DE102023003876A1 - Method for preventing the occurrence or reduction of motion sickness in a vehicle occupant and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for preventing the occurrence or reduction of motion sickness in a vehicle occupant, in which movements of a vehicle (1) are detected and evaluated. In a method in which an analysis of the physical condition of the vehicle occupant is dispensed with, movements of the vehicle (1) around the three vehicle rotation axes (Q, L, V) are evaluated, from the changes of which an imaginary noise-based reference source (17) is created to create a Background noise is calculated to reflect a change in the state of the vehicle (1) via an auditory environment.

Description

The invention relates to a method for preventing the occurrence or reduction of motion sickness in a vehicle occupant, in which movements of the vehicle are recognized and evaluated, and to a vehicle with a device for carrying out the method.

From the DE 10 2020 104 354 A1 a method for determining a state of health of an occupant of a vehicle with regard to motion sickness and a correspondingly equipped vehicle are known. To determine the state of health of the vehicle occupant, an acoustic detection unit is provided, with which at least one acoustic signal from the occupant's body is detected and determined depending on whether the occupant has motion sickness. When assessing the state of health, the movement situation of the vehicle is taken into account, with criteria such as the speed of the vehicle, damping and inclination of the vehicle being taken into account.

The object of the invention is to provide a method for preventing the occurrence or reduction of motion sickness in a vehicle occupant, in which an analysis of the physical condition of the vehicle occupant is dispensed with.

The invention results from the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments and refinements are the subject of the dependent claims. Further features, possible applications and advantages of the invention result from the following description and the explanation of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are shown in the figures.

The task is solved with the subject matter of patent claims 1 or 10.

In the method explained at the beginning for preventing the occurrence or reduction of motion sickness in a vehicle occupant, in which movements of the vehicle are recognized and evaluated, movements of the vehicle about the three vehicle rotation axes are evaluated, from the changes of which an imaginary noise-based reference source is created to create a background noise for reflection a change in the state of the vehicle is determined via an auditory environment. By creating an artificial reference environment based on the background noise, physical reactions of the vehicle occupants to the active movement of the vehicle are reduced.

The changes in the movements of the vehicle are advantageously recorded in a metric that characterizes a relative deviation from a previous state, the metric being used as a necessity indicator for generating the background noise. By querying the parameters to create the metric and the parameter changes contained therein, which are repeated at predetermined intervals, it is possible to reliably determine when the background noise needs to be activated in order to prevent physical symptoms of motion sickness in the vehicle occupants.

In one embodiment, the background noise is generated when one of the parameters of the metric exceeds a predetermined threshold value. This represents a computationally inexpensive method of determining that the driving behavior of the vehicle has changed in such a way that motion sickness can be expected to occur among the vehicle occupants.

In one variant, a background noise generated by the imaginary noise-based reference source changes its properties depending on a change in the position of the vehicle. A changed volume of the noise or a changed position of the imaginary noise-based reference source can contribute to improving the driving experience for the vehicle's occupants.

In one embodiment, the background noise generated by the imaginary noise-based reference source is faded into an ongoing media presentation of the vehicle through subtle modification. The background noise can therefore have a subliminal effect on the vehicle occupants without distracting them from the actual media presentation, such as radio, computers and the like. This enables natural application.

It is advantageous if the background noise used while the vehicle is traveling is evaluated by the vehicle occupants after the journey has been completed and this evaluation is saved together with the parameters of the background noise. The background noise can be individualized to the vehicle occupants and can be used again when the same vehicle occupant takes a seat in the vehicle.

In a further embodiment, the evaluations of the background noise and the associated parameters of all vehicles in a vehicle fleet are stored centrally. From the empirical data obtained in this way, the effectiveness of the created soundscapes can be determined on a large scale evaluated by vehicle occupants, which can be taken into account in the further development of the method.

In a further variant, preferences for selecting the background noise to be played in a vehicle are saved, with disturbing noises from the vehicle surroundings being ignored. Disturbing noises include, for example, road traffic as well as ambulance and fire brigade horns. The background noise preferences of individual vehicle occupants can be listed and saved in the vehicle. However, a storage system external to the vehicle can also be used, whereby the preferences can be retrieved wirelessly and transferred to the vehicle.

In a further embodiment, the imaginary noise-based reference source is implemented using machine learning methods.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle comprising sensors for detecting a movement of the vehicle, which are connected to a device which is designed to carry out the method according to at least one feature described in this patent application.

Further advantages, 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 can form the subject matter of the invention 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.

• 1 ein Ausführungsbeispiel des erfindungsgemäßen Fahrzeuges,
• 2 Ausführungsbeispiele des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

Show it:

• 1 an embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention,
• 2 Embodiments of the method according to the invention.

