DE102019216775A1 - Autonomous shuttle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an autonomously driving shuttle with a driving module for autonomous driving of the shuttle as a function of sensors assigned to the driving module, the shuttle being a passenger access module for granting or denying access to the shuttle.

Description

The invention relates to an autonomously driving shuttle with a driving module for autonomous driving of the shuttle as a function of sensors assigned to the driving module, the shuttle comprising a passenger access module for granting or denying access to the shuttle. The invention also relates to a transport system with a plurality of the aforementioned shuttles and a method for operating such a transport system.

The DE 10 2008 032 893 A1 discloses boundary conditions for a flexible passenger organization system, whereby mobile communication devices and a method for determining position are used as standard in order to largely automate the transport of people with the aid of a computer.

The DE 10 2017 112 003 A1 discloses a technology that solves previous problems in order to increase the comfort of vehicle passengers and to simplify their driving experience in an automated socially acceptable manner taking advantage of preferences and notifications of passengers. A system is proposed in order to control one or more vehicle air-conditioning devices such as climate-influencing devices of an autonomous vehicle in a socially acceptable manner.

The EP 1 658 715 B1 discloses a device for clustering a plurality of subscribers in mobile networks, each subscriber being assigned a specific profile with profile data. The device is designed in such a way that a data exchange takes place between at least two participants as soon as they are in a designated communication area in order to locate participating profiles of a given content in the given communication area.

It is the object of the invention to provide an improved operation with shuttles.

The aforementioned object is achieved by an autonomously driving shuttle with a driving module for autonomous driving of the shuttle as a function of the sensors assigned to the driving module, the shuttle being a passenger access module for granting or denying access to the shuttle at least depending on a comparison of a first communicativity information with a second communicativity information wherein the first communicativity information is part of a profile of a passenger of the shuttle, and wherein the second communicativity information is part of a profile of a possible passenger of the shuttle. A possible passenger within the meaning of this disclosure is a person who wishes to use the transport services of a shuttle. A possible passenger within the meaning of this disclosure is in particular a person who would like to travel from a starting point to a destination point by means of the aforementioned shuttle (and who places a corresponding request or a corresponding order).

A shuttle in the sense of this disclosure is in particular a vehicle that transports more than one passenger at the same time or is provided for the transport, with each of the at least two passengers requesting a different destination. In contrast to taxi, a shuttle in the sense of this disclosure is intended in particular to transport people with different destinations at the same time, whereas a taxi is provided to transport a single passenger or a single group of passengers who have the same destination. A shuttle in the sense of this disclosure is in particular not a track-bound or rail-bound vehicle.

An indication of communicativity in the sense of this disclosure can be or include, for example, a communicativity value, a communicativity limit value or a communicativity interval. An indication of communicativity in the sense of this disclosure relates, for example, to preferences with regard to communication with, if applicable, passengers. A communicativity information within the meaning of this disclosure can include the start location, destination, time, day of the week, season, calendar entry, any biovital data recorded in wearables, weather data, skin temperature, skin moisture, heart rate, heart rate variability, thermal comfort status, stress level, tiredness, history of the person: just from Sports, from sauna, cinema, dinner, thermal history (e.g. long winter hike behind you), etc.). The thermal comfort level of a person can, for example, as in the patent application 10 2014 219 408.3 can be recognized and made available via smart clothing or a wearable. It can be provided that several (in particular at least 3, in particular at least 5, in particular at least 10, in particular at least 15) values or several of the aforementioned values, which represent real or measurable variables, are converted to the artificial variable “communicativity information” without physical interpretation be compressed or reduced. This is done, for example, by multiplying the communicativity information with a correction factor or factor that determines the extent of the incoming greetings. For example, on weekends, a factor of 1.1 or 1.2 can be used to multiply with the then adjusted communicativity information.

