VEHICLE NAVIGATION METHOD

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for vehicle navigation using a navigation system of a vehicle.

[0002] It is well known that the increasing traffic density, particularly in cities and metropolitan areas, is causing problems with the resulting rise in vehicle emissions. In particular, it will be necessary to find solutions to reduce this pollution in the future, while simultaneously maintaining or improving mobility and infrastructure.

[0003] Traditionally, traffic control is already carried out based on long-term noise and / or air quality measurements.

[0004] From US 2014 / 0039988 A1, a method and system is known which rewards a driver of a vehicle for using environmentally friendly routes.

[0005] DE 10 2007 014 684 A1 describes a method for implementing traffic flow control.

[0006] Further alternative methods are known from the documents US 2017 / 076509 A1, US 2013 / 218427 A1 and US 2013 / 080053 A1.

[0007] One problem here is that, due to the static nature of known traffic control solutions, excessive load values ​​can still occur locally. It has also been shown that known traffic control solutions can be inflexible and unreliable. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to at least partially reduce the disadvantages described above. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to propose an improved method for reducing environmental pollution.

[0008] The above object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1. Further features and details of the invention emerge from the respective subclaims, the description and the drawings.

[0009] The object is achieved in particular by a method for vehicle navigation. This method utilizes a navigation system that determines at least one route and navigates based on this determined route depending on the location of a vehicle. The navigation system can be integrated into the vehicle, e.g., permanently connected to the vehicle's electronics. The vehicle is, for example, a motor vehicle and / or a passenger vehicle and / or an electric vehicle and / or the like.

[0010] It is possible to carry out the following steps, in any order or one after the other, whereby individual steps can also be repeated: Carrying out a detection of at least one environmental property (i.e. a detectable property, e.g. physical quantity, of an environment of the vehicle), wherein preferably the environmental property is specific for at least one emission of the vehicle, wherein preferably the detection is carried out by at least one sensor of the vehicle so that a detection result is determined, Carrying out an evaluation of the detection result so that an evaluation result is determined, Carrying out a route adaptation of the determined route during navigation based on the evaluation result.

[0011] Optionally, the steps can be carried out at least partially by the navigation system. It may be possible that, in order to carry out the route adjustment, a notification is first issued to a driver and / or the suitable (alternative) routes are displayed and / or confirmation from the driver is required for the adjustment. In the context of the invention, a route is referred to in particular as a suggestion and / or specification for a route for the vehicle, which serves for route guidance and / or for the planned movement of the vehicle depending on predetermined criteria. The predetermined criterion can be specified by a user (e.g. fastest route, shortest route, route with the least environmental impact). For this purpose, the route can have at least one calculated path for the vehicle, which takes into account, for example, maps and / or traffic routes for the current location of the vehicle.

[0012] A route, for example, comprises several sub-routes, which can be assigned to road sections to lead from a starting point to a destination. Of course, different equivalent sub-routes are usually available to reach the destination, so that alternative routes to the currently determined route also exist (which, for example, involve a longer travel time or distance, or the like).

[0013] The detection result is, for example, a measurement result, i.e., a quantitative statement about the environmental properties. A microphone (for measuring volume) and / or a particulate matter sensor (for measuring particulate matter pollution) can be used as a vehicle sensor for this purpose. The evaluation can then advantageously include a comparison of this detection result (i.e., for example, at least one specific measured value) with a threshold value, so that excessive pollution is detected. The evaluation can also include a comparison of the detection result with further detection results for other partial routes (e.g., road sections), in particular for equivalent partial routes, which can also be used to determine an alternative route. The further detection results are, for example, determined by external sensors and / or other vehicles and are therefore specific to the pollution of these partial routes with the at least one emission.If a sub-route (possibly equivalent to a current sub-route) exists which has a lower load than the current road section or a future planned sub-route of the already determined route, this can be indicated by the evaluation result. A route adjustment can then be carried out to change the current sub-route and / or replace a planned sub-route with one with a lower load, thus reducing the environmental impact. It is also possible to carry out a forecast of at least one item of load information for the route adjustment, and in particular the associated determination of at least one equivalent sub-route. For example, loads which are forecast to exist on a specific sub-route in the future or at the set travel time, for example also in relation to temporal information such as days of the week, can be statistically determined.The exposure information on these exposures can also be used for the evaluation if necessary.

