FR3038569A1 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIMITING VEHICLE OVERSPEED - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for limiting vehicle overspeed, comprising: acquiring an image of a speed limiting panel and recognizing the speed limit from the speed limit panel; the recording of the speed limit; the comparison of the speed limit and a current speed; if the speed limit is greater than or equal to the current speed, then set the speed limit as the maximum speed. The technical solution of the present invention can reduce driver stress, prevent rulemaking caused by driver fatigue, improve driving safety, and also improve fuel economy of the vehicle.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIMITING OVERSPEED

VEHICLE

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to the field of vehicle control, and more particularly relates to a method and apparatus for regulating the speed of vehicles according to a speed limitation panel.

CONTEXT

Vehicle speed control systems are widely used in many vehicles. When the vehicle cruise control system is activated, the driver can remove the foot from the vehicle acceleration pedal and the vehicle can continue to drive at a predetermined constant speed. During a long drive, the cruise control system can not only relieve driver fatigue, but also effectively reduce fuel consumption. Nowadays, the fact that a vehicle has been equipped with a vehicle speed control feature is an important factor influencing the sale of the vehicle.

However, with a current vehicle cruise control system, the vehicle can only run at a constant speed but can not automatically shift according to the specific requirement. For example, when a vehicle in front of the current vehicle slows down, the driver of the current vehicle must press the brake pedal to reduce the speed of the vehicle, and in such a condition, the cruising speed of the current vehicle will be canceled. If he wishes to restore the initial cruising speed, the driver must press the corresponding key (eg the reset key) on the control panel to restore the desired speed of the vehicle. However, if the corresponding key is not pressed, then the cruising speed can not be restored.

As a result, an adaptive cruise control system has been developed. With this system, a radar installed in the vehicle can constantly detect the driving speed of the front vehicle and adaptively adjust its speed according to the speed of the front vehicle. For example, when the speed of the front-end vehicle goes from 120 km / h to 100 km / h, the current vehicle can slow down accordingly to 100 km / h by decreasing the engine power or automatically performing a braking operation, without recourse the manual cancellation of the cruising speed by the driver. Similarly, if the front vehicle accelerates from 100 km / h to 120 km / h, the current vehicle also accelerates accordingly and finally reaches the desired speed.

The development of the Adaptive Cruise Control system effectively eliminates faults in the current cruise control system, relaxes the driver and reduces fuel consumption.

However, the current adaptive cruise control system can only detect a forward vehicle speed, but can not determine the regulated speed of the current road. During a long journey, the driver can easily ignore the maximum speed limit because the speed varies constantly depending on the actual state of the road. For example, after driving for a long time, the driver may ignore or forget the actual maximum speed limit due to his fatigue (for example, on a stretch of road with a maximum speed limit of 100 km / h, the driver may drive at 120 km / h for a long time). In this condition, the driver may violate the traffic rules and also potentially cause a traffic accident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to solve the problem of the prior art that the vehicle driving speed can not be adjusted to a real road condition and is intended to provide a vehicle speed control method and apparatus in a real state. .

According to a first aspect, there is provided a method of limiting vehicle overspeed, comprising: acquiring an image of a speed limiting panel and recognizing the speed limit from the speed limiting panel; the recording of the speed limit; the comparison of the speed limit and a current speed; if the speed limit is greater than or equal to the current speed, then set the speed limit as the maximum speed.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a vehicle overspeed limitation apparatus comprising: a camera configured to acquire an image of a speed limiting panel; an image analyzer configured to recognize the speed limit from the speed limit panel; a memory configured to record the speed limit; a processor configured to compare the speed limit and a current speed, in which if the speed limit is greater than or equal to the current speed, then to set the speed limit as the maximum speed.

The technical solution of the present invention can reduce driver stress, prevent rulemaking caused by driver fatigue, improve driving safety, and also improve fuel economy of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complete the description and to facilitate understanding of the various features of the invention, the present disclosure comprises a set of illustrative but non-limiting diagrams. Various other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be fully appreciated as these are better understood when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which similar references designate like parts or like parts throughout. different views, and in which: Figure 1 shows a flowchart of a method according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a block diagram of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows a flowchart of a method according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows a flowchart of a method according to yet another embodiment of the invention; and Figure 5 shows a block diagram of an apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the detailed description which follows, reference is made to the drawings which accompany it, and which form part thereof. The illustrative embodiments described herein in the detailed description, drawings and claims are not intended to be limiting. Other embodiments may be used and / or other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure.

