Advanced driver systems and features usage monitoring system and method

Abstract

A vehicle system includes: at least one of (a) an advanced driving system and (b) an advanced driving feature, the advanced driving system being configured to assist a vehicle driver in performing at least one driving maneuver based on input from at least one of sensors and cameras; and a usage module configured to: when at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature is off, determine whether at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be turned on and used based on at least one of the following: at least one current vehicle operating parameter; at least one current road parameter; at least one current traffic parameter; and at least one current environmental parameter.

Description

[0001] introduction

[0002] The information provided in this section is intended to provide a general overview of the background of this disclosure. To the extent described in this section, the work of the currently named inventors, and aspects of the description that may not conform to the prior art at the time of filing, are neither explicitly nor implicitly considered to be prior art to this disclosure. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure relates to vehicles, and more particularly to the use of advanced driving systems and vehicle features. Background Technology

[0004] The vehicle includes one or more torque-generating devices, such as an internal combustion engine and / or an electric motor. Passengers of the vehicle sit in the passenger cabin (or passenger compartment) of the vehicle.

[0005] Autonomous driving systems operate completely independently of human drivers. For example, they operate independently of the driver's control of the vehicle's acceleration, braking, and steering systems.

[0006] Semi-autonomous driving systems operate partially independently of a human driver. For example, a semi-autonomous driving system can control the steering system independently of the driver, while relying on the driver to set a target speed for the semi-autonomous driving system, which is then controlled by the acceleration and braking systems. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In one feature, a vehicle system includes at least one of (a) an advanced driving system and (b) an advanced driving feature, the advanced driving system being configured to assist a vehicle driver in performing at least one driving maneuver based on input from at least one of sensors and cameras; and a module configured to: when at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature is off, determine whether at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be turned on and used based on at least one of the following: at least one current vehicle operating parameter; at least one current road parameter; at least one current traffic parameter; and at least one current environmental parameter; and when at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be turned on and used, perform at least one of the following: display a visual indicator on a display in the vehicle's passenger compartment indicating that at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be turned on and used; and output an auditory indicator via at least one speaker indicating that at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be turned on and used.

[0008] In a further feature, the module is configured to determine whether at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used based on at least two of the following: the at least one current vehicle operating parameter; the at least one current road parameter; the at least one current traffic parameter; and at least one current environmental parameter.

[0009] In a further feature, the module is configured to determine whether at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used based on all of the following: the at least one current vehicle operating parameter; the at least one current road parameter; the at least one current traffic parameter; and at least one current environmental parameter.

[0010] In a further feature, the scoring module is also configured to determine the score for the first time period based on: (a) a second time period in which at least one of the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature is activated and used during the first time period; and a third time period in which at least one of the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used during the first time period.

[0011] In a further feature, the scoring module is configured to further determine a score value for a first time period based on: a first number of clean sensors and cameras that provide input to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature during the first time period; and the total number of sensors and cameras that provide input to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature during the first time period.

[0012] In a further feature, the scoring module is configured to determine a score for the first time period based on a reduction value associated with at least one of the activated (a) advanced driving system and (b) advanced driving feature.

[0013] In a further feature, the scoring module is configured to further determine a score for the first time period based on: (a) a fourth time period in which at least one of the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature is turned off during the first time period; and a fifth time period in the first time period in which at least one of the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature should have been turned off during the first time period.

[0014] In a further feature, the scoring module is configured to determine a score for the first time period based on an increment associated with at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature being turned off.

[0015] In a further feature, the cleaning module is configured to perform at least one of the following when at least one of the sensors and cameras providing input to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature is not clean: displaying a second visual indicator on a display in the vehicle's cabin to clean at least one of the sensors and cameras providing input to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature; and outputting a second auditory indicator via at least one speaker to clean at least one of the sensors and cameras providing input to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature.

[0016] In a further feature, the scoring module is also configured to determine the driver's rating based on the score value.

[0017] In a further feature, the scoring module is configured to determine the driver's score based on the average of the score value for the first time period and the second score value for the sixth time period.

[0018] In a further feature, the scoring module is configured to transmit driver scores to a remote device.

[0019] In a further feature, the vehicle system also includes at least one of (a) a second advanced driving system and (b) a second advanced driving feature, the second advanced driving system being configured to assist the vehicle driver in performing at least one driving maneuver based on input from at least one of sensors and cameras; wherein the usage module is further configured to determine whether at least one of (a) the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature can be activated and used based on at least one of: at least one second current vehicle operating parameter; at least one second current road parameter; at least one second current traffic parameter; and at least one second current environmental parameter; and when at least one of (a) the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature can be activated and used, perform at least one of the following: display a second visual indicator on a display in the vehicle cabin indicating that at least one of (a) the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature can be activated and used; and output a second auditory indicator via at least one speaker indicating that at least one of (a) the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature can be activated and used.

[0020] In a further feature, the scoring module is configured to determine a score for a first time period based on: (a) a second time period in which at least one of the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature is activated and used during the first time period; (a) a third time period in which at least one of the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature may have been activated and used during the first time period; (a) a fourth time period in which at least one of the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature is activated and used during the first time period; and (a) a fifth time period in which at least one of the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature may have been activated and used during the first time period.

