Patent Publication Number: US-2022212663-A1

Title: Method for operating a lane-keeping assistance system of a motor vehicle which is at least partially operated with assistance, computer program product, and lane-keeping assistance system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to German Pat. App. No. 10 2021 200 023.1 to Münning, et al., filed Jan. 5, 2021, the contents of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a lane-keeping assistance system of a motor vehicle which is at least partially operated with assistance, in which an environment of the motor vehicle with a potential lane is detected using an optical detection device of the lane-keeping assistance system and evaluated using an electronic computing device of the lane-keeping assistance system, and in which, as a function of the evaluated environment, an at least partially assisted lane-keeping movement is carried out via a transverse control device of the lane-keeping assistance system, wherein swarm data provided by an electronic computing device external to the vehicle are taken into account for evaluating the environment. The present disclosure also relates to a computer program product and a lane-keeping assistance system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Lane-keeping assistance systems are already known from the prior art which, in particular, provide transverse driver support. In particular, these transverse driver assistance systems can be referred to as Travel Assist and have a corresponding certification for road traffic. In previous implementations, the transverse guidance is substantially based on lanes coming from a camera, which, in particular, can also be referred to as a so-called live detection of lane markings. For example, on country roads with only one lane marking, detecting these markings by means of the camera can often be difficult, and a corresponding transverse guidance must be suppressed. It is also known that the motor vehicle is driven as centrally as possible inside the lane, in particular by means of the lane-keeping assistance systems. 
     DE 10 2019 114 527 A1 discloses a system and a method for extracting vehicle lane-related information from specific road segments by collecting data traces related to driving dynamics. One method for controlling the operation of a motor vehicle includes determining the location of the vehicle, identifying a road segment that corresponds to said location of the vehicle, and receiving outside-related data assigned to that road segment. An angle of rotation and a center line for the road segment are also determined. The vehicle data are evaluated, so are the vehicle locations and dynamics for several displays of the vehicles that are driving on the road segment. Trajectory data are determined, that indicate the starting points, end points and centerline offset distances for these vehicles. The total lanes are identified for the road segment by processing the trajectory data with a cluster ring algorithm that specifies the angle of rotation and the center line. The virtual trajectories for the lanes are extracted, and a vehicle bus system is instructed to carry out a control process based on an extracted virtual trajectory for at least one lane. 
     US 2014/0358322 A1 describes a method and an infrastructure for dealing with the problem of correspondence at the lane level. And various methods are presented therein for estimating position corrections, position and map matched confidence, self-correcting map matching, and turning and lane change events. In addition to the described algorithms, V2V data, if available, can be used to support all of the algorithm steps as discussed. If the relative GPS accuracy between the host vehicle and the remote vehicles in the proximity of the host vehicle is adequate for separating the vehicle inside the lane, and if there is an adequate number of vehicles in all lanes of interest, a determination is made as to the lane where the host vehicle is located. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a method, a computer program product, and a lane-keeping assistance system by means of which improved transverse guidance can be implemented in an at least partially assisted operation of the motor vehicle. 
     Various aspects are disclosed in the features of the independent claims. Other advantageous configurations are specified in the features of the dependent claims. 
     In some examples, a method is disclosed for operating a lane-keeping assistance system of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle is at least partially operated with assistance, and in which an environment of the motor vehicle with a potential lane is detected by means of an optical detection device of the lane-keeping assistance system and evaluated by means of an electronic computing device of the lane-keeping assistance system, and in which, as a function of the evaluated environment, an at least partially assisted lane-keeping movement is carried out by means of a transverse control device of the lane-keeping assistance system, wherein swarm data provided by an electronic computing device external to the vehicle are taken into account for evaluating said environment. 
     In some examples, a future drivable route, which may be located outside of the detection area of the optical detection device, is evaluated on the basis of the swarm data, and a future partially assisted lane-keeping movement for the transverse control device is determined. 
     In such configurations, swarm data can be used to carry out improved transverse guidance during an at least partially assisted operation of the motor vehicle. In particular, a future drivable route, which is to be traveled using the lane-keeping movement, can be evaluated accordingly. In particular, the swarm data originates from motor vehicles that have already traveled the same route. Thus, on the basis of the swarm data, already existing information can be utilized, whereby the future drivable route can then be evaluated accordingly and examined, for example, with regard to any assisted drivability thereof. 
