KR20160062261A - Vehicle navigation system and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle navigation system and a control method thereof, which is able to reflect a state of change on the road in real time, and collect a precise road data to update a map database. The present invention comprises: an image capturing unit acquiring information on an image in front of a vehicle; a laser scan unit acquiring three dimensional distance information for a geographic feature in front of the vehicle using laser; a position information receiving unit receiving position information of the vehicle; a storage unit storing the map database for navigation; and a control unit generating map information on the front of the vehicle based on the image information acquired by the image capturing unit and the distance information acquired by the laser scan unit, reading map data in accordance with the position information received by the position information receiving unit from the storing unit, and generating new map information based on the map information, the map data, and the position information if a difference between the generated map information and the read map data exists.

Description

[0001] VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF [

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a vehicle navigation system and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a vehicle navigation system and a control method thereof that can update a map database.

Generally, a navigation device is carried by a user or installed in a vehicle such as a vehicle, and notifies the accurate distance and time from the current position to the destination, and guides the route to the destination.

In order to perform the above-described functions, the navigation device is required to have a function of grasping the current position of the navigation device, which is accomplished by using a satellite navigation system such as GPS (Global Positioning System). The 24 GPS satellites equipped with a cesium atomic clock are emitting identification signals, time signals and position signals at the same time (50 times per second), and the navigation device transmits at least four signals (three for positioning, One for time error correction) and obtains its position on the two-dimensional plane.

However, there are errors in GPS navigation systems such as GPS, which are used for commercial purposes. Generally, since the roads have a very complicated mesh structure intertwined with each other, the position of the vehicle calculated by GPS information is mostly out of the road. Therefore, it is necessary to map a map that predicts the position of the vehicle and matches with the road in order to display the position of the vehicle on the road. Therefore, a map database for performing route guidance through map matching or the like is stored in the navigation device.

Such a map database is basically stored at the time of shipment of the navigation device, but update may be required for various reasons such as new roads, closing roads, reconstruction of buildings, and the like. Conventionally, the map database provider collects the data collected through the operation of the vehicles to acquire the road information, updates the map database at a period of 1 to 2 months, and the user manually updates the map database using the usb memory, etc. Updated.

However, the conventional map database update method has a problem that the update period is long and the user must perform the update manually, so that it takes a long time until the changed road situation is reflected. Also, since the number of vehicles that can be operated by the map database provider is limited, there is a problem that it is difficult to collect accurate data.

Meanwhile, the background art of the present invention is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0056955 (May 31, 2011).

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle navigation system and a control method thereof that can accurately reflect changed road conditions in real time and collect accurate road information data for updating a map database.

A navigation system for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises: a video photographing unit for acquiring video information of a vehicle ahead; A laser scanning unit for acquiring three-dimensional distance information of a feature on the front side of the vehicle using a laser; A position information receiving unit for receiving position information of the vehicle; A storage unit for storing a map database for route guidance; And a control unit for generating map information on the front of the vehicle based on the image information acquired through the image capturing unit and the distance information acquired through the laser scanning unit and for storing the map data according to the position information received through the position information receiver, And generating a new map information based on the map information, the map data, and the location information if there is a difference between the generated map information and the read map data.

The vehicle navigation system according to the present invention further includes a communication unit for communicating with a server that provides an updated map database to the vehicle, wherein the controller transmits the generated new map information to the server through the communication unit .

In the present invention, the control unit receives the map database updated from the server through the communication unit, stores the updated map database in the storage unit, and receives and stores only the map database for the road on which the vehicle is to be driven.

In the present invention, the updated map database is updated and provided based on new map information collected from end user vehicles by the server.

In the present invention, if there is a difference between the generated map information and the read map data, the controller performs route guidance of the vehicle using the new map information.

A method of controlling a navigation system for a vehicle according to the present invention includes the steps of: a controller obtaining image information of a vehicle ahead; The control unit obtaining three-dimensional distance information of the feature in front of the vehicle; The control unit generating map information about the vehicle ahead based on the obtained image information and three-dimensional distance information; Reading the map data according to the location information of the vehicle from the pre-stored map database; And generating new map information based on the map information, the map data, and the position information of the vehicle when the generated map information differs from the read map data .

The control method of a navigation system for a vehicle according to the present invention may further comprise the step of the controller transmitting the generated map information to a server providing the updated map database to the vehicle .

