METHOD AND VEHICLE WITH A DEVICE FOR LOCING THE VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for locating a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has a device with an environmental sensor system with which the access authorization of a user to the vehicle and the position of the user are determined, wherein the device is directly or indirectly connected to a loudspeaker which generates acoustic signals in order to navigate the user along a route to the location of the vehicle given access authorization.

[0002] The development of autonomous and driverless vehicles is currently one of the central topics in the automotive industry's future mobility considerations. The applications of such driverless vehicles are diverse. As shared mobility vehicles, such vehicles can be called similarly to a taxi and are accessible to everyone as public transport. When used as owned mobility vehicles, the vehicle can perform individual tasks, such as transporting shopping, taking children to school, picking up visitors from the train station, and much more.

[0003] In addition to the technological challenges and legal requirements, driverless driving opens up new perspectives for mobility. With the aim of increasing vehicle safety on the road, optimal use of infrastructure is a key priority. Coping with increasing traffic density in urban areas and reducing emissions through economical driving are further drivers for the development of automated driving functions.

[0004] This also creates new opportunities for users to use their time while driving to carry out activities unrelated to driving. Above all, self-driving vehicles enable mobility for everyone, such as children, the elderly or people with physical disabilities. In particular, physically impaired people with visual impairments currently have insufficient access to both shared mobility vehicles and owned mobility vehicles because the vehicles are not easily found by people with visual impairments. Although vehicles are known from DE 10 2015 226 238 A1 that illuminate the path between a vehicle and the user to make the vehicle easier to find, illuminating the path is of no help if the markings cannot be recognised and perceived due to the visual impairment.

[0005] A generic method is disclosed in US 2018 / 0321050 A1. Furthermore, comparable methods are known from US 2009 / 058685 A1, EP 2 985 569 A1, and DE 10 2017 218 525 A1. Further non-generic methods are known from DE 10 2015 226697 A1 and DE 10 2014 222204 A1.

[0006] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method and a device which facilitates access to autonomous mobility, particularly for visually impaired persons.

[0007] This object is achieved by the method according to claim 1. Starting from a method for locating a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has a device with an environmental sensor system with which the access authorization of a user to the vehicle and the user's position are determined, wherein the device is directly or indirectly connected to a loudspeaker that generates acoustic signals in order to navigate the user, given access authorization, along a route to the location of the vehicle, the invention provides that the user's entry into the vehicle is carried out with voice assistance by means of the loudspeaker, which is directly connected to the device, in that states of the vehicle relevant to entry, namely "The door is opening" or "Caution: Step up to enter", are described via voice output.Because visually impaired people can also hear such acoustic signals and follow the instructions, the present invention also provides visually impaired people with unrestricted access to autonomously controlled vehicles, regardless of whether they are designed as shared mobility vehicles or as owned mobility vehicles.

[0008] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below and in the subclaims.

[0009] According to a first advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device for determining access authorization is wirelessly connected to a user's mobile device. Such a mobile device can be, for example, a smartphone or tablet on which an application (app) is installed, via which correspondence with the vehicle takes place. The vehicle can be requested via this application, whereby the current location at which the vehicle is to pick up the user can be immediately transmitted. Payment options can also be processed via the application when using a shared mobility vehicle after the trip has been completed.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the acoustic signals are provided in the form of a voice output on the mobile device, with the voice output containing detailed navigation to the vehicle. Particularly in locations or traffic situations where the vehicle cannot pick up the user directly from their location, but where the user must travel a certain distance to the vehicle independently, this can inform the visually impaired user in particular how to get from their current location to their vehicle or the requested vehicle. This allows visually impaired people to orient themselves safely, particularly in pedestrian zones, at airports, and train stations, which significantly increases their range. In practice, the voice output will, for example, describe the route to the vehicle to the user, such as: "50 m straight ahead... turn left in 10 m..."in 50 m the vehicle will be on the right side of the pavement."

[0011] In order to be able to determine the optimal route for the user, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the mobile terminal and / or the vehicle for the user's navigation is connected to an online map service.

[0012] For users who do not suffer from any visual impairment, an advantageous embodiment of the invention provides for the route to the vehicle to be displayed on a map on the display of the mobile device. Alternatively, a display as augmented information on the camera image of the mobile device is also provided. In both cases, the requested vehicles can be easily identified and located.

