Security device and control method

Abstract

The invention provides a safety device and a control method which improve the technology of braking a vehicle in a standing posture. The safety device (20) is provided with a control unit (24) that measures the distance between the manual driving device (10) and a driver operating the manual driving device (10) by means of a distance sensor (221) while the vehicle (1) is traveling, and transmits a deceleration stop request to the manual driving device (10) when the measured distance exceeds a threshold value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a safety device and a control method. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a technique for driving a vehicle in a standing position has been known. For example, in Patent Document 1, a brake pedal device is disclosed that brakes a vehicle by stepping on a brake pedal while maintaining a standing position.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-183967 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] However, a driver driving a vehicle in a standing position may sometimes fall due to the shaking of the moving vehicle. In such a case, there is a concern that the vehicle cannot be driven. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the technique of driving a vehicle in a standing position.

[0008] An object of the present disclosure, which has been made in view of the above circumstances, is to improve the technique of driving a vehicle in a standing position.

[0009] Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] A safety device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a safety device mounted on a manual driving device, and includes a control unit that measures, during the travel of the vehicle, the distance between the manual driving device and the driver operating the manual driving device by a distance sensor, and when the measured distance exceeds a threshold value, sends a deceleration stop request to the manual driving device.

[0011] A control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a control method executed by a safety device mounted on a manual driving device, the method including: measuring, during the travel of the vehicle, the distance between the manual driving device and the driver operating the manual driving device by a distance sensor; and when the measured distance exceeds a threshold value, sending a deceleration stop request to the manual driving device.

[0012] Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the technique of driving a vehicle in a standing position is improved. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] Figure 1A block diagram showing the schematic structure of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] Figure 2 A flowchart showing the operation of the safety device.

[0016] Figure 3 A diagram for explaining a control method based on a distance sensor.

[0017] Figure 4 A diagram for explaining a control method based on a rope. Detailed Embodiments

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.

[0019] (Outline of the Embodiment)

[0020] Refer to Figure 1 to describe the outline of the vehicle 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle 1 includes a braking device 2, a manual driving device 10, and a safety device 20. The safety device 20 is mounted on the manual driving device 10.

[0021] Although the vehicle 1 is, for example, an automobile, it is not limited thereto and can be any vehicle. Although the automobile is a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), or FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle), etc., it is not limited to these. In the present disclosure, the vehicle 1 is described as an autonomous driving vehicle corresponding to LV4 (Level 4 of autonomous driving). LV4 means an autonomous driving level in which all driving operations are automated by the system under limited conditions such as location, weather, and speed. However, the vehicle 1 is not limited to an autonomous driving vehicle corresponding to LV4.

[0022] The braking device 2 is a device that decelerates or stops the traveling vehicle 1 or maintains the stopped state of the vehicle 1 that has already stopped.

[0023] The manual driving device 10 is a movable driving device that can be installed on a vehicle 1 without a driver's seat (for example, an autonomous driving vehicle corresponding to LV4). The manual driving device 10 receives a deceleration stop request from the communication unit 21 of the safety device 20 via the communication unit 11 that is wired-connected through CAN or the like. However, the communication unit 11 and the communication unit 21 may also be wirelessly connected. Upon receiving this deceleration stop request, the manual driving device 10 transmits the deceleration stop request of the vehicle 1 to the braking device 2 via the transmission unit 13.

[0024] The safety device 20 is a computer installed on the manual driving device 10. The safety device 20 is connected to the communication unit 11 of the manual driving device 10 via the communication unit 21 in a manner that enables communication through wired connection such as CAN. However, the communication unit 21 and the communication unit 11 may also be wirelessly connected.

[0025] First, an overview of this embodiment will be described, and the detailed content will be described later. During the driving of the vehicle 1, the safety device 20 measures the distance between the manual driving device 10 and the driver operating the manual driving device 10 through the distance sensor 221, and when the measured distance exceeds a threshold value, it sends a deceleration stop request to the manual driving device 10.

[0026] In this way, according to this embodiment, when the distance measured by the distance sensor 221 exceeds the threshold value, the safety device 20 sends a deceleration stop request to the manual driving device 10. Therefore, even in the case where the driver falls during the process of driving the manual driving device 10 due to the shaking of the vehicle during driving, the vehicle 1 can be decelerated and stopped by the operation of the safety device 20. Therefore, in terms of increasing the possibility of avoiding accidents caused by the inoperability of the manual driving device 10, the technology of braking the vehicle 1 in a standing posture is improved.

