Motor vehicle and system for transmitting road property information

Abstract

Motor vehicle (Vehicle1, Vehicle2, Vehicle3) - with a detection device (ERF) for detecting a physical roadway property of the roadway traveled by the motor vehicle, wherein the detection device (ERF) comprises chassis control sensors for detecting the vertical deflection of a wheel of the motor vehicle from the normal position or a quantity derived from or correlated with it, - with a position tracking device (POS) for determining the position of the motor vehicle, - with a transmitting device (SD) for transmitting road property position data objects, - with a computer system (CS) that is set up in such a way, - that the value of the vertical deflection of a wheel of the motor vehicle from the normal position or a quantity derived from or correlated with it is used as the recorded roadway property, or that a roadway condition class derived from the value of the vertical deflection is used as the recorded roadway property, - that the recorded roadway property and the corresponding position are converted into a roadway property position data object (ZU-POS1, ZU-POS2, ZU-POS3), and - that the road property position data object (ZU-POS1, ZU-POS2, ZU-POS3) is sent by the transmitting device (SE).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle and a system for transmitting road property information.

[0002] Vehicles equipped with a so-called Floating Car Data (FCD) system are already known. Such a system consists, for example, of a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver and a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) module. Both units are already present in many vehicles, even without FCD functionality. The GPS receiver measures the vehicle's position, and the FCD methods use this position data to calculate travel times. These travel times are transmitted via the GSM network as a series of data points (individual points along the route, each with its own coordinates and a timestamp) to the traffic data center. The center can then use these travel times to draw conclusions about the traffic situation. In this way, traffic condition data is collected for traffic information services.

[0003] An advanced method for traffic condition monitoring is called XFCD (Extended Floating Car Data). This method translates locally measured values ​​within the vehicle into a local traffic condition that reflects the vehicle's surroundings. By incorporating traffic information already available in the vehicle, received, for example, via mobile networks or Radio Data System-Traffic Message Channel (RDS-TMC), the XFCD method can determine whether the locally determined traffic condition differs from the condition known to the traffic data center. Only then is a corresponding XFCD message sent, thus reducing the communication volume caused by XFCD messages.

[0004] In the traffic data center, the FCD or XFCD messages are combined with data collected from other sources (e.g., induction loop detectors or traffic cameras) using statistical methods.

[0005] Furthermore, for example, DE19932094A1 discloses a device for road condition detection in a motor vehicle which illuminates a section of the road in front of the vehicle and which receives echo signals from the illuminated section of the road by means of receiving devices in order to derive a classification of the road condition in the road section into predefined condition categories.

[0006] From DE102004018088A1, another method for detecting road surface condition for use in a motor vehicle is known, which comprises the following steps: acquiring road surface data by means of a temperature sensor providing temperature data, an ultrasonic sensor providing roughness data, and a camera providing image data; filtering the road surface data for processing; comparing the filtered road surface data with the reference data and generating a confidence level for the comparison; determining the condition of the road surface based on the comparison of the filtered road surface data with the reference data; and determining a reliability value for the condition of the road surface based on the confidence level.

[0007] These writings focus solely on determining the road surface condition in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle, and on using the corresponding information only within the vehicle itself.

[0008] The state of the art is also already known from EP1150266A2, EP1486929A2, EP1291824A1, US6012012A, DE10029816A1 and DE19730791A1.

[0009] The invention is based on the objective of providing a technical teaching by which comprehensive information about road conditions is available in a motor vehicle.

[0010] This problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

[0011] The invention is based on the idea of ​​collecting road condition information in several motor vehicles, aggregating this information into a virtual road condition map, and optionally informing several motor vehicles about road conditions based on the road condition map.

[0012] A motor vehicle according to the invention comprises a detection device, such as a measuring device or sensor device, for detecting a physical roadway property of the roadway traveled by the motor vehicle and a position determination device, such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, for determining the (current) position of the motor vehicle.

[0013] A computer system, such as a program-controlled processor system, is set up in such a way that a detected road property and a determined position, which correlates with the detection position, are converted into a road property position data object, and that the road property position data object is sent by a suitable transmitting device.

[0014] Preferably, the road property position data object is also supplemented on the sending or receiving side with a time indication that correlates with the acquisition time.

[0015] The steps of capturing the road surface property, determining the position, converting it into a road surface property position data object, and sending a road surface property position data object can be repeated at predefined time intervals, after a predefined distance has been traveled, or depending on the quantity and / or type of road surface properties determined.

[0016] A road surface property can be determined by one or more measured values ​​or quantities derived from them, such as the average of measured values, the maximum of measured values, a road surface condition class, a road surface condition value, or a road surface rating index.