In 1 An exemplary embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention is shown, which is equipped with a device which generates a background noise created by an absolutely positioned, imaginary noise-based reference source, which prevents motion sickness of the vehicle occupants. The vehicle 1 includes several on-board sensors that measure information about the rotation of the vehicle 1 about three axes. A sensor 3 measures the movement of the vehicle 1 about a transverse axis Q, which corresponds to an incline or a gradient of the road on which the vehicle 1 is moving. The sensor 5 determines the movement about a longitudinal axis L, which corresponds to a tilt of the vehicle 1 on an inclined road, while sensor 7 indicates the movement about a vertical axis V, about which the vehicle 1 rotates, for example when cornering. The sensors 3, 5, 7 are advantageously designed as acceleration or rotation rate sensors. Using a speed sensor 9, changes in the speed of the vehicle 1 in the form of acceleration or braking are observed. All of this information and parameters are fed to a vehicle control unit 11, which determines the need for a compensating auditory environment for the vehicle occupants and, if necessary, the auditory environment is simulated with a background noise that is produced via several loudspeakers, which are advantageously a surround sound system 13 of the Forming vehicle 1, are played into the vehicle interior.

In order to generate the background noise, the relative deviation of the parameters from a previous motion state of the vehicle 1 is calculated in the vehicle control unit 11 from the measured parameters using a metric. This check is carried out at regular time intervals by recalculating the metric. It is assumed that a too large change in the state of the vehicle movement promotes the occurrence of motion sickness. This risk is quantified by the metric.

The metric can, for example, represent an average squared deviation and/or a Euclidean distance and/or a weighting of the sensor sources specifically defined by feedback from the vehicle occupants, so that, for example, turning the steering wheel has a greater influence on the resulting value than an inclination of the vehicle on an incline or descent the roadway.

The metric can also be a model from the field of machine learning, which is calculated based on the feedback, preferably from the vehicle occupants of a vehicle fleet. The machine learning model is becoming more and more precise based on the feedback and learns to predict the occurrence of motion sickness under the influence of the different types of movement of the vehicle 1. From the recorded driving dynamics parameters over a specified period of time, the model can determine the occurrence of motion sickness or a Predict risk of motion sickness. Additionally, vehicle occupant characteristic values such as age, gender, body weight, and the like can be used to increase the accuracy of the machine learning model.

The machine learning metric or model is used as a necessity indicator for the use of the imaginary auditory reference environment. If the necessity indicator exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the generation of the background noise representing the imaginary auditory reference environment is started.

The threshold value for the selected metric or machine learning model is selected in a differentiated manner. This threshold value can be adjusted individually for each vehicle 1 or each vehicle occupant 15 in a vehicle fleet in order to be able to react appropriately to different sensitivities. An initial value for a new user can then be calculated, for example, from an average of the values of other vehicle occupants and/or the new user is classified into a grouping, from which an average value is then formed, which is better adapted to the individual new user is.

Such a grouping can be achieved, for example, by using so-called cluster algorithms based on sensor data on driving dynamics, such as speed, acceleration, steering angle, etc. For example, the new user can be assigned to a “quiet driver” group or a “mainly highway driver” group, for whom a longer period of time with strong, abrupt changes in driving dynamics, for example when driving on a serpentine, can lead to a higher risk of motion sickness occurring.

If the comparison of the necessity indicator with the threshold value requires generation of the imaginary auditory reference environment, this is also calculated based on the parameters described and a background noise is generated which, depending on a change in position of the vehicle 1, changes its perceived properties, such as volume and/or change in position of the noise caused by the vehicle 1 Vehicle occupants 15 perceived virtual noise-based reference source 17 varies, as in 2 is shown. The relative change in the vehicle position is perceived as a perceived change in the distance of the vehicle occupant 15 from the virtual noise-based reference source 17 or a changed volume. The vehicle orientation, which is realized by an angle to the virtual noise-based reference source 17 or by virtually placing the reference source, is also perceived by the vehicle occupant 15 through the imaginary reference environment. Here, the imaginary noise-based reference source 17, which is defined outside the vehicle reference system, gives the vehicle occupant 15 the opportunity to orient themselves in space. Such an auditory reference source 17 is particularly helpful for vehicle occupants 15 who, for example, are reading a book or watching or commenting on a social media post and therefore do not receive a virtual reference for the passive change in position of their own body, thereby reducing the risk of motion sickness.

In 2 Examples of embodiments of the method according to the invention are shown when the vehicle 1 is driving on a right-hand bend. The arrow P1 describes the active direction of movement of the vehicle 1 and thus the perceived direction of movement of the vehicle occupant 15, while the arrow P2 represents a perceived different direction of movement of the vehicle occupant 15, which is unchanged in the exemplary embodiment. The aim of the solution described is to reduce the deviation of the perceived direction of movement of the vehicle occupant 15 from the perceived direction of movement of the vehicle occupant 15 by means of an additional auditory reference source. The absolute fixed position of the reference source is marked with the reference number 19. The vehicle control unit 11 determines a key figure, for example a cornering speed, from the sensor data provided by the sensors 3, 5, 7, 9. The determined curve speed exceeds the specified threshold value, which begins the generation of the virtual reference environment. A spatial source for a background noise is created, which is adjusted so that it appears to the vehicle occupants as if the noise is outside the vehicle 1 and that it remains constantly at this location (reference number 19). This means that when turning right, the virtual background noise initially appears as if the reference source 17 were located behind the vehicle 1. As the right-hand bend continues to the right, the virtual reference source 17 perceived by the vehicle occupants 15 also shifts further to the right ( 2a) . This creates an artificial, acoustic reference environment to which the vehicle occupants 15 can orientate themselves, thereby preventing or at least weakening the occurrence of motion sickness.