[0027] Next, each structure of the manual driving device 10 will be described in detail.

[0028] (Structure of the manual driving device)

[0029] As Figure 1 shown, the manual driving device 10 includes a communication unit 11, an operation unit 12, a transmission unit 13, a storage unit 14, a control unit 15, and a safety device 20. In addition, the detailed content of the safety device 20 will be described later.

[0030] The communication unit 11 includes one or more communication interfaces that are wired or wirelessly connected to the communication unit 21 of the safety device 20. Although the communication interface corresponds to, for example, communication standards of in-vehicle networks such as CAN, wired LAN (Local Area Network) standards, or wireless LAN standards, it is not limited to these and can also correspond to any communication standard. The communication unit 11 receives a deceleration stop request for the vehicle 1 from the safety device 20.

[0031] The operation unit 12 includes components that can be directly operated by the driver, such as a steering wheel for turning the vehicle 1, a brake pedal for braking (decelerating or stopping) the vehicle 1, and an emergency stop switch 121.

[0032] When the transmission unit 13 receives a deceleration stop request for the vehicle 1 from the brake pedal or the emergency stop switch 121 of the operation unit 12, or from the safety device 20 via the communication unit 11, it transmits the received deceleration stop request to the braking device 2.

[0033] The storage unit 14 includes one or more memories. Although the memory is, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, or an optical memory, it is not limited to these. Each memory included in the storage unit 14 can also function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 14 stores any information used in the operation of the autonomous driving device 10. For example, the storage unit 14 can also store system programs, application programs, and embedded software.

[0034] The controller 15 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. Although the processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor for specific processing, it is not limited to this. Although the programmable circuit is, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), it is not limited to this. Although the dedicated circuit is, for example, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), it is not limited to this. The control unit 15 controls the overall operation of the autonomous driving device 10.

[0035] (Structure of the safety device)

[0036] As Figure 1As shown, the safety device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a measurement unit 22, a storage unit 23, a control unit 24, and a rope 25.

[0037] The communication unit 21 includes one or more communication interfaces that are wired or wirelessly connected to the communication unit 11 of the manual driving device 10. Although this communication interface corresponds to, for example, communication standards of in-vehicle networks such as CAN, wired LAN standards, or wireless LAN standards, it is not limited thereto and can also correspond to any communication standard.

[0038] The measurement unit 22 includes a distance sensor 221, a pair of touch sensors 222, a microphone 223, etc. The measurement unit 22 sends the data measured by the distance sensor 221, the pair of touch sensors 222, and the microphone 223 to the control unit 24.

[0039] The storage unit 23 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 23 can also function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 23 stores any information used in the operation of the safety device 20. For example, the storage unit 23 can also store system programs, application programs, databases, and the data measured by the measurement unit 22, etc.

[0040] The controller 24 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. Based on the data measured by the measurement unit 22, the control unit 24 sends a deceleration stop request for the vehicle 1 to the manual driving device 10 via the communication unit 21. The control unit 24 controls the overall operation of the safety device 20.

[0041] The rope 25 is a rope. In the present disclosure, the rope 25 connects the clothes of the driver 3 and the emergency stop switch 121. Although the rope 25 is, for example, a polyester rope, a cotton rope, a nylon rope, a vinylon rope, or a stainless steel rope, etc., the material is not limited. The rope 25 only needs to have a strength that will not break due to actions such as a person's walking, running, or falling.

[0042] (Operation process of the safety device)

[0043] Refer to Figure 2 to describe the operation of the safety device 20 according to this embodiment. This operation involves the sending of a deceleration stop request to the manual driving device 10.

[0044] Figure 3 is a diagram for explaining a control method based on the distance sensor 221. As Figure 3As shown, the safety device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a measurement unit 22 (including a distance sensor 221, a pair of touch sensors 222, and a microphone 223), a storage unit 23, a control unit 24, and a cord 25. In addition, the manual driving device 10 includes an emergency stop switch 121. In the present disclosure, a deceleration stop request means a request to decelerate the traveling speed of the vehicle 1 in motion or to temporarily stop.

[0045] S101: The control unit 24 activates the pair of touch sensors 222.

[0046] The safety device 20 is installed on the steering wheel of the manual driving device 10 and includes a pair of touch sensors 222 that detect the contact of the two palms of the driver 3. At the start of the travel of the vehicle 1, the control unit 24 causes the measurement unit 22 to activate the pair of touch sensors 222.

