DE102014008151A1 - Method for operating a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle is adapted to drive autonomously, wherein a map (1) is displayed by means of a navigation device (10) or by means of a set for communication with the motor vehicle (8) mobile devices. According to the invention, autonomously passable sections (4, 6) and non-autonomously passable sections (2) are determined, evaluated and displayed to a user of the navigation device (10) or the mobile device (18) on the map (1) by the motor vehicle (8) brought.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle is adapted to drive autonomously.

Methods of the type mentioned are known in the art. Autonomous driving of motor vehicles has been the subject of research and development for quite some time. Autonomous driving means that a motor vehicle with its own driving force can essentially drive without driver and without external specifications from a starting point to a destination. Such motor vehicles represent a further development of currently known driver assistance systems, which, inter alia, for. B. allow an automatic distance of the vehicle to the vehicle in front or a lane departure warning, which can lead a motor vehicle along a lane. An autonomous vehicle is capable of responding appropriately to situations encountered while driving. This is u. a. the use of a navigation system and a plurality of sensors necessary to recognize the corresponding situations.

From the DE 103 35 927 A1 a navigation system with determination of a consumption-optimized route is known, wherein in addition a fastest or a shortest route including the expected fuel consumption can be calculated and displayed for selection. In addition to the consumption-optimized route, the travel time is within the default value, this also determines a fastest route between the first and the second location. The routes are displayed in addition to the selection, so that the driver can compare, for example, how large the time difference and the consumption difference between the fastest and the consumption-optimized route. The driver can then freely choose which route he prefers. Furthermore, it is known that a driven route is displayed in a navigation device of the vehicle or on a mobile device set up for communication with the motor vehicle, for example a smartphone connected to the vehicle via a server. The server is a central computer that establishes a first connection to the mobile device and a second connection to the motor vehicle. The map is designed interactively, ie the map can be zoomed, moved, for example, information on points of interest (POI) can be retrieved or routes can be planned.

With regard to autonomous driving, different sections of the route and different types of routes have different complexities. Thus, in inner cities, a greater number of danger spots can be expected than on a highway. The inner cities are often full of pedestrians and other road users, such as cyclists. Such are not to be expected on highways. In inner cities, the streets are often narrower, so there is less room to react and dodge. It is therefore possible that certain routes for autonomous driving are not suitable or releasable, so that in such areas autonomous driving is not possible. The safety requirements in inner cities are therefore higher than those on motorways.

In addition, different drivers of motor vehicles may have diverging needs. Despite the possibility of autonomous driving, some drivers want to have the freedom to choose whether and how much of a route they want to drive autonomously.

The object of the invention is thus to develop a method for operating a motor vehicle of the type mentioned in that the driver is given a better planning basis for autonomous driving.

The object is achieved by a method according to claim 1. Further embodiments of the method according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

An inventive method for operating a motor vehicle provides that the vehicle autonomously accessible routes and non-autonomously accessible routes are determined, evaluated and a user of the navigation device or the mobile device on the map to display. A user can, for example, define in which area or on which streets of the map autonomous and non-autonomous routes to be traveled are displayed, for example in an area around the vehicle, in cities, on country roads, on selected routes etc. The navigation device or the mobile The device displays autonomously navigable routes and non-autonomously navigable routes of the associated motor vehicle. This ensures that autonomous and non-autonomously accessible routes are displayed for different vehicle classes such as cars, vans, etc. The determination and evaluation of the autonomously and non-autonomously navigable routes takes place on the navigation system of the motor vehicle, on an external server connected to the motor vehicle or the mobile device. Under a mobile device are arranged in the present context outside the vehicle, set up for communication with the motor vehicle devices such as a smartphone but also a home PC (laptop, desktop) to understand. One to communicate with Motor vehicle-equipped mobile device can be connected to the motor vehicle directly or via a server. The mobile device displays real-time data as well as data stored on the mobile device or on the server of the motor vehicle. The data include, for example, vehicle-specific data such as vehicle equipment, vehicle identification, design or the last known location of the motor vehicle. The data stored on the mobile device are then still available even with disturbed or non-existing data connection between the mobile device and the server, the mobile device and the motor vehicle or the server and the motor vehicle. The data stored on the server is available for use on the mobile device if there is no data connection between the server and the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle is set up to drive autonomously and has facilities for this, which can accelerate, brake and steer and, if necessary, permit gear changes of a transmission without driver interaction. Furthermore, the motor vehicle can have corresponding environmental sensors with which the environment of the motor vehicle can be recorded and analyzed.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that by means of the navigation device or the mobile device, a destination (C) of the motor vehicle defined and a corresponding route to the destination (C) is calculated, along the route autonomously passable routes and not autonomously passable routes one Driver of the motor vehicle to be displayed on the map. The driver advantageously receives an overview on which sections of the planned route to the destination (C) he or she must control the motor vehicle itself or at least have to stand by it or on which sections the motor vehicle travels autonomously. With the assistance of the navigation system, the autonomously driving motor vehicle can determine its position on the road and recognize possible obstacles on the way that are to be avoided. Together with appropriate computer and software equipment, the motor vehicle can respond to needs, for example, avoid an unexpected obstacle, brakes and the like.

