Procedures for operating a vehicle

Abstract

To improve road safety, a method (1000) for operating a vehicle (10) designed to be operated by a user is proposed, wherein a state parameter of a user of the vehicle (10) is determined using at least one driving parameter of the vehicle (10), and wherein the state parameter is communicated by the vehicle (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle that is designed to be operated by a user. State of the art

[0002] DE102013001258A1 discloses a method for operating a vehicle. Sensors measure the driver's physiological parameters, from which a stress level is determined. The stress level is transmitted to the outside of the vehicle. The stress level is visualized, for example, by color-coded lighting elements on the vehicle. The physiological parameters are determined by measuring skin temperature.

[0003] DE102016006847A1 discloses a method for operating a vehicle in which a lighting device is influenced based on the driver's condition and warns the driver of a critical driving condition at an early stage by changing the color temperature. For this purpose, the driver is monitored using a detection device. For example, the driver's gaze direction is detected.

[0004] EP4365047A2 discloses a method in which a driver's state of health is monitored, for example by video surveillance of their heartbeat or facial expression. If a medical emergency occurs, this is communicated externally by means of a light signal. Furthermore, an emergency call is placed.

[0005] US20190217773A1 discloses a display on the exterior of a vehicle. It shows information about a driving mode and driver fatigue. This is done by monitoring the driver's biometric information, such as body temperature or heart rate. Disclosure of the invention

[0006] Vehicles are typically operated on roads and other traffic areas. To ensure the smooth flow of traffic and, in particular, to prevent accidents, it is generally necessary for all road users to adhere to as many of the rules governing traffic flow as possible. While this can be largely guaranteed programmatically in fully autonomous vehicles, it is not the same for purely manual or only semi-autonomous vehicles. In particular, the driving behavior of a user of such a user-operated vehicle can depend on the user's state of mind.

[0007] In extreme cases, such as when the user experiences an emergency, for example due to a heart attack or stroke, the vehicle can go out of control. Surrounding vehicles and their occupants could be involved in an accident. People could be seriously injured.

[0008] Even outside of such emergency situations, the user's condition can influence their driving behavior, so that, as a result, traffic safety in traffic with other vehicles is also affected by the user's condition.

[0009] In order to sustainably improve road safety, methods are therefore needed that make it possible to determine the conditions of users in the largest possible proportion of road users, especially vehicles, and to use this information to improve road safety.

[0010] The object of the present invention is therefore to present methods for operating a vehicle that are as widely applicable as possible and that contribute to the highest possible level of traffic safety during the operation of the vehicles.

[0011] The problem is solved by a method for operating a vehicle that is set up to be operated by a user, wherein a state parameter of a user of the vehicle is determined using at least one driving parameter of the vehicle and wherein the state parameter is communicated by the vehicle.

[0012] In particular, the vehicle may be set up to be steered, accelerated and / or braked by a user.

[0013] The driving parameter can be determined by the vehicle, in particular by a sensor and / or by an on-board computer. The user's state of mind can be inferred from the driving parameter.

[0014] It is conceivable, in particular, to use a driving parameter measured by a sensor already present in the vehicle. In that case, it is not necessary to install separate sensors. It may be sufficient to simply adapt and / or supplement the software already on the on-board computer.

[0015] Therefore, no extensive modifications are necessary to equip vehicles already in use with the system. This makes it particularly easy and cost-effective to retrofit a large number of vehicles to implement the system.

[0016] The determined status indicator is communicated. This allows other users of other vehicles, especially other road users, to be informed about the user's status indicator.

[0017] They can adjust their driving behavior based on the communicated status indicator. For example, they can maintain a greater distance and / or drive at a lower speed if a critical status indicator is communicated. For example, the communicated status indicator might indicate that the user could have difficulty steering their vehicle precisely and / or braking in time when necessary.

[0018] Other users and / or vehicles may be able to make an emergency call. Other users and / or vehicles may also relay the status indicator or the presence of a critical status indicator to other users and / or vehicles. For example, subsequent vehicles and / or their users may be given advance warning.

[0019] This can help prevent accidents. Road safety can be improved, especially at a very low cost.

[0020] It is conceivable that a change and / or the rate of change of a state parameter is communicated. This is based, among other things, on the idea that a traffic situation may already have adjusted to the state parameters of the users of the vehicles involved in the traffic. If a state parameter now changes, especially beyond a certain extent and / or at a particular speed, then a specific need may arise to adapt the traffic situation to this changed state parameter. Furthermore, state parameters are sometimes only measurable indirectly. For such indirect measurements, correlates of the state parameters can be recorded by sensors.While an absolute value of the condition indicator may be difficult or impossible to evaluate via such a correlate, a change in the value of such a correlate can correlate highly with a change in the indexed condition indicator. Therefore, a change and / or rate of change of the condition indicator can serve as a particularly suitable signal for other users and / or other vehicles.

