METHOD AND DEVICE FOR GENERATING A SIGNAL INFLUENCING AN OVERTAKING MANIFESTATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a device for generating a signal influencing an overtaking maneuver of a motor vehicle with the features of the independently formulated claims. State of the art

[0002] When a lighter vehicle, such as a two-wheeler, overtakes a larger vehicle, the overtaking vehicle passes sideways during the overtaking maneuver. During the overtaking maneuver, the overtaking vehicle is usually completely shielded from the side wind by the overtaken vehicle traveling parallel to it and is only exposed to the wind from the road.

[0003] This effect is particularly pronounced, for example, when a two-wheeled vehicle overtakes a truck. However, if the overtaking vehicle exits the slipstream at the end of the overtaking maneuver, unforeseen gusts of wind can catch the overtaking vehicle. If the cyclist is no longer able to keep their bike stable, a fall, for example at high speeds on a highway, can result in serious injuries or even fatal accidents, regardless of traffic density.

[0004] No effective warning systems for slipstreaming are known to reduce this risk. This means that, until now, cyclists have been left to their own devices in such windy situations and the associated slipstreaming.

[0005] The document DE 10 2016 209678 discloses a method for overtaking taking wind strength into account. Disclosure of the invention

[0006] The invention relates to a method having the features of claim 1 for generating a signal influencing an overtaking maneuver of a first motor vehicle and a corresponding device according to claim 7.

[0007] When overtaking a second motor vehicle, the first motor vehicle passes through an overtaking zone. The overtaking zone extends laterally at least in the direction of travel of the second motor vehicle. The edge of the overtaking zone is then located in the area where the overtaking first motor vehicle exits the overtaking zone.

[0008] The passage through the overtaking area can be recorded by means of a GPS and / or by means of a wind sensor attached to the first motor vehicle.

[0009] As already mentioned at the beginning, the first motor vehicle is advantageously a single-track motor vehicle. Depending on the signal generated according to the invention, a signaling effect perceptible to the driver of the first motor vehicle is generated. This can be achieved, for example, by a slight vibration on the handlebar of the two-wheeler or on the driver's helmet. A display on the speedometer would also be conceivable.

[0010] The wind signal represents the wind speed essentially across the

[0011] The direction of travel of the motor vehicles, i.e. the crosswind. According to the invention, the

[0012] Recording the wind speed in the front area of ​​the overtaken vehicle in the direction of travel.

[0013] According to the invention, the signal is generated when the wind signal has a minimum value and / or a trend towards minimum values ​​in a predeterminable manner.

[0014] In another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least a third motor vehicle is traveling ahead of the second overtaken motor vehicle. The received wind signal is then also measured at least on this third motor vehicle. According to this embodiment, the wind signals measured on the second and third motor vehicles, and possibly on other vehicles traveling ahead of the third vehicle, are compared in a predeterminable manner to generate the signal. This increases the reliability of the wind signal measured on the overtaken vehicle.

[0015] It is particularly advantageous that the wind signals measured on the second and third motor vehicles, and possibly on other vehicles traveling in front of the third vehicle, are compared to generate the signal relative to a predefined location. This location should then be the location at which the first motor vehicle can pass the second motor vehicle as early as possible. This means the location at which the first vehicle can exit the slipstream of the second vehicle as early as possible. This location is advantageously determined taking into account the maximum permitted and / or achievable longitudinal speed and / or the currently traveling longitudinal speed of the first motor vehicle.

[0016] It is particularly advantageous if, when determining the earliest possible overtaking time, the maximum permitted speed is not taken into account as one of the factors, but rather the current (actual) speed. This is because otherwise, one would assume that the motorcyclist is always traveling at the maximum permitted speed.

[0017] In addition, the speed of the vehicle to be overtaken must also be received in order to calculate the speed difference between the overtaking vehicle and the vehicle to be overtaken, thus determining the earliest possible overtaking time. In addition, the length of the vehicle to be overtaken must also be received in order to know when the vehicle to be overtaken has passed the overtaking vehicle and the driver is out of the slipstream.

[0018] In this embodiment, the signal is generated according to the invention when the wind signals measured at the second and third or further motor vehicle at this location have minimum values ​​and / or the common trend towards minimum values.