[0047] S102: The control unit 24 detects whether at least one of the pair of touch sensors 222 is in contact with the palm of the driver 3. If in contact, it proceeds to S106; if not in contact, it proceeds to S103. This determination is referred to as determination 1.

[0048] S103: During the travel of the vehicle 1, the control unit 24 measures the distance between the manual driving device 10 and the driver 3 operating the manual driving device 10 using the distance sensor 221.

[0049] The measurement unit 22 detects whether at least one of the pair of touch sensors 222 is in contact with the palm of the driver 3 and sends the detection result to the control unit 24. The control unit 24 that receives the detection result determines that the driver 3 is in a state where the manual driving device 10 can be operated when at least one of the pair of touch sensors 222 is in contact with the palm of the driver 3. On the other hand, when the palm of the driver 3 has not been in contact with at least one of the pair of touch sensors 222 for a predetermined time or more, the control unit 24 has a need to determine whether the driver 3 is at a distance where the manual driving device 10 can be operated.

[0050] The distance sensor 221 is installed at a position facing the driver 3 who is driving the vehicle 1 in a standing position. Regarding the installation position, although as Figure 3 shown, for example, it is the central part of the steering wheel, the mounting position is not limited to this. Although the distance sensor 221 is, for example, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), it is not limited to this. The distance sensor 221 can also be a millimeter-wave sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a stereo camera.

[0051] When the control unit 24 does not detect contact by the palm of the driver 3 on at least one of the pair of touch sensors 222, the control unit 24 activates the distance sensor 221 in the measurement unit 22 and causes it to measure the distance between the manual driving device 10 and the driver 3.

[0052] In addition, the control unit 24 may be configured to always activate the distance sensor 221 during the driving of the vehicle 1 under the condition of not activating the pair of touch sensors 222 or regardless of the detection results of the pair of touch sensors 222, so as to measure the distance between the manual driving device 10 and the driver 3.

[0053] S104: The control unit 24 determines whether the measured distance exceeds the threshold α. If it exceeds the threshold α, it proceeds to S105; if it does not exceed the threshold α, it proceeds to S106. This determination is referred to as determination 2.

[0054] The threshold α is the upper limit value of the distance between the driver 3 and the manual driving device 10 required for the driver 3 to operate the manual driving device 10. If we talk about this in more detail, the threshold α is the shorter of the upper limit value of the distance required for the driver 3 to hold the steering wheel equipped with the pair of touch sensors 222 and the upper limit value of the distance required for the driver 3 to turn on the emergency stop switch 121.

[0055] S105: The control unit 24 sends a deceleration stop request to the manual driving device 10.

[0056] The manual driving device 10 that receives the deceleration stop request from the control unit 24 via the communication unit 11 further transmits the deceleration stop request of the vehicle 1 to the braking device 2 via the operation unit 12 and the transmission unit 13. When the braking device 2 receives the deceleration stop request from the manual driving device 10, it decelerates or stops the vehicle 1.

[0057] Figure 4 This is a diagram for explaining the control method based on the rope 25. Different from Figure 3 is that the clothes of the driver 3 and the emergency stop switch 121 provided on the manual driving device 10 are connected together by a rope 25.

[0058] As Figure 4 shown, the manual driving device 10 is equipped with an emergency stop switch 121. As Figure 4As shown, the emergency stop switch 121 and the clothes of the driver 3 are connected together by a rope 25. The length of the rope 25 can also be set to a length equivalent to the above-mentioned threshold α. The rope 25 can also be configured to turn on the emergency stop switch 121 by the tensile force generated when the driver 3 leaves the manual driving device 10 by more than the threshold α due to a fall or the like. And when the emergency stop switch 121 is turned on, the vehicle 1 will be decelerated and stopped. According to this structure, the economic burden of introducing an expensive distance sensor 221 is reduced.

[0059] S106: The control unit 24 confirms whether the vehicle 1 has parked. If the vehicle 1 has parked, the information processing is ended. If it has not parked, it returns to S102 and continues the information processing.

[0060] The parking of the vehicle 1 means a state where the ignition switch or the power switch is turned off and the vehicle 1 is parked in a parking space or a parking area.