[0014] The environmental property can be specific to at least one emission of the vehicle. The vehicle emission is, in particular, a noise emission (sound emission of the vehicle, e.g., from a vehicle engine) or a gaseous and / or particulate pollutant emission (particularly relevant here is the particulate matter emitted by the vehicle). Other conceivable emissions include liquid emissions, dust emissions, light emissions, or the like. The primary goal of recording the environmental property can be to evaluate the noise and / or air quality of the vehicle's surroundings. The values ​​determined in this way (i.e., the recording result) can serve as the basis for route adjustment (i.e., for regular, possibly instantaneous route calculation by the navigation system to adjust the current route and / or select alternative sub-routes).It is advantageous here if the route adaptation serves to avoid and / or reduce elevated and / or excessive values ​​of the environmental properties (in the sense of traffic control and / or traffic management). In other words, the pollution of sub-routes (e.g., road sections) can be reduced by selecting an alternative (and at least partially equivalent) sub-route with a lower pollution level through the route adaptation. This can, for example, divert vehicles to locations where noise and air quality or particulate matter levels are lower than other roads. "Equivalent" preferably refers to different equivalent sub-routes always having the same starting and destination locations, with several sub-routes possibly forming an entire navigation route. Pollution here is understood to mean the pollution caused by at least one emission, whereby a pollution value can be specific for this.This should be below a certain permitted value (e.g., depending on legal requirements). The exposure value can be determined for the immediate vehicle surroundings, for example, based on the detection result, and for other surroundings and / or partial routes, it can be determined externally, for example, based on detection by other vehicles and / or sensors in the environment. Furthermore, the externally determined exposure value can be transmitted, if necessary, to an external data processing device and / or to the vehicle via data transmission in order to perform the evaluation.

[0015] A special feature according to the invention can be that the route adjustment is carried out at least partially automatically during the journey and / or at regular intervals. In particular, the route adjustment can also take place independently of navigation to a specific destination. This means that a manually initiated destination navigation by the navigation system does not necessarily have to be carried out for a route adjustment to be carried out. Even without specifying a specific destination, the navigation system can, for example, determine upcoming road sections and evaluate them with regard to traffic congestion. Subsequently, in the event of a route adjustment, a message can be given to the driver that a detour is recommended, e.g. if the driver is about to turn onto a heavily congested road.In other words, instantaneous route monitoring and route adjustment can be performed independently of navigation to a specific destination during the journey. This is also understood as "navigation" within the context of the method according to the invention and has the advantage of enabling a particularly environmentally friendly journey that protects the driver's health. To evaluate the at least one emission of the vehicle, the environmental property can be detected by at least one sensor of the vehicle. The environmental property is specific to the at least one emission, thus, for example, provides an indication of a degree of pollution (e.g., as a pollution value) caused by the emission and / or is dependent on it, for example, even substantially proportionally dependent on it. Examples of possible environmental properties include a CO2 and / or NO2 content of the air and / or a noise level and / or the like.In particular, it is provided that the degree of pollution, which can be determined based on the at least one environmental property, does not necessarily have to have been caused by the vehicle or by other vehicles for the environmental property to be specific to the vehicle's emissions. For example, other causes, such as a fire or the like, can also be causal for a high value (in particular pollution value) of the environmental property. In addition, other environmental properties that are not specific to the vehicle (e.g., weather and / or time information or the like) can also be used for the evaluation. It may also be possible for only one or more environmental properties that are causally influenced by the vehicle to be provided.

[0016] Furthermore, with the method according to the invention, it is conceivable that the evaluation of the detection result is carried out at least partially by a data processing device outside the vehicle, and for this purpose, the detection result and / or an intermediate result of a preliminary evaluation of the detection result is transmitted wirelessly to the data processing device. "Wireless" here refers to the fact that at least one transmission section of the data transmission is not cable-based, i.e., in particular, via radio, and thus free space is used as the transmission medium. It can be advantageous for at least partial evaluation to already be carried out in the vehicle, e.g., by vehicle electronics and / or by the navigation system. This can be implemented as a preliminary evaluation, so that an intermediate result is determined.Alternatively, the evaluation can also be carried out entirely by the data processing device and / or by other external devices. For this purpose, the detection result, such as measured values ​​from the detection or the like, must be transmitted to the data processing device and / or the external devices. A variety of interfaces of the vehicle can be used for this purpose, e.g. a mobile radio interface and / or a WLAN interface and / or another radio interface, with the data transmission possibly also taking place via a mobile phone and / or the Internet. The data processing device can thus be easily used as a central backend for the evaluation of the detection result, thereby enabling more extensive and complex processing of the detection result. For example, the data processing device is designed as at least one computer and / or server or the like.

[0017] Optionally, the analysis can be performed entirely by the vehicle's navigation system. This allows the vehicle to adjust the route autonomously.

[0018] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the at least one environmental property is specific to an air quality and / or a noise quality and / or a particulate matter emission in the vehicle's surroundings. In other words, the at least one environmental property can be specific to such an emission in that it enables a quantitative statement about at least one gas in the air and / or another effect of the emission (such as noise level). This allows the environmental pollution (i.e., the current partial route of the vehicle) to be reliably determined.

