REMOTE DRIVER ASSISTANCE

A control unit for a motor vehicle including a sensor for scanning an environment of the motor vehicle; a communication device for transmission of sensor data and for receiving control data via a communication channel; and a processing device for controlling the motor vehicle on the basis of the control data received.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a monitoring system for a motor vehicle, in order to ensure the driving or operating safety of the motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Driving a motor vehicle can be challenging for a driver. In particular, inexperienced drivers or those driving under especially difficult driving conditions such as black ice or fog can occasionally be overtaxed by the control of the motor vehicle. Even a professional driver with a lot of experience may occasionally need help in driving his vehicle, for example if some piece of equipment on board the motor vehicle is not working properly.

It is known to send telemetry data from a motor vehicle to a location outside the motor vehicle in order to there subject the data to further analysis. Thereupon, a recommendation is usually generated for the driver on how to improve the control of his vehicle.

DE 10 2010 063 401 A1 concerns an access control system for providing an authorized person with access to a piece of equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a technique for improved driver assistance. The invention achieves this objective by means of the objects of the independent claims. The subordinate claims describe preferred embodiments.

A control unit for a motor vehicle comprises at least one sensor for scanning an environment of the motor vehicle; a communication device for the transmission of sensor data and for receiving control data by way of a communication channel; and a processing device for controlling the motor vehicle on the basis of the control data received.

Advantageously the motor vehicle can for example be monitored from a remote position, in that information is analyzed, from which conclusions can be drawn about a driving condition or an environment of the motor vehicle. If necessary the remote site can even intervene directly in the control of the motor vehicle and thereby, for example, carry out a driving maneuver of which a driver of the motor vehicle is not capable. For example a driver who feels overtaxed by a driving situation can call for help from an external system or an external expert. This can increase the safety of the motor vehicle and the safety of traffic around it.

Preferably, the communication device is designed to establish the communication channel in an encoded and/or authenticated manner. This can on the one hand prevent an unauthorized location from receiving information about the environment of the motor vehicle or its driving condition. On the other hand, an unauthorized site can also be prevented from intervening in the control of the motor vehicle.

Particularly preferably the control unit also comprises an interface with another control system on board the motor vehicle, in order to check driving information of the motor vehicle. In that case, the communication device is designed to transmit the driving information as well. The driving information can for example include a speed, a direction, a position and information about the state of, for example, a drive system or a brake system on board the motor vehicle.

A method for controlling a motor vehicle comprises steps of establishing a communication channel between the motor vehicle and an external position, transmitting the driving information and/or sensor data scanned in the environment of the motor vehicle, by way of the communication channel, to the position, the reception by the motor vehicle of a request to hand over control of the motor vehicle, the reception by the motor vehicle of control information, and the controlling of the motor vehicle on the basis of the control information received.

In accordance with the method, the takeover of control of the motor vehicle by the remote site can be accepted or rejected on board the motor vehicle. This ensures that the motor vehicle is not remotely controlled against the wishes of a driver who carries responsibility for the motor vehicle.

In a further embodiment the takeover of control over the motor vehicle is initiated by transmitting a corresponding request from the motor vehicle to the remote site. This request can be transmitted along with the driving information and/or sensor data. Thus, a system or a person on board the motor vehicle can voluntarily request assistance from the remote site.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the request for the takeover is transmitted after it has been determined that an autonomous control system of the motor vehicle has relinquished control or is at the point of doing so. In particular, if the autonomous control system detects that it cannot safely cope with an existing or forthcoming traffic situation, then for example in parallel with a takeover request to the driver of the motor vehicle it can additionally request external assistance.

In a further preferred embodiment it is additionally determined from a takeover attempt that a driver on board the motor vehicle has not assumed control over a predetermined time or has refused to assume control. One reason for this could be that the driver himself regards the situation as too much for him. Another reason could be that there is a technical fault on board the motor vehicle which does not allow the driver to drive the motor vehicle safely. On the part of the external site help can then be offered, such assistance being provided for example by a human expert or by a technical system not present on board the motor vehicle. The technical system can for example include an analysis system for fault conditions on board the motor vehicle that can be diagnosed electronically.

A computer program product comprises program code means for carrying out the above-described method when the computer program product is run on a processing device or stored on a computer-readable data carrier.

