Apparatus and method for outputting platooning information in vehicle

An apparatus for outputting platooning information by a platooning vehicle in a platooning group may include: one or more lamps configured to project light onto a road; a communication circuit; a controller configured to control a platooning operation of the vehicle; and a control circuit electrically connected with the one or more lamps, the communication circuit, and the controller. The control circuit may be configured to: control the one or more lamps so as to output on the road a distance range between the platooning vehicle and an outside vehicle that is not part of the platooning group when a request from the outside vehicle to join the platooning group is approved by the platooning vehicle or a leading vehicle of the platooning group. The distance range may be a distance required to join the platooning group.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0042110, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Apr. 10, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for outputting information associated with platooning by a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Platooning involves a plurality of vehicles performing autonomous driving in which the vehicles are arranged at a specified interval in line. While the vehicles perform the platooning, a leading vehicle located in front of the platooning line may control one or more following vehicles which follow the leading vehicle. The leading vehicle may maintain an interval between the plurality of vehicles in the platooning line and may exchange information characterizing behaviors and situations of the vehicles in the platooning line using vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication.

It may also necessary for a vehicle in the platooning group to display platooning information associated with the platooning. Meanwhile, a driver of an outside vehicle not part of the platooning group may drive with reference to the displayed information.

However, there are no insufficient means and methods by which a platooning vehicle may be able to effectively display platooning information. Thus, there is a need to develop means and methods for displaying platooning information to an outside vehicle.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the related art while advantages achieved by the related art are maintained intact.

An aspect of the present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for a platooning vehicle to output a variety of information on a road using a light device to enhance the reliability of a platooning system and intuitively output platooning information to other drivers.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus for outputting platooning information by a platooning vehicle in a platooning group may include: one or more lamps configured to project light onto a road; a communication circuit; a controller configured to control a platooning operation of the vehicle; and a control circuit electrically connected with the one or more lamps, the communication circuit, and the controller. The control circuit may be configured to: control the one or more lamps so as to output on the road a distance range between the platooning vehicle and an outside vehicle that is not part of the platooning group when a request from the outside vehicle to join the platooning group is approved by the platooning vehicle or a leading vehicle of the platooning group. The distance range may be a distance required to join the platooning group.

The control circuit may adjust the distance range based on a speed of the platooning vehicle.

The control circuit may control the one or more lamps so as to output symbols on the road surrounding the platooning group to identify the platooning group.

The control circuit may output symbols surrounding a front and sides of the vehicle when the platooning vehicle is the leading vehicle; output symbols surrounding a rear and the sides of the vehicle when the platooning vehicle is a tail-end vehicle of the platooning group; and output symbols surrounding the sides of the vehicle when the platooning vehicle is located in a middle of the platooning group.

The control circuit may control the one or more lamps so as to output symbols surrounding the platooning vehicle to identify the leading vehicle when the platooning vehicle is the leading vehicle of the platooning group.

The control circuit may control the one or more lamps so as to output symbols surrounding the platooning vehicle on the road in a color different from a color of a symbol output from another vehicle in the platooning group.

The apparatus may further include a sensor that senses illumination intensity. The control circuit may adjust a brightness of the one or more lamps based on an external illumination intensity sensed by the sensor.

The control circuit may adjust a brightness of the one or more lamps based on lane detection reliability of another vehicle in the platooning group.

The control circuit may receive, via the communication circuit, a request from another outside vehicle to enter into the platooning group in front of or behind the platooning vehicle; and control the one or more lamps so as to output a symbol on the road for guiding the other outside vehicle to enter the platooning group.

Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for outputting platooning information by a platooning vehicle in a platooning group may include: determining, by a control circuit of the platooning vehicle, whether a request from an outside vehicle that is not part of the platooning group to join the platooning group is approved by the platooning vehicle or a leading vehicle of the platooning group; and controlling, by the control circuit, one or more lamps of the platooning vehicle so as to output a distance range between the platooning vehicle and the outside vehicle when the request is approved, wherein the distance range is a distance required to join the platooning group.

The method may further include adjusting, by the control circuit, the distance range based on a speed of the platooning vehicle.

The method may further include controlling, by the control circuit, the one or more lamps of the platooning vehicle so as to output symbols on the road surrounding the platooning group to identify the platooning group.

The method may further include controlling, by the control circuit, the one or more lamps of the platooning vehicle so as to output symbols on the road surrounding the platooning vehicle to identify the leading vehicle when the vehicle is the leading vehicle.

