JP3873273B2 - Automatic reporting device for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of an automatic notification system for a vehicle that automatically notifies a predetermined external organization in the event of a vehicle accident or emergency.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in the field of automobiles, which are representative vehicles, in the event of an accident or emergency, a rescue signal including current position information is sent according to the magnitude of the detected impact (acceleration / deceleration) and the driver's switch operation. An automatic vehicular notification (Mayday) system has been proposed in which an emergency call is automatically made to a predetermined external organization.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the conventional automatic notification system for a vehicle, the driver can surely make an emergency notification without being forced to make a complicated determination in an emergency, so that the convenience is high.
[0004]
However, since the driving environment of automobiles changes in various ways, in the above-described automatic notification system for vehicles, simply detecting the magnitude of the acceleration / deceleration as the impact generated in the own vehicle, There are some things I can't say.
[0005]
Conventionally, in the field of automobiles, driving support systems that automatically output warnings and avoidance actions for avoiding danger have been proposed in order to prevent the vehicle from falling into a dangerous driving state. In this system, in order to determine the control state of alarm output and avoidance operation, the driving state of the vehicle and the presence of obstacles ahead are determined based on various information and photographed images acquired from equipment provided on the road side. Is detected.
[0006]
These systems described above have been studied with independent configurations on the vehicle until now, but in the vehicle on which these systems are mounted together, each system collects and detects information necessary for processing. Therefore, if the driving support system is used, it is considered possible to optimize the automatic notification in the above-described vehicle automatic notification system.
[0007]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic notification device for a vehicle that performs automatic notification control optimally according to the traveling environment of the vehicle.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an automatic notification device for a vehicle according to the present invention is characterized by the following configuration.
[0009]
That is, the base point antenna for detecting the position of the own vehicle, the vehicle detection sensor for detecting the position of the other vehicle, and the information providing antenna for providing information including the detection result by the vehicle detection sensor are on the roadside of the intersection. In order to use the traffic information system installed in the road, the road-to-vehicle communication means for communicating with the base antenna and the information providing antenna, and when acceleration / deceleration greater than a predetermined threshold is detected, an automatic warning apparatus for a vehicle and a control means for automatically notify the contact, wherein the control means, and the vehicle position information obtained by communication with the road-to-vehicle communication unit and the base antenna, said Based on the position information of the other vehicle obtained by communication between the road-to-vehicle communication means and the information providing antenna, it is determined whether both the own vehicle and the other vehicle are located within the intersection. A determining unit that, when the vehicle and the other vehicle is determined to be both located in the intersection by the determining means, to include a changing unit for changing the magnitude of the predetermined threshold value Features.
[0010]
In a preferred embodiment, the changing means sets the predetermined threshold to a small value or a large value when the judging means judges that both the own vehicle and the other car are located within the intersection. It is good to change to.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an automatic notification device for a vehicle that performs automatic notification control optimally according to the traveling environment of the vehicle.
[0017]
That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the own vehicle and the other vehicle are both located at the same intersection, the threshold value for determining whether or not the automatic notification is necessary is appropriately adjusted. Therefore, the automatic notification control can be optimized as compared with the conventional apparatus in which the threshold value is fixed to a predetermined value.
[0019]
In general, in the intersection, a plurality of vehicles to traffic, for performing a turning or stoplight or the like, but an accident compared to other road portion is expected to be likely to occur, according to claim 2 According to the invention , when both the vehicle and the other vehicle are present at the same intersection, the threshold value is changed to a small value, so that a more reliable automatic notification is realized when an impact occurs on the vehicle. can do.
[0020]
On the other hand, according to the invention of claim 3, when both the own vehicle and the other vehicle are present in the same intersection, the threshold value is changed to a large value. In an intersection that is expected to be highly likely to occur, for example, when an acceleration / deceleration greater than normal is detected in response to the vehicle's risk avoidance operation, no accident has actually occurred. Nevertheless, automatic notification is performed, and it is possible to prevent unnecessary notification as a result.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an automatic notification device for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0024]
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the vehicle automatic notification device according to the first embodiment.
[0025]
In the figure, the control unit 11 is a general electronic control unit provided with a CPU, a memory, an input / output interface, etc. (not shown). In this embodiment, an alarm output for avoiding danger and a driving support operation are provided. An AHS control module 111 and an automatic notification (Mayday) control module 112 that performs automatic notification in an emergency are executed. Here, the module is a functional unit constituted by software and / or hardware.
[0026]
The AHS control module 111 has a function of controlling an alarm output to the driver and a driving support operation for avoiding danger according to the detected traveling state of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the AHS control module 111 The vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 15 receives the own vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 12, the lateral position and yaw angle of the own vehicle with respect to the traveling lane detected by the lateral position detection device 13, and the in-vehicle antenna 16 for AHS. Information is entered.
