METHOD FOR OPERATING A TOWING ROBOT

• US 20160115702A1
• Filed: 10/27/2015
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: NORDBRUCH, Stefan, NICODEMUS, Rolf, IRION, Albrecht, HOFFMANN, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 9,816,283 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/24 characterised by use of dollies for horizontal transport , i.e. cars being permanently parked on wheeled platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/02 Control of position or course in two dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0968 Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle

Abstract

A method is provided for operating a towing robot, where in the event an error occurs during autonomous driving of a vehicle within a parking lot, the error causing the vehicle to be no longer able to continue its autonomous driving, the towing robot is instructed to tow the vehicle to a predetermined position, so that the towing robot tows the vehicle to the predetermined position in response to the instruction. Also described herein are a towing robot, a parking system, as well as a computer program.

Claims

1. A method for operating a towing robot, comprising:

in the event an error occurs during autonomous driving of a vehicle within a parking lot, the error causing the vehicle to be no longer able to continue its autonomous driving, instructing the towing robot to tow the vehicle to a predetermined position, so that the towing robot tows the vehicle to the predetermined position in response to the instruction.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising monitoring the autonomous driving of the vehicle for errors with the aid of a monitoring system which is external to the vehicle.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the monitoring system includes at least one video camera.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructing includes instructing the towing robot to tow in response to an error message of the vehicle.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising blocking, at least during a towing time, an area for at least one of other vehicles and persons, the area corresponding to an area in which the towing robot moves in order to tow away the vehicle.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising documenting at least one of:

autonomous driving of the vehicle within the parking lot, and towing of the vehicle with the aid of the towing robot.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the towing robot is a parking robot.

8. A towing robot for towing a vehicle present within a parking lot, comprising:

an arrangement for towing the vehicle to a predetermined position in response to an instruction, the towing being due to an error in which the vehicle is no longer able to continue its autonomous driving.

9. A parking system, comprising:

a parking lot; and

a towing robot for towing a vehicle present within a parking lot, the towing robot including;

an arrangement for towing the vehicle to a predetermined position in response to an instruction, the towing being due to an error in which the vehicle is no longer able to continue its autonomous driving.

10. The parking system as recited in claim 9, further comprising a monitoring system external to the vehicle for monitoring an instance of autonomous driving of a vehicle within the parking lot for errors.

11. The parking system as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a documentation device for documenting at least one of;

autonomous driving of the vehicle within the parking lot, and

towing of the vehicle with the aid of the towing robot.

12. A computer program, including program code for carrying out, when the computer program is executed on a computer, a method for operating a towing robot, comprising:

in the event an error occurs during autonomous driving of a vehicle within a parking lot, the error causing the vehicle to be no longer able to continue its autonomous driving, instructing the towing robot to tow the vehicle to a predetermined position, so that the towing robot tows the vehicle to the predetermined position in response to the instruction.