DE102022202612A1 - Vehicle control system and method for operating a vehicle control system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle control system comprising a camera (11) for capturing image information from the surroundings of a vehicle (1), an object recognition device (12), a navigation device (13) and a communication device (14). The object recognition device (12) is designed to recognize at least one object (2) in the surroundings of the vehicle (1) in image information captured by the camera (11). The navigation device (13) is connected to the communication device (14) and is designed to retrieve information about the object (2) detected in the vehicle's surroundings. The navigation device (13) is further designed, based on the information retrieved, to determine a conflict between a planned navigation route for the vehicle (1) and an obstacle and to provide an alternative navigation route for the vehicle (1) if a rerouting condition is met. The disclosure further relates to a method for operating a vehicle control system (10).

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a vehicle control system and a method for operating a vehicle control system. The invention further relates to a computer program and a computer program product for the method.

State of the art

From the DE 10 2016 110 215 A1 a camera-based vehicle control system and a method for camera-based control of a vehicle system are known, in which an alternative navigation route is implemented if a detour condition has been detected based on image information. This means, for example, that a closed road can be avoided using a modified navigation route as soon as a roadblock has been detected using a camera.

The disadvantage of the prior art is that an alternative navigation route can only be automatically selected in a vehicle if a specific obstacle has been detected within the visual range of a vehicle camera on a route section ahead.

Brief description of the invention

Against this background, the invention is based on the object of providing an alternative vehicle control system and alternative method for controlling a vehicle system with which obstacles ahead on a route can be recognized early and in advance.

Accordingly, what is proposed is a vehicle control system according to the main claim and a method, a computer program and a computer program product according to the secondary claims. Further refinements are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a vehicle control system which comprises a camera for capturing image information from the surroundings of a vehicle, an object recognition device, a navigation device and a communication device. The object recognition device is designed to recognize at least one object in the surroundings of the vehicle in image information captured by the camera. The navigation device is connected to the communication device and is designed to retrieve information about the object recognized in the vehicle's surroundings. The navigation device is further designed, based on the retrieved information, to determine a conflict between a planned navigation route for the vehicle and an obstacle and to provide an alternative navigation route for the vehicle if a detour condition is met.

An idea behind the present invention is that a vehicle's surroundings are scanned for indicators that can indicate possible obstacles on a route ahead. Information about these indicators can be accessed via the communication device. The information received about potential obstacles allows the navigation device to adapt the route guidance in advance, in which an alternative navigation route can be planned and provided if necessary.

According to a further development of the vehicle control system, a rerouting condition can be met if the alternative navigation route is more favorable than the planned navigation route.

The diversion condition can be based on a cost function with which the benefit of the alternative navigation route compared to the conflicting planned navigation route can be evaluated. For example, if the alternative navigation route is faster than the conflicting planned navigation route, the rerouting condition is met.

According to a further development of the vehicle control system, the information to be retrieved regarding the object recognized in the vehicle's surroundings can be available on a data memory outside the vehicle.

The data storage can, for example, be provided by a server, for example in the backend of an information provider.

According to a further development of the above aspect, the information to be retrieved can include a current geo-position and/or a planned route of the obstacle.

The obstacles can be static, i.e. H. stationary or dynamic, i.e. stay mobile in the road network of a neighboring area of a town.

1. a) Erfassen und Analysieren von Bildinformationen aus einem Umfeld eines Fahrzeugs;
2. b) sofern während des Analysierens wenigstens ein Objekt im Umfeld des Fahrzeuges erkannt wurde, Abfragen von Informationen zu dem erkannten Objekt über eine Kommunikationseinrichtung;
3. c) Prüfen, ob eine geplante Navigationsroute für das Fahrzeug mit einem Hindernis in Konflikt steht;
4. d) sofern ein Konflikt zwischen der geplanten Navigationsroute für das Fahrzeug und dem Hindernis und eine Umleitungsbedingung festgestellt wurde, Bereitstellen einer alternativen Navigationsroute für das Fahrzeug.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method for operating a vehicle control system according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps:

1. a) Capturing and analyzing image information from the surroundings of a vehicle;
2. b) if at least one object was detected in the area surrounding the vehicle during the analysis, querying information about the detected object via a communication device;
3. c) Check whether a planned navigation route for the vehicle conflicts with an obstacle;
4. d) if a conflict between the planned navigation route for the vehicle and the obstacle and a diversion condition has been identified, providing an alternative navigation route for the vehicle.

