Method for an automated motor vehicle for influencing a head pose of an occupant of the motor vehicle, computer program and / or computer-readable medium, data processing device and motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for an automatically operable motor vehicle for influencing a head pose of an occupant of the motor vehicle, the method comprising: detecting posture information characterizing the head pose; determining, based on the posture information, a driving dynamics change for inertia-related influencing of the head pose; and outputting a control signal for automatically executing the driving dynamics change.

Description

The present disclosure relates to a method for an automatically operable motor vehicle for influencing a head pose of an occupant of the motor vehicle. The disclosure likewise relates to a computer program and / or computer-readable medium, a data processing device for an automatically operable motor vehicle and a motor vehicle operable automatically.As the automated or autonomous vehicle guidance of a motor vehicle increases, new actuation fields result for an occupant or user and / or passenger of the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle is also increasingly going to a place for entertainment and also for recovery. In other words, the well-being of the occupant plays an increasing role because the occupant may follow operations other than driving the motor vehicle. Consequently, motor vehicles also become retraction locations where a recoverable sleep is to be ensured.When an occupant sleeps during a trip, an unpleasant situation may occur in which the occupant's neck muscles become distorted after sleeping. This can lead to neck pain and / or discomfort in this area.The problem arises because the head of the occupant assumes a physiologically disadvantageous head pose during sleep and / or inactivity in the vehicle. In this case, the head pose describes the posture, i.e. arrangement, orientation and / or orientation, of the head of the occupant.It is known in the art to monitor the posture of an occupant's head. DE 10 2019, 217 218 A1 discloses a computer-implemented method for determining a head posture of a vehicle occupant for a vehicle control system.Lack of support and / or support for the occupant's neck may result in unnatural or adverse curvature of the spine. Over a longer period of time, this can lead to strains of the muscles in the neck and shoulder region, which can then in turn cause pain.In order to avoid neck pain, measures are known which an occupant can take himself. This includes, for example, the use of special neck cushions or neck supports which can support the head and / or neck during travel and reduce the load. In addition, a seat on which the occupant is disposed of the motor vehicle can be adjusted.DE 10 2018 218 508 discloses an automatic change-over of a vehicle seat from the seat position into a reclining position in order to offer a passenger more comfort during long car drives. For this purpose, various sensors are used to monitor the state of the passenger and to detect the transition from the awake state to the sleep state. Exclusion criteria are also defined that can prevent the seat from being automatically moved, such as, for example, excessively short travel time, unsafe driving situations or unsuitable body positions of the passenger. If none of the exclusion criteria are present, the vehicle seat can be moved into the reclining position by correspondingly adapting the backrest, armrests and headrest. Various sensors and cameras are used to monitor the passenger's condition and control the seat's change. Triggering can take place in a speech-based manner.US 2023 / 249587 A1 discloses a vehicle comprising an automatically tiltable seat, a plurality of seat actuators which fully support the automatically tiltable seat to allow the automatically tiltable seat to tilt to accommodate movement of the vehicle.JP 2023-149132 A discloses a vehicle seat control device.However, it is not always possible to bring the seat on which the occupant is arranged into a reclining position, for example, since another occupant and / or objects are arranged on a rear bench and / or a seat behind the seat. Furthermore, a reclining position and / or an inclination of the seat associated therewith is not possible in all motor vehicles due to installation space. Furthermore, not all motor vehicles are equipped with such electrically controllable seats. Furthermore, lying positions in the motor vehicle in the case of braking or even accident are not necessarily optimum.Against the background of this prior art, it is an object of the present disclosure to specify a method which is suitable for improving the prior art and for improving at least the abovementioned aspects of the prior art. In particular, the object of the disclosure is to achieve an improved influencing of a head pose of an occupant of a motor vehicle.The object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims include further developments of the disclosure.According to one aspect of the disclosure, the object is achieved by a method for an automatically operable motor vehicle for influencing a head pose of an occupant of the motor vehicle, the method comprising: capturing posture information characterizing the head pose; determining, on the basis of the posture information, a driving dynamics change for inertially influencing the head pose; and outputting a control signal for automatically carrying out the driving dynamics change.In other words, the method provides a method for moving the head of an occupant in a motor vehicle. Pulses of the drive train of the motor vehicle, which are caused by torques, for example, are used as a measure to influence the head pose.It has been recognized that the head of an occupant has inertia caused by its mass and a change in the driving dynamics can thus be reflected in a change in the head pose. In particular, in the case of a sleeping and / or relaxed occupant, the head can be moved without a significant resistance caused by a muscle tone of the occupant.It has been recognized that sleep and / or low muscle tone may cause the head to assume an adverse position. Such a position can be identified from the posture information. Depending on the arrangement, orientation