     In some examples, corresponding swarm data may be used as a control source for future travel. For example, accordingly, on country roads with only one lane marking, the swarm data can be used, for example, to virtually mirror one lane along the route driven by other motor vehicles in order to accordingly arrive at two lanes, whereby transverse guidance of the motor vehicle can also be carried out for this section of the roadway. In particular, lane centering can thereby even be maintained in certain situations when, for example, only one line is known, and the mirroring can be carried out along said path being traveled whereby a second, virtual line can be generated. Furthermore, this way, it is possible to cross an intersection without any lines being present in that the vehicle simply “follows” the path taken by the other motor vehicles, in other words by following the swarm data. 
     Better forecasting is possible through the use of the swarm data, since, for example, the optical detection device, which may be configured as a camera, only has a detection range of 50 meters, based on the swarm data, a lane-keeping movement can even be planned accordingly for beyond this detection range. 
     The method presented herein is, in particular, a computer-implemented method. To this end, a further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a computer program product with program instructions which cause a method according to the preceding aspect to be carried out when the program instructions are processed by an electronic computing device. For this purpose, the electronic computing device has, in particular, circuits, in particular integrated circuits, and processors, as well as further electronic components, in order to be able to process the corresponding program instructions. 
     Yet another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a lane-keeping assistance system for a motor vehicle, which is at least partially operable with assistance, having at least one optical detection device and at least one electronic computing device, wherein the lane keeping assistance system is designed for carrying out a method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method is carried out by means of the lane-keeping assistance system. 
     Yet another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a motor vehicle with a lane-keeping assistance system according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the motor vehicle is designed to be at least partially assisted. 
     Advantageous embodied configurations of the method must be regarded as advantageous embodied configurations of the computer program product, the lane-keeping assistance system, and the motor vehicle. To this end, the lane-keeping assistance system and the motor vehicle have objective features enabling the method or an advantageous embodiment thereof to be carried out. 
     The present disclosure also includes improvements of the lane-keeping assistance system according to the present disclosure having features as they have already been described in connection with the improvements of the method according to the present disclosure. For this reason, the corresponding improvements of the method according to the present disclosure are not reiterated herein. 
     The present disclosure also comprises the combinations of the features of the described embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below. To this end: 
         FIG. 1 : shows schematic top view of an embodiment of a motor vehicle with an embodiment of a lane-keeping assistance system under some aspects of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 2 : shows another schematic top view of a further embodiment of a further motor vehicle with an embodiment of a further lane-keeping assistance system under some aspects of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components each represent individual features that are to be considered independently of one another, which also further develop the present disclosure independently of one another and are therefore also to be regarded as part of the present disclosure individually or in a combination other than the one shown. Furthermore, the described exemplary embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the present disclosure already described. 
     In the figures, functionally identical elements are each provided with the same reference numerals. 
     In some examples detailed herein, at least a partially drivable length of the lane and/or a time inside the lane that is at least partially drivable with assistance is determined on the basis of swarm data, particularly without any detection of the lane by means of the optical detection device. If, for example, no lane has been detected by means of the camera in corresponding lanes, according to the prior art it is currently prohibited that in excess of, for example, 85 meters be guided using assistance means without having a corresponding optical detection. This distance can be extended accordingly by using the swarm data, since it can be determined, for example, that other motor vehicles have already driven several kilometers here, even without having the lane. The swarm data are thus used to be able to evaluate and extend a corresponding length of the given lane or time for the assisted movement. Improved transverse guidance can thus be implemented for a motor vehicle which is at least partially driving with assistance. 
     Furthermore, when determining a length and/or time, a current weather and/or a road type and/or an event and/or a driver status of a driver of the motor vehicle and/or a history of the swarm data may be taken into account. In particular, the different types of swarm data can be also be used even if, for example, there is only one live lane and one virtual lane available, or if there is no live lane and there are only two virtual lanes available. Thus, the permitted duration or the permitted route can be taken into account in the algorithm, as a function of the type of use of the used swarm data, among other things. The additional data can provide, for example, that a reliable determination of the length and duration of the use of the assisted movement can be carried out as a function of the respective environment. 
     In some examples, at least one criterion characterizing the lane is determined and predicted on the basis of the swarm data. For example, the characterizing criterion can be, for example, a curvature of a bend in the road and/or a lane center and/or a divider/median and/or a respective shoulder. Accordingly, on the basis of the swarm data, the virtual lane can thus be reliably generated, as a result of which a reliable, at least partially assisted lane-keeping movement can be carried out. 
     Furthermore, it may be advantageous for the availability of the lane-keeping assistance system to be determined depending on the predicted future, partially assisted movement and depending on the current and/or future position(s) of the motor vehicle. For example, a curvature in a bend of a road that is outside of the detection range of the camera can be detected at an early stage. If, for example, it is then predicted that it is not possible to implement any at least partially assisted lane-keeping movement within this curvature of a bend, this fact can also be ascertained. An evaluation of such an event can be determined, in particular, on the basis of the current position. Furthermore, such a situation can also be determined on the basis of the future position, for example, on the basis of a travel route. 