Autonomous driving within the meaning of this disclosure relates in particular to level 5. This means in particular the continuous execution of all aspects of the dynamic driving task by an automated driving system under all driving and environmental conditions that can be mastered by a human driver.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the passenger access module is designed to grant or deny access to the shuttle at least as a function of a comparison of a third communicativity information with the second communicativity information, the third communicativity information being part of a profile of a second passenger of the shuttle.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the passenger access module is designed to grant or deny access to the shuttle at least as a function of a comparison of a fourth communicativity information with the second communicativity information, the fourth communicativity information being part of a profile of a third passenger of the shuttle.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the passenger access module is designed to grant or deny access to the shuttle at least as a function of a comparison of a first topic pool with a second topic pool, the first topic pool being part of the profile of the at least first passenger of the shuttle, and the second Thematic pool is part of the profile of the possible passenger of the shuttle.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the passenger access module is designed to grant or deny access to the shuttle as a function of a route tolerance of the profile of the at least first passenger of the shuttle. A route tolerance in the sense of this disclosure is in particular the extent of a detour that a passenger is willing to accept.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the shuttle comprises an external camera arrangement for recording images of the surroundings of the shuttle. This is used, for example, to recognize a passenger who is to be picked up, for example, who has a code on his smartphone 2 gets overplayed, by means of which he can identify himself. Such a 3-color code is shown, for example 7th . An external camera arrangement within the meaning of this disclosure can comprise one or more cameras. A camera in this sense can be, for example, an HDR camera or a neuromorphic camera.

The aforementioned object is also achieved by a transport system with a plurality of the aforementioned shuttles. A transport system has in particular at least ten, advantageously at least 50, shuttles in accordance with the aforementioned features.

The aforementioned object is also achieved by a method for operating an aforementioned transport system. In particular, it is provided that the transport system allows a user to adjust his communicativity information and / or his route tolerance if no suitable shuttle can be found.

• 1 eine Prinzipdarstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines autonom fahrenden Shuttles,
• 2 eine beispielhafte Ausgestaltung von Modulen und Zusammenhängen zwischen Modulen eines autonom fahrenden Shuttles gemäß 1,
• 3 eine beispielhafte Ausgestaltung eins Moduls zum Erzeugen der Kom munikativitätsangabe,
• 4 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Shuttlerufmoduls,
• 5 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Verfahrens zum Betrieb des Transportsystems mit einer Mehrzahl von Shuttlen,
• 6 ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer Abfrage, ob ein Shuttle einer Shuttleflotte ein Reiseprofil erfüllt,
• 7 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Codes, mittels dessen sich ein Fahrgast identifizieren kann,
• 8 ein Ausführungsbeispiel zum Ändern eines Reiseprofils, und
• 9 ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel zum Ändern eines Reiseprofils.

Further advantages and details emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments. Show:

• 1 a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an autonomously driving shuttle,
• 2 an exemplary embodiment of modules and connections between modules of an autonomously driving shuttle according to FIG 1 ,
• 3 an exemplary embodiment of a module for generating the communication information,
• 4th an embodiment of a shuttle call module,
• 5 an embodiment of a method for operating the transport system with a plurality of shuttles,
• 6th an embodiment of a query as to whether a shuttle of a shuttle fleet fulfills a travel profile,
• 7th an embodiment of a code by means of which a passenger can identify himself,
• 8th an embodiment for changing a travel profile, and
• 9 another embodiment for changing a travel profile.