[0021] In one feature, a method includes: when at least one of (a) an advanced driving system and (b) an advanced driving feature is off, determining whether at least one of (a) an advanced driving system and (b) an advanced driving feature can be turned on and used based on at least one of the following, the advanced driving system being configured to assist a vehicle driver in performing at least one driving maneuver based on input from at least one of sensors and cameras: at least one current road parameter; at least one current traffic parameter; and at least one current environmental parameter; and when at least one of (a) an advanced driving system and (b) an advanced driving feature can be turned on and used, performing at least one of the following: displaying a visual indicator on a display in the vehicle's passenger compartment indicating that at least one of (a) an advanced driving system and (b) an advanced driving feature can be turned on and used; and outputting an auditory indicator via at least one speaker indicating that at least one of (a) an advanced driving system and (b) an advanced driving feature can be turned on and used.

[0022] In a further feature, the method also includes determining whether at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used based on at least two of the following: the at least one current vehicle operating parameter; the at least one current road parameter; the at least one current traffic parameter; and the at least one current environmental parameter.

[0023] In a further feature, the method also includes determining whether at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used based on all of the following: the at least one current vehicle operating parameter; the at least one current road parameter; the at least one current traffic parameter; and at least one current environmental parameter.

[0024] In a further feature, the method also includes determining a score for a first time period based on: (a) a second time period in which at least one of the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature is activated and used during the first time period; and a third time period in which at least one of the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used during the first time period.

[0025] In a further feature, the method also includes further determining a score value for a first time period based on: a first number of at least one of clean sensors and cameras that provide input to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature during the first time period; and the total number of sensors and cameras that provide input to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature during the first time period.

[0026] In a further feature, the method also includes determining a score for the first time period based on a reduction value associated with at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the activation of the advanced driving feature.

[0027] This invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0028] 1. A vehicle system comprising:

[0029] (a) an advanced driving system and (b) an advanced driving feature, wherein the advanced driving system is configured to assist the vehicle driver in performing at least one driving maneuver based on input from at least one of sensors and cameras;

[0030] The module is used and configured as follows:

[0031] When at least one of the advanced driving system (a) and the advanced driving feature (b) is off, determine whether at least one of the advanced driving system (a) and the advanced driving feature (b) can be turned on and used based on at least one of the following:

[0032] At least one current vehicle operating parameter;

[0033] At least one current road parameter;

[0034] At least one current traffic parameter; and

[0035] At least one current environment parameter; and

[0036] When at least one of the advanced driving system (a) and the advanced driving feature (b) is available for activation and use, at least one of the following shall be performed:

[0037] A visual indicator is displayed on a monitor within the vehicle's passenger cabin, indicating that at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used; and

[0038] An auditory indicator is output via at least one speaker, the auditory indicator indicating that at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used.

[0039] 2. The vehicle system according to technical solution 1, wherein the usage module is configured to determine whether at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used based on at least two of the following:

[0040] The at least one current vehicle operating parameter;

[0041] The at least one current road parameter;

[0042] The at least one current traffic parameter; and

[0043] The at least one current environment parameter.

[0044] 3. The vehicle system according to technical solution 1, wherein the usage module is configured to determine whether at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used based on all of the following:

[0045] The at least one current vehicle operating parameter;

[0046] The at least one current road parameter;

[0047] The at least one current traffic parameter; and

[0048] The at least one current environment parameter.

[0049] 4. The vehicle system according to technical solution 1 further includes a scoring module, the scoring module being configured to determine a score value for a first time period based on the following:

[0050] (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature, at least one of which is activated and used during the second period during the first period; and

[0051] (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature, at least one of which may have been activated and used during the first time period in the third time period during the first time period.

[0052] 5. The vehicle system according to technical solution 4, wherein the scoring module is configured to further determine a score value for the first time period based on the following:

[0053] During the first time period, at least one of a first number of clean sensors and cameras is provided to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature; and

[0054] The total number of sensors and cameras that provide input to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature during the first time period.

[0055] 6. The vehicle system according to technical solution 5, wherein the scoring module is configured to further determine a score for a first time period based on a reduction value associated with at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature being activated.

[0056] 7. The vehicle system according to technical solution 6, wherein the scoring module is configured to further determine a score value for the first time period based on the following:

[0057] During the first time period, a fourth time period in which at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature is turned off; and

[0058] During the fifth period of the first period, at least one of the advanced driving system (a) and the advanced driving feature (b) should have been turned off during the first period.

[0059] 8. The vehicle system according to technical solution 7, wherein the scoring module is configured to further determine a score value for the first time period based on an increment associated with at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature.

[0060] 9. The vehicle system according to technical solution 5 further includes a cleaning module, the cleaning module being configured to perform at least one of the sensors and cameras that provide input to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature when at least one of them is unclean:

[0061] A second visual indicator is displayed on a monitor within the vehicle cabin to clean at least one of the sensors and cameras that provide input to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature; and

[0062] A second auditory indicator is output via at least one speaker to clean at least one of the sensors and cameras that provide input to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature.

[0063] 10. The vehicle system according to technical solution 4, wherein the scoring module is further configured to determine a driver score based on the scoring value of the driver of the vehicle.

[0064] 11. The vehicle system according to technical solution 10, wherein the scoring module is configured to determine a driver score based on the average of a score value for a first time period and a second score value for a sixth time period.

[0065] 12. The vehicle system according to technical solution 10, wherein the scoring module is configured to transmit the driver score to a remote device.

[0066] 13. The vehicle system according to technical solution 1 further includes:

[0067] (a) at least one of a second advanced driving system and (b) a second advanced driving feature, wherein the second advanced driving system is configured to assist the vehicle driver in performing at least one driving maneuver based on input from at least one of a sensor and a camera;

[0068] The module is further configured to determine whether at least one of (a) the second advanced driver assistance system and (b) the second advanced driver assistance feature can be activated and used based on at least one of the following:

[0069] At least one second current vehicle operating parameter;

[0070] At least one second current road parameter;

[0071] At least one second current traffic parameter; and

[0072] At least one second current environment parameter; and

[0073] When at least one of (a) the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature is available for activation and use, at least one of the following shall be performed:

[0074] A second visual indicator is displayed on a monitor inside the vehicle's passenger cabin, indicating that at least one of (a) the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature can be activated and used; and

[0075] A second auditory indicator is output via the at least one speaker, the second auditory indicator indicating that at least one of (a) the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature can be activated and used.

