Vehicle control method and device, storage medium and electronic equipment

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle control method and device, a storage medium and electronic equipment, and the method comprises the steps: obtaining weather prediction information of a target area; predicting a rainfall area in the target area based on the weather prediction information; the predicted rainfall capacity of the rainfall area in the target time period reaches a target value; and controlling the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area to execute automatic vehicle washing operation before the target time period. According to the method provided by the embodiment of the invention, the vehicle can be controlled to realize automatic vehicle washing operation, and manual participation is not needed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of intelligent control technology, and in particular to a vehicle control method, device, storage medium, and electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] Today, private cars have become an indispensable part of many families. For car owners, keeping their vehicles clean is not only about aesthetics, but also an important aspect of maintaining their value and performance. The traditional car wash process usually requires car owners to drive to a professional car wash service, wait for the staff to complete the cleaning, and then drive home. This process often requires car owners to invest a certain amount of time and effort.

[0003] Therefore, a better vehicle cleaning solution is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present disclosure provides a vehicle control method, apparatus, storage medium, and electronic device to reduce the workload of vehicle owners in washing their vehicles.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle control method is provided, the method comprising:

[0006] Obtain weather forecast information for the target area;

[0007] Based on the weather forecast information, the rainfall area in the target region is predicted; the expected rainfall in the rainfall area during the target time period reaches the target value;

[0008] The vehicle is controlled to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation.

[0009] In conjunction with any embodiment provided in this disclosure, the control of the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation includes:

[0010] Before the target time period, when the current weather conditions are detected to meet the conditions for safe driving, the vehicle is controlled to automatically drive from the initial parking position to the rainfall area to perform an automatic car wash operation;

[0011] The safe driving conditions include:

[0012] The risk of autonomous driving for the vehicle under the current weather conditions is less than a first specified value.

[0013] In conjunction with any embodiment provided in this disclosure, the method further includes:

[0014] After the automatic car wash operation is completed, when it is determined that the current weather conditions meet the safe driving conditions, the vehicle is controlled to automatically drive to the target parking location; the target parking location includes at least the initial parking location.

[0015] In conjunction with any embodiment provided in this disclosure, controlling the vehicle to automatically drive from its initial parking position to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation includes:

[0016] Determine the estimated time period for the vehicle to perform the automatic car wash operation; the estimated time period includes at least a portion of the automatic driving period and the target time period;

[0017] When it is determined that the vehicle does not have a scheduled driving task during the estimated time period, the vehicle is controlled to automatically drive from the initial parking position to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation.

[0018] The system will transmit a notification to the user that the vehicle will perform an automatic car wash during the estimated time period.

[0019] In conjunction with any embodiment provided in this disclosure, controlling the vehicle to automatically drive from its initial parking position to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation includes:

[0020] Determine the estimated time period for the vehicle to perform the automatic car wash operation; the estimated time period includes at least a portion of the automatic driving period and the target time period;

[0021] The request information for the vehicle to perform an automatic car wash operation during the estimated time period is transmitted to the user terminal;

[0022] In response to receiving an instruction from the user terminal allowing the vehicle to perform the automatic car wash operation, the system controls the vehicle to automatically drive from the initial parking position to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform the automatic car wash operation.

[0023] In conjunction with any embodiment provided in this disclosure, determining the estimated time period for the vehicle to perform the automatic car wash operation includes:

[0024] Obtain a first estimated time period during which the vehicle will automatically travel from the initial parking position to the rainfall area; the first estimated time period is prior to the target time period;

[0025] Obtain a second estimated time period for the vehicle to automatically drive back to the target parking location from the rainfall area; the second estimated time period is after the first estimated time period;

[0026] The period between the first estimated period and the second estimated period is defined as the estimated period.

[0027] In conjunction with any embodiment provided in this disclosure, the control of the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation includes:

[0028] The vehicle is controlled to automatically drive to a parking location in the rainfall area before the target time period, the expected rainfall at the parking location during the target time period reaches a target value, and the safety factor of the vehicle performing the automatic car wash operation at the parking location is higher than a second specified value.

[0029] In conjunction with any embodiment provided in this disclosure, the control of the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation includes:

[0030] Control the vehicle to travel to the rainfall area before the target time period;

[0031] The location of the vehicle being rained on is determined based on rainfall information detected by the vehicle's sensors;

[0032] When the rain condition of at least one area outside the vehicle to be cleaned is determined to be unsatisfactory based on the rain position, the vehicle is adjusted to a parking direction that meets the requirements based on the relationship between the at least one area to be cleaned and the rain position.

[0033] In conjunction with any embodiment provided in this disclosure, determining the location of a vehicle exposed to rain based on rainfall information detected by the vehicle's sensors includes:

[0034] Acquire rainfall images captured by the vehicle's camera;

[0035] The current direction of rainfall is determined based on the tilt of each object in the rainfall image;

[0036] The location where the vehicle gets wet is determined based on the vehicle's parking direction and the direction of the rainfall.