[0019] A further advantage can be achieved within the scope of the invention if the route adjustment is performed automatically and regularly by the navigation system while the vehicle is moving. This is particularly useful for autonomous vehicles, allowing the route adjustment to be performed automatically. It may also be possible to suggest an alternative (partial) route to the driver for the route adjustment. This allows emissions to be reduced quickly and with high efficiency.

[0020] Furthermore, in the method according to the invention, it is optionally possible for the evaluation to comprise a comparison of at least two alternative partial routes, in particular road sections, wherein the comparison is carried out as a function of pollution information about a pollution of these partial routes with the at least one emission. Alternatively or in addition to the pollution information, it is also conceivable for at least one further piece of information about the partial routes to be determined and / or taken into account in the evaluation. This can be, for example, information such as weather data (snow, rain, fog, brightness) and / or a time of day and / or the like for the partial routes. This can also prevent vehicles from being diverted onto potentially dangerous roads.

[0021] According to the invention, the evaluation comprises an analysis of the detection result in order to adapt the determined route in such a way that the burden on the route with the at least one emission is minimized, wherein an environmentally friendly route is calculated in which the route is optimized based on route sections (sub-routes) which have lower burden values ​​in relation to other route sections. For this purpose, for example, an optimization algorithm and / or statistical processing and / or the like can be used. It may be possible for a record of the routes taken by the vehicle to be persistently stored and / or transmitted to the data processing device in order to obtain information about a route history therefrom and, if necessary, to reward the vehicle owner for environmentally friendly driving.

[0022] A further advantage can be achieved if the evaluation is carried out as a function of at least one piece of pollution information, which is determined outside the vehicle for alternative partial routes and transmitted to a data processing device outside the vehicle and / or a transceiver device of the vehicle, and is specific to a current pollution of the partial routes with the at least one emission. The pollution information is determined, for example, by other vehicles in the respective partial routes detecting at least one environmental property (in particular within the meaning of the method according to the invention). For this purpose, each detected piece of pollution information can be evaluated so that a respective piece of pollution information is determined. This makes it possible to determine a route that efficiently reduces pollution with particular reliability.

[0023] Furthermore, it can be provided within the scope of the invention that the evaluation result is transmitted to a data processing device outside the vehicle in order to adapt local traffic control. Local traffic control includes, for example, measures and / or controls that are carried out outside the vehicle, e.g. traffic light systems, digital traffic signs or the like. The aim is therefore not only to influence the route of the vehicle, but also that of other vehicles. In the event of high pollution levels, heavily affected sections of the route (partial routes) can be closed off or only vehicles that do not further increase local noise and air quality (e.g. vehicles with an electric drive) can be permitted to use them. Such an influence on traffic control can, for example, be achieved through data transmission between vehicles and / or through the control of electronic variable message signs.The recording result can be automatically evaluated in the backend, and then a timely automatic reaction of the local infrastructure in the affected areas can take place, i.e. traffic control can be carried out. It can also be planned that, based on the evaluation in the backend, messages with information about the traffic control are sent to the vehicle and / or other vehicles, e.g. which road sections and areas should be avoided. At the same time, the evaluation result can be used to carry out a route adjustment. For this purpose, alternative routes can be calculated, for example, and / or suggested to a driver of the vehicle, which are suitable for avoiding the partial routes affected by the traffic control. It is also conceivable that a statistical analysis of the evaluation result is carried out by the navigation system, for example in order toFor route adjustment, it is necessary to determine on which days of the week and at what times a change in traffic control (e.g. due to traffic lights and / or entry bans) can be expected.

[0024] Furthermore, it can be provided that the local traffic control is carried out by adjusting traffic light systems and / or dynamic diversion signs and / or dynamic traffic signs and / or electronic variable message signs and / or dynamic speed limits and / or dynamic cruise control in order to divert the vehicle and / or other vehicles in a targeted manner, so that the pollution of partial routes and / or the vehicle's surroundings with the at least one emission is preferably reduced. The advantage can thus be achieved that, based on the evaluation result and / or further evaluation results of other vehicles that apply the method according to the invention, a comprehensive assessment of the pollution of various road sections is possible. The traffic control can serve to reduce this pollution across partial routes.

[0025] According to a further advantage, it can be provided that the route adjustment and / or an influence on local traffic control only occurs if a load value dependent on the detection result exceeds a permitted value. Based on the detection result, a load value can thus be determined (e.g., a measurement result, such as a specific quantitative load with the corresponding emission). This can then be compared with a pre-stored threshold value as a permitted value to decide whether a route adjustment should be carried out. During the route adjustment, a search can then be made for sub-routes with a lower load in order to replace the current (loaded) sub-route with this sub-route with a lower load for navigation.

[0026] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which describes embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic plan view of a vehicle which is designed to carry out a method according to the invention, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a method sequence according to the invention.