[0076] 14. The vehicle system according to technical solution 13 further includes a scoring module, the scoring module being configured to determine a score value for a first time period based on the following:

[0077] (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature, at least one of which is activated and used during the second period during the first period;

[0078] (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature, at least one of which may have been activated and used during the first time period in the third time period during the first time period;

[0079] (a) at least one of the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature is activated and used during the fourth period of the first period; and

[0080] (a) the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature, at least one of which may have been activated and used during the first time period in the fifth time period during the first time period.

[0081] 15. A method comprising:

[0082] When at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature is deactivated, it is determined whether at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used based on at least one of the following, wherein the advanced driving system is configured to assist the vehicle driver in performing at least one driving operation based on input from at least one of the sensors and the camera:

[0083] At least one current vehicle operating parameter;

[0084] At least one current road parameter;

[0085] At least one current traffic parameter; and

[0086] At least one current environment parameter; and

[0087] When at least one of the advanced driving system (a) and the advanced driving feature (b) is available for activation and use, at least one of the following shall be performed:

[0088] A visual indicator is displayed on a monitor inside the vehicle's passenger cabin, indicating that at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used; and

[0089] An auditory indicator is output via at least one speaker, the auditory indicator indicating that at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used.

[0090] 16. The method according to technical solution 15 further includes determining whether at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used based on at least two of the following:

[0091] The at least one current vehicle operating parameter;

[0092] The at least one current road parameter;

[0093] The at least one current traffic parameter; and

[0094] The at least one current environment parameter.

[0095] 17. The method according to technical solution 15 further includes determining whether at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used based on all of the following:

[0096] The at least one current vehicle operating parameter;

[0097] The at least one current road parameter;

[0098] The at least one current traffic parameter; and

[0099] The at least one current environment parameter.

[0100] 18. The method according to technical solution 15 further includes determining a score for the first time period based on the following:

[0101] (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature, at least one of which is activated and used during the second period during the first period; and

[0102] (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature, at least one of which may have been activated and used during the third period of the first period.

[0103] 19. The method according to technical solution 18 further includes determining a score for the first time period based on the following:

[0104] During the first time period, at least one of a clean first number of sensors and cameras is provided to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature; and

[0105] The total number of sensors and cameras that provide input to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature during the first time period.

[0106] 20. The method according to claim 19 further includes determining a score for a first time period based on a reduction value associated with at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the activation of the advanced driving feature.

[0107] Other areas of application of this disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, claims, and drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0108] This disclosure will be more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0109] Figure 1 This is a functional block diagram of an example vehicle system;

[0110] Figure 2 This is a functional block diagram of an example vehicle that includes external sensors and cameras;

[0111] Figure 3 This is a functional block diagram of an example vehicle system;

[0112] Figure 4 This is a flowchart depicting an example method of selectively alerting the driver to the use of advanced driver systems or features of the vehicle; and

[0113] Figure 5 This is a flowchart depicting an example method for determining trip scores and driver scores.

[0114] In the accompanying drawings, reference numerals may be used repeatedly to identify similar and / or identical elements. Detailed Implementation

[0115] A vehicle may include one or more cameras and / or one or more sensors, which may be used by one or more advanced driver systems and / or advanced driver features. Advanced driver systems may assist the driver in performing one or more driving maneuvers, such as lane keeping, lane change assist, speed holding, parking, and other types of driving maneuvers. Advanced driver features enhance driver safety and aid in vehicle operation. The driver may enable and disable some of the advanced driver systems and / or features individually or in groups of two or more. When used under appropriate predetermined conditions and in conjunction with clean cameras and / or sensors, advanced driver systems and / or features may reduce the likelihood of harm to people and / or property.

[0116] This application relates to a module that determines a journey score representing a driver's mastery and use of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and / or features during the journey, given vehicle, road, traffic, and environmental conditions. Under current vehicle, road, traffic, and environmental conditions, when the ADAS and / or features are off and can be turned on, the module can generate one or more alerts (e.g., audible, visual, tactile) to activate the ADAS and / or features. When one or more cameras and / or sensors used by the ADAS and / or features become dirty, the module can also generate one or more alerts (e.g., audible, visual, tactile) to clean the cameras and / or sensors. When the ADAS and / or features are on but should not be on under given current vehicle, road, traffic, and environmental conditions, the module can also generate one or more alerts (e.g., audible, visual, tactile) to interrupt the use of the ADAS and / or features.

[0117] This module determines a rating for the trip as described above and below. Based on the trip rating, such as by averaging the trip ratings, this module determines a rating for the vehicle's driver. The driver rating can be used in one or more ways, such as by the fleet manager adjusting vehicle insurance premiums or by informing the driver about their rating.

[0118] Now for reference Figure 1 A functional block diagram of an example vehicle system is presented. Although a vehicle system for hybrid vehicles is shown and will be described, this disclosure is also applicable to non-hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, and other types of vehicles.

[0119] Engine 102 can combust an air / fuel mixture to generate drive torque. Engine control module (ECM) 106 controls engine 102. For example, ECM 106 can control the actuation of engine actuators such as throttle valve, one or more spark plugs, one or more fuel injectors, valve actuators, camshaft phase shifter, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve, one or more turbochargers, and other suitable engine actuators.