     If it is determined that the lane-keeping assistance system is not available, a warning message may be output for a driver of the motor vehicle. In particular, this alert is output at an early stage and before the motor vehicle reaches the location where a corresponding lane-keeping assistance system will no longer be available. This warning message can be output optically, as well as haptically or acoustically. Since the driver is informed at an early stage that a given lane-keeping assistance function will soon no longer be available, said driver can take over the driving operation himself. In particular, with, preferably, regularly updated distance or time information prior to reaching the corresponding location, the driver can be given precise information as to the point in time when he or she can no longer expect to be able to use the lane-keeping assistance system, thereby allowing the driver to get ready for taking over the steering operation. Thus, the safety of the lane-keeping assistance system is increased considerably, especially in comparison to purely camera-based solutions, as they are known today, which suddenly cease to be available and therefore require continuous attention from the driver. 
     In some examples, when it is determined that the lane-keeping assistance system is only available to a limited extent, a warning message may be output to the attention of a driver of the motor vehicle, wherein the warning message describes which assistance function of the lane-keeping assistance system is available for limited use. If, for example, a corresponding curve in the road is discovered, the driver can be informed, for example, that this curve in the road can only be navigated traveling a speed of 20 km/h while also maintaining the at least partially active assisted movement. Thus, the driver either has to decelerate the motor vehicle accordingly, or the assistance system must also carry out a longitudinal control. This information can, in turn, be communicated to the driver so that he or she be informed about the situation, or that, for example, said driver can take over the driving task at this point. 
     In some examples, the at least partially assisted route that is drivable in the future is taken into account when planning a route of the motor vehicle. If it is found, for example, that, for a given driving route, the corresponding transverse control can no longer be carried out, this fact can be taken into account during planning. If the driver wishes, for example, that the route be traveled with continuous transverse control, a corresponding further route can be determined that will preclude any non-availability of the transverse control. 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic top view of an embodiment of a motor vehicle  1  with an embodiment of a lane-keeping assistance system  2 . The motor vehicle  1  is located on a road  3 . The road  3  in turn has a lane  4 . 
     The lane-keeping assistance system  2  is configured for the motor vehicle  1 , which is at least partially operated with assistance. For this purpose, the lane keeping assistance system  2  has an optical detection device  5 , which is designed, in particular, as a camera. The lane-keeping assistance system  2  also has at least one electronic computing device  6 . A detection area  7  can be detected with the camera  5 . In particular, the lane  4  can be detected with the optical detection device  5  at least in some areas. 
     In this example, it is provided that an environment  8  of the motor vehicle  1 , in particular the road  3  or the lane  4 , is detected by means of the optical detection device  5  of the lane keeping assistance system  2 . In particular, the environment  8  with the potential lane  4  is detected, and the environment  8  or the lane  4  is evaluated by means of the electronic computing device  6  of the lane-keeping assistance system. Depending on the evaluated environment  8 , a partially assisted lane-keeping movement  9  takes place by means of a transverse control device  10  of the lane-keeping assistance system  2 , wherein swarm data  12 , as provided by an electronic computing device  11  that are external relative to the vehicle, are taken into account when evaluating the environment  8 . On the basis of the swarm data  12 , it is provided that, a future route  13  that will be traveled, which is outside the detection area  7  of the optical detection device  5 , is evaluated and a future, partially assisted lane-keeping movement  9  for the transverse control device  10  is determined. 
     In the present case, it may be seen that, on the basis of the swarm data  12 , an at least partially drivable length L of the lane  4  and/or at least partially [0035] 
     assisted drivable time in the lane  4  is determined without any direction of the lane  4  by means of the optical detection device  5 . 
     In particular, it is shown in the present case that the road  3  has a median  14  or a divider, and a shoulder  15 . The median  14  and the shoulder  15  were detected by means of the optical detection device  5 . In particular, these are therefore live data. Outside of the detection area  7 , in particular, a virtual center line  16  and a virtual shoulder  17  can be prognosticated on the basis of the swarm data  12 . 
     On the basis of the swarm data  12 , long distances, for example, distances of more than 85 meters, can be traveled with the aid of the assisted lane-keeping movement  9 . In particular, since there are different types of usage of the swarm data  12 , for example, a live lane plus a virtual lane, or no live lane and two virtual lanes, it is possible to consider the permitted duration or length L, inter alia, depending on the type of use of this swarm data  12  in the algorithm. 
