Motor vehicle and method for operating a cleaning system for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Motor vehicle (1), comprising: - a vehicle interior (4), and - a cleaning system (10) with a vacuum cleaner robot (11) which is arranged in a predetermined manner in the vehicle interior (4), wherein the cleaning system (10) further comprises guide elements (12, 14) and is designed to match the vehicle interior (4) so ​​that a guided cleaning of the vehicle interior (4) can be carried out by means of the vacuum cleaner robot (11) and the guide elements (12, 14), characterized in that the vacuum cleaner robot (11) comprises a first container for dirt and a separate second container for objects, and in that the vacuum cleaner robot (11) has a sensor system (12) by means of which dirt can be distinguished from an object.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle and a method for operating a cleaning system for a motor vehicle.

[0002] Soiling in vehicle interiors typically occurs over time. This particularly affects seats and footwells. Motor vehicle users generally find it pleasant when the vehicle is clean and dirt is removed.

[0003] From DE 10 2019 209 417 B3 a cleaning system for motor vehicle interiors is known, which comprises a vacuum cleaner robot and is arranged in a predetermined manner in the vehicle interior. DE 10 2016 220 275 A1 discloses a cleaning system, wherein the cleaning system comprises guide elements and is designed to match the vehicle interior, so that a guided cleaning of the vehicle interior can be carried out by means of the vacuum cleaner robot and the guide elements.

[0004] DE 10 2011 010 205 A1 relates to a device for cleaning a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle interior, comprising a cleaning unit and at least one locomotion element, by means of which the device can be moved autonomously through a predetermined area of ​​the motor vehicle to be cleaned.

[0005] DE 10 2018 206 772 A1 discloses a vacuum robot for autonomously cleaning a vehicle interior, comprising a housing with a housing underside, a driving unit, a suction nozzle arranged on the housing underside, a suction motor and a control unit, which is characterized in that the housing has a compact housing base body and the suction nozzle is arranged on the housing underside of the housing base body, and in that the distance of an edge of a suction opening of the suction nozzle pointing towards a second edge of the housing from a first edge of the housing opposite the second edge of the housing is at least 4 times, preferably at least 6 times, particularly preferably at least 9 times the distance of the edge of the suction nozzle from the second edge of the housing.

[0006] DE 10 2018 124 731 A1 discloses a vehicle cleaning system comprising: a vehicle having a substantially flat cabin floor from which a plurality of seats of the vehicle extend; and a robotic cleaning device comprising wheels configured to propel the cleaning device along the cabin floor and to selectively clean the cabin floor.

[0007] DE 10 2018 108 177 A1 relates to a cleaning robot for a vehicle with a suction unit for sucking up particles, a retaining unit which can be fastened in a vehicle, for receiving sucked-up particles and with a control unit for controlling the cleaning robot, wherein the suction unit is connected to the retaining unit via a suction line in such a way that particles sucked up by the suction unit reach the retaining unit, and wherein the vacuum robot is connectable to an energy storage device in a vehicle.

[0008] DE 100 21 905 A1 relates to a device for cleaning a motor vehicle interior with a permanently installed suction unit comprising a suction fan, a movable suction line, and a suction head connected to the suction line. According to the invention, the suction unit and / or one end of the suction line is arranged in the region of the vehicle floor, with the suction head attached to the free end of the suction line being guided through the suction line approximately parallel to the vehicle floor.

[0009] It is an object underlying the invention to contribute to increased comfort of a motor vehicle.

[0010] The problem is solved by the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous developments of the method and the arrangement are specified in the respective dependent patent claims.

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle comprises a vehicle interior and a cleaning system arranged in the vehicle interior. The cleaning system has a vacuum robot or vacuum cleaner robot arranged in a predetermined manner in the vehicle interior. The cleaning system further comprises guide elements and is configured to match the vehicle interior, so that guided cleaning of the vehicle interior can be performed using the vacuum robot and the guide elements. Using the described motor vehicle and its integrated cleaning system, automated footwell cleaning can be implemented, contributing to increased comfort in the vehicle. This also saves time for the vehicle user, who no longer has to clean the footwell themselves.

[0012] It is a finding related to the invention that, as a general rule, motor vehicle users desire a clean vehicle, and in particular, that the vehicle footwell is free of dirt. Using the described cleaning system, the vehicle interior can be monitored and automatically cleaned if dirt is detected. Alternatively or additionally, cyclical cleaning can be performed by the robot vacuum cleaner at predetermined intervals.

