Navigation system for a vehicle and procedures for navigating a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a navigation system (100) for a vehicle and a method for navigating a vehicle.The navigation system (100) comprises a navigation database (101) which includes and provides data on a road network and attribute and context information on locations, objects and their environment in the road network; a system (102) for determining a current vehicle configuration and current environment data, wherein the system (102) is further executed and configured to determine, based on the determined vehicle configuration and the environment data, a purpose for a journey of the vehicle with this vehicle configuration; a unit (103) which is executed and configured to determine, based on the determined purpose of the journey and the data of the navigation database, a destination appropriate to the purpose and a route to the destination; and an output unit (104) which is executed and configured to output the destination and the route as a suggestion.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a navigation system for a vehicle and a method for navigating a vehicle. The invention further relates to a vehicle with such a navigation system, a computer system, a digital storage medium, a computer program product, and a computer program (app).

[0002] The task is to specify a navigation system for a vehicle that is improved in terms of user-friendliness and comfort, or a correspondingly improved method for navigating a vehicle.

[0003] The invention is defined by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments and embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0004] A first aspect of the invention relates to a navigation system for a vehicle, comprising a navigation database that includes and provides data on a road network and attribute and context information on locations, objects and their environment in the road network; a system for determining a current vehicle configuration and current environmental data, wherein the system is further designed and configured to determine, based on the determined vehicle configuration and the environmental data, a purpose for a journey of the vehicle with this vehicle configuration; a unit designed and configured to determine, based on the determined purpose of the journey and the data of the navigation database, a destination appropriate to the purpose and a route to the destination; and an output unit designed and configured to output the destination and the route as a suggestion.

[0005] The proposed navigation system uses the vehicle configuration to recognize context-related activities that may be associated with an upcoming or current trip, such as a bicycle trip, animal transport, a holiday trip, a skiing trip, etc. For this purpose, navigation data from the navigation database, the determined vehicle configuration, and environmental data are advantageously analyzed using AI-based methods. Based on this analysis, a destination and a route to the destination are determined and suggested.

[0006] The determination of suggested destinations and routes is advantageously carried out without creating personal profiles.

[0007] The attribute and context information for locations, objects, and their environments advantageously includes one or more of the following pieces of information: - Leisure activities available at the locations and / or in their surroundings (e.g., cycling routes with options based on difficulty, duration or distance, animal-friendly locations for horse trailers, e.g., veterinarians, feed stores, bathing lakes), leisure facilities along the route, e.g., sunbathing areas, parking facilities, etc.), - Restaurants in and / or around the locations, - Hotels, guesthouses, campsites in and / or around the towns.

[0008] The system advantageously comprises one or more cameras, one or more ultrasonic sensors, one or more radar sensors, one or more LiDAR sensors, and / or one or more units that provide CAN data for the current vehicle configuration. This list is not exhaustive. These sensors are advantageously already present on the vehicle and are advantageously used for this purpose, so that typically no additional new sensors need to be installed on the vehicle in question, thus enabling cost-effective integration of the navigation system into existing vehicles. The sensor data acquired by the sensors can be used, in particular, to determine whether transport carriers or trailers are attached to the vehicle and, if so, what type of transport carriers or trailers they are and what purpose they are currently serving.Trailers connected to a vehicle's CAN interface can transmit an identifier to the CAN interface, providing information about the type or current use of the trailer coupled to the vehicle. Furthermore, a reversing camera and the analysis of the resulting image data can reveal whether a trailer is coupled to the vehicle and what type of trailer it is, e.g., boat trailer, caravan, vehicle trailer with motorcycles mounted on it, etc.

[0009] The determined vehicle configuration advantageously includes one or more of the following (non-exhaustive) pieces of information: - Is a caravan trailer attached to the vehicle? - Is a boat trailer or boat carrier attached to the vehicle? - Is an animal transport trailer attached to the vehicle? - Is a bicycle trailer or bicycle carrier attached to the vehicle? - Is a ski / snowboard transport carrier attached to the vehicle? - Is a vehicle transport trailer attached to the vehicle? - How many people are in the vehicle?

[0010] The environmental data obtained should ideally include one or more of the following (non-exhaustive) pieces of information: - current position of the vehicle, - current time, - current date, - current air temperature, - current humidity, - current wind, - Current weather (cloud cover, precipitation).

