DE102020207838A1 - System for recording a wind situation on a route - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for detecting a wind situation on a route is proposed, having an external device, with wind data being recorded by means of on-board recording means of at least one vehicle, measurement data being recorded by devices for wind measurement along the route ahead, and the wind data and the measurement data being sent to the transmitted to an external device or recorded by it and processed in such a way that the current wind situation and any resulting risk to vehicles traveling on the route are determined and made available for further use.

Description

The present invention relates to a system for detecting a wind situation on a route.

Sudden cross winds pose a risk of losing control of the vehicle. There is also a risk of tipping over in strong or turbulent winds from the side, especially with taller vehicles such as vans and trucks.Therefore, it is helpful to know in advance whether a route is currently safe to drive on or not.

Methods and systems are already known by means of which a current wind situation can be recorded, for example in the DE 10 2019 003 961 A1 , or based on which the vehicle's aerodynamic facilities are adapted, as shown in the EP 3 575 192 A1 known.

However, the previously known methods and systems are still in need of improvement. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved system for detecting a wind situation on a route. According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous configurations are the subject of the dependent claims.

A system for detecting a wind situation on a route is proposed, having an external device. Wind data are also recorded by means of the vehicle's own recording means of at least one vehicle. In addition, measurement data from wind measurement devices are recorded along the route ahead. The wind data and the measurement data are transmitted to the external device or recorded by it and processed in such a way that the current wind situation, including at least the wind strength and / or wind direction, and a resulting risk for vehicles driving on the route is determined and made available for further use will.

In contrast to previously known methods, not only is a warning issued that there is wind on the current route. Rather, a large amount of information is used in the present invention to determine the wind situation, which information is processed in a central, external device. This creates a more precise picture of the current wind situation on a certain route and the data determined can be used by several vehicles, whereby a risk assessment can also be carried out.

In one embodiment, geographic data which influence the wind situation are also included in the processing by the external device. In this way, geographical features can be taken into account and the determination of the wind situation can be improved even further.

In one embodiment, the wind situation, that is to say at least the determined wind strength and / or wind direction, and / or the determined hazard, that is to say the severity of the hazard, is displayed on a display in the vehicle. In this way, the driver is permanently informed about the current wind situation and not only when there is actually a risk.

In one embodiment, the display is a head-up display, a display of a navigation system, a display of an entertainment system, a display integrated in the instrument panel or the steering wheel, or an external display. In one embodiment, the wind situation and / or the identified hazard are displayed as a numerical value or as a symbol. The display can be selected according to the user's preference. Depending on the equipment of the vehicle, a corresponding display and representation of the wind situation can take place.

In one embodiment, in the event that the hazard determined by the external device exceeds a predetermined limit value, a warning message is output in the vehicle. This can e.g. be output as an acoustic warning message and / or by visual representation. In this way, the driver can also be made aware of an increased risk.

In one embodiment, the predetermined limit value is determined as a function of vehicle properties, at least including one or a combination of the type of vehicle, vehicle type, load condition, center of gravity, presence of a trailer and properties of the trailer. Since every vehicle reacts differently to wind, an individualized risk assessment can be carried out.

In one embodiment, the wind situation of a route ahead is queried, that is, in advance, and when the limit value is exceeded, another route is selected. In this way, wind situations that are dangerous or undesirable for the driver can be avoided in advance, i.e. with foresight.

In one embodiment, the determined risk for a given vehicle is assessed and an optimized driving style of the vehicle is calculated therefrom, based on this calculation Driver assistance systems, for example a system for active crosswind compensation, and / or driving properties of the vehicle, for example the speed, can be automatically adapted or a recommendation for adapting the driving properties is output to the vehicle driver. By suggesting an optimal driving style, it is made easier for the driver to react to a situation with dangerous winds.

In one embodiment, the processing takes place in the external device by means of a computer program product that contains a learning algorithm that learns from empirical values of one's own vehicle and those of other road users and adapts the risk assessment accordingly. The system is continuously improved by learning from experience.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, with reference to the figures of the drawing, which shows details according to the invention, and from the claims. The individual features can be implemented individually or collectively in any combination in a variant of the invention.

• 1 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung der Zusammenhänge des Systems gemäß einer Ausführung der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• 2 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung einer Darstellung von Windstärke und Windrichtung in einem Head-Up-Display gemäß einer Ausführung der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• 3a bis 3c zeigen Darstellungsmöglichkeiten von Windstärke und Windrichtung durch eine einzige Art an Symbol.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• 1 shows a schematic representation of the interrelationships of the system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• 2 shows a schematic representation of a representation of wind strength and wind direction in a head-up display according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• 3a until 3c show display options for wind strength and wind direction using a single type of symbol.

In the following description of the figures, the same elements or functions are provided with the same reference symbols.

The aim of the invention is an advantageously cloud-based determination of the current wind situation and of hazards due to the current wind situation for vehicles 1 , 2 on a route 20th provide. This is supposed to be in the event that for a vehicle 1 , 2 dangerous wind situations are present, not only, as in the prior art, only a warning message is issued. Rather, the driver should get an exact display of the current wind situation and the resulting risk for driving on the route 20th are provided, advantageously during the entire duration of the journey. The wind situation includes at least the current wind strength and / or the current wind direction.