[0037] In conjunction with any embodiment provided in this disclosure, determining the location of a vehicle exposed to rain based on rainfall information detected by the vehicle's sensors includes:

[0038] Acquire pressure information detected by external pressure sensors of the vehicle;

[0039] The location of the vehicle being rained on is determined based on the pressure information and the position of the pressure sensor.

[0040] In conjunction with any embodiment provided in this disclosure, the control of the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation includes:

[0041] Control the vehicle to automatically travel to the rainfall area before the target time period;

[0042] Control the vehicle to perform auxiliary cleaning operations, which include at least one of the following: spraying cleaning agent, activating auxiliary cleaning structure.

[0043] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle control device is provided, the device comprising:

[0044] The acquisition module is used to acquire weather forecast information for the target area;

[0045] The prediction module is used to predict the rainfall area in the target area based on the weather forecast information; the expected rainfall in the rainfall area during the target time period reaches the target value;

[0046] The control module is used to control the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation.

[0047] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic device is provided, comprising:

[0048] processor;

[0049] Memory used to store processor-executable instructions;

[0050] The processor is configured to implement the steps of any of the vehicle control methods of the first aspect by running the executable instructions.

[0051] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is provided, on which a computer program is stored, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of any of the vehicle control methods described in the first aspect.

[0052] The technical solutions provided in this disclosure may have the following beneficial effects:

[0053] By acquiring weather forecast information for the target area, it is possible to predict whether rainfall will occur in various parts of the target area. If it is determined that there are areas within the target area with expected rainfall reaching the target value during the target time period, it is assumed that the vehicle can proceed to these areas to perform an automatic car wash during that time period. Therefore, the vehicle is controlled to automatically drive to the rainy area before the target time period, thereby utilizing the rainfall in those areas to perform the automatic car wash operation.

[0054] Through the above methods, on the one hand, the vehicle's automatic driving reduces the workload for car owners who need to drive to a car wash. Furthermore, eliminating the need for a dedicated car wash reduces interaction between the owner and the shop, and eliminates the need for users to perform any paid tasks, further reducing their workload. On the other hand, the ability to automatically wash the car based on rainfall in the affected area reduces water waste.

[0055] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0056] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.

[0057] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating a vehicle control method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0058] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application of a vehicle control method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0059] Figure 3 This is an application diagram of another vehicle control method illustrated in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0060] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating another vehicle control method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0061] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle control device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0062] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0063] The term “and / or” as used in this document refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items.

[0064] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used in this disclosure to describe various information, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish information of the same type from one another. For example, without departing from the scope of this disclosure, first information may also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information may also be referred to as first information. Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "when," "when," or "in response to determination."

[0065] With the increasing number of private cars, more car owners have a need for vehicle washing. Currently, there are two main vehicle washing solutions:

[0066] One option is for car owners to wash their vehicles at home. This method requires the owner to do it themselves. However, the difficulty lies in finding a suitable space and specialized equipment (such as a high-pressure water jet) for washing the vehicle at home. Therefore, car owners usually choose another option: taking their vehicles to a car wash. They can choose to wash them themselves or have them washed by a staff member or using an automatic car wash. The problem with this option is that users need to set aside dedicated time to drive to the car wash and then drive home, which takes up a significant amount of their time.

[0067] In order to solve the above problems, this disclosure provides a vehicle control method. The basic conditions required for the vehicle to be controlled by this disclosure are briefly introduced below:

[0068] First, the vehicle needs to be connected to the internet to obtain weather forecasts. Second, the vehicle needs to have autonomous driving capabilities to ensure it can automatically drive to specific locations and perform automatic car washes. Additionally, to ensure the safety of the autonomous driving function, it also needs map navigation capabilities and the ability to acquire external traffic information (e.g., through cloud servers and / or through sensors installed in the vehicle), etc.

[0069] When the vehicle has the above functions, combined with Figure 1 This document introduces the main contents of the vehicle control method disclosed herein, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the method includes:

[0070] Step 101: Obtain weather forecast information for the target area.

[0071] The target area here can be determined based on the city or district where the vehicle is located; it can also be an area centered on the vehicle's initial parking location with a preset distance as the radius; or it can be an area consisting of locations that the vehicle can reach within a preset time period, determined based on navigation information and road conditions.

[0072] Weather forecasts can be for the current day, such as forecasts for 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 6 hours later; or they can be forecasts for several days in advance, such as forecasts for the next week. Weather forecasts can be obtained in real-time after the vehicle connects to the network, or they can be stored locally after the vehicle connects to the network and updated when the vehicle reconnects.

[0073] After obtaining the weather forecast information for the target area, proceed to step 102.

[0074] Step 102: Based on the weather forecast information, predict the rainfall area within the target area; the expected rainfall in the rainfall area during the target time period reaches the target value. The target value is not specifically limited here; it can be determined based on the user's car wash needs, or a reasonable rainfall amount can be determined by comprehensively considering factors such as the historical water volume required for car washes and the duration of rainfall during the target time period.

