Diagnostic system and method for vehicle diagnostics

Abstract

A diagnostic system (6) for vehicle diagnosis, in particular in a workshop, comprises: a readout device (10) for reading technical information from a motor vehicle (2); an input device (12) for receiving a problem description from a user; an evaluation device (14) which is designed to evaluate the technical information and the problem description using at least one artificial intelligence method in order to individually determine a subsequent work step; and an output device (16) for outputting the subsequent work step individually determined by the evaluation device (14).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a diagnostic system and a method for vehicle diagnostics, in particular for diagnosing motor vehicles in a workshop. State of the art

[0002] Motor vehicle diagnostics in workshops are usually performed using a diagnostic device, also known as a "service tester." The diagnostic principle is identical for all conventional service testers: The service tester first reads vehicle information from the vehicle. The error codes stored in the control units installed in the vehicle are particularly important. Based on these error codes and / or a symptom description, one or more test plans are suggested to the workshop employee. These test plans are stored in the service tester or in a cloud to which the service tester has access. The workshop employee then works through these test plans one after the other as part of a guided troubleshooting process until the vehicle's fault has been rectified.

[0003] The path chosen when executing a test plan depends on the results of the individual test steps. If the test plans stored in the service tester are insufficient to resolve the error, the workshop employee can contact the vehicle manufacturer's hotline for further instructions. If a test plan no longer corresponds to field experience in the workshops, it must be revised and re-implemented in the service tester or in the cloud to which the service tester accesses. Disclosure of the invention

[0004] It is an object of the invention to improve the fault diagnosis of motor vehicles in workshops.

[0005] A diagnostic system according to the invention for vehicle diagnostics, in particular for vehicle diagnostics in a workshop, comprises: - a reading device for reading technical information from a motor vehicle; - an input device for receiving a problem description from a user; - an evaluation device configured to evaluate the technical information and the problem description using at least one artificial intelligence method in order to individually determine at least one subsequent work step to be performed next by the user; and - an output device for outputting to the user at least one subsequent work step individually determined by the evaluation device.

[0006] A method for vehicle diagnosis according to the invention comprises the steps: (A) reading technical information from a motor vehicle; (B) receiving a problem description from a user; (C) individually determining at least one subsequent work step by evaluating the technical information and the problem description using at least one artificial intelligence method; and (D) outputting the at least one subsequent work step determined in step (C) to the user.

[0007] According to the invention, motor vehicle information, which is obtained in particular by reading out at least one control unit of the motor vehicle, and / or a symptom description are used as the starting point for the diagnosis. In contrast to the prior art, the symptom description is not limited to a selection from a predefined list of possible symptoms. Rather, the symptom description can include free text entered by the user, an audio recording, and / or a photo or video of a component of the motor vehicle. In contrast to previously known methods, a method according to the invention does not follow a fixed test plan, but rather determines the best possible next step in the diagnosis individually based on the user's input.

[0008] Motor vehicles within the meaning of the present invention include in particular cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles and e-bikes.

[0009] A method according to the invention can be carried out in a workshop, but also while driving or while the motor vehicle is stationary.

[0010] A method according to the invention can be carried out, in particular, by a user while the motor vehicle is not yet in the workshop. The user can ask the driver of the motor vehicle about the symptom and thus perform an "online diagnosis" with the aid of the invention. In this case, the invention performs a diagnosis without local test steps, but rather solely based on executable services and routines in the motor vehicle, e.g., reading physical variables, to the extent possible.

[0011] A diagnostic system according to the invention can assess the criticality of a defect and thus decide whether an immediate workshop visit is necessary or whether the workshop visit can be carried out at a later date. In particular, it can be used to decide whether, in the event of a defect symptom occurring, such as a sudden illumination of a warning light in the vehicle, the vehicle can be driven further to the nearest workshop or whether the vehicle must be stopped immediately.

[0012] A method according to the invention and a diagnostic system according to the invention for vehicle diagnostics enable a faster, more efficient and more precise diagnosis of defects in a motor vehicle by individually generating dynamic test plans that are not fixedly predetermined, using a large wealth of knowledge, than the previously known methods based on rigid, fixed test plans as implemented in conventional service testers.

[0013] The use of a greater wealth of knowledge enables diagnosis even in difficult cases and for rare errors not included in the test plans of conventional service testers. Therefore, contacting a manufacturer's hotline can be avoided in many cases when using a diagnostic system according to the invention.