[0120] Engine 102 can output torque to transmission 110. Transmission control module (TCM) 114 controls the operation of transmission 110. For example, TCM 114 can control gear selection within transmission 110 and one or more torque transmission devices (e.g., torque converter, one or more clutches, etc.).

[0121] A vehicle system may include one or more electric motors. For example, such as Figure 1 As shown in the example, electric motor 118 can be implemented within transmission 110. The electric motor can function as a generator at a given time, or it can be used as an electric motor. When used as a generator, the electric motor converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. This electrical energy can be used, for example, to charge battery 126 via power control device (PCD) 130. When used as a motor, the electric motor generates torque that can be used, for example, to supplement or replace the torque output of engine 102. While an example of an electric motor is provided, a vehicle may include zero or more electric motors.

[0122] The power inverter module (PIM) 134 can control the electric motor 118 and the PCD 130. Based on signals from the PIM 134, the PCD 130 applies (e.g., DC) power from the battery 126 to (e.g., AC) the electric motor 118, and the PCD 130 provides, for example, the power output by the electric motor 118 to the battery 126. In various embodiments, the PIM 134 may be referred to as an inverter module.

[0123] Steering control module 140 controls the steering / rotation of the vehicle wheels, for example, based on the driver's rotation of the steering wheel inside the vehicle and / or steering commands from one or more vehicle control modules. A steering wheel angle sensor (SWA) monitors the rotational position of the steering wheel and generates SWA 142 based on the steering wheel's position. As an example, steering control module 140 may control vehicle steering via EPS motor 144 based on SWA 142. However, the vehicle may include another type of steering system.

[0124] The Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) 150 can selectively control the vehicle's brakes 154. The vehicle's modules can share parameters via a network 162, such as a Controller Area Network (CAN) and / or other suitable network types. CAN can also be referred to as an automotive local area network. Network 162 may include one or more data buses. A given control module can provide various parameters to other control modules via CAN 162.

[0125] Driver input may include, for example, accelerator pedal position (APP) 166, which can be provided to ECM 106. Brake pedal position (BPP) 170 can be provided to EBCM 150. Park, reverse, neutral, and drive lever (PRNDL) positions 174 can be provided to TCM 114. Ignition state 178 can be provided to Body Control Module (BCM) 180. For example, the driver can input ignition state 178 via ignition key, button, or switch. At a given time, ignition state 178 can be one of off, assisted, running, or started.

[0126] The vehicle system may include an infotainment module 182. The infotainment module 182 can control the content displayed on a display 184. In various embodiments, the display 184 may be a touchscreen display, and signals indicating user input to the display 184 are transmitted to the infotainment module 182. The infotainment module 182 may additionally or alternatively receive signals indicating user input from one or more other user input devices 185 (such as one or more switches, buttons, knobs, etc.).

[0127] The infotainment module 182 can receive input from multiple external sensors and cameras. Figure 1 The infotainment module 182 is typically shown as 186. For example, the infotainment module 182 can display video, various views, and / or alarms on the display 184 via input from external sensors and cameras 186.

[0128] The infotainment module 182 may also generate output via one or more other devices. For example, the infotainment module 182 may output sound via one or more speakers 190 of the vehicle. The vehicle may include one or more additional control modules, such as a chassis control module, a battery pack control module, etc., not shown. The vehicle may omit one or more of the control modules shown and discussed.

[0129] Input from external sensors and cameras 186 can also be used by one or more advanced driving systems and / or features, such as those discussed below, and for one or more other purposes.

[0130] The Global Positioning System (GPS) module 191 receives GPS data (e.g., current location, such as coordinates) from the GPS system. The driver monitoring module 192 uses one or more in-cabin monitoring devices (such as infrared (IR) sensors, cameras, etc.) to monitor one or more characteristics of the vehicle driver. For example, the driver monitoring module 192 may receive input from one or more cameras configured to capture images of the driver and the vehicle cabin, for example, to determine facial expressions, one or more gestures, hand placement, and other driver information based on the images.

[0131] Now for reference Figure 2 The diagram presents a functional block diagram of an example vehicle including external sensors and cameras. External sensors and cameras 186 include various cameras positioned to capture images and videos of the vehicle's exterior (exterior), and various types of sensors measuring parameters of the vehicle's exterior (exterior). For example, a forward-facing camera 204 captures images and video within a predetermined field of view (FOV) 206 in front of the vehicle.

[0132] The front camera 208 can also capture images and video within a predetermined field of view (FOV) 210 in front of the vehicle. The front camera 208 can capture images and video within a predetermined distance in front of the vehicle and can be located in front of the vehicle (e.g., in the front panel, grille, or bumper). The forward-facing camera 204 can be located further rearward, such as in a rearview mirror within the vehicle's windshield. The forward-facing camera 204 may not be able to capture images and video of all or at least a portion of the predetermined FOV of the forward-facing camera 208, and may capture images and video beyond a predetermined distance in front of the vehicle. In various embodiments, only one of the forward-facing camera 204 and the front camera 208 may be included.

[0133] Rear camera 212 captures images and video within a predetermined FOV 214 behind the vehicle. Rear camera 212 can capture images and video within a predetermined distance behind the vehicle and can be located at the rear of the vehicle, such as near the rear license plate. Right camera 216 captures images and video within a predetermined FOV 218 on the right side of the vehicle. Right camera 216 can capture images and video within a predetermined distance on the right side of the vehicle and can be located, for example, below the right-side rearview mirror. In various embodiments, the right-side rearview mirror may be omitted, and right camera 216 may be located near the position where the right-side rearview mirror would normally be. Left camera 220 captures images and video within a predetermined FOV 222 on the left side of the vehicle. Left camera 220 can capture images and video within a predetermined distance on the left side of the vehicle and can be located, for example, below the left-side rearview mirror. In various embodiments, the left-side rearview mirror may be omitted, and left camera 220 may be located near the position where the left-side rearview mirror would normally be. Although example FOVs are shown for illustrative purposes, FOVs can be overlapped, for example, for more precise and / or more comprehensive stitching.