[0075] Because weather forecasts contain information on whether rainfall will occur in different areas and at different times within the target region, as well as various other information such as the expected rainfall amount and duration, it is possible to predict the areas where the expected rainfall amount for the target time period will reach the target value. Rainfall amount is an indicator that measures the cumulative depth of precipitation within a certain time period (target time period), and is usually expressed in millimeters (mm).

[0076] After identifying the rainfall area, step 103 is executed, controlling the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation.

[0077] Assuming the target time period is January 1st, from 16:00 to 18:00, the vehicle can be controlled to automatically drive to the rainfall area around 15:50 on January 1st. This ensures the vehicle automatically reaches the rainfall area before it rains, helping to reduce driving risks caused by rainfall during autonomous driving.

[0078] This method allows vehicles to be positioned in the rainfall area during the target time period, thus enabling better vehicle cleaning based on the rainfall in the area.

[0079] In an optional embodiment, step 103, controlling the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation, includes:

[0080] Before the target time period, when the current weather conditions are detected to meet the conditions for safe driving, the vehicle is controlled to automatically drive from the initial parking position to the rainfall area to perform an automatic car wash operation.

[0081] The initial parking location is typically where the vehicle was parked after the user last used it. For example, if a user drives home from get off work and parks in the garage, that parking location in the garage is the initial parking location. Safe driving conditions refer to environmental conditions where, under current weather conditions, the vehicle is unlikely to pose a driving risk when driving towards a rain-affected area. For example, conditions where there are no natural disasters are considered. Natural disasters include, but are not limited to, typhoons, thunderstorms, hail, mudslides, floods, etc. Before the target time period, when weather forecasts determine that there are no natural disasters in the rain-affected area (or the road conditions between the initial parking location and the rain-affected area), the vehicle is controlled to proceed to the rain-affected area to perform an automatic car wash.

[0082] The safe driving conditions include:

[0083] The risk of autonomous driving for the vehicle under the current weather conditions is less than a first specified value.

[0084] For example, a preset model can be used to predict the autonomous driving risk of a vehicle under different weather conditions. Then, when it is determined that the autonomous driving risk of the vehicle automatically driving from the initial parking position to the rain area under the current weather conditions is less than a first specified value, the vehicle can be controlled to automatically drive to the rain area.

[0085] In an optional embodiment, the method further includes the following steps:

[0086] After the automatic car wash operation is completed, when it is determined that the current weather conditions meet the safe driving conditions, the vehicle is controlled to automatically drive to the target parking location; the target parking location includes at least the initial parking location.

[0087] The following examples illustrate how to determine whether an automatic car wash operation has been completed:

[0088] Example 1: If the vehicle is detected to have been in the rain for a set period of time (e.g., greater than or equal to 1 hour) in the rain area, the automatic car wash operation is considered to have been completed.

[0089] Example 2: When the rainfall in the detected area is less than the aforementioned target value, it is considered that the rainfall is not suitable for performing the automatic car wash operation, and the automatic car wash operation is then completed.

[0090] Example 3: The current time point has exceeded the aforementioned target time period.

[0091] For example, if the target time period is 16:00-18:00 on January 1st, then if the current time is 18:05 on January 1st, it is considered that the target time period for the automatic car wash operation has been exceeded, and the automatic car wash operation is considered to have been completed.

[0092] After completing the automatic car wash, the vehicle can be automatically driven to the target parking location, waiting for the user to use it again. That is, the target parking location is the pick-up point for the user. For example, the initial parking location can be automatically determined as the target parking location, or a notification message similar to "Car wash complete" can be sent to the user's device (e.g., via mobile phone, wristband, etc.), waiting for the user to specify a suitable parking location. The parking location specified by the user's device will then be used as the target parking location.

[0093] After obtaining the target parking location, and determining that the current weather conditions meet the aforementioned safe driving conditions, the vehicle is controlled to automatically drive to the target parking location. These safe driving conditions are the same as those described above; that is, the vehicle can be controlled to automatically drive to the target parking location when the risk of autonomous driving from the rain area to the target parking location is determined to be less than a first specified value.

[0094] Alternatively, it could further include: the rainfall in the current rainfall area is less than the aforementioned target value. This avoids the problem of excessive driving risks when the vehicle is automatically driving due to excessive rainfall.

[0095] It's important to note that the safe driving condition can also be set to at least include: the rainfall in the current rain area is less than the aforementioned target value. Thus, when the vehicle automatically drives to the rain area to perform an automatic car wash operation before the target time period, it can determine whether the current weather conditions meet the requirement that the rainfall in the current rain area is less than the aforementioned target value. If not, it means the rain has intensified and is unsuitable for autonomous driving, so the automatic car wash operation is abandoned. Typically, the rainfall will not reach this target value before the target time period, so this safe driving condition is usually met.

[0096] In an optional embodiment, step 103, controlling the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation, includes:

[0097] Determine the estimated time period for the vehicle to perform the automatic car wash operation; the estimated time period includes at least a portion of the automatic driving period and the target time period.

[0098] The estimated time period here is used to characterize the time from when the vehicle is stationary, drives to the rain area to perform the automatic car wash operation, and then drives automatically to the target parking location.