[0014] A diagnostic system according to the invention is capable of learning independently through the continuous input of diagnostic results, thus improving its diagnostic capabilities. A diagnostic system according to the invention also makes it possible to determine the criticality of the detected errors.

[0015] In one embodiment, a method according to the invention comprises repeating steps (B) to (D) once or multiple times. In particular, the method may comprise repeating steps (B) to (D) until an error has been detected and / or corrected.

[0016] In this way, a user or workshop employee can be individually guided through the entire process of diagnosing and eliminating a fault. The guidance is tailored to the specific vehicle and its fault. This allows for particularly efficient and reliable fault diagnosis and repair.

[0017] In one embodiment, the technical information read from the motor vehicle by the readout device includes the motor vehicle type, the year of manufacture, the mileage, and / or software identification numbers of the software on the respective control units and / or hardware identification numbers of the respective control units and / or component identification numbers and / or the contents of the motor vehicle's error memories. This information, in particular the contents of error memories, is particularly helpful in fault diagnosis.

[0018] In one embodiment, the problem description entered via the input device comprises a written problem description, an acoustic problem description, and / or a visual problem description. The problem description may, in particular, include at least one audio recording, at least one photo, and / or at least one film (video).

[0019] In one embodiment, the input device comprises a keyboard, at least one camera and / or at least one microphone in order to receive the problem description.

[0020] The written problem description and the acoustic problem description may in particular include a free description of the error by a user or workshop employee.

[0021] The acoustic problem description and / or the optical problem description may also include images of the motor vehicle or components of the motor vehicle that contain the fault, e.g. unusual noises and / or vibrations.

[0022] With the help of such problem descriptions, automatic error diagnosis can be carried out particularly reliably and efficiently.

[0023] In one embodiment, the diagnostic system comprises a mobile diagnostic device containing at least the readout device, the input device, and the output device. With the aid of such a mobile diagnostic device, which can be used directly on the motor vehicle, the diagnostic system can be operated particularly easily and efficiently and used directly on the motor vehicle.

[0024] In one embodiment, the diagnostic system is a part of the motor vehicle, e.g., the infotainment system, which contains at least the readout device, the input device, and the output device. This allows the diagnostic system to be operated particularly easily and efficiently and used directly on the motor vehicle.

[0025] In one embodiment, the evaluation device is also configured within the diagnostic device. This provides a local, self-contained diagnostic system or device that can be operated autonomously, particularly without an external data connection.

[0026] In one embodiment, the evaluation device is configured outside the diagnostic device and connected to the diagnostic device via a data connection, in particular via the Internet. In such an embodiment, the diagnostic device can be configured particularly simply and cost-effectively, since the diagnostic device does not need to provide significant computing power to evaluate the data.

[0027] Furthermore, an evaluation device that is configured externally to the diagnostic device can always access a large amount of current data, especially data that is continuously provided by other diagnostic devices. An evaluation device that is configured externally to the diagnostic device and is connected to multiple diagnostic devices therefore enables particularly efficient and reliable fault diagnosis.

[0028] In one embodiment, the artificial intelligence of the evaluation device has been trained in particular with at least one of the following sources: - test plans intended for vehicle diagnostics, which have been provided, for example, by the manufacturer of the motor vehicle; - Knowledge databases fed by field experience, for example from workshops and / or spare parts manufacturers; - Knowledge databases of the quality management of motor vehicle components, which have been made available, for example, by motor vehicle manufacturers and / or spare parts manufacturers; - knowledge databases from the development area of ​​motor vehicle components containing information on possible defects and the possible symptoms of such defects; - Knowledge databases containing information on the criticality of possible defects; - Internet forums containing information and experiences about motor vehicle repairs; - Removal and repair instructions; - Video and / or audio recordings of known faults, such as bearing damage to the turbocharger, bearing damage to the combustion engine or electric motor, a rattling timing chain, etc.

[0029] In one embodiment, the artificial intelligence has been trained using several of these sources. Different relevance levels can be assigned to the different sources. For example, particularly reliable sources based on manufacturer information can be given a higher weighting than sources, such as internet forums, that are considered less reliable.

