Method for setting a driver environment of a vehicle, computer-readable medium, system, and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for adjusting a driver environment of a vehicle, wherein the driver environment comprises components, the components being a driver's seat, a steering wheel, an exterior mirror, and / or a rearview mirror of the vehicle, the method comprising: detecting a driver in the driver's seat by the vehicle; acquiring an actual state of the driver environment and a current driver position with one or more cameras and / or one or more distance sensors of the vehicle; determining input parameters of a mathematical model depending on the detected driver in the driver's seat, wherein the input parameters include the acquired actual state of the driver environment, the acquired current driver position, and parameters for a best possible seating position of the driver as optimization variables of the mathematical model;Execution of the mathematical model with the determined input parameters by the vehicle to determine output parameters of the mathematical model, wherein the output parameters of the mathematical model include setting parameters for components of the driver environment with actuators and / or setting suggestions for components of the driver environment without actuators; If the output parameters of the mathematical model indicate that an improvement of the current state of the driver environment can be achieved: setting the actuators of the components of the driver environment depending on the setting parameters; and providing the setting suggestions to the driver of the vehicle for manual setting of the components of the driver environment without actuators.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for setting a driver environment of a vehicle. The invention further relates to a computer-readable medium for setting a driver environment of a vehicle, a system for setting a driver environment of a vehicle, and a vehicle comprising the system for setting a driver environment of a vehicle.

[0002] Interior cameras capable of monitoring a driver are known from the prior art. Furthermore, systems are known from the prior art that can determine the current position of a driver's seat and automatically adjust it to a desired position.

[0003] It is therefore an object of the invention to adjust the driver environment of a vehicle more efficiently. In particular, an object of the invention is to adapt a driver's seat and other safety-relevant components more efficiently to the driver of the vehicle.

[0004] This problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

[0005] According to a first aspect, the invention is characterized by a method for setting a driver environment of a vehicle. The method can be a computer-implemented method and / or a control unit-implemented method. The driver environment comprises several components, wherein the components include a driver's seat, a steering wheel, an exterior mirror, and / or a rearview mirror of the vehicle. The method includes the vehicle detecting a driver in the driver's seat, acquiring the current state of the driver environment and the driver's current position using one or more cameras and / or one or more distance sensors of the vehicle.The method further comprises determining input parameters for a mathematical model based on the detected driver in the driver's seat. These input parameters include the recorded current state of the driver's environment, the recorded current driver position, and parameters for an optimal driver seating position as optimization variables for the mathematical model. The method also includes executing the mathematical model with the determined input parameters by the vehicle to determine output parameters. These output parameters include setting parameters for components of the driver's environment with actuators and / or setting suggestions for components of the driver's environment without actuators.If the output parameters of the mathematical model indicate that an improvement in the current state of the driver environment can be achieved, the procedure adjusts the actuators of the driver environment components depending on the adjustment parameters and provides the driver of the vehicle with adjustment suggestions for manually adjusting the components of the driver environment without actuators.

[0006] Advantageously, the process can automatically adjust the driver's environment. The vehicle seat, mirrors, and steering wheel can be efficiently adjusted to the driver's height. The driver can operate the vehicle in the best possible ergonomic posture. The mathematical model can calculate the adjustment parameters to best meet the optimization criteria.

[0007] According to an advantageous embodiment, the mathematical model can be a trained machine learning method, and the trained machine learning method can be trained with driver positions and driver environment states that are representative of an ergonomic driver environment in the vehicle. This allows the driver environment settings to be determined using a machine learning method.

[0008] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the current driver position relative to a predefined driver posture in the driver's environment can be detected, wherein the predefined driver posture is provided to the driver by the vehicle via a task unit of the vehicle if a driver in the driver's seat is detected by the vehicle. This allows the current driver position to be determined more precisely.

[0009] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the recorded current state of the driver's environment can include the currently set seat position, the currently set steering wheel position, the currently set exterior mirror position, the currently set interior mirror position, and / or the end stops of the seat position, the steering wheel position, and / or the mirrors. This allows the current state to be recorded precisely.

