Driving test system for a moving object

One form of a driving test system for a moving object includes: an unmanned aircraft configured to fly at a set distance from the moving object that is configured to drive along a set route in a set zone and has a vision sensor disposed on one side that is configured to detect the moving object's motion; and a controller configured to control the flight of the unmanned aircraft to follow the moving object and to transmit to the vision sensor and to receive from the vision censor, detected motion characteristics of the moving object.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0065570 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on May 11, 2015 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0167328 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 27, 2015, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a driving test system for a moving object that detects motion characteristics of the moving object traveling along a preset route and determines how the moving object, such as a vehicle, is functioning and driving.

(b) Description of the Related Art

In general, an autonomous test vehicle is a vehicle that is forced to drive continuously to evaluate the vehicle's driving performance so that intended test results can be obtained. This vehicle is used to perform a forced driving operation on a test road such as a Belgian road with a rough surface.

Thus, the autonomous test vehicle does not require a human driver to manually test-drive the vehicle. This saves the operator the trouble and risk of test driving, allows for severe driving tests, and improves the reliability of test results. Therefore, research, development, and studies on techniques and methods for automatically controlling testing and driving are ongoing.

Conventionally, the above autonomous test vehicle self-controls its driving by enabling a vision sensor unit installed at the front of the test vehicle to recognize road lanes and detect an approaching object.

That is, the driving of the autonomous test vehicle is controlled in response to a control tower's radio control signals, which are input through an antenna and radio transmitter/receiver installed on the vehicle, and a driving control unit automatically controls the driving of the vehicle through a pedal controller in response to an approaching object and lane recognition signals, which are input from an object detector and vision sensor unit using various sensors.

However, the operator's personal subjective view may influence a vehicle driving test, the accuracy of vehicle driving may be reduced, and the cost of labor may be increased.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a driving test system for a moving object capable of increasing the accuracy of performance tests of a moving object, such as a vehicle, and reducing the cost of labor.

An exemplary form of the present disclosure provides a driving test system for a moving object including: an unmanned aircraft configured to fly at a set distance from the moving object, where the moving object is configured to drive along a set route in a set zone and the moving object comprises a vision sensor disposed on one side that is configured to detect a motion of the moving object'; and a controller configured to control the flight of the unmanned aircraft to follow the moving object and to transmit to the vision sensor and to receive from the vision sensor, detected motion characteristics of the moving object.

The unmanned aircraft may control the moving object to implement a driving function including an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), and the advanced driver assistance system may include autonomous emergency braking (AEB), a lane departure warning system (LDWS), a lane keeping assistance system (LKAS), blind spot detection (BSD), or smart cruise control (SCC). The vision sensor may detect lanes the moving object is traveling in and an obstacle near the moving object during implementation of the driving function.

The moving object may be controlled by the unmanned aircraft and may include a detector for detecting the moving object's surroundings.

The detector may detect lanes, an obstacle near the moving object, and the distance to the obstacle.

The moving object may be controlled by the unmanned aircraft and may have an autonomous driving function for automatically controlling a steering device, an accelerator, and a braking device.

The driving test system may further include: a conveyor with the unmanned aircraft's landing and takeoff spots set therein, which is disposed to move the unmanned aircraft from the landing spot to the takeoff spot; a landing marker formed on one side of the landing spot; a proximity sensor disposed on the other side of the landing spot to detect the unmanned aircraft; and photosensors disposed on one side of the takeoff spot to detect the unmanned aircraft.

The controller may determine the moving object's information, speed, and travel distance based on information detected by the vision sensor.

The controller may detect motion characteristics of the moving object using the advanced driver assistance system.

The driving test system may further include a radio transmitter/receiver and an antenna, and the controller may control the moving object''s driving function and the unmanned aircraft by the radio transmitter/receiver and the antenna.

An exemplary form of the present disclosure provides a driving test method for a moving object including: causing the moving object to enter a preset route and driving the moving object; flying an unmanned aircraft along with the moving object; and detecting motion characteristics of the moving object by a vision sensor mounted on the unmanned aircraft and determining how the moving object is driving.

The driving test method may further include controlling, by the unmanned aircraft, the moving object to implement a driving function including an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), and the advanced driver assistance system may include autonomous emergency braking (AEB), a lane departure warning system (LDWS), a lane keeping assistance system (LKAS), blind spot detection (BSD), or smart cruise control (SCC).

The driving test method may further include detecting the moving object's surroundings by a detector.

The detector may detect lanes, an obstacle near the moving object, and the distance to an object in front of the moving object.

The driving test method may further include performing an autonomous driving function for automatically controlling a steering device, an accelerator, and a braking device.

The testing of moving objects such as autonomous vehicles or traditional vehicles using an unmanned aircraft can improve the test accuracy and reduce the cost of labor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary form of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1is a schematic block diagram of a driving test system for a moving object.

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 4, the driving test system for the moving object includes an unmanned aircraft100, a vision sensor110, the moving object120, a detector140, an antenna150, a radio transmitter/receiver160, and a controller130.

The moving object120includes an autonomous vehicle or a traditional vehicle that is set to travel along a route400set either manually or autonomously.