[0030] In one embodiment, the following work step determined by the evaluation device, which is specified to the user or workshop employee, comprises at least one of the following steps: - a request to replace a component identified as defective; - a request to test at least one specific component and to report the test result; - a request to put the motor vehicle into a certain state and to describe the motor vehicle behaviour in that state; - a request to take a photo of a specific component and make it available to the diagnostic system; - a request to put the motor vehicle into a specific state and to make a sound recording near a specific component of the motor vehicle and to make it available to the diagnostic system.

[0031] The specific condition may, for example, include a predetermined steering angle and / or the operation of the engine at a predetermined speed.

[0032] By performing such steps, additional information can be obtained that can be helpful for further error diagnosis. Short description of the characters Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a diagnostic system according to the invention according to a first embodiment, which is used in a motor vehicle. Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a diagnostic system according to the invention according to a second embodiment, which is used in a motor vehicle. Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for vehicle diagnosis according to the invention. Character description

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle 2 with four wheels 3 and a control unit 4. The motor vehicle 2 can have a Fig. 1 not shown connecting motor and / or an electric motor.

[0034] Fig. 1 also shows a schematic representation of a diagnostic system 6 for vehicle diagnostics, which is designed according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0035] The diagnostic system 6 comprises a diagnostic device 8, which can be designed in particular as a mobile diagnostic device 8.

[0036] The diagnostic device 8 comprises a read-out device 10 for reading data from the control unit 4 of the motor vehicle 2. Although in the Fig. 1 only one control unit 4 is shown, the motor vehicle 2 can also have several control units 4. In this case, the diagnostic device 8 can be designed to read data from several, in particular from all, control units 4 of the motor vehicle 2.

[0037] The data can be read out from the at least one control unit 4 in a wired manner, e.g. via an OBD interface of the motor vehicle 2, or wirelessly, e.g. via a Bluetooth® connection.

[0038] The technical information read out from the at least one control unit 4 may include the type, the year of manufacture and / or the mileage and / or software identification numbers of the software on the respective control units and / or hardware identification numbers of the respective control units and / or component identification numbers and / or of the motor vehicle 2 and / or the content of error memories of the at least one control unit 4.

[0039] The diagnostic device 8 also has at least one input device 12 which makes it possible to enter data, in particular error or problem descriptions, into the diagnostic device 8.

[0040] The at least one input device 12 may comprise a keyboard 12a or a touchscreen, which allows data to be entered in writing into the diagnostic device 8.

[0041] The at least one input device 12 may also have at least one microphone 12b that makes it possible to input or dictate data orally into the diagnostic device 8 and / or to record sounds emitted by the motor vehicle 2.

[0042] The at least one input device 12 may also include at least one camera 12c, which allows images and / or films (videos) of the motor vehicle 2 to be recorded and made available to the diagnostic device 8. The at least one camera 12c may be a stereo camera, which allows three-dimensional images and / or videos to be recorded.

[0043] The at least one input device 12 can also have an interface, e.g. the Bluetooth® interface, which makes it possible to couple a mobile phone (“smartphone”) with the diagnostic device 8 and to use a microphone and / or a camera of the mobile phone as input device 12.

[0044] The diagnostic device 8 also has an evaluation device 14 which is designed to evaluate information provided by the readout device 10 and the input device 12 using at least one artificial intelligence method in order to determine a vehicle diagnostic work step which is individually adapted to the respective motor vehicle 2 and the current error situation and which is to be carried out next.

[0045] The evaluation device 14 may, for example, comprise a microprocessor 15 which is designed to execute a program which provides an artificial intelligence method, for example a neural network.

[0046] The artificial intelligence implemented in the evaluation device 14 may, for example, have been trained with at least one of the following sources: - test plans intended for vehicle diagnostics, which have been provided, for example, by the manufacturer of the motor vehicle; - Knowledge databases fed by field experience, for example from workshops and / or spare parts manufacturers; - Knowledge databases of the quality management of motor vehicle components, which have been made available, for example, by motor vehicle manufacturers and / or spare parts manufacturers; - knowledge databases from the development area of ​​motor vehicle components containing information on possible defects and the possible symptoms of such defects; - Knowledge databases containing information on the criticality of possible defects; - Internet forums containing information and experiences about motor vehicle repairs; - Removal and repair instructions; - Video and / or audio recordings of known faults, such as bearing damage to the turbocharger, bearing damage to the combustion engine or electric motor, a rattling timing chain, etc.

