Method and device for controlling coasting operation of motor vehicle taking into account coasting entry phase

Abstract

A device for controlling a coasting operation of a vehicle in the range and / or speed regulation of the vehicle is described. The device is arranged to predict the distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle during coasting operation taking into account the movement of the vehicle during the coasting entry phase. The device is further arranged to control the coasting operation as a function of the predicted distance and / or speed profile.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle which is designed to be operable in a coasting mode. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for controlling the coasting mode of a motor vehicle and a corresponding device. Background Art

[0002] The vehicle with internal combustion engine can be designed to temporarily disconnect the internal combustion engine from the drive train of the vehicle and separate when necessary to reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle when driving. In other words, the vehicle can be designed to temporarily run with coasting operation when driving. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present document relates to the technical task of enabling a particularly energy-efficient coasting operation of a vehicle, in particular in connection with distance and / or speed control of the vehicle.

[0004] This object is solved by each of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described in particular in the dependent claims. It should be noted that the additional features of the patent claims that are dependent on the independent patent claim, if they do not have the features of the independent patent claim or are combined with only a subset of the features of the independent patent claim, can form an independent invention that is independent of the combination of all features of the independent patent claim and can become the subject of an independent claim, a divisional application or a subsequent application. The same applies to the technical teachings described in the specification, which can constitute inventions independent of the features of the independent patent claim.

[0005] According to one aspect, a (control) device for controlling a coasting operation of a (motor) vehicle within the scope of a distance and / or speed control of the vehicle is described. During the operation of the distance and / or speed control, an adaptation can be automatically carried out according to a target distance (determined by the vehicle) to a preceding vehicle driving (directly) in front of the vehicle and / or (in free travel) according to a target speed (determined by the driver), in particular regulation (to a target distance and / or to a target speed).

[0006] The device can be configured to decouple a drive motor (in particular an internal combustion engine) of the vehicle from the drive train of the vehicle (and, if necessary, deactivate the drive motor) in order to start a coasting operation. Alternatively or additionally, the device can be configured to couple the drive motor to the drive train of the vehicle (and, if necessary, activate the drive motor) in order to end the coasting operation. In the coasting operation, the vehicle can be driven slowly without being affected by the drive torque and / or the drag torque of the drive motor.

[0007] During the coasting operation of the vehicle, the drive motor of the vehicle usually does not generate a driving torque. If necessary, during the coasting operation, no braking torque (by one or more friction brakes on the vehicle) may be generated. Therefore, active distance and / or speed regulation may not be possible during the coasting operation. However, it can be monitored here that during the coasting operation, the distance between the vehicle and the vehicle in front remains within a predefined tolerance band around the target distance and / or the driving speed of the vehicle remains within a predefined tolerance band around the target speed. Outside the coasting operation, active distance and / or speed regulation (reaching the target distance or target speed) can be performed. In particular, it can be caused here that the distance and / or driving speed are set to the target distance or target speed immediately after the coasting operation ends.

[0008] The device is configured to predict the distance and / or speed trend of the vehicle in the coasting operation from the current driving progress of the vehicle (e.g. from the current point in time and / or from the current position). The predicted distance and / or speed trend can show the time and / or spatial distance of the vehicle from the preceding vehicle (directly) in front of the vehicle and / or the driving speed of the vehicle as a function of the driving progress (starting from the current driving progress). Here, the predicted distance and / or speed trend can be extended from the current driving progress to a predefined prediction level. The driving progress can show or correspond to the position of the vehicle along the road driven by the vehicle. Alternatively or in addition, the driving progress can show or correspond to a corresponding point in time when the vehicle is driving. Therefore, the prediction level can correspond to a determined distance and / or time range (e.g., 100 meters or more, or 500 meters or more; or 10 seconds or more, or 20 seconds or more).

[0009] The device can be configured to determine (for the prediction level) the gradient profile of the road on which the vehicle is traveling. This information can be determined based on a digital map of the road network on which the vehicle is traveling. The distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle in the coasting operation can then be predicted in a precise manner based on the gradient profile in front.

[0010] The device can also be configured to determine status data related to the condition of the vehicle (e.g., current driving speed) and / or status data related to the condition of a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle (e.g., current driving speed). Based on the status data, the distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle in the coasting operation can then be predicted in a particularly accurate manner.