[0013] According to a further development, the motor vehicle has a control unit that, together with the cleaning system, is configured to communicate with each other via signaling. The robot vacuum cleaner, for example, has a communication unit that enables wireless bidirectional communication with the control unit. Alternatively or additionally, a wired communication capability can be established between the control unit of the motor vehicle and the robot vacuum cleaner or the cleaning system.

[0014] According to a further development, the guide elements comprise a sensory guide and / or a mechanical guide. A mechanical guide can have one or more rail elements and / or stop elements, by means of which the robot vacuum cleaner can travel along the footwell in the motor vehicle. Accordingly, the robot vacuum cleaner can have sliding elements that are coupled to the rail elements and, for example, are guided in them.

[0015] Sensory guidance can be provided in particular by means of sensors built into the robot vacuum cleaner, which, for example, comprises one or more optical sensors or cameras.

[0016] The robot vacuum cleaner can be driven autonomously using a drive integrated into the robot vacuum cleaner. Alternatively or additionally, an external drive unit can be provided, which drives the robot vacuum cleaner from the outside, for example, using a spindle or a drive cable. Furthermore, a rest position or charging position can also be provided in the motor vehicle, which is connected, for example, to the vehicle's on-board electrical system and allows the robot vacuum cleaner to be charged. Alternatively or additionally, the robot vacuum cleaner can also be electrically powered independently of the on-board electrical system.

[0017] The robot vacuum cleaner is designed to include a first container for dirt and a separate second container for other objects, such as coins, jewelry, paper money, or the like. For this purpose, the robot vacuum cleaner has a sensor system, for example with one or more cameras, by means of which one piece of dirt can be distinguished from another object. Such an analysis can in particular also be based on artificial intelligence or machine learning, so that the robot vacuum cleaner can reliably distinguish between dirt and other objects with the help of a large number of example images. If something valuable, such as jewelry or coins, is vacuumed up, this is detected by a camera in the sensor system, for example, and diverted to the second container, from which anything accidentally vacuumed up can be easily removed by the user.In addition, the robot vacuum cleaner is preferably designed to automatically adjust the suction power to identified dirt particles and / or objects.

[0018] The shape of the robot vacuum cleaner is particularly adapted for use in the vehicle footwell, so that it can be guided, for example, along rail elements. The robot vacuum cleaner preferably starts working in interaction with the control unit of the vehicle as soon as the control unit detects that there are no longer any passengers in the vehicle. The control unit can also be referred to as an on-board computer and can include vehicle monitoring that can detect the presence or emotional state of passengers. For example, the robot vacuum cleaner will not initiate cleaning if a stressful driving situation is detected due to loud noise, for example due to screaming children, and / or high speed, so that the robot vacuum cleaner does not have any further influence.

[0019] The cleaning system is suitable for private vehicles, as well as for commercial vehicles and rental vehicles. It can also be retrofitted into existing vehicles.

[0020] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for operating a cleaning system for a motor vehicle comprises providing the cleaning system with a vacuum robot or vacuum cleaner robot that is pre-arranged in a vehicle interior of the motor vehicle. The cleaning system comprises guide elements and is designed to match the vehicle interior. The method further comprises receiving a control signal by means of the vacuum cleaner robot and controlling the vacuum cleaner robot in accordance with the received control signal, such that a guided cleaning of the vehicle interior can be carried out by means of the vacuum cleaner robot and the guide elements.

[0021] By means of the described method, automated footwell cleaning can be carried out in the motor vehicle and can contribute to increased comfort in the motor vehicle. In particular, the method relates to operating the cleaning system in one of the previously described embodiments, so that the described properties and features of the motor vehicle with the cleaning system are also disclosed for the method for operating the cleaning system, and vice versa.

[0022] The control signal can in particular be based on the robot vacuum cleaner detecting a measurement signal that is representative of soiling in the footwell of the vehicle interior. If soiling is then detected, cleaning of the footwell can be initiated. The control signal then represents, for example, an activation command to the robot vacuum cleaner. Alternatively or additionally, the control signal can also initiate cyclical cleaning of the footwell, which can be carried out at predetermined intervals even without dirt detection. The control signal can therefore be stored in a control unit of the robot vacuum cleaner or provided by it, or alternatively or additionally, a control signal can also be transmitted externally to the robot vacuum cleaner.

[0023] According to a further development of the method, the motor vehicle has a control unit, and the cleaning system and the control unit are configured to communicate with each other via signaling. The method accordingly comprises receiving, by means of the robot vacuum cleaner, a possibly further control signal from the control unit, which is representative of a driving state in the vehicle interior. The method then comprises determining a driving state as a function of the received control signal from the control unit, and controlling the robot vacuum cleaner as a function of the determined driving state.