1 shows a transport system 100 with a plurality of autonomously operating / driving shuttles 1 , 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, ... 1.n. The autonomously operating / driving shuttle 1 , is via a wireless communication system 4th , like a cellular network 5 , with a user's computer, such as a smartphone 2 , connectable in terms of data technology. The autonomously operating / driving shuttle 1 includes a controller CTR , Peripherals BY as well as a passenger access module FGM , in which 2 the peripherals BY , the central control CTR and the passenger access module FGM shows in a detailed representation. The peripherals BY include, among other things, actuators 11 and outdoor sensors 12th . The actuators 11 can include a steering actuator, a brake actuator and a Include drive actuator. The outside sensors 12th can include ultrasound, lidar, sonar, a camera arrangement and, in particular, radar. Depending on the output variables of the external sensors 12th determines an autonomous driving module 14th the setpoints for the actuators 11 . Ie depending on the external sensors 12th and one from a navigation system 15th determined route RT become the actuators 11 and with it the shuttle 1 by means of the autonomous driving module 14th controlled. The navigation system 15th is a GPS 16 to determine the current position of the autonomously operating shuttle 1 assigned.

To the peripherals BY also include actuators and sensors 18th for the automatic actuation of a door by means of a door control 19th . The peripherals BY also include interior sensors 20th , which in particular comprises a camera, by means of which a monitoring module 21st the situation in the interior of the autonomously operating / driving shuttle 1 supervised.

In addition, there is an outdoor camera arrangement 22nd provided by means of the environment of the autonomously operating / driving shuttle 1 is monitored to determine a passenger. Reference number 24 refers to an external display, by means of which an identifier of a wanted passenger of the autonomously operating shuttle 1 can be represented. To the peripherals BY also include an emergency stop switch and a communication interface 26th to the wireless communication system 4th . To the peripherals BY can also be a reader 28 , for example for an e-ticket.

• - Der Nutzer will ggf. abends nach der Arbeit ausschließlich alleine fahren und entspannende Musik hören, oder es sind geeignete Mitfahrer zum kurzweiligen Smalltalk gewünscht.
• - Es ist gewünscht, jemanden zum Zuhören/ zum Herzauschütten zu haben, und es ist damit verbunden sogar ein Rat/ ein Feedback erwünscht.
• - Z.B. kann mitgeteilt werden (z.B. über die zugehörige App auf dem Smartphone), dass der andere Mitfahrer offen ist hinsichtlich Hinweisen zum eigenen äußeren Erscheinungsbild z.B. eigenen Körpergerüchen, Flecken auf dem Hemd, wie die Krawatte gebunden ist usw. Die prädizierten situationsbedingten Präferenzen für einen App-Nutzer können mit selbstlernenden Programmen immer weiter verfeinert werden.

3 shows a module for generating the communicativity information using the example of a communicativity information consisting of an upper limit value KAO for the communicativity information and a lower limit value KAU for the communicativity information. In addition, real values 33 a communicativity module 32 supplied, which generates the communicativity information from these. Real values can include starting point, destination, time, day of the week, season, calendar entry, possibly recorded biovital data in wearables, weather data, skin temperature, skin moisture, heart rate, heart rate variability, thermal comfort, stress level, tiredness, history of the person: especially from sports, from the sauna, Cinema, dinner, thermal history (e.g. long winter hike behind you), etc. The thermal comfort state of a person can, for example, as in German patent application 10 2014 219 408.3, be recognized and made available via smart clothing or a wearable. Situational preferences of a user can be:

• - The user may want to drive alone in the evenings after work and listen to relaxing music, or suitable passengers are required for entertaining small talk.
• - It is desirable to have someone to listen / to pour the heart out, and in connection with this, advice / feedback is even desired.
• - For example, it can be communicated (e.g. via the associated app on the smartphone) that the other passenger is open to information about one's own external appearance, e.g. one's own body odors, stains on the shirt, how the tie is tied, etc. The predicted situation-related preferences for one App users can be further refined with self-learning programs.

In an exemplary embodiment, the real values are 33 generated by weighted normalization and formation of the mean value, the limit value interval consisting of the upper limit value KAO and the lower limit value KAU being generated around a communicativity value. The communicativity information is stored in a memory 30th filed and can by a user by means of an input device 31 corrected or influenced whose profile relates to the communicativity information. In addition, an adaptation module 34 be provided that readjusts the communicativity information adaptively, for example as a function of the percentage call duration of the user in the autonomously operating or driving shuttle 1 .