The control method of a navigation system for a vehicle according to the present invention may further include receiving and storing an updated map database from the server before the step of reading the map data, The control unit receives and stores only the map database of the road on which the vehicle is to be driven.

The control method of a navigation system for a vehicle according to the present invention may further include the step of the route guidance of the vehicle using the new map information after the step of generating the new map information.

The vehicle navigation system and its control method according to the present invention generate map information on the basis of three-dimensional distance information on the image information and feature information in front of the vehicle, and compare the generated map information with the map database, So that it is possible to respond to the change of the road environment immediately by reflecting it to the route guidance.

Further, in the vehicle navigation system and the control method thereof according to the present invention, the server providing the map database collects the new map information generated from the end user vehicles, updates the map database, and distributes it to the end user vehicles, So that it is possible to contribute to the stable running of the vehicle.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a navigation system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle navigation system and a control method thereof according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this process, the thicknesses of the lines and the sizes of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. In addition, the terms described below are defined in consideration of the functions of the present invention, which may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user, the operator. Therefore, definitions of these terms should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a navigation system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a navigation system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

1, a navigation system for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a controller 100, an image capturing unit 110, a laser scanning unit 120, a position information receiving unit 130, a storage unit 140 And a communication unit 150.

The image capturing unit 110 can acquire image information of the front of the vehicle. For example, the image capturing unit 110 may acquire image information of a vehicle ahead, including a camera, an AVM (Around View Mode) device, or a vehicle black box.

The laser scanning unit 120 can acquire the three-dimensional distance information of the feature in front of the vehicle using a laser. For example, the laser scanning unit 120 may acquire three-dimensional distance information on a feature existing in a front region of the vehicle, including a 3D LRF (3 Dimension Laser Range Finder). That is, the laser scanning unit 120 can acquire the three-dimensional distance information of the feature on the front side of the vehicle by measuring the time when the irradiated laser is reflected from the terrain or the object ahead of the vehicle.

In addition, the laser scanning unit 120 may include a plurality of LRFs set at various angles, or include a rotatable LRF to acquire distance information on a terrain or an object existing within a specified angular range, and perform a series of numerical calculations It is possible to obtain the three-dimensional distance information of the feature on the front side of the vehicle.

The position information receiving unit 130 may receive position information of the vehicle. For example, the location information receiving unit 130 may receive information on the location of the vehicle using a satellite navigation system such as GPS or Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS).

The storage unit 140 stores a map database for route guidance. That is, the map database includes two-dimensional or three-dimensional road information, a road link, a node (intersection) list for each link, coordinates of each node, POI (Point of Interest), and the like. The storage unit 140 may include various storage media capable of storing information such as a flash memory, a hard disk drive, and a solid state drive for storing the map database .

The communication unit 150 can perform communication with the server 160. For example, the communication unit 150 may be a mobile communication network such as CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), GSM (Global System for Mobile communications), WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution), WiBro (Wi-Fi), a Transport Protocol Expert Group (TPEG), a Traffic Information System (TIM), a Radio Data System (RDS), a Telematics (Vehicle Telematics), a Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) And can communicate with the server 160 using a communication platform for a vehicle such as a Wireless Access in Vehicular Environment (WAVE).

The server 160 can provide the updated map database to the vehicle. That is, the server 160 can distribute the data to the end user vehicles when the update of the data occurs in the existing map database.

The control unit 100 displays the map on the front of the vehicle based on the image information of the front of the vehicle acquired through the image capturing unit 110 and the three-dimensional distance information of the features on the front of the vehicle acquired through the laser scanning unit 120 Information can be generated.

For example, the control unit 100 may render the front region of the vehicle in 3D based on the distance information acquired through the laser scanning unit 120. [ However, the method of rendering the interior space of the vehicle in 3D on the basis of the distance information by the control unit 100 is a known technology, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The control unit 100 can also grasp the state of the front of the vehicle, the color of the feature, the range, the type (person, object, road, building, etc.) based on the image information acquired through the image photographing unit 110.

That is, the control unit 100 can generate the map information about the front of the vehicle based on the front area data of the vehicle rendered in 3D in this way, the range of the front of the vehicle, the range of the feature, and the like. For example, the control unit 100 may generate two-dimensional or three-dimensional road information in front of the vehicle, existence of a node, state of POI, and the like as map information.