[0061] As described above, during the driving of the vehicle 1, the safety device 20 according to the present embodiment measures the distance between the manual driving device 10 and the driver 3 operating the manual driving device 10 by the distance sensor 221, and when the measured distance exceeds the threshold α, sends a deceleration stop request to the manual driving device 10.

[0062] According to the related structure, when the distance measured by the distance sensor 221 exceeds the threshold α, the safety device 20 sends a deceleration stop request to the manual driving device 10. Therefore, even when the driver 3 falls during the operation of the manual driving device 10 due to the shaking of the vehicle during driving, the vehicle 1 can be decelerated and stopped by the operation of the safety device 20. Therefore, in terms of improving the possibility of avoiding accidents caused by the inoperability of the manual driving device 10, the technology of driving the vehicle 1 in a standing posture is improved.

[0063] Although the present disclosure has been described based on the various drawings and embodiments, please note that if a person skilled in the art, various deformations and changes can also be implemented based on the present disclosure. Therefore, please note that these deformations and changes are all included within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions and the like included in each structural part or each step, etc., can be reconfigured in a theoretically non-contradictory manner, and multiple structural parts or steps, etc., can be combined into one or divided.

[0064] In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the control unit 24 decelerates and stops the vehicle 1 when the distance measured by the distance sensor 221 exceeds the threshold value α or when the emergency stop switch 121 is turned on by the stretching of the rope 25 has been described. However, the method of decelerating and stopping the vehicle 1 is not limited to this. As Figure 1 and Figure 3 shown, the measurement unit 22 of the safety device 20 further includes a microphone 223. The safety device 20 may be configured such that, for example, when the microphone 223 picks up voices such as "decelerate" or "stop" emitted by the falling driver 3, the control unit 24 sends a deceleration stop request to the manual driving device 10. By pre-registering the voice of the driver 3 in the storage unit 23 of the safety device 20, the safety device 20 can be made to respond only to the voice of the driver 3.

[0065] In addition, for example, there may be an embodiment in which a general-purpose computer functions as the safety device 20 according to the above-described embodiment. Specifically, a program describing the processing contents for realizing each function of the safety device 20 according to the above-described embodiment is stored in the memory of the general-purpose computer, and the processor reads and executes this program. Therefore, the present disclosure can also be realized as a program executable by a processor or a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing this program.

[0066] Reference Signs

[0067] 1, Vehicle (Automated Driving Vehicle Corresponding to LV4);

[0068] 2, Braking Device;

[0069] 3, Driver;

[0070] 10, Manual Driving Device;

[0071] 11, Communication Unit;

[0072] 12, Operation Unit;

[0073] 121, Emergency Stop Switch;

[0074] 13, Transmission Unit;

[0075] 14, Storage Unit;

[0076] 15, Control Unit;

[0077] 20, Safety Device;

[0078] 21, Communication Unit;

[0079] 22, Input Unit;

[0080] 221, Distance Sensor;

[0081] 222. A pair of touch sensors;

[0082] 223. A microphone;

[0083] 23. A storage unit;

[0084] 24. A control unit;

[0085] 25. A rope.

Claims

1. A safety device, which is a safety device mounted on a manual driving device and includes a control unit, The control unit measures the distance between the manual driving device and a driver operating the manual driving device using a distance sensor during travel of the vehicle, and transmits a deceleration stop request to the manual driving device when the measured distance exceeds a threshold value.

2. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein: The threshold value is an upper limit value of the distance between the driver and the manual driving device, which is required for the driver to operate the manual driving device.

3. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein: The safety device further includes a pair of touch sensors, which are mounted on the steering wheel of the manual driving device and detect contact of the driver's two palms. When at least one of the pair of touch sensors does not detect contact by the driver's palm, the control unit activates the distance sensor and measures the distance between the manual steering device and the driver.

4. The safety device according to claim 2, wherein: The manual driving device is provided with an emergency stop switch. The safety device further comprises a rope having a length corresponding to the threshold value, The driver's clothes and the emergency stop switch are connected together by the rope. The rope turns on the emergency stop switch by a tensile force generated when the driver moves away from the manual steering device by a distance exceeding the threshold value.

5. A control method, which is a control method executed by a safety device mounted on a manual driving device, the method comprising the following contents, namely: When the vehicle is traveling, the distance between the manual driving device and the driver operating the manual driving device is measured by a distance sensor; When the measured distance exceeds a threshold value, a deceleration stop request is sent to the manual driving device.

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