DE102022211266A1 - Method for assessing a traffic flow, method for operating a traffic information system, electronic traffic information system, computer program and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for assessing a traffic flow, wherein the following steps are carried out:- detecting at least one item of traffic information relating to a traffic situation (3) along a lane (1) of a roadway (2) by a detection system (9) of a vehicle (5) which is moving on a lane (6) adjacent to the lane (1),- providing the detected at least one item of traffic information to an evaluation unit (11),- determining an assessment result by assessing the at least one traffic situation (3) depending on the at least one item of traffic information detected, wherein the assessment result characterizes a traffic flow relating to the traffic situation (3),- providing the assessment result.The invention further relates to a method for operating a traffic information system (4), a traffic information system (4), a computer program, and a vehicle (5).

Description

The invention relates to a method for assessing traffic flow.

The invention also relates to a method for operating a traffic information system.

The invention further relates to a traffic information system with an electronic evaluation unit. The invention further relates to a computer program and a vehicle.

Route information systems, traffic information systems or navigation systems can provide vehicles with routes or driving routes or navigation routes so that the vehicle can be navigated to a destination. A route can be specified using a variety of information, such as map data, navigation data or traffic data, so that the vehicle can be navigated efficiently to a destination. However, unforeseeable traffic situations such as traffic jams, rush hour traffic, accidents, construction sites, traffic light switching times or other traffic situations can lead to the route being affected. In particular, a planned arrival time at the destination or destination can no longer be met due to delays.

For example, the US 2018/0372504 A1 a vehicle that has a system that can collect information about its surroundings. This allows the vehicle to adjust its planned route and determine an arrival time at a destination.

Furthermore, the US 2017/0206783 A1 a system for detecting queues of vehicles or a length of these queues of vehicles, whereby the vehicles in these queues or queues of vehicles are at a traffic signal, such as a traffic light. Here, special sensors can be used to detect vehicles waiting in the area of the signal system or traffic light.

An object of the present invention is to be able to detect and assess traffic flow more easily.

This object is achieved by a method, a traffic information system, a computer program and a vehicle according to the independent patent claims. Useful further developments arise from the dependent patent claims.

• - Erfassen zumindest einer Verkehrsinformation betreffend einer Verkehrssituation entlang einer Fahrspur einer Fahrbahn durch ein Erfassungssystem eines Fahrzeugs, welches sich auf einer zur Fahrspur benachbarten Fahrspur bewegt,
• - Bereitstellen der erfassten zumindest eine Verkehrsinformation an eine Auswerteeinheit, - Bestimmen eines Beurteilungsergebnisses, indem die zumindest eine Verkehrssituation abhängig von der zumindest eine erfasste Verkehrsinformation beurteilt wird, wobei mit dem Beurteilungsergebnis ein Verkehrsfluss betreffend der Verkehrssituation charakterisiert wird,
• - Bereitstellen des Beurteilungsergebnisses.

One aspect of the invention relates to a method for assessing a traffic flow, wherein in particular the following steps are carried out:

• - detecting at least one item of traffic information relating to a traffic situation along a lane of a roadway by a detection system of a vehicle moving in a lane adjacent to the lane,
• - providing the recorded at least one item of traffic information to an evaluation unit, - determining an assessment result by assessing the at least one traffic situation depending on the at least one item of traffic information recorded, the assessment result being used to characterise a traffic flow relating to the traffic situation,
• - Providing the assessment result.

The proposed method allows for easier detection and assessment of traffic flow. In particular, vehicles located on the adjacent lane can detect the traffic situation and provide the data for assessing the traffic flow.

The assessment result can be made available or transmitted to other vehicles, a traffic information system or another system.

For example, the traffic situation along the lane can be recorded, monitored or observed by the vehicle or by other vehicles moving in the lane adjacent to the lane. The adjacent lane can, for example, be the opposite lane to the lane in which the traffic situation exists. In other words, the vehicle in the adjacent lane can be a vehicle that is driving past the traffic situation in the opposite lane.

For example, the traffic situation may be present on a lane or roadway that has occurred in the direction of the city. In this case, the vehicle can drive past the traffic situation along the lane on a lane that runs out of the city and thereby record at least one traffic situation or other traffic information. In particular, the at least one piece of traffic information is recorded using sensors. With the help of the at least one piece of recorded traffic information, a Information that characterizes or relates to the traffic situation is recorded or determined. For example, the traffic information can be used to provide and characterize a type, a cause, an extent, a size, a number of vehicles involved in the traffic situation.

The traffic situation is a situation along a road or intersection. The data is recorded in relation to a roadway or lane. Vehicles parked in a parking zone or in a special parking area are not considered a traffic situation.

The at least one recorded traffic information item can be made available or provided or transmitted, for example, via communication connections to the evaluation unit, in particular an electronic evaluation unit, or an evaluation system. The evaluation unit can be part of a traffic information system, for example. It is also conceivable that the evaluation unit is integrated in the vehicle and/or in the recording system and in turn is communicatively networked or coupled with the traffic information system.

With the help of the evaluation unit, the traffic situation along the lane can be assessed, evaluated or analyzed based on the at least one piece of traffic information provided and recorded. This assessment can be used to determine or ascertain an assessment result by the evaluation unit on the system side. The assessment result can be used in particular to characterize a traffic flow relating to the traffic situation. As a result, an assessment of the traffic situation can be made based on recorded information from vehicles that are not involved in the traffic situation and in particular are driving past the traffic situation. In this case, it is particularly important for route planning to what extent the traffic flow relates to the traffic situations along the lane.

The assessment result can therefore provide information such as whether the traffic flow is flowing or stagnating. The traffic flow can also be a traffic flow during rush hour, in a construction zone, in an accident zone, during rush hour or in an intersection area. Above all, the traffic situation can be assessed to determine whether the traffic flow has stopped or stalled and therefore there is currently no traffic flow along the lane in terms of the traffic situation. This means that a traffic jam or traffic congestion can be assumed, for example.

For example, the method according to the invention can be a computer-implemented method.