[0134] External sensors and cameras 186 also include various other types of sensors, such as radar sensors, light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors 250, etc. For example, the vehicle may include one or more forward-facing radar sensors (such as forward-facing radar sensors 226 and 230) and one or more rear-facing radar sensors (such as rear-facing radar sensors 234 and 238). The vehicle may also include one or more right-side radar sensors (such as right-side radar sensor 242) and one or more left-side radar sensors (such as left-side radar sensor 246).

[0135] The positions and fields of view of the camera and radar sensors are provided as examples only, and different positions and fields of view can be used. The radar sensor outputs radar signals around the vehicle. Objects around the vehicle can be detected based on input from external sensors and camera 186.

[0136] Figure 3 This is a functional block diagram of an example vehicle system. The vehicle includes one or more advanced driver control systems (ADS) and / or advanced driver features. For example, the vehicle may include a forward collision warning (FCA) module 304 configured to provide one or more warnings when one or more predetermined conditions occur. When one or more predetermined conditions occur, an automatic emergency braking (AEB) module 308 can provide automatic emergency braking of the vehicle.

[0137] The Forward Pedestrian Braking (FPB) module 312 can provide vehicle braking for one or more pedestrians when one or more predetermined conditions occur. The Night Vision (NV) module 316 can provide night vision when one or more predetermined conditions occur. The Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) module 320 can provide one or more side blind zone alerts when one or more predetermined conditions occur.

[0138] When one or more predetermined conditions occur, the Lane Change Alert (LCA) module 324 can provide one or more lane change alerts. When one or more predetermined conditions occur, the Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) module 328 can adjust the steering for lane keeping. When one or more predetermined conditions occur, the Lane Departure Warning (LDW) module 332 can provide one or more lane departure alerts / warnings.

[0139] When one or more predetermined conditions occur, the Rear Parking Assist (RPA) module 336 can adjust one or more actuators for rear parking. When one or more predetermined conditions occur, the Front Parking Assist (FPA) module 340 can adjust one or more actuators for forward parking. When one or more predetermined conditions occur, the Reverse Warning (BW) module 344 can provide one or more reverse alarms / warnings.

[0140] When one or more predetermined conditions occur, the Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) module 348 can provide one or more rearward alerts / warnings regarding rear cross traffic. When one or more predetermined conditions occur, the Automatic Parking Assist (APA) module 352 can adjust one or more actuators for parking.

[0141] The Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) module 356 provides braking when one or more predetermined conditions occur while the vehicle is traveling in the opposite direction. When one or more predetermined conditions occur, the Rear Pedestrian Warning module 360 ​​can provide one or more warnings / alarms about pedestrians behind.

[0142] Each advanced driver system and / or feature acts based on input from one or more sensors and / or cameras from the vehicle. Examples of sensors and cameras include external cameras and sensors 186, traffic sensors 364, environmental sensors 368, road sensors 372, various vehicle sensors 376, and input to the driver monitoring module 192. While examples of advanced driver systems and features have been provided, this application is also applicable to other advanced driver systems and / or features. In various embodiments, one or more advanced driver systems and / or features may be omitted.

[0143] Module 390 monitors whether each advanced driver control system is on or off. When an advanced driver control system is off, module 390 monitors whether predetermined conditions for its activation exist. In other words, when an advanced driver control system is off, module 390 monitors whether the system can be activated under current conditions. If the system can be activated under current conditions, module 390 can output one or more alarms to the driver to activate and use the advanced driver control system. Examples of alarms include audible alarms via one or more speakers 190, visual alarms via one or more visual indicators (such as display 184), and tactile alarms via one or more vibration devices.

[0144] When the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) is activated, module 390 monitors whether predetermined conditions for activating the ADAS are met. In other words, when the ADAS is activated, module 390 monitors whether the ADAS should be deactivated under current conditions. If the ADAS should be activated under current conditions, module 390 can output one or more alarms to the driver to deactivate and disable the ADAS. Examples of alarms include audible alarms via one or more speakers 190, visual alarms via one or more visual indicators (such as display 184), and tactile alarms via one or more vibration devices.

[0145] Therefore, when the corresponding predetermined conditions for using the advanced driving system and / or features are met, the use module 390 encourages the use of the advanced driving system and / or features. The use module 390 also encourages not using / not relying on the advanced driving system and / or features when the corresponding predetermined conditions for using the advanced driving system and / or features are not met.

[0146] The cleaning module 394 monitors whether the vehicle's sensors and cameras, such as external cameras and sensors 186, are clean or dirty. When a sensor or camera is dirty, the cleaning module 394 can output one or more alarms to the driver to clean the dirty sensor or camera. Examples of alarms include audible alarms via one or more speakers 190, visual alarms via one or more visual indicators (such as display 184), and tactile alarms via one or more vibration devices.

[0147] When the corresponding predetermined conditions of the advanced driving system and / or feature are met (so that the corresponding advanced driving system and / or feature can be activated), the scoring module 398 monitors whether the advanced driving system and / or feature is activated or deactivated. When the corresponding predetermined conditions of the advanced driving system and / or feature are not met (so that the corresponding advanced driving system and / or feature should be deactivated), the scoring module 398 also monitors whether the advanced driving system and / or feature is activated or deactivated.