and / or orientation of the head, the head pose can be moved into a less unfavorable and / or into a favorable head pose by the change in driving dynamics. For this purpose, the change in driving dynamics can be determined in accordance with the respective head pose. A control signal is output to execute the change in driving dynamics. The change in driving dynamics can thus be carried out automatically.The change in driving dynamics can be temporary, i.e. time-limited. In addition, the change in driving dynamics can be applied in such a way that the driving dynamics before the influence on the head pose are equal to the driving dynamics after the influence on the head pose. The temporary change in driving dynamics can thus be directed solely to influencing the head pose. The driving dynamics are therefore only briefly influenced, as a result of which the driving of the motor vehicle can remain largely unaffected.The method is independent of the number of occupants and / or of the arrangement of objects within the motor vehicle. An electrically adjustable seat is not required and is thus not a prerequisite for the method. The method is comparatively universally applicable. In addition, the manipulation of the head pose can improve the safety of the occupant, since the position of the occupant can be maintained, which can possibly be detrimental to the safety of the occupant even in potential hazardous and / or accident situations.Optionally, the change in driving dynamics comprises an acceleration and / or a deceleration and / or can be triggered by a steering system of the motor vehicle. It was recognized that the acceleration of the motor vehicle can change the head pose, in particular during a starting or during intermediate acceleration, due to the starting torque or a torque increase of the motor vehicle. Likewise, the deceleration can change the head pose. The head can be rotated perpendicular to a direction of travel by the acceleration and / or the deceleration. By means of the steering system, lateral influencing of the head pose can be achieved. Optionally, the change in driving dynamics can comprise a pulse that is limited in time and influences the head pose and optionally a preparation phase preceding the pulse, wherein a targeted reduction of the speed can take place within the preparation phase by coasting and / or a gear change.Optionally, the change in driving dynamics comprises an acceleration and / or deceleration caused by an electric drive of the motor vehicle. It has been recognized that in particular electrically drivable motor vehicles can provide an advantageous starting torque in order to cause the change in driving dynamics. Alternatively or additionally, the acceleration can be achieved by an internal combustion engine and / or the deceleration can be achieved by a service brake.Optionally, the method comprises: determining, based on the posture information, a seat setting change for changing a posture of the occupant to influence the head pose; and outputting a second control signal for performing the seat setting change, wherein the seat setting change and the driving dynamics change are matched to each other. It was recognized that the influencing of the head pose via the change in driving dynamics can take place in addition to the adjustment of the seat. The head pose can thus be effected via the change in the driving dynamics and a change in the seat. The change in driving dynamics and the change in seat setting can be matched to one another in terms of time and / or with respect to the effect for changing the head pose, in order to be able to change the head pose effectively and comfortably.Optionally, the posture information is classified to determine the change in driving dynamics. In this case, the posture information can be classified according to one of a plurality of classes. For example, the posture information may be classified into one of the classes "unfavorable head pose" and "pleasant head pose" and "favorable head pose", respectively. Optionally, the direction and / or intensity of a change in driving dynamics to be carried out can also be derived from the class in order to be able to effectively determine the change in driving dynamics.Optionally, the change in driving dynamics is determined taking into account a speed of the motor vehicle and / or an inclination. It was recognized that for the change in driving dynamics, for example, a speed window and / or a limit speed can be taken into account. In particular, the change in driving dynamics can thus be carried out at comparatively low speeds, since a specific degree of acceleration can then be achieved more effectively and is less safety-critical. The gradient or a gradient of a road on which the motor vehicle is driving can influence the direction of the influence on the head pose achieved by the change in driving dynamics.Optionally, the change in driving dynamics is determined taking into account a reference head pose to be achieved. It was recognized that a reference head pose considered to be a favorable head pose can be assumed in order to be able to reliably determine the change in driving dynamics. The reference head pose may depend on the posture of the occupant and / or the seat setting.According to one aspect of the disclosure, a computer program and / or a computer readable medium is provided. The computer program and / or the computer readable medium comprise instructions which, when the program or instructions are executed by a data processing device, cause the latter to carry out the method according to the disclosure and / or steps thereof. Optionally, the computer program and / or the computer-readable medium comprises instructions which, when the program or instructions are executed by a data processing device, cause the latter to carry out the method steps described as advantageous or optional in order to achieve a technical effect associated therewith.According to one aspect of the disclosure, a data processing device for an automatically operable motor vehicle is provided. The data processing device is configured to carry out the method described above. Optionally, the data processing device is configured to perform a method step described as advantageous or optional and / or to implement a method feature in order to achieve a technical effect associated therewith.According to one aspect of the disclosure, an automatically operable motor vehicle comprising the data processing device described above is provided. Optionally, the data processing device of the motor vehicle and / or the motor vehicle is configured to carry out a method step described as advantageous or optional and / or to implement a method feature in order to achieve a technical effect associated therewith.One embodiment is described below with reference to the figures. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a motor vehicle according to an aspect of the disclosure; FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a flow diagram of a method according to an aspect of the disclosure; and FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a computer program and / or computer readable medium in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure.FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a motor vehicle 50 according to an aspect of the disclosure. The motor vehicle 50 is a land vehicle. The motor vehicle 50 is a passenger car. The motor vehicle 50 is a motor vehicle 50 that can be operated automatically, i.e. the motor vehicle 50 is configured to carry out automated driving functions, for example driving, in particular accelerating, braking, lane changing, lane keeping, passing.The motor vehicle 50 has a seat 57. The seat 57 is arranged in the motor vehicle 50, i.e. in a cabin or an interior of the motor vehicle 50. The seat 57 is configured such that an occupant 10 can be arranged on the seat 57, in particular during operation. The seat 57 is configured for the occupant 10 to sit and / or lie on the seat 57. In another embodiment (not shown), the motor vehicle 50 may include any plurality of seats 57, which may also be at least partially configured as a bench seat. Accordingly, a plurality of occupants 10 may be disposed in the motor vehicle 50 (not shown).The occupant 10 has a head 11. The entirety of the arrangement, orientation and / or orientation of the head 11 is referred to as head pose 12. The head pose 12 can be described here in absolute terms, i.e. independently of the posture of other body parts of the occupant 10, and / or relative to the body, in particular upper body, of the occupant 10.The motor vehicle 50 has a data processing device 51. The motor vehicle 50 or the data processing device 51 is configured to bring about an influence on the head pose 12 and to carry out the method 100 according to FIG. 2 for this purpose.For this purpose, the motor vehicle 50 has a detection device 52 and an in particular electric drive 56.The detection device 52 is configured to detect posture information 60 characterizing the head pose 12. For this purpose, the detection device 52 has, for example, an interior camera. The interior camera is configured to acquire the posture information 60 as image data. Alternatively or additionally, the detection device 52 has a communication interface for detecting vehicle-external image data. It is conceivable that a vehicle-external camera, for example a camera of a passing vehicle and / or of an infrastructure element, acquires posture information 60 as image data and transmits it to the acquisition device 52 via the communication interface. Additionally or alternatively, the posture information 60 can be transmitted from a user terminal, for example a smart glass having a position sensor, via the communication interface to the detection device 52, wherein the posture information 60 comprises position or orientation data.The posture information 60 is transmitted from the detection device 52 to the data processing device 51. For this purpose, the detection device 52 and the data processing device 51 can be connected to one another in terms of communication technology.The data processing device 51 is configured to determine a change in driving dynamics 61 for influencing the head pose 12 in an inertial manner on the basis of the posture information 60. For this purpose, the data processing device 51 is configured to store and process the posture information 60. The posture information 60 is classified to determine the driving dynamics change 61. In this case, the posture information 60 is classified by an artificial intelligence (AI) in order to determine whether the head pose 12 is disadvantageously, i.e. to be influenced by the motor vehicle 50, or whether the head pose 12 is favorable, i.e. can remain in its current state.The change in driving dynamics 61 comprises an acceleration and / or a deceleration and / or can be triggered by a steering system of the motor vehicle 50. For this purpose, the mass and / or at least partially the moment of inertia of the head 11 can optionally be determined on the basis of the posture information 60 in order to determine the extent of influence on the head pose 12 by the acceleration, the deceleration and / or the steering behavior of the motor vehicle 50. For this purpose, the change in driving dynamics 61 is optionally determined taking into account a speed of the motor vehicle 50 and / or an inclination.The change in driving dynamics 61 is determined taking into account a reference head pose 15 to be achieved. The reference head pose 15 is a potential head pose 12 of the occupant 10. The reference head pose 15 can define exactly one, several and / or a consecutive plurality of head poses 12.The data processing device 51 is configured to determine, based on the posture information 60, a seat setting change 63 for changing a posture of the occupant 10 for influencing the head pose 12. For this purpose, the seat 57 is electronically adjustable. That is, the seat 57 has a plurality of seat, reclining and / or supporting elements which are electrically actuated so as to be displaceable and / or rotatable relative to one another in order to change the posture of the occupant 10. The seat adjustment change 63 thus refers to a change in the adjustment of the seat 57 to change the posture of the occupant 10 and thus also the head pose 12.The data processing device 51 is configured to output a control signal 65 for automatically carrying out the change in driving dynamics 61 to the electric drive 56. For this purpose, the data processing device 51 and the electric drive 56 are connected to one