Methods for assisting a driver of a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for assisting a driver during the operation of a vehicle (1) when a narrowing of the roadway ahead of the vehicle (1) is detected, wherein at least one indication of the upcoming narrowing is projected onto a section of the roadway in front of the vehicle (1) by means of a headlight device (2). According to the invention, the output of indications (H1 to H4) regarding the upcoming narrowing is graduated, at least depending on the distance of the vehicle to the narrowing and / or the clearance width of the narrowing.

Description

The invention relates to a method for assisting a driver during the driving operation of a vehicle. From DE 10 2011 078 288 A1 a vehicle with a warning device for the driver is known. Furthermore, DE 10 2006 041 651 A1 discloses a method for determining the passability of a vehicle through a road bottleneck, in which the bottleneck is displayed on a screen and a vehicle image is shown in an image plane and at the size scale of the bottleneck in such a way that, by comparing the displayed bottleneck and the vehicle image, it can be determined whether the vehicle can pass the bottleneck without damage. DE 10 2007 027 756 A1 describes a method for assisting the driver of a motor vehicle when passing through a narrow passage and maintaining a safe distance to a vehicle in front. The driver is shown the path the vehicle is expected to travel in the near future, with the width of the displayed path corresponding to the width of the specific vehicle. The invention is based on the objective of providing a method for supporting a driver during the driving operation of a vehicle. The problem is solved according to the invention by a method which has the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. In the inventive method for assisting a driver during the operation of a vehicle when a narrowing of the roadway ahead is detected, at least one indication of the upcoming narrowing is projected onto a section of the roadway in front of the vehicle by means of a headlight device. The output of indications regarding the upcoming narrowing is graduated, at least depending on the distance of the vehicle to the narrowing and / or the clearance width of the narrowing. As an indication, a warning is projected onto the roadway section using symbols when an intention to change lanes is detected and the width of an adjacent lane to which the change is to be made is less than the vehicle width.The symbolism is chosen as a means of action in such a way as to alert the driver to the narrow width of the adjacent lane. By applying this method, it is possible to draw the driver's attention to a narrow passage ahead of the vehicle, to warn the driver and, in particular, to provide support, for example, if the vehicle cannot pass through the narrow passage due to its width. This procedure can increase general road safety and also largely prevent disorderly conduct. In one implementation, when a road narrowing is detected, a general warning is projected onto the road section using symbols, depending on a predefined delta distance between the specified road width at the narrowing and the vehicle's width, where the road width at the narrowing exceeds the vehicle's width. This means that a delta distance is specified, which is available to the vehicle when passing through the narrowing without colliding with any object forming the narrowing. In another version, a width warning is projected onto the road section using symbols when it is determined that the lane width is less than the width of a vehicle. This symbol alerts the driver that the vehicle's width is equal to or greater than the lane width, meaning that even if the vehicle partially enters an adjacent lane, it cannot pass the narrow section. In another possible implementation, animated symbols are projected as a warning to encourage the driver to remain in their current lane. This means the symbols indicate that the driver should stay in their current lane and not attempt a lane change. For example, animated directional arrows are projected onto the road surface to encourage the driver to stay in their current lane. As a further feature, a recommended course of action is projected onto the roadway section in front of the vehicle if it is determined that the lane width of a lane currently occupied by the vehicle is less than the vehicle's width. This recommendation prompts the driver to take action, for example, to change lanes from the currently occupied lane to an adjacent lane, as its lane width exceeds the vehicle's width, particularly when including the delta distance. In one possible implementation, a symbolic guideline for lane change is projected onto the roadway section to encourage the driver of the vehicle to change to an adjacent lane whose lane width, especially including the delta distance, exceeds the vehicle width. In one implementation, the lane width and / or the width of adjacent lanes is determined using image data captured by a vehicle camera and / or signals captured by a lidar-based detection unit of the vehicle and / or map data. Specifically, the determined width is then fed to a light control unit of the headlight system for evaluation and processing. In one implementation, traffic sign recognition detects a traffic sign indicating a narrowing of the road and takes this into account when displaying the warning. Specifically, the vehicle's width is considered. This means that a specified clearance width on a traffic sign is recognized and compared to the vehicle's width, whereupon a corresponding warning is projected onto the roadway section via light projection from the headlights. In one possible configuration, the vehicle width, measured with the exterior mirrors in their operating position, is stored on the vehicle's system and used for comparison with the road width and / or lane width. This ensures the vehicle width is known at all times and available to the headlight control unit for comparison, which then projects a corresponding message to the driver via a light projection in front of the vehicle. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. Figure 1 schematically shows a vehicle with a headlight device, Figure 2 schematically shows a general warning that can be projected by means of the headlight device, Figure 3 schematically shows a width warning that can be projected by means of the headlight device, Figure 4 schematically shows an action warning that can be projected by means of the headlight device, and Figure 5 schematically shows an action recommendation that can be projected by means of the headlight device. Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures. Fig. 1 shows, in an exemplary and highly simplified manner, a vehicle 1 with a headlight device 2. The headlight assembly 2 comprises a light control unit 2.1 and headlights 2.2, in particular front headlights. The light control unit 2.1 is connected via data transmission to the headlights 2.2 and a traffic sign recognition system 3 as an assistance system of the vehicle 1. The headlights 2.2 are, in particular, high-resolution headlights 2.2 based on LCD and / or DMD and / or µLED technology, enabling comparatively complex light distributions to be projected onto the roadway in front of the vehicle 1. Such a light distribution can be used, in particular, to display supportive light projections on the roadway for the driver of the vehicle 1. For this purpose, a respective light projection is projected onto the roadway at a distance in front of the vehicle 1 such that the light projection is positioned within the driver's field of vision. It is generally known that with increasing vehicle width and a driver's insufficient ability to judge that width, situations arise in which vehicle 1 travels in a lane that it should not be using due to its width, particularly if its width exceeds the lane width. In extreme cases, vehicle 1 may enter a narrow passage where the clearance is less than its width, meaning it cannot pass through due to its size. To assist a driver of vehicle 1 in such a situation, especially before vehicle 1 gets into such a situation, a procedure described below is provided. By means of roadway reconstruction, for example based on image data captured by a vehicle camera and / or on signals captured by a lidar-based detection unit of vehicle 1 and / or on map data, in particular high-precision map data, especially from a navigation system of vehicle 1, the lane width of a lane currently being traveled by vehicle 1 and of adjacent lanes and / or a roadway width encompassing the lane and adjacent lanes is determined. For example, a lane width and / or a roadway width is directly averaged, whereby alternatively or additionally it may be provided to determine the roadway width using the coordinates of a left lane boundary and a right lane boundary and / or a lane width using the coordinates of a left lane boundary and a right lane boundary. The light control unit 2.1 of the headlight assembly 2 is connected to the traffic sign recognition system 3 via data transmission, enabling the detection of traffic signs indicating potential bottlenecks. These traffic signs include: - Traffic sign 164, which specifies a vehicle width and prohibits passage for vehicles 1 with a greater width; - Traffic sign 120, which indicates a road narrowing on both sides; - Traffic sign 121-10, which indicates a road narrowing on one side (right); and - Traffic sign 121-20, which indicates a road narrowing on one side (left). Furthermore, the vehicle width of vehicle 1 with exterior mirrors positioned in a usable position is stored in the light control unit 2.1. Furthermore, the vehicle 1 has a trailer width detection system, so that the light control unit 2.1 always has an actual vehicle width, possibly also with a trailer. If a bottleneck, for example a narrowing of the road, is detected by the vehicle, the driver of vehicle 1 is alerted in two stages, first with a general warning H1 and then with a width warning H2, by projecting corresponding symbols S1 to S4 shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. 5 onto a section of the road in front of vehicle 1. If one of the traffic signs indicating a bottleneck for vehicle 1 is detected by the vehicle's traffic sign recognition system 3, the general information H1 is projected onto the roadway section in front of vehicle 1, regardless of the lane width, using a first symbol set S1 as shown in Fig. 2. The general information H1 is within the driver's field of vision, so that the driver is informed about the bottleneck ahead of vehicle 1. Alternatively or additionally, a delta distance is specified, which is added to the vehicle width, so that the general message H1 is projected in front of vehicle 1 if the passage width of the narrow point equals or falls below the vehicle width plus the delta distance. The input value for the light control unit 2.1 can be, for example, a detected value on traffic sign 264, a lane width, for example at a distance of 100 m, parameterizable depending on the current driving speed of vehicle 1, via map data and / or a detected and / or calculated lane width via sensor fusion. In one embodiment, if the vehicle width is 2.1 m and the delta distance is 0.2 m, the general message H1 is projected in front of the vehicle 1 when the road width is 2.3 m or less than 2.3 m. Fig. 2 shows a second symbol S2 as width warning H2, which is projected onto the road section in front of the vehicle 1 by means of the headlights 2.2. The width warning H2 is projected onto the road section using the second symbol S2 if the clearance width of the detected bottleneck is equal to or less than the vehicle width. Specifically, the width warning H2 is issued if vehicle 1 has a width of 2.1 m and the road width is equal to or less than 2.1 m. The second symbol S2 corresponds to the first symbol S1 plus an exclamation mark A directly above a vehicle image. Fig. 3 shows a third symbol S3, by means of which an action warning H3 is projected onto the road section in front of vehicle 1 as an indication. The action warning H3 is issued, in particular reactively, in response to driving behavior, especially that of the driver of vehicle 1. The action warning H3 is displayed using the third symbol S3 when it is detected by the vehicle that the driver of vehicle 1 intends to change to an adjacent lane which cannot be driven on by vehicle 1, in particular because of its vehicle width. An example of such a situation arises when vehicle 1, while passing through a construction zone, wishes to change to a narrower left-hand lane, even though its width exceeds the lane width or is slightly above a maximum lane width. Specifically, the driver of vehicle 1 is prompted by the third symbol S3, which is at least partially animated, to remain in their current lane. Arrows P of the third symbol S3 flash continuously and point in one direction of the current lane. A recommended course of action H4 is projected onto the road section as a warning to the driver of vehicle 1 using a fourth symbol S4. The fourth symbol, S4, is projected onto the roadway section in front of vehicle 1 as an action recommendation, H4, to actively prompt the driver of vehicle 1 to take action. For example, if an adjacent lane has a greater lane width than the current lane of vehicle 1, whose lane width is equal to or less than the vehicle's width, the fourth symbol, S4, is projected onto the roadway section in front of vehicle 1 as a lane change recommendation.