4th shows a shuttle call module that a shuttle is sent by sending a travel profile 50 by means of the communication link 5 to a control center or via the communication link 4th to the autonomously operating or moving shuttle 1 , 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.n includes. The travel profile 50 is composed of a route profile 51 , a tolerance value for the route TR as well as a user profile 53 . The user profile 53 is made up of the communicativity information 52 , in this case including the upper limit value KAO for the communicativity value and a lower limit value KAU for the communicativity value as well as from a topic pool POOL , which indicates topics that the requesting possible passenger has selected for possible communication or discussions with other passengers: The request for a shuttle is made via an input device 42 by entering a destination ZO , a starting point SO and a start time SZ as well as the tolerance value RT for the route. The travel destination generator 40 determined from these values and the communicativity information, the current time, provided by a clock 41 as well as from the pool POOL possible topics of conversation in a memory 35 are stored, the travel profile 50 .

5 shows a method of operating the transport system 100 . The procedure starts with one step 60 in which the travel profile 50 one User by means of a computer such as a smartphone 2 (to a center) is sent. The step 60 a query is made 61 whether a shuttle of the shuttle fleet is the travel profile 50 Fulfills. If none of the shuttles in the shuttle fleet meets the travel profile 50 , then the query follows 61 a step 65 , in which the inquirer is informed that the travel profile 50 none of the shuttles of the shuttle fleet can be met. The user is now free to change his request, for example with reference to 8th and 9 is explained, or his travel profile 50 to use again at a later date. Does a shuttle meet the travel profile 50 , then the query follows 61 a step 62 , in which the selected shuttle or its route and similar parameters using the smartphone 2 are displayed. The step 62 a query is made 63 whether the potential passenger agrees with the shuttle offered or not. If he agrees to the shuttle, the request follows 63 a step 64 , in which the selected shuttle 1 the order is given to exempt the passenger.

6th shows the query 61 in greater detail. The process begins with one step 70 , in which it is queried whether a request in the form of a travel profile 50 is present. If this is the case, the query follows 70 a step 71 , in which a shuttle is selected. The step 71 a step follows 72 , in which it is queried whether the shuttle can meet the route profile 55. Can the shuttle use the route profile 50 meet, the query follows 72 a query 73 whether the shuttle can meet user profile 54. If the shuttle cannot fulfill the route profile, the query follows 72 a step 76 , in which another shuttle is searched. The step 76 a query follows 77 , in which it is queried whether another shuttle could be found. If another shuttle could be found, the query follows 77 again the query 72 . If the shuttle found at the beginning could not fulfill the user profile, the query follows 73 also the step 76 .

In one embodiment of the invention, boarding passengers are provided with background information on e.g. communication / possible small talk / situation-related preferences with vehicle occupants before boarding. In the same way, information about the boarding person can also be communicated to the occupant in the vehicle cabin. Or it is stated that the passenger would prefer not to chat, or if there is a conversation during the journey, they should only talk about soccer games from the day before. On the basis of the predicted preferences of a first user who orders a vehicle, possible passengers / travel routes / travel times can be selected. Alternatively, the user's own predicted needs could also be displayed / possibly selected and possibly changed before a trip and / or possible offers for communication from possible passengers could be shown (discussion bases, etc.) that can be used. In connection with the use of the app, a code of conduct with regard to verbal and physical handling of passengers can be requested from each user. Cameras may be installed in the vehicle cabins for security reasons that can detect attacks and, if necessary, an alarm can be sounded (e.g. with automatic image processing to detect physical disputes) in order to promptly call in security personnel or the police. A conversation can also be recorded with microphones in the vehicle cabin, if necessary, and verbal attacks / transgressions can be automatically recognized with automatic speech recognition and speech processing, and action can then also be taken promptly. An announcement could be made automatically in the vehicle cabin, stating that border crossings have been recognized and that they must be stopped, otherwise help would be called in.