[0011] Advantageously, the system includes a processor running a primary machine learning algorithm that determines the purpose of a vehicle journey based on the current vehicle configuration and environmental data. Here, "purpose" is understood as the "meaning," "goal," "benefit," or "intended outcome" of the journey, thus expressing, in other words, the intended result of the trip. For example, the purpose of a journey with a bicycle trailer loaded with mountain bikes, where the vehicle's current position corresponds to its home address and the number of mountain bikes corresponds to the number of people in the vehicle, is very likely to undertake a mountain bike tour.The first machine learning algorithm is advantageously trained with historical data on vehicle configurations, environmental data and related purposes of journeys and / or simulated data on vehicle configurations, environmental data and related purposes of journeys.

[0012] Advantageously, the unit includes a processor running a second machine learning algorithm that determines a destination and route to the destination based on the identified purpose of the trip and the navigation database data. Advantageously, this second machine learning algorithm is trained using historical data on the purpose of a trip, its corresponding destination, and its route, and / or simulated data on the purpose of a trip, its corresponding destination, and its route.

[0013] Advantageously, the context-based determination of the proposed destination and route described above is carried out using one or more artificial intelligence algorithms.

[0014] Advantageously, the output unit includes - a display / a monitor - a touchscreen - a smartphone - a smartwatch - AI glasses - a head-up display - an electronic interface - or a combination thereof.

[0015] Advantageously, the navigation system includes a user interface for accepting, rejecting, or modifying the suggested route for active guidance by the navigation system for the vehicle via acoustic, visual, and / or haptic input. The driver can thus accept the suggestion by making the appropriate input. The navigation system then advantageously provides active route guidance to the destination based on the navigation database and the vehicle's current position. Alternatively, the driver can reject the suggested destination or, advantageously, modify / adjust it by entering the appropriate input into the user interface.

[0016] Another aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a car, truck, motorhome, transport vehicle, bus, logistics vehicle, with a navigation system as described above.

[0017] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for navigating a vehicle comprising the steps of: providing data on a road network and attribute and context information on locations, objects, and their surroundings in the road network; determining a current vehicle configuration and current environmental data; based on the determined vehicle configuration and the environmental data, determining the purpose of a journey by the vehicle with this vehicle configuration; based on the determined purpose of the journey and the data from the navigation database, determining a destination corresponding to the purpose and a route to the destination; and outputting the destination and the route as a suggestion.

[0018] The suggested destination and / or route should ideally be displayed visually, audibly, and / or digitally. The destination and / or route accepted / confirmed by the user can then be conveniently transferred to other devices, such as a smartphone or smartwatch, for use there.

[0019] Advantageous further developments of the procedure result from an analogous and meaningful transfer of the statements made in connection with the proposed navigation system.

[0020] Another aspect of the invention relates to a computer system with a data processing device, wherein the data processing device is configured such that a method as described above is carried out on the data processing device.

[0021] Another aspect of the invention relates to a digital storage medium with electronically readable control signals, wherein the control signals can interact with a programmable computer system in such a way that a method as described above is carried out.

[0022] Another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product with program code stored on a machine-readable medium for carrying out a method as described above when the program code is executed on a data processing device.

[0023] Another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program (APP for “Application”) with program codes for carrying out a method as described above when the program runs on a data processing device.

[0024] Further advantages, features, and details will become apparent from the following description, in which – possibly with reference to the drawings – at least one embodiment is described in detail. Identical, similar, and / or functionally equivalent parts are identified by the same reference numerals.

[0025] They show: Fig. Figure 1 shows a highly schematic structure of the proposed navigation system for a vehicle, comprising a navigation database 101 that contains and provides data on a road network and attribute and context information on locations, objects, and their surroundings within the road network. In this embodiment, the navigation database includes information on terrain elevations, traffic signs, traffic lights, parking lots, buildings, hotels, hiking trails, cycle paths, swimming pools, cinemas, animal shelters, campsites, RV parks, ski lifts, climbing routes, ski touring routes, cable cars, freestyle slopes, boat docks, marinas, boatyards, etc. This list is not exhaustive and can be expanded as needed.

[0026] The navigation system further includes a System 102 for determining the current vehicle configuration and current environmental data. System 102 is further configured and designed to determine the purpose of a journey based on the determined vehicle configuration and environmental data. System 102 includes several sensors, such as cameras, ultrasonic sensors, radar sensors, and seat sensors that can detect seat occupancy in the vehicle, etc.