As a solution, the advantageously cloud-based system described below is proposed, which is implemented in 1 is shown schematically. In this system, the vehicle's own recording means 11th as many vehicles as possible 1 , 2 which is a driving route 20th drive on, the current wind situation on the route 20th detected, including at least wind strength and / or wind direction. Vehicle's own recording means 11th are, for example, sensors such as cameras, radar, lidar, ultrasonic sensors, which are suitable for recording wind data, for example based on the detection of the surroundings. Wind data can include wind strength, wind direction, air temperature, etc. In addition, measurement data from external measuring devices 30th such as anemometer on bridges, tunnels and endangered, ie wind-prone, parts of the route.

The wind data and the measurement data are sent to an external facility 10 transmitted or recorded by it, e.g. through queries, and processed. The processing is in particular a plausibility check by means of which incorrect values can be eliminated. In addition, geographical features of the route 20th , such as wind lanes, can be integrated into the processing. The current wind situation on the route can be determined by recording the large number of aforementioned data provided by different units 20th can be determined very precisely.

It is also provided that the current wind situation and / or hazard on a display in the vehicle 1 , 2 is shown. The display is, for example, a heads-up display, as in 2 shown, but it can also be a display of a navigation system or an entertainment system or a display integrated in the instrument panel or the steering wheel. It can also be an external display, for example a display of an external navigation system or a mobile terminal, a corresponding communication interface and / or an associated app being required for this.

This means that the driver has the option of having the current wind situation, in particular wind direction and / or wind strength, continuously displayed on a display, e.g. in the head-up display or instrument cluster. The display can be switched on and off.

If a hazard is recognized, this can be shown explicitly, for example a colored marking of a symbol 40 are issued. Thus, not only when a danger is detected is a warning message of strong wind without further information on the actual wind situation instead there is a permanent possibility of monitoring and evaluating the current wind situation on the route 20th .

The wind direction and / or the wind strength, but also the hazard, can be used as a symbol 40 or as a numerical value, e.g. as in 3 a until 3c shown. In 3a until 3c the wind direction and wind strength are shown by means of a symbol 40 , more precisely a single arrow, the arrowhead of which shows the wind direction and the nature of which shows the wind strength. In 3a the arrow shows two additional partial areas at its rear end, which indicate a strong wind, with in 3b or. 3c Fewer and fewer sub-areas are shown that indicate a medium or weak wind. In addition, for the respective vehicle 1 or 2 Wind situations classified as a hazard can be shown, for example, in which the in 3a The arrow shown is colored in a signal color such as red or orange. The hazard can therefore be displayed alternatively or additionally depending on the severity of the hazard, for example, a symbol can be colored in a visual representation 40 from green (no hazard) to orange (exercise caution) to red (danger / route not passable) or any other representation that indicates a gradation of the severity of the hazard.

In addition, if the wind situation is classified as a hazard or dangerous for the vehicle 1 or 2 a calculation of an optimized driving style of the vehicle 1 , 2 be performed. Based on this calculation, driver assistance systems, including, for example, a system for active crosswind compensation, and / or driving characteristics of the vehicle can be used 1 , 2 , including, for example, the speed, can be automatically adapted or a recommendation for adapting the driving characteristics is output to the driver of the vehicle. For example, by the external facility 10 the maximum for the vehicle 1 , 2 allowed speed can be actively limited or a recommendation for speed limitation can be issued by, for example, calculating the maximum possible safe speed for the given wind situation. This can be done universally, i.e. for all vehicles on the current route.

Alternatively, this can be done individually for each vehicle, with vehicle data being included in the calculation for this purpose, as described below.

The classification of the current wind situation as a hazard is advantageously carried out by specifying a limit value. This is specified e.g. for the determined wind strength, i.e. wind speed. The limit value can also be specified for the wind direction, e.g. if the type of route has wind directions that are not dangerous for any vehicle and winds that can be dangerous for vehicles.

By including geographic data, which include characteristics of the terrain such as wind lanes, turbulence, down winds, etc., the system can provide even more precise information on the current wind situation. It is not absolutely necessary to record geographic data at regular intervals, for example using vehicle sensors. Rather, these data can be provided as information, for example, directly in the external device 10 are stored.

Vehicle data are also advantageous in the processing of the external device 10 included. For example, the specified limit value can, depending on vehicle properties, at least include one or a combination of the type of vehicle, e.g. truck or car, vehicle type, e.g. convertible, station wagon, sports car, etc., load status, center of gravity, presence of a trailer and properties of the Trailer can be determined more precisely. This is advantageous because a sports car has different surfaces for the wind to attack than a panel van or truck or a car with or without a trailer. This means that, for example, a different assessment of a hazard from the current wind situation takes place with a sports car than with a fully loaded truck. In the case of a sports car, for example, it can be provided that wind speeds from, for example, 100 km / h are classified as dangerous, while in the case of a truck or box van, wind speeds from, for example, 50 km / h are classified as dangerous. This means that an individual risk assessment of the current wind situation can be carried out by taking into account the individual vehicle properties.