[0027]
Here, a signal to be received using the AHS in-vehicle antenna 16 is transmitted by the AHS base station 103 via the roadside antenna 104 (corresponding to a base point antenna 21 and an information providing antenna 22 in FIG. 2 described later). .
[0028]
Further, the lateral position detection device 13 detects the lateral position and yaw angle of the own vehicle with respect to the traveling lane by a general method by detecting the position of a marker such as a magnetic nail embedded on the road.
[0029]
The Mayday control module 112 has a function of transmitting a predetermined relief signal from the in-vehicle antenna 18 for automatic notification when the magnitude of the acceleration / deceleration detected by the acceleration (G) sensor 14 is larger than a predetermined threshold value. . In a preferred embodiment, the rescue signal includes current position information detected by a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor.
[0030]
The rescue signal transmitted from the automatic report onboard antenna 18 is received by the automatic report base station 101 via the roadside antenna 102.
[0031]
In the present embodiment, a predetermined threshold value for notification that is referred to by the Mayday control module 112 when determining whether or not automatic notification is necessary in order to perform optimal automatic notification according to the running state of the vehicle. Is changed depending on whether or not the own vehicle and / or another vehicle is present at the intersection by the notification threshold change control process included in the AHS control module 111 (details will be described later). In the present embodiment, whether or not the own vehicle and / or another vehicle is present at the intersection is detected using an Advanced Cruise-assist Highway System (AHS) as shown in FIG.
[0032]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an outline of AHS that can be applied in the first embodiment in the vicinity of an intersection.
[0033]
In the figure, a vehicle detection sensor 23 is installed on the road in order to detect the position, vehicle speed, type, and the like of the oncoming vehicle 2. Information detected by the vehicle detection sensor 23 is transmitted to the information providing antenna 22 via the AHS base station 103.
[0034]
The base point antenna 21 is installed on the road in order to provide the start position of the section for providing the AHS information to the passing vehicle (the host vehicle 1 in this case). The information providing antenna 22 is installed on the road in order to provide the vehicle 1 with information on the oncoming vehicle (other vehicle) 2 that goes straight, information on the road shape (distance to the intersection, lane width, etc.), and the like. .
[0035]
In the control unit 11 mounted on the host vehicle 1, the AHS control module 111 uses the road-to-vehicle communication device 15 to communicate with the base antenna 21 installed at a predetermined position before the intersection existing ahead. Thus, the passage timing of the predetermined position can be detected. The AHS control module 111 can detect the relative positional relationship between the base point antenna 21 and the host vehicle 1 based on the detected passage timing and the vehicle speed pulse value output from the vehicle speed sensor 12.
[0036]
Further, since the AHS control module 111 can obtain the distance from the information providing antenna 22 to the intersection using the road-to-vehicle communication device 15, the relative positional relationship between the detected base antenna 21 and the own vehicle 1 can be obtained. By performing the comparison, it can be determined whether or not the own vehicle 1 exists in the intersection.
[0037]
Furthermore, since the AHS control module 111 can obtain the position and vehicle speed of the oncoming vehicle 2 from the information providing antenna 22 using the road-to-vehicle communication device 15, it determines whether the oncoming vehicle 2 exists in the intersection. You can also
[0038]
Therefore, in this embodiment, by performing change control of the threshold value for notification described below, optimal automatic notification is performed depending on whether the own vehicle and / or another vehicle is present at the intersection or not. Realize.
[0039]
In the present embodiment, the alarm output executed by the AHS control module 111 using an actuator (not shown) (automatic transmission, brake, etc.) and the control processing for driving support operation are not the essence of the present application. Detailed description will be omitted, and the following description will focus on characteristic notification threshold value change control processing (FIG. 3) in the present embodiment.
[0040]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing notification threshold value change control processing included in the AHS control module 111 according to the first embodiment, and shows processing procedures executed by a CPU (not shown) provided in the control unit 11. Represent.
[0041]
In the same figure, Step S1, Step S2: From the base point antenna 21 and the information providing antenna 22 provided on the road side, using the road-to-vehicle communication device 15, as described above, the position of the host vehicle 1 and the oncoming vehicle ( The position of the other vehicle 2 is detected (step S1), and it is determined whether the own vehicle 1 exists in the intersection (step S2).
[0042]
Step S3: If it is determined in step S2 that the own vehicle 1 is present in the intersection, it is determined in this step whether the oncoming vehicle 2 is also present in the intersection.