[0099] For example, it can be obtained in the following way:

[0100] Obtain a first estimated time period during which the vehicle automatically travels from the initial parking position to the rainfall area; the first estimated time period is before the target time period; obtain a second estimated time period during which the vehicle automatically travels back to the target parking position from the rainfall area; the second estimated time period is after the first estimated time period; and determine the time period between the first estimated time period and the second estimated time period as the estimated time period.

[0101] The first estimated time period is determined based on road conditions, traffic congestion, distance, weather conditions, and the vehicle's autonomous driving capabilities between the initial parking location and the rainfall area; it represents the time during which the vehicle autonomously travels to the rainfall area. Similarly, the second estimated time period is also determined based on factors such as road conditions, traffic congestion, distance, and weather as the vehicle travels from the rainfall area to the target parking location; it represents the time during which the vehicle autonomously travels to the target parking location. The vehicle will perform an automatic car wash operation in the rainfall area between the first and second estimated time periods.

[0102] After obtaining the estimated time period, considering that performing automatic car wash operations during the estimated time period would affect user usage, the automatic car wash operation can be performed in two scenarios to avoid impacting user experience:

[0103] Scenario 1: Execute automatically first, then notify the user.

[0104] That is, when it is determined that the vehicle does not have a scheduled driving task during the estimated time period, the vehicle is controlled to automatically drive from the initial parking position to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation; and a notification message that the vehicle is performing an automatic car wash operation during the estimated time period is transmitted to the user terminal.

[0105] The estimated driving task here can be a driving task pre-added to the vehicle by the user, a driving task determined by the vehicle's central control system based on the user's schedule, or a prediction made by the central control system based on the user's historical driving records. When it is determined that the vehicle does not need to perform the estimated driving task during the estimated period, it is considered that it will not affect the user's vehicle use, and the vehicle will automatically drive from its initial parking position to the rainfall area to perform an automatic car wash operation. Then, a notification information regarding the vehicle performing the automatic car wash operation during the estimated period is transmitted to the user's device so that a notification can be output to the user's device. For example, after receiving the notification information, the user's device may notify the user via a pop-up reminder that the vehicle is currently (or during the estimated period) unavailable.

[0106] In this way, users do not need to confirm whether to perform the automatic car wash, reducing user operations and not affecting the user's use of the car.

[0107] Scenario 2: Notify the user first and obtain their consent before proceeding.

[0108] That is, the request information for the vehicle to perform an automatic car wash operation during the estimated time period is transmitted to the user terminal; in response to receiving the instruction from the user terminal to allow the vehicle to perform the automatic car wash operation, the vehicle is controlled to automatically drive from the initial parking position to the rainfall area to perform the automatic car wash operation before the target time period.

[0109] At this time, regardless of whether the vehicle has a driving task during the estimated period, it can request permission from the user before the automatic car wash through the user terminal. When the user gives permission to perform the automatic car wash operation during the estimated period, the vehicle can be controlled to go to the rain area to perform the automatic car wash operation.

[0110] This can further enhance the user's control over the vehicle, reducing situations where users can't find their car when they want to use it, only to discover later that the car was performing an automatic car wash, thus improving the user's car-using experience.

[0111] In an optional embodiment, step 103, controlling the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation, includes:

[0112] The vehicle is controlled to automatically drive to a parking location in the rainfall area before the target time period, the expected rainfall at the parking location during the target time period reaches a target value, and the safety factor of the vehicle performing the automatic car wash operation at the parking location is higher than a second specified value.

[0113] The second specified value can be set by the user or is a fixed value set by the manufacturer at the factory. To better understand how the parking position is determined, the following will combine... Figure 2 Please provide an explanation, such as Figure 2 As shown, assuming Figure 2 The middle part is a portion of the rainfall area:

[0114] As can be seen, vehicle 201 is parked in a higher location within the rainfall area, preventing water accumulation and potential vehicle submersion. Furthermore, this parking location is in an open, rain-protected area without any buildings or trees providing cover. This ensures that the parking location receives the expected rainfall during the target period. Additionally, the parking location should be on clean ground (e.g., not muddy) to avoid making the vehicle dirtier after washing. Alternatively, the parking location could be in a location that does not obstruct public transportation, such as an outdoor parking lot. This ensures a higher safety factor and better cleaning effect for automatic car washing at the parking location.

[0115] It should be noted that the parking location in this embodiment of the method is determined, including but not limited to, through the following methods:

[0116] The parking location can be determined by the vehicle's central control system based on navigation information, map information, and road information detected by vehicle sensors; a user-specified parking location; a parking location determined by the cloud based on big data; or a parking location determined based on historical parking locations. This disclosure does not limit the methods used to determine the parking location.

[0117] In one alternative embodiment, when performing an automatic car wash, the vehicle can change its parking direction according to the specific rainfall conditions to ensure the best car wash effect.

