Method and system for managing the operation of a driver assistance device for a motor vehicle when approaching locations with specific highway code rules

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electronic and computer systems on board motor vehicles for improving driving safety. The invention relates in particular to a method for managing, by a computer system on board a motor vehicle, the operation of a driving assistance device of the vehicle. The invention also relates to a system implementing such a method. The invention applies, in particular, to passenger cars, utility vehicles and heavy goods vehicles. State of the prior art

[0002] It is known that most current motor vehicles are equipped with computer and electronic equipment that provides driver assistance functionalities, in particular functionalities that enable autonomous guidance of vehicles. Generally speaking, such equipment operates by exploiting data generated by detection devices arranged in the vehicles (e.g. camera, radar, lidar, etc.), data on which they rely to provide driver assistance functionalities. For example, it is known that certain known driver assistance devices exploit data generated by a camera to detect and recognize traffic signs that are placed near traffic lanes in order to appropriately manage vehicle guidance according to the regulations of the highway code.However, it is known that an accurate perception of the driving environment by the detection devices of a driving assistance device of a motor vehicle depends directly on the detection range of these devices, the light conditions, the weather conditions, and even the growth of vegetation. Thus, situations may therefore arise in which the detection devices are unable to detect and recognize traffic signs, and, in such cases, the proper functioning of known driving assistance devices which are based solely on the detection and recognition of traffic signs by on-board detection devices to manage the guidance of vehicles can therefore no longer be ensured in a reliable manner.For example, if a driver assistance device bases its operation on the detection and recognition of road signs solely by means of on-board detection devices, it will not be able to manage the guidance of the vehicle when approaching a section of roadworks if it has not detected the road sign announcing it. And, in such a situation, the driver assistance device will undoubtedly put the vehicle's occupants at risk since it will not return control to the driver of the vehicle while the latter is using the section of roadworks.

[0003] EP3177500 discloses a driver assistance system in a motor vehicle. The driver assistance system comprises a detection system for identifying preceding events, which, due to a removal of a currently applicable speed limitation, allow an increase in the current speed, a functional unit for determining an acceleration strategy for increasing the speed, and an indication system for issuing a request indication to the driver to authorize automatic implementation of the acceleration strategy. The functional unit causes, upon confirmation of the request indication by the driver, the automatic implementation of the acceleration strategy.

[0004] DE102012213321 discloses a method for operating a vehicle, in which, during coasting of the vehicle, in order to reach a route position of a route yet to be traveled at a desired speed which is lower than a vehicle speed, the actual speed of a vehicle is compared with a target vehicle speed and an action is performed based on the comparison. Summary of the invention

[0005] The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks. The invention aims to provide a method and a system that contribute to enabling a driving assistance device of a motor vehicle to base its operation, i.e. the provision of driving assistance functionalities, on a perception of the driving environment, in particular road signs, which is established other than by using its on-board detection devices. By this means, the invention aims to improve the safety of the autonomous driving functionalities provided by a driving assistance device of a motor vehicle.

[0006] These aims are achieved, according to a first object of the invention, by means of a method of managing, by a computer system on board a motor vehicle, the operation of a driving assistance device of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: (i) determine whether the vehicle is approaching a place where a particular traffic regulation applies; and, where it is established that this is the case, (ii) determine data characterizing a place upstream of the place where a particular traffic regulation applies and a place downstream of the place where a particular traffic regulation applies; and (iii) deactivate the driving assistance equipment between the place upstream of the place where a particular traffic regulation applies and the place downstream of the place where a particular traffic regulation applies.

[0007] According to an advantageous variant, steps i) and ii) can be carried out by exploiting data characterizing at least one place where a particular traffic sign is located transmitted by a remote server.

[0008] According to another variant, step iii) may comprise a step consisting of causing the broadcasting of a visual and / or audible indication by a human-machine interface of the vehicle.

[0009] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a system for managing the operation of a driving assistance device of a motor vehicle, the system comprising at least one information processing unit, comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium configured to implement a method as described above.

[0010] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of a method as described above when said program is executed on a computer and / or a processor.

[0011] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a medium usable in a computer on which a program as described above is recorded.

[0012] Finally, the invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a system as described above. Brief description of the figures

[0013] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings, in which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a functional diagram of a system according to the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a method according to the invention; [ Fig. 3 ] is a schematic illustration of the operation of the system according to the invention in relation to a first driving environment; [ Fig. 4 ] is a schematic illustration of the operation of the system according to the invention in connection with a second driving environment; and [ Fig. 5 ] is a schematic illustration of the operation of the system according to the invention in connection with a third driving environment. Detailed description of the invention

[0014] According to the invention, a system 100 for managing the operation of a driving assistance device of a motor vehicle is a computer system, represented schematically in Figure 1 , which comprises an information processing unit 101, comprising one or more processors, a data storage medium 102, and at least one input and output interface 103, allowing the reception of data and the transmission of data.