[0021] It is conceivable, in particular, that the state indicator corresponds to the user's stress level. Stress while driving can have significant negative effects on driving safety and the user's well-being. Stressed drivers tend to engage in risky driving behavior such as speeding, tailgating, and / or disregarding traffic rules, each of which can significantly increase the risk of an accident.

[0022] Stress can be distracting when driving. Stress can impair the ability to perceive dangers in time and react appropriately.

[0023] Under stress, users often react aggressively towards other road users, which can also lead to dangerous situations.

[0024] Prolonged stress while driving can lead to increased blood pressure, faster heart rate and / or tension, which can have long-term negative health consequences that in turn can impair driving performance.

[0025] Stressed users often tend to misjudge situations and make inappropriate decisions.

[0026] Stress can also lead to faster fatigue and reduced attention, which can be dangerous, for example, but not only, during long journeys.

[0027] Under stress, waiting times also seem longer, which can lead to additional impatience and risky behavior.

[0028] Overall, a stress level, especially when a limit is exceeded, can therefore be a particularly suitable condition indicator that can affect the driving behavior of the vehicle's user.

[0029] Driving parameters can include steering angle, acceleration, accelerator pedal position, engine speed, noise level, and / or the number of passengers in the vehicle. Such driving parameters can be easily recorded by the vehicle. In particular, the vehicle may already be equipped with sensors that record these parameters. These recorded driving parameters can therefore be used not only for the vehicle's actual driving functions but also for the protective functions presented here to improve road safety.

[0030] For example, in a vehicle with an automatic transmission, the accelerator pedal position can be recorded as a standard procedure, for instance, to detect a so-called kick-down. This accelerator pedal position and / or kick-down activations can be used as driving parameters in the present method, in particular as correlates to certain user state parameters.

[0031] Overall, this makes it possible to record driving parameters and determine the condition indicator from them, without requiring any modifications to the vehicle, in particular the installation of new sensors. The method can therefore also be used on vehicles already in operation.

[0032] The aforementioned driving parameters can, for example, correlate with the stress level of the vehicle's user. For instance, high engine speed and / or high acceleration can indicate a high stress level.

[0033] The vehicle's status can be communicated by at least one light element on the exterior of the vehicle. This allows other users of other vehicles to easily receive information about the user's status. It is also conceivable, for example in semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicles, that cameras on other vehicles could capture image data from which the status communicated via the light element could be derived.

[0034] This allows these other vehicles to change their driving behavior based on the user's status indicator.

[0035] In particular, different levels of light intensity can be communicated depending on the rate of change of the status indicator. For example, if a minimum rate of change of the status indicator is exceeded, a particularly intense light signal can be emitted by the indicator. Other indicators can also be activated once the minimum rate of change of the status indicator is exceeded. For example, hazard warning lights can be activated as soon as the minimum rate of change is exceeded. Other users and / or other vehicles can then detect that these specially activated indicators are active, from which they can infer a particularly critical condition.

[0036] Furthermore, other users and / or other vehicles can be protected from distraction and / or unnecessary reactions in cases where the user exhibits a non-critical state parameter and / or a non-critical change in the state parameter.

[0037] It is conceivable that the user is informed about their status. For example, this could be done by a visual signal and / or an acoustic signal inside the vehicle.

[0038] The user can then adjust their own driving behavior according to the status indicator.

[0039] A user-perceived display of their status indicator can be provided, for example, via interior lighting and / or on a display such as a head-up display. It is conceivable that the vehicle offers a setting to activate and / or deactivate this display. A user who does not wish to see the information about their status indicator can thus deactivate this display, for example, using a settings menu in the on-board computer.

[0040] For example, in cases where the user does not want information about their status parameter, the status parameter can be communicated in a way that is not perceptible to the user. This can be achieved, for example, via vehicle-to-vehicle communication. The communication can also be carried out in a way that is not visually perceptible to the user via a communication interface. For example, it can be done via radio-based communication.

[0041] For example, wireless technologies typically known as "WLAN", "Wifi" and / or "Bluetooth" can be used.

[0042] While in this case the display may not be visible on the vehicle in question, it may still be displayable in another vehicle connected to the communication interface, especially wirelessly, for example on a display of the other vehicle.

[0043] At least one physiological parameter of the user can be measured.

[0044] Such physiological parameters can show a particularly strong correlation with the state indicator, for example the stress level.