[0047] The artificial intelligence implemented in the evaluation device 14 may also have been trained with information from several of these sources. Different relevance levels may be assigned to the various sources. For example, particularly reliable sources, such as sources based on manufacturer information, may be given a higher weighting than sources, such as internet forums, which are considered less reliable.

[0048] The diagnostic device 8 also has an output device 16 which is designed to output the next work step of the vehicle diagnosis, which has been individually determined by the evaluation device 14, so that it can be carried out by a user of the diagnostic system 6.

[0049] The output device 16 may comprise a screen designed to visually output the work step that has been individually determined by the evaluation device 14. Alternatively or additionally, the output device 16 may comprise a loudspeaker that enables the output of acoustic instructions to the user.

[0050] The output device 16 can also have an interface, e.g. the Bluetooth® interface, which makes it possible to couple a mobile phone (“smartphone”) with the diagnostic device 8 and to use a screen and / or a loudspeaker of the mobile phone as the output device 16.

[0051] The instructions issued to the user via the output device 16 may include one or more of the following actions: - a request to replace a component identified as defective; - a request to test at least one specific component and to report the test result; - a request to put the motor vehicle 2 into a certain state and to describe the behaviour of the motor vehicle 2 in that state; - a request to take a photograph of a specific component of motor vehicle 2; - a request to put the motor vehicle 2 into a certain state and to make a sound recording in the vicinity of a certain component of the motor vehicle 2.

[0052] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a diagnostic system 6 for vehicle diagnostics according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0053] The features of the second embodiment that correspond to the features of the first embodiment are identified by the same reference numerals as in the Fig. 1 and will not be described again in detail. The description of the first embodiment applies accordingly to these features of the second embodiment.

[0054] In the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the evaluation device 14 is not formed within the diagnostic device 8, but rather outside the diagnostic device 8. Instead of an evaluation device 14, a communication device 18 is provided in the diagnostic device 8, which enables the diagnostic device 8 to communicate with the evaluation device 14, which is formed outside the diagnostic device 8.

[0055] Communication between the evaluation device 14 and the diagnostic device 8 can be wired or wireless. Communication between the evaluation device 14 and the diagnostic device 8 can, in particular, take place via the Internet.

[0056] The evaluation device 14 can also be designed for communication with several diagnostic devices 8.

[0057] The costs for a diagnostic system 6 according to the invention can be reduced if a common evaluation device 14 can be used in conjunction with multiple diagnostic devices 8. Furthermore, maintenance can also be simplified because only the data and algorithms of the central evaluation device 14, but not the diagnostic devices 8, need to be regularly updated.

[0058] A central evaluation device 14, which receives the diagnostic data from a plurality of diagnostic devices 8, can further learn from this diagnostic data and in this way further improve the diagnostic results.

[0059] The central evaluation device 14 can be designed, in particular on the Internet, as part of a virtual cloud 20.

[0060] Fig.3 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 100 according to the invention for vehicle diagnostics.

[0061] The procedure includes: in step 110, reading out technical information from the motor vehicle 2, in particular from at least one control unit 4 of the motor vehicle 2; in step 120, receiving a problem description from a user via the input device 12; in step 130, evaluating the technical information and the problem description using at least one artificial intelligence method to determine a subsequent vehicle diagnostic step; and in step 140, outputting the following vehicle diagnosis work step determined in step 130 to the user.

[0062] The method 100 may in particular comprise repeating steps 120 to 140 once or several times until a fault of the motor vehicle 2 has been detected and / or remedied.

[0063] The inventive individual generation of dynamic test plans, which are not fixedly predetermined, by artificial intelligence using a large wealth of knowledge that has been developed by training the artificial intelligence, enables a faster, more efficient and more precise diagnosis of defects in a motor vehicle 2 than the previously known methods that are based on rigid, fixedly predetermined test plans, as implemented in conventional service testers.

[0064] A diagnostic system 6 according to the invention can learn from an analysis of its own procedure and thus continue to improve. Should the diagnostic system 6 have suggested incorrect, suboptimal, or not immediately successful measures in individual cases, and the motor vehicle 2 was subsequently repaired by another method, the procedure subsequently recognized as better can be fed to the diagnostic system 6 as a learning data set. With this procedure, a diagnostic error can be converted into a benefit that enables the continuous improvement of a method 100 according to the invention and a diagnostic system 6 according to the invention.