Vehicles that cause or create the traffic situation are on a street, roadway or lane. These vehicles are not in a parking zone or parking area. Therefore, the traffic situation does not affect regularly parked vehicles in a parking lot, such as a perpendicular parking space.

In one embodiment, it is further provided that the at least one traffic situation is used to characterize a traffic jam along the lane, with the vehicle's detection system detecting the vehicles that are within the traffic jam as the at least one piece of traffic information. Thus, by detecting a wide variety of vehicles that are not directly or immediately involved in the traffic situation, a traffic jam can be analyzed or assessed, for example. If there is a traffic jam in the lane, this can be recognized or detected by a vehicle driving in the neighboring lane or the opposite lane. This can therefore be made available to the evaluation unit as traffic information, so that in this example a traffic jam is assessed as the traffic situation along the lane. This is particularly advantageous because by taking this into account, the digital map can be adapted so that the area of the lane that has the traffic jam is made available to other road users, users and/or vehicles in the digital map. As a result, it can be prevented that following vehicles also become part of the traffic jam. By providing information on the updated or adapted digital map at an early stage, other road users, other vehicles, navigation systems and/or users can adjust their route or their navigation system. The traffic information system can therefore warn other road users of traffic situations that are more congested or alert them to them at an early stage by continuously adjusting the digital map. This allows other road users, such as vehicles in a vehicle fleet, to take an alternative route and, above all, avoid the traffic jam or the Avoid the traffic situation. This can improve traffic flow in particular.

A traffic jam or gridlock can be a traffic flow that has slowed down or come to a standstill on a road. This can be due to too many vehicles being in the lane per unit of time or per length of road.

Using the vehicle's detection system or other detection systems of other vehicles that are driving in the opposite direction to the traffic jam or are driving past it in the opposite direction, the traffic jam can be detected as a traffic situation using sensors. In particular, the vehicles that make up the traffic jam can be detected using sensors and used as at least one piece of traffic information for assessing the traffic situation.

The detection system can be an electronic system or an electronic detection device of the vehicle. In particular, the detection system can have at least one ultrasonic sensor and/or at least one lidar sensor and/or a radar sensor. It is also conceivable that the detection system has at least one camera-based detection unit. In particular, the detection system can be designed in such a way that the traffic jam that is present in the lane can be detected by the vehicle that is driving in the adjacent lane.

In one embodiment, it is further provided that, depending on the vehicles detected in the traffic jam, a traffic jam start, a traffic jam end and/or a traffic jam length of the traffic jam is determined, with this specific information being taken into account when determining the assessment result. Thus, by detecting the traffic jam by the passing vehicle or by other vehicles driving past the traffic jam, the traffic jam can be analyzed. In particular, the most diverse information from the vehicles driving past the traffic jam can be taken into account. For example, vehicles in a vehicle fleet that drive past the traffic jam can collect information and in particular transmit it to the traffic information system. With this extensive information, the traffic jam or the traffic situation can be analyzed better or more accurately or more precisely. This is done in particular at system time. In this case, information or data relating to the traffic jam can be collected by sensors, especially by the passing vehicle. This data can be used, for example, in coordination with the odometry data and/or with the trajectory of the vehicle and in particular depending on the position of the vehicle, to determine the end of the traffic jam, the start of the traffic jam and/or the length of the traffic jam. This has the advantage that the assessment result can take into account the extent to which the traffic jam is disruptive and/or critical and/or causes more delays as a traffic situation. The assessment result can therefore be determined more precisely.

If, for example, it is determined that the traffic jam is several kilometers long, it can be assumed that the traffic jam will last longer. By determining the start and/or end of the traffic jam, alternative detours or alternative routes or alternative diversions to avoid the traffic jam can be made available early and, in particular, more efficiently. This means that other road users can be warned of the traffic jam early on and alternative options can be made available. If, for example, the traffic jam only consists of a few vehicles and is between one hundred and five hundred meters long, the system can determine that a temporary warning is issued in this regard on the digital map.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the current situation of the traffic jam is constantly monitored by vehicles driving past the traffic jam. The system can then decide whether the traffic jam is still there, whether it has become longer, or whether the traffic jam is slowly clearing up again. This information can be obtained primarily from vehicles driving past, which use sensors to detect the traffic jam.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if information from external sources, such as the emergency services, police or fire brigade, is also taken into account in order to be able to update the digital map continuously. Furthermore, for example, vehicle-to-vehicle communication (“Car-2-Car” or “Car-2-X”) can be used. Thus, through the various vehicle communications between each other, corresponding information or data regarding the traffic situation, in particular regarding traffic jams, can be transmitted to the traffic information system. This can be used to be used to keep a digital map up to date at all times and to make this information available at an early stage, especially to other road users who are approaching the traffic jam.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the at least one traffic situation is assessed depending on the at least one recorded traffic information to determine whether it is a traffic situation at a traffic intersection. The traffic situation can thus be assessed more precisely and adapted to the respective situation. At a traffic intersection, i.e. an intersection between several streets, queues or traffic jams can occur, especially in urban areas, i.e. in cities. If it is determined or detected in the traffic situation, in particular by the vehicle recording the traffic situation, that this is a traffic intersection, a local map can be generated for this traffic intersection and this intersection can be adapted or updated with regard to its geographical or topographical assignment in a global or digital map. If, for example, it is determined that there are currently excessive or significant queues of vehicles at this traffic intersection, this can be adapted in the digital map as information or a note so that other road users can, for example, avoid this traffic intersection.

Furthermore, for example, any traffic intersection or junction at which vehicles pass or move can be updated, which can record the current traffic situation. Accordingly, route planning for vehicles that retrieve information from the traffic information system can be improved. In particular, route planning can be dynamically adjusted based on the adjusted digital map if the route mainly runs along the traffic intersection. In this case, an alternative route can be suggested to the respective road user, for example.

Furthermore, information about this traffic junction or another traffic situation can be collected as a history. For this purpose, the recorded traffic information and in particular the assessment results in this regard can be stored in a database so that, for example, the system can determine that this traffic junction is often heavily congested and that the risk of traffic jams at this traffic junction is higher than at average traffic junctions.