[0015] According to certain embodiments, the system 100 according to the invention is embedded in a motor vehicle (e.g. car, bus, heavy goods vehicle, etc.) and it is hosted on one or more of the computers, electronic control units or other telematics boxes of the vehicle. According to other embodiments, the system 100 according to the invention is hosted on a computer of a motor vehicle and it interacts via its input and output interface 103 with a computer of a driving assistance device of a motor vehicle. According to the preferred embodiment, the system 100 according to the invention is an integral part of a computer of a driving assistance device of a motor vehicle.Consequently, whatever the embodiment of the invention, the system 100 according to the invention is always able to interact, via its input and output interface 103, not only with a driving assistance device of a motor vehicle, but also, via such a driving assistance device, with any other device which, in a conventional manner, equips and / or interacts with a driving assistance device of a current motor vehicle.

[0016] And, according to the invention, a driving assistance device for a motor vehicle comprises at least one detection device (e.g. lidar, radar, camera, ultrasonic sensor, inertial unit, accelerometer, etc.) for perceiving the driving environment in front of the vehicle and one or more dedicated calculators, computers and / or processors, which, depending on raw data generated by the detection device(s), can control the operation of certain components of the vehicle which govern its movement (e.g. electronic power steering, electronic trajectory corrector, ABS, cruise control, etc.). Thus, by interacting with or forming an integral part of such a driving assistance device for a motor vehicle, the system 100 according to the invention is in particular capable of activating and / or deactivating a driving assistance device of the vehicle and causing a deceleration of the vehicle.

[0017] In addition, to implement at least one step of the method according to the invention described below, the system 100 according to the invention comprises dedicated hardware (e.g., connectors) and software means for interacting with a human-machine interface of a motor vehicle, which makes it possible to broadcast visual and / or audible indications in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Thus, thanks to these means, the system 100 according to the invention can cause the broadcasting of a visual and / or audible indication by a human-machine interface of a motor vehicle.

[0018] Furthermore, in order to implement at least one of the steps of the method according to the invention described below, the system 100 according to the invention comprises hardware and software means for interacting with radiofrequency signal communication equipment of a motor vehicle, which makes it possible to communicate with communicating entities, in particular with a remote server, using conventional communication networks and protocols (e.g. 3G / 4G, ITS-G5, C / LTE / 5G-V2X). Thus, thanks to these means, the system 100 according to the invention is in particular able to receive data transmitted by a remote server, in particular data characterizing at least one location where a particular traffic sign is located, and it can also transmit data to a remote server.

[0019] According to the invention, all the elements described above contribute to enabling the system 100 according to the invention to implement, on board a motor vehicle, a method for managing the operation of a vehicle driving assistance device, as described below in connection with the Figure 2 .

[0020] According to a first step 201 of the method according to the invention, the system 100 according to the invention determines whether the vehicle is approaching a place where a particular regulation of the highway code applies. According to the invention, a place where a particular regulation of the highway code applies is, for example, a place where a section under construction begins, the entrance to a motorway toll, the entrance to a customs office, a place where there is a pedestrian crossing, a dangerous bend, a stop sign, etc. And to determine whether the vehicle is approaching such a place, the system 100 according to the invention uses data transmitted by a remote server configured to provide vehicles with data characterizing at least one place where a particular traffic sign is located.Such a particular traffic sign is, for example, a sign indicating the start of a section under construction, a sign indicating the entrance to a motorway toll, a sign indicating the entrance to a customs office, a sign indicating a dangerous bend, a sign indicating a pedestrian crossing, a stop sign, etc. And it is on the basis of this data that the system 100 according to the invention determines whether the vehicle is approaching a place where a particular traffic code regulation applies, by calculating the distance which separates the current position of the vehicle from the place where a particular traffic sign is located and by checking whether this is less than or equal to a pre-established threshold value, which is preferably recorded on the data storage medium 102 at the time of design of the vehicle.Thus, according to this first step 201 of the method, the system 100 according to the invention advantageously determines whether the vehicle is approaching a place where a particular traffic code regulation applies by using only data which are transmitted by a remote server. In other words, unlike known driving assistance devices, the system 100 according to the invention does not base its perception of the driving environment on data generated by the detection devices of the driving assistance device of the vehicle, and it therefore overcomes the problems mentioned in the preamble.