[0010] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the detected current driver position can include the distance between the driver's upper body and the steering wheel, the angle of the driver's arms, the angle of the driver's legs, and / or the angle of the driver's upper body relative to the driver's legs. This allows for precise detection of the current driver position.

[0011] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the parameters for the best possible seating position of the driver can include, as optimization variables of the mathematical model, the distance between the driver's head and the headliner of the vehicle's interior, the distance between the driver's torso and the steering wheel, the distance between a knee and the steering wheel, the flexion angle of the driver's arms, the flexion angle of the driver's legs, and / or the flexion angle of the driver's torso relative to the legs, the flexion angle of the driver's knee, the gaze trajectory from the driver's eyes to the exterior mirrors, and / or the gaze trajectory from the driver's eyes to the interior mirror. This allows the driver's environment to be adjusted more ergonomically.

[0012] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the setting parameters for components of the driver's environment can include an adjustment of the tilt angle of the driver's seat backrest, an adjustment of the seat position in the x-direction, an adjustment of the seat direction in the z-direction, an adjustment of the angle of the respective exterior mirror position around the z-axis, an adjustment of the angle of the respective exterior mirror position around the y-axis, and / or a qualitative adjustment suggestion for the interior mirror. This allows for more efficient adjustment of the driver's environment.

[0013] According to another aspect, the invention is characterized by a computer-readable medium for setting a driver environment of a vehicle, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises instructions which, when executed on a control unit or a computer, perform the method described above.

[0014] According to another aspect, the invention is characterized by a system for setting a driver environment of a vehicle, wherein the system is configured to perform the method described above.

[0015] According to another aspect, the invention is characterized by a vehicle comprising the system described above for adjusting a driver environment of a vehicle.

[0016] Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figure, and the figure description. All features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those subsequently mentioned in the figure description and / or shown in the figure alone, are usable not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually.

[0017] The following describes a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing. Further details, preferred configurations, and further developments of the invention will be derived from this. Specifically, the drawing schematically illustrates... Fig. 1 An exemplary procedure for setting a driver environment of a vehicle.

[0018] In detail, it shows Fig. 1 An exemplary method 100 for adjusting a vehicle's driver environment. The driver environment may include one or more components. A component may be a driver's seat, a steering wheel, an exterior mirror, and / or a rearview mirror of the vehicle. The method can automatically perform an optimal adjustment of the driver's seat, steering wheel, exterior mirrors, and / or rearview mirror.

[0019] Method 100 can detect a driver in the driver's seat using the vehicle. 102 The driver can be detected in the driver's seat by a camera, for example an interior camera, and / or a sensor, for example a pressure sensor, in the driver's seat. For example, the driver can be detected by the camera and / or the sensor when entering the vehicle.

[0020] Furthermore, the method 100 can capture an actual state of the driver's environment and the driver's current position using one or more cameras and / or one or more sensors for measuring the distance to the vehicle 104. The cameras can be interior cameras of the vehicle. The sensors for measuring distance can be microphones, ultrasonic sensors, and / or cameras. For example, a stereoscopic camera can be used to provide depth information from 3D images for capturing the actual state of the driver's environment. For example, a single-lens camera can be used to capture the actual state of the driver's environment. The cameras can capture images of the driver's environment before the driver enters the vehicle and measure them against predefined fixed points. The images of the driver's environment captured and measured before the driver enters the vehicle can be compared by the camera with images of the detected driver.Using predefined fixed points, the camera can derive depth information, such as distances, that have changed due to the detected driver and the driver's surroundings. Additionally or alternatively, the vehicle's existing microphones can be used for distance measurement. For example, an existing microphone can be used as a speaker to generate a tone of a specific frequency and then record the reflections of that tone. By generating the tone and recording its reflection, the travel time and distance between the microphone and the driver and / or the driver's surroundings can be determined. Furthermore, the method can fuse distance information from multiple sensors to capture the current state of the driver's surroundings.