[0043]
Step S4: If it is determined in step S2 that the own vehicle 1 does not exist in the intersection, or if it is determined in step S3 that the oncoming vehicle 2 does not exist in the intersection, the notification threshold is set in this step. Set to normal reference value.
[0044]
Step S5: When it is determined that both the own vehicle 1 and the oncoming vehicle 2 are present in the intersection according to the determinations in Steps S2 and S3, in this step, the notification threshold is set from the above reference value. Change to a smaller value.
[0045]
Step S6: The threshold value set in step S4 or step S5 is set in the Mayday control module 112, and the process returns to step S1.
[0046]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing automatic notification processing by the Mayday control module 112 in the first embodiment, and is executed by a CPU (not shown) provided in the control unit 11 as a task different from the AHS control module 111 described above. Represents the processing procedure. Note that the automatic notification process (FIG. 4) by the Mayday control module 112 is executed in the same manner in each embodiment described below.
[0047]
In the figure, Step S101: The magnitude of the acceleration / deceleration generated in the own vehicle 1 is detected by the G sensor 14.
[0048]
Step S102: A threshold value for notification is acquired from the AHS control module 111.
[0049]
Step S103: It is determined whether or not an unillustrated switch operation for emergency notification by the occupant has been performed. If the operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S105, and if the operation has not been performed, the process proceeds to step S104.
[0050]
Step S104, Step S105: When the acquired threshold for notification is compared with the magnitude of the acceleration / deceleration detected in Step S101 (Step S104), the magnitude of the acceleration / deceleration exceeds the threshold The predetermined rescue signal is transmitted from the vehicle-mounted antenna 18 (step S105), and the process returns to step S101.
[0051]
In general, a plurality of vehicles come and go in an intersection and change course, wait for a signal, etc., so it is expected that there is a higher possibility of an accident compared to other road parts. For example, when the own vehicle and another vehicle exist in the intersection, the threshold value is changed to a small value, so that more reliable automatic notification can be realized when an impact occurs on the own vehicle.
[0052]
In the present embodiment, in the notification threshold value change control process (FIG. 3), the threshold value is changed only when the own vehicle and the other vehicle exist in the intersection. If the threshold value is changed when a car is present at an intersection, more effective automatic notification is realized.
[0053]
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment based on the vehicle automatic notification device according to the first embodiment described above will be described.
[0054]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a notification threshold value change control process included in the AHS control module 111 in the second embodiment. Unlike step S5 (FIG. 3) in the first embodiment, step S5A is performed. However, the only difference is that the notification threshold is changed to a value larger than the reference value.
[0055]
According to the second embodiment, when the host vehicle and the other vehicle are present in the intersection, the threshold value is changed to a large value, contrary to the first embodiment described above. For example, when an acceleration / deceleration greater than normal is detected in an intersection where the risk of an accident is expected to be relatively high Even if no accident has occurred, automatic notification is performed, and as a result, unnecessary notification can be prevented.
[0056]
Also in this embodiment, in the threshold value change control process (FIG. 5), the threshold value is changed only when the own vehicle and other vehicles exist in the intersection. If the threshold value is changed when another vehicle is present at the intersection, more effective automatic notification is realized.
[0057]
[Third Embodiment]
Next, by performing change control of the threshold value for notification described below, optimal automatic notification is realized depending on whether or not the vehicle deviates from the traveling lane.
[0058]
In the present embodiment, the configuration of the vehicle and the road-side equipment itself is the same as that in FIG. 1 in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0059]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a notification threshold value change control process included in the AHS control module 111 according to the third embodiment, and shows a processing procedure executed by a CPU (not shown) provided in the control unit 11. Represent.
[0060]
In the figure, Step S11, Step S12: The lateral position detection device 13 detects the lateral position and yaw angle of the host vehicle 1 with respect to the travel lane (Step S11), and based on the detection result, the host vehicle It is determined whether 1 deviates from the lane (step S12).
[0061]
Step S13: If it is determined in step S12 that the vehicle 1 has not deviated from the lane, in this step, the notification threshold is set to a normal reference value.
[0062]
Step S14: If it is determined in step S12 that the host vehicle 1 has deviated from the lane, the notification threshold value is changed to a value smaller than the reference value in this step.
[0063]
Step S15: The threshold value set in step S13 or step S14 is set in the Mayday control module 112, and the process returns to step S11.
[0064]
In general, when the vehicle deviates from a driving lane such as a curved road, it is expected that there is a higher possibility of a collision with an oncoming vehicle or an obstacle than when the vehicle does not deviate. However, according to the present embodiment, when the vehicle deviates from the driving lane, the threshold value is changed to a small value, so that a more reliable automatic notification is made when an impact occurs on the vehicle. Can be realized.