[0019] The invention requires the reception of a wind signal. This means that this is usually achieved using a wind sensor attached to the vehicle being overtaken (usually a truck). Such wind data can also be of interest for trucks crossing bridges. If the wind is too strong, trucks are usually not allowed to cross certain bridges. In the future, this assessment of whether the bridge is still passable for trucks under the current wind conditions can be supported or even completely decided by such "live wind data" from trucks (which have just crossed the bridge).

[0020] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the subclaims and the embodiment. Drawings

[0021] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings and the following description. They show: Figure 1a schematic representation of an overtaking situation Figure 2a schematic representation of the wind conditions Figure 3a flow chart Embodiments of the invention

[0022] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an overtaking situation. The first vehicle 102 overtakes the second vehicle 103 and passes through the overtaking area 108. In this exemplary embodiment, the second vehicle is a truck, and the first vehicle is a single-track vehicle.

[0023] In front of the second vehicle 103, further vehicles 104 and 105 are traveling in the same direction 107. All vehicles are more or less exposed to the crosswind 101. The first vehicle 102 is less exposed to the crosswind 101 while it is in the slipstream of the second vehicle 103. The third and fourth vehicles 104 and 105 are also trucks in this exemplary embodiment, which have a large body height relative to the body height of the first vehicle 102.

[0024] Wind speed sensors 109 are mounted on the front ends of the truck bodies (e.g., the truck tarpaulins) in the direction of travel. These continuously collect wind speed data, particularly the crosswind data 101, at as short intervals as possible and evaluate them, for example, in diagrams.

[0025] True to the motto "The trend is your friend," as soon as a potential peak in wind speed has been overcome and the wind speed continuously decreases for a certain number of intervals, a message is sent via car-to-car communication to the overtaking vehicle 102, for example, to the motorcycle 102 (or the rider), that the appropriate moment has now arrived to exit the slipstream (in the area of ​​the front end of the overtaking area 108 in the direction of travel). This message can be sent, for example, through a slight vibration on the motorcycle handlebar or on the rider's helmet. A display on the speedometer would also be conceivable.

[0026] Depending on the continuous wind data measured by the wind sensor 109 of the truck 103, next to which the motorcycle is traveling, a trend function is calculated for the location 106 at which the motorcycle could exit the slipstream of the vehicle 103 at the earliest, while maintaining the specified maximum speed or maintaining the current speed (actual speed), the traffic ahead, and the speed of the adjacent truck 103. The wind data already transmitted at this location 106 by other trucks 104 and 105 can provide further assurance regarding exiting the slipstream.

[0027] The goal is to only send a signal to the driver of the overtaking vehicle 102 if the dynamic wind function (of the truck 103 to be overtaken) and the static wind function (of the preceding vehicles 104 and 105) at the route point 106 where overtaking is possible at the earliest, both show the same trend of decreasing wind speed. This can be achieved, for example, by flattening the wind speed for four consecutive time intervals. This can be determined by the Figure 2 shown.

[0028] The Figure 2 Reference numeral 202 indicates the temporal progression of the crosswind V / wind 101 (dynamic wind magnitude) measured on vehicle 103 by the sensor 109 mounted there. Reference numeral 201 indicates the temporal progression of the crosswind 101 at location 106. This progression 201 is determined depending on the wind sensors 109 mounted on vehicles 104 and / or 105 (static wind magnitude).

[0029] In this embodiment, the overtaking signal is generated when the dynamic wind signal 202 flattens out over a period of four consecutive time intervals and the static wind signal 201 (at location 106) has at least a relative minimum.

[0030] Then at this time 203 the overtaking signal is generated.

[0031] This ensures that the system can achieve good reliability despite the trend analysis method.

[0032] In the Figure 2In the embodiment shown, the signal to exit the slipstream is transmitted, for example, at the fourth consecutive interval in which the wind speed decreases (time 203). This number of intervals can vary depending on the weather conditions. For this purpose, the invention can analyze over a longer period of time to determine the intervals at which peaks or troughs occur on average during this day / hour / minute (at both points: dynamically (moving truck) and at the earliest possible overtaking time).

