METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC CLEANING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a control device for the automatic cleaning of a motor vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle with such a control device.

[0002] Motor vehicles are subject to soiling during use. This can lead to both visual and technical impairments. The latter can occur, for example, if the vehicle is exposed to road salt in winter, which can lead to rust formation.

[0003] US patent 2018 / 0082494 A1 discloses a method for the automated maintenance of an autonomous vehicle. The vehicle can independently schedule a maintenance appointment and, for example, autonomously drive to a repair shop. It is also possible for the vehicle to autonomously drive to a car wash.

[0004] US 2015 / 0348335 A1 also describes a process in which an autonomous vehicle undergoes automatic maintenance. This can include automatic cleaning. For this purpose, the vehicle can automatically drive to a car wash. Afterwards, the vehicle can autonomously drive to, for example, a vehicle owner's garage.

[0005] DE 10 2014 226358 A1 describes how a washing recommendation for a motor vehicle can be issued based on the determined surface contamination of a motor vehicle.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a solution by which a motor vehicle can be automatically cleaned in a particularly needs-based manner.

[0007] This problem is solved by a method and a control device for automatically cleaning a motor vehicle with the features of the independent claims. Further possible embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0008] In the inventive method for automatically cleaning a motor vehicle, a cleaning requirement is detected by means of a control unit in the vehicle. The control unit selects a cleaning facility and schedules a cleaning appointment at the selected facility based on at least one criterion after the cleaning requirement has been detected. The vehicle is autonomously maneuvered by the control unit to the selected cleaning facility so that it arrives at the cleaning facility no later than the scheduled cleaning appointment, where it is cleaned. After the cleaning of the vehicle has been completed, the vehicle is autonomously maneuvered by the control unit to a predetermined parking location.The vehicle can be designed to drive autonomously without requiring a passenger, and can therefore operate in a driving mode corresponding to SAE Autonomy Level 5. Parts of the control unit, particularly regarding the processing and interpretation of sensor values, can also be implemented offboard, i.e., in an external computer system or network located outside the vehicle.

[0009] The method according to the invention provides that a sensor device of the motor vehicle determines the degree of soiling of the motor vehicle, wherein the control unit recognizes the cleaning requirement based on the determined degree of soiling. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that a user input from a person regarding the cleaning requirement is recorded by means of the control unit, wherein the control unit recognizes the cleaning requirement based on the recorded user input.

[0010] The vehicle is therefore designed to drive autonomously, with the control unit capable of managing its autonomous maneuvering. For example, the vehicle can be equipped with one or more GPS sensors, a navigation system, and environmental sensors, enabling it to maneuver autonomously to the selected cleaning facility. The cleaning process can include exterior and / or interior cleaning. Furthermore, the selected and booked cleaning facility can be designed to perform the cleaning process fully automatically. For instance, if the vehicle needs to pass through the cleaning facility for the cleaning process, the control unit can maneuver the vehicle through it.Alternatively or additionally, it may also be provided that the cleaning device can maneuver the motor vehicle through the cleaning device.

[0011] The designated parking location does not have to be the same location from which the vehicle started its journey to the cleaning facility. For example, if the vehicle is washed at night, the designated parking location can be the same location from which it started its journey to the cleaning facility, such as a garage or parking space belonging to the vehicle user. This user can, for instance, specify the designated parking location so that the vehicle can pick them up there after the automatic cleaning process, although this does not have to be the same location from which the vehicle started its journey to the cleaning facility.

[0012] The control unit and / or the vehicle can have a communication unit designed and configured to carry out the selection and booking process for the relevant cleaning equipment through direct or indirect communication with that equipment. This can be done, for example, via Wi-Fi and / or a mobile network. Since the vehicle is designed to drive autonomously without a driver being present, it can be cleaned automatically with particular ease. For example, the vehicle drives autonomously to the cleaning equipment during scheduled downtimes and is also guided autonomously through the cleaning process.The vehicle's sensor system can determine the level of soiling, and the control unit can then automatically identify the cleaning requirement based on the corresponding data characterizing the level of soiling. Alternatively or additionally, the user can specify the cleaning requirement, and the control unit can then determine the cleaning requirement based on this user input. The user input can be entered, for example, in the vehicle itself via a suitable interface, via a smartphone, on a computer, or similar device.

