Method for operating a motor vehicle and associated motor vehicle

• US 10,173,693 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Barke, Alexander, Niemeier, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Kyung J
• Application Number:
  US15/557,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20180057015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/175 Autonomous driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0827 due to sleepiness
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0872 Driver physiology
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/00 Input parameters relating to exterior conditions, not covered by groups B60W2552/00, B60W2554/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/08 Interaction between the driver and the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 : Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 : Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 : Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal

Abstract

Method for operating a motor vehicle having at least one sensor for detecting a user state and/or at least one parameter from which the user state can be deduced, wherein a function and/or a device of the motor vehicle is automatically controlled by a control device, depending on a detected user state and/or a detected change in the user state, a level of autonomy which specifies to what extent a function and/or a device of the motor vehicle is controlled automatically by a control device of the motor vehicle or is manually controlled by a user, changes at least one function and/or at least one device of the motor vehicle and the function and/or the device is controlled according to the level of autonomy.

Claims

1. A method for operating a motor vehicle having at least one sensor for detecting a user state or at least one parameter from which the user state can be deduced, the method comprising:

creating a user profile that includes a plurality of user states, each of the plurality of user states having a corresponding level of autonomy,

wherein the level of autonomy determines an extent to which a function or device of the motor vehicle is automatically controlled by a control device or manually controlled by a user;

detecting the at least one parameter by the at least one sensor;

identifying the user state, from among the plurality of user states, based on the at least one parameter;

identifying the level of autonomy from the user profile based on the user state; and

controlling the function or device of the motor vehicle according to the level of autonomy.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the function or device of the motor vehicle controls a longitudinal guidance or a transverse guidance of the motor vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting the level of autonomy according to a second user state in the user profile.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user state describes a driving situation or a presence of a cause distracting the user from driving.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting at least one item of information concerning surroundings of the motor vehicle by means of the at least one sensor or by at least one further sensor.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

adjusting the level of autonomy based on the at least one item of information concerning the surroundings of the motor vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user state is determined by means of a pulse frequency of the user, a face color of the user, a blink frequency of the user, a steering behavior of the user, or a driving behavior of the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the level of autonomy is changed between an autonomous, partially autonomous, and manual operation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein manual operation of the function or device of the motor vehicle is limited when the level of autonomy of the function or device of the motor vehicle is increased.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a change in the level of autonomy is reversed, reduced, or prevented by user input.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting, in the event of a change in the level of autonomy, a corresponding warning message visually on a display device of the motor vehicle or acoustically or haptically.

12. A motor vehicle comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting a user state or at least one parameter from which the user state can be deduced,

wherein the motor vehicle is configured to;

create a user profile that includes a plurality of user states, each of the plurality of user states having a corresponding level of autonomy,

wherein the level of autonomy determines an extent to which a function or device of the motor vehicle is automatically controlled by a control device or manually controlled by a user;

detect the at least one parameter by the at least one sensor;

identify the user state, from among the plurality of user states, based on the at least one parameter;

identify the level of autonomy from the user profile based on the user state; and

control the function or device of the motor vehicle according to the level of autonomy.

13. The motor vehicle of claim 12, wherein the function or device of the motor vehicle controls a longitudinal guidance or a transverse guidance of the motor vehicle.

14. The motor vehicle of claim 12, wherein the motor vehicle is further configured to adjust the level of autonomy according to a second user state in the user profile.

15. The motor vehicle of claim 12, wherein the user state describes a driving situation or a presence of a cause distracting the user from driving.

16. The motor vehicle of claim 12, wherein the motor vehicle is further configured to detect at least one item of information concerning surroundings of the motor vehicle by means of the at least one sensor or by at least one further sensor.

17. The motor vehicle of claim 16, wherein the motor vehicle is further configured to adjust the level of autonomy based on the at least one item of information concerning the surroundings of the motor vehicle.

18. The motor vehicle of claim 12, wherein the user state is determined by means of a pulse frequency of the user, a face color of the user, a blink frequency of the user, a steering behavior of the user, or a driving behavior of the user.

19. The motor vehicle of claim 12, wherein the level of autonomy is changed between an autonomous, partially autonomous, and manual operation.

20. The motor vehicle of claim 12, wherein manual operation of the function or the device of the motor vehicle is limited when the level of autonomy of the function or the device of the motor vehicle is increased.