Method for providing an operating strategy for a motor vehicle

• US 9,395,200 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2013
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Kratzsch, Claudia, Roessler, Hendrik, Engel, Sebastian
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US14/654,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20150345963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0028 Mathematical models, e.g. for simulation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/55 using telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/65 Data transmitted between vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A method provides an operating strategy for a target vehicle which is located together with other foreign vehicles on a track section of a road track. A communication unit of the target vehicle or of an external data server is connected to a respective communication unit of the foreign vehicles via an ad-hoc network, in particular via a car-to-X communication. A foreign vehicle communicates a position signal and/or an information to an operating parameter. A processing unit determines the positions of the foreign vehicles and can determine a digital model for a current traffic situation in the track section using information related to the operating parameter. The digital model describes the track section and the foreign vehicles located thereon and serves as a basis for an operating strategy for operating the target vehicle. A driving recommendation produces a model output for the driver or triggers automatic driving.

Claims

1. A method for providing an operating strategy for a destination vehicle situated on a route section of a route together with alien vehicles, comprising:

receiving position signals respectively from the alien vehicles, each position signal indicating a position of one of the alien vehicles, the position signals being received at a communication device of a processing device, the communication device being connected to respective transmitters of the alien vehicles via a car-to-X ad hoc network;

dividing, at the processing device, the route section into different subsections based on traffic information from different regions of the route section, the route section being divided based on traffic information selected from the group consisting of volume of traffic, average speed and recommended speed for the destination vehicle;

using the position signals at the processing device to ascertain the respective positions of the alien vehicles;

using the positions of the alien vehicles at the processing device to ascertain a digital model for a current traffic scenario in the route section, the digital model for the current traffic scenario being obtained from the traffic information for the subsections, the digital model for the current traffic scenario describing the route section and the alien vehicles situated on the route section; and

using the digital model for the current traffic scenario at the processing device to ascertain the operating strategy for operating the destination vehicle on the route section.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the communication device receives an operating parameter information item from at least one of the alien vehicles,

the communication device transmits the information item to the processing device, and

the processing device ascertains the digital model for the current traffic scenario based on the information item.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the communication device receives a position signal from the destination vehicle, the position signal indicating a position of the destination vehicle,

the position signal is used to ascertain the position of the destination vehicle, and

both the position of the destination vehicle and the positions of the alien vehicles are used to ascertain the digital model for the current traffic scenario.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the communication device receives a position signal from the destination vehicle, the position signal indicating a position of the destination vehicle, and

the position of the destination vehicle is used to tailor the operating strategy to the position of the destination vehicle.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the communication device receives an information item from an infrastructure element or a radio beacon, the information item pertaining to a current traffic situation on the route section or on one of the subsections, and

the processing device uses the information item to ascertain the digital model for the current traffic scenario in the route section or in one of the subsections.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the infrastructure element or radio beacon has a sensor to detect information regarding motor vehicles on the route section that do not have a transmitter to transmit a respective position signal.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication device and/or the processing device comprises an infrastructure element on the route section.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication device and/or the processing device comprises a vehicle-external data server.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing device is integrated in the destination vehicle.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating strategy comprises a driving recommendation or a map pertaining to the current traffic scenario on at least one subsection of the route section.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein

the operating strategy comprises a driving recommendation, and

the processing device transmits the driving recommendation to a driver assistance system of the destination vehicle or to a driving controller of the destination vehicle, the driving controller controlling longitudinal and/or transverse driving of the destination vehicle.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the processing device transmits the driving recommendation or the map to a display device of the destination vehicle for display on the display device.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

operating strategy comprises a map pertaining to the current traffic scenario on at least one subsection of the route section,

the processing device transmits the map to a display device of the destination vehicle for display on the display device, and

the map is displayed with at least one subsection of the route section marked based on the volume of traffic, the average speed or the recommended speed for the destination vehicle, relevant to the at least one subsection.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an operating strategy is also ascertained for at least one of the alien vehicles.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a different operating strategy is prescribed for each of the different subsections of the route section.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the traffic information for the route section specifies a traffic jam at the route section,

the operating strategy comprises accelerating and resuming a normal speed of travel at an end of the traffic jam, and

the operating strategy further comprises setting a reduced average speed before the traffic jam.

17. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the digital model for the current traffic scenario is based on a Nagel-Schreckenberg model.

18. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the operating strategy is to save fuel, and

the operating strategy sets a target speed for the destination vehicle in the subsections of the route section.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the communication device receives an operating parameter from each of the alien vehicles, and

the operating parameter comprises information regarding a current average speed or a current braking situation for each alien vehicle.

20. A processing apparatus for a destination vehicle situated on a route section of a route together with alien vehicles, comprising:

a communication device to receive position signals respectively from the alien vehicles, each position signal indicating a position of one of the alien vehicles, the communication device being connected to respective transmitters of the alien vehicles via a car-to-X ad hoc network; and

a processing device to;

divide the route section into different subsections based on traffic information from different regions of the route section, the route section being divided based on traffic information selected from the group consisting of volume of traffic, average speed and recommended speed for the destination vehicle;

use the position signals to ascertain the respective positions of the alien vehicles;

use the positions of the alien vehicles to ascertain a digital model for a current traffic scenario in the route section, the digital model for the current traffic scenario being obtained from the traffic information for the subsections, the digital model for the current traffic scenario describing the route section and the alien vehicles situated on the route section; and

use the digital model for the current traffic scenario to ascertain the operating strategy for operating the destination vehicle on the route section.

21. A motor car, comprising a processing apparatus as claimed in claim 20.