[0033] Based on the Figure 3 an embodiment of the invention is presented.

[0034] After the start step 301, the wind speeds of the vehicles 103, 104, and 105 measured by the sensors 109 are read in step 302. In step 303, the maximum and / or maximum permissible speed of the overtaking vehicle 102 is read in; this can also be influenced by the current traffic and / or weather situation.

[0035] In step 304, the location 106 at which the overtaking vehicle 102 can exit the slipstream of the overtaken vehicle 103 as early as possible is then determined from the data read in step 303.

[0036] In step 305, the Figure 2 shown curves 201 and 202 are determined, after which in step 306 the Figure 2 The determination of time 203 shown takes place.

[0037] After the overtaking signal has been generated at time 203 in step 307, the system proceeds to the final step 301.

Claims

1. Method for generating a signal influencing an overtaking manoeuvre of a first motor vehicle (102), wherein the first motor vehicle (102) overtakes a second motor vehicle (103) by passing through an overtaking space (108) which extends laterally at least in the direction of travel of the second motor vehicle (103), having the steps of: • receiving at least one wind signal which represents the wind speed (101) substantially transversely to the direction of travel of the first motor vehicle (102) at a front edge of the overtaking space (108) in the direction of travel (step 302) and is measured at least at the second motor vehicle (103), • generating the signal at least depending on the received wind signal (step 307), wherein a signal effect which is perceptible by a driver of the first motor vehicle (102) is generated on the basis of the signal generated and is used to convey, to the driver, a suitable time for exiting a slipstream of the second motor vehicle at the edge of the overtaking space (108), characterized in that the signal is generated when the wind signal has a minimum value and / or a trend to minimum values in a predefinable manner.

2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the passage through the overtaking space (108) is detected by means of a GPS and / or by means of a wind sensor mounted on the first motor vehicle (102).

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one third motor vehicle (104, 105) is driving in front of the second motor vehicle (103) and at least one second received wind signal is measured at least at the third motor vehicle (104, 105).

4. Method according to Claim 3, characterized in that the wind signals measured at the second and third motor vehicle (103, 104, 105) for generating the signal are compared in a predefinable manner.

5. Method according to Claim 4, characterized in that the wind signals measured at the second and third motor vehicle (103, 104, 105) for generating the signal are compared based on a predefinable location (106) (step 306).

6. Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that the location (106) is predefined as the location at which the first motor vehicle (102) can pass the second motor vehicle (103) at the earliest possible time, wherein, in particular, provision is made for the location (106) to be determined taking into account • the maximum permitted and / or achievable longitudinal speed of the first motor vehicle (102) and / or • the speed currently driven by the first motor vehicle (102) (step 304).

7. Device for generating a signal influencing an overtaking manoeuvre of a first motor vehicle (102), wherein the first motor vehicle (102) overtakes a second motor vehicle (103) by passing through an overtaking space (108) which extends laterally at least in the direction of travel of the second motor vehicle (103), having • a receiving unit for receiving at least one wind signal which represents the wind speed (101) substantially transversely to the direction of travel of the first motor vehicle (102) at a front edge of the overtaking space in the direction of travel and is measured at least at the second motor vehicle (103), • a generating unit for generating the signal at least depending on the received wind signal, wherein the device is designed to generate, on the basis of the signal generated, a signal effect which is perceptible by a driver of the first motor vehicle (102) and is used to convey, to the driver, a suitable time for exiting a slipstream of the second motor vehicle (103) at the edge of the overtaking space (108), characterized in that the signal is generated when the wind signal has a minimum value and / or a trend to minimum values in a predefinable manner.

8. Device according to Claim 7, characterized in that at least one third motor vehicle (103, 104, 105) is driving in front of the second motor vehicle (103) and at least one second received wind signal is measured at least at the third motor vehicle (103, 104, 105).

9. Device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the wind signals measured at the second and third motor vehicle (103, 104, 105) for generating the signal are compared, wherein, in particular, provision is made for the wind signals measured at the second motor vehicle (103) for generating the signal to be compared with the wind signals measured at the third motor vehicle (104, 105) based on a predefinable location (106).