[0011] When predicting the distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle, it can be assumed that the vehicle is in coasting operation throughout the prediction horizon. In addition, assumptions can be made about the behavior of the leading vehicle during the prediction horizon. For example, it can be assumed that the driving speed of the leading vehicle remains constant throughout the prediction horizon.

[0012] The device is configured to predict the distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle in the coasting operation, taking into account the movement of the vehicle during the coasting entry phase. The movement of the vehicle caused by the drive motor, in particular by the internal combustion engine, during the coasting entry phase can be taken into account. In particular, it can be taken into account that during the coasting entry phase, a drive torque or drag torque is also caused by the drive motor to one or more wheels of the vehicle (even if it is already activated when entering the coasting operation).

[0013] During the coasting entry phase, the drive motor (especially the internal combustion engine) of the vehicle can be decoupled from the drive train, especially from one or more (driven) wheels of the vehicle. In addition, the drive motor can be deactivated if necessary. These one or more actions may require a certain time period and / or a certain driving range (usually a certain driving progress area).

[0014] The coasting entry phase may extend in particular over a driving progression region that begins with a starting driving progression at which a decoupling of the vehicle's drive motor from the drive train, in particular from one or more (driven) wheels of the vehicle, is initiated and ends with an end driving progression at which the drive motor is completely decoupled from the drive train, in particular from one or more (driven) wheels. The coasting entry phase may have a duration of 0.5 seconds or more, in particular 1 second or more and / or 5 seconds or less.

[0015] By taking into account the coasting entry phase, the distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle during the coasting operation can be predicted in a particularly precise manner, whereby the energy efficiency of the vehicle can be increased.

[0016] The coasting operation can be controlled, in particular started or ended, according to a predicted distance and / or speed profile.

[0017] The device can be configured in particular to compare the predicted distance and / or speed trend of the vehicle with a target distance or with a distance threshold value above the target distance. Alternatively or in addition, the device can be configured to compare the predicted distance and / or speed trend with a target speed or with a speed threshold value below the target speed for a distance and / or speed control of the vehicle. In this case, for example, the following can be determined within the scope of the comparison:

[0018] a driving progress segment in which the predicted distance and / or speed profile remains within a predefined tolerance band around a target distance and / or around a target speed; and / or

[0019] The predicted driving progress in which the distance and / or speed curve reaches a target distance or distance threshold value or a target speed or speed threshold value (and optionally subsequently exceeds or falls below it).

[0020] The coasting operation can then be controlled, in particular started or ended, as a function of the comparison, in particular as a function of the determined driving progress section and / or as a function of the determined driving progress. Thus, a particularly energy-saving and comfortable coasting operation of the vehicle with active distance and / or speed control can be achieved. During the distance and / or speed control and / or during the coasting operation, a target distance and / or target speed can be deviated from at least temporarily and / or within a determined tolerance band. The tolerance band or the corresponding threshold value can be, for example, ±5% or less or ±10% or less of the target distance or target speed.

[0021] The device can be configured to take into account the drive torque and / or drag torque caused by the drive motor of the vehicle during the coasting entry phase and / or the (positive or negative) acceleration of the vehicle caused by the drive motor during the coasting entry phase when determining the predicted distance and / or speed profile. The values ​​of the drive torque and / or drag torque and / or the (positive or negative) acceleration can be determined based on one or more state sensors of the vehicle. By taking into account the drive torque and / or drag torque and / or the acceleration during the coasting entry phase, the distance and / or speed profile can be predicted in a particularly precise manner.

[0022] The device can be configured to determine the value of the drive torque and / or drag torque and / or (positive or negative) acceleration that is or has been caused by the vehicle's drive motor in the drive train, in particular at one or more (driven) wheels of the vehicle, at the start of the coasting entry phase. The predicted distance and / or speed profile can then be determined in a particularly precise and efficient manner based on the determined values ​​of the drive torque and / or drag torque and / or acceleration.

[0023] The device can be configured to determine the predicted distance and / or speed profile under the assumption that the vehicle's driving speed remains constant for a specific driving progress region at the start of the predicted distance and / or speed profile (in particular without taking into account the influence of the road gradient of the road on which the vehicle is traveling). In this case, a specific driving progress region (in particular the length of the driving progress region) in which the vehicle's driving speed remains constant can be determined (at the start of the driving progress) based on the determined values ​​of the drive and / or drag torque and / or acceleration. The predicted distance and / or speed profile can thus be determined in a particularly precise and efficient manner.

