DE102012209147A1 - Method for increasing safety for helmet wearing driver of e.g. motorcycle in accident-critical traffic condition, involves introducing driver-independent safety measure for vehicle if object is not in view region - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves determining a viewing direction of a driver (101), and determining a presence of an object (102), which collides in a progress of a movement of a motor vehicle by e.g. video sensor system. A determination is made (103) whether the object is in a view region based on the viewing direction. A driver-independent safety measure for the motor vehicle is introduced (104) if the object is not in the view region. The viewing direction is determined based on alignment of a helmet. A forward direction of a vertical center plane of the helmet is assumed as the viewing direction. The driver-independent safety measure is driver-independent brake intervention and steering intervention. An independent claim is also included for a device for executing a method for increasing safety for a driver of a single-lane motor vehicle.

Description

State of the art

• a) Detektieren von Objekten in der Umgebung des Fahrzeugs, welche im Fortgang der Fortbewegung des Fahrzeugs mit dem Fahrzeug kollidieren würden;
• b) Ermitteln einer gegebenenfalls möglichen Ausweichrichtung für das Fahrzeug;
• c) Erzeugen eines Signals, mit welchem dem Fahrer eine abhängig von der gegebenenfalls möglichen Ausweichrichtung vorgebbare Referenz-Blickrichtung wahrnehmbar signalisiert wird, wobei in Schritt c) folgende Teilschritte durchgeführt werden:
• c1) Detektieren der Ist-Blickrichtung des Fahrers des Fahrzeugs;
• c2) Vergleich der Ist-Blickrichtung des Fahrers mit einer abhängig von der Ausweichrichtung bestimmten Referenz-Blickrichtung;
• c3) Erzeugen eines Signals, mit welchem dem Fahrer die Referenz-Blickrichtung wahrnehmbar signalisiert wird, falls eine Abweichung zwischen der Ist-Blickrichtung und der Referenz-Blickrichtung festgestellt wird.

From the DE 10 2006 047 092 B4 A method is known for assisting the gaze guidance of a driver of a vehicle in traffic situations, in particular in accident-critical traffic situations, in which the following steps are carried out:

• a) detecting objects in the vicinity of the vehicle, which would collide with the vehicle in the course of the movement of the vehicle;
• b) determining an optionally possible direction of evasion for the vehicle;
• c) Generating a signal with which the driver is signaled perceptible depending on the optionally possible direction of deflection reference viewing direction, wherein in step c) the following sub-steps are performed:
• c1) detecting the actual direction of vision of the driver of the vehicle;
• c2) comparison of the driver's actual viewing direction with a reference viewing direction determined as a function of the deflection direction;
• c3) Generating a signal, with which the driver the reference viewing direction is perceptibly signaled, if a deviation between the actual viewing direction and the reference viewing direction is detected.

Disclosure of the invention

• – die Blickrichtung des Fahrers ermittelt wird,
• – das Vorliegen eines Objekts, welches im Fortgang der Bewegung des Kraftfahrzeugs mit diesem kollidieren würde, ermittelt wird,
• – anhand der Blickrichtung des Fahrers ermittelt wird, ob sich das Objekt in dessen Blickbereich befindet und
• – falls sich das Objekt nicht in dessen Blickbereich befindet, wenigstens eine fahrerunabhängige Sicherheitsmaßnahme für das Kraftfahrzeug eingeleitet wird.

The invention relates to a method for increasing the safety of the driver of a single-track motor vehicle, in particular a motorcycle, in which

• - the driver's line of sight is determined
• The presence of an object which would collide with the movement of the motor vehicle with it is determined,
• - Is determined based on the line of sight of the driver, whether the object is in the field of view and
• - If the object is not in its field of vision, at least one driver-independent safety measure for the motor vehicle is initiated.