The risk assessment can either be done in the external facility 10 take place when the corresponding vehicle data are transmitted to them, or they can be in a control unit of the respective vehicle 1 , 2 take place yourself. This also applies to measures that involve intervention in vehicle behavior.

By processing data in the external facility 10 these are collected centrally and are therefore available in larger quantities, which makes processing more fail-safe. So you can use a wide variety of vehicles 1 , 2 are made available, including those that cover the route 20th only want to drive in the future. It can therefore also be used by a driver of a vehicle 1 , 2 be made possible in advance the route 20th to check the current wind situation to the specific To be able to assess the risk better. This can also be done without automatically including the vehicle data, since the driver is based on the knowledge of his vehicle 1 , 2 can make an assessment yourself.

That means that the wind situation of a route ahead 20th , i.e. in advance, can be queried, and if the limit value is exceeded, this poses a risk to the vehicle 1 , 2 represents a different route due to the current wind situation 20th can be chosen. This can either be done by the external facility 10 be proposed and by the driver of the vehicle 1 , 2 confirmed, or automated to the vehicle's navigation system 1 , 2 which in turn automates an alternative route 20th elects. However, it can also be decided by the driver that the predicted wind situation is on the planned route 20th is not acceptable for him, so he chooses an alternative route in advance.

The system also advantageously records feedback as to whether the wind situation determined and the resulting hazard, i.e. the hazard determined by the system, was correct. As the processing in the external facility 10 takes place by means of a computer program product, which advantageously contains a learning algorithm, can be based on empirical values based on the feedback of the own vehicle 1 and that of other road users 2 learned and the risk assessment adapted accordingly.

For example, driver assistance systems, electronic control and regulation devices based on deep learning technology, electronic control and regulation devices for vehicles for transport on land, in the air, on water or in water are suitable for recording wind data using the vehicle's own systems, All of the mentioned control and regulation devices also for the partially automated, highly automated or fully automated operation of the mentioned objects, sensors for mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic or pneumatic systems for vehicles, sensors for recording vehicle conditions, RADAR sensors, LIDAR sensors, sensors for acoustic , olfactory, tactile or visual detection of a vehicle environment, computer software for vehicles for performing sensor fusion of the aforementioned sensors, driver assistance systems based on sensor fusion of the aforementioned sensors.

The proposed system enables an improved determination of the current wind situation. In addition, due to the cloud-based processing by the external facility 10 a variety of vehicles 1 , 2 benefit from the information, whereby the assessment of the hazard can also be individualized.

List of reference symbols

1, 2

vehicle

11th

Recording means for wind data (on-board sensors)

10

external facility, cloud

20th

Driving distance

30th

external measuring device (e.g. anemometer)

40

Symbol for wind direction and wind strength

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 102019003961 A1 [0003]
• EP 3575192 A1 [0003]

Claims (10)

System for detecting a wind situation on a route (20), comprising an external device (10), wherein - Wind data are recorded by means of the vehicle's own recording means (11) of at least one vehicle (1, 2), - Measurement data from devices (30) for wind measurement along the route ahead (20) are recorded, and - The wind data and the measurement data are transmitted to the external device (10) or recorded by it and processed in such a way that the current wind situation, including at least the wind strength and / or wind direction, and a resulting risk for those driving on the route (20) Vehicles (1, 2) are determined and made available for further use. System according to Claim 1 , with additional geographic data which influence the wind situation from the external device (10) being included in the processing. System according to Claim 1 or 2 , the wind situation and / or the identified hazard being shown on a display in the vehicle (1, 2). System according to Claim 3 , wherein the display is a head-up display, a display of a navigation system, a display of an entertainment system, a display integrated in the instrument panel or the steering wheel, or an external display. System according to Claim 3 or 4th , the wind situation and / or the determined hazard being displayed as a numerical value or as a symbol (40). System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the event that the hazard determined by the external device (10) exceeds a predetermined limit value, a warning message is output in the vehicle (1, 2). System according to Claim 6 , the predetermined limit value being determined as a function of vehicle properties, at least comprising one or a combination of the type of vehicle (1, 2), vehicle type, load condition, center of gravity, presence of a trailer and properties of the trailer. System according to Claim 6 or 7th , wherein the wind situation of a route ahead (20) is queried, and if the limit value is exceeded, another route is selected. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an evaluation of the determined hazard for a given vehicle (1, 2) and a calculation of an optimized driving style of the vehicle (1, 2) takes place therefrom, driver assistance systems and / or driving characteristics of the vehicle based on this calculation (1, 2) can be adapted automatically or a recommendation to adapt the driving characteristics to the vehicle driver is issued. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing in the external device (10) takes place by means of a computer program product which contains a learning algorithm that learns from empirical values of the own vehicle (1) and those of other road users (2) and adapts the risk assessment accordingly .

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