[0013] As soon as the user is in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle, for example within a radius of 20 m, voice output on the mobile device can be dispensed with and the acoustic signals in the form of a voice output or in the form of a signal tone can be emitted via a loudspeaker that is located directly on the vehicle and connected to the device. In addition to a voice output in the form of the previously explained directions, a signal tone in the form of a beep can also indicate the position of the requested vehicle. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the beep emitted by the vehicle can be specified by the user himself via the application and thus personalized, so that in the case of several visually impaired people, the vehicles can be clearly assigned.

[0014] According to the invention, the user's entry into the vehicle is voice-assisted, with entry-relevant vehicle states being described via voice output, namely "The door is opening" or "Caution: Step up to the entry." Specific embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the figures. They show: Fig. 1a vehicle and a mobile device and Fig. 2a map section.

[0015] The Fig. 1 The vehicle 1 shown is an autonomously driving vehicle 1 that is integrated into the public transport fleet as a shared mobility vehicle. The vehicle 1 has a device 2 that is equipped with an environmental sensor system 3. The environmental sensor system 3 can be used to establish a wireless connection 4 to a mobile device 5 of a user (not shown), who can request the vehicle 1 using an application installed on the device. As soon as the vehicle 1 is near the user, voice-assisted navigation to the vehicle 1 takes place by outputting appropriate directions and specific instructions on the loudspeaker 6 of the mobile device. To make boarding the vehicle 1 easier, particularly for visually impaired users, another loudspeaker 6' is arranged directly on the vehicle, via which further instructions are given when boarding the vehicle 1.For non-visually impaired persons, the vehicle 1 has at least one display 7 and / or at least one LED strip 8, with which the position of the vehicle 1 can be visually displayed. Projectors 9 are also provided to illuminate the path from the user's current location to the vehicle 1, which is particularly advantageous in low-visibility conditions at night or in parking garages. The entry area can also be illuminated using such projectors 9, which facilitates entry into the vehicle 1.

[0016] Fig. 2shows a map section 10 of a pedestrian zone 11 that is closed to car traffic. Adjacent to the pedestrian zone 11 is a taxi stand 12 where several autonomous vehicles 1 are waiting to pick up any users. A visually impaired user 13 can request such a vehicle 1 from any location using a mobile device 5. The location of the user 13 is communicated to the vehicle 1 via a wireless communication connection 4, and the direct route from the current location of the user 13 to the requested vehicle 1 is calculated. The directions or instructions for the route are then given via the loudspeaker 6 of the mobile device 5 until the user 13 reaches the vehicle 13 and can board there. List of reference symbols

[0017] 1Vehicle 2Facility 3Environmental sensors 4Wireless communication connection 5Mobile device 6, 6'Speaker 7Display 8LED bar 9Projector 10Map section 11Pedestrian zone 12Taxi rank 13User

Claims

1. Method for locating a vehicle (1), the vehicle comprising a device (2) having an environment sensor system (3) by means of which the access authorization of a user (13) to the vehicle (1) and its position are determined, the device (2) being indirectly or directly connected to a loudspeaker (6, 6') which generates acoustic signals in order to navigate the user (13) along a route to the location of the vehicle (1) if access authorization is granted, characterized in that the entry of the user (13) into the vehicle (1) is voice-assisted by means of the loudspeaker (6'), which is directly connected to the device (2), by describing entry-relevant states of the vehicle (1), namely "The door is opening" or "Attention: step for entry upwards", via voice output.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (2) for determining the access authorization is wirelessly connected to a mobile terminal (5) of the user (13).

3. Method according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the acoustic signals are generated in the form of a voice output on the mobile terminal (5), the voice output containing detailed navigation to the vehicle (1).

4. Method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the mobile terminal (5) and / or the vehicle (1) is connected to a map service available online for navigation of the user (13).

5. Method according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the route to the vehicle (1) is displayed on a map on a display of the mobile device (5).

6. Method according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the acoustic signals are emitted in the form of a voice output or a signal tone via a loudspeaker (6') which is arranged directly on the vehicle (1) and connected to the device (2).