[0027] In this example, a bicycle carrier is mounted on the rear of the vehicle, equipped with two mountain bikes. The vehicle's reversing camera serves as a sensor for the navigation system to detect the vehicle configuration. Based on the image data from the reversing camera, system 102 determines that the bicycle carrier is equipped with two mountain bikes. Furthermore, the system determines that the vehicle is occupied by two people. Using this information and a trained machine learning algorithm, the system determines that the purpose of the journey is highly likely to be to reach a location from which a mountain bike tour will begin.

[0028] The navigation system also includes a unit 103, which is designed and configured to determine a destination and a route to that destination based on the identified purpose of the trip and the data in the navigation database. Since the identified purpose of the trip is highly likely to be to reach a destination from which a mountain bike tour is to be started, the unit 103 uses the vehicle's known current position and criteria that can be advantageously specified / modified via a human-machine interface (e.g., fastest route, best ratings for the mountain bike tour, with restaurants for refreshments during the tour, etc.) to determine a suggested destination and a route from the vehicle's current position to that destination.

[0029] The navigation system further includes an output unit 104, which is designed and configured to visually display the destination and route as a suggestion in this embodiment. This suggestion can be accepted, rejected, or modified by a vehicle user via a human-machine interface. The accepted or modified destination and route suggestion is then used by the navigation system for active route guidance.

[0030] Fig. Figure 2 shows a flowchart of the proposed procedure for navigating a vehicle, comprising the following steps: In step 201, data on a road network and attribute and context information about locations, objects, and their surroundings within that network are provided. In step 202, the current vehicle configuration and current environmental data are determined. In step 203, based on the determined vehicle configuration and environmental data, the purpose of a trip with this vehicle configuration is determined. In step 204, based on the determined purpose of the trip and the navigation database data, a destination corresponding to the purpose and a route to the destination are determined. In step 205, the destination and route are output as a suggestion.

[0031] Although the invention has been further illustrated and explained in detail by means of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived from them by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. It is therefore clear that a multitude of possible variations exist. It is also clear that the embodiments mentioned as examples are truly only examples and are not to be understood in any way as limiting, for example, the scope of protection, the possible applications, or the configuration of the invention.Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete terms, whereby the person skilled in the art, with knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, can make various changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without leaving the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description. Reference symbol list 100 navigation system 101 Navigation database 102 System for determining the purpose of a journey 103 Unit for determining a destination and a route to the destination 104 output units 201 - 205 Procedural steps

Claims

[1] Navigation system (100) for a vehicle, comprising - a navigation database (101) that includes and provides data on a transport network and attribute and context information on places, objects and their surroundings in the transport network, - a system (102) for determining a current vehicle configuration and current environmental data, wherein the system (102) is further executed and configured to determine, based on the determined vehicle configuration and environmental data, a purpose for a journey of the vehicle with this vehicle configuration, - a unit (103) designed and configured to determine, based on the identified purpose of the journey and the data in the navigation database, a destination appropriate to the purpose and a route to the destination, and - an output unit (104) designed and configured to output the destination and route as a suggestion. [2] Navigation system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the system (102) comprises a camera and / or an ultrasonic sensor and / or radar sensor and / or LIDAR sensor and / or a unit that provides CAN data for the current vehicle configuration. [3] Navigation system (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the system (102) comprises a processor on which a first machine learning algorithm runs, which determines a purpose of a journey of the vehicle based on the determined current vehicle configuration and the environmental data. [4] Navigation system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the unit (103) comprises a processor on which a second machine learning algorithm runs, which determines a destination and a route to the destination based on the determined purpose of the journey and the data of the navigation database. [5] Vehicle, in particular car, truck, motorhome, transport vehicle, bus, logistics vehicle, with a navigation system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4. [6] Method for navigating a vehicle, comprising the steps: - Providing (201) data on a transport network and attribute and context information on locations, objects and their environment in the transport network, - Determining (202) a current vehicle configuration and current environmental data, - based on the determined vehicle configuration and the environmental data, determining (203) a purpose of a journey of the vehicle with this vehicle configuration, - based on the determined purpose of the journey and the data from the navigation database, determining (204) a destination appropriate to the purpose and a route to the destination, and - Output (205) of the destination and route as a suggestion. [7] Computer system comprising a data processing device, wherein the data processing device is configured such that a method according to claim 6 is performed on the data processing device. [8] Digital storage medium with electronically readable control signals, wherein the control signals can interact with a programmable computer system in such a way that a method according to claim 6 is carried out. [9] Computer program product comprising program code stored on a machine-readable medium for carrying out the method according to claim 6, when the program code is executed on a data processing device. [10] Computer program (app) with program code for carrying out the method according to claim 6, when the program runs on a data processing device.

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