Figure 1 shows a flowchart of a method according to one embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the method according to the present invention comprises: in step S110, the acquisition of an image of a speed limitation panel and the recognition of the speed limit from the limitation panel of speed; in step S120, the recording of the limit speed; in step S130, the comparison of the speed limit and a current speed; in step S140, if the limit speed is greater than or equal to the current speed, then setting the limit speed as the maximum speed.

There are several types of speed limit signs that are different in different countries. The speed limit sign in China is mainly characterized by a white background with a red circle, and in the red circle is indicated the speed limit in black numbers.

This type of speed limit sign is widely used in various countries and the only difference lies mainly in the maximum speed. For example, the motorway in Germany has no maximum speed limit, the maximum speed limit in Italy is 150 km / h, the maximum speed limit in France, Switzerland and Austria is 130 km / h, the maximum speed limit in Canada, Australia, Spain and China is 120 km / h, and the limitation in the United Kingdom is 110 km / h.

Traffic sign recognition is a technology whereby a vehicle is able to recognize traffic signs on the road, for example, "speed limit". This is part of the specifics collectively called AD AS. The technology is being developed by many automotive suppliers, including Continental and Delphi. These first TSR systems that recognize speed limits were developed in cooperation with Mobileye and Continental AG. Relevant search information can be obtained, for example, from Eichner, M.; Breckon, T. (2008). "Integrated speed limit detection and recognition from real-time video". IEEE International Intelligent Vehicles Symposium: 626-631.

After being recognized, the speed can be stored and compared to the current speed. If it is below the speed limit, the current speed will not be changed; according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in step S140, if the limit speed is greater than or equal to the current speed, then the limit speed is set as the maximum speed.

When the speed limit is set as the maximum speed, various means can be used to modify the driving.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the method according to the invention may further comprise the step of sending an alarm to the driver if the speed limit is lower than the current speed, the alarm being able to be only a indication to the driver rather than active interference with the driving When idling (for example below the speed limit), the vehicle will not be forced to exceed the speed limit even if the accelerator pedal is activated continuously. The alarm can be an audio signal (for example a beep and / or a voice alarm), a visible signal (for example a flickering light in the control panel) or their combination. The alarm can help the driver to be aware of the overspeed and push it to reduce speed, to prevent a traffic violation and improve driving safety.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the method may further comprise the step of reducing the current speed to the limit speed if the speed limit is lower than the current speed.

According to the embodiment above, the current speed can be automatically reduced to the limit speed so as to avoid an overspeed of the vehicle.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the reduction of the current speed to the limit speed can be implemented by the automatic control of an acceleration system so as to reduce the current speed to the limit speed.

The automatic control of the acceleration system can be implemented by automatically reducing the rotational speed of the engine so as to considerably reduce the speed of the vehicle. In such a condition, once the vehicle speed reaches or exceeds the speed limit, the ECU will automatically reduce the speed or rotational power of the vehicle engine, regardless of whether the accelerator pedal is depressed or not. so that an overspeed can not take place.

During speed reduction, to avoid a collision or to warn the vehicle according to the current vehicle, the brake light may be activated when the current speed is reduced to the speed limit. This can be implemented in the vehicle's ECU.

According to another aspect of the invention, as shown in the figure, there is also provided a vehicle overspeed limitation system. The system includes a camera 11, configured to acquire an image of a speed limit sign; an image analyzer 12 configured to recognize the speed limit from the speed limit panel; a memory 13 configured to record the speed limit; and a processor 14 configured to compare the speed limit and a current speed, if the speed limit is greater than or equal to the current speed, then to set the speed limit as the maximum speed.

The camera 11 can be arranged at the front of the vehicle, preferably at the rear of the central rear view mirror inside the vehicle so that the speed limit panel can be easily seen. In addition, the camera 11 can be arranged at the rear of the mirror outside the vehicle. To facilitate recognition, the camera 11 can be arranged at the rear of the right mirror for a vehicle with a steering wheel on the left (for example in China and the United States), and therefore, the camera 11 can be arranged at the rear of the left mirror for a vehicle with a steering wheel on the right (eg in Great Britain and Japan). The image analyzer 12 may be integrated with the camera 11, or may be isolated from the camera 11 and connected thereto by a wireless or wired communication path.