[0013] Because the vehicle's sensor system can determine the level of soiling, the vehicle can be automatically cleaned as needed. Since the user's cleaning requirements can also be recorded, either alternatively or additionally, it is possible to meet these requirements even if the control unit, based on the level of soiling determined by the vehicle's sensor system, does not yet detect a cleaning need. In particular, the inventive method makes it possible to carry out the automatic cleaning of the vehicle as a fully automated process. Thus, it is possible to clean the vehicle automatically and in a particularly targeted and simple manner.

[0014] The method according to the invention provides that the selection of the cleaning facility and the booking of the cleaning appointment in the selected cleaning facility are carried out on the basis of at least the following criterion: The probability of a parking space for the motor vehicle being available at the specified parking location should at least have a predetermined value.

[0015] According to the invention, the control unit takes into account the probability of a parking space being available for the vehicle at the specified parking location. Based on this probability, the control unit selects the cleaning equipment and schedules the cleaning appointment in such a way that the probability of a parking space being available at the specified parking location reaches at least a predetermined value. For example, it is conceivable that a vehicle user does not have their own private parking space and parks the vehicle overnight in a residents' parking zone. The control unit can access data that characterizes the probability of a parking space being available within the residents' parking zone at different times.Depending on this, the control unit can book the cleaning appointment in such a way that the vehicle is very likely to find a parking space when returning to the designated parking location.

[0016] One possible embodiment of the invention provides that the sensor device includes a front camera of the vehicle, which is used to determine the degree of soiling of the vehicle. Since the vehicle is designed to drive autonomously, it already has a multitude of sensors for environmental perception. One of these sensors can be the aforementioned front camera of the vehicle, which can be used to determine the degree of soiling of the vehicle. Alternatively or in addition to the front camera, the sensor device can also include further, preferably optical, sensors designed to determine the degree of soiling of the vehicle.Especially when a large number of vehicle sensors are used, which are arranged at different positions on the vehicle, the degree of soiling of the vehicle can be determined particularly well, so that even purely local soiling of the vehicle can be reliably determined.

[0017] According to another possible embodiment of the invention, the cleaning of the motor vehicle is billed automatically. The person in question, who could be, for example, the vehicle owner and / or registered keeper, can register with a central cleaning service or similar provider, where they can store their user data and, for example, their bank details, including a direct debit authorization. This makes it possible to conveniently and automatically bill the person for the cleaning of their motor vehicle.

[0018] In a further possible embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the selection of the cleaning equipment and the booking of the cleaning appointment only occur after prior authorization. This authorization can, for example, be granted by the same person who specifies the user requirements regarding the cleaning needs. By requiring prior authorization for the selection and booking of the cleaning equipment, it can be ensured that the vehicle is not cleaned against the will of, for example, the vehicle owner. The authorization can, for example, be granted permanently until revoked. Alternatively, it is also possible, for example, that authorization is requested at the latest when the booking process is completed, i.e., when the appointment is booked.This has the advantage, among others, that the person concerned is always informed when the vehicle is to autonomously drive to a cleaning facility for cleaning the vehicle.

[0019] Another possible embodiment of the invention provides that the user's specification regarding cleaning requirements includes a deadline by which the vehicle should be cleaned. For example, a driver can specify that the vehicle should be cleaned by Saturday afternoon, perhaps because they plan to take a trip and want it to be especially clean. The selection of the cleaning service and the booking of the appointment then take the specified deadline into account, ensuring that the vehicle is clean and available at the designated parking location by the specified time.

