Method for operating a vehicle

• US 10,437,250 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2016
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Mielenz, Holger, Nordbruch, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lang, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US15/545,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20180004218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0225 involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay parking aids B62D15/027
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0285 using signals transmitted via a public communication network, e.g. GSM network
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations

Abstract

A method for operating a vehicle, whereby the vehicle, parked at a parking position in a parking facility, is guided autonomously from the parking position to a loading station and parked autonomously at the loading station, so that the vehicle can be loaded at the loading station. Also described is a related vehicle and computer program.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle, the method comprising:

autonomously guiding the vehicle, parked at a parking position in a parking facility, from the parking position to a loading station; and

autonomously parking the vehicle at the loading station, so that the vehicle is able to be loaded at the loading station;

wherein the vehicle is guided autonomously from a starting position in the parking facility to the parking position and parked there autonomously, before it is guided autonomously from the parking position to the loading station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein after being loaded, the vehicle is guided autonomously back to the same parking position or to a different parking position in the parking facility and parked there autonomously.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is not guided autonomously to the loading station until a corresponding request signal is received via a communication network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the autonomous guidance of the vehicle includes a remote-controlled guidance of the vehicle.

5. A method for operating a vehicle, the method comprising:

autonomously guiding the vehicle, parked at a parking position in a parking facility, from the parking position to a loading station; and

autonomously parking the vehicle at the loading station, so that the vehicle is able to be loaded at the loading station;

wherein after being loaded, the vehicle is guided autonomously back to the same parking position or to a different parking position in the parking facility and parked there autonomously, and

wherein after a predetermined parking time has ended and/or after reception of a starting signal via a communication network, the loaded vehicle parked at the respective parking position is guided autonomously from the respective parking position to an end position in the parking facility and parked there autonomously, where the vehicle is able to be picked up by a person.

6. A method for operating a vehicle, the method comprising:

autonomously guiding the vehicle, parked at a parking position in a parking facility, from the parking position to a loading station; and

autonomously parking the vehicle at the loading station, so that the vehicle is able to be loaded at the loading station;

wherein the vehicle is not guided autonomously to the loading station until a corresponding request signal is received via a communication network, and

wherein the request signal is received by at least one of the vehicle and a parking-facility server for the coordination of autonomous travel of vehicles in the parking facility.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein in response to reception of the request signal, the parking-facility server coordinates an autonomous guidance of the vehicle from the parking position to the loading station.

8. A method for operating a vehicle, the method comprising:

autonomously guiding the vehicle, parked at a parking position in a parking facility, from the parking position to a loading station; and

autonomously parking the vehicle at the loading station, so that the vehicle is able to be loaded at the loading station;

wherein the autonomous guidance of the vehicle includes control of at control of at least one of a lateral guidance and a longitudinal guidance of the vehicle with an in-vehicle control device, and wherein the vehicle is guided autonomously from a starting position in the parking facility to the parking position and parked there autonomously, before it is guided autonomously from the parking position to the loading station.

9. A method for operating a vehicle, the method comprising:

autonomously guiding the vehicle, parked at a parking position in a parking facility, from the parking position to a loading station; and

autonomously parking the vehicle at the loading station, so that the vehicle is able to be loaded at the loading station;

wherein the parking facility is assigned to a department store in which articles of merchandise can be purchased, so that purchased merchandise can be loaded into the vehicle at the loading station, and wherein the vehicle is guided autonomously from a starting position in the parking facility to the parking position and parked there autonomously, before it is guided autonomously from the parking position to the loading station.

10. A vehicle, comprising:

a guiding arrangement to autonomously guide the vehicle, parked at a parking position in a parking facility, from the parking position to a loading station; and

a parking arrangement to autonomously park the vehicle at the loading station, so that the vehicle is able to be loaded at the loading station;

wherein the vehicle is guided autonomously from a starting position in the parking facility to the parking position and parked there autonomously, before it is guided autonomously from the parking position to the loading station.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising:

a program code arrangement having program code for operating a vehicle, by performing the following;

autonomously guiding the vehicle, parked at a parking position in a parking facility, from the parking position to a loading station; and

autonomously parking the vehicle at the loading station, so that the vehicle is able to be loaded at the loading station;

wherein the vehicle is guided autonomously from a starting position in the parking facility to the parking position and parked there autonomously, before it is guided autonomously from the parking position to the loading station.