[0148] The scoring module 398 determines a trip score based on the time periods during which the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) and / or features are activated and used, the total time periods during which the ADAS and / or features may have been activated and used, the time periods during which the ADAS and / or features are deactivated, and the total time periods during which the ADAS and / or features should have been deactivated. The scoring module 398 further determines a trip score based on the number of sensors / cameras used by the ADAS and / or features during the trip and the total number of sensors / cameras used by the ADAS and / or features. The scoring module 398 further determines a trip score based on a reduction value indicating a decrease in the collision rate and / or damage rate associated with activated ADAS and / or features. The scoring module 398 further determines a trip score based on an increase value indicating an increase in the collision rate and / or damage rate associated with deactivated ADAS and / or features. The reduction values ​​associated with the ADAS and the increase values ​​associated with the ADAS and / or features may be predetermined values ​​stored in memory.

[0149] The rating module 398 can determine the rating of the trip, for example, using either an equation or a lookup table that associates the above inputs with the rating value. For example, the rating module 398 can determine the rating of the trip based on or using the following equation:

[0150]

[0151] Where Score is the rating value, N is an integer equal to the number of advanced driver assistance systems and features, and %TDASON i* a&u i %cleani is the percentage of time the i-th advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) or feature is activated and used by the driver during the trip, relative to the total time the i-th ADAS or feature may have been activated and used by the driver during the trip. %cleani is the percentage of clean sensors / cameras used by the i-th ADAS or feature during the trip, relative to the total number of sensors / cameras used by the i-th ADAS or feature (the sum of clean and dirty cameras / sensors). ReductionONi corresponds to the rate of reduction in collision / damage when the i-th ADAS or feature is activated. %TDASOFFi is the percentage of time the i-th ADAS or feature is deactivated during the trip, relative to the total time the i-th ADAS or feature should have been deactivated during the trip. IncreaseOFFi corresponds to the rate of increase in collision / damage when the i-th ADAS or feature is deactivated. N is an integer greater than 1. A trip can refer to the time between (a) the time when the vehicle transitions from deactivated to activated and (b) the time when the vehicle next transitions from activated to deactivated.

[0152] Below is a sample table that includes conditions under which associated advanced driver control systems and functions should be turned off, driver behavior should be indicated, sensors / cameras should be cleaned, and a reduction value should be applied.

[0153]

[0154]

[0155]

[0156] The rating module 398 also determines a rating for the vehicle driver based on ratings for two or more trips. The rating module 398 can determine the driver's rating using an equation or lookup table that associates the trip-specific ratings with the driver's rating. For example, the rating module 398 can set a driver's rating based on or using the following equation:

[0157]

[0158] Where ScoreD is the driver's rating, Scorej is the rating for the j-th trip, and M is an integer greater than 1.

[0159] Driver ratings can be used in one or more ways. For example, rating module 398 can transmit driver ratings to remote devices, such as the vehicle's insurance company, fleet manager, etc. The insurance company can adjust one or more costs associated with vehicle insurance based on the driver rating, such as increasing one or more costs when the driver rating decreases, and vice versa. The fleet manager can, for example, assess driver performance based on the driver rating. While example uses of driver ratings are provided, other uses are possible. Rating module 398 can additionally or alternatively send driver ratings periodically (e.g., monthly) to an address (e.g., email address, mobile phone number, etc.) or a mobile device associated with the driver. This can allow the driver to view his or her driver rating and more appropriately utilize advanced driving systems and / or features to improve his or her driver rating.

[0160] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating an example method for selectively alerting the driver to the use of advanced driver systems or features of the vehicle. At 404, the current conditions are received using module 390, such as from traffic sensor 364, environmental sensor 368, external camera / sensor 186, road sensor 372, and vehicle sensor 376.

[0161] At 408, module 390 determines whether the advanced driver assistance system or feature is disabled. If 408 is false, control can terminate. If 408 is true, control can continue to 412. At 412, cleaning module 394 determines whether the cameras and / or sensors used by the advanced driver assistance system or feature are clean. If 412 is true, control continues to 420. If 412 is false, at 416, cleaning module 394 outputs one or more alarms to the driver to clean one or more dirty cameras and / or sensors, and control can terminate.

[0162] At 420, module 390 can determine whether one or more predetermined conditions exist for using the advanced driving system or feature. If 420 is false, module 390 can indicate that the use of the advanced driving system or feature is inappropriate under the current conditions, and control can be terminated. If 420 is true, module 390 can output one or more alarms (e.g., audible, visual, tactile, etc.) to the driver via one or more output devices at 424, indicating the use of the advanced driving system or feature. Although Figure 4 The example is shown as the end, but control can return to 404. Furthermore, although... Figure 4 The example is described with reference to an advanced driving system or feature, but Figure 4 Instances of the example can be executed for each advanced driving system or feature (e.g., in parallel).

[0163] Figure 5 This is a flowchart depicting an example method for determining trip scores and driver scores. Control begins at 504, where the scoring module 398 determines whether the vehicle has transitioned from off to on. When the vehicle is off, it can be turned on, for example, via user input to one or more ignition keys, buttons, and / or switches. When the vehicle is on, it can be turned off, for example, via user input to one or more ignition keys, buttons, and / or switches. While examples of vehicles and off conditions are provided, this application is also applicable to other methods of turning vehicles on and off. If 504 is true, control continues to 508. If 504 is false, control may terminate.

[0164] As described above, at 508, module 390 records information about whether the advanced driver system and / or features are on, in use, or off, and whether the advanced driver system should be on or off under the current conditions. At 512, the scoring module 398 determines whether the vehicle has switched from on to off. If 512 is true, control can proceed to 516. If 512 is false, control can return to 508 and continue recording information about the advanced driver system and / or features for the specified duration.