[0027] In Figure 1 A vehicle 1 is shown schematically in a top view. The vehicle includes a navigation system 20, which is designed to determine at least one route and navigate based on this determined route depending on a location of the vehicle 1.

[0028] According to a method 100 according to the invention, a detection 210 of at least one environmental property 110 can be performed. The environmental property 110 is specific to at least one emission of the vehicle 1 in an environment 5 of the vehicle 1. The detection 210 can be performed by at least one sensor 30 of the vehicle 1 to determine a detection result 211.

[0029] Subsequently, it is intended that an evaluation 220 of the detection result 211 is carried out in order to determine an evaluation result 221. As in Figure 2As shown, the evaluation 220 comprises a comparison of at least two alternative partial routes, wherein the comparison is performed depending on pollution information 222 regarding the pollution of these partial routes with the at least one emission. The pollution information 222 can be determined, for example, via other vehicles on these partial routes, i.e., other road sections.

[0030] Several possibilities are conceivable for how the evaluation 220 is carried out. For example, the evaluation 220 can be carried out at least partially by the vehicle 1 (e.g., by the navigation system 20) and / or at least partially externally from the vehicle 1 by a data processing device 300. If the evaluation 220 is to be carried out externally and / or if load information 222 from other vehicles is to be taken into account, a data transmission 120 is necessary. For this purpose, a transceiver 2 of the vehicle 1 can be provided for radio communication, for example. Furthermore, the transceiver 2 can be electrically connected to an evaluation device 3 of a vehicle electronics system in order to transmit the data to the evaluation device 3 and / or to evaluate it. The evaluation result 221 can then be used to carry out a route adaptation 230.

[0031] The above explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention exclusively by way of example. Of course, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, provided that they are technically feasible, without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims. List of reference symbols

[0032] 1Vehicle 2Transceiver 3Evaluation device 5Environment 20Navigation system .30Sensor 100Procedure 110Environmental property 120Data transfer 210Capture 211Capture result 220Evaluation 221Evaluation result 222Load information 230Route adjustment 300Data processing device

Claims

1. Method (100) for vehicle navigation with a navigation system (20) of a vehicle (1) for determining at least one route and for navigation on the basis of this determined route according to a location of the vehicle (1), in which the following steps are carried out: - carrying out a detection (210) of at least one environmental property (110), wherein the environmental property (110) is a physical quantity, wherein the environmental property (110) is specific to at least one emission of the vehicle (1), wherein the detection (210) is carried out by at least one sensor (30) of the vehicle (1) so that a detection result (211) is determined, wherein the detection result (211) is a measurement result, - carrying out an evaluation (220) of the detection result (211) so that an evaluation result (221) is determined, wherein the evaluation (220) comprises an analysis of the detection result (211) in order to adapt the route in such a way that the loading of the route with the at least one emission is minimized, wherein an environmentally friendly route is calculated in which the route is optimized on the basis of partial routes which have lower loading values in relation to other route sections, - carrying out a route adjustment (230) of the determined route during the navigation on the basis of the evaluation result (221).

2. Method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaluation (220) of the detection result (211) is carried out at least partially by a data processing device (300) outside the vehicle (1), and for this purpose the detection result (211) and / or an intermediate result of a preliminary evaluation of the detection result (211) is transmitted wirelessly to the data processing device (300).

3. Method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one environmental property (110) is specific to an air quality and / or noise quality and / or a particulate matter emission in the environment (5) of the vehicle (1), wherein the route adaptation is designed to avoid and / or reduce elevated and / or excessive values of the environmental property in order to redirect the vehicle to where lower values for noise and air quality or particulate matter exist relative to other roads.

4. Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the route adaptation (230) is carried out automatically and regularly by the navigation system (20) while the vehicle (1) is traveling.

5. Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation (220) comprises a comparison of at least two alternative partial routes, wherein the comparison is carried out on the basis of loading information (222) about a loading of these partial routes with the at least one emission, wherein the loading information (222) is determined outside the vehicle (1) for the alternative partial routes and is transmitted to a data processing device (300) outside the vehicle (1) and / or a transceiver device (2) of the vehicle (1), and is specific to the current loading of the partial routes with the at least one emission.

6. Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation result (221) is transmitted to a data processing device (300) outside the vehicle (1) in order to adapt local traffic control.

7. Method (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the local traffic control is carried out by adapting traffic light phases and / or dynamic diversion signs and / or dynamic traffic signs and / or electronic variable message signs and / or dynamic speed limits and / or dynamic speed controls in order to divert the vehicle (1) and / or other vehicles in a targeted manner.

8. Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the route adjustment (230) and / or an influence on local traffic control occurs only if a loading value dependent on the detection result (211) exceeds a permitted value.