[0065]
[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment based on the above-described vehicle automatic notification device according to the third embodiment will be described.
[0066]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a notification threshold value change control process included in the AHS control module 111 in the fourth embodiment. Unlike step S12 (FIG. 6) in the third embodiment, FIG. However, the only difference is that it is determined whether the angle (deviation angle) formed by the traveling direction of the host vehicle and the travel lane is larger than a predetermined angle. Here, the departure angle is equal to the yaw angle detected in step S11.
[0067]
In this case, if the departure angle is smaller than the predetermined angle, the notification threshold is set to a normal reference value in step S13. On the contrary, when the deviation angle is larger than the predetermined angle, the notification threshold value is changed to a value smaller than the reference value.
[0068]
That is, even when the vehicle deviates from the driving lane, the vehicle behavior is often caused by a driving operation based on the driver's will, such as turning, turning left or right, or stopping on the roadside. In this case, if the threshold value is changed to a small value as in the above-described third embodiment, it is expected that an unnecessary notification will be generated as a result when automatic notification is performed. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, when the vehicle deviates from the traveling lane, if the deviation angle formed by the traveling direction of the own vehicle and the traveling lane is larger than a predetermined angle, the driving operation of the driver Since the threshold value is changed to a large value considering the vehicle behavior such as turning, turning left and right, and stopping on the road side, the automatic notification can be optimized.
[0069]
As described above, according to each embodiment described above, automatic notification control by the Mayday control module 112 is performed by appropriately changing the notification threshold by the AHS control module 111 (report threshold change control processing). It can be optimized according to the traveling environment of the vehicle.
[0070]
In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where AHS that acquires various types of information from the equipment provided on the road side by communication has been described as the driving support control of the driver. However, the present invention is limited to this system configuration. Instead, the surrounding image is captured by an imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) mounted on the vehicle, and the captured image is subjected to image processing to detect the presence or absence of an obstacle, the lane deviation of the vehicle, This can also be realized by adopting an autonomous ASV (Advanced Safety Vehicle) system that detects an angle or the like.
[0071]
In each of the above-described embodiments, the AHS control module 111 and the Mayday control module 112 are executed in the single control unit 11 and a notification threshold value is passed between the modules. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an apparatus configuration in which a control unit for AHS control and a control unit for Mayday control are individually mounted on a vehicle, and a notification threshold value is passed between these control units. Also good.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a vehicle automatic notification device according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an outline of AHS in the vicinity of an intersection applicable in the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing notification threshold value change control processing included in an AHS control module 111 according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an automatic notification process by a Mayday control module 112 in the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing notification threshold value change control processing included in an AHS control module 111 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing notification threshold value change control processing included in an AHS control module 111 according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing notification threshold value change control processing included in an AHS control module 111 according to the fourth embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Own car,
2: Other cars,
11: AHS control unit,
12: Vehicle speed sensor
13: Horizontal position detection device,
14: Acceleration (G) sensor,
15: Road-to-vehicle communication device,
16: On-vehicle antenna for AHS,
18: On-board antenna for automatic notification (Mayday),
21: Base antenna
22: Information providing antenna,
23: Vehicle detection sensor,
101: Automatic notification (Mayday) system base station,
102: Roadside antenna for automatic day (Mayday) system,
103: AHS base station,
104: AHS roadside antenna,

Claims (3)

A base antenna for detecting the position of the own vehicle, a vehicle detection sensor for detecting the position of another vehicle, and an information providing antenna for providing information including a detection result by the vehicle detection sensor are installed on the road side of the intersection. In order to use the traffic information system, a road-to-vehicle communication means for communicating with the base antenna and the information providing antenna, and a predetermined contact address when an acceleration / deceleration greater than a predetermined threshold is detected. an automatic warning apparatus for a vehicle and a control means for automatically notify the,
The control means includes
Based on the position information of the own vehicle obtained by communication between the road-to-vehicle communication means and the base antenna, and the position information of other vehicles obtained by communication between the road-to-vehicle communication means and the information providing antenna And a judging means for judging whether or not both other vehicles are located in the intersection,
A changing means for changing the magnitude of the predetermined threshold value when it is determined by the determining means that both the own vehicle and the other vehicle are located within the intersection ;
An automatic notification device for a vehicle characterized by comprising: The said change means changes the said predetermined threshold value to a small value, when it is judged by the said judgment means that both the own vehicle and the other vehicle are located in the said intersection. The vehicle automatic notification device according to 1. The said change means changes the said predetermined threshold value to a big value, when it is judged by the said judgment means that both the own vehicle and the other vehicle are located in the said intersection. The vehicle automatic notification device according to 1.

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