In particular, it can also be provided that the recorded traffic information or the recorded information regarding the respective traffic situation and the resulting assessment result are stored as a history. In particular in a database of a traffic information system. The traffic information system can thus continuously check or evaluate whether traffic-critical or reduced traffic situations often occur at certain traffic points or traffic situations. This can also be constantly stored in the digital map as additional information so that route planning and/or traffic information output in particular can take this into account, so that, for example, fewer vehicles will drive to these special traffic positions in the future, thus reducing traffic congestion.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a traffic information system, wherein the traffic information system is provided with an assessment result according to the preceding aspect or an advantageous development, wherein map information relating to the at least one traffic situation is generated depending on the assessment result provided and a position of the vehicle, and a digital map of the traffic information system is adapted on the basis of the generated map information.

The method of the further aspect can improve a traffic information system so that more precise, in particular more updated, information can be made available for route planning.

More precise, more comprehensive and/or more updated information can be made available for route planning. This is done in particular by adapting or updating the digital map of the traffic information system. This digital map can contain a wide variety of information regarding traffic conditions, traffic situations, roads or other map information. The digital map can be used, for example, by a route information system or a navigation system in order to plan a corresponding route. With other In other words, the adapted digital map can be made available to a navigation system of a vehicle and/or a mobile device. Updated traffic situations that were assessed using the method can be stored in this digital map so that this updated information can be taken into account in current or future route planning of a vehicle and/or a user.

So that better or more precise route planning can be carried out by vehicles and/or users who use the traffic information system to obtain information, map information relating to at least one traffic situation is generated or determined depending on the assessment result and the position of the vehicle that recorded the traffic information. This can be done by the evaluation unit. Accordingly, the area or the surroundings relating to the traffic situation along the lane can be reassessed or a traffic situation can be re-determined using the map information. In other words, the map information can be map data or map parameters that can be used to update a digital map, in particular a global map. With the help of this map information, the digital map of the traffic information system can be adapted or updated so that, for example, more updated or more precise information can be made available when planning a route using the traffic information system. This is done primarily by recording traffic situations by vehicles, and these currently recorded traffic situations or traffic situations can be assessed or evaluated so that an update of a digital map or road network map can be carried out or carried out.

For example, the method may be a computer-implemented method.

For example, the position of the vehicle can be determined by a positioning system such as a GNS system or a GPS system. The position of the vehicle can therefore be a GPS position. Using the position of the vehicle, the position of the traffic situation can be determined so that the map information contains geographical information so that this map information can be assigned to the correct position or location in the digital map with regard to the traffic situation. This means that the digital map can be updated in a dependent manner.

Furthermore, traffic situations can be recorded by a wide variety of vehicles and made available to the traffic information system so that an improved and more precise digital map can be made available, especially for route planning.

For example, the traffic information system can be part of the vehicle. In another embodiment, it is conceivable that the traffic information system is a separate unit from the vehicle and is connected to the vehicle via communication technology.

In an embodiment of the further aspect, it is provided that information regarding the adapted digital map is transmitted to vehicles which are communicatively networked with the traffic information system and/or provide vehicle-external information which is communicatively networked with the traffic information system. Consequently, for example, a navigation system of a vehicle can be provided with the transmitted information that a more updated digital map is available, so that, for example, the vehicle's navigation system can be updated. Furthermore, the updated digital map can be transmitted to the vehicles or the external information point with the information regarding the digital map. In this way, the vehicle or the vehicle-external information point can plan a route adapted to the current situation or adapt a route that has already been taken or a route that has been driven through.

For example, the vehicles can be digitally networked with the traffic information system via communication links so that data can be exchanged between the traffic information system and the vehicles' navigation systems.

This is particularly advantageous because one of these vehicles is already on a journey along a planned route, for example. If this planned route includes the lane on which the traffic situation occurred or approaches this traffic situation, the route can be adjusted depending on the adjusted digital map. It is also conceivable that an alternative route, i.e. to avoid the traffic situation, can be determined depending on the adjusted digital map and, for example, presented to a user of the vehicle. will hit. The information point outside the vehicle can, for example, be a navigation application on a mobile device, such as a smartphone or a tablet. It is also conceivable that the information point outside the vehicle is an online service that users can use to plan routes. It is also conceivable that the information point outside the vehicle is a traffic service provider, such as the ADAC or another automobile club. This means that users of the information point outside the vehicle can be provided with more updated and precise traffic information, since the respective current traffic situations recorded by the vehicles can be taken into account.

In an embodiment of the further aspect, it is provided that a local map relating to the at least one traffic situation is generated on the basis of the at least one recorded traffic information and the position of the vehicle, wherein the generated local map is taken into account when adapting the digital map. Thus, for example, based on the vehicle which recorded the at least one piece of traffic information and/or on other vehicles which have also at least partially recorded the at least one traffic situation, a local map relating to an environment of the traffic situation can be generated. Thus, for example, based on vehicle data of the vehicle, such as position data, odometry data, navigation data, GPS data or other vehicle-specific information of the vehicle, a location of the traffic situation relating to the environment of the traffic situation in question can be generated. In other words, the local map is a map section or a map section relating to the environment of the traffic situation. Based on the recorded traffic information and the GPS position or the position of the vehicle, the evaluation unit can initially generate the local map, for example, so that this local map, which includes a map section, can be used to adapt the digital map, which is in particular a global map. The generated local map can thus be incorporated as a map section into the digital map at the corresponding geographical position, so that the digital map can be updated, in particular depending on the local map.

In particular, the digital map can be a topology map, road map, aerial map and/or nautical map.

Using the position of the vehicle, i.e. the current position or location of the vehicle and the recorded traffic information, a local map or a local depth map can be generated, which primarily reflects the area surrounding the traffic situation.

