Method for controlling an autonomous vehicle system and motor vehicle

• US 9,630,616 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2013
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Reichel, Michael, Siedersberger, Karl-Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUD, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US14/422,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20150217763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23, 701408, 701409, 701418, 701468, 701484, 701485, 701300
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• 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 2556/65 Data transmitted between vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/12 Lane keeping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/17 with provision for special action when the preceding vehicle comes to a halt, e.g. stop and go
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/08 Interaction between the driver and the control system
• 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 60/0053 from vehicle to occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0061 Aborting handover process
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers

Abstract

A method for controlling a vehicle system, which is designed for autonomous operation of a motor vehicle is described, wherein setting information for the vehicle system is determined from location information describing a current position of the motor vehicle and from at least one location-related permission information item relating to the permission of use of the vehicle system, and at least one operating parameter of the vehicle system is selected as a function of the setting information.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vehicle system configured for autonomous operation of a motor vehicle, comprising:

determining a setting information for the vehicle system from an item of positional information which describes an actual position of the motor vehicle and from one or more position-related items of permission information which describe a permission of a use of the vehicle system; and

selecting at least one operating parameter of the vehicle system as a function of the setting information,

wherein at least one of one or more items of permission information is determined from communication data received in a car-to-car communication, said communication data relating to at least one operating parameter of at least one vehicle system configured for autonomous operation of a motor vehicle of at least one other motor vehicle, and

wherein the at least one or more items of permission information and the positional information are determined exclusively in the motor vehicle from measuring data and/or position information received by a sensor and/or communication device of the motor vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more items of permission information is an attribute assigned to a map element of a digital map.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the attribute is changed and/or inputted at least in areas by a user and/or is updated by a server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording measuring data relating to a sign or marker regarding a permission of using the vehicle system, and analyzing the recorded measuring data for determining the one or more items of permission information and/or the positional information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more items of permission information and/or the positional information are determined from measuring data received from a radio transmitter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the positional information is determined via a GPS sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein operating parameters describe a functional range of the vehicle system, said functional range being adjusted to the permission information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the functional range describes system limits of the vehicle system.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising outputting at least one item of information to a driver and/or causing the motor vehicle to automatically assume a safe state when transitioning from a region with a permission information describing a higher degree of automation compared to a region with a permission information describing a lower degree of automation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one item of information is a request to the driver to take over driving.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the safe state is a standstill of the motor vehicle.

12. A motor vehicle, comprising

a vehicle system configured for autonomous operation of the motor vehicle;

and

a control device determining a setting information for the vehicle system from an item of positional information which describes an actual position of the motor vehicle and from one or more position-related items of permission information which describe a permission of a use of the vehicle system, and selecting at least one operating parameter of the vehicle system as a function of the setting information,

wherein at least one of one or more items of permission information is determined from communication data received in a car-to-car communication and relating to at least one operating parameter of at least one vehicle system configured for autonomous operation of a motor vehicle of at least one other motor vehicle, and

wherein the at least one or more items of permission information and the positional information are determined exclusively in the motor vehicle from measuring data and/or position information received by a sensor and/or communication device of the motor vehicle.