Method for determining driving conditions of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Method for determining driving conditions (60) of a motor vehicle (40), wherein the road surface of the road (22) on which the motor vehicle (40) is traveling is examined by means of a first sensor system in order to obtain first information about road surface conditions (26), the tire wear of at least one of the tires of the motor vehicle is examined by means of a second sensor system in order to obtain second information about tire wear conditions (30), fusion of the first information and second information in order to obtain information about driving conditions (60).

Description

[0001] The invention provides a method for determining driving conditions of a motor vehicle and an arrangement for carrying out the method. State of the art

[0002] For safety reasons, it would be preferable to provide information about a motor vehicle's driving conditions directly to the driver or to an in-vehicle assistance system, enabling the driver to identify and initiate appropriate responses to the actual driving conditions. Driving conditions include, for example, road surface conditions and tire wear.

[0003] Currently, real-time information regarding tire wear is not yet available on-board a vehicle, meaning it cannot be managed by an active safety system, such as a driver assistance system (ADAS). ADAS includes technologies that assist drivers with the safe operation of a motor vehicle. ADAS uses automated technology, such as sensors and cameras, to detect nearby obstacles and driver errors and react accordingly. Furthermore, ADAS can enable various levels of automated driving. In particular, ADAS helps evaluate different pieces of information about driving conditions to inform the driver accordingly and / or trigger appropriate responses to the detected driving conditions.

[0004] For example, laser technology could be proposed to measure tire wear, as in Fig. 1. In fact, laser technology is used in the Tire Technology Center, and the result of this measurement is a detailed report for each tire. Disclosure of the invention

[0005] According to the invention, a method for authentication according to claim 1 is introduced. Furthermore, an arrangement according to claim 11 is proposed.

[0006] The proposed method is used to determine driving conditions of a motor vehicle. A first sensor system examines or checks the road surface on which the motor vehicle is traveling to obtain first information about road surface conditions. Furthermore, a second sensor system examines or checks tire wear of at least one of the motor vehicle's tires to obtain second information about tire conditions. In one embodiment, tire wear conditions of all tires of the motor vehicle are detected.

[0007] The first and second information are then merged or combined to obtain information about the motor vehicle's driving conditions. By evaluating these driving conditions, at least one appropriate response can be determined and implemented to increase the motor vehicle's safety.

[0008] The evaluation of driving conditions can be carried out using advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

[0009] Accordingly, the method, at least in one of its embodiments, provides a tire sensor for dynamic wear measurement for integration with driver assistance systems.

[0010] The objective of this method is to have this type of measurements in real time and directly on board a vehicle (VCU) in order to have the possibility of increasing the active safety control of the vehicle itself, for example by limiting the vehicle power or by transmitting to the driver some visual or audible warning messages about the multiple vehicle traffic conditions, traffic, weather, road surface, tire deformation.

[0011] Another possibility is to have additional information available to the autonomous vehicle to make it safer.

[0012] The proposed method can, at least according to one of the embodiments, offer a number of advantages: Tire wear status is available in real time on board the vehicle. This information can be managed by the vehicle control unit (VCU) and implemented within the ADAS, increasing active vehicle safety.

[0013] There is the possibility to detect road conditions in real time, for example by detecting the presence of water, mildew and / or snow via tire scanning.

[0014] The VCU can modify the vehicle speed, for example, cruise control, brake assist system, adaptive cruise control, etc., in real time based on the real road surface conditions.

[0015] Furthermore, an arrangement according to claim 11 is introduced which is suitable for carrying out the method.

[0016] The arrangement described herein is suitable for carrying out the proposed method. The arrangement can be implemented in hardware and / or software. Furthermore, the arrangement can be integrated into an electronic control unit (ECU) or, in one embodiment, can be an ECU. Short description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 shows a tire illustrating an off-board technology for laser measurement of tire wear. Fig. Figure 2 shows a diagram illustrating the structure and function of an embodiment of the proposed method together with alternative embodiments. Fig. Figure 3 shows a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the proposed method. Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a motor vehicle comprising an embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention.

[0017] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those described below may be used not only in the specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0018] The invention is diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings by way of example using embodiments, and will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings. It is understood that the description is in no way limiting the scope of the present invention and is merely an illustration of embodiments of the invention. Description of the embodiments

[0019] Fig. 1 shows a tire 10 of a motor vehicle and a laser-based sensor system 12 for measuring the wear of the tire 10. Furthermore, a laser spot 14 emitted by the sensor system 12 can be seen on the surface of the tire 10.

[0020] The function of tire surface scanning can be performed according to the measurement precision by different types of sensors, such as laser, optical using a camera, ultrasound.