The method may further include adjusting, by the control circuit, a brightness of the one or more lamps based on lane detection reliability of another vehicle in the platooning group.

The method may further include receiving, by the control circuit, a request to enter into the platooning group in front of or behind the platooning vehicle from another outside vehicle; and controlling, by the control circuit, one or more lamps of the platooning vehicle so as to output a symbol on the road for guiding the other outside vehicle to enter the platooning group.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the presently disclosed embodiments,FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an apparatus for outputting platooning information by a vehicle (i.e., “platooning vehicle”) in a platooning group according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG. 1, an apparatus100for outputting platooning information according to embodiments may include a lamp110, or a plurality of lamps110, a communication circuit120, a platooning controller130, a sensor140, and a control circuit150. The apparatus100for outputting the platooning information may be loaded into the vehicle which supports platooning.

The lamp110may be configured to project light onto a road. The lamp110may be installed to be toward the road. For example, the lamp110may be installed to output light to the front, side, and rear of the vehicle. In the embodiments ofFIG. 1, the apparatus100for outputting the platooning information includes the one lamp110. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the apparatus100for outputting the platooning information may include a plurality of lamps.

The communication circuit120may be configured to communicate with other vehicles. For example, the communication circuit120may communicate with an outside vehicle10that is not part of the platooning group with the platooning vehicle and may receive information characterizing the outside vehicle10. The information characterizing the outside vehicle10may be transmitted to the control circuit150.

The platooning controller130may be configured to control an operation of the vehicle for platooning. The platooning controller130may have information associated with platooning and may provide the information associated with the platooning to the control circuit150.

The sensor140may sense external illumination intensity, a speed of the vehicle or the outside vehicle10, and the like. The sensor140may provide the sensed information to the control circuit150.

The control circuit150may be electrically connected with the lamp110, the communication circuit120, the platooning controller130, and the sensor140. The control circuit150may control the lamp110, the communication circuit120, the platooning controller130, and the sensor140and may perform a variety of data processing and various arithmetic operations. The control circuit150may be, for example, an electronic control unit (ECU), a micro controller unit (MCU), or a sub-controller, which is loaded into the vehicle. The control circuit150may determine a shape, a color, a location, and the like of a visual indication to be output through the lamp110, based on information obtained from the communication circuit120, the platooning controller130, the sensor140, and the like and may output the determined visual indication using the lamp110.

When a request to join a platooning group, generated from the outside vehicle10, is approved by the vehicle or a leading vehicle of the platooning group, the control circuit150may display a distance range between the vehicle and the outside vehicle10, which is a distance required to join the platooning group, on the road using the lamp110. For example, when the joining request of the outside vehicle10is approved, the control circuit150may display a distance (e.g., 20 m behind the vehicle), in which a driver of the outside vehicle10should approach the platooning group to join the platooning group, on the road. The distance range may be adjusted based on, for example, a speed of the vehicle. Information characterizing whether to approve the joining request may be obtained from the platooning controller130. A description will be given in detail with reference toFIG. 2.

The control circuit150may output symbols which surround the platooning group to identify the platooning group on the road using the lamp110. For example, when the vehicle is a leading vehicle of the platooning group, the control circuit150may output symbols which surrounds the front and sides of the vehicle. When the vehicle is a tail-end vehicle of the platooning group, the control circuit150may output symbols which surround the rear and sides of the vehicle. When the vehicle is a vehicle located in the middle of the platooning group, the control circuit150may output symbols which surround the sides of the vehicle. The information characterizing the platooning group may be obtained from the platooning controller130. A description will be given in detail with reference toFIG. 3.

When the vehicle is the leading vehicle of the platooning group, the control circuit150may output symbols which surround the vehicle to identify the leading vehicle on the road using the lamp110. For example, the control circuit150may output symbols which surround the vehicle on the road in a color different from a color of a symbol output from another vehicle included in the platooning group. Information characterizing the platooning group may be obtained from the platooning controller130. A description will be given in detail with reference toFIG. 4.

The control circuit150may adjust brightness of the lamp110based on external illumination intensity sensed by the sensor140. For example, when the environment is bright, the control circuit150may increase brightness of the lamp110. A description will be given in detail of an exemplary embodiment thereof with reference toFIG. 5.