[0118] For example, step 103, controlling the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation, includes:

[0119] The vehicle is controlled to travel to the rainfall area before the target time period; the vehicle's rain position is determined based on rainfall information detected by the vehicle's sensors. When the rain position determines that the rain condition of at least one area outside the vehicle to be cleaned does not meet the requirements for performing an automatic car wash operation, the vehicle is adjusted to a parking direction that meets the requirements based on the relationship between the at least one area to be cleaned and the rain position.

[0120] Rain conditions are primarily used to determine whether the various areas of the vehicle to be washed will be exposed to rain, and the expected amount of rain. There are typically five areas to be washed: the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle, and the roof. When a vehicle is parked outdoors in a rain-affected area, the roof will usually be washed regardless of its orientation. Therefore, if at least one area does not meet the requirements for an automatic car wash, four areas are typically considered: the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle. The vehicle's parking orientation is then adjusted based on the rain conditions of these four areas.

[0121] Vehicles are equipped with various sensors, including but not limited to cameras and pressure sensors. The following uses different sensors as examples to illustrate methods for determining the location of a vehicle exposed to rain.

[0122] Method 1: Determine the location of the rain shower using information collected by a camera:

[0123] Acquire rainfall images captured by the vehicle's camera; determine the current rainfall direction based on the tilt of each object in the rainfall image; determine the vehicle's position in the rain based on the vehicle's parking direction and the rainfall direction.

[0124] Cameras can capture images of rainfall in the surrounding environment. For example, a camera could be a vehicle dashcam or a camera specifically designed to capture images of the vehicle's surroundings. After capturing images of the rainfall area, these images are then analyzed.

[0125] If the rainfall image itself includes the vehicle's outer contour, then the pixel values ​​of each area to be cleaned in the rainfall image can be used to analyze which area has been rained on, which area has not been rained on, or which area has received less rain.

[0126] Alternatively, regardless of whether the vehicle's outline is included in the rainfall image, the current direction of rainfall can be estimated by extracting the tilt of various objects in the image. For example, by analyzing the tilt of raindrops, leaves, and objects blowing in the air (plastic bags) in the rainfall image, the direction of rainfall can be determined. Therefore, the location of the vehicle exposed to the rain can be determined based on the direction of rainfall.

[0127] This can be combined Figure 3 Understanding, such as Figure 3 As shown:

[0128] When the direction of rainfall is as follows Figure 3 As shown, when tilting the vehicle from right to left, the right side receives more rainfall. Therefore, if the vehicle remains stationary until the automatic car wash cycle is complete, the left side may receive less rain than the right, resulting in a poorer cleaning on the left side (and the left sides of both front and rear washing areas) and a better cleaning on the right side (and the right sides of both front and rear washing areas). Therefore, you can change the vehicle's parking direction. For example, wait for a period of time (e.g., 30 minutes), rotate the vehicle 180°, and then continue the automatic car wash cycle in the rotated parking direction (assuming it continues for another 30 minutes). This ensures that all washing areas are cleaned to the same degree.

[0129] Method 2: Determine the location of the rain shower using a pressure sensor.

[0130] Acquire pressure information detected by pressure sensors outside the vehicle; determine the location of the vehicle exposed to rain based on the pressure information and the position of the pressure sensors.

[0131] For example, pressure sensors are installed on vehicle door handles, primarily to detect whether someone has pulled the handle. When it rains, the pressure sensors can also detect the pressure of rainwater falling on the door handles. At this point, by combining the pressure signals from the pressure sensors on both the left and right sides of the vehicle, it can be determined which side received more rainfall.

[0132] For example, if the pressure sensor on the right front door handle detects a higher pressure value than the pressure sensor on the left front door handle, it's assumed that the right front side is more likely to come into contact with rain. In this case, the direction of the vehicle's left front side, or the entire left side door, can be adjusted to align with the current parking direction of the vehicle's right front side. For example, rotating the vehicle 90° or 180°.

[0133] Alternatively, if sensors are distributed throughout the vehicle's exterior, the sensors can directly detect the rain conditions in each area to be cleaned, thereby adjusting the vehicle's parking direction.

[0134] Optionally, step 103 involves controlling the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation, including:

[0135] Control the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period; control the vehicle to perform auxiliary cleaning operations, the auxiliary cleaning operations including at least one of the following: spraying cleaning agent, activating auxiliary cleaning structure.

[0136] When a vehicle does not have an additional auxiliary cleaning system, the windshield wipers can be used as an auxiliary cleaning system by controlling their operation. Additionally, appropriate cleaning agents can be sprayed to assist the wipers in cleaning.

[0137] When the vehicle also includes additional auxiliary cleaning structures, such as cleaning structures installed on the side doors of the vehicle, the cleaning structure for the area to be cleaned can be activated based on the area currently being cleaned.

[0138] In conjunction with the above embodiments, a more preferred embodiment is provided, combining... Figure 4 Please provide an explanation, such as Figure 4 As shown:

[0139] After starting, follow these steps:

[0140] Step 101: Obtain weather forecast information for the target area. This requires the vehicle to be able to access weather forecast information via internet connectivity, thus enabling it to obtain the weather forecast information for the target area.