In an embodiment of the further aspect, it is further provided that a trajectory of the vehicle is to be determined at least temporarily when moving along the adjacent lane, wherein the trajectory is taken into account when generating the local map. Thus, especially when the vehicle is driving in the lane adjacent to the lane, the movement path or trajectory of the vehicle can be determined or recorded at least temporarily, in particular at least partially. Based on the recorded trajectory, it can be concluded or inferred to what extent the vehicle has driven past the traffic situation. In particular, the trajectory can be used to record, for example, an extent or a scope and in particular a length of the traffic situation. This information can in turn be taken into account when generating the local map.

In particular, a local map, particularly one with enhanced information, can be generated based on the trajectory of the vehicle, the recorded traffic information and/or the position of the vehicle. This local map can be used to improve the digital map in terms of its information content and timeliness.

In an embodiment of the further aspect, it is further provided that when the vehicle moves along the adjacent lane, odometry data of the vehicle is recorded, wherein this odometry data is taken into account when determining the trajectory. This enables an improved determination of the trajectory, since special or specific vehicle information or vehicle data can be taken into account. The odometry data can be recorded by vehicle systems and/or vehicle components of the vehicle and made available for determining the trajectory. Based on the odometry data, for example, a location-dependent component or a position component of the trajectory can be determined. The trajectory can thus be assigned to a location or a geographical position, so that above all the trajectory can be used advantageously for generating the local map.

Odometry is a method of estimating position orientation or location. This is done using data from a propulsion system, i.e. the vehicle's drive system. The number of wheel revolutions can be used for this purpose using the vehicle's wheels. For example, the wheel revolutions between two measurement points in time can be determined and converted into a path difference together with the known wheel circumference of the vehicle's wheels. The direction of the vehicle's movement can be determined using the steering angles of the individual vehicle wheels. A relative position determination can thus be carried out using the odometry data, i.e. with the help of an odometric measuring method, so that the trajectory can be assigned or classified to a relative position. This allows the trajectory, which can be used to determine the lane in which the vehicle was moving, for example, to be entered into the local map. This in turn allows conclusions to be drawn about the traffic situation, so that the traffic situation can be precisely entered or incorporated into the digital map.

An environmental sensor system, in particular the detection system, can be understood, for example, as a sensor system that is able to generate sensor data or sensor signals that map, represent or reproduce an environment of the environmental sensor system. In particular, the ability to detect electromagnetic or other signals from the environment is not sufficient to consider a sensor system as an environmental sensor system. For example, cameras, radar systems, lidar systems or ultrasonic sensor systems can be understood as environmental sensor systems.

A computing unit, in particular the evaluation unit, can be understood to mean a data processing device that contains a processing circuit. The computing unit can therefore process data in particular to carry out computing operations. This may also include operations to carry out indexed access to a data structure, for example a conversion table, LUT (English: "look-up table").

The computing unit can in particular contain one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers and/or one or more integrated circuits, for example one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and/or one or more single-chip systems (SoCs). The computing unit can also contain one or more processors, for example one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units (CPUs), one or more graphics processing units (GPUs) and/or one or more signal processors, in particular one or more digital signal processors (DSPs). The computing unit can also contain a physical or virtual network of computers or other of the aforementioned units.

In various embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and/or software interfaces and/or one or more memory units.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a traffic information system with an electronic evaluation unit, wherein the traffic information system is designed to carry out a method according to the previous aspect or an advantageous development thereof.

In particular, the traffic information system is an electronic and/or digital system. In particular, the traffic information system can be a cloud-based system or a backend or a server unit or a central or decentralized computing unit.

The aforementioned method or an embodiment of the aforementioned method can be carried out using the traffic information system. For this purpose, the traffic information system can have technical means to be able to carry out the respective method.

For example, the traffic information system serves to supply navigation systems, route planning systems, applications of mobile devices or other systems for issuing or providing traffic information with information relating to a digital map or map information and/or various digital maps. The traffic information system can thus share information via communication technology channels, or other systems and/or units can request and in particular retrieve information relating to the digital map from the traffic information system.

For example, the traffic information system can be part of a fleet system or a fleet management system. In this regard, a vehicle fleet consisting of a large number of fleet vehicles, are provided with map data or map information using the traffic information system. It would therefore be conceivable for vehicles in the fleet, i.e. fleet vehicles, to use their respective recording systems to record traffic situations and/or traffic conditions in their respective surroundings and make them available to the traffic information system. The traffic information system can therefore make the adapted digital map available, for example, to the navigation systems and/or route planning systems of the vehicle fleet.

In this exemplary embodiment, the traffic information, the traffic situation, the assessment result, the map information, the digital map, the trajectory, the odometry data, the traffic jam, the start of the traffic jam, the end of the traffic jam and/or the length of the traffic jam can be fleet data. In addition to the traffic information system and the fleet management system, these can also be made available to all vehicles in the vehicle fleet. Consequently, route planning and/or route execution of the vehicles in the vehicle fleet can be improved and, in particular, dynamically adapted to the respective situation using the adapted digital map.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a computer program which can be loaded directly into a memory of a control device of a traffic information system according to the previous aspect, with program means for carrying out the steps of the method according to one of the previous aspects and/or advantageous further development when the program or computer program is executed in the control device of the traffic information system.

A further aspect relates to a vehicle with a traffic information system according to one of the preceding aspects. In particular, the traffic information system can be a component of the vehicle.

• - einem Erfassungssystem zum Erfassen zumindest einer Verkehrsinformation betreffend einer Verkehrssituation entlang einer Fahrspur einer Fahrbahn, welches sich auf einer zur Fahrspur benachbarten Fahrspur bewegt,
• - einer Auswerteeinheit zum Bestimmen eines Beurteilungsergebnis, indem die zumindest eine Verkehrssituation abhängig von der zumindest einen erfassten Verkehrsinformation beurteilt wird, wobei mit dem Beurteilungsergebnis ein Verkehrsfluss betreffend die Verkehrssituation charakterisiert wird, und
• - einer Schnittstelle zum Bereitstellen des Beurteilungsergebnisses.

Another aspect concerns a vehicle with

• - a detection system for detecting at least one item of traffic information relating to a traffic situation along a lane of a roadway, which system moves on a lane adjacent to the lane,
• - an evaluation unit for determining an assessment result by assessing the at least one traffic situation depending on the at least one recorded traffic information, the assessment result being used to characterise a traffic flow relating to the traffic situation, and
• - an interface for providing the assessment result.