The memory 13 can be integrated with the camera 11 and the image analyzer 12, or can be isolated and connected thereto by a wireless or wired communication path.

The processor 14 may be integrated with the camera 11, the image analyzer 12 and the memory 13, or may be isolated therefrom and connected thereto by a wireless or wired communication path. However, preferably, the processor 14 may be implemented in the programmable ECU of the vehicle.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart of the method according to another aspect of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the method according to the invention can comprise: in step S210, the acquisition of an image of a speed limitation panel and the recognition of the speed limit from the limitation panel of speed ; in step S220, the recording of the limit speed; in step S230, the comparison of the speed limit and a current speed; in step S240, if the speed limit is lower than the current speed, then the automatic control of a braking system and an acceleration system to reduce the current speed to the speed limit.

Compared with the first embodiment, the method shown in Fig. 3 controls the braking and acceleration system at a time. The method according to the embodiment can directly reduce the speed faster.

Similarly, an alarm can be sent to the driver if the speed limit is lower than the current speed.

Likewise, during speed reduction, in order to avoid a collision or to warn the vehicle according to the current vehicle, the brake light may be activated when the current speed is reduced to the speed limit.

According to the embodiments above, an automatic brake control program can be arranged in the vehicle ECU so that braking can be performed automatically. When braking, the vehicle can not exceed the speed limit, no matter how the accelerator pedal is activated. The ECU can continuously monitor the current vehicle speed, and when the current speed is not higher than the limit speed, the braking will be canceled so that the vehicle can maintain driving at the current speed.

It should be understood that when a vehicle is in a general cruise regime, the cruising speed can be canceled once a braking action is detected by the ECU, and this can cause inconvenience to a driver. In one embodiment of the present invention, if the vehicle is currently traveling in a cruising mode, when the current speed is reduced to the limit speed, the vehicle will maintain the cruising speed at the limit speed. In other words, the technical solution of the present invention does not automatically cancel the cruising speed; but rather, after reduction to the limit speed, the cruising speed of the vehicle is preserved.

During the speed reduction, whether the cruising speed of the vehicle is maintained or not can be determined by detecting whether braking is performed automatically or manually by the driver. If the ECU detects that the braking is done automatically, then the cruising speed is maintained; and if the ECU detects that the braking is done manually by the driver, then the cruising speed is canceled.

The above detection can be implemented by detecting whether a movement of the brake pedal has occurred. In an automatic braking situation, it is the ECU that controls the braking and the brake pedal is not activated; and in a manual braking circumstance, the driver can activate the brake pedal and thus a movement of the brake pedal can be detected.

During speed reduction, in order to avoid a collision or warn the vehicle following the current vehicle, the brake light may be activated when the current speed is reduced to the speed limit. This can be implemented by programming the ECU.

According to the embodiment above, the ECU (processor) can be programmed to: compare the speed limit and a current speed; if the speed limit is lower than the current speed, then automatically control a braking system and acceleration system to reduce the current speed to the speed limit.

However, the automatic reduction of the speed of the vehicle leads to a certain degree of risk. For example, if the current vehicle is followed by another vehicle, reducing the speed of the front vehicle (current vehicle), including an arbitrary speed reduction, may result in a confusion of the driver from behind and more seriously, the reduction arbitrary speed can cause a serious traffic accident. Thus, the automatic reduction of the speed of the vehicle can potentially cause a dangerous situation.

In order to avoid the occurrence of a traffic accident, as shown in FIG. 4, the present invention further provides a method of limiting vehicle overspeed, comprising: in step S310, acquiring a image of a speed limit sign and speed limit recognition from the speed limit sign; in step S320, the recording of the speed limit; in step S330, the comparison of the speed limit and a current speed; in step S340, if the speed limit is lower than the current speed, then the detection to know if there is another vehicle behind the current vehicle at a distance; in the negative, then reducing the current speed to the limit speed; if so then maintaining the current speed.