[0021] Additionally and alternatively, the procedure can require the driver of the vehicle to assume a predetermined posture to assess the current state of the driver's environment. For example, the predetermined posture may include a predetermined foot position, a predetermined hand position, a predetermined seatbelt position, a predetermined back posture, and / or predetermined clothing of the driver of the vehicle.

[0022] Method 100 can further determine input parameters of a mathematical model depending on the detected driver in the driver's seat. 106 The input parameters can include the detected current state of the driver's environment, the detected current driver position, and parameters for a best possible driver seating position as optimization variables of the mathematical model. The mathematical model can be a trained machine learning algorithm or an artificial intelligence model. The detected current state of the driver's environment can include a currently set seat position, a currently set steering wheel position, a currently set exterior mirror position, a currently set interior mirror position, and / or end stops of the seat position, the steering wheel position, and / or the mirrors.The recorded current driver position can include the distance between the driver's torso and the steering wheel, the angle of the driver's arms, the angle of the driver's legs, and / or the angle of the driver's torso relative to the driver's legs. The parameters for the optimal driver seating position, as optimization variables of the mathematical model, can include the distance between the driver's head and the roof lining of the vehicle interior, the distance between the driver's torso and the steering wheel, the distance between a knee and the steering wheel, the angle of the driver's arms, the angle of the driver's legs, the angle of the driver's torso relative to the legs, the angle of the driver's knee, the driver's gaze trajectory from the driver's eyes to the exterior mirrors, and / or the driver's gaze trajectory from the driver's eyes to the rearview mirror.

[0023] Method 100 can further execute the mathematical model with the determined input parameters through the vehicle to determine output parameters of the mathematical model 108. The output parameters of the mathematical model can include setting parameters for components of the driver environment with actuators and / or setting suggestions for components of the driver environment without actuators. The setting parameters for components of the driver environment can include a (delta) adjustment of the tilt angle of the driver's seat backrest, a (delta) adjustment of the seat position in the x-direction, a (delta) adjustment of the seat direction in the z-direction, a (delta) adjustment of the angle of the respective exterior mirror position about the z-axis, a (delta) adjustment of the angle of the respective exterior mirror position about the y-axis, and / or a qualitative adjustment suggestion for the interior mirror.

[0024] If the output parameters of the mathematical model indicate that an improvement in the current state of the driver environment can be achieved, procedure 100 can adjust the actuators of the driver environment components depending on the setting parameters 110, and / or provide the vehicle driver with setting suggestions for manually adjusting the driver environment components without actuators 112. Based on the setting values, a control loop can be performed and the driver environment actuators adjusted. In the case of a qualitative adjustment suggestion, the vehicle can assist the driver in making an adjustment to the driver environment component. Once the setting parameters and / or setting suggestions have been applied, steps 104 to 112 of the procedure can be repeated to achieve the best possible target setting of the driver environment.The goal is to achieve the highest possible fitness of the mathematical model, representing the optimal target setting for the driver environment. The control loop of procedure 100 can be terminated if a setting limit of an actuator in a component of the driver environment is reached.

[0025] An example of how procedure 100 can be implemented in a vehicle is as follows: A customer gets into a vehicle and is recognized by the vehicle. The vehicle can determine the current state of the driver environment, for example, the current position of a component within the driver environment. Furthermore, the vehicle can compare this current state with the mathematical model to determine if there are any adjustable parameters that would allow for improved driver environment settings. If no improvement is possible, procedure 100 can be terminated. If an improvement is possible, procedure 100 can send the driver a message to adjust the driver environment settings. If the driver acknowledges the message, procedure 100 can determine the adjustable parameters and adjust the driver environment actuators accordingly.Procedure 100 can be executed until an optimal driver environment setting or an abort criterion is reached. Additionally, the vehicle can provide the driver with a control on a vehicle display that allows the driver to cancel the driver environment setting. If no actuator is available for a driver environment component, the procedure can provide the driver with instructions on how to correctly adjust the component. The vehicle can notify the driver when the driver environment setting has ended. Furthermore, the procedure can link a configured driver environment, such as a relative seat position, a relative steering wheel position, and / or a relative mirror position, to a driver profile in the vehicle and / or to a digital vehicle key.This allows a configured driver environment to be automatically transferred to other vehicles from the same manufacturer.