In a further embodiment of the invention, associated attributes are displayed for the autonomously passable routes and / or non-autonomously navigable routes. The attributes include, for example, information about a maximum speed, a passing ban, with which degree of automation a route is passable or we the road condition of a route. A vehicle user is provided with an overview of the restrictions, prohibitions and bids on the autonomously accessible routes and / or non-autonomously accessible routes displayed on the map.

According to a first possible further embodiment of the method according to the invention, a plurality of alternative routes can be calculated. The plurality of alternative routes can be evaluated for autonomously passable routes and non-autonomously navigable routes and displayed to the driver with the evaluations for selection. The driver can then choose from the several alternative routes the route that best suits his wishes. For example, the driver can select a route which has a particularly high proportion of autonomously traveled routes, so that the driver does not have to drive a lot himself. Furthermore, the driver can select routes in which the autonomously accessible routes make up long sections, so that there is no need to constantly switch between autonomous driving and non-autonomous driving. In addition, the driver may be able to select routes where the autonomous driving routes are at the beginning, in the middle or at the end - depending on whether the driver wants to recover at the beginning or end or in the middle of the journey.

• – der Nutzer einstellen kann, auf welchen Straßen er überhaupt automatisch fahren möchte; z. B. nur auf Autobahnen, nur bei Stadtverkehr, nur bei Überlandfahrten,
• – diese Auswahl auch abhängig von Tageszeit, Jahreszeit oder Wetter erfolgen kann, z. B. automatisches Fahren bei starkem Regen oder nachts auf schlecht beleuchteter Landstraße;
• – diese Auswahl kann auch verkehrszustandsabhängig erfolgen, z. B. der Nutzer möchte nur im gestauten Verkehr (z. B. bis zu einer Geschwindigkeit von × km/h) auf Schnellstraßen automatisch fahren, nur im Stadtgebiet bei geringeren Geschwindigkeiten, aber auf Autobahnen im freien Verkehr nicht, etc.;
• – diese Nutzerwünsche können über den Zentralrechner mit geltenden Ge- und Verboten für die Strecken abgeglichen werden;
• – diese Nutzerwünsche können auch länder- und regionenabhängig gestaltet sein;
• – bei regelmäßigen Fahrten zur Arbeit kann automatisches Fahren z. B. bevorzugt und ausgedehnt werden und bei Freizeitfahrten, etwa ins Ausland, ein nicht autonomes Fahren bevorzugt werden;
• – bei häufigen Fahrten kann auf bekannten Strecken automatisch gefahren werden und eher nicht auf unbekannten Strecken oder umgekehrt;
• – in einer weiteren Alternative kann der fahrende Nutzer seine gewünschte Nebentätigkeit angeben und die automatisch zu fahrenden Teilstrecken in Abhängigkeit von der gewünschten Tätigkeit vorschlagen werden. Beispielsweise ist ein Lesen eher einer ruhigeren automatischen Autobahnfahrt zuzuordnen, während ein Film oder Essen oder Trinken auch bei einer unruhigeren Stadtfahrt vorgesehen sein können;
• – der Nutzer den Grad der Automatisierung (automatisiertes Fahren in Längs- oder Querrichtung, Übernahmebereitschaft des Fahrers erforderlich etc.) oder Fahrgrenzen (maximale Geschwindigkeit, Überholen möglich/nicht möglich etc.) vorgeben kann;
• – der Nutzer kann den Fahrstil des automatischen Fahrens bestimmen, z. B. sich für eine defensive Fahrweise entscheiden; und/oder
• – alternativ eine dem Nutzerverhalten entsprechende oder offensivere automatische Fahrweise gewählt werden kann.