The unmanned aircraft100is autonomously controlled by the controller130to move along with the moving object120at a set distance above the moving object120. For example, the moving object120may be controlled by the unmanned aircraft100.

The vision sensor110disposed at the unmanned aircraft100detects motion of the moving object120and checks information on the moving object120. Also, the vision sensor110may detect a lane in which the moving object is driving and an obstacle and may detect a distance between the moving object and the obstacle.

Moreover, the detector140installed on the moving object120detects lanes420and an obstacle410near the moving object, and detects the distance to the obstacle410.

The controller130may be implemented as one or more microprocessors operating by a preset program, and the preset program may include a series of commands for performing a method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2is a table showing functions implemented by the moving object.

The moving object120may implement a driving function which includes an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). For example, the unmanned aircraft100may control the moving object120to implement (or perform) the driving function that includes the advanced driver assistance system.

The advanced driver assistance system may include autonomous emergency braking (AEB), a lane departure warning system (LDWS), a lane keeping assistance system (LKAS), blind spot detection (BSD), or smart cruise control (SCC).

The description of the well-known art can be substituted for the description of the advanced driver assistance system, and a detailed description of the advanced driver assistance system will be omitted.

FIG. 3is a schematic top plan view of a conveyer where an unmanned aircraft takes off and lands, in the driving test system for the moving object.

Referring toFIG. 3, the conveyer300is disposed along a set route, and landing markers310are disposed on either side of one end of the conveyer300. Moreover, a first proximity sensor312is disposed between the landing markers310.

Photosensors316are disposed on the other end of the conveyer300, spaced a set distance apart in the direction the conveyor300moves, and a second proximity sensor314is disposed between the photosensors316.

The unmanned aircraft100detects the landing markers310by the vision sensor110, and lands between the landing markers310. Then, the first proximity sensor312detects the unmanned aircraft100.

When the unmanned aircraft100is detected by the first proximity sensor312, the conveyor300goes into operation and moves the unmanned aircraft100.

When the unmanned aircraft100is located between the photosensors316and the second proximity sensor314detects the unmanned aircraft100, the conveyor300stops operating and prepares for takeoff of the unmanned aircraft100.

FIG. 4is a partial schematic top plan view showing a path of travel of the moving object in the driving test system of the moving object.

Referring toFIG. 4, the moving object120is set to move along the route400, lanes420are formed on either side of the moving object120, and the obstacle410is disposed in a set position. The moving object120may be controlled either manually or autonomously.

FIG. 5is a flowchart showing a driving test method of the moving object.

Referring toFIG. 5, control is started at S500, and the moving object120such as the autonomous vehicle or the traditional vehicle and the unmanned aircraft100are on standby at S510and S520.

The moving object120enters the path400, either by the controller130or by the operator at S530, and the unmanned aircraft100flies along with the moving object120at S540.

The moving object120performs functional driving at S550. The functional driving may include implementing an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), and the advanced driver assistance system may include autonomous emergency braking (AEB), a lane departure warning system (LDWS), a lane keeping assistance system (LKAS), blind spot detection (BSD), or smart cruise control (SCC).

That is, the operator or the controller130selectively operates the advanced driver assistance system to control the driving of the moving object120at S550, motion characteristics of the moving object120are detected by the unmanned aircraft100at S560, and the driving test is finished at S570.

Then, the moving object120deviates from its route at S580, and the flight of the unmanned aircraft100is finished at S590.

In the exemplary form of the present disclosure, the motion characteristics of the moving object detected by the vision sensor110of the unmanned aircraft100may be transmitted to the controller130through the radio transmitter/receiver160, and the controller130may determine how the moving object120is driving based on the received information.

FIG. 6is a flowchart showing an unmanned aircraft's landing and takeoff procedure in the driving test method for the moving object.

Referring toFIG. 6, the unmanned aircraft100lands at a landing spot in the conveyor300at S600. In this case, the vision sensor110of the unmanned aircraft100detects the landing markers310, and the unmanned aircraft100lands at the corresponding location.

The first proximity sensor312detects the unmanned aircraft100at S610, and when it is determined that the unmanned aircraft100is detected, the conveyor300operates to move the unmanned aircraft100at S620.

The photosensors316or a proximity sensor detect that the unmanned aircraft100has reached the set landing spot at S630, and the conveyor300is stopped at S640. Also, the unmanned aircraft160starts flying in response to a set takeoff signal.

FIG. 7is a table showing a vision sensor's functions and the moving object's functions in the driving test method of the moving object.

Referring toFIG. 7, the vision sensor110checks information of the moving object such as the autonomous vehicle or the traditional vehicle, detects the speed of the moving object120, detects the distance traveled by the moving object120, and transmits the results to the controller130.

Also, the moving object120drives autonomously or performs each function in response to a control signal from the controller130. In this case, the moving object120may be operated automatically by an accelerator pedal, brake pedal, and steering wheel of the moving object120by a set algorithm.

While forms of the present disclosure have been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary forms, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed forms. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

110: vision sensor

120: moving object

312: first proximity sensor

314: second proximity sensor