[0165] At 516, the rating module 398 determines a trip rating based on the appropriateness of the driver's use and non-use of advanced driving systems and / or features under given operating conditions, as described above. At 520, as described above, the rating module 398 can update the driver rating based on the trip rating. Although Figure 5 The example is shown as the end, but control can return to 504.

[0166] The above description is illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit this disclosure, its application, or its use. The broad teachings of this disclosure can be implemented in many forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes specific examples, its true scope should not be limited thereto, as other modifications will become apparent upon examination of the drawings, specification, and the following claims. It should be understood that one or more steps within a method may be performed in a different order (or simultaneously) without altering the principles of this disclosure. Furthermore, while each of the embodiments described above is described as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of this disclosure may be implemented in and / or combined with features of any other embodiment, even if such combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and substitutions of one or more embodiments for each other remain within the scope of this disclosure.

[0167] Various terms are used to describe spatial and functional relationships between elements (e.g., between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.), including “connection,” “joint,” “link,” “adjacent,” “close to,” “on top of,” “above,” “below,” and “set.” Unless explicitly described as “direct,” when describing a relationship between a first element and a second element in the above disclosure, the relationship can be a direct relationship in which no other intervening element exists between the first element and the second element, but it can also be an indirect relationship in which one or more intervening elements exist between the first element and the second element (whether spatially or functionally). As used herein, at least one of the phrases A, B, and C should be interpreted as meaning the use of the non-exclusive logic “OR” (A or B or C), and should not be interpreted as “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.”

[0168] In a view, the direction of the arrows generally indicates the flow of information of interest, such as data or instructions. For example, when components A and B exchange various types of information, but the information transmitted from component A to component B is relevant to the illustration, the arrow may point from component A to component B. This unidirectional arrow does not imply the absence of other information transmitted from component B to component A. Furthermore, for information sent from component A to component B, component B may send a request for that information or an acknowledgment of receipt of that information to component A.

[0169] In this application, which includes the following definitions, the term "module" or "controller" may be replaced by the term "circuit". The term "module" may refer to, be part of, or include the following: application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC); digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital discrete circuit; digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital integrated circuit; combinational logic circuit; field-programmable gate array (FPGA); processor circuitry (shared, dedicated, or grouped) that executes code; memory circuitry (shared, dedicated, or grouped) that stores code executed by the processor circuitry; other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality; or some or all of the above, such as in a system-on-a-chip.

[0170] A module may include one or more interface circuits. In some examples, the interface circuits may include wired or wireless interfaces connected to a local area network (LAN), the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), or a combination thereof. The functionality of any given module in this disclosure may be distributed among multiple modules connected via interface circuits. For example, multiple modules may allow for load balancing. In a further example, a server (also known as a remote server or cloud server) module may perform certain functions on behalf of a client module.

[0171] As used above, the term "code" can include software, firmware, and / or microcode, and can refer to programs, routines, functions, categories, data structures, and / or objects. The term "shared processor circuitry" covers a single processor circuitry that executes some or all of the code from multiple modules. The term "grouped processor circuitry" covers processor circuitry that, in conjunction with additional processor circuitry, executes some or all of the code from one or more modules. The term "multiple processor circuitry" covers multiple processor circuitry on a discrete die, multiple processor circuitry on a single die, multiple cores of a single processor circuitry, multiple threads of a single processor circuitry, or a combination of the above. The term "shared memory circuitry" covers a single memory circuitry that stores some or all of the code from multiple modules. The term "grouped memory circuitry" covers memory circuitry that, in conjunction with additional memory, stores some or all of the code from one or more modules.

[0172] The term memory circuit is a subset of the term computer-readable medium. As used herein, the term computer-readable medium does not cover transient electrical or electromagnetic signals propagating through a medium (such as on a carrier wave); the term computer-readable medium can therefore be considered tangible and non-transient. Non-limiting examples of non-transient tangible computer-readable media include: non-volatile memory circuits (such as flash memory circuits, erasable programmable read-only memory circuits, or masked read-only memory circuits), volatile memory circuits (such as static random access memory circuits or dynamic random access memory circuits), magnetic storage media (such as analog or digital magnetic tape or hard disk drives), and optical storage media (such as CDs, DVDs, or Blu-ray discs).

[0173] The apparatus and methods described in this application can be implemented, in part or in whole, by a dedicated computer created by configuring a general-purpose computer to perform one or more specific functions embodied in a computer program. The function blocks, flowchart components, and other elements described above serve as software specifications that can be translated into a computer program by the ordinary work of a person skilled in the art or a programmer.

[0174] A computer program includes processor-executable instructions stored on at least one non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable medium. A computer program may also include or depend on stored data. A computer program may encompass a basic input / output system (BIOS) that interacts with the hardware of a special-purpose computer, device drivers that interact with specific devices of the special-purpose computer, one or more operating systems, user applications, background services, background applications, etc.

[0175] Computer programs may include: (i) descriptive text to be parsed, such as HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), XML (Extensible Markup Language), or JSON (JavaScript Object Notation); (ii) assembly code; (iii) object code generated from source code by a compiler; (iv) source code for execution by an interpreter; and (v) source code for compilation and execution by a just-in-time (JIT) compiler, etc. As an example only, source code may be written using syntax from languages ​​including: C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Swift, Haskell, Go, SQL, R, Lisp, and Java. ® , Fortran, Perl, Pascal, Curl, OCaml, Javascript ® HTML5 (Hypertext Markup Language 5th Edition), Ada, ASP (Dynamic Server Web Pages), PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor), Scala, Eiffel, Smalltalk, Erlang, Ruby, Flash ®, Visual Basic ® , Lua, MATLAB, SIMULINK, and Python ® .