[0020] In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the user specification regarding cleaning requirements includes a time interval according to which the vehicle should be cleaned regularly. For example, a vehicle owner can specify that the vehicle should be cleaned every two weeks. Taking this time interval into account, the control unit can select the cleaning equipment and schedule the cleaning appointment, ensuring that the specified time interval is adhered to. Should the vehicle become so dirty within the time interval that it is already heavily soiled, it can also be provided that the vehicle is cleaned additionally – for example, only after the vehicle owner has given their consent.If further cleaning of the vehicle is not required within the specified time interval, for example, because this has been determined by the vehicle's sensor system, it may also be stipulated that further cleaning of the vehicle be omitted until the next time interval has begun or expired. This ensures that, on the one hand, the user's specified time interval is met, and on the other hand, the vehicle is not cleaned unnecessarily frequently.

[0021] In a further possible embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the selection of the cleaning facility and the booking of the cleaning appointment in the selected cleaning facility are carried out on the basis of at least one of the following criteria: The vehicle is not needed for the duration of the cleaning, including the journey to the cleaning facility and the return journey from the cleaning facility to the designated location; costs for the cleaning process and / or for the journey to the cleaning facility and the return journey to the parking location should be minimized; a designated intermediate stop should be located on the way to the cleaning facility.

[0022] The control unit can, for example, take into account planned downtime of the vehicle in order to select and book the appropriate cleaning service accordingly. This can include both the actual cleaning time and the travel time to and from the cleaning site. The control unit can, for instance, access an electronic calendar belonging to a vehicle user to determine when the vehicle is not in use. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit can also access historical data to estimate when the vehicle is most likely to be idle.The control system can also take into account costs for the cleaning process and / or costs for travel to the cleaning facility and back to the designated parking location, and select the cleaning date and facility to minimize these costs. For example, the control system can automatically request quotes from multiple cleaning facilities and compare prices for different cleaning dates and facilities. Alternatively or additionally, the control system can also consider the distances to the cleaning facilities and the associated travel costs. In this way, the control system can schedule the cleaning process to minimize the associated costs.Furthermore, the control unit can select the cleaning facility and / or the cleaning appointment in such a way that a predetermined stop is scheduled at a specific time along the way to the cleaning facility. For example, a vehicle user might want to drive to work autonomously or manually, with the workplace serving as the stopover. For a certain period after arriving at work, the driver will not need the vehicle, so the control unit can select a suitable cleaning facility near the workplace. Similarly, a vehicle user who prefers to manually clean the interior of their vehicle can use the control unit to select a suitable cleaning facility as a stopover where manual interior cleaning is possible.Afterwards, the vehicle can, for example, autonomously drive itself to the cleaning facility where the exterior cleaning takes place. Other intermediate stops can also be specified by a user, which the control unit can take into account when selecting the cleaning facility and booking the cleaning appointment. Among other things, this can minimize the distance required to reach the respective cleaning facility.

[0023] According to another possible embodiment of the invention, an external sensor device determines the degree of soiling of the vehicle, and the control unit recognizes the cleaning requirement based on the degree of soiling determined by the external sensor device. The external sensor device can, for example, be mounted on another vehicle. It is also possible that the external sensor device comprises, for example, a camera located in a private parking space belonging to the vehicle owner. The degree of soiling of the vehicle can thus be determined very accurately by means of the external sensor device, enabling the control unit to also recognize the cleaning requirement based on the degree of soiling determined by the external sensor device.The control unit can be designed to perform Car2X communication in order to receive and evaluate data from the vehicle's external sensor system regarding the degree of soiling. Using the external sensor system, areas of the vehicle can be assessed for soiling that are difficult or impossible to see using the vehicle's own sensors. This allows the vehicle's cleaning needs to be determined more precisely, even if the vehicle's internal sensors would not have detected soiling in certain areas.

[0024] The control unit according to the invention for a motor vehicle is configured to carry out the method according to the invention or a possible embodiment of the method according to the invention. Possible embodiments of the method according to the invention are to be regarded as possible embodiments of the control unit, wherein the control unit in particular comprises the elements for carrying out the method steps.

[0025] The motor vehicle according to the invention comprises the control device according to the invention or a possible embodiment of the control device according to the invention.

[0026] The drawing shows in the single figure a schematic representation of a motor vehicle with a control device which is set up to control an automatic cleaning process of the motor vehicle.