Meanwhile, the controller 100 may include a high performance GPU (Graphic Process Unit) for such data processing.

In addition, the control unit 100 can read the map data according to the location information of the vehicle received through the location information receiving unit 130 from the storage unit 140, together with the generation of the map information.

The control unit 100 compares the map information generated as described above with the map data read from the storage unit 140. If there is a difference between the two data, the control unit 100 reads the generated map information, The new map information can be generated based on the position information received through the data and position information receiving unit 130. [

For example, if there is no POI in the generated map information but the POI exists in the map data read from the storage unit 140, the control unit 100 determines that the POI does not exist in the position according to the vehicle position information It can be generated as new map information. If there is an intersection in the generated map information but no corresponding node exists in the map data read from the storage unit 140, the control unit 100 determines that a new intersection exists at a position according to the vehicle position information As new map information. That is, when the controller 100 determines that there is a difference between the surrounding environment of the road and the map database stored in the storage unit 140, the controller 100 may generate new map information.

In addition, the control unit 100 can transmit the generated new map information to the server 160 through the communication unit 150. That is, when it is determined that there is a difference between the surrounding environment of the road and the map database stored in the storage unit 140 and the new map information is generated, the controller 100 transmits the map information to the server 160 so that the map database is updated can do.

That is, the server 160 may collect new map information from a plurality of end user vehicles running on each road, and update the map database based on the collected map information. Even if new map information is generated in one vehicle, this may be an error caused by measurement errors or calculation errors. Therefore, the server 160 may collect new map information from a plurality of vehicles and normalize them to update the map database have. That is, the server 160 can collect new map information from a plurality of vehicles traveling on an actual road, and therefore can update the map database at a level more precise than before.

The server 160 may distribute the updated map database to the end user vehicles so that the map database stored in each vehicle is updated.

That is, the control unit 100 receives the updated map database from the server 160 through the communication unit 150 and stores the updated map database in the storage unit 140. [ Accordingly, the control unit 100 can update the map database at a shorter time than the real time or the conventional one, and the user does not have to manually update the map database.

At this time, the control unit 100 may receive only the map database of the road on which the vehicle is to be driven from the server 160 and store the received map database in the storage unit 140. That is, when all the end user vehicles receive all updated map databases, excessive communication traffic may occur. Therefore, the control unit 100 receives only the updated map database for the road ahead of the subject vehicle from the server 160 It can also be saved.

On the other hand, when there is a difference between the generated map information and the map data read from the storage unit 140, the control unit 100 can guide the route of the vehicle using the new map information when the new map information is generated . That is, the control unit 100 can immediately reflect the change in the surrounding environment of the road in the route guidance of the vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a navigation system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, a method of controlling a navigation system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 100 obtains image information of the vehicle ahead (S200). For example, the control unit 100 may acquire image information of a vehicle ahead using a camera, an AVM (Around View Mode) device, a vehicle black box, or the like.

Then, the control unit 100 obtains three-dimensional distance information of the feature in front of the vehicle (S210). For example, the controller 100 may acquire three-dimensional distance information on a feature existing in a front region of the vehicle using a 3D LRF (3 Dimension Laser Range Finder). Meanwhile, although the step S210 is performed after the step S200 in the present embodiment, the step S210 may be performed simultaneously with the step S200 or before the step S200.

After the step S210, the control unit 100 generates map information about the vehicle ahead based on the image information obtained in the step S200 and the distance information obtained in the step S210 at step S220. For example, the control unit 100 may render the front area of the vehicle in 3D based on the distance information obtained in step S210, and may calculate the state of the front of the vehicle, The user can grasp the color, range, type (person, object, road, building, etc.) of water, and then combine them to generate map information about the front of the vehicle. That is, the control unit 100 can generate two-dimensional or three-dimensional road information in front of the vehicle, existence of a node, state of POI, and the like as map information.

Then, the control unit 100 receives and stores the updated map database from the server 160 (S230). At this time, the control unit 100 may receive and store only the map database of the road on which the vehicle is to be driven from the server 160. That is, when all the end user vehicles receive all updated map databases, excessive communication traffic may occur. Therefore, the control unit 100 receives only the updated map database for the road ahead of the subject vehicle from the server 160 It can also be saved.