• - einem Erfassungssystem, das dazu ausgebildet ist, zumindest eine Verkehrsinformation betreffend einer Verkehrssituation entlang einer Fahrspur einer Fahrbahn, welches sich auf einer zur Fahrspur benachbarten Fahrspur bewegt, zu erfassen,
• - einer Auswerteeinheit, die dazu ausgebildet ist, ein Beurteilungsergebnis, indem die zumindest eine Verkehrssituation abhängig von der zumindest einen erfassten Verkehrsinformation beurteilt wird, zu bestimmen, wobei mit dem Beurteilungsergebnis ein Verkehrsfluss betreffend die Verkehrssituation charakterisiert wird, und
• - einer Schnittstelle, welche dazu ausgebildet ist, das Beurteilungsergebnis bereitzustellen.

Another independent aspect concerns a vehicle with

• - a detection system which is designed to detect at least one item of traffic information relating to a traffic situation along a lane of a roadway, which is moving on a lane adjacent to the lane,
• - an evaluation unit which is designed to determine an assessment result by assessing the at least one traffic situation depending on the at least one recorded traffic information, wherein the assessment result characterises a traffic flow relating to the traffic situation, and
• - an interface designed to provide the assessment result.

A further independent aspect relates to a vehicle with a detection system, an evaluation unit and an interface, wherein the vehicle is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding aspects or an advantageous development thereof.

A further independent aspect relates to a vehicle with a detection system for detecting the surroundings of the vehicle, and with a traffic flow assessment system with which a traffic flow, in particular a traffic jam situation, in the surroundings can be assessed depending on the detected surroundings. The traffic flow assessment system can transmit the assessed traffic flow, for example, to the traffic information system via communication channels.

Advantageous embodiments of one aspect of the invention are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the other aspects. In particular, individual embodiments of the method can be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the traffic information system and the computer program and the vehicles. This also applies in reverse.

In particular, the traffic information system and/or the computer program and/or the vehicle has means to be able to carry out the method according to the invention.

For use cases or application situations that may arise during the method and which are not explicitly described here, it may be provided that, in accordance with the method, an error message and/or a request to enter user feedback is issued and/or a default setting and/or a predetermined initial state is set.

The invention also includes further developments of the traffic information system according to the invention and of the computer program according to the invention and of the vehicle according to the invention, which have features as have already been described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the traffic information system according to the invention and of the computer program according to the invention and of the vehicle according to the invention are not described again here.

The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Verkehrssituation entlang einer Fahrspur, wobei Objekte, welche die Verkehrssituation hervorgerufen haben, durch ein Fahrzeugs auf einer benachbarte Fahrspur erfasst werden;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung eines Erfassungsvorgangs der Objekte mit dem Fahrzeug aus 1; und
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung einer Verkehrssituation an einer Verkehrskreuzung.

In the following, embodiments of the invention are described.

• 1 a schematic representation of a traffic situation along a lane, wherein objects which have caused the traffic situation are detected by a vehicle in an adjacent lane;
• 2 a schematic representation of a detection process of the objects with the vehicle 1 ; and
• 3 a schematic representation of a traffic situation at an intersection.

The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the components described each represent individual features of the invention that are to be considered independently of one another, which also develop the invention independently of one another and are therefore to be viewed as part of the invention individually or in a combination other than that shown. Furthermore, the exemplary embodiments described can also be supplemented by other features of the invention already described.

In the figures, functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

The 1 shows, for example, a conceivable embodiment of the present invention. In this case, a traffic situation 3 is located along a lane 1 of a roadway 2. Thus, the traffic situation 3 has occurred along the lane 1. The traffic situation 3 can have occurred in a section or in a partial area of the lane 1. The traffic situation 3 can be, for example, a traffic jam or an accident or a situation affecting traffic. In this example, a traffic jam or a congestion situation can have been caused by vehicles 10 as the traffic situation 3.

This traffic situation 3, which in this exemplary embodiment slows down and/or impairs traffic flow, can advantageously be made available to other road users so that these road users can bypass and in particular avoid this traffic situation 3 and in particular this lane 1 of the roadway 2. A traffic information system 4 can be provided for this purpose. This traffic information system 4 can be a central backend unit or a backend or a data cloud. With the help of the traffic information system 4, road users can receive information regarding a traffic situation. In particular, the traffic information system 4 serves to provide vehicles and in particular navigation systems and/or route planning systems with traffic information, such as data maps. So that the traffic information system 4 can now provide information regarding the traffic situation 3 to other vehicles and/or road users, information from vehicles that are located or moving in the immediate vicinity or in the immediate vicinity of the traffic situation 3 can be taken into account. For this purpose, for example, communications between the vehicles can be carried out. In particular, information from at least one vehicle 5 that is moving on a lane 6 of the roadway 2 adjacent to lane 1 can be taken into account here. The adjacent lane 6 can, for example, be the lane in the opposite direction of travel 7 compared to lane 1 in relation to the direction of travel 8 of lane 1.

Thus, the adjacent lane 6 can be a lane immediately adjacent to lane 1. It is also conceivable that lane 6 is a lane adjacent to lane 1 or in the vicinity. The vehicle 5, which can be a highly automated vehicle, for example, can have a detection system or an electronic detection system. With the help of the This detection system 9 can be used to detect or record the traffic situation 3 when the vehicle 5 drives past it, and to transmit it to the traffic information system 4 via communicative connections. In particular, the detection system 9 can have at least one ultrasonic sensor or several ultrasonic sensors with which to detect the traffic situation 3, in particular the vehicles 23. This detection is carried out in particular in such a way that at least one piece of traffic information relating to the traffic situation 3 can be detected with the detection system. Furthermore, further traffic information relating to the traffic situation 3 or traffic situation can be detected by other vehicles 23 which are also moving in the lane 6. This information can be used primarily by the traffic information system 4 to analyze or estimate the traffic situation. For this purpose, the at least one piece of traffic information or the other recorded traffic information can be transmitted or made available to an evaluation unit 11, in particular to an electronic evaluation unit. The evaluation unit 11 can, for example, be part of the traffic information system 4 or of a unit separate from the traffic information system 4, which in turn can be communicatively networked with the traffic information system 4 and in particular with the vehicle 5.