[0027] A motor vehicle 1, designed and equipped for autonomous driving, includes a control unit 2. The control unit 2 is configured to detect cleaning requirements for the motor vehicle 1. The motor vehicle 1 includes a vehicle-mounted sensor unit 3, which may, for example, include a front camera, by means of which the degree of soiling of the motor vehicle 1 can be determined. The sensor unit 3 can transmit data characterizing the degree of soiling of the motor vehicle 1 to the control unit 2. Based on the determined degree of soiling, the control unit 2 can detect the cleaning requirements. In addition, a person 4 can manually specify a cleaning requirement for the motor vehicle 1, and the control unit 2 is designed to record this user specification.Control unit 2 may, for example, include a communication device (not shown here) designed to capture user instructions via Wi-Fi and / or a mobile network connection. This may be necessary, for instance, if person 4 enters the user instructions via their smartphone or a PC. Alternatively, person 4 may also enter the cleaning requirements directly via a vehicle-side user interface (not shown here).

[0028] An external sensor device 5 is shown here only schematically. This external sensor device 5 can be designed to detect the degree of soiling of the vehicle 1 and transmit this data to the control unit 2, for example, also via WLAN and / or a mobile network connection. The external sensor device 5 can, for example, include a camera in a private parking space where the vehicle 1 is regularly parked. The external sensor device 5 can also, for example, include a camera on another vehicle 1, which, as the vehicle 1 passes, can determine the degree of soiling of the vehicle 1 and transmit this data to the control unit 2.

[0029] Once the control unit 2 has detected the cleaning requirement, it selects a cleaning facility 6, preferably from a plurality of cleaning facilities 6, and schedules a cleaning appointment at the selected cleaning facility 6 based on at least one criterion. For example, the control unit 2 can take into account that the vehicle 1 is not needed for the duration of the cleaning, including the journey to and from the cleaning facility 6. The control unit 2 can also consider the probability of the vehicle 1 finding a parking space at a predetermined parking location 7, where the vehicle 1 is to be parked after the cleaning process. The control unit can select the cleaning appointment such that the probability of the aforementioned parking space being available has at least a predetermined value.If, for example, the vehicle 1 is regularly parked in a residents' parking area, i.e., not in a private parking space, the control unit 2 can select the cleaning date in such a way that there is a very high probability that a parking space will be found in the residents' parking area when the vehicle 1 is moved there autonomously after the cleaning process.

[0030] The control unit 2 can, for example, also take into account costs for the cleaning process and / or for travel to and from cleaning facility 6, whereby the control unit 2 can be configured to select the cleaning facility and the cleaning date in such a way as to minimize these costs. The control unit 2 can, for example, also take into account a predetermined intermediate stop on the way to the relevant cleaning facility 6 and select the cleaning date and the relevant cleaning facility 6 such that the predetermined intermediate stop occurs at a predetermined time on the way to cleaning facility 6.

[0031] The control unit 2 is configured to autonomously maneuver the vehicle 1 to the selected cleaning facility 6, ensuring that the vehicle arrives at the facility no later than the scheduled cleaning time, where it is cleaned. The cleaning facility 6 can be designed to clean the vehicle 1 fully autonomously, both inside and out. After the cleaning of the vehicle 1 is complete, the control unit 2 maneuvers the vehicle 1 to the designated parking location 7. This parking location 7 can be specified by person 4, for example. If no location is specified by person 4, the parking location 7 can also be the location from which the vehicle 1 started its journey to the cleaning facility 6. If the cleaning of the vehicle 1 takes place at night, it can be arranged, for example, that the vehicle 1 is simply maneuvered back to person 4's garage.Alternatively – even at night – it could be, for example, that person 4 is in a restaurant, in which case the designated parking location 7 could be the restaurant. During the day, the designated parking location 7 could also be, for example, person 4's workplace.