[0024] According to a further aspect, a (road) motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car or a truck or a bus or a motorcycle, is described, which comprises a (control) device as described in the present document.

[0025] According to another aspect, a method for controlling a coasting operation of a vehicle within the scope of distance and / or speed control of the vehicle is described. The method comprises predicting the distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle during the coasting operation, taking into account the movement of the vehicle (caused by the vehicle's drive motor) during the coasting entry phase (when entering the coasting operation). The method also comprises controlling, in particular starting or ending, the coasting operation as a function of the predicted distance and / or speed profile.

[0026] According to another aspect, a software (SW) program is described. The SW program can be arranged to be executed on a processor (eg on a controller of a vehicle) and thereby to perform the method described in this document.

[0027] According to another aspect, a storage medium is described. The storage medium may include a SW program, which is arranged to be executed on a processor and thereby to perform the method described in this document.

[0028] It should be noted that the methods, devices, and systems described herein can be used alone or in combination with other methods, devices, and systems described herein. In addition, any aspects of the methods, devices, and systems described in this document can be combined with each other in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the claims can be combined with each other in a variety of ways. In addition, the features listed in brackets should be understood as optional features. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In addition, the present invention is further described in more detail based on embodiments. The accompanying drawings show:

[0030] Figure 1 illustrates exemplary components of a vehicle;

[0031] Figure 2a An exemplary driving condition of a vehicle is shown;

[0032] Figure 2b showing an exemplary grade change of a road;

[0033] Figure 3 showing an exemplary predicted distance and / or speed profile during a taxiing operation; and

[0034] Figure 4 A flow chart showing an exemplary method for controlling a coasting operation of a vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] As mentioned at the outset, the present document relates to increasing the energy efficiency and / or comfort of a coasting operation of a motor vehicle. Figure 1An exemplary vehicle 100 is shown. The vehicle 100 includes one or more environmental sensors 102 (e.g., at least one camera, radar sensor, lidar sensor, and / or ultrasonic sensor) configured to detect environmental data (i.e., sensor data) about the environment of the vehicle 100. In addition, the vehicle 100 includes one or more vehicle sensors 106 configured to detect state data (i.e., sensor data) related to the state of the vehicle 100 (e.g., related to driving speed).

[0036] The (control) device 101 of the vehicle 100 can be configured to operate a drive motor 103 (in particular an internal combustion engine) of the vehicle 100 as a function of environmental data and / or as a function of status data in order to at least partially automatically guide the vehicle 100 longitudinally. In particular, an automatic distance and / or speed control (in particular ACC, adaptive cruise control) can be implemented in this regard, wherein the driving speed of the vehicle 100 is automatically set in order to set the distance of the vehicle 100 to a preceding vehicle traveling directly in front of the vehicle 100 to a target distance (which has been determined, for example, by the driver of the vehicle 100) and / or in order to set the driving speed of the vehicle 100 to a target speed (which has been determined, for example, by the driver of the vehicle 100) during free driving (without a preceding vehicle).

[0037] Figure 2a An exemplary driving situation is shown, in which the vehicle 100 is traveling behind the vehicle 200 in front on the road 202. The distance 201 between the vehicle 100 and the vehicle 200 in front is set by the device 101 of the vehicle 100 as a determined target distance. Here, the distance 201 may correspond to a spatial distance of a spatial spacing (e.g., measured in meters) between the vehicle 100 and the vehicle 200 in front. Alternatively or additionally, the distance 201 may be a time interval corresponding to the time required for the vehicle 100 to reach the vehicle 200 in front (assuming that the vehicle 200 in front is stationary) at the current driving speed. The time interval may, for example, correspond to the quotient of the current driving speed of the vehicle 100 and the spatial distance between the vehicle 100 and the vehicle 200 in front.

[0038] The (control) device 101 can be configured to operate the vehicle 100 at least temporarily in a so-called coasting mode during active distance and / or speed regulation. For this purpose, the clutch 105 of the vehicle 100 can be caused to decouple the drive motor 103 from the drive train of the vehicle 100, in particular from one or more driven wheels of the vehicle 100. In addition, the drive motor 103 can be deactivated and / or stopped. The vehicle 100 then drives slowly (without drag torque and / or without drive torque of the drive motor 103) on the road 202 driven by the vehicle 100. The energy consumption of the vehicle 100 can thus be reduced.