According to a further development of the method, the diversion condition can be determined to be fulfilled if the alternative navigation route is cheaper than the planned navigation route.

According to a further development of the method, the information to be retrieved regarding the object recognized in the vehicle environment can be provided on a data memory outside the vehicle.

According to a further development of the method, a current geo-position and/or a planned route of the obstacle can be queried using the information.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the task is solved by a computer program which, when executed on at least one computing unit within a vehicle control system, instructs the respective computing unit to carry out the method.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a computer program product with a program code for carrying out the method, which is stored on a medium readable by a computer.

Brief description of the drawing figures

• 1 zeigt ein Fahrzeug mit einem Fahrzeugsteuerungssystem;
• 2 zeigt ein Straßennetz einer Umgebung einer Ortschaft;
• 3 zeigt ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Betrieb eines Fahrzeugsteuerungssystems.

Further features and details emerge from the following description, in which at least one exemplary embodiment is described in detail - if necessary with reference to the drawing. Described and/or illustrated features form the subject matter on their own or in any meaningful combination, possibly also independently of the claims, and in particular can also be the subject of one or more separate applications. Identical, similar and/or functionally identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals. Show:

• 1 shows a vehicle with a vehicle control system;
• 2 shows a street network in the area surrounding a town;
• 3 shows a flowchart of a method for operating a vehicle control system.

Description of execution types

In the 1 a vehicle 1 with a vehicle control system 10 is shown. The vehicle control system 10 includes a camera 11, an object recognition device 12, a navigation device 13 and a communication device 14. The camera 11 can be used to capture image information from the surroundings of a vehicle 1, which is fed to the object recognition device 12 for the purpose of image analysis. The object recognition device 12 is designed to recognize and identify objects, for example from a number of object classes.

In the example of the 1 A garbage can 2 is placed on the side of the road, which is captured by the camera 1 of the vehicle 1. The object recognition device 12 can therefore be used to identify an object of the “garbage bin” object class on the side of the road. The garbage can 2 can represent an indicator of a garbage truck 4 that is sometimes traveling at walking speed in a neighboring area of a town.

The navigation device 13 is connected to the communication device 14 and is designed to obtain information in connection with a detected garbage can 2. For example, a data memory 3 can be used to query whether a garbage truck 4 is traveling in a town in the surrounding area of the vehicle 1. In addition to current geolocation data of the garbage truck 4, information about a planned route of the garbage truck 4 can be retrieved from the data storage 3. When querying information in connection with a recognized object, the current geolocation data of the vehicle 1 can also be taken into account, for example by communicating it with the communication device 14 together with the request.

To illustrate this is in the 2 a road network is shown in the surroundings of a town in which the vehicle 1 is traveling to a destination 5 with a planned navigation route 20. The garbage can 2 becomes a current geo-position of the vehicle 1 using a camera 11 and detecting objects Voltage device 12 detected standing on the side of the road. The garbage truck 4 is traveling on the gel-planned navigation route 20 of the vehicle 1.

The navigation device 13 is designed to analyze the planned navigation route 20 for the vehicle 1 based on the information retrieved. In particular, it is checked whether a current geo-position and/or a planned route 30 of the garbage truck 4 conflicts with the planned navigation route 20 for the vehicle 1.

In the 2 a conflict route section 6 can be seen in which the garbage truck 4 according to its planned route 30 and the vehicle 1 according to its planned navigation route 20 are in conflict with one another. If such a conflict is detected, the navigation device 13 determines and checks a number of possible alternative navigation routes. If the number of possible alternative navigation routes contains at least one alternative navigation route 21 that is advantageous or more favorable than the planned navigation route 20, a rerouting condition is met. If the rerouting condition is met, the alternative navigation route 21 is made available for adoption.

The data storage 3 can, for example, be a server of a backend on which z. B. Dates and routes for garbage collection are stored. Current geolocation data can be transmitted from the garbage truck 4 to the server or collected by it.

The 3 shows a flowchart of a method for operating a vehicle control system 10, with which an alternative navigation route 21 can be provided for the vehicle 1.