A monitoring device comprises a communication device for establishing communication channels to a plurality of motor vehicles, such that each communication channel is designed to receive sensor data and/or driving information from a motor vehicle and to transmit control data to the motor vehicle, as well as an output element for the output of sensor data and an operating element for the input of control data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows a system100that includes a motor vehicle105and a remote site110. Between the motor vehicle105and the remote site110there is a communication channel115, which is preferably authenticated and/or encoded. Any known methods can be used for authentication or encoding. The authentication ensures that the respective communication partners are who they say they are. The encoding ensures that neither can information be received from the communication channel115, nor can other information be fed into the communication channel115by unauthorized parties.

On board the motor vehicle105is arranged a control unit120, which comprises a processing device125, a sensor130and a communication device135as a terminal of the communication channel115. The sensor130is designed to scan an environment of the motor vehicle105. In particular, the sensor130can comprise a video sensor, a radar or Lidar sensor or some other sensor which provides the most sufficient possible information from the environment of the motor vehicle105in order to enable control of the motor vehicle105on the basis of the information.

Preferably the control unit120also comprises an interface140for connection to another control system145on board the motor vehicle105. The control system145can for example comprise an engine control unit for a drive engine of the motor vehicle105or a navigation system for determining a position of the motor vehicle105. The information supplied by way of the interface140preferably indicates a driving condition or a technical condition of the motor vehicle105. For example, the information checked by way of the interface140can include a fault condition of the control system145.

In addition, the control unit120comprises a further interface150that can be connected to a control device155on board the motor vehicle105. The control device155is preferably designed to carry out a longitudinal or transverse control of the motor vehicle105. Preferably the control unit120is designed for the autonomous control of the motor vehicle105, that is to say, the control of the longitudinal or transverse movement can take place without the intervention and supervision of a driver. If during this an irremediable control error occurs, then an alarm is usually emitted to the driver. However, the driver must not take over control before the lapse of a predetermined takeover time, for example 15 seconds, and until the end of that takeover time control can be maintained by the control unit120. In another embodiment the control device155can also be designed to control a separate or additional piece of equipment on board the motor vehicle105, such as a winch or a hydraulic crane. If the motor vehicle105is a utility vehicle such as a truck, a bus, a special vehicle or even a taxi, then any desired useful function of the motor vehicle105can be controlled by the control device155. Preferably, intervention in the function controlled is possible in that corresponding data are transmitted via the interface150.

The remote site110is outside the motor vehicle105and can be either at a fixed location, or mobile. For example, in a first embodiment the remote site110can be a central site set up at almost any desired distance from the motor vehicle105. In a second embodiment the remote site110is itself arranged on board a motor vehicle which, for example, can be in the environment of the motor vehicle105.

The remote site110comprises a communication device135as the second terminal of the communication channel115, and a processing device160. Preferably, an output element165is provided on which information about the motor vehicle105can be displayed. In particular, pictorial information previously scanned by the sensor130on board the motor vehicle105can be displayed on the output element165. Associated with the pictorial information there can be other types of information, for example numerical information, for example received previously by way of the interface140on board the motor vehicle105. The processing device160can serve for appropriate, in particular graphical preparation of the information about the motor vehicle105.

In addition it is preferable for the remote site110to have an operating element170which for example allows a person175at the remote site110to carry out inputs which are then processed, transmitted to the motor vehicle105and there interpreted as control information that can be passed on via the interface150to the control device155.

Particularly in the case of a positionally fixed remote site110, it is preferable for the communication device135to be designed to maintain a plurality of communication channels115to a plurality of motor vehicles105. The information displayed by the output element165can then relate to several of the motor vehicles105. By means of the operating element170the person175can also influence the display of information on the output element165. For example, views can be enlarged, displaced or changed in some other way. It is preferable for the output element165to enable the display of information about several motor vehicles105, so that the person175can monitor several motor vehicles105and if he suspects irregularities in one of the motor vehicles105, can if necessary take over control thereof.

The motor vehicle105can for example comprise a building machine and the person175can for example carry out a particularly difficult process which the driver of the building machine cannot manage by himself. The person175can even control several motor vehicles105at the same time, particularly when these are interacting. For example, two cranes which are together lifting a bulky load and which have to maneuver through a narrow passage can be controlled by the same person175. In that way preliminary planning and discussions between crane drivers can be saved. In that way the problem, a complex, three-dimensional problem to be discussed verbally between the crane drivers, can be circumvented in an elegant manner. This can boost the productivity of the motor vehicles105or increase operational safety.