[0039] The vehicle 100 may include a position sensor 104, which is configured to detect position data (i.e., sensor data) related to the corresponding current position of the vehicle 100. The position data may, for example, include coordinates of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS), such as GPS coordinates. The device 101 may be configured to determine the spatial course of the road 202 on which the vehicle 100 is to travel based on the position data and based on a digital map of the road network traveled by the vehicle 100. If necessary, a driving route through the road network can be planned based on the navigation system of the vehicle 100. Based on the driving route, it can be identified which road 202 the vehicle 100 will travel along starting from the current time point and / or starting from the current position. In addition, the spatial course of the road 202 ahead, in particular the slope course, can be determined based on the digital map.

[0040] Figure 2b An exemplary grade profile 210 of a road 202 traveled by a vehicle 100 is shown. The grade profile 210 shows a grade 212 of the road 202 as a function of a position on the road 202 and / or as a function of a point in time while traveling (typically as a function of the driving progress of the vehicle 100).

[0041] The device 101 can be configured to predict the distance and / or speed of the vehicle 100 in the coasting mode based on the gradient 210 of the road ahead 202. The distance trend can display the (temporal and / or spatial) distance 201 of the vehicle 100 to the vehicle 200 ahead as a function of position and / or as a function of time (usually as a function of driving progress). The speed trend can display the driving speed of the vehicle 100 as a function of position and / or as a function of time (usually as a function of driving progress). It can be assumed that the vehicle 100 is operating in the coasting mode (not affected by the driving and / or braking torque generated by the vehicle 100). In addition, (in order to determine the distance trend) a certain speed behavior of the vehicle 200 ahead can be assumed; for example, it can be assumed that the vehicle 200 ahead will travel at a constant speed. The distance trend and / or speed trend can be, for example, for a spatial prediction level of 50 meters or more, or 100 meters or more (starting from the current position of the vehicle 100) and / or for a time prediction level of 5 seconds or more, or 10 seconds or more.

[0042] The activation (also referred to as entering) and / or deactivation (also referred to as exiting) of the coasting operation of the vehicle 100 can be carried out in a precise and energy-saving manner (when a distance and / or speed controller is used) based on a predicted distance profile and / or based on a predicted speed profile. In particular, the device 101 of the vehicle 100 can be configured (during operation of the distance and / or speed controller) to predict the distance profile and / or speed profile of the vehicle 100 in the coasting operation starting from the current position of the vehicle 100 and / or starting from the current point in time (usually starting from the current driving progress). Based on the predicted distance profile and / or speed profile, the coasting operation can then be initiated or exited.

[0043] The entry into the taxiing operation usually extends over a defined taxiing entry phase. During the taxiing entry phase, one or more of the following processing steps may be performed:

[0044] Actuating the clutch 105 to interrupt the operative connection between the drive motor 103 and one or more driven wheels of the vehicle 100 ;

[0045] opening the clutch 105 to reduce the driving and / or drag torque on one or more driven wheels of the vehicle 100 caused by the drive motor 103 to zero; and / or

[0046] The drive motor 103 is deactivated.

[0047] The coasting start phase usually extends over a determined time period and / or a determined driving distance (usually over a determined driving progress area). Here, for at least a portion of the coasting start phase, the drive torque and / or the drag torque can continue to be transmitted from the drive motor 103 to one or more driven wheels of the vehicle 100. In particular, if necessary, a (positive or negative) acceleration of the vehicle 100 can also be caused (by the drive motor 103).

[0048] Figure 3 An exemplary predicted distance and / or speed profile 310 during the coasting operation of the vehicle 100 is shown. As already explained, the distance and / or speed profile 310 shows the actual distance and / or actual speed 301 of the vehicle 100 as a function of the driving progress 302 (e.g. position and / or time point) while the vehicle 100 is traveling.

[0049] Figure 3 Also shown is an exemplary tolerance band 335 around target distance and / or target speed 331 having a lower threshold 333 and an upper threshold 332 enclosing target distance and / or target speed 331 . Figure 3 In particular, a tolerance band 335 is shown around the target speed 331 (for speed regulation after exiting the taxiing operation). The aspects described in this document can be applied accordingly to distance regulation after exiting the taxiing operation.

[0050] The device 101 can be configured to determine, based on the predicted distance and / or speed trend 310, that the predicted distance and / or speed trend 310 will intersect with the thresholds 332, 333 of the tolerance band 335 (in particular, the lower threshold 333 of the speed tolerance band 335 and / or the upper threshold 332 of the distance tolerance band 335) at the intersection driving progress 320.