[0024] According to a further development of the method, determining a driving state as a function of the detected control signal includes determining the presence of a passenger in the motor vehicle. Cleaning the footwell of the motor vehicle by means of the robot vacuum cleaner preferably occurs when it is determined that there is no passenger in the motor vehicle.

[0025] Furthermore, the method may include locking the doors and / or parking the motor vehicle, so that the footwell of the motor vehicle is cleaned by means of the robot vacuum cleaner when it is determined that the motor vehicle has been parked and the passenger(s) have left the motor vehicle.

[0026] The method comprises determining via a sensor system of the robot vacuum cleaner, which comprises, for example, optical sensors or cameras, by means of which dirt can be distinguished from another object. The method accordingly comprises detecting a measurement signal that is representative of dirt or an object on the footwell of the vehicle interior. The method further comprises detecting dirt or an object depending on the detected measurement signal, and outputting an information signal when an object has been detected and vacuumed up. Such an information signal can be output acoustically and / or visually, for example. If there is no passenger in the motor vehicle during cleaning, the information signal is provided, for example, and output at a time when it is determined that a passenger is present again.

[0027] Alternatively or additionally, the information signal can be transmitted from the robot vacuum cleaner to the control unit of the motor vehicle and output when a user begins a subsequent driving cycle. A corresponding message can be shown, for example, on a display in the motor vehicle, indicating that an object has been picked up by the robot vacuum cleaner. Furthermore, the cleaning system can also comprise two or more robot vacuum cleaners arranged in the motor vehicle.

[0028] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the described arrangement are explained using schematic drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic embodiment of a motor vehicle with a cleaning device, and Fig. 2 a flowchart for a method for the automated cleaning of a vehicle interior of the motor vehicle.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle 1 with a cleaning system 10 arranged in a vehicle interior 4. According to the illustrated embodiment, the cleaning system 10 has two vacuum robots or vacuum cleaner robots 11 arranged in a predetermined manner in the vehicle interior 4. Relative to a longitudinal axis L of the motor vehicle 1, one vacuum cleaner robot 11 is assigned to the driver's side and the other vacuum cleaner robot 11 is assigned to the passenger side. In the following, the cleaning system 10 is described only in connection with one vacuum cleaner robot 11, but this is to be understood as a mirror image with respect to the longitudinal axis L and also with regard to the other vacuum cleaner robot 11.

[0030] The cleaning system 10 further comprises guide elements and is configured to match the vehicle interior 4, so that a guided cleaning of the vehicle interior 4 can be carried out by means of the robot vacuum cleaner 10 and the guide elements. The guide elements comprise a sensory guide, which is configured by a sensor system 12 of the robot vacuum cleaner 10. The sensor system 12 comprises, for example, one or more optical sensors and / or cameras, which also enable the detection of dirt and / or other objects, such as coins or jewelry, on the floor.

[0031] Mechanical guidance is provided, for example, by rail elements 14. The robot vacuum cleaner 10 is coupled to the rail elements 14 and can be moved at least along these rail elements 14. The robot vacuum cleaner 10 can thus be guided and controlled in a controlled manner and travel along a path, in particular a footwell, in the motor vehicle 1. The rail elements 14 are designed, in particular, to be matched to a vehicle seat 3 in the motor vehicle 1 and extend, for example, from a footwell in the region of a rear seat bench below the vehicle seat 3 through to a footwell of the vehicle seat 3.

[0032] The cleaning system 10 or the vacuum cleaner robot 11 is further configured to communicate with a control unit 2 of the motor vehicle 1 by means of signals (indicated by the Fig. 1). For example, the robot vacuum cleaner 11, as shown in Fig. 1, a communication unit 13 that enables wireless bidirectional communication with the control unit 2. Alternatively or additionally, a wired communication capability can be established between the control unit 2 of the motor vehicle 1 and the robot vacuum cleaner 11 or the cleaning system 10.

[0033] The Fig. 2 schematically shows a flowchart for a method for operating the cleaning system 10 in the motor vehicle 1. In a step S1, the robot vacuum cleaner 10 receives a control signal, which may be based on a control signal from the control unit 2 or on the detection of soiling in the footwell.

[0034] In a step S2, the vacuum cleaner robot 10 is controlled in dependence on the received control signal, so that a guided cleaning of the vehicle interior 4 can be carried out by means of the vacuum cleaner robot 10 and the guide elements.