With the help of the detection system 9, it can be detected, particularly when the vehicle 5 drives past the traffic situation 3, that the traffic situation 3 is a traffic jam. For this purpose, the vehicles 10 which in this case form the traffic jam can be detected as at least one piece of traffic information. In particular, this traffic situation 3 can be detected automatically when the vehicle 5 drives past the traffic situation 3. In this case, it can be recognized or determined what type or configuration the traffic jam is in this case. In this case, a start of the traffic jam, an end of the traffic jam and/or a length of the traffic jam and/or a number of vehicles and/or an extent of the traffic jam can be determined or detected. This in turn can be used to assess the traffic situation 3, in this case the traffic jam. So that the traffic information system 4 can provide more detailed and in particular more precise and/or more comprehensive traffic information, in particular for navigation systems and/or route planning systems, it is advantageous if the traffic situation 3 is assessed on the system side by the traffic information system. For this purpose, for example, an assessment result regarding the traffic situation 3 can be determined or ascertained using the evaluation unit 11 on the basis of the at least one recorded traffic information. With the help of this assessment result, for example, the traffic flow along lane 1 can be assessed. In particular, the assessment is made as to the extent to which the traffic situation 3 negatively influences the traffic flow, i.e. slows down the traffic flow. Furthermore, it can be assessed or estimated how long the traffic situation 3 will exist or exist. In particular, the information recorded from the vehicle 5 and/or the vehicles 23 can be taken into account here. Furthermore, information can be made available, for example, by the vehicles 10, 23 via communicative connection routes. Thus, with the help of the assessment result, the type of traffic situation 3 and/or the duration of the traffic situation 3 and/or the extent of the traffic situation 3 and/or a traffic-critical level of the traffic situation 3 can be assessed. In particular, it can be assessed to what extent the traffic situation 3 influences route planning and in particular the time required to reach a route destination and/or a navigation destination.

Using the assessment result, for example, using the evaluation unit 11, map information relating to at least one traffic situation 3 can be generated or determined depending on the assessment result and a position 12 of the vehicle 5. Thus, a relative determination of the position 12 of the vehicle 5 is increasingly carried out here in order to then be able to determine or estimate the relative position or the relative geographical position of the traffic situation 3. Thus, a data set can be made available or generated in the map information which reflects or characterizes the position or the relative position of the traffic situation 3 and the respective situation or the respective state of this traffic situation 3.

In order for the traffic information system 4 to be able to provide more comprehensive or more precise information, especially for route planning and/or navigation processes, a digital map 13 of the traffic information system 4 can be adapted or updated or brought up to date on the basis of the generated map information. The digital map 13 can in particular be a global map. In particular, the digital map 13 can be used as a data set or A digital map can be understood as a plurality of data sets which is stored on a computer-readable storage medium and which spatially relates objects in a predetermined spatial area to one another and/or to a predefined reference point. Optionally, the digital map can contain schematic information relating to objects. A high-resolution digital map or HD map can be understood as a digital map which has a spatial resolution on the order of one or fewer centimeters, i.e. in particular has a resolution of less than ten centimeters. This adapted digital map 13 can be made available by the traffic information system 4, primarily for route planning. In this case, either the digital map 13 can be transmitted or made available as a data set or at least information relating to the digital map 13 to the vehicles 23, 5, 10 or to information points 14 outside the vehicle, such as Internet service providers or traffic information providers.

For example, the traffic information system 4 can have a computer program 15 that can be loaded directly into a memory 16 of a control device 17 of the traffic information system 4. For this purpose, program means can be provided in order to carry out the method according to the invention accordingly when the computer program 15 is executed in the control device 17 of the traffic information system 4. In order to be able to carry out preprocessing in particular before the digital map 13 is adapted or updated, a local or relative map 18 relating to the at least one traffic situation 3 can be created or generated on the basis of the at least one recorded traffic information and the position 12 of the vehicle 5. This can be done by means of the evaluation unit 11. The local map 18 is therefore in particular a map section that contains the surrounding area or the surroundings of the traffic situation 3, for example the directly surrounding streets. Preprocessing can in turn be carried out on the basis of this local map 18, for example already in the vehicle 5, which can then be used to be able to update the digital map 13 accordingly. In order to generate this local map 18, a trajectory 19 of the vehicle 5 can be taken into account in addition to the position 12 of the vehicle 5, which is a GPS position, for example. For this purpose, the trajectory 19 that the vehicle 5 takes when driving or moving along the adjacent lane 7 can be determined or recorded using vehicle systems of the vehicle 5.

Above all, a length or extent of the traffic situation 3 can be determined or estimated using the trajectory 19. Furthermore, odometry data of the vehicle 5 can also be taken into account for determining the trajectory 19 and/or for determining the position 12. Furthermore, a steering angle and/or a speed of the vehicle 5 can be taken into account for this purpose. In this way, above all, an exact location of the traffic situation 3 can be carried out, so that either the local map 18 is first generated and the digital map 13 is updated based on this, or the digital map 13 is updated directly based on this data.

For example, in addition to the detection system 9, the vehicle 5 can have a traffic flow assessment system 24 with which a traffic flow, in particular the traffic situation 3, can be assessed. By means of the traffic flow assessment system 24, a preprocessing or data preparation of the recorded information regarding the traffic situation 3 can be carried out and then transmitted to the traffic information system 4.

Likewise, the traffic information system 4 can be part of the vehicle 5.

Specifically, the vehicle 5 can have an interface 25, in particular a communication interface, with which the assessment result can be made available, for example, to other road users.

In the 2 an embodiment relating to the detection of at least one piece of traffic information is shown.