[0051] The device 101 may also be configured to cause the exit from the coasting operation at an exit driving progression associated with the intersection driving progression 320 (which is, for example, located at a determined offset value before the intersection driving progression 320). The vehicle 100 may have an actual driving speed 301 lower than the target speed 331 (and / or an actual distance 301 higher than the target distance 331) at the exit driving progression.

[0052] Thus, driving progress area 325 in which vehicle 100 is in a coasting operation may depend on predicted distance and / or speed profile 310. Inaccuracies in the prediction of distance and / or speed profile 310 may have an impact on the length (in terms of time and / or distance) of driving progress area 325 and thus on the energy efficiency of vehicle 100 (since the energy efficiency of vehicle 100 generally increases with increasing length of driving progress area 325 in a coasting operation).

[0053] The (control) device 101 can be configured to take into account the coasting entry phase, in particular the movement of the vehicle 100 during the coasting entry phase, when predicting or forecasting the distance and / or speed profile 310. In particular, it can be taken into account that the vehicle 100 continues to be driven, decelerated and / or accelerated (actively and / or by the drive motor 103) during the coasting entry phase at least temporarily. As a result, the accuracy of the predicted distance and / or speed profile 310 can be further improved, and thus the energy efficiency of the vehicle 100 can be further improved.

[0054] Figure 3 An exemplary predicted distance and / or speed profile 311 is shown, which has been predicted taking into account the movement of vehicle 100 during the coasting entry phase (actively caused by drive motor 103). In particular, Figure 3 An exemplary predicted speed trend 311 is shown. Figure 3As can be seen in FIG. 3 , the modified speed profile 311 during the coasting entry phase 322 has an increased speed profile 311 relative to the initial speed profile 310, so that the drive torque caused in the coasting entry phase 322 is taken into account. Therefore, the increased speed 301 in the coasting entry phase 322 has an effect on the subsequent speed profile 311, so that the intersection driving progress 321 of the modified speed profile 311 is decelerated relative to the intersection driving progress 320 of the initial speed profile 310. Therefore, the driving progress area 325 of the coasting operation can be extended, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the vehicle 100.

[0055] In order to calculate the coasting slowing curve 311, in addition to the actual coasting process, the current vehicle acceleration and / or the transition to coasting (e.g., the time delay during deceleration and / or when the internal combustion engine 103 is disconnected) can also be taken into account. Therefore, the image of the current acceleration and / or the transition to coasting can be taken into account at the beginning of the coasting slowing curve 311. In this way, the use of the coasting operation can be optimized.

[0056] Figure 4 A flow chart of a (possibly computer-implemented) method 400 for controlling a coasting operation of a vehicle 100 in the context of (active) distance and / or speed control of the vehicle 100 is shown. In the context of distance and / or speed control, the actual speed 301 of the vehicle 100 (when driving freely) can be set, in particular adjusted, to a determined target speed 331. Alternatively or in addition, the actual distance 301 of the vehicle 100 to the vehicle 200 in front (during subsequent driving) can be set, in particular adjusted, to a determined target distance 331. Starting from the (active) distance and / or speed control, entry into the coasting operation can be caused. During the coasting operation, the active setting (in particular adjustment) of the distance and / or speed control can be interrupted and / or suspended. However, it can be monitored that the driving speed and / or distance 301 remains within a tolerance band 335 around the target speed 331 and / or around the target distance 331. When exiting the coasting operation, the distance and / or speed control can be automatically restored again.

[0057] Method 400 includes predicting 401 a distance and / or speed profile 311 of vehicle 100 in coasting operation by taking into account the movement of vehicle 100 during coasting entry phase 322, which occurs when entering coasting operation. In particular, during coasting entry phase 322, a drive and / or drag torque and / or a (positive or negative) acceleration of vehicle 100, which is caused by drive motor 103 of vehicle 100, can be taken into account.

[0058] The method 400 further comprises controlling 402 , in particular starting (or entering) or ending (or exiting) a taxiing operation, as a function of the predicted distance and / or speed profile 311 .

[0059] By taking into account the coasting entry phase 322 (in which the drive motor 103 is gradually decoupled from one or more driven wheels) when predicting the distance and / or speed curve 311 of the vehicle 100 in the coasting operation, the accuracy of the predicted distance and / or speed curve 311 can be improved, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the vehicle 100.