According to a further possible embodiment of the method, it can be provided that the driver defines a route to be traveled autonomously or a route that does not travel autonomously in a definition. Thus, the driver is given the opportunity, in addition to or as an alternative to specifications to incorporate their own ideas. Thus, inter alia, it may be provided that:

• - the user can set on which roads he would like to drive at all automatically; z. B. only on highways, only for city traffic, only for overland trips,
• - This selection can also be made depending on the time of day, season or weather, z. B. automatic driving in heavy rain or at night on poorly lit rural roads;
• - This selection can also be traffic condition-dependent, z. For example, the user would like to automatically drive on freeways only in congested traffic (eg, up to a speed of x km / h), only in urban areas at lower speeds, but not on freeways, etc .;
• - These user requests can be compared via the central computer with valid prohibitions and prohibitions for the routes;
• These user requests can also be country-specific and region-dependent;
• - at regular trips to work automatic driving z. B. preferred and extended and in recreational trips, such as abroad, a non-autonomous driving are preferred;
• - in the case of frequent journeys it is possible to drive automatically on known routes and not on unknown routes or vice versa;
• - In a further alternative, the driving user can specify his desired secondary activity and propose the automatically moving sections depending on the desired activity. For example, a reading is more likely to be associated with a quieter automatic highway ride, while a movie or food or drink may be provided even in a restless city trip;
• - The user can specify the degree of automation (automated driving in the longitudinal or transverse direction, takeover readiness of the driver required, etc.) or driving limits (maximum speed, overtaking possible / not possible, etc.);
• - The user can determine the driving style of the automatic driving, z. B. opt for a defensive driving style; and or
• Alternatively, a user-behavior or more offensive automatic driving style can be selected.

Further, a vehicle user may define route shares, road types, and / or times that are autonomous or non-autonomous to drive. This gives the driver of the motor vehicle the greatest possible flexibility in determining his desired driving style. For example, the driver can define that he never wants to drive autonomously in inner cities and also wants to maintain control at times when roads are busy.

Several or all options may be cumulative. The calculation of the route is carried out taking into account the definition made by the driver. For example, the system may exclude routes from the selection that are incompatible with the driver's definitions, if possible. Furthermore, for example, in the desire to drive the largest possible portion of the route autonomously, only those routes are shown that come closest to this specification.

Another aspect of the present invention may provide for the definition to be stored in memory and made available for future travel. The memory can be arranged inside the motor vehicle or outside the motor vehicle, which makes it possible to use the corresponding specifications of the driver in other motor vehicles.

Another further aspect of the present invention relates to establishing a data connection with a central computer running as a server. With the aid of the central computer, calculations can be made and information provided that is helpful or necessary for the calculations. In addition, information about autonomous and non-autonomously passable routes to the motor vehicle can be transmitted via the central computer in some embodiments. A home computer or a mobile device can connect to the motor vehicle connected central computer, so that displayed on the devices outside the vehicle maps in the environment of the motor vehicle, routes planned or information about the motor vehicle can be queried. Likewise, a driver-side definition of a route to be traveled autonomously or a route not to be autonomously traveled can be carried out from the motor vehicle as well as to devices arranged outside of the motor vehicle.