     In some examples, when determining the length L and/or the time, current weather and/or a road type and/or an event, for example, a construction site, and/or a driver status of a driver of the motor vehicle  1 , and/or a history of the swarm data  12  can be taken into account. A driver status is understood to mean, for example, whether the driver has his or her hands on the steering wheel, or a corresponding evaluation can be carried out on the basis of a driver-monitoring camera. Furthermore, in connection with the type of mirroring, for example, when determining the length L and/or the time, it is possible to take into account whether a line is present, or whether no line is present. 
     For example, if the weather is good, the motor vehicle  1  is traveling on a freeway, and there is no construction site, and although both lanes were not recognized, for example, the permitted length L can be limited to 5000 meters since the swarm data  12 , however, matched the live data very well over a predetermined period of time. In a further example, if the weather is good, the motor vehicle  1  is traveling on a freeway, and there is no construction site, but a recognized lane is omitted, wherein the swarm data  12  matched the live data very well over a predetermined route, the permitted path for the lane-keeping movement  9  can also be released without restriction. As a third example, if, for example, bad weather, a freeway or a construction site were detected and a lane is missing at the same time, the swarm data  12  can already provide good matching with the live data over a predetermined length, whereby the distance for an assisted lane-keeping movement can be limited to 100 meters. 
     In a further schematic top view,  FIG. 2  shows a further embodiment of the lane-keeping assistance system  2  in the motor vehicle  1 . In the present case, it is shown, in particular, that an availability of the lane-keeping assistance system  2  can be determined as a function of the predicted future partially assisted lane-keeping movement  9  and as a function of the current and/or a future position P. For example, if it is determined that the lane-keeping assistance system  2  is not available, a warning message can be output alerting the driver of the motor vehicle  1 . If it is determined that the lane-keeping assistance system  2  is only available to a limited extent, a warning message can be output alerting a driver of the motor vehicle  1 , wherein the warning message describes which assistance function of the lane-keeping assistance system  2  is limited. 
     Furthermore, it can be provided that the at least partially assisted route that will be drivable in the future is taken into account when planning a route for the motor vehicle  1 . For this purpose, in particular, the availabilities, the type of transverse guidance, speeds and weather can be made available, for example, by a navigation device  18  of the motor vehicle  1 . For the route calculation of the navigation device  18 , road sections are preferred, in particular, where it has been determined on the basis of the swarm data  12  that the lane-keeping assistance system  2  is in fact available and can therefore be used. For the usual route calculation algorithms, this is preferably done by adapting the weighting of the road section for the navigation route. 
     In some examples, the motor vehicle  1  may be driven, at least partially with assistance, as far as possible in the center of the lane by means of the lane-keeping assistance system  2 . Using the swarm data  12 , the lane centering guidance can continue to be maintained in certain situations. For example, if only one line was recognized, mirroring can be carried out along the path that is being traveled. A second virtual line can thus be generated. It is possible to drive across an intersection also, for example, without lines such as, for example, by following the path that was taken by other motor vehicles. If the motor vehicle  1  has the information available about the percentage of a route ahead that was already driven by other motor vehicles with an assistance system, this can be taken into account in the context of a navigation plan, for example. 
     In some examples, the proportion of possible transverse guidance can also be displayed to the driver in the navigation device  18 . For example, a color scale can be output from red to green, wherein red means that lane-keeping assistance system  2  is available for less than 10% of the route, and green means that the lane-keeping assistance system  2  is continuously available, in particular over 90%. 
     In particular, speed data, detected lane markings, any use of lane-keeping assistance system  2  without swarm data  12  or any use of lane keeping assistance system  2  with swarm data  12  can be evaluated and also transmitted to electronic computing device  11 , which is external to the vehicle, for evaluation. For this purpose, mirroring of, for example, one line or also of several lines can then be carried out. 
     The support to be expected can then be displayed on the navigation device  18  or on an output device, for example, on a screen, inside the motor vehicle  1 , for example, on the basis of a color scale, or by way of dashed lines to display the route. Furthermore, such consideration can be given at the time when planning a route. Furthermore, for winding country roads, for example, information can be output to the driver alerting the driver that transverse guidance will no longer be available when driving through a curve. The swarm data  12  can therefore be used to provide for better forecasting and a warning function. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               1  motor vehicle 
               2  lane-keeping assistance system 
               3  road 
               4  lane 
               5  optical detection device 
               6  electronic computing device 
               7  detection area 
               8  environment 
               9  lane-keeping movement 
               10  transverse control device 
               11  electronic computing device external to the vehicle 
               12  swarm data 
               13  future drivable route 
               14  median 
               15  shoulder 
               16  virtual median 
               17  virtual shoulder 
               18  navigation device 
             L length 
             P position