[0026] Advantageously, the method can efficiently provide the best possible driver environment settings. To achieve this, the method can determine input parameters for a mathematical model and transfer these settings to the driver environment actuators to automate the adjustment. The mathematical model can then determine the optimal driver environment settings, enabling safe vehicle operation. Reference symbol list 100 procedures 102 Identifying a driver 104 Recording the current state 106 Determining Input Parameters 108 Executing a mathematical model 110 Setting up actuators 112 Providing hiring suggestions

Claims

[1] A method for adjusting a driver environment of a vehicle, wherein the driver environment comprises components, wherein the components comprise a driver seat, a steering wheel, an outside mirror, and / or a rearview mirror of the vehicle, the method comprising: Detection of a driver in the driver’s seat by the vehicle; Recording an actual state of the driver environment and a current driver position with one or more cameras and / or one or more distance sensors of the vehicle; Determining input parameters of a mathematical model depending on the detected driver in the driver's seat, wherein the input parameters include the detected actual state of the driver's environment, the detected current driver position, and parameters for the best possible seating position of the driver as optimization variables of the mathematical model; Executing the mathematical model with the determined input parameters by the vehicle to determine output parameters of the mathematical model, wherein the output parameters of the mathematical model include setting parameters for components of the driver environment with actuators and / or setting suggestions for components of the driver environment without actuators; and If the output parameters of the mathematical model indicate that an improvement of the current state of the driver environment can be achieved: Adjusting the actuators of the components of the driver environment depending on the setting parameters; and Providing setting suggestions to the vehicle driver for manually adjusting the driving environment components without actuators. [2] The method of claim 1, wherein the mathematical model is a trained machine learning method, and wherein the trained machine learning method was trained with driver positions and states of driver environments that are representative of an ergonomic driver environment of a driver in the vehicle. [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the current driver position is detected with respect to a predetermined posture of the driver in the driver environment, wherein the predetermined posture of the driver is provided by the vehicle to the driver of the vehicle via a task unit of the vehicle if a driver in the driver's seat has been detected by the vehicle. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the detected actual state of the driver's environment comprises a currently set seat position, a currently set steering wheel position, a currently set exterior mirror position, a currently set interior mirror position, and / or end stops of the seat position, the steering wheel position and / or the mirrors. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the detected current driver position comprises a distance between an upper body of the driver and the steering wheel, a bending angle of arms of the driver, a bending angle of legs of the driver, and / or a bending angle of the upper body of the driver to the legs of the driver. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the parameters for the best possible seating position of the driver as optimization variables of the mathematical model include a distance between a head of the driver and a roof lining of an interior of the vehicle, a distance between an upper body of the driver and the steering wheel, a distance between a knee and the steering wheel, a bending angle of the driver's arms, a bending angle of the driver's legs, and / or a bending angle of the driver's upper body to the driver's legs, a bending angle of the driver's knee, a gaze trajectory from the driver's eyes to the exterior mirrors, and / or a gaze trajectory of the driver's eyes to the interior mirror. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the setting parameters for components of the driver's environment comprise an adjustment of an inclination angle of the backrest of the driver's seat, an adjustment of a seat position in the x-direction, an adjustment of the seat direction in the z-direction, an adjustment of an angle of the respective exterior mirror position about the z-axis, an adjustment of an angle of the respective exterior mirror position about the y-axis, and / or a qualitative adjustment suggestion of the interior mirror. [8] A computer-readable medium for adjusting a driver environment of a vehicle, the computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed on a control device or a computer, carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7. [9] System for adjusting a driver environment of a vehicle, the system being designed to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 7. [10] A vehicle comprising the system for adjusting a driver environment of a vehicle according to claim 9.

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