another in terms of communication technology. The change in driving dynamics 61 thus includes, in particular, an acceleration and / or deceleration caused by an electric drive 56 of the motor vehicle 50.The data processing device 51 is configured to output a second control signal 66 to the seat 57 for carrying out the seat setting change 63. For this purpose, the data processing device 51 and the seat 57 are connected to one another in terms of communication technology.The seat setting change 63 and the driving dynamics change 61 are matched to one another. Accordingly, the control signal 65 and the second control signal 66 are output in a manner coordinated with one another.A specific example is as follows: With the aid of an interior camera and / or specific sensors of the seat 57, in particular in a headrest of the seat 57, as detection device 52, it is detected whether the occupant 10 is sleeping in the motor vehicle 50. In addition, the current position of the head 11, i.e. the head pose 12, is analyzed. A machine learning-based model evaluates the head pose 12 by classification. If necessary, corresponding counter measure names can be initiated. If the model judges the head pose 12 as problematic or unfavorable, the position of the seat 57 can be adjusted by the second control signal 66 such that the head 11 of the occupant 10 assumes an appropriate head pose 12. This is expanded or replaced by the change in driving dynamics 61. The electrically drivable motor vehicle 50 has a comparatively high torque, in particular at low rotational speeds (starting torque). To influence the head pose 12, torque pulses or change in driving dynamics 61 of the motor vehicle 50 are to be used in a meaningful manner. If the autonomously driving motor vehicle 50 is in a starting process, then when the problem of the head 11 is detected, the starting parameters could be adapted in such a way that the head 11 is steered into a pleasant posture during the starting process. The starting process is suitable in particular on account of the high torque difference from the standstill up to the torque point at which the head 11 tilts "soft" into a favorable head pose 12 into the head restraint. If the motor vehicle 50 does not come to a standstill and a "head pitch pulse" is carried out during the journey, then in addition to the available torque, the gradient profile can also be taken into account. The background is that, when driving uphill, the head pitch impulse can be lower due to the drive train torque, since the force of gravity in the rear direction of the vehicle already partially causes the head 11 to tilt in the direction of the headrest. In addition, the steering behavior and / or the braking behavior can also be adapted.FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a flow diagram of a method 100 according to an aspect of the disclosure. The method 100 according to FIG. 2 is a method 100 for an automatically operable motor vehicle 50 for influencing a head pose 12 of an occupant 10 of the motor vehicle 50. FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 1.The method 100 according to FIG. 2 comprises: acquiring 110 posture information 60 characterizing the head pose 12.Method 100 includes: determining 120, on the basis of posture information 60, a change in driving dynamics 61 for influencing head pose 12 in an inertial manner.The posture information 60 is classified to determine 120 the driving dynamics change 61.The change in driving dynamics 61 comprises an acceleration and / or a deceleration and / or can be triggered by a steering system of the motor vehicle 50. The change in driving dynamics 61 includes, in particular, an acceleration and / or deceleration caused by an electric drive 56 of the motor vehicle 50.The change in driving dynamics 61 is determined taking into account a speed of the motor vehicle 50 and / or an inclination.The change in driving dynamics 61 is determined taking into account a reference head pose 15 to be achieved.The method 100 comprises: determining 121, based on the posture information 60, a seat setting change 63 for changing a posture of the occupant 10 for influencing the head pose 12.The seat setting change 63 and the driving dynamics change 61 are matched to one another.The method 100 comprises: outputting 130 a control signal 65 for automatically carrying out the change 61 in driving dynamics.The method 100 comprises: outputting 131 a second control signal 66 for carrying out the seat setting change 63.In this case, the skilled person recognizes that the method 100 according to FIG. 2 can also be carried out in a sequence other than the sequence shown. In particular, it is possible that steps of the method 100 can be interchanged, shifted and / or carried out simultaneously.FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a computer program and / or computer readable medium 200 according to an aspect of the disclosure. The computer program and / or computer-readable medium 200 comprises instructions (not shown) which, when the program or instructions are executed by a data processing device 51, cause the latter to carry out the method 100 and / or the steps of the method 100 according to FIG. 2.The commands can be present as a program code in any code or in any language, in particular in a code suitable for controlling and / or monitoring automated motor vehicles 50. The computer program and / or computer readable medium 200 may be or include any digital data storage device, such as a USB stick, hard disk, CD-ROM, SD card, or SSD card. The computer program does not necessarily have to be stored on such a computer-readable storage medium, but can also be retrievable via the Internet or in some other way.Reference Sign (Part of Description)10 Occupant 11 head 12 head pose 15 reference head pose 50 motor vehicle 51 data processing device 52 detection device 56 electric drive 57 seat 60 posture information 61 driving dynamics change 63 seat setting change 65 control signal 66 second control signal 100 method 110 detection 120 determination of a driving dynamics change 121 determination of a seat setting change 130 output of a control signal 131 output of a second control signal 200 computer program and / or computer-readable mediumReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2019,217 218 A1

