CONTROL METHOD FOR A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a control method for a recreational vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] A recreational vehicle is understood here to be a vehicle that offers the user the option of sleeping and living in it, at least with the help of equipment and furniture that can be installed therein. For other uses, when the vehicle is not used as a recreational vehicle for camping, these equipment and furniture can be removed, at least in part, without great effort. Furthermore, the term also includes all camping vehicles such as mobile homes and caravans, although motorization of the vehicles is not absolutely necessary and a recreational vehicle also includes a trailer. Such recreational vehicles are characterized by a larger living area, whereby in the majority of cases the original body of a small van, for example, is not used, but a larger body is built by the manufacturer of the recreational vehicle on a chassis.When a caravan is used as a recreational vehicle, a trailer chassis is usually used on which a living area is specially built.

[0003] In many situations, a recreational vehicle requires a professional inspection and / or certain procedures must be followed to keep it operational or to prepare for a camping trip or overnight stay. For example, the fill levels of tanks and storage containers, as well as wastewater containers, both in the living area and in the vehicle itself (including its engine, drivetrain, and chassis), must be regularly checked and refilled, and wastewater, for example, must be disposed of. In addition, there are other containers such as gas cylinders and toilet cassettes. Additional technical components and individual luggage often make it difficult to maintain an overview of the entire system.

[0004] It is common practice to provide checklists and flow charts for the work to be performed. However, these flow charts are a rigid construct, always representing the complete process and subject to certain assumptions. Even enriched with data and contingency plans, it is not always possible to prevent unnecessary, confusing, or inappropriate entries or steps from being presented to the user. A familiar everyday example of such a flow chart with a static or rigid process is a cooking recipe.

[0005] A control method for a prior art recreational vehicle is shown in WO 2020 / 183368 A1.

[0006] The present invention is based on the object of providing a control method for a recreational vehicle with which the aforementioned disadvantages are avoided and each user can quickly and efficiently carry out the previously described standard activities and situations with support.

[0007] This object is achieved by a control method for a recreational vehicle having the features of independent patent claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0008] The object is achieved according to the invention in that, in a control method for a recreational vehicle, in particular a mobile home or caravan, with components that require adjustments and / or can be filled or have to be emptied as disposal components, as well as with sensor elements for determining the state of these components and a control unit that is connected to the sensor elements and a user interface, the control unit displays flow charts for checks to be carried out on the components or work to be carried out on them to the user via the user interface, wherein, depending on the values ​​of the sensor elements, the control unit determines whether a step of the flow chart is to be carried out and / or which of several alternatively possible steps are to be carried out.

[0009] User misuse is prevented. Newbies receive competent guidance. Only the essentials are presented to ensure rapid success. This increases user satisfaction and advantageously reduces customer service costs. The number of people required for a vehicle handover in recreational vehicle rentals is reduced. The vehicle's utility is also increased, as the vehicle can be more easily loaned to friends and acquaintances without the need for extensive explanations. Finally, the number of potential inquiries to a dealer after purchasing a recreational vehicle can also be reduced.

[0010] Advantageously, the control unit determines whether a step or which of several alternatively possible steps are to be carried out based on the steps previously carried out.

[0011] The control unit can display the progress of the entire schedule.

[0012] The interactive and intelligent workflow automatically detects, using sensor elements and the context of the previous steps of a selected workflow, whether and which steps are relevant for the user. Data is displayed that provides context-dependent assistance to the user to quickly and successfully complete all relevant steps of the workflow. Irrelevant steps, or steps whose criteria are already met, are skipped or hidden.

[0013] According to the invention, levels for the level of detail and scope of explanations displayed can be set.

[0014] This allows, for example, an adjustment to be made depending on whether the user already has experience with recreational vehicles or motorhomes or is completely inexperienced, and therefore greater support should be provided.

[0015] According to the invention, schedules can be selected for typical situations, in particular "departure for a trip", "arrival at a campsite", "parking for self-sufficient overnight stay", "end of a trip", "ensuring winter strength".

[0016] For example, upon arrival at the campsite, a schedule may include the following steps: a.) Is the fresh water full? This will be hidden, checked, or grayed out if it is met. Otherwise, you have the option to confirm or reject it. b.) Is the waste water empty? This will also be hidden if it is met. Otherwise, you have the option to confirm or reject it. c.) Parking This is confirmed by the user. d.) Horizontal alignment of the vehicle A spirit level, for example, appears in the app and the user confirms. Alternatively, automatic alignment can occur if the appropriate jacks are available. e.) Shore power connection?

[0017] The conductive connection is detected by sensors and confirmed by the app.

[0018] The control unit can display information, steps to be taken and warnings in different visual ways, particularly through different colors.

[0019] It is also conceivable to use the previously described method on other hardware platforms with various components with user interaction, for example on boats, yachts or commercial vehicles.

Claims

1. Control method for a recreational vehicle, in particular a motorhome or caravan, with components that require adjustments and / or can be filled or must be emptied as disposal components, as well as with sensor elements for determining the status of these components and a control unit connected to the sensor elements as well as a user interface, characterised in that the control unit displays schedules for checks to be carried out on the components or work to be carried out on them to the user via the user interface, wherein, depending on the values of the sensor elements, the control unit determines whether a step of the schedule is to be carried out and / or which of several alternative steps are to be carried out, that schedules are selectable for typical situations and that levels for the detailedness and the scope of displayed explanations can be set.

2. Control method according to claim 1, characterised in that the selection of whether a step or which of several alternative steps are to be carried out is determined by the control unit on the basis of the steps previously carried out.

3. Control method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the control unit displays the progress in relation to the entire schedule.

4. Control method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that schedules for typical situations "departure on a journey", "arrival at a campsite", "parking for self-sufficient overnight stay", "end of a journey" and "ensuring winterisation" can be selected.

5. Control method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control unit presents information, steps to be taken and warnings in different visual forms, in particular using different colours.