According to a further possible aspect of the invention, provision may be made for the autonomously passable routes and non-autonomously accessible routes as well as route-specific bids and / or prohibitions to be transmitted from the central computer to the motor vehicle or to a mobile device. The mobile device can be connected to the motor vehicle or to the central computer. This increases the reliability of the autonomously operable motor vehicle and allows compliance with the laws and prohibitions that vary and are subject to constant changes.

Another possible aspect of the invention relates to the offer of alternative routes to non-autonomous passages. This way it is possible to bypass non-autonomous passages. These routes can be part of the route. For example, if the autonomously navigable routes are longer, require more time or cause higher fuel consumption, the driver has the choice of autonomous alternative route to choose whether he would like to accept such disadvantages in favor of autonomous driving.

According to a further aspect, the central computer can store, manage, complete, combine, and / or further process information transmitted to it and / or also provide it to automobiles which also transmit automatically. The user settings for automatic driving can be stored locally in the definitions for the motor vehicle. The storage can be user-individual in the vehicle, z. B. to save multiple definitions in the vehicle. The storage can be done alternatively or additionally on the central computer. There the administration of the defintions can be managed. This type of personalization of automatic driving, in one aspect, can be done in the same way as other personalization in the motor vehicle z. B. for individual services.

According to one embodiment, the navigation system or the mobile device can calculate the possible routes depending on current environment information, automatic driving permits and the desired duration / proportion of automatic driving, and make the user available for selection.

The navigation system or the mobile device may further according to a further embodiment with spatial and / or temporal distance before reaching an area prohibiting automatic driving offer the driver alternative routes to avoid the prohibition to drive longer automatically. These routes with different proportions of automatic driving can be transmitted via the central computer to the motor vehicle.

The navigation system or the mobile device can, according to another embodiment, respond to any changes in the routes to be traveled automatically by environmental conditions, etc.

The definition may be according to one aspect of the invention, e.g. B. in the navigation system, are stored time-dependent. For example, it can be stored that Monday mornings are to be driven automatically for an automatic ride of 30 minutes or 50% of the route autonomously.

According to a further aspect, a user can be informed visually, acoustically and / or haptically before the start and before the end of his automatic journey.

According to a further aspect, the user can select an autonomous ride at any time without active route guidance, for. B. in a traffic jam, and he can then take over the vehicle in a deviation of the automatic drive from his destination again, since for an automatic drive, the input of a target can not assume. An automatic trip can then take place along a most probable route (eg along the highway). According to one aspect, the user can acoustically / visually inform themselves about the course of this most probable route and thus prepare for the takeover. The user can specify points of a desired takeover along this most probable route, which the vehicle then acoustically / visually / haptically signals when it is reached.

The invention will be explained with reference to an embodiment. Here are shown schematically:

1 several routes between two places;

2 a motor vehicle, which is set up for autonomous driving and

3 a flow diagram of the method according to the invention.

1 shows several routes between a starting point A and a destination C on a map 1 , Between places A and C there is a non-autonomous road 2 , The shortest route between locations A and C is via the autonomous road 4 and to the track 4 following, not autonomously passable route 2 , At a place B branches a route 6 which also leads to the destination C and the, contrary to the route 2 , is autonomously navigable.

In the context of the invention, the driver can select whether the motor vehicle the route along the routes 4 . 2 should drive, with the driver the route 2 drive yourself, or whether the route over the routes 4 . 6 should run, which are completely autonomously accessible.

The driver can also make specifications as to which, and in doubt, how many sections of the route or what proportion of the route he would like to drive. The route selection can make a route suggestion taking into account these specifications. For example, if the driver wants to drive as little as possible by himself, a route can be automatically routed over the routes 4 . 6 be proposed.

Nevertheless, even without specification of a route, a display of autonomously and not autonomously passable sections of the route takes place on the map 1 , where the track sections attributes 7 assigned. The attributes inform a driver of restrictions and bids on the route, such as speed limits, overtaking bans, etc. Similarly, the attributes may include information about the possible level of automated driving on the link, for example, information about allowable automated longitudinal guidance and / or allowable automated Transverse guidance or permissible fully automated driving.