[0035] If, for example, the vacuum cleaner robot 10 detects a measurement signal representative of soiling using its sensor system 12, the control signal can be output as an activation command to a drive unit for the vacuum cleaner robot 10 and a cleaning process can be initiated.

[0036] However, if the control unit 2 sends a higher-level control signal to the robot vacuum cleaner 10, cleaning can be paused or started at a later time. Thus, for example, in step S3, it can be checked whether the time for cleaning is enabled. Alternatively or additionally, the control signal can also initiate a cyclical cleaning of the footwell, which can also be performed at specified intervals without dirt detection.

[0037] For example, in step S3, a driving state of the motor vehicle can be determined, and a control signal can be output to the vacuum cleaner robot 10 depending on the determined driving state. Determining the driving state can include, for example, determining the presence of a passenger in the motor vehicle 1.

[0038] Then, for example, in step S4, the footwell of the motor vehicle 1 is cleaned by the vacuum cleaner robot 10 when it has been determined that there is no passenger in the motor vehicle 1. In addition, in a further step, an information signal can be output by the vacuum cleaner robot 10 and / or the control unit 2, which optionally informs a passenger of the motor vehicle 1 that an object has been sucked in and conveyed into a corresponding container of the vacuum cleaner robot 10.

[0039] By means of the described motor vehicle 1 and the cleaning system 10 integrated therein, as well as the associated method, an automated footwell cleaning can be carried out and can contribute to increased comfort of the motor vehicle 1. The vehicle interior 4 of the motor vehicle 1 can thus be monitored and automatically cleaned if soiling is detected. List of reference symbols 1 motor vehicle 2 Control unit of the motor vehicle 3 vehicle seat 4 Vehicle interior 10 Cleaning system 11 robot vacuum cleaners 12 Sensors of the robot vacuum cleaner 13 Communication unit of the robot vacuum cleaner 14 Guide rail L Longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle S(i) Steps of a method for operating a cleaning system in a motor vehicle

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle (1), comprising: - a vehicle interior (4), and - a cleaning system (10) with a vacuum cleaner robot (11) which is arranged in a predetermined manner in the vehicle interior (4), wherein the cleaning system (10) further comprises guide elements (12, 14) and is designed in coordination with the vehicle interior (4), so that a guided cleaning of the vehicle interior (4) can be carried out by means of the vacuum cleaner robot (11) and the guide elements (12, 14), characterized by that the vacuum cleaner robot (11) comprises a first container for dirt and a separate second container for objects, and that the vacuum cleaner robot (11) has a sensor system (12) by means of which dirt can be distinguished from an object. [2] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 1, comprising: a control unit (2), wherein the cleaning system (10) and the control unit (2) are designed to communicate with each other via signaling. [3] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide elements comprise a sensory guide (12) and / or a mechanical guide (14). [4] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 3, wherein, if a mechanical guide (12) is provided, the mechanical guide (14) comprises one or more rail elements and / or stop elements. [5] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein, if a sensory guide (12) is provided, the sensory guide (12) comprises one or more optical sensors. [6] Method for operating a cleaning system (10) for a motor vehicle (1), comprising: - Providing the cleaning system (10) with a vacuum cleaner robot (11) which is arranged in a predetermined manner in a vehicle interior (4) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the cleaning system (10) comprises guide elements (12, 14) and is designed in coordination with the vehicle interior (4), wherein the vacuum cleaner robot (11) has a sensor system (12) by means of which a soiling can be distinguished from an object, - receiving a control signal by means of the robot vacuum cleaner (11), and - controlling the vacuum cleaner robot (11) in dependence on the received control signal, so that a guided cleaning of the vehicle interior (4) can be carried out by means of the vacuum cleaner robot (11) and the guide elements (12, 14), - detecting a measurement signal representative of a contamination or an object on the footwell of the vehicle interior (4), - Determining a contamination or an object depending on the detected measurement signal, characterized by - Emitting an information signal when an object has been detected and sucked in. [7] Method according to claim 6, in which the motor vehicle (1) has a control unit (2) and the cleaning system (10) and the control unit (2) are designed to communicate with each other by signaling, and in which the receiving of a control signal by means of the vacuum cleaner robot (11) comprises: Receiving a control signal from the control unit (2) which is representative of a driving state in the vehicle interior (4), - determining a driving state in dependence on the control signal received from the control unit (2), and - Controlling the robot vacuum cleaner (11) depending on the determined driving condition. [8] Method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein determining a driving state in dependence on the detected control signal comprises determining a presence of a passenger in the motor vehicle (1).

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