[0017] For example, appropriate chassis control sensors can detect the vertical deflection of a vehicle wheel from its normal position (or a derived or correlated value). This deflection value or a derived road condition class can then be used as the detected road property. For instance, the road condition class "pothole" is assumed if the deflection value exceeds a predefined threshold.

[0018] The invention makes it possible to collect and provide comprehensive information about road conditions with minimal additional technical effort.

[0019] Preferably, the motor vehicle also includes a receiving device for receiving information about the road surface condition of at least one other roadway.

[0020] This received information about the road condition can be transmitted from a central unit or from other vehicles to the vehicle's receiving unit in the form of road property position data objects or in the form of an electronic road condition map (or a section thereof). The electronic road condition map can be based on road property position data objects received and evaluated by the central unit.

[0021] The origin of the information about the road surface condition received by the receiving device of the motor vehicle preferably lies in at least one further vehicle, which is designed according to the motor vehicle according to the invention described above.

[0022] This received information about the road surface condition can be converted into acoustic or visual signals within the vehicle. For example, a road surface on a map can be colored according to its condition, pothole positions can be visually highlighted, or an acoustic warning signal can be emitted before a pothole.

[0023] In order to reduce the additional technical effort required for the realization of the invention, the detection device includes a sensor device which (or whose output sensor signals) is also used for the chassis control of the motor vehicle.

[0024] Particularly preferred is the provision that an electronic road condition map is stored in a storage device of the motor vehicle. The computing device is then configured such that a road property position data object is only transmitted if a comparison of the determined road property with the corresponding road property at the same position – as derived from the stored road condition map – reveals a significant deviation.

[0025] This allows the invention to be efficiently implemented in practice from a communication technology perspective.

[0026] The aforementioned problem is also solved by a system for transmitting road property information to a plurality of motor vehicles according to the invention and with a central unit for receiving road property position data objects from the transmitting devices of these motor vehicles. Preferably, received road property position data objects are each supplemented by a time value that correlates with the acquisition or reception time.

[0027] The central unit includes a conversion device designed to transform road property position data objects received from various motor vehicles into an electronic road condition map. The road condition map can comprise a table that assigns at least one road condition or road property to a multitude of lanes, lane sections, streets, positions, or coordinate pairs. Furthermore, a storage device is provided and configured for storing the road condition map.

[0028] This road condition map can, for example, be displayed on a display device of the central facility or an authority connected to the central facility in order to derive road damage, the temporal progression of road damage and / or rehabilitation measures.

[0029] Preferably, received road property position data objects are supplemented with a time indication that correlates with the acquisition time or reception time.

[0030] Preferably, a transmitting device of the central unit is provided for transmitting information about the road condition of a large number of roads, for example in the form of road property position data objects or in the form of a road condition map or a section of a road condition map.

[0031] Advantageously, the transmission, sending, and / or receiving of road property position data objects is based on an FCD or XFCD system. Road property position data objects and / or road condition maps, or excerpts thereof, can be transmitted using established mobile communication or broadcasting systems.

[0032] The invention will now be explained in more detail using examples with reference to the following figure: Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a system for conveying road property information.

[0033] Fig. Figure 1 shows a system for mediating road property information between different motor vehicles, which may be embedded in or based on a known XFCD (Extended Floating Car Data) system.

[0034] The motor vehicles KFZ1, KFZ2, and KFZ3 are each equipped with: - a detection device ERF for detecting the vertical deflection of the four wheels (resolved according to the individual wheels or summarized, for example, as an average value or maximum value) relative to a standard deflection or expected deflection (alternatively or additionally, other sensor systems known in themselves and / or already existing for other purposes, such as chassis control, may be provided for detecting one or more road surface properties); - a GPS receiver POS to determine the current position of the respective motor vehicle KFZ1, KFZ2, KFZ3 at a given recording time; - a GSM module SE,EE for receiving an electronic road condition map ZK or a section of an electronic road condition map ZK from a central facility Z and for sending road property position data objects ZU-POS1, ZU-POS2, ZU-POS3 to a or the central facility Z; - a computer system RE that is programmed in such a way, - that the recorded vertical deflection of the four wheels (individually or collectively) is compared relative to a standard deflection with a predetermined limit value, - that the local road surface property class is assumed to be "pothole" if the detected deflection is greater than the limit value, - that it is checked whether the received or stored road condition map ZK already indicates the recorded road property "pothole" at the corresponding location, and - that the road surface property "pothole" together with the associated pothole position is converted into a road surface property position data object ZU-POS1, ZU-POS2, ZU-POS3, which is sent to the central facility Z via the GSM module SE when the aforementioned

[0035] The review reveals that the road condition map ZK known to the motor vehicle KFZ1, KFZ2, KFZ3 does not yet indicate the recorded road property "pothole" at the corresponding location.

[0036] Furthermore, the computer system RE can be configured in such a way that, for example, when displaying a road map on a display unit AE of a navigation system, a warning marker is placed on the positions which are described as "potholes" on the road condition map.

