Method and device for guiding a vehicle, as well as a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium

• US 7,471,212 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Manstetten, Dietrich, Krautter, Wolfgang, Manga, Bilge
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham; Lam P
• Application Number:
  US11/357,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20060220913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 340933-943, 340/995.1, 340/995.13, 340/995.19, 340/903, 340/905, 340/435, 701 23- 27, 701/207, 701209-226, 701300-302
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle

Abstract

A method and a system for guiding a vehicle are provided, which utilize information regarding the vehicle'"'"'s position. The position of the vehicle is ascertained exactly to the correct lane, and for at least a part of the traffic lanes of specifiable traffic routes in the surroundings of the vehicle, the traffic situation is ascertained. An estimation of traffic lanes is undertaken in the light of specifiable criteria by the evaluation of the vehicle'"'"'s position and the traffic situation, thereby enabling the driver to select the most favorable lane in terms of desired criteria, e.g., minimizing lane changes, minimizing travel time, etc.

Claims

1. A method for automated guidance of a vehicle, comprising:

ascertaining a position information regarding the vehicle, wherein the position information includes identification of a traffic lane in which the vehicle is traveling among a plurality of traffic lanes on a road;

ascertaining a traffic situation for at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes within a specified travel route for the vehicle, the at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes including the traffic lane in which the vehicle is traveling;

evaluating the at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes using at least one specified evaluation criterion, the position information of the vehicle, and the ascertained traffic situation; and

determining, based upon the evaluation, a lane having a shortest travel time, wherein unnecessary lane changes are avoided.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the evaluating of the at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes further takes into account information on a destination of the vehicle, and wherein the traffic situation is ascertained for at least a portion of the specified travel route between the vehicle'"'"'s ascertained position and the destination of the vehicle.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the evaluating of the at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes is performed using a data processing system.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the data processing system includes at least one of a central data processing device external to the vehicle and a data processing device installed in the vehicle.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the traffic situation is ascertained by evaluating at least one of stationary and non-stationary traffic data.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the stationary traffic data are obtained by measuring loops installed in the vicinity of the plurality of traffic lanes.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the non-stationary traffic data are obtained by measurements in at least one of the vehicle and other vehicles.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the non-stationary traffic data are measured by at least one measuring device of an intelligent distance-regulating cruise control system, wherein the non-stationary traffic data include the vehicle'"'"'s own speed and a distance between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle.

9. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the position information regarding the vehicle is ascertained by using at least one of a global positioning system, video evaluation, electronic maps, and data obtained by measuring loops installed in the vicinity of the plurality of traffic lanes.

10. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein at least a portion of data used in the evaluating of the at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes is exchanged between the vehicle and at least one of a master traffic control station and another vehicle.

11. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one specified evaluation criterion includes at least one of a travel time to the destination and a number of lane changes to be carried out.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

automatically providing a lane change prompt to the driver as a function of the evaluation of the at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes.

13. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

automatically providing a lane change prompt to the driver as a function of the evaluation of the at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of a result of the evaluation and the lane change prompt is emitted at least one of acoustically and optically.

15. A system for guiding a vehicle, comprising:

a means for ascertaining a position information regarding the vehicle, wherein the position information includes identification of a traffic lane in which the vehicle is traveling among a plurality of traffic lanes on a road;

a means for ascertaining a traffic situation for at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes within a specified travel route for the vehicle, the at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes including the traffic lane in which the vehicle is traveling;

means for at least one of data input and data output;

means for storing data;

a means for evaluating the at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes using at least one specified evaluation criterion, the position information of the vehicle, and the ascertained traffic situation; and

a means for determining, based upon the evaluation, a lane having a shortest travel time, wherein unnecessary lane changes are avoided.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the means for ascertaining the position information obtain data for the ascertaining of the position information from at least one of a global positioning system, a measuring loop installed in the vicinity of the plurality of traffic lanes, and electronic maps.

17. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the means for ascertaining the traffic situation obtain data for the ascertaining of the traffic situation from at least one of a master traffic control station, an intelligent distance regulating cruise control system, a vehicle-to-vehicle communications system, and a video monitoring system.

18. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the means for at least one of data input and data output have at least one interface for:

a) vehicle-to-vehicle communications;

b) data exchange with at least one of a global positioning system and a master traffic control station;

c) sensors;

d) at least one of an acoustical data input, an acoustical data output, an optical data input, and an optical data output; and

e) at least one of manual data input.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the system is coupled to a vehicle navigation system.

20. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the system includes an on-board computer.

21. A computer system for guiding a vehicle, comprising:

a means for ascertaining a position information regarding the vehicle, wherein the position information includes identification of a traffic lane in which the vehicle is traveling among a plurality of traffic lanes on a road;

a means for ascertaining a traffic situation for at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes within a specified travel route for the vehicle, the at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes including the traffic lane in which the vehicle is traveling;

means for at least one of data input and data output;

means for storing data;

a means for evaluating the at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes using at least one specified evaluation criterion, the position information of the vehicle, and the ascertained traffic situation; and

a means for determining, based upon the evaluation, a lane having a shortest travel time, wherein unnecessary lane changes are avoided.

22. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a computer, carries out a method for automated guidance of a vehicle, the method comprising:

ascertaining a position information regarding the vehicle, wherein the position information includes identification of a traffic lane in which the vehicle is traveling among a plurality of traffic lanes on a road;

ascertaining a traffic situation for at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes within a specified travel route for the vehicle, the at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes including the traffic lane in which the vehicle is traveling;

evaluating the at least some of the plurality of traffic lanes using at least one specified evaluation criterion, the position information of the vehicle, and the ascertained traffic situation; and

determining, based upon the evaluation, a lane having a shortest travel time, wherein unnecessary lane changes are avoided.