[0060] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and the drawings merely illustrate by way of example the principles of the proposed methods, devices and systems.

Claims

1. A device (101) for controlling a coasting operation of a vehicle (100) within the scope of distance and / or speed regulation of the vehicle (100); wherein the device (101) is configured to: - predicting the distance and / or speed profile (311) of the vehicle (100) during the coasting operation, taking into account the movement of the vehicle (100) during the coasting entry phase (322); and - controlling, in particular starting or ending, the coasting operation as a function of the predicted distance and / or speed profile (311).

2. The device (101) according to claim 1, wherein the device (101) is configured to take into account, when determining the predicted distance and / or speed trend (311), the driving torque and / or drag torque caused by the drive motor (103) of the vehicle (100) during the coasting entry phase (322) and / or the acceleration of the vehicle (100) caused by the drive motor (103) during the coasting entry phase (322).

3. A device (101) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the coasting entry phase (322) extends over a driving progress area, the driving progress area starting with a starting driving progress, at which the drive motor (103) of the vehicle (100) is decoupled from the transmission system of the vehicle (100), in particular from one or more wheels, and the driving progress area ends with an ending driving progress, at which the drive motor (103) is completely decoupled from the transmission system.

4. The device (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (101) is configured to: - determining the value of a drive torque and / or a drag torque and / or an acceleration which is or has been caused by a drive motor (103) of the vehicle (100) on a drive train of the vehicle (100), in particular at one or more wheels, at the start of the driving progress of the coasting entry phase (322); and - ascertaining a predicted distance and / or speed profile based on the ascertained values ​​of the drive torque and / or the drag torque and / or the acceleration ( 311 ).

5. A device (101) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device (101) is configured to determine the predicted distance and / or speed trend (311) under the following assumption: in particular, without taking into account the influence of the road slope (212), the driving speed (301) of the vehicle (100) remains unchanged for a determined driving progress area at the beginning of the predicted distance and / or speed trend (311).

6. The device (101) according to claim 5 referring to claim 4, wherein the device (101) is configured to determine the determined driving progress area based on the determined values ​​of the drive torque and / or the drag torque and / or the acceleration, in which the driving speed (301) of the vehicle (100) remains unchanged.

7. The device (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein during the taxiing entry phase (322), - the drive motor (103) of the vehicle (100) is decoupled from the drive train of the vehicle (100), in particular one or more wheels; and / or - The drive motor (103) is deactivated.

8. The device (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - the predicted distance and / or speed trend (311) shows the time interval and / or spatial distance (301) of the vehicle (100) relative to a preceding vehicle (200) travelling in front of the vehicle (100) and / or the driving speed (301) of the vehicle (100) as a function of the driving progress (302); and / or The predicted distance and / or speed trend (311) extends from the current driving progress to a predefined prediction level; and / or - The driving progress (302) includes: - the position of the vehicle (100) along a road (202) travelled by the vehicle (100); and / or - a point in time when the vehicle (100) is traveling.

9. The device (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (101) is configured to: - determining a forward gradient profile (210) of a road (202) on which the vehicle (100) is traveling; and - predicting the distance and / or speed profile (311) of the vehicle (100) in the coasting operation based on the gradient profile (210) located ahead.

10. The device (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (101) is configured to: - determining status data related to the status of the vehicle (100) and / or status data related to the status of a preceding vehicle (200) traveling in front of the vehicle (100); and - predicting the distance and / or speed profile (311) of the vehicle (100) during the coasting operation based on the status data.

11. The device (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (101) is configured to: - comparing the predicted distance and / or speed trend (311) with a target speed (331) or with a speed threshold value (333) below the target speed (331) for adjusting the distance and / or speed; and / or - comparing the predicted distance and / or speed trend (311) with a target distance (331) or with a distance threshold (332) above the target distance (331) for adjusting the distance and / or speed; and - controlling, in particular starting or ending, the coasting operation as a function of the comparison.

12. A method (400) for controlling a coasting operation of a vehicle (100) within the scope of distance and / or speed regulation of the vehicle (100); wherein the method (400) comprises: - predicting (401) the distance and / or speed profile (311) of the vehicle (100) during the coasting operation, taking into account the movement of the vehicle (100) during the coasting entry phase (322); and - controlling (402), in particular starting or ending, the coasting operation as a function of the predicted distance and / or speed profile (311).

Images