In an image analysis 100, image information is continuously captured by the camera 11 and analyzed by the object recognition device 12. If an object (e.g. the garbage can 2) of a defined object class is recognized during the image analysis 100, information about the recognized object is queried via the communication device 14 in a second step 200.

Based on information received about a current geo-position and a planned route 30 of the garbage truck 4, in a subsequent third step 300 it can be checked whether the planned navigation route 20 for the vehicle 1 corresponds to the current geo-position or the planned route 30 of the Garbage truck 4 is in conflict. If no conflict is detected, the procedure is ended.

If a conflict is detected between the planned navigation route 20 for the vehicle 1 and the geo-position and/or the planned route 30 of the garbage truck 4, the navigation device 13 determines 400 possible alternative navigation routes in a fourth step. If an alternative navigation route 21 can be determined that is cheaper (for example faster) than the conflicting planned navigation route 20, a rerouting condition is met. The alternative navigation route 21 is provided and can be displayed as a suggestion to a driver of the vehicle 1. Furthermore, consent to adopt the alternative navigation route 21 can be obtained from the driver.

If it is determined in a fifth step 500 that the driver has given his consent and a rerouting condition has been met, in the sixth step 600 the alternative navigation route 21 is adopted for navigation in order to proactively adapt a current route guidance.

Although the subject matter has been illustrated and explained in detail by exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art. It is therefore clear that a large number of possible variations exist. It is also to be understood that exemplary embodiments are merely examples and should not be construed in any way as limiting the scope, application, or configuration of the invention. Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to concretely implement the exemplary embodiments, whereby the person skilled in the art can make a variety of changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, with knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, without To leave the scope of protection, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.

List of reference symbols

1

vehicle

10

Vehicle control system

11

camera

12

Object recognition device

13

Navigation facility

14

Communication facility

2

object

3

Data storage

4

obstacle

5

Goal

6

Conflict route section

20

planned navigation route

21

alternative navigation route

30

planned route

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of 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.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102016110215 A1 [0002]

Claims (10)

Vehicle control system comprising a camera (11) for capturing image information from the surroundings of a vehicle (1), an object recognition device (12), a navigation device (13) and a communication device (14), the object recognition device (12) being designed in by means of the Image information captured by the camera (11) is used to recognize at least one object (2) in the surroundings of the vehicle (1), and the navigation device (13) is connected to the communication device (14) and is designed to receive information about the object (2) recognized in the vehicle surroundings ), and wherein the navigation device (13) is further designed to determine a conflict between a planned navigation route (20) for the vehicle (1) and an obstacle (4) based on the retrieved information and to determine an alternative navigation route (21) for the Vehicle (1) to be provided if a diversion condition is met. Vehicle control system according to the preceding claim, wherein the rerouting condition is met if the alternative navigation route (21) is more favorable than the planned navigation route (20). Vehicle control system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the information to be retrieved about the object (2) recognized in the vehicle environment is available on a data memory (3) outside the vehicle (1). Vehicle control system according to the preceding claim, wherein the information to be retrieved includes a current geo-position and/or a planned route (30) of the obstacle (4). Method for operating a vehicle control system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: a) capturing and analyzing (100) image information from the surroundings of a vehicle (1); b) if at least one object (2) was recognized in the environment of the vehicle (1) during the analysis (100), querying (200) information about the recognized object (2) via a communication device (14): c) checking (300) whether a planned navigation route (20) for the vehicle (1) conflicts with an obstacle (4); d) if a conflict between the planned navigation route (20) for the vehicle (1) and the obstacle (4) and a rerouting condition has been determined, providing (400) an alternative navigation route (21) for the vehicle (1). Procedure according to the above Claim 5 , whereby the diversion condition is determined to be fulfilled if the alternative navigation route (21) is cheaper than the planned navigation route (20). Vehicle control system according to one of the above Claims 5 or 6 , wherein the information to be retrieved about the object (2) recognized in the vehicle environment is provided on a data storage (3) outside the vehicle (1). Vehicle control system according to one of the above Claims 5 until 7 , with the information being used to query a current geo-position and/or a planned route (30) of the obstacle (4). Computer program which, when executed on at least one computing unit within a vehicle control system (10), instructs the respective computing unit to carry out a method according to one of the Claims 5 until 8th to carry out. Computer program product with a program code that is stored on a computer-readable medium for carrying out the method according to one of the Claims 5 until 8th .

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