[0021] Fig. Figure 2 shows the structure and function of the method according to one embodiment. The drawing shows, on the left, a wheel 20 traveling on a wet road 22 (arrow 24). Data about road surface conditions 26 are detected by a first sensor system.

[0022] On the right side, the tire is 10 of Fig. 1. Data on tire wear conditions 30 are detected by a second sensor system. The detection of the road surface conditions 26 and tire wear is performed continuously or at frequent or irregular intervals, in this embodiment by a real-time sensor scan 32, for example, based on a laser or optical method. The data or pieces of information are sent to a driver assistance system (ADAS) 34 for evaluation. Merging the different data can be performed within the ADAS 34 or before sending the data to the ADAS 34.

[0023] The ADAS 34 is used in a motor vehicle 40 with various cameras, sensors, and devices for detecting data about the surroundings of the motor vehicle 40. Therefore, the driver is provided with all-round views 42, a parking assistance all-round view 44 by a parking assistance system 46, and further data from a rear collision warning system 48, a cross-traffic alert system 50, an adaptive cruise control 52, and a system 54 for emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and collision assistance.

[0024] The driving conditions 60, in particular the road surface conditions 26 and the tire wear conditions 30, are evaluated. The other information and data mentioned above may also be taken into account. Based on this evaluation, an appropriate response is selected and implemented. This response may include a step 70 for increasing a safe distance 70 and / or a step 72 for reducing the speed of the motor vehicle 40.

[0025] To illustrate the first step 70, Fig. 2, an ego car 74 and a load car 76. In the drawing above, a first double-headed arrow 78 illustrates a safe distance, and a second double-headed arrow 80 illustrates a relative distance. In the drawing below, a first double-headed arrow 82 illustrates a safe distance, and a second double-headed arrow 84 illustrates a relative distance.

[0026] Using the additional information available, namely tire wear and road conditions, it is possible at the ADAS level to adjust the safe distance between two vehicles based on the real-world road conditions and tire wear. For example, if the road is wet, the ADAS decides to increase the distance between two vehicles to provide more available braking space in the event of an emergency stop.

[0027] Braking clearance increases by reducing the friction coefficient between tire and road, meaning friction coefficients could be assumed for dry, wet, and frozen roads. Each of the coefficients could also be affected by a further reduction due to tire wear status.

[0028] Fig. Figure 3 shows a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the proposed method. In a first step 100, road surface conditions and tire wear conditions of at least one of the tires are detected using suitable sensor systems. In step 102, these pieces of information defining the driving conditions are sent to an ADAS. In the next step 104, the ADAS evaluates the pieces of information about the driving conditions. Finally, in step 106, an appropriate response is selected and implemented.

[0029] Fig.Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a motor vehicle comprising an arrangement for implementing the proposed method. The motor vehicle 150 has a first sensor system 152 for detecting road surface conditions and a second sensor system 154 for detecting tire wear conditions. Furthermore, the drawing shows an arrangement 160 for implementing an embodiment of the proposed method, which includes a FAS 162. The FAS 162 may be a component of the arrangement 160. In another embodiment, the FAS 162 is not part of the arrangement 160. In yet another embodiment, both the FAS 162 and the arrangement 160 are parts of an electronic control unit of the motor vehicle 150.

Claims

[1] Method for determining driving conditions (60) of a motor vehicle (40, 150), wherein by means of a first sensor system (152), the road surface of the road (22) on which the motor vehicle (40, 150) is traveling is examined in order to obtain initial information about road surface conditions (26), by means of a second sensor system (154) the tyre wear of at least one of the tyres (10) of the motor vehicle is examined in order to obtain second information on tyre wear conditions (30), fusing the first information and second information to obtain information about driving conditions (60). [2] The method of claim 1, wherein the driving conditions (60) are evaluated to select at least one appropriate response to be performed. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein information about driving conditions (60) is transferred to a driver assistance system (FAS) (34, 162) which evaluates information about driving conditions (60). [4] A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a real-time sensor scan (32) is performed to detect the road surface conditions (26) and the tire wear conditions (30). [5] Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one of the two sensor systems (152, 154) uses an optical detection method. [6] Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one of the two sensor systems (152, 154) uses a laser-based sensor system (12). [7] Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first sensor system (152) and the second sensor system (154) are based on the same detection method. [8] Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first sensor system (152) and the second sensor system (154) are based on different detection methods. [9] Method according to one of claims 1 to 8 and claim 2, wherein the at least one response to the driving conditions (60) comprises a step 70 of increasing a distance. [10] A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and claim 2, wherein the at least one response to the driving conditions (60) comprises a step (72) of reducing the speed. [11] Arrangement for determining driving conditions (60) of a motor vehicle (40, 150), which is suitable for carrying out a method according to one of claims 1 to 10.

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