[0037] In a central facility Z, the road property position data objects ZU-POS1, ZU-POS2, ZU-POS3 sent by the motor vehicles KFZ1, KFZ2, KFZ3 are received by means of a suitable receiving device ZEE.

[0038] Each road property position data object ZU-POS1, ZU-POS2, ZU-POS3 has a timestamp added either before transmission in the vehicle or after receipt in the central facility, which indicates at least approximately the time of recording the road property.

[0039] In an evaluation unit ZAE, the road property contained in a received road property position data object ZU-POS1, ZU-POS2, ZU-POS3 is further evaluated, classified and compared with the road property transmitted by other motor vehicles and stored in a storage device ZSPE in the form of a road condition map at the corresponding position.

[0040] If this comparison reveals that the most recently reported road surface condition at a specific location differs from the road surface condition stored in the road surface condition map or from a generally assumed standard road surface condition, the road surface condition is updated in the road surface condition map by a conversion unit (ZUE). This involves replacing the stored road surface condition with the most recently reported road surface condition. A condition for such a change to a stored road surface condition could be, for example, that a road surface condition differing from the stored one is detected by a motor vehicle at least twice in succession and reported to the central facility.

[0041] The evaluation unit ZAE and the conversion unit ZUE can be implemented as a program module of a processor unit ZPE.

[0042] From time to time or on request, information about road surface properties in the form of road surface position data objects, in the form of a road surface condition map ZK or a section of a road surface condition map ZK is sent by a suitable transmitting device ZSE via point-to-point or point-to-multipoint communication to one of the motor vehicles, to the motor vehicles and / or to at least one other motor vehicle.

[0043] It should be noted again that the system shown in the figure is merely an exemplary embodiment. Thus, a wide range of variations of the exemplary embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the central unit Z can also be implemented distributed across several central sub-units. The road surface condition can be detected alternatively or additionally to the determination based on the vertical deflection of the wheels using a camera system, chassis control sensors, and / or other vehicle-related measuring systems. Besides potholes, other types of road damage and their degree of damage can be detected. Based on the degree of damage, the corresponding road surface sections of the road surface condition map can be displayed in different colors.The transfer of road property position data objects can be implemented using any other transfer method.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle (Vehicle1, Vehicle2, Vehicle3) - with a detection device (ERF) for detecting a physical roadway property of the roadway traveled by the motor vehicle, wherein the detection device (ERF) comprises chassis control sensors for detecting the vertical deflection of a wheel of the motor vehicle from the normal position or a quantity derived from or correlated with it, - with a position tracking device (POS) for determining the position of the motor vehicle, - with a transmitting device (SD) for transmitting road property position data objects, - with a computer system (CS) that is set up in such a way, - that the value of the vertical deflection of a wheel of the motor vehicle from the normal position or a quantity derived from or correlated with it is used as the recorded roadway property, or that a roadway condition class derived from the value of the vertical deflection is used as the recorded roadway property, - that the recorded roadway property and the corresponding position are converted into a roadway property position data object (ZU-POS1, ZU-POS2, ZU-POS3), and - that the road property position data object (ZU-POS1, ZU-POS2, ZU-POS3) is sent by the transmitting device (SE). [2] Motor vehicle (Vehicle1, Vehicle2, Vehicle3) according to claim 1 - with a receiving device (RD) for receiving information about the road surface condition of at least one other road surface. [3] Motor vehicle (KFZ1, KFZ2, KFZ3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the detection device (ERF) comprises a sensor device which is also used for the chassis control of the motor vehicle (KFZ1, KFZ2, KFZ3). [4] System for transmitting road property information - with a plurality of motor vehicles (KFZ1, KFZ2, KFZ3) according to one of the preceding claims, - with a central unit (Z) for receiving road property position data objects from the transmitting units of the motor vehicles (KFZ1, KFZ2, KFZ3), - wherein the central unit (Z) has a conversion unit for converting the received road property position data objects (ZU-POS1, ZU-POS2, ZU-POS3) into an electronic road condition map (ZK), - wherein the central unit includes a storage unit (SPE) for storing the road condition map (ZK), and - wherein the value of the vertical deflection of a wheel of the motor vehicle from the normal position or a quantity derived from or correlated with it is used as the recorded roadway property, or that a roadway condition class derived from the value of the vertical deflection is used as the recorded roadway property. [5] System for transmitting road property information according to claim 4, - in which the central unit has a transmitting unit (SE) for sending information about the road condition of a large number of roads, in particular for sending the road condition map (ZK). [6] System for transmitting roadway property information according to one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the transmission of the roadway property position data objects (ZU-POS1, ZU-POS2, ZU-POS3) and / or the information about the roadway condition of a plurality of roads is based on an FCD system or XFCD system.

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