2 shows a motor vehicle 8th , which is designed for autonomous driving.

The car 8th has a navigation system 10 on, with the help of which routes can be calculated and a position of the motor vehicle 8th can be determined. Furthermore, there are sensors 12 intended. With the help of the sensors 12 can the environment of the motor vehicle detected and a possible obstacle are detected.

The car 8th is in communication with a central computer 14 , Calculations may be made on the central computer in some embodiments that are necessary in the practice of the present invention. On the central computer 14 For example, route calculations can be made as a function of specifications of the driver of the motor vehicle.

To the central computer 14 to be able to communicate knows the motor vehicle 8th a communication unit 16 on.

Furthermore, via the central computer 14 current laws and prohibitions concerning the route or alternative routes are transmitted to the motor vehicle to a true to the leash behavior of the motor vehicle 8th to ensure.

About a mobile device 18 can over on the central computer 14 be accessed and via the central computer 14 and the communication unit 16 on the motor vehicle 8th be accessed. This can be a display of the map 1 , an indication of the motor vehicle location, a route planning, a display of autonomous, partially autonomous or non-autonomously passable routes both on the navigation device 10 as well as on the mobile device 18 respectively.

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

In a first step, the driver can make a specification concerning the autonomous driving of the motor vehicle 8th enter. Alternatively, such a specification can also be loaded from a memory.

Then a destination can be entered. This step and the previous step can be executed interchanged.

By entering the destination, a number of alternative routes from the current location to the destination can be calculated in a next step.

The routes are evaluated in terms of autonomous and non-autonomous passable routes.

The evaluation is then displayed to the driver and allows a selection between the routes.

After choosing the right route, the journey can begin.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

map

2

not autonomously passable route

4

autonomously passable route

6

autonomously passable route

7

attribute

8th

motor vehicle

10

navigation system

12

sensors

14

mainframe

16

communication unit

18

mobile device

A

Point of departure

B

Often

C

destination

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 10335927 A1 [0003]

Claims (9)

Method for operating a motor vehicle ( 8th ), wherein the motor vehicle ( 8th ) is adapted to drive autonomously, wherein by means of a navigation device ( 10 ) of the motor vehicle ( 8th ) or by means of communication with the motor vehicle ( 8th ) mobile device ( 18 ) a map ( 1 ) is displayed, characterized in that of the motor vehicle ( 8th ) autonomously passable routes ( 4 . 6 ) and non-autonomous roads ( 2 ), evaluated and a user of the navigation device ( 10 ) or the mobile device ( 18 ) on the map ( 1 ) are displayed. Method according to Claim 1, characterized by the navigation device ( 10 ) or the mobile device ( 18 ) defines a destination (C) of the motor vehicle and a route ( 4 . 2 ; 4 . 6 ) to the destination (C), along the route ( 4 . 2 ; 4 . 6 ) autonomously passable routes ( 4 . 6 ) and non-autonomous roads ( 2 ) a driver of the motor vehicle ( 8th ) on the map ( 1 ) are displayed. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that to the autonomously passable routes ( 4 . 6 ) and / or non-autonomous roads ( 2 ) associated attributes ( 7 ) are displayed. Method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a plurality of alternative routes ( 4 . 2 ; 4 . 6 ) and for autonomous passages ( 4 . 6 ) and non-autonomous roads ( 2 ) are evaluated and displayed to the driver with the evaluations for selection. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the driver an autonomous driving route ( 4 . 6 ) or a non-autonomous route ( 2 ). A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the definition is stored in a memory and provided for future trips. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motor vehicle ( 8th ) by means of a communication unit ( 16 ) a data connection to a central computer ( 14 ). Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the autonomously passable sections ( 4 . 6 ) and non-autonomous roads ( 2 ) as well as route-specific bids and / or bans from the central computer ( 14 ) to the motor vehicle ( 8th ) or on the mobile device ( 18 ) be transmitted. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that to non-autonomous passages ( 2 ) alternative routes ( 6 ) Tobe offered.

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