In addition, it is not only possible to change the position of the virtual reference source 17, but also its volume, as shown in 2 B is shown. This means that not only can you change direction the virtual reference source 17, but also simulate its change in distance, whereby the vehicle occupants 15 perceive the background noise at different levels. In 2 B This is indicated by differently sized pictograms of the reference source 17. This can be used, for example, if a change in direction is already known before the vehicle 1 drives on it, for example from maps. This gives the vehicle occupant 15 time to adapt to the virtual reference source 17, which is particularly advantageous on long curves.

When generating the background noise, certain noise classes are used, such as pink or white noise, or other noises that do not endanger road traffic, such as sirens, horns, alarms, etc. can be. The noise classes of the background noise are modified accordingly in order to reflect the change in state of the vehicle 1 via the auditory environment. It is possible to place the background noise in the perceived space via a multimedia system with the surround sound system 13 in the manner described in order to enable the most natural application possible. Possible modifications here would also be a change in the volume and/or the direction of the noise. The background noise can be played in addition to the running multimedia content or the virtual playback of the multimedia content itself can be used as the background noise.

It is advantageous if a head transfer function (HRTF) of the vehicle occupant 17 is determined, for example via optical methods, such as a 3D scan of the ear geometry in combination with HRTF models, and used to determine a 3D position of the virtual reference source 17 for the individual vehicle occupant 15 to optimize and to reproduce this using the surround sound system 13 or a 3D sound system of the vehicle 1.

A particularly advantageous way of generating the background noise is to evaluate the parameters necessary to generate the background noise. These can be generated from feedback from the vehicle occupants of a vehicle fleet who were confronted with such background noise. For this purpose, the virtual noise environment generated while the vehicle 1 is traveling is evaluated by the vehicle occupants. This assessment is then transmitted anonymously to a central database or cloud. From this, the best effectiveness against motion sickness can be determined empirically by evaluating the entire vehicle fleet. Machine learning methods can be used for this purpose, whereby the collected data is classified into groups using so-called cluster algorithms. New users of the process can thus be offered a better and personalized generation of the background noise by only determining the best of the groups created.

Another possibility is to divide the other available data, which characterize the driving behavior of the vehicle, into groups using methods of dimensionality reduction and subsequent clustering. This makes assigning new users much easier.

In addition, a methodical individual adjustment of the calculated parameters is possible in order to test the effectiveness of methods in response to a specific change in the parameters and then adapt them individually. This results in a further advantageous embodiment in which the preferences of a vehicle occupant are stored in order to enable a complete improvement of the methodology on an individual basis and to make it available for later journeys.

Reference symbol list

1

vehicle

3

sensor

5

sensor

7

sensor

9

Speed sensor

11

Vehicle control unit

13

Surround sound system

15

vehicle occupant

17

virtual noise-based reference source

19

fixed position of the reference source

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 102020104354 A1 [0002]

Claims (10)

Method for preventing the occurrence or reduction of motion sickness in a vehicle occupant, in which movements of a vehicle (1) are recognized and evaluated, characterized in that movements of the vehicle (1) about the three vehicle rotation axes (Q, L, V) are evaluated, from the changes of which an imaginary noise-based reference source (17) is calculated to create a background noise to reflect a change in the state of the vehicle (1) via an auditory environment. Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the changes in the movements of the vehicle (1) are recorded in a metric characterizing a relative deviation from a previous state, the metric being used as a necessity indicator for generating the imaginary noise-based reference source (17). Procedure according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the background noise is generated when one of the parameters of the metric exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Procedure according to Claim 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that a background noise generated by the imaginary noise-based reference source (17) changes its properties depending on a change in position of the vehicle (1). Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the background noise generated by the imaginary noise-based reference source (17) is faded into a running media presentation of the vehicle (1) by subtle modification. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the background noise used during a journey of the vehicle (1) is evaluated by the vehicle occupants (15) after the journey has been completed and these evaluations are saved together with the parameters of the background noise. Procedure according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the evaluations of the background noise and the associated parameters of all vehicles (1) in a vehicle fleet are stored centrally. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that preferences for selecting the background noise to be played in a vehicle (1) are stored, with disturbing noises from the vehicle surroundings being ignored. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the imaginary noise-based reference source (17) is implemented using machine learning methods. Vehicle, comprising sensors (3, 5, 7, 9) for detecting a movement of the vehicle (1), characterized in that the sensors (3, 5, 7, 9) are connected to a device (11) which is used to carry out the method is designed according to at least one of the preceding claims.

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