It is known from trains to assign or assign a quiet zone or a non-quiet zone to seating areas. By means of the invention it is possible to extend this concept to a shuttle operation, but it is provided in an improved manner that the distribution between quiet zones and non-quiet zones is adaptively adapted to the current needs of the road users. In addition, the boundary between the quiet zone and the non-quiet zone can also be set or adapted. In this way, while maintaining the concept of a quiet zone and a non-quiet zone, a significantly improved utilization of the vehicle is achieved. The concept of communicativity information can be implemented in connection with an app or an order service with which a user books a carpooling opportunity, i.e. a carpooling opportunity in a vehicle that may be shared by several people (e.g. a carpooling opportunity in a private vehicle (as with Uber or BlaBlaCar) or an organized pool of vehicles with a driver (as with MOIA)).

List of reference symbols

1

Shuttle

2

Smartphone

4th

Communication link

5

Communication link / cellular network

11

Actuators

12th

Outdoor sensors

14th

Autonomous driving module

15th

navigation system

16

GPS

18th

Sensors for the automatic actuation of a door

19th

Door control

20th

Interior sensors

21

Monitoring module

22nd

Outdoor camera arrangement

24

Outdoor display

26th

Communication interface to the wireless communication system

28

Reader

30th

Storage

31

Input device

32

Communicativity module

33

Real values

34

Adaptation module

41

Clock

40

Destination generator

35

Storage

42

Input device

50

Travel profile

51

Route profile

52

Communicativity information

53

User profile

60, 62, 64, 65, 66, 71, 74, 76

step

61, 63, 70, 72, 73, 77

query

100

Transport system

CTR

control

FGM

Passenger access module

BY

Peripherals

RT

route

POOL

Topic pool

SO

Starting place

SZ

Start time

ZO

Destination

TR

Tolerance value for the route (KAO upper limit value KAU lower limit value)

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was 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.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102008032893 A1 [0002]
• DE 102017112003 A1 [0003]
• EP 1658715 B1 [0004]
• DE 102014219408 [0008]

Claims (8)

Autonomously driving shuttle (1) with a driving module for autonomous driving of the shuttle (1) as a function of the sensor system (12) assigned to the driving module (14), the shuttle being a passenger access module for granting or denying access to the shuttle at least as a function of a comparison a first communicativity information with a second communicativity information, wherein the first communicativity information is part of a profile of a passenger of the shuttle (1), and wherein the second communicativity information is part of a profile of a possible passenger of the shuttle (1). Shuttle (1) to Claim 1 , characterized in that the passenger access module (FGM) for granting or denying access to the shuttle at least depending on a comparison of a third communicativity information with the second communicativity information, the third communicativity information being part of a profile of a second passenger of the shuttle (1). Shuttle (1) to Claim 2 , characterized in that the passenger access module (FGM) for granting or denying access to the shuttle at least depending on a comparison of a fourth communicativity information with the second communicativity information, the fourth communicativity information being part of a profile of a third passenger of the shuttle (1). Shuttle (1) to Claim 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that the passenger access module (FGM) is designed to grant or deny access to the shuttle at least as a function of a comparison of a first topic pool with a second topic pool, the first topic pool being part of the profile of the at least first passenger of the shuttle (1) , and wherein the second topic pool is part of the profile of the possible passenger of the shuttle (1). Shuttle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the passenger access module (FGM) is designed to grant or deny access to the shuttle as a function of a route tolerance of the profile of the at least first passenger of the shuttle (1). Shuttle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shuttle (1) comprises an external camera arrangement (22) for recording images of the surroundings of the shuttle (1). Transport system (100) characterized in that it comprises a plurality of shuttles (1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.N) according to one of the preceding claims. Method for operating a transport system according to Claim 7 , characterized in that, in the event of an unsuccessful request, a user allows his communicativity information to be corrected, followed by a renewed request for a shuttle.

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