Procedure for informing road users

Abstract

Method for informing road users in the surroundings of a vehicle (1), characterized in that - as information, at least one item of traffic information (V) received from a central computer unit (5) is projected onto a road surface (F) located at least behind the vehicle (1) by means of a projection unit (4) arranged on the vehicle (1) depending on the situation - by means of a position determination unit (2) the current position of the vehicle (1) is continuously determined while the vehicle (1) is in operation, and - the current position of the vehicle (1) is sent to the central computer unit (5) by means of a communication unit (3).

Description

The invention relates to a method for informing road users in the surroundings of a vehicle.In general, methods for informing road users in a surrounding area of a vehicle are known. Thus, information, in particular traffic information, is distributed, for example, via a vehicle-to-vehicle communication and / or a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication.Furthermore, DE 10 2014 214 522 A1 discloses a method and a device for projecting a light symbol into a defined region of the roadway plane in the environment of a motor vehicle by means of at least one laser light source arranged above the roadway plane in the motor vehicle. A laser light spot of a predetermined color and shape is generated in a specific scanning surface in the defined area of the roadway plane. The laser light spot is scanned in two spatial directions along a predetermined trajectory for illuminating the scanning surface in the roadway plane and the laser light spot is switched on and off for generating the light symbol, wherein the image repetition frequency of the light symbol lies above the flicker fusion limit of the human eye.DE 10 2013 012 891 A1 describes a method for projecting a graphically representable display content by a motor vehicle into the surroundings of the motor vehicle, comprising the steps:receiving a control signal by a control device of the motor vehicle, wherein the control signal specifies the display content and a projection surface in the environment of the motor vehicle,determining the display content by the control device as a function of the control signal,aligning a projection apparatus of the motor vehicle with the predetermined projection surface by the control device,transmitting the determined display content from the control device to the projection device, andprojecting the display content by the projection device onto the predetermined projection surface.The control signal is received by an external data server, which provides relevant information regarding the traffic relevant tunnel or parking garage by an operator of a tunnel or parking garage. In this case, the control signal specifies that the display content describes a virtual building plan or escape route or comprises an indication or a guidance symbol for an escape route or emergency exit, which represents a closest escape route or emergency exit to the motor vehicle.Furthermore, DE 10 2014 219 317 A1 describes a method for optically displaying an indication of a traffic situation, wherein the traffic situation can be detected by a first traffic participant and can be optically displayed to a second traffic participant. In this case, a communication signal is received from a communication network by means of a communication interface, wherein the communication signal relates to the traffic situation. Furthermore, the indication of the traffic information is displayed visually.US 2016 / 0332568 A1 discloses a lamp for a vehicle, which lamp comprises a light source which is designed to generate light. Furthermore, the lamp comprises a transparent display which is configured to allow a part of the light to pass through the transparent display. In addition, a processor configured to control the transparent display to display, on a projection surface using the light, information related to the vehicle or driving conditions for the vehicle is provided.The invention is based on the object of specifying a method, improved compared to the prior art, for informing road users in the environment of a vehicle.The object is achieved according to the invention by the features specified in claim 1.Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.According to the invention, a method for informing road users in the surroundings of a vehicle provides that at least one piece of traffic information received from a central computer unit is projected as information by means of a projection unit arranged on the vehicle, depending on the situation, onto a road surface located at least behind the vehicle. Furthermore, during the driving operation of the vehicle, the current position thereof is continuously determined by means of a position determination unit and transmitted by means of a communication unit and to the central computer unit.By using the method, the road users in the environment of the vehicle can be informed, for example about a traffic situation present, even if they do not have a communication unit for receiving traffic information sent by the central computer unit.Traffic safety can be increased since information can be provided on the one hand by vehicle-to-infrastructure communication of a greater mass and on the other hand by the projection of road users located directly in the vicinity.In addition, for example, an indication of the formation of a rescue corridor can also be projected onto the road surface, so that a rescue car has free travel and thus a starting time to a vehicle that has been lost can be shortened and lives can be saved if necessary.Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.The following are shown: FIG. 1 schematically shows a vehicle which projects traffic information onto a road surface, and FIG. 2 schematically shows the vehicle which projects a pointer onto the road surface.Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 1 having a satellite-based position determination unit 2, a communication unit 3 and a projection unit 4.During the driving operation of the vehicle 1, the position determination unit 2 is used to continuously determine the current position thereof, wherein information of the vehicle 1, such as for example its current position, can be transmitted to a central computer unit 5 by means of the communication unit 3 and information transmitted by said central computer unit can be received. This means that information can be called up by the central computer unit 5 by means of the communication unit 3.The central computer unit 5 stores, manages, combines and processes the sent information and provides these vehicles 1, which are moved in particular during autonomous driving operation, i.e. provides them.The projection unit 4 is designed and arranged on the vehicle 1 in such a way that color representations can be projected around the vehicle 1 onto a roadway surface F, i.e. onto a vehicle floor.According to the present exemplary embodiment, traffic information V received by the central computer unit 5 and preceding the vehicle 1 and the following road users is projected onto the roadway surface F behind the vehicle 1 by means of the projection unit 4. In particular, the traffic information V is projected onto the roadway surface F as a warning.Furthermore, it is possible for the following road users to be projected onto the roadway surface F as traffic information V an average time loss caused by the traffic jam and / or a request to form a rescue corridor.Traffic information V received by the central computer unit 5 is projected onto the roadway surface F due to the situation by means of the projection unit 4.If no relevant traffic information V is present in the central computer unit 5 for the environment of the vehicle 1, the projection unit 4 can be used to display other indications H, as shown in FIG. 2.Thus, as an indication H, the request to maintain a safety distance of a following road user with respect to the vehicle 1 can be projected onto the roadway surface F.In particular, this indication H is projected onto the roadway surface F behind the vehicle 1 for the own safety and as information for the immediately following road user.List of reference characters1 Vehicle 2 Position determination unit 3 Communication unit 4 Projection unit 5 Central computer unit F Road surface H Information V Traffic information

Claims

Method for informing road users in the environment of a vehicle (1), characterized in that - at least one piece of traffic information (V) received from a central computer unit (5) is projected as information by means of a projection unit (4) arranged on the vehicle (1) for situation-related reasons onto a road surface (F) located at least behind the vehicle (1), - its current position is ascertained continuously during the driving operation of the vehicle (1) by means of a position determination unit (2), and - the current position of the vehicle (1) is transmitted to the central computer unit (5) by means of a communication unit (3).Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the traffic information (V) is projected in colour onto the road surface (F).Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the absence of traffic information (V), a traffic-relevant information item (H) is projected onto the road surface (F) by means of the projection unit (4).

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