Claims

[1] Diagnostic system (6) for vehicle diagnostics, in particular in a workshop, the diagnostic system (6) comprising: - a reading device (10) for reading technical information from a motor vehicle (2); - an input device (12) for receiving a problem description from a user; - an evaluation device (14) which is designed to evaluate the technical information and the problem description using at least one artificial intelligence method in order to individually determine a subsequent work step; and - an output device (16) for outputting the following work step individually determined by the evaluation device (14). [2] Diagnostic system (6) according to claim 1, wherein the technical information comprises a vehicle type, the year of manufacture, the mileage and / or and / or software identification numbers of the software on the respective control units and / or hardware identification numbers of the respective control units and / or component identification numbers and / or the content of error memories of the motor vehicle (2). [3] Diagnostic system (6) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the input device (12) comprises a keyboard (12a), at least one microphone (12b) and / or at least one camera (12c). [4] Diagnostic system (6) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the diagnostic system (6) comprises a diagnostic device (8) which comprises at least the readout device (10), the input device (12) and the output device (16). [5] Diagnostic system (6) according to claim 4, wherein the evaluation device (14) is formed within the diagnostic device (8); or wherein the evaluation device (14) is formed outside the diagnostic device (8), wherein the evaluation device (14) is formed in particular in a virtual cloud (20). [6] Diagnostic system (6) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the artificial intelligence has been trained with at least one of the following sources: - test plans intended for vehicle diagnostics; - knowledge databases fed by field experience; - Knowledge databases for the quality management of motor vehicle components (2); - knowledge databases from the development area of ​​motor vehicle components (2); - Knowledge databases containing information on the criticality of possible defects; - Internet forums related to motor vehicle repairs; - Removal and repair instructions; - Video and / or audio recordings of known error cases; [7] Diagnostic system (6) according to claim 6, wherein the artificial intelligence has been trained with several of the sources, wherein the different sources in particular have a different relevance. [8] Diagnostic system (6) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the following work step individually determined by the evaluation device (14) comprises at least one of the following steps: - a request to replace a component identified as defective; - a request to test at least one specific component and to report the test result; - a request to put the motor vehicle (2) into a certain state and to describe the vehicle behaviour in that state; - a request to take a photo of a specific component; - a request to put the motor vehicle (2) into a certain state and to make a sound recording in the vicinity of a certain component of the motor vehicle (2). [9] Method (100) for vehicle diagnosis, in particular in a workshop, wherein the method comprises the following steps: (A) reading (110) technical information from a motor vehicle (2); (B) receiving (120) a problem description from a user; (C) individually determining (130) a subsequent work step by evaluating the technical information and the problem description using at least one artificial intelligence method; and (D) Outputting (140) the following work step determined in step (C) to the user. [10] Method (100) according to claim 9, wherein the method comprises repeating steps (B) to (D); wherein the method in particular comprises repeating steps (B) to (D) until an error has been detected and / or corrected. [11] Method (100) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the technical information comprises a vehicle type, the year of manufacture, the mileage and / or the content of error memories of the motor vehicle (2). [12] Method (100) according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the problem description comprises a written problem description, an acoustic problem description and / or a visual problem description; in particular a photo or a film. [13] Method (100) according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the artificial intelligence has been trained with at least one of the following sources: - test plans intended for vehicle diagnostics; - knowledge databases fed by field experience; - Knowledge databases for the quality management of motor vehicle components (2); - knowledge databases from the development area of ​​motor vehicle components (2); - Knowledge databases containing information on the criticality of possible defects; - Internet forums related to motor vehicle repairs; - Removal and repair instructions; - Video and / or audio recordings of known error cases. [14] Method (100) according to claim 13, wherein the artificial intelligence has been trained with several of the sources, wherein the different sources in particular have a different relevance. [15] Method (100) according to one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the subsequent operation step determined in step (C) comprises at least one of the following steps: - a request to replace a component identified as defective; - a request to test at least one specific component and to report the test result; - a request to put the motor vehicle (2) into a certain state and to describe the vehicle behaviour in that state; - a request to take a photo of a specific component; - a request to put the motor vehicle (2) into a certain state and to make a sound recording in the vicinity of a certain component of the motor vehicle (2).

Images