The control circuit150may adjust brightness of the lamp110based on lane detection reliability of another vehicle included in the platooning group. For example, when lane detection reliability of another platooning vehicle is low, the control circuit150may increase brightness of the lamp110which projects light onto the periphery of a lane. A description will be given in detail of an exemplary embodiment thereof with reference toFIG. 6.

The control circuit150may receive a request to enter in front of or behind the vehicle from another outside vehicle using the communication circuit120and may output a symbol to guide the other outside vehicle to enter on the road. For example, the control circuit150may output a symbol to guide to enter such that the driver of the outside vehicle10knows that the platooning group recognizes the outside vehicle10. A description will be given in detail of embodiments thereof with reference toFIG. 7.

FIG. 2is a drawing illustrating an exemplary operation of an apparatus for outputting platooning information by a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG. 2, a vehicle210according to embodiments may display a plurality of symbols211and212on a road using its lamp. For example, the vehicle210may output a side indication211on the road using lamps respectively installed at the left and right of the vehicle210. For another example, the vehicle210may output the rear indication212on the road using a lamp installed at the rear of the vehicle210. The vehicle210may provide the rear indication212as visual information for a vehicle to join a platooning group.

An outside vehicle220may transmit a request to join the platooning group to the vehicle210. The vehicle210may approve the joining request (when the vehicle210is a leading vehicle). The vehicle210may determine whether there is approval by a leading vehicle (when the vehicle210is a following vehicle). When the joining request is approved, a driver of the outside vehicle220should approach the vehicle210within a predetermined distance from the vehicle210to join the platooning group. The distance may be set based on a speed of the vehicle210. The vehicle210may display a distance in which the outside vehicle220should approach the vehicle210, using the rear indication212. The driver of the outside vehicle220may see the rear indication212and may drive the outside vehicle220to approach the vehicle210closer to the rear indication212to join the platooning group. As a result, the driver of the vehicle which join the platooning group may intuitively identify a distance required to join the platooning group and may easily join the platooning group.

FIG. 3is a drawing illustrating an exemplary operation of an apparatus for outputting platooning information by a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG. 3, a leading vehicle310, a following vehicle320, and a second following vehicle330may display symbols311,321, and331, respectively, using their lamps. The leading vehicle310, the following vehicle320, and the second following vehicle330may form one platoon group. The leading vehicle310, the following vehicle320, and the second following vehicle330may display the symbols311,321, and331to surround the platooning group.

For example, the leading vehicle310may display the symbols311on the front and sides of the leading vehicle310. The first following vehicle320may display the symbols321on the sides of the first following vehicle320. The second following vehicle330located at the tail-end of the platooning group may display the symbols331on the sides and rear of the second following vehicle330. As a result, the symbols311,321, and331capable of identifying the platooning group may be provided. A driver of an outside vehicle may easily recognize that the leading vehicle310, the following vehicle320, and the second following vehicle330forms the one platooning group.

FIG. 4is a drawing illustrating an exemplary operation of an apparatus for outputting platooning information by a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG. 4, a vehicle410according to an embodiment may display symbols411on a road using its lamp. The vehicle may be a leading vehicle. An outside vehicle to join a platooning group including the vehicle410may request the vehicle410to join the platooning group and to output green symbols which are turned on/off, through V2V communication.

The vehicle410may output green symbols411, which are turned on/off, depending on the request of the outside vehicle. The vehicle410may output the symbols411to surround the vehicle410. As a result, the driver of the outside vehicle may identify the leading vehicle of the platooning group the outside vehicle will join. The outside vehicle may set colors, shapes, and the like of the symbols411in various manners.

FIG. 5is a drawing illustrating an exemplary operation of an apparatus for outputting platooning information by a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG. 5, a vehicle510according to embodiments may display symbols511or512which surround the vehicle510on a road. The vehicle510may verify external illumination intensity using its illumination sensor. When the external illumination intensity is low, the vehicle510may display the relatively dark symbols511on the road. When the external illumination intensity is high, the vehicle510may display the relative bright symbols512on the road. When the external illumination intensity is low, operating the lamp to be bright may interfere with a driver of an outside vehicle and may unnecessarily reduce the life of the lamp. When the external illumination intensity is high, operating the lamp to be dark may make the driver of the outside vehicle difficult to recognize the vehicle510. To solve the above-mentioned problems, the vehicle510may adjust brightness of the symbols based on the external illumination intensity.