[0032] Selecting the relevant cleaning facility 6 and booking the cleaning appointment only occurs after prior authorization, for example, by person 4. This authorization can be granted permanently until revoked. Alternatively or additionally, control unit 2 can request authorization from person 4 before booking the cleaning appointment and only proceed with the booking if authorization is granted. As mentioned above, person 4 can specify a user requirement regarding cleaning needs. This user requirement could, for example, include a deadline by which person 4 wishes vehicle 1 to be cleaned.If, for example, person 4 wants to take a weekend trip with vehicle 1 and wishes for the vehicle 1 to be cleaned both inside and out, person 4 can set a corresponding user requirement, which the control unit 2 receives and takes into account. The user requirement regarding cleaning needs can also include, for example, a time interval according to which vehicle 1 should be cleaned regularly. The control unit 2 can also take this into account.

[0033] Overall, the described procedure and control unit 2 provide a solution for the automated cleaning of vehicle 1, tailored to specific needs. This takes into account the availability of vehicle 1, as well as factors such as the capacity of nearby cleaning facilities 6, cleaning costs, the distance traveled by vehicle 1 to the cleaning facility 6, and similar considerations. Thus, the cleaning of vehicle 1 can be fully automated and performed according to demand. Furthermore, not only the detection and execution of the cleaning process can be automated, but also the billing for the cleaning process. For example, person 4 can register with one or more service providers and, for instance, set up direct debit mandates for each.This makes it possible for person 4 to conveniently bill for each of the relevant automatic cleaning processes. Reference symbol list

[0034] 1. Motor vehicle 2. Motor vehicle control unit 3. Motor vehicle sensor unit 4. Person 5. External vehicle sensor unit 6. Cleaning unit 7. Parking location

Claims

1. Method for automatically cleaning a motor vehicle (1), comprising the following steps: - identifying a cleaning need by means of a control device (2) of the motor vehicle (1); - selecting a cleaning facility (6) and booking a cleaning appointment in the selected cleaning facility (6) on the basis of at least one criterion by means of the control device (2) after the control device has identified the cleaning need; - autonomously maneuvering the motor vehicle (1) to the selected cleaning facility (6) by means of the control device (2), so that the motor vehicle (1) reaches the cleaning facility (6) at the latest by the booked cleaning appointment, where the motor vehicle (1) is cleaned; - autonomously maneuvering the motor vehicle (1) to a predetermined parking location (7) by means of the control device (2) after the cleaning of the motor vehicle (1) has been completed; wherein - a sensor device (3) of the motor vehicle (1) determines a degree of soiling of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the control device (2) identifies the cleaning need on the basis of the determined degree of soiling; - and / or a user specification of a person (4) regarding the cleaning need is recorded by means of the control device (2), wherein the control device (2) identifies the cleaning need on the basis of the recorded user specification, wherein the cleaning facility (6) is selected and the cleaning appointment is booked in the selected cleaning facility (6) on the basis of at least the following criterion: - a probability of the presence of a parking possibility for the motor vehicle at the predetermined parking location (7) has at least a predetermined value.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor device (3) has a front camera of the motor vehicle (1), by means of which the degree of soiling of the motor vehicle (1) is determined.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cleaning of the motor vehicle (1) is automatically billed.

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning facility (6) is selected and the cleaning appointment is booked only if authorization has been granted beforehand.

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user specification regarding the cleaning need includes a time by which the motor vehicle (1) should have been cleaned.

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user specification regarding the cleaning need includes a time interval according to which the motor vehicle (1) is to be cleaned regularly.

7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning facility (6) is selected and the cleaning appointment is booked in the selected cleaning facility (6) on the basis of at least one of the following criteria: - the motor vehicle (1) is not required for the duration of the cleaning, including an outward journey to the cleaning facility (6) and a return journey from the cleaning facility (6) to the specified location (7); - costs for the cleaning process and / or for a journey to the cleaning facility (6) and a return journey to the parking location (7) should be minimized; - a predetermined intermediate stop should be on a route to the cleaning facility (6).

8. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a vehicle-external sensor device (5) determines a degree of soiling of the motor vehicle (1), the control device (2) identifying the cleaning need on the basis of the degree of soiling determined by means of the vehicle-external sensor device (5).

9. Control device (2) for a motor vehicle (1), which is designed to carry out a method according to any of the preceding claims.

10. Motor vehicle (1) having a control device (2) according to claim 9.