If the potential collision object is not in the driver's field of view, then it is assumed that the driver did not notice it, for example because it was distracted. For this reason, a driver-independent safety measure is then initiated.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it is a helm-wearing driver and that the driver's line of sight is determined on the basis of the orientation of the helmet or is assumed as the alignment of the helmet accordingly. By fixing the head in the helmet a very robust and simple head alignment detection is possible. The viewing direction is assumed to coincide with the head alignment, but can also be supplemented or improved by determining the pupil position of the driver.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the forward direction of the vertical center plane of the helmet is assumed as the viewing direction. For example, an angle range extending to the left and right of the viewing direction can be assumed as the viewing area. The term vertical center plane is understood to mean a vertical plane which intersects the helmet vertically in its center. This usually also represents the symmetry plane for the helmet and separates the left half of the helmet from the symmetrical right half of the helmet.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the time period is determined within which the object is within the driver's field of vision and in the event that the time falls below a predetermined threshold, at least one driver-independent safety measure for the motor vehicle is initiated. This avoids that it is equated to fleeting slip of the obstacle or the potential collision object with a conscious detection of the object by the driver.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the presence of the object, which in the course of the movement of the motor vehicle would collide with this, by means of sensors such. a video sensor, radar sensor, ultrasonic sensor, Lidarsensorik or PMD sensor is determined.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the presence of the object, which would collide in the course of the movement of the motor vehicle with this, is determined by means of a received via a wireless interface from a motor vehicle external transmitter information. This can be communicated to the motor vehicle, for example via the Internet at short notice configured construction sites or the road blocking vehicles.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that as a safety measure, a brake intervention is initiated or prepared independently of the driver. This may in particular be an emergency stop. In the preparation can it may be, for example, a preventive reduction in the clearance of the brake.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a driver-independent steering intervention is initiated as a safety measure. This may be, in particular, the initiation or even the execution of an automatic avoidance maneuver.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a safety measure on the motor vehicle or in the driver's clothing airbag is triggered or its release is prepared.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that as a security measure, an electronic emergency call is sent via a wireless interface to an external receiver.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a driver warning occurs as a safety measure.

Furthermore, the invention comprises a device, in particular a control device, which contains means, in particular the program code, which are designed to carry out the claimed methods.

The drawing consists of 1 , 1 shows the basic sequence of the method according to the invention.

• – die Blickrichtung eines Motorradfahrers ermittelt,
• – gefährliche Situationen ermittelt oder über diese informiert wird,
• – ermittelt, ob der Fahrer in die Richtung der gefährlichen Situation blickt
• – und auf Basis dieser Ermittlungen Aktionen einleitet.

The core of the invention is a system or a method which

• - determines the viewing direction of a motorcyclist,
• - identifying or informing dangerous situations,
• - determines if the driver is facing the dangerous situation
• - and initiate actions on the basis of these investigations.

• – Information an den Fahrer über eine gefährliche Situation
• – Einleitung von Schutzmaßnahmen wie z.B. die Vorbereitung oder Einleitung von Bremsaktivitäten, die Vorbereitung oder Einleitung von Ausweichaktivitäten, die Vorbereitung oder Aktivierung von Airbags am Motorrad oder in der Kleidung des Motorradfahrers
• – Das Einleiten von späteren notwendigen Hilfsmaßnahmen in Abhängigkeit von der Wahrscheinlichkeit eines Unfalls, z.B. das Absenden eines elektronischen Notrufs.

The initiated actions can be eg the following:

• - Information to the driver about a dangerous situation
• - Take protective measures such as the preparation or initiation of braking activities, the preparation or initiation of evasive activities, the preparation or activation of airbags on the motorcycle or in the clothing of the rider
• - The initiation of later necessary assistance measures depending on the probability of an accident, such as the sending of an electronic emergency call.

The system can only initiate a selection or all of these actions and also combine them with additional actions.

• – das System, d.h. das Motorrad, verfügt über aus dem PKW- oder NKW-Bereich bekannte Fahrerassistenzsysteme, welche gefährliche Situationen ermitteln. Das können beispielsweise radarbasierte oder videobasierte Notbremssysteme sein.
• – das System verfügt über eine Schnittstelle, über welche es Situationen, Zustände oder Aktivitäten fremder Fahrzeuge, Objekte oder Infrastrukturobjekte abfragen kann und auf Basis dieser Informationen und der eigenen Informationen, wie z.B. eigene Geschwindigkeit oder eigene Fahrtrichtung, für sich mögliche gefährliche Situationen ermittelt.
• – Das Motorrad verfügt über eine Schnittstelle, über welche Fremdfahrzeuge oder Infrastrukturobjekte dem Motorrad gefährliche Situationen mitteilen können. Die Kommunikationsrichtung ist hier vom Fremdobjekt bzw. Fremdfahrzeug hin zum eigenen Motorrad gerichtet. Die zum Motorrad übermittelten Informationen können z.B. die von einem Fremdfahrzeug ermittelte Information umfassen, dass dieses sich auf einem Kollisionskurs mit dem Motorrad befindet oder es kann z.B. die von einer Ampel übermittelte Information "Ampelsignal ist rot" umfassen.
• – Das System verfügt über eine Schnittstelle, über welche es aus externen Datenbanken gefährliche Situationen wie z.B. die Annäherung an eine Baustelle abfragen kann.