Using the method shown in FIG. 4, before reducing the speed of the vehicle, it is possible to determine if there is another vehicle which follows the current speed at a distance, if so, then a reduction of Sudden speed can cause a potential risk. According to practical tests, preferably the distance may be 100 meters, in other words, if there is another vehicle within 100 m, then speed reduction may be prohibited (unless the driver undoubtedly brakes the vehicle) and an indication or warning may be sent to the driver. On the other hand, if no vehicle is behind the current vehicle, then speed reduction is allowed.

Of course, it should be understood that the above specific distance of 100 m is only a preferable embodiment and that any other distance is also acceptable. According to one embodiment of the invention, the distance above is adjustable, in other words, the driver can set the distance according to his requirements, for example 50 m, 20 m, and so on. The distance setting method has been employed in the current adaptive cruise control system and so its description may be omitted.

As shown in the description above, the reduction of the current speed to the limit speed can be implemented by: the automatic control of an acceleration system so as to reduce the current speed to the speed limit and / or automatic control of a braking system to reduce the current speed to the speed limit. The implementation of reducing the current speed to the speed limit has been described in detail in this memo above and thus its new presentation may be omitted.

FIG. 5 illustrates the system diagram for implementing the method shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 5, a vehicle overspeed limitation system, including a camera 31, configured to acquire an image of a speed limit sign; an image analyzer 32 configured to recognize the speed limit from the speed limit panel; a memory 33 configured to record the speed limit; a rear radar, configured to detect if another vehicle is behind the current vehicle, and a processor 35 configured to compare the speed limit and a current speed, if the speed limit is lower than the current speed, then to activate the rear radar 34 so that it detects if another vehicle is behind the current vehicle at a distance; in the negative, then to reduce the current speed to the limit speed; if so, then to maintain the current speed.

The camera 31, the image analyzer 32 and the memory 33 of FIG. 5 correspond to the camera 11, to the image analyzer 12 and to the memory 13 of FIG. 2, respectively. However, unlike FIG. 2, the embodiment of the invention further comprises the rear radar 34 arranged at the rear of the vehicle, which can detect continuously or intermittently whether another vehicle is behind the vehicle current at a certain distance. The rear radar 34 may be any type of radar that can detect the distance between vehicles and its description will be omitted.

It is understood that once the rear radar detects that another vehicle is behind the current vehicle at a distance, then it means there is a potential risk if the speed is reduced quickly. In this condition, the current vehicle will maintain the current speed rather than reduce the speed, until the distance between the current vehicle and the other vehicle exceeds the certain distance.

Although the figures show a special operating order of the process of this invention, those skilled in the art will understand that such an order is not necessary, the method of this invention may also be implemented in other orders. For example, the order of the steps shown in the flowchart may be changed, some steps may be omitted, two or more steps may be combined in one step, or one step may be divided into two or more substeps.

What has been described and illustrated here represents the preferred embodiment of the invention with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible in the spirit and scope of the invention in which all terms are understood in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any title used in the description is present only for convenience only and has no legal or limiting effect.

Although various aspects and embodiments have been described herein, other aspects and embodiments are contemplated. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are by way of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, the true scope and the true spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Claims (8)

claims A method of limiting vehicle overspeed, comprising: acquiring an image of a speed limiting panel and recognizing the speed limit from the speed limit panel; the recording of the speed limit; the comparison of the speed limit and a current speed; if the speed limit is greater than or equal to the current speed, then set the speed limit as the maximum speed. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending an alarm to the driver if the speed limit is lower than the current speed. The method of claim 1, further comprising: reducing the current speed to the limit speed if the speed limit is lower than the current speed. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the reduction of the current speed to the speed limit is implemented by: the automatic control of an acceleration system so as to reduce the current speed to the speed limit. The method of claim 3, further comprising: activating brake lights during the reduction of the current speed to the limiting speed. A vehicle overspeed limitation system comprising: a camera configured to acquire an image of a speed limit sign; an image analyzer, configured to recognize the speed limit from the speed limit panel; a memory, configured to record the speed limit; and a processor configured to compare the speed limit and a current speed, if the speed limit is greater than or equal to the current speed, then to set the speed limit as the maximum speed. 7. The system of claim 6, the processor is further configured to reduce the current speed to the speed limit if the speed limit is lower than the current speed. 8. System according to claim 7, wherein the reduction of the current speed to the speed limit is implemented by: the automatic control of an acceleration system so as to reduce the current speed to the speed limit.