In this case, the vehicle 5 drives past the traffic situation 3 in the opposite direction of travel to the traffic situation 3. During this passing, the vehicles 10 in particular can be detected. For this purpose, in particular an ultrasonic sensor or several ultrasonic sensors of the detection unit 9 can be used. While the vehicle 5 drives past the vehicles 10, ultrasonic signals 20 can be emitted so that, as shown here by way of example, one of the vehicles 5 can be scanned and thus detected. With the help of these emitted ultrasonic signals 20, a depth, i.e. how far the vehicles 10 or objects are outside the vehicle 5, can be detected. In particular, with the help of the emitted ultrasonic signals 20, a relationship between the vehicle 5 and the vehicle 4 is determined or considered. By taking the movement of the vehicle into account, By tracking the vehicle 5, for example using the trajectory 19, the ultrasonic signals 20 that are sent out and then received again can be placed in a spatial context or a spatial relationship. Using this spatial context, which represents the vehicles 10 within the traffic situation 3, the local map 18 can be generated, for example. In particular, the local map 18 can be a local depth map. In particular, the local map can be generated as a one-dimensional depth map or map in the lateral direction.

With the help of the ultrasonic sensor, a free space or a space in the surroundings of the vehicle 5 can be determined, so that the traffic situation 3 in particular can be recorded. The ultrasonic sensors or the ultrasonic sensor can, for example, determine the vehicle 10 using a single measuring method. In this case, it can be determined, for example, how far the vehicle 10 is from the vehicle 5. In this case, it can also be determined, for example, how close the vehicle 23 is to a tire or a wheel of the vehicle 5. Several measurements can also be taken. The ultrasonic sensors of the detection system 9 can in turn carry out the scanning, in particular the transmission of the ultrasonic signals 20 using a fixed frequency or a variable frequency. Furthermore, the ultrasonic sensors of the detection system 9 can be synchronized with one another in time.

Furthermore, in one embodiment, it can be provided that a movement of the vehicle 5 is determined by odometry data. For example, a wheel rotation can be taken into account. The movement can be integrated using a wide variety of information that can be provided by the vehicle 5. From this, it can be determined, for example, that the vehicle 5 is driving straight ahead. This is particularly advantageous if, for example, the traffic jam relating to the traffic situation 3 is an elongated traffic jam, for example along a main road or along a motorway. If the vehicle 5 were to drive straight ahead, all of the vehicle wheels of the vehicle 5 would cover the same distance, so that the distance covered by the vehicle 5 can be determined. From this, for example, a length of the traffic jam and/or an area of the traffic situation 3 can be determined. By taking the odometry data into account, inaccuracies can be prevented, for example, particularly when parking. This can in turn be implemented in the simplest way, for example with the evaluation unit 11 for the assessment or for the calculation. In order to be able to determine the movement of the vehicle 5 more precisely, additional sensors, such as a steering angle, can be taken into account. Furthermore, acceleration sensors can be taken into account here.

By scanning using the ultrasonic sensors of the detection system 9 and the determined movement of the vehicle 5, different points in time can be determined at certain points in time, i.e. when driving past the traffic situation 3. In particular, sensor information can be superimposed or overlapped so that a more precise determination of the traffic situation 3 can be made. For this purpose, points or average values can also be determined between the points in time by means of interpolation. These options can also be taken into account when generating the local map 18. For example, objects such as the vehicles 10, which were detected and in particular determined by the passing vehicle 5, can be reconstructed so that the traffic situation 3 can be evaluated, assessed or determined from them. By taking into account a radar sensor of the detection system 9, it can be ensured that the local map 18 only contains static or quasi-static objects that can be detected by the radar sensor. In particular, the speed of passing objects can be detected in this way. In an optional further embodiment, the local map 18 can now be connected or merged with a global reference map. This can then ultimately be made available as a digital map 13. The reference map can, for example, be stored in a storage unit of the vehicle 5 or retrieved by the vehicle 5 from an external information source. By taking such a reference map into account, the accuracy of the local map 18 and thus of the digital map 13 can be increased or improved.

By determining the position 12 of the vehicle 5, for example by means of a positioning system, an initially rough localization of the vehicle 5 can be carried out. In the vicinity of this position 12, lanes or roads on which the vehicle 5 can drive can be detected. This in turn makes it possible to deduce the neighboring lane 7. In this regard, lane 1 can again be can be recognized, and with the help of the detection system 9, with which objects can be detected, it can be determined whether the vehicles 10 in particular are moving in lane 1 or not. It can also be noted whether the vehicles 10 are moving very slowly, for example at a speed of less than 10 km/h. This in turn can be used to determine whether the vehicles 10 are in a traffic jam, which has either come to a complete standstill and thus there is no traffic flow, or whether there is a very slow traffic flow.

As soon as, for example, the vehicle 5 has completely driven through the traffic situation 3 and thus the traffic jam on the separate lane, a length or a length of the traffic jam can be determined. In particular, the length of a queue of waiting vehicles 5 can be determined.

This makes it possible to determine information relating to the queue or queue. This information can include, for example, the length of the queue, the position of the queue or the position of the queue or the position of the individual vehicles 10, a start of the queue and an end of the queue. This information can in turn be used to provide other road users with this information relating to the queue using the digital map 13. In one embodiment, this determination of this information relating to the queue can in turn be carried out by the vehicle 5 itself. Alternatively, the raw data can be transmitted to the traffic information system 4 so that the determination or calculation can be carried out there.

With the adapted or updated digital map 13 and the map information updated therein, other road users and in particular navigation systems can be operated better because, as in this case, the area of this traffic jam or queue can be avoided by other road users, so that above all navigation or route planning by other road users can be improved or carried out more efficiently on the basis of this information.

This has the further advantage that route planning with regard to an arrival time can be carried out with less sensitivity to critical traffic situations. By evaluating the traffic situation 3 by at least one passing vehicle 5, other navigation systems and/or route determination systems can be improved in such a way that uncertainty with regard to a specific arrival time can be reduced, since, as in this case, the traffic situation 3 can be avoided early and a route adjustment can therefore be made early on. This is particularly advantageous in urban environments. In particular, vehicles in a vehicle fleet can be communicatively networked so that a vehicle in the vehicle fleet that drives past a queue of waiting vehicles, i.e. corresponding to a traffic situation 3, can be made available to other vehicles in the vehicle fleet with corresponding information. In particular, extensive information from the vehicle in the vehicle fleet is provided to the traffic information system 4.