To determine a dangerous situation, the system has the following options:

• - The system, ie the motorcycle, has known from the car or commercial vehicle range driver assistance systems that detect dangerous situations. These can be, for example, radar-based or video-based emergency braking systems.
• - The system has an interface through which it can query situations, states or activities of foreign vehicles, objects or infrastructure objects and on the basis of this information and its own information, such as own speed or own direction of travel, determines possible dangerous situations.
• - The motorcycle has an interface through which other vehicles or infrastructure objects can communicate dangerous situations to the motorcycle. The direction of communication here is directed from the foreign object or other vehicle towards the own motorcycle. The information transmitted to the motorcycle may include, for example, the information determined by a foreign vehicle that it is on a collision course with the motorcycle or it may include, for example, the information transmitted by a traffic light "traffic light signal is red".
• - The system has an interface through which it can query from external databases dangerous situations such as the approach to a construction site.

To determine your own position, the motorcycle ideally uses a position-finding system or a navigation system.

For detecting the viewing direction of the driver is advantageous that by fixing the head in the helmet a relatively simple viewing direction detection is possible. For example, the helmet may transmit its position and orientation to a receiver, its orientation e.g. is detected by means of a compass system.

It is also possible, via the helmet movement, to control the head movements of the driver, e.g. to record their speed and acceleration. From this it can be deduced whether an object could ever be detected by the driver. For example, an object would most likely not be detected if there is a very small danger object and at the same time a very fast movement of the helmet and thus of the driver's head.

In addition, it can be detected via the head position whether the driver is just away from the motorcycle and measures are then taken.

It is also possible in the case of a passenger to monitor its head movements. Removes, for example, The head of the passenger too fast backwards, then the danger is recognized that the passenger crashes from the motorcycle. A countermeasure would be e.g. lowering the acceleration.

It is conceivable that the necessary calculations are carried out wholly or partly in an external computing unit outside the motorcycle. The advantage is that in this case the motorcycle only needs a low power controller, which would reduce costs.

The basic procedure of the method according to the invention is in 1 shown. After starting the procedure in block 100 will be in block 101 determines the driver's line of sight. Subsequently, in block 102 determines the presence of an object which would collide with this in the course of the movement of the motor vehicle. In block 103 is determined based on the line of sight of the driver, whether the object is in the field of view. If this is the case then it becomes block 100 branches back. If this is not the case then it will be in block 104 initiated at least one driver-independent safety measure for the motor vehicle. In block 105 ends the inventive method.

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 102006047092 B4 [0001]

Claims (12)

Method for increasing the safety of the driver of a single-track motor vehicle, in which - the driver's line of sight is determined ( 101 ), - the presence of an object, which would collide with the movement of the motor vehicle with this, is determined ( 102 ), - is determined based on the line of sight of the driver, whether the object is within its field of view ( 103 ) and - if the object is not within its field of view, at least one driver-independent safety measure for the motor vehicle is initiated ( 104 ). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a helm-wearing driver and that the line of sight of the driver is determined by the orientation of the helmet ( 101 ).  A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the direction of view, the forward facing direction of the vertical center plane of the helmet is assumed.  A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the time period is determined, within which the object is in the driver's field of vision and in the event that the time duration falls below a predetermined threshold, at least one driver-independent safety measure for the motor vehicle is initiated. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the presence of the object, which would collide in the course of the movement of the motor vehicle with this, by means of a sensor, in particular a video sensor, radar sensor, ultrasonic sensor, Lidarsensorik or PMD sensor is determined ( 102 ). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the presence of the object, which would collide in the course of the movement of the motor vehicle with this, is determined by means of a received via a wireless interface from an off-board transmitter information ( 102 ). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that as a safety measure, a brake intervention is initiated or prepared independently of drivers ( 104 ). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that as a safety measure, a driver-independent steering intervention is initiated ( 104 ). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that triggered as a safety measure located on the motor vehicle or in the driver's clothing airbag or its release is prepared ( 104 ). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that as a security measure, an electronic emergency call is sent via a wireless interface to an external receiver ( 104 ). Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that a driver warning is issued as a safety measure ( 104 ).  Device containing means designed to carry out the claimed methods.

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