Method and device for generating a control parameter for a distance control system of a vehicle

• US 9,260,113 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hauler, Florian, Kasiraj, Ganesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US13/925,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20130345944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2031/0016 Identification of obstacles; Selection of a target vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2031/0025 Detecting position of target vehicle, e.g. vehicle driving ahead from host vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2031/0041 Detecting lateral speed of target vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/4041 Position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/4043 Lateral speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/80 Spatial relation or speed relative to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/801 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/803 Relative lateral speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/804 Relative longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/162 Speed limiting therefor
• 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: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means

Abstract

A method is provided for generating a control parameter for a control system of a vehicle, in particular a distance control system. Here, the method may be carried out in conjunction with a vehicle which includes a surroundings detection attachment directed in the driving direction of the vehicle. The method has a step of determining at least one object property of an object in an area in the driving direction ahead of the vehicle by using surroundings data from the surroundings detection attachment. Here, the at least one object property represents a movement state and an object position of the object with regard to a vehicle position of the vehicle and/or with regard to a roadway in the area in the driving direction ahead of the vehicle. The method also includes a step of generating the control parameter as a function of the at least one object property of the object.

Claims

1. A method for generating a control parameter for a control system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining at least one object property of an object in an area in a driving direction ahead of the vehicle by using surroundings data from a surroundings detection attachment, the at least one object property representing a movement state and an object position of the object with regard to a roadway in the area of the driving direction ahead of the vehicle; and

generating the control parameter as a function of the at least one object property of the object,

wherein the method is capable of being carried out in conjunction with the vehicle including the surroundings detection attachment directed in the driving direction of the vehicle.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of determining includes determining an object category of the object as the object property by using the surroundings data, the object category representing one of another vehicle and an obstacle.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the obstacle is one of a parked vehicle, a person, an animal, an infrastructure element, or another object on the roadway.

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

selecting the object as a target object when the at least one object property of the object fulfills at least one target object criterion,

wherein the step of generating includes generating a target-object related control parameter as a function of the at least one object property of the target object.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the target object is another vehicle that directly precedes the vehicle.

6. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the at least one target object criterion is one of a predefinable object position, a predefinable movement state, and a predefinable object category.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of generating includes generating the control parameter as a function of at least one of:

the vehicle position of the vehicle with regard to the roadway in the area in the driving direction ahead of the vehicle, and

detected driving data of the vehicle.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the driving data is one of:

a velocity of the vehicle, an acceleration of the vehicle, a steering angle of the vehicle, a geographic position of the vehicle, a driver input of the vehicle, and an operating variable of the vehicle.

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

providing the control parameter to an interface associated with an adaptive cruise control attachment of the vehicle, wherein the control parameter controls a velocity of the vehicle as a function of the at least one object property.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of determining includes:

determining the object position of the object as the object property with regard to a travel path of the vehicle, ascertained by using driving data of the vehicle as well as by using the surroundings data, in the area in the driving direction ahead of the vehicle.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the travel path is a predictable path which the vehicle will travel on the roadway in the near future, and wherein the travel path has a definable width.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the travel path is one of a travel trajectory or a travel corridor.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of determining includes determining the object position of the object as the object property with regard to a roadway boundary, detected by using at least one of the surroundings data and a roadway marking in the area in the driving direction ahead of the vehicle.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of determining is carried out by using the surroundings data from at least one of a vehicle camera, a stereo-video camera, a laser device, a lidar device, and a radar device as the surroundings detection attachment.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the surroundings data is collected in at least one of a forward driving direction and a backward driving direction of the vehicle.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the control system includes a distance control system.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a processing device of the surroundings detection attachment is configured to carry out at least one of a:

light detection, a traffic sign detection, and an object detection.

18. A device for generating a control parameter for a control system of a vehicle, the device comprising:

an arrangement for determining at least one object property of an object in an area in a driving direction ahead of the vehicle by using surroundings data from a surroundings detection attachment, the at least one object property representing a movement state and an object position of the object with regard to a roadway in the area of the driving direction ahead of the vehicle; and

an arrangement for generating the control parameter as a function of the at least one object property of the object.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the control system includes a distance control system which is one of connected to or inclusive of the arrangement for determining at least one object property of an object.

20. A computer program product having program code for carrying out a method comprising:

determining at least one object property of an object in an area in a driving direction ahead of a vehicle by using surroundings data from a surroundings detection attachment, the at least one object property representing a movement state and an object position of the object with regard to a roadway in the area of the driving direction ahead of the vehicle; and

generating a control parameter as a function of the at least one object property of the object.