FIG. 6is a drawing illustrating an exemplary operation of an apparatus for outputting platooning information by a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG. 6, a first vehicle610according to embodiments may output symbols640on the sides of the first vehicle610. The symbols640may be displayed on locations close to lanes630. The second vehicle620may form a platooning group with the first vehicle610and may follow the first vehicle610. The first vehicle610and the second vehicle620may detect the lanes630and may perform lane keeping control for the lanes630.

The first vehicle610may obtain information characterizing lane detection reliability for the lanes630in the second vehicle620from the second vehicle620. Because a distance between the first vehicle610and the second vehicle620is very short when platooning is performed, the lane detection reliability for the lanes630in the second vehicle620may be low. When the lane detection reliability for the lanes630in the second vehicle620is low, the first vehicle610may increase brightness of the symbols640. In this case, the second vehicle620may perform lane detection for the lanes630using the symbols640. The lane detection reliability for the lanes630in the second vehicle620may be increased.

FIG. 7is a drawing illustrating an exemplary operation of an apparatus for outputting platooning information by a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG. 7, each of a first vehicle710, a second vehicle720, and a third vehicle730according to embodiments may display symbols which surround a platooning group on a road using its lamp. The first vehicle710, the second vehicle720, and the third vehicle730may form one platooning group. An outside vehicle740may notify the second vehicle720of an intention to enter between vehicles included in the platooning group, through vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication.

To permit the outside vehicle740to cut-in, the second vehicle720and the third vehicle730may control their speeds to increase a distance between the second vehicle720and the third vehicle730. In this case, the second vehicle720and the third vehicle730may display symbols721and722on the road to notify the outside vehicle740that it is permitted to cut-in. The second vehicle720may change colors and/or shapes of the symbols721of portions close to the outside vehicle740. Furthermore, the third vehicle730may change a color and/or shape of the symbol722of a portion close to the outside vehicle740. As a result, a driver of the outside vehicle740may determine that the second vehicle720and the third vehicle730are controlled to permit the outside vehicle740to enter and may safely enter between the second vehicle720and the third vehicle730.

FIG. 8is a flowchart illustrating a method for outputting platooning information by a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, it is assumed that a vehicle including an apparatus100for outputting platooning information inFIG. 1performs a process ofFIG. 8. Furthermore, in a description ofFIG. 8, an operation described as being performed by the vehicle may be understood as being controlled by a control circuit150of the apparatus100for outputting the platooning information.

As shown inFIG. 8, in operation810, the vehicle may determine whether a request to join a platooning group, generated from an outside vehicle, is approved by the vehicle or a leading vehicle of the platooning group including the vehicle. For example, a driver of the outside vehicle may transmit the joining request to the platooning group including the vehicle. The vehicle may determine whether to approve the joining request of the outside vehicle. In operation820, when the joining request is approved, the vehicle may display a distance range between the vehicle and the outside vehicle, required to join the platooning group, on a road. For example, the vehicle may output a symbol indicating the required approaching distance on the road using its lamp. Furthermore, the vehicle may output various symbols described with reference toFIGS. 3 to 7.

FIG. 9is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computing system according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG. 9, the above-mentioned method according to embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the computing system. The computing system1000may include at least one processor1100, a memory1300, a user interface input device1400, a user interface output device1500, storage1600, and a network interface1700, which are connected with each other via a bus1200.

The processor1100may be a central processing unit (CPU) or a semiconductor device that processes instructions stored in the memory1300and/or the storage1600. The memory1300and the storage1600may include various types of volatile or non-volatile storage media. For example, the memory1300may include a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory).

Thus, the operations of the method or the algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware or a software module executed by the processor1100, or in a combination thereof. The software module may reside on a storage medium (that is, the memory1300and/or the storage1600) such as a RAM, a flash memory, a ROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a register, a hard disk, a removable disk, and a CD-ROM. The exemplary storage medium may be coupled to the processor1100, and the processor1100may read information out of the storage medium and may record information in the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium may be integrated with the processor1100. The processor1100and the storage medium may reside in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC may reside within a user terminal. In another case, the processor1100and the storage medium may reside in the user terminal as separate components.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may display a variety of information on a road using a lamp installed on a platooning vehicle to intuitively provide information associated with platooning to a driver of the platooning vehicle and a driver of an outside vehicle.

In addition, various effects directly or indirectly ascertained through the present disclosure may be provided.