Furthermore, this has the advantage that alternative routes can be taken early on for routes that have already been calculated, but which take the traffic situation into account. This can above all lead to improved traffic management. Using the sensors of the vehicle 5 and/or the vehicles 23, queues can be detected, for example. This is particularly advantageous at traffic intersections or junctions, which can be seen in the following example. 3 is shown. Based on this information, which was recorded by passing vehicles 5, 23, traffic signal systems or traffic lights can be adjusted or improved in their control at such intersections or traffic junctions. Furthermore, with the help of the detection system 9, the vehicles 10 can be assessed with regard to the traffic situation 3 as to whether they are on the left or right side in relation to the vehicle 5. This allows an even better localization of the traffic situation 3.

The advantage of taking into account the information from passing vehicles 5, 23 in a traffic situation 3 is that, unlike pure GPS positioning, only locations with a potential danger in relation to a traffic situation can be recorded. Furthermore, there is an advantage over systems in which sensors are installed in stationary road areas in order to record traffic situations, but these only serve a stationary purpose for a specific area. By taking into account the information from passing vehicles 5, 23 in a traffic situation 3, a constant updating of a digital map and in particular especially a navigation system.

In the 3 a traffic intersection is shown as a possible embodiment with regard to a traffic situation 3. This shows a possible case in which the lane in which the traffic situation 3 occurred has the same direction of travel as the lane in which the vehicles 5, 23 are moving. The vehicles 5, 23 driving past the queues 21, 22 can thus determine the vehicles 10 positioned there and the distances between the vehicles 23 and in particular a distance between the two queues 21, 22. The multiple vehicles 5, 23 can be used to record or determine the queues 21, 22 in detail. This can in turn be made available to the evaluation unit 11 as traffic information, so that the presence of two queues 21, 22 can be determined or assessed when assessing the traffic situation 3.

The statements just made on the 1 to 3 are not intended to be exhaustive but are intended to provide a brief insight into the possible designs and, in particular, the possible traffic situations. Further designs are also conceivable.

List of reference symbols

1

lane

2

roadway

3

Traffic situation

4

Traffic information system

5

vehicle

6

adjacent lane

7

opposite direction of travel

8th

Direction of travel

9

Recording system

10

vehicles

11

Evaluation unit

12

Position of the vehicle

13

digital map

14

external information point

15

computer program

16

Storage

17

Control device

18

local map

19

Trajectory

20

Ultrasound signals

21, 22

Queues

23

vehicle

24

Traffic flow assessment system

25

interface

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 accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 20180372504 A1 [0005]
• US 20170206783 A1 [0006]

Claims (13)

Method for assessing a traffic flow, wherein the following steps are carried out: - detecting at least one item of traffic information relating to a traffic situation (3) along a lane (1) of a roadway (2) by a detection system (9) of a vehicle (5) which is moving on a lane (6) adjacent to the lane (1), - providing the detected at least one item of traffic information to an evaluation unit (11), - determining an assessment result by assessing the at least one traffic situation (3) depending on the at least one item of traffic information detected, wherein the assessment result characterizes a traffic flow relating to the traffic situation (3), - providing the assessment result. Procedure according to Claim 1 , wherein the at least one traffic situation (3) is used to characterize a traffic jam along the lane (1), wherein the detection system (9) of the vehicle (5) detects the vehicles (10) located within the traffic jam as the at least one item of traffic information, in particular the detection system (9) has at least one ultrasonic sensor. Procedure according to Claim 2 , wherein depending on the detected vehicles (10) of the traffic jam, a start of the traffic jam, an end of the traffic jam and/or a length of the traffic jam is determined, wherein this determined information is taken into account when determining the assessment result. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one traffic situation (3) is assessed depending on the at least one recorded traffic information as to whether it is a traffic situation (3) at a traffic intersection. Method for operating a traffic information system (4), wherein the traffic information system (4) is provided with an assessment result according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - map information relating to the at least one traffic situation (3) is generated depending on the assessment result provided and a position (12) of the vehicle (5), and - a digital map (13) of the traffic information system (4) is adapted on the basis of the generated map information. Procedure according to Claim 5 , wherein information concerning the adapted digital map (13) is transmitted to vehicles (10) which are communicatively networked with the traffic information system (4) and/or vehicle-external information points (14) which are communicatively networked with the traffic information system (4). Procedure according to Claim 5 or 6 , wherein a local map (18) relating to the at least one traffic situation (3) is generated on the basis of the at least one recorded traffic information and the position (12) of the vehicle (5), wherein the generated local map (18) is taken into account when adapting the digital map (13). Procedure according to Claim 7 , wherein a trajectory (19) of the vehicle (5) is determined at least temporarily when moving along the adjacent lane (1), wherein the trajectory (19) is taken into account when generating the local map (18). Procedure according to Claim 8 , wherein when the vehicle (5) moves along the adjacent lane (6), odometry data of the vehicle (5) are recorded, said odometry data being taken into account when determining the trajectory (19). Traffic information system (4) with an electronic evaluation unit (11), wherein the traffic information system (4) is designed to carry out a method according to one of the Claims 5 until 9 is trained. Computer program which is directly stored in a memory of a control device (17) of a traffic information system (4) according to Claim 10 loadable, with program means to carry out the steps of the method according to one of the Claims 5 until 9 when the program is executed in the control device (17) of the traffic information system (4). Vehicle (5) with a traffic information system (4) according to Claim 9 . Vehicle (5) with - a detection system (9) for detecting at least one item of traffic information relating to a traffic situation (3) along a lane (1) of a roadway (2), which moves on a lane (1) adjacent to the lane (1), - an evaluation unit (11) for determining an assessment result by assessing the at least one traffic situation (3) depending on the at least one item of traffic information detected, the assessment result being used to characterise a traffic flow relating to the traffic situation (3), - an interface (25) for providing the assessment result.

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