Claims

Method for assisting a driver in the operation of a vehicle (1) when a narrowing of a roadway ahead of the vehicle (1) is detected, wherein - by means of a headlight device (2) at least a warning regarding the ahead narrowing is projected to the driver of the vehicle (1) onto a roadway section in front of the vehicle (1), - a distribution of warnings (H1 to H4) regarding the ahead narrowing is graded at least depending on a distance of the vehicle (1) to the narrowing and / or a passage width of the narrowing, and - as a warning, an action warning (H3) is projected onto the roadway section by means of a symbol (S3) when an intention to change lanes is detected and the lane width of an adjacent lane to which the change is to be made is less than a vehicle width. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the event of a detected narrowing of the roadway, a general indication (H1) is projected onto the roadway section by means of a symbol (S1) depending on a predetermined delta distance between specified roadway width in the narrowing and a vehicle width of the vehicle (1), wherein the roadway width in the narrowing exceeds a vehicle width. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a width warning (H2) is projected onto the roadway section by means of a symbol (S2) when it is determined that the roadway width corresponds to or falls below a vehicle width. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an animated symbol (S3) is projected as an action warning (H3) to induce the driver of the vehicle (1) to remain in his current lane. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a recommendation for action (H4) is projected onto the roadway section in front of the vehicle (1) as a guide when it is determined that a lane width of a lane currently being traveled by the vehicle (1) is less than a vehicle width. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that a symbol (S4) for the lane change recommendation is projected onto the roadway section as a recommendation for action (H4). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a lane width and / or a width of adjacent lanes is determined on the basis of image data captured by a vehicle camera and / or on the basis of signals captured by a lidar-based detection unit of the vehicle (1) and / or on the basis of map data. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a traffic sign indicating a bottleneck to the vehicle (1) is recognized by means of a traffic sign recognition system (3) and is taken into account when issuing the warning. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a vehicle width with exterior mirrors positioned in a service position is stored on the vehicle side in a light control unit (2.1) of the headlight device (2) and is used for comparison with a road width and / or a lane width.

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