Claims

1. A vehicle system comprising: (a) an advanced driving system and (b) an advanced driving feature, wherein the advanced driving system is configured to assist the vehicle driver in performing at least one driving maneuver based on input from at least one of a sensor and a camera; The module is used and configured as follows: When at least one of the advanced driving system (a) and the advanced driving feature (b) is turned off, determine whether at least one of the advanced driving system (a) and the advanced driving feature (b) can be turned on and used based on the following: At least one current vehicle operating parameter; At least one current road parameter; At least one current traffic parameter; and At least one current environment parameter; and When at least one of the advanced driving system (a) and the advanced driving feature (b) is available to be activated and used, at least one of the following shall be performed: A visual indicator is displayed on a monitor inside the vehicle cabin, the visual indicator indicating that at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used; and An auditory indicator is output via at least one speaker, the auditory indicator indicating that at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used; as well as A scoring module, configured to determine a score for a first time period based on the following: (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature are activated and used during the second period during the first period; and (a) at least one of the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature may have been activated and used during the third period of the first period; The scoring module is configured to determine the score value based on or using the following equation: Where Score is the rating value, N is an integer equal to the number of advanced driver assistance systems and features, and %TDASON i* a&u i It is the percentage of time that the advanced driver assistance system or feature is activated and used by the driver during the trip, relative to the total time that the advanced driver assistance system or feature may have been activated and used by the driver during the trip, %clean. i It is the percentage of clean sensors / cameras used by the advanced driver assistance system or feature during the trip, relative to the total number of sensors / cameras used by the advanced driver assistance system or feature. i Corresponding to the reduction rate of collision / damage when advanced driving systems or features are activated, %TDASOFF i IncreaseOFF is the percentage of time the advanced driver assistance system or feature is off during the trip relative to the total time the advanced driver assistance system or feature should be off during the trip. i This corresponds to the increased rate of collision / damage when advanced driving systems or features are disabled.

2. The vehicle system of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning module configured to perform at least one of the sensors and cameras that provide input to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature, if at least one of these sensors and cameras is unclean: A second visual indicator is displayed on a monitor within the vehicle cabin to clean at least one of the sensors and cameras that provide input to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature; and A second auditory indicator is output via at least one speaker to clean at least one of the sensors and cameras that provide input to at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature.

3. The vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein, The scoring module is also configured to determine a driver score based on the score value for the driver of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle system according to claim 3, wherein, The scoring module is configured to determine the driver's score based on the average of the score value for the first time period and the score value for the sixth time period.

5. The vehicle system according to claim 3, wherein, The scoring module is configured to transmit the driver's score to a remote device.

6. The vehicle system according to claim 1, further comprising: (a) at least one of a second advanced driving system and (b) a second advanced driving feature, wherein the second advanced driving system is configured to assist the vehicle driver in performing at least one driving maneuver based on input from at least one of a sensor and a camera; The module is further configured to determine whether at least one of (a) the second advanced driver assistance system and (b) the second advanced driver assistance feature can be activated and used based on at least one of the following: At least one second current vehicle operating parameter; At least one second current road parameter; At least one second current traffic parameter; and At least one second current environment parameter; and When at least one of (a) the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature is available for activation and use, at least one of the following shall be performed: A second visual indicator is displayed on a monitor inside the vehicle's passenger cabin, indicating that at least one of (a) the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature can be activated and used; and A second auditory indicator is output via the at least one speaker, the second auditory indicator indicating that at least one of (a) the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature can be activated and used.

7. The vehicle system according to claim 6, wherein, The scoring module is also configured to determine the score for the first time period based on the following: (a) at least one of the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature is activated and used during the fourth period during the first period; and (a) at least one of the second advanced driving system and (b) the second advanced driving feature may have been activated and used during the fifth period of the first period.

8. A method comprising: When at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature is deactivated, the following determines whether at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used, wherein the advanced driving system is configured to assist the vehicle driver in performing at least one driving operation based on input from at least one of sensors and cameras: At least one current vehicle operating parameter; At least one current road parameter; At least one current traffic parameter; and At least one current environment parameter; and When at least one of the advanced driving system (a) and the advanced driving feature (b) is available to be activated and used, at least one of the following shall be performed: A visual indicator is displayed on a monitor inside the vehicle cabin, the visual indicator indicating that at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used; and An auditory indicator is output via at least one speaker, the auditory indicator indicating that at least one of (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature can be activated and used; The score for the first time period was determined based on the following factors: (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature are activated and used during the second period during the first period; and (a) the advanced driving system and (b) the advanced driving feature, at least one of which may have been activated and used during the third period of the first period. Determining the score value includes determining the score value based on or using the following equation: Where Score is the rating value, N is an integer equal to the number of advanced driver assistance systems and features, and %TDASON i* a&u i It is the percentage of time that the advanced driver assistance system or feature is activated and used by the driver during the trip, relative to the total time that the advanced driver assistance system or feature may have been activated and used by the driver during the trip, %clean. i It is the percentage of clean sensors / cameras used by the advanced driver assistance system or feature during the trip, relative to the total number of sensors / cameras used by the advanced driver assistance system or feature. i Corresponding to the reduction rate of collision / damage when advanced driving systems or features are activated, %TDASOFF i IncreaseOFF is the percentage of time the advanced driver assistance system or feature is off during the trip relative to the total time the advanced driver assistance system or feature should be off during the trip. i This corresponds to the increased rate of collision / damage when advanced driving systems or features are disabled.

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