Navigation aid for a motor vehicle with autopilot

• US 9,721,468 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2014
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Giesler, Bjrn, Reichel, Michael, Klaas, Sebastian
• Primary Examiner(s): KLEINMAN, LAIL A
• Application Number:
  US14/891,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20160093211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,214 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0095 Automatic control mode change
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/406 Traffic density
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/408 Traffic behavior, e.g. swarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/04 Traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/08 Interaction between the driver and the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/00136 for intellectual activities, e.g. reading, gaming or working
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0021 specially adapted for travel time
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0051 from occupants to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data

Abstract

A method for operating a navigation system for a motor vehicle with autopilot is disclosed, wherein the autopilot is designed to automatically carry out longitudinal and lateral guidance of the motor vehicle in the activated state during a piloted journey without assistance from a driver. The navigation system determines, for a destination prescribed by the user, a route to the destination on the basis of navigation data. The roads on which the activation of the autopilot is likely to be possible is determined using traffic data and on the basis of a predetermined activation condition for the autopilot.

Claims

1. A method for operating a navigation system for a motor vehicle with autopilot, wherein the autopilot is configured in an activated state to autonomously perform a longitudinal and transverse guiding of the motor vehicle during a piloted drive without involvement of a driver, the method comprising:

determining with the navigation system based on navigation data a driving route to a destination;

determining with the navigation system based on traffic data and based on a predetermined activation condition for activation of the autopilot on which streets described by the navigation data the activation of the autopilot is expected to be possible;

assigning with the navigation system a traffic jam present on the determined driving route and described by the traffic data to one of multiple traffic jam types and providing with the navigation system a recommendation for a side activity to the driver during a piloted drive in the traffic jam; and

outputting with the navigation system a speed recommendation for a road section before a traffic lam present on the driving route or outputting a predicted time of arrival at the traffic jam, wherein the speed recommendation is generated as a function of an appointment of the driver and/or as a function of a maximum amount of time the driver is able to drive with activated autopilot.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising dividing the driving route into sections of piloted and non-piloted driving and displaying the sections to the user of the navigation system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the driving route is determined with the navigation system so that under traffic conditions defined by the traffic data the driving route satisfies a predetermined optimization criterion regarding a time the driver has to drive by himself.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting during the drive of the motor vehicle with a dynamic route planning from multiple alternative driving routes a driving route which provides a maximum of free time to the driver during the drive and/or during a predetermined time period as a result of piloted driving on the selected driving route.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising predicting with the navigation system for the driver an amount of time the driver can drive on the determined driving route uninterruptedly in a piloted manner.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising predicting with the navigation system for the driver how much of a given text the drive can read or how much of a given movie the driver can watch when driving on the determined driving route.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising graphically displaying piloted and non-piloted phases of a drive on the determined driving route so as to indicate whether the piloted phases are interrupted piloted phases, relatively short time periods or relatively long time periods.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the driving route is determined as a function of a request by the driver regarding driving with activated autopilot.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a message with the navigation system in dependence on a state of activation of the autopilot for informing a person outside the motor vehicle, wherein a status of the piloted driving is automatically posted in a social network.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving with the navigation system appointment data from an electronic calendar of the driver, and determining with the navigation system the driving route so that the autopilot is active at a time of at least one appointment described by the appointment data.

11. A motor vehicle, comprising:

an autopilot and a navigation system, said autopilot being configured in an activated state to perform an autonomous transverse and longitudinal guiding of the motor vehicle during a drive without involvement of a driver, said navigation system being configured to;

determine based on navigation data a driving route to a destination,

determine based on traffic data and based on a predetermined activation condition for activation of the autopilot on which streets described by the navigation data the activation of the autopilot is expected to be possible,

assign a traffic jam present on the determined driving route and described by the traffic data to one of multiple traffic jam types,

provide a recommendation for a side activity for the driver to engage in during a piloted drive in the traffic jam, and

output with the navigation system a speed recommendation for a road section before a traffic jam present on the driving route or outputting a predicted time of arrival at the traffic jam, wherein the speed recommendation is generated as a function of an appointment of the driver and/or as a function of a maximum amount of time the driver is able to drive with activated autopilot.

12. A server arrangement for the Internet, comprising:

a navigation system, said navigation system being configured to determine based on navigation data a driving route to a destination selected by a driver of a motor vehicle,

transmit the determined driving route to the motor vehicle,

determine based on traffic data and based on a predetermined activation condition for activation of the autopilot on which streets described by the navigation data the activation of the autopilot is expected to be possible,

assign a traffic jam present on the determined driving route and described by the traffic data to one of multiple traffic jam types,

provide a recommendation for a side activity for the driver to engage in during a piloted drive in the traffic jam, and

output with the navigation system a speed recommendation for a road section before a traffic jam present on the driving route or outputting a predicted time of arrival at the traffic jam, wherein the speed recommendation is generated as a function of an appointment of the driver and/or as a function of a maximum amount of time the driver is able to drive with activated autopilot.