[0005] DE 10 2018 218 508

[0008] US 2023 / 249587 A1

[0009] JP 2023-149132 A

[0010]

Claims

Method (100) for an automatically operable motor vehicle (50) for influencing a head pose (12) of an occupant (10) of the motor vehicle (50), wherein the method (100) comprises: - acquiring (110) posture information (60) characterizing the head pose (12); - determining (120), on the basis of the posture information (60), a driving dynamics change (61) for inertially influencing the head pose (12); and - outputting (130) a control signal (65) for automatically executing the driving dynamics change (61).Method (100) according to Claim 1, wherein the change in driving dynamics (61) comprises acceleration and / or deceleration and / or can be triggered by steering of the motor vehicle (50).Method (100) according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the change in driving dynamics (61) comprises acceleration and / or deceleration caused by an electric drive (56) of the motor vehicle (50).Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method (100) comprises: - determining (121), based on the posture information (60), a seat setting change (63) for changing a posture of the occupant (10) for influencing the head pose (12); and - outputting (131) a second control signal (66) for carrying out the seat setting change (63), wherein - the seat setting change (63) and the driving dynamics change (61) are matched to one another.Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the posture information (60) is classified for determining (120) the change in driving dynamics (61).Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the change in driving dynamics (61) is determined taking into account a speed of the motor vehicle (50) and / or an inclination.Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the change in driving dynamics (61) is determined taking into account a reference head pose (15) to be achieved.Computer program and / or computer-readable medium (200) comprising instructions which, when the program or instructions are executed by a data processing device (51), cause them to carry out the method (100) and / or the steps of the method (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 7.Data processing device (51) for an automatically operable motor vehicle (50), wherein the data processing device (51) is configured to carry out the method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7.Automatically operable motor vehicle (50) comprising the data processing device (51) according to claim 9.

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