[0141] Step 1021: Determine whether the rainfall in the target time period area is greater than L(min) (target value) and less than L(max). Here, L(max) is greater than L(min), where L(max) is the preset maximum rainfall value allowed for automatic car wash operation; exceeding this rainfall value may pose a danger. If the above conditions are met, proceed to step 401; then proceed to step 408.

[0142] Step 401: Determine whether the safe driving conditions are met. For example, the safe driving conditions are: whether a natural disaster exists. If a natural disaster exists, the driving conditions are not met; if no natural disaster exists, the safe driving conditions are met. When the safe driving conditions are met, proceed to step 402; when the safe driving conditions are not met, proceed to step 408.

[0143] Step 402: Control the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period.

[0144] Step 403: Utilize rainfall for automatic car washing during rain. This means performing an automatic car wash in the area where rainfall occurs.

[0145] Step 404: Determine if it is slanting rain. Slanting rain refers to rain falling at an angle other than 90 degrees to the ground. In this case, the rain will not fall vertically and therefore will not evenly cover every area of ​​the vehicle to be washed. Automatic car wash operation in this situation requires automatic adjustment of the parking direction, i.e., proceed to step 405. If it is determined not to be slanting rain, proceed to step 406.

[0146] Step 405: Automatically adjust the parking direction of the vehicle.

[0147] Step 406: Spray cleaning agent and / or activate auxiliary cleaning structure.

[0148] Step 407: When safe driving conditions are met, control the vehicle to automatically drive to the target parking position.

[0149] Step 408, End. At this point, the automatic car wash operation is considered complete.

[0150] For the foregoing method embodiments, in order to simplify the description, they are all described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should know that this disclosure is not limited to the described order of actions, because according to this disclosure, some steps may be performed in other orders or simultaneously.

[0151] Corresponding to the aforementioned application function implementation method embodiments, this disclosure also provides an embodiment of a vehicle control device and a corresponding terminal.

[0152] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle control device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the vehicle control device may include:

[0153] The acquisition module 501 is used to acquire weather forecast information for the target area.

[0154] The prediction module 502 is used to predict the rainfall area in the target area based on the weather forecast information; the expected rainfall in the rainfall area during the target period reaches the target value.

[0155] The control module 503 is used to control the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation.

[0156] Optionally, the control module 503 is used to control the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation, for the following purposes:

[0157] Before the target time period, when the current weather conditions are detected to meet the conditions for safe driving, the vehicle is controlled to automatically drive from the initial parking position to the rainfall area to perform an automatic car wash operation;

[0158] The safe driving conditions include:

[0159] The risk of autonomous driving for the vehicle under the current weather conditions is less than a first specified value.

[0160] Optionally, the device further includes:

[0161] The homing module is used to control the vehicle to automatically drive to the target parking position after the automatic car wash operation is completed and when it is determined that the current weather conditions meet the safe driving conditions; the target parking position includes at least the initial parking position.

[0162] Optionally, the control module 503 is used to control the vehicle to automatically drive from the initial parking position to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation, for the following purposes:

[0163] Determine the estimated time period for the vehicle to perform the automatic car wash operation; the estimated time period includes at least a portion of the automatic driving period and the target time period.

[0164] When it is determined that the vehicle does not have a scheduled driving task during the estimated time period, the vehicle is controlled to automatically drive from the initial parking position to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation.

[0165] The system will transmit a notification to the user that the vehicle will perform an automatic car wash during the estimated time period.

[0166] Optionally, the control module 503 is used to control the vehicle to automatically drive from the initial parking position to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation, for the following purposes:

[0167] Determine the estimated time period for the vehicle to perform the automatic car wash operation; the estimated time period includes at least a portion of the automatic driving period and the target time period.

[0168] The request information for the vehicle to perform an automatic car wash operation during the estimated time period is transmitted to the user terminal.

[0169] In response to receiving an instruction from the user terminal allowing the vehicle to perform the automatic car wash operation, the system controls the vehicle to automatically drive from the initial parking position to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform the automatic car wash operation.

[0170] Optionally, the control module 503 is used to determine the estimated time period for the vehicle to perform the automatic car wash operation, for the following purposes:

[0171] Obtain a first estimated time period during which the vehicle will automatically travel from the initial parking position to the rainfall area; the first estimated time period is prior to the target time period.

[0172] Obtain a second estimated time period for the vehicle to automatically drive back to the target parking location from the rainfall area; the second estimated time period is after the first estimated time period.

[0173] The period between the first estimated period and the second estimated period is defined as the estimated period.

[0174] Optionally, the control module 503 is used to control the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation, for the following purposes:

[0175] The vehicle is controlled to automatically drive to a parking location in the rainfall area before the target time period, the expected rainfall at the parking location during the target time period reaches a target value, and the safety factor of the vehicle performing the automatic car wash operation at the parking location is higher than a second specified value.

[0176] Optionally, the control module 503 is used to control the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation, for the following purposes:

[0177] Control the vehicle to travel to the rainfall area before the target time period.

[0178] The location of a vehicle in the rain is determined by rainfall information detected by the vehicle's sensors.

