a vehicle (12) having an apparatus according to claims 1 to 9, comprising:

- receiving (S10) a sensor signal from an environmental sensor (38), the sensor signal comprising information about the other vehicle;

Determining (S12) type data on the basis of the sensor signal, the type data comprising information on a vehicle type of the other vehicle; and

Communicate (S14) with a central database (14) in order to transmit the type data and to receive at least one vehicle parameter of the other vehicle which is assigned to the vehicle type of the other vehicle.

14. A computer program product with program code for performing the steps of the method according to claim 13 when the program code is executed on a computer.