FIG. 2shows a method200for controlling the motor vehicle105ofFIG. 1. The method200can in particular be carried out by the processing devices125on the part of the motor vehicle105and160on the part of the remote site110. The representation inFIG. 2shows the steps associated with the motor vehicle105on the left and those associated with the remote site110on the right.

In an optional step205sensor data and/or driving information from the motor vehicle105are transmitted by way of the communication channel115. In a subsequent step210these data are received at the remote site110. These two steps preferably take place continually in an endless loop. The information received in step210can then be analyzed in a step215. For this the analysis is preferably carried out by computer, that is to say, by the processing device160at the remote site110. In another embodiment an analysis can also be carried out by the person175, to whom the information is presented by means of the output element165. In that case the person175can in particular be assisted by an expert who, on the basis of the information presented on the output element165, can all the better see things from the standpoint of the driver of the motor vehicle105. The expert can take over control of the motor vehicle105if the driver cannot cope with the matter in hand alone or by himself.

For example, breakdown assistance can be given if on board the motor vehicle105there occurs a fault or if the motor vehicle105has been involved in an accident. A particularly difficult task of the motor vehicle105can even be carried out by the person175when no driver at all is on board the motor vehicle105. Hazardous jobs such as mine clearance can in this way be carried out with less risk to personnel. In yet another embodiment even a convoy of several motor vehicles can be controlled by just one person175.

Regardless of this, it is assumed for example that in a step220the motor vehicle105is driving under the control of an autonomous control system, which can be realized by virtue of the control device155. In a step225the autonomous control system can be switched off or its switching off announced. For example a driving situation of the motor vehicle105may not be determinable by the autonomous control system with sufficient certainty, or a technical fault may exist on board the motor vehicle105which prevents the workability of the autonomous control system.

In an optional embodiment, in a step230the motor vehicle105is then driven manually by a driver. The step230can also be implemented without the prior steps220and225.

In a step235the driver can relinquish control over the motor vehicle105or such a release can be announced. For this, in a step240a request is transmitted by way of the communication channel115for control over the motor vehicle105to be taken over by the remote site110.

In a step245the request is received by the remote site110. The request can then undergo the analysis of step215. Step215is preferably followed by a step250in which a request to relinquish control over the motor vehicle105is transmitted via the communication channel115.

In a step255this request can be received by the motor vehicle105. Preferably, in a step260a confirmation of the request is generated. The confirmation can be produced automatically by the processing device125, or a driver on board the motor vehicle105may be required to input the confirmation. The confirmation is then transmitted via the communication channel115to the remote site110, where it is preferably received in a step265.

The sequence described by the steps mentioned above is to be understood only as an example. In other embodiments the takeover or release of control over the motor vehicle105at the remote site110can also be initiated for other reasons, for example by a predetermined event, in particular on board the motor vehicle105, or by an alarm. Takeover can also be initiated by the absence of a signal for longer than a predetermined period. For example, a “dead-man's-button” not operated frequently enough by the driver can be provided on board the motor vehicle105.

In a step270, at the remote site110control information for the control of the motor vehicle105is preferably determined and transmitted. The control information is preferably generated on the basis of the data received in step210. It can also be generated automatically by the processing device160or by the person175, who can input the corresponding signals by way of the operating element170.

After the motor vehicle105has received the control information in a step275, in a step280the motor vehicle105can be controlled on the basis of the control information received. For this, the control information received can be passed on via the interface150to the control device155directly or after further processing by the processing device125.

INDEXES

100System105Motor vehicle110Remote site115Communication channel120Control unit125Processing device130Sensor135Communication device140Interface145Control system150Interface155Control device160Processing device165Output element170Operating element175Person200Method205Transmission of sensor data and/or driving information210Reception of data215Analysis220Motor vehicle driven under the control of the autonomous control system225Switching off of the autonomous control system230Manual driving235Release of control by the driver240Transmission of request245Reception of request250Transmission of request to hand over control over the motor vehicle255Reception of the request260Confirmation of the request265Reception of the confirmation270Determination and transmission of control information275Reception of the control information280Control of the motor vehicle