After the step S230, the control unit 100 reads the map data according to the location information of the vehicle from the pre-stored map database (S240). That is, the control unit 100 can read the map data on the road ahead of the vehicle in the stored map database. Although it has been described in the embodiment that the steps S230 to S240 are performed after the step S220, the steps S230 to S240 may be performed after the step S200 to S220. Or may be performed before the steps (S200) to (S220).

In step S250, the controller 100 determines whether there is a difference between the map information generated in step S220 and the map data read in step S240.

If it is determined in step S250 that there is a difference between the generated map information and the read map data, the controller 100 determines whether the map information generated in step S220, New map information is generated based on the read map information and the vehicle position information (S260). For example, if the POI does not exist in the map information generated in step S220 but the POI exists in the map data read in step S240, the controller 100 displays POI Can be generated as the new map information. If there is an intersection in the map information generated in the step S220 but no corresponding node exists in the map data read in the step S240, the control unit 100 sets the position according to the position information of the vehicle Information indicating that a new intersection exists exists as new map information.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S250 that there is no difference between the generated map information and the read map data, the current process is terminated. In this case, the control unit 100 may perform route guidance of the vehicle based on the map information read in step S240.

Meanwhile, after the step S260, the controller 100 transmits the new map information generated in the step S260 to the server 160 (S270). That is, when the controller 100 judges that there is a difference between the road condition and the stored map database, if new map information is generated, the controller 100 may transmit the new map information to the server 160 so that the map database is updated.

Then, the control unit 100 performs route guidance of the vehicle using the new map information generated in step S260 (S280). That is, the control unit 100 can immediately reflect the change in the surrounding environment of the road in the route guidance of the vehicle. Meanwhile, in the present exemplary embodiment, the step S280 is performed after the step S270. However, the step S280 may be performed simultaneously with the step S270 or before the step S270.

As described above, the vehicle navigation system and the control method thereof according to the embodiment of the present invention generate map information based on the three-dimensional distance information of the image information and the feature in front of the vehicle, and compare the generated map information and the map database So that it is possible to immediately respond to the change of the road environment and to update the map at a more precise level.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. I will understand. Accordingly, the technical scope of the present invention should be defined by the following claims.

100:
110:
120: laser scanning unit
130: Position information receiver
140:
150:
160: Server

Claims (10)

A video capturing unit for capturing video information of the front of the vehicle;
A laser scanning unit for acquiring three-dimensional distance information of a feature on the front side of the vehicle using a laser;
A position information receiving unit for receiving position information of the vehicle;
A storage unit for storing a map database for route guidance; And
The map information generating unit generates map information on the front of the vehicle based on the image information acquired through the image capturing unit and the distance information acquired through the laser scanning unit and outputs map data according to the position information received through the position information receiving unit, And generates a new map information based on the map information, the map data, and the location information if there is a difference between the generated map information and the read map data.
The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a communication unit for communication with a server that provides the updated map database to the vehicle,
And the control unit transmits the generated new map information to the server through the communication unit.
3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the control unit receives the updated map database from the server through the communication unit and stores the updated map database in the storage unit, and receives and stores only the map database of the road on which the vehicle is to be driven.
The method of claim 3,
Wherein the updated map database is updated and provided based on new map information collected from end user vehicles by the server.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the control unit performs route guidance of the vehicle using the new map information if there is a difference between the generated map information and the read map data.
The control unit obtaining image information of the vehicle ahead;
The control unit obtaining three-dimensional distance information of the feature in front of the vehicle;
The control unit generating map information about the vehicle ahead based on the obtained image information and three-dimensional distance information;
Reading the map data according to the location information of the vehicle from the pre-stored map database; And
And generating new map information based on the map information, the map data, and the position information of the vehicle, when the difference exists between the generated map information and the read map data, / RTI >
The method according to claim 6,
After generating the new map information,
And the controller further transmits the generated map information to the server providing the updated map database to the vehicle.
8. The method of claim 7,
Before reading the map data,
Further comprising the step of the controller receiving and storing the updated map database from the server,
Wherein the control unit receives and stores only the map database of the road on which the vehicle is to be driven, in the step of receiving and storing the updated map database.
9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the updated map database is updated and provided based on new map information collected from end user vehicles by the server.
The method according to claim 6,
After generating the new map information,
Further comprising the step of the controller performing route guidance of the vehicle using the new map information.

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