[0179] When the rain condition of at least one area outside the vehicle to be cleaned is determined to be unsatisfactory based on the rain position, the vehicle is adjusted to a parking direction that meets the requirements based on the relationship between the at least one area to be cleaned and the rain position.

[0180] Optionally, the control module 503 is used to determine the location of the vehicle in the rain based on rainfall information detected by the vehicle's sensors, for the following purposes:

[0181] Acquire rainfall images captured by the vehicle's camera; determine the current rainfall direction based on the tilt of each object in the rainfall image; determine the vehicle's position in the rain based on the vehicle's parking direction and the rainfall direction.

[0182] Optionally, the control module 503 is used to determine the location of the vehicle in the rain based on rainfall information detected by the vehicle's sensors, for the following purposes:

[0183] Acquire pressure information detected by pressure sensors outside the vehicle; determine the location of the vehicle exposed to rain based on the pressure information and the position of the pressure sensors.

[0184] Optionally, the control module 503 is used to control the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation, for the following purposes:

[0185] Control the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period; control the vehicle to perform auxiliary cleaning operations, the auxiliary cleaning operations including at least one of the following: spraying cleaning agent, activating auxiliary cleaning structure.

[0186] For the apparatus embodiment, since it basically corresponds to the method embodiment, the relevant parts can be referred to in the description of the method embodiment.

[0187] Accordingly, this disclosure provides an electronic device, including: a processor; and a memory for storing processor-executable instructions; wherein the processor is configured to implement the steps of any of the above-described vehicle control methods by executing the executable instructions.

[0188] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure. For example, the electronic device 600 may be a user device, and may include a vehicle, or a computer, tablet device, central control system, etc., within the vehicle. (See also...) Figure 6 The electronic device 600 may include one or more of the following components: a processing component 602, a memory 604, a power supply component 606, a multimedia component 608, an audio component 610, an input / output (I / O) interface 612, a sensor component 614, and a communication component 616.

[0189] Processing component 602 typically controls the overall operation of electronic device 600, such as operations associated with display, telephone calls, data communication, camera operation, and recording operations. Processing component 602 may include one or more processors 620 to execute instructions to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described above. Furthermore, processing component 602 may include one or more modules to facilitate interaction between processing component 602 and other components. For example, processing component 602 may include a multimedia module to facilitate interaction between multimedia component 608 and processing component 602.

[0190] Memory 604 is configured to store various types of data to support the operation of device 600. Examples of this data include instructions for any application or method operating on electronic device 600, contact data, phonebook data, messages, pictures, videos, etc. Memory 604 can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or a combination thereof, such as static random access memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic storage, flash memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk.

[0191] Power supply component 606 provides power to various components of electronic device 600. Power supply component 606 may include a power management system, one or more power supplies, and other components associated with generating, managing, and distributing power to electronic device 600.

[0192] Multimedia component 608 includes a screen that provides an output interface between the aforementioned electronic device 600 and the user. In some embodiments, the screen may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a touch panel (TP). If the screen includes a touch panel, the screen may be implemented as a touchscreen to receive input signals from the user. The touch panel includes one or more touch sensors to sense touches, swipes, and gestures on the touch panel. The touch sensors may sense not only the boundaries of touch or swipe actions but also the duration and pressure associated with the touch or swipe operation. In some embodiments, multimedia component 608 includes a front-facing camera and / or a rear-facing camera. When the electronic device 600 is in an operating mode, such as a shooting mode or a video mode, the front-facing camera and / or the rear-facing camera may receive external multimedia data. Each front-facing camera and rear-facing camera may be a fixed optical lens system or have focal length and optical zoom capabilities.

[0193] Audio component 610 is configured to output and / or input audio signals. For example, audio component 610 includes a microphone (MIC) configured to receive external audio signals when electronic device 600 is in an operating mode, such as call mode, recording mode, and voice recognition mode. The received audio signals may be further stored in memory 604 or transmitted via communication component 616. In some embodiments, audio component 610 also includes a speaker for outputting audio signals.

[0194] I / O interface 612 provides an interface between processing component 602 and peripheral interface modules, such as keyboards, click wheels, buttons, etc. These buttons may include, but are not limited to, home buttons, volume buttons, power buttons, and lock buttons.

[0195] Sensor assembly 614 includes one or more sensors for providing state assessments of various aspects of electronic device 600. For example, sensor assembly 614 can detect the on / off state of electronic device 600, the relative positioning of components such as the display and keypad of electronic device 600, changes in position of electronic device 600 or a component of electronic device 600, the presence or absence of user contact with electronic device 600, orientation or acceleration / deceleration of electronic device 600, and temperature changes of electronic device 600. Sensor assembly 614 may include a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact. Sensor assembly 614 may also include a light sensor, such as a CMOS or CCD image sensor, for use in imaging applications. In some embodiments, sensor assembly 614 may also include an accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, pressure sensor, or temperature sensor.