[0045] Physiological parameters that can be measured include pulse rate and / or skin temperature.

[0046] Such physiological parameters are often easy to measure. It is also conceivable to use sensors provided by the user themselves. For example, a sensor located in a smartwatch and / or its sensor data could be analyzed.

[0047] A driver monitoring camera can be used to measure condition parameters, particularly pulse rate and / or skin temperature. The driver monitoring camera may include a thermal imaging camera. It may also include a depth sensor, for example, in the form of a 3D camera and / or a LiDAR.

[0048] As mentioned, for example, in DE102013007080A1, such a thermal imaging camera can easily record image data from which conclusions can be drawn about the skin temperature and / or a change in the skin temperature of at least part of the user's skin.

[0049] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures of the drawing, which show details essential to the invention, as well as from the claims.

[0050] The individual features can be implemented individually or in any combination in various versions of the invention. The schematic drawing illustrates exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are explained in more detail in the following description. Brief description of the drawings

[0051] They show: Fig. 1 a vehicle and Fig. 2 a method for operating a vehicle. Embodiments of the invention

[0052] To facilitate understanding of the invention, the same reference numerals are used for corresponding elements in the following description of the figures.

[0053] Fig. Figure 1 shows vehicle 10. Vehicle 10 could be, for example, a passenger car. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that vehicle 10 is a commercial vehicle, such as a truck.

[0054] Vehicle 10 includes a computer 12. Computer 12 could, for example, be the vehicle's onboard computer. It could also be a separate computer, such as a microcontroller. Computer 12 could be part of the vehicle's security system.

[0055] Executable program code can be stored on computer 12. The program code can also be executed on computer 12. The program code can be configured to do what was previously described abstractly and in connection with Fig. 2. The following procedures are described in more detail using exemplary embodiments.

[0056] The vehicle 10 has at least one sensor. In this embodiment, the sensor particularly comprises a driver observation camera 14.

[0057] In this embodiment, the driver monitoring camera 14 includes a 3D camera. It can also include a thermal imaging camera.

[0058] The driver observation camera 14 is set up in conjunction with the computer 12 or its program code to record the skin temperature and / or a change in the skin temperature of a user of the vehicle 10 when the user is in a driver's seat of the vehicle 10.

[0059] Furthermore, the vehicle 10 has a communication interface 16. The communication interface 16 can include a so-called WLAN module for radio-based communication via a radio technology commonly referred to as "WLAN".

[0060] The vehicle 10 also features rim lighting 18, body lighting 19 and a projector 20.

[0061] The projector 20 is configured to project a light image 22 onto a roadway on which the vehicle 10 is located. The light image 22 can, for example, include a colored stripe and / or a colored area surrounding the vehicle 10 or at least a part of the vehicle 10. The color of the colored stripe or colored area can depend on a user-defined state parameter. In particular, the projector 20 can be configured to project different light images 22, especially with different colors, shapes, and / or patterns.

[0062] The wheel lighting 18, the body lighting 19, and the projector 20 are lighting elements of the vehicle 10. They are configured to optically communicate a status parameter determined by the computer 12 on an exterior surface of the vehicle 10. For example, depending on the status parameter, the color, pattern, and / or geometry of a light pattern of one or more of the lighting elements can be varied and / or be variable.

[0063] Fig. Figure 2 shows a method 1000 for operating a vehicle. Method 1000 is explained in more detail using the vehicle 10 described above as an example.

[0064] For the explanation of procedure 1000, reference is made to the reference numerals introduced above.

[0065] In data acquisition step 1010, sensor data is recorded. The sensor data corresponds to the vehicle's driving parameters 10.

[0066] The sensor data can also correspond to physiological parameters of the vehicle user 10. For example, the sensor data can be recorded by the driver observation camera 14. From the image data recorded by the driver observation camera 14, a skin temperature of a specific area of ​​the user's skin and / or a pulse rate can be derived as physiological parameters of the user. Data from other sensors can also be obtained.

[0067] In analysis step 1020, the acquired sensor data is aggregated and analyzed, for example by computer 12. As part of the analysis, computer 12 determines a user status indicator from the sensor data.

[0068] In a communication step 1030, the state of the user of the vehicle 10, in particular the determined state parameter of the user, is communicated externally, in particular to other vehicles and / or other users located in the vicinity of the vehicle 10, using the communication interface 16, the rim lighting 18, the body lighting 19 and the projector 20.

[0069] Other vehicles in the vicinity of vehicle 10 and / or their users can thus receive and evaluate the user's status indicator and / or take actions depending on the status indicator. For example, if the status indicator and / or the rate of change of the status indicator exceeds a certain minimum value, these vehicles in the vicinity can, for example, increase their distance from vehicle 10, take an alternative route to avoid approaching vehicle 10, and / or reduce their speed to preventively mitigate the negative consequences of a potential accident.