[0021] Then, according to a second step 202 of the method according to the invention, which the system 100 according to the invention only carries out if it has been established during the previous step 201 that the vehicle is approaching a place where a particular regulation of the highway code applies, the system 100 according to the invention determines data characterizing a place upstream of the place where a particular regulation of the highway code applies and a place downstream of the place where a particular regulation of the highway code applies. For example, as illustrated in the Figure 3, when the data characterizing at least one location where a particular traffic sign is located received from the remote server during the previous step 201 defines a location where a traffic sign indicating a pedestrian crossing is located, the system 100 according to the invention determines data which characterizes a location upstream of the location where the traffic sign indicating the pedestrian crossing is located and a location downstream of the location where the traffic sign indicating the pedestrian crossing is located. In other words, the system 100 according to the invention determines the dark gray area which extends on either side of the location where the traffic sign indicating the pedestrian crossing is located. Similarly, as illustrated in the Figure 4, when the data characterizing at least one location where a particular traffic sign is located received from the remote server during the previous step 201 define a location where a traffic sign indicating the start of a section under construction is located and a location where a traffic sign indicating the end of the section under construction is located, the system 100 according to the invention determines during the second step 202 a location upstream of the location where the traffic sign indicating the start of the section under construction is located and a location downstream of the location where the sign indicating the end of the section under construction is located. Similarly, as illustrated in the Figure 5, when the data characterizing at least one location where a particular traffic sign is located received from the remote server during the previous step 201 defines a location where a traffic sign indicating a pedestrian crossing is located and a location where a stop sign is located, and if these two locations are separated by a distance less than a pre-established threshold value recorded on the data storage medium 102 at the time of design of the vehicle, the system 100 according to the invention determines during the second step 202 a location upstream of the location where the traffic sign indicating the pedestrian crossing is located and a location downstream of the location where the stop sign is located.

[0022] Then, according to a third step 203 of the method according to the invention, the system 100 according to the invention manages the operation of the driving assistance device as a function of the data characterizing a place upstream of the place where a particular regulation of the highway code applies and a place downstream of the place where a particular regulation of the highway code applies. For example, during this third step 203, the system 100 according to the invention carries out a step consisting of causing the broadcasting of a visual and / or audible indication by the human-machine interface of the vehicle as soon as the vehicle approaches the place upstream of the place where a particular regulation of the highway code applies. Alternatively or cumulatively, the system 100 according to the invention carries out a step consisting of causing a deceleration of the vehicle from the place upstream of the place where a particular regulation of the highway code applies.And, according to another alternative, the system 100 according to the invention carries out a step consisting of deactivating the driving assistance equipment between the place upstream of the place where a particular regulation of the highway code applies and the place downstream of the place where a particular regulation of the highway code applies.

[0023] Consequently, under the terms of the method and system according to the invention described above, a solution is provided to enable a driving assistance device of a motor vehicle to base its operation, i.e. the provision of driving assistance functionalities, on a perception of the driving environment, in particular road signs, which is established other than by using its on-board detection devices. By this means, the method and system according to the invention therefore significantly improve the safety of the autonomous driving functionalities provided by a driving assistance device of a motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of managing, by a computer system (100) on board a motor vehicle, the operation of an apparatus for assisting the driving of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: i) determine whether the vehicle is approaching a location where a particular traffic regulation is applicable; and, where it is established that this is the case, ii) determine data characterising a location upstream the location where a particular traffic code regulation is applicable and a location at the downstream of the location where a particular traffic code regulation is applicable; and wherein the process comprises the step of: iii) deactivate the driving-assist apparatus between the location upstream the location where a particular traffic code regulation is applicable and the location at the downstream of the location where a particular traffic code regulation is applicable.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein steps i) and ii) are realised by using data characterising at least one location where there is a particular signalling panel transmitted by a remote server.

3. Method according to one of the previous claims, wherein step iii) comprises a step consisting in causing a visual and / or sound indication to be broadcast by a human-machine interface of the vehicle.

4. System (100) for managing the operation of an apparatus for assisting in driving a motor vehicle, wherein the system comprises at least one information processing unit (101), comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium (102) configured to implement a method according to any one of the previous claims.

5. A computer plan comprising plan code instructions for executing the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 when said plan is executed on a computer.

6. Support usable in a computer, wherein a plan according to claim 5 is recorded therein.

7. Motor vehicle characterised in that it comprises a system according to claim 4.