[0196] Communication component 616 is configured to facilitate wired or wireless communication between electronic device 600 and other devices. Electronic device 600 can access wireless networks based on communication standards, such as WiFi, 4G or 5G, 4G LTE, 5G NR, or combinations thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, communication component 616 receives broadcast signals or broadcast-related information from an external broadcast management system via a broadcast channel. In one exemplary embodiment, the aforementioned communication component 616 also includes a near-field communication (NFC) module to facilitate short-range communication. For example, the NFC module may be implemented based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, Infrared Data Association (IrDA) technology, ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, Bluetooth (BT) technology, and other technologies.

[0197] In an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 600 may be implemented by one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, or other electronic components to perform the methods described above.

[0198] In an exemplary embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is also provided, such as a memory 604 including instructions, which, when executed by a processor 620 of an electronic device 600, enables the electronic device 600 to perform the methods in any of the above embodiments.

[0199] The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may be ROM, random access memory (RAM), CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, and optical data storage device, etc.

Claims

1. A vehicle control method, characterized in that, The method includes: Obtain weather forecast information for the target area; Based on the weather forecast information, the rainfall area in the target region is predicted; the expected rainfall in the rainfall area during the target time period reaches the target value; The vehicle is controlled to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control of the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation includes: Before the target time period, when the current weather conditions are detected to meet the conditions for safe driving, the vehicle is controlled to automatically drive from the initial parking position to the rainfall area to perform an automatic car wash operation; The safe driving conditions include: The risk of autonomous driving for the vehicle under the current weather conditions is less than a first specified value.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: After the automatic car wash operation is completed, when it is determined that the current weather conditions meet the safe driving conditions, the vehicle is controlled to automatically drive to the target parking location; the target parking location includes at least the initial parking location.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The control of the vehicle to automatically drive from its initial parking position to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation includes: Determine the estimated time period for the vehicle to perform the automatic car wash operation; the estimated time period includes at least a portion of the automatic driving period and the target time period; When it is determined that the vehicle does not have a scheduled driving task during the estimated time period, the vehicle is controlled to automatically drive from the initial parking position to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation. The system will transmit a notification to the user that the vehicle will perform an automatic car wash during the estimated time period.

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The control of the vehicle to automatically drive from its initial parking position to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation includes: Determine the estimated time period for the vehicle to perform the automatic car wash operation; the estimated time period includes at least a portion of the automatic driving period and the target time period; The request information for the vehicle to perform an automatic car wash operation during the estimated time period is transmitted to the user terminal; In response to receiving an instruction from the user terminal allowing the vehicle to perform the automatic car wash operation, the system controls the vehicle to automatically drive from the initial parking position to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform the automatic car wash operation.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The determination of the estimated time period for the vehicle to perform the automatic car wash operation includes: Obtain a first estimated time period during which the vehicle will automatically travel from the initial parking position to the rainfall area; the first estimated time period is prior to the target time period; Obtain a second estimated time period for the vehicle to automatically drive back to the target parking location from the rainfall area; the second estimated time period is after the first estimated time period; The period between the first estimated period and the second estimated period is defined as the estimated period.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control of the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation includes: The vehicle is controlled to automatically drive to a parking location in the rainfall area before the target time period, the expected rainfall at the parking location during the target time period reaches the target value, and the safety factor of the vehicle performing the automatic car wash operation at the parking location is higher than a second specified value.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control of the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation includes: Control the vehicle to travel to the rainfall area before the target time period; The location of the vehicle being rained on is determined based on rainfall information detected by the vehicle's sensors; When the rain condition of at least one area outside the vehicle to be cleaned is determined to be unsuitable for performing an automatic car wash based on the rain location, the vehicle is adjusted to a parking direction that meets the requirements based on the relationship between the at least one area to be cleaned and the rain location.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The method of determining the location of a vehicle exposed to rain based on rainfall information detected by the vehicle's sensors includes: Acquire rainfall images captured by the vehicle's camera; The current direction of rainfall is determined based on the tilt of each object in the rainfall image; The location where the vehicle gets wet is determined based on the vehicle's parking direction and the direction of the rainfall.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The method of determining the location of a vehicle exposed to rain based on rainfall information detected by the vehicle's sensors includes: Acquire pressure information detected by external pressure sensors of the vehicle; The location of the vehicle being rained on is determined based on the pressure information and the position of the pressure sensor.

11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control of the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation includes: Control the vehicle to automatically travel to the rainfall area before the target time period; Control the vehicle to perform auxiliary cleaning operations, which include at least one of the following: spraying cleaning agent, activating auxiliary cleaning structure.

12. A vehicle control device, characterized in that, The device includes: The acquisition module is used to acquire weather forecast information for the target area; The prediction module is used to predict the rainfall area in the target area based on the weather forecast information; the expected rainfall in the rainfall area during the target time period reaches the target value; The control module is used to control the vehicle to automatically drive to the rainfall area before the target time period to perform an automatic car wash operation.

13. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: processor; Memory used to store processor-executable instructions; The processor is configured to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 by running the executable instructions.

14. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When executed by a processor, the program implements the steps of the method described in any one of claims 1 to 11.

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