[0070] In a further embodiment of the method 1000, it may be provided that sensor data are recorded which correspond to at least one of the following driving parameters of the vehicle 10: - a steering angle velocity, i.e., a speed of steering movements, in particular classified into slow and steady versus hectic, variable steering movements, - an accelerator pedal position and / or changes in the accelerator pedal position, for example in the form of pedal accelerations, - Longitudinal and / or lateral vehicle accelerations, as correlates of a predictive, smooth driving style versus a hectic, "excited" driving style, - a selected driving mode, for example a comfort, sport or race driving mode, - a number of people in the vehicle, measured, for example, via seat sensors and / or seat mats, - a noise level inside the vehicle, for example filtered to remove noises not caused by the vehicle itself, such as noises from occupants and / or transported animals, and / or - a journey time and / or a distance already traveled.

[0071] It is conceivable that the sensors already provided in the vehicle could be used to measure these driving parameters.

[0072] Additionally, physiological parameters, such as the pulse rate of the vehicle 10 user, can be measured, for example, using a camera installed in the vehicle 10, such as the driver observation camera 14, and / or measured using dedicated sensors, such as electrodes and / or optical pulse sensors attached to the vehicle 10 user. In a further improved version, a thermal imaging camera can also be used to detect skin temperature, for example, of the vehicle 10 user's head.

[0073] In computer 12, the aforementioned data can be aggregated and evaluated. Through linear and / or nonlinear correlation, for example using a neural network, computer 12 can determine a measure of the user's state of mind from the collected data. For example, a measure of the user's stress level can be determined from the data mentioned above.

[0074] In particular, it is conceivable not only to record an actual value of the condition parameter of the user of vehicle 10, but also its changes over time, for example in the form of rates of change.

[0075] The determined status parameter and / or its rate of change, i.e., the user's stress level and / or its changes, are displayed as visualizations on the exterior of the vehicle body of vehicle 10. For this purpose, the body lighting 19, the wheel lighting 18, and the projector 20 are controlled accordingly. Among other things, the light image 22 is generated.

[0076] The visualization can be varied across multiple degrees of freedom: for example, the color of the light signals emitted by elements 18, 19, and 20 can be varied in the form of a traffic light. Red could represent a high stress level, while green could represent a low stress level. Depending on the stress level, the brightness can be varied in different increments. It is also conceivable that the emitted light signal could be pulsating, flashing, or even exhibit a specific frequency and / or pattern over time, depending on the stress level.

[0077] It is also conceivable to vary the spatial extent of the light signal depending on the stress level. For example, at a low stress level, only a small area of ​​the vehicle 10 could be used for visualization. At a high stress level, the entire exterior of the vehicle 10 could be used to emit the visualization light signals.

[0078] It is also conceivable to transmit the determined stress level to other vehicles via communication interface 16.

[0079] The communicated status value can thus be perceived by surrounding vehicles, especially by other users of those vehicles, and taken into account in one's own driving behavior. Reference symbol list 10 vehicles 12 computers 14 Driver observation camera 16 Communication interface 18 rim lights 19 Body lighting 20 projector 22 photographs 1000 procedures 1010 Data acquisition step 1020 Analysis step 1030 Communication step QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 102013001258A1

[0002] DE 102016006847A1

[0003] EP 4365047A2

[0004] US 20190217773A1

[0005] DE 102013007080A1

[0048]

Claims

[1] Method (1000) for operating a vehicle (10) which is designed to be operated by a user, - wherein a state parameter of a user of the vehicle (10) is determined using at least one driving parameter of the vehicle (10), - where the status indicator is communicated by the vehicle (10). [2] Method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a change and / or rate of change of the state parameter is communicated. [3] Method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the state indicator corresponds to the user's stress level. [4] Method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the driving parameter includes a steering angle velocity, an acceleration, an accelerator pedal position, a speed, a noise level and / or a number of passengers in the vehicle (10). [5] Method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the status indicator is communicated by at least one lighting element, for example a rim light (18), a body light (19) and / or a projector (20), on an outside of the vehicle (10). [6] Method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that depending on the rate of change of the state parameter, different intensity light signals are communicated. [7] Method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the status indicator is not communicated in a way that is perceptible to the user. [8] Method (1000) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that at least one physiological parameter of the user is measured. [9] Method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that pulse rate and / or skin temperature are measured as physiological parameters. [10] Method (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a driver observation camera (14) is used to measure the condition parameter, in particular the pulse rate and / or skin temperature.

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