Visualized information about hidden road users ahead

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for communicating information from a vehicle (1) ahead to a vehicle (3) behind, situated directly behind the vehicle (1) ahead, about a further road user (5) in front of the vehicle (1) ahead, comprising the following steps: determining (S1), by the vehicle (3) behind, a license number of the vehicle (1) ahead, comparing (S2) same with a central database (7) in regard to a prior registration, and if such a registration is ascertained: transmitting (S3) a request for obtaining an absolute position of the vehicle (1) ahead, and checking (S4) whether the absolute position of the vehicle (1) ahead and that of the vehicle (3) behind are within a predefined common range, and if this is ascertained to be the case: continuously communicating (S5) sensor information about the further road user (5) from the vehicle (1) ahead to the vehicle (3) behind.

Description

[0001] Visualized information about hidden road users ahead

[0002] The invention relates to a method for transmitting information from a vehicle driving ahead to a rear vehicle located immediately behind the vehicle driving ahead about another road user in front of the vehicle driving ahead.

[0003] In public traffic, the situation sometimes arises that a driver of a vehicle does not recognize other road users or does so too late because they are obscured by an object or another road user.

[0004] To solve this problem, EP 3 399 330 A1 relates to an object detection system for an automated vehicle, comprising: an object detector that detects detectable objects in the vicinity of the host vehicle; a receiver that receives an indication of an object presence from other transmitters in the vicinity of the host vehicle; and a controller in communication with the object detector and the receiver, wherein the controller is configured to operate the host vehicle to avoid a collision with a hidden object if the hidden object is not detected by the object detector and the presence of the object is indicated by at least two instances of the other transmitters.

[0005] US 2018101736 A1 describes methods for providing a visual security image for a vehicle, an electronic device and a computer-readable recording medium therefor.

[0006] DE 102012018556 A1 relates to an assistance system for enabling an extended foresight for following road users, comprising a sensor device with which images of a vehicle environment substantially in front of a first vehicle can be captured in chronological sequence, characterized in that the sensor device comprises a stereo sensor device for capturing three-dimensional images, and images of the vehicle environment substantially in front of the first vehicle captured by the sensor device can be displayed in three-dimensional form for the eyes of a driver of at least one second vehicle following the first vehicle, in that the first vehicle comprises a display device in the rear area for a three-dimensional display of the images captured by the sensor device.

[0007] DE 102004049870 A1 describes a method and a device for improving the visibility of drivers of motor vehicles which are provided with receiving devices and display devices for image data, wherein the images from a respective other vehicle driving ahead, which is equipped with at least one video camera aligned in the direction of travel and a transmitting device for the image data generated by the at least one video camera, are received and displayed by the receiving device and display device.

[0008] Such a concealment problem, as explained above, can occur particularly when one's own vehicle, such as a passenger car, is following behind a significantly larger vehicle such as a truck, but also, for example, when a small car is following behind an off-road vehicle designed for cities or a small van. Even if a sufficiently large distance is maintained from the vehicle in front, other road users ahead can be concealed. On the one hand, urban off-road vehicles are becoming increasingly popular with consumers, while on the other hand, there is a trend toward using small and aerodynamically optimized electric vehicles that are rather narrow and / or flat. Such a situation requires increased attention from the driver of the following vehicle.

[0009] The object of the invention is to reduce a potential danger for a rear vehicle when another road user is or can be obscured by a vehicle driving ahead of the rear vehicle.

[0010] The invention is based on the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments and refinements are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for transmitting information from a vehicle in front to a rear vehicle located immediately behind the vehicle in front about another road user in front of the vehicle in front, comprising the steps:

[0012] - Determination of the registration number of the vehicle in front by the rear vehicle,

[0013] - Comparison of the determined registration number of the preceding vehicle with a central database for pre-registration, and if such pre-registration is detected:

[0014] - Sending a request to obtain an absolute position of the vehicle in front by the rear vehicle, and

[0015] - After receiving the absolute position of the vehicle in front, check whether the absolute position of the vehicle in front and an absolute position of the vehicle behind are within a predetermined common range, and if this is found to be the case:

[0016] - continuous transmission of sensor information from the vehicle in front to the vehicle behind, the sensor information comprising data on the environment in front of the vehicle in front, including any other road user in that environment.

[0017] The vehicle in front and the vehicle directly behind it thus form a pair of vehicles, with the vehicle in front potentially obscuring other road users in front of the vehicle in front from the vehicle behind. This is particularly the case if the vehicle in front is larger and / or taller than the vehicle behind. To mitigate this potential obscuration, a process can be initiated by the vehicle behind to obtain information from a sensor unit in the vehicle in front, which detects the surroundings ahead, including other road users in front of the vehicle in front.

[0018] In particular, a so-called "handshake" takes place in a first step to establish an informational connection between the vehicle in front and the vehicle behind. The vehicle behind first records and evaluates the license plate number of the vehicle in front. A central database then evaluates whether the vehicle in front is participating in a corresponding program under its license plate number and has registered for it in advance. This is an important prerequisite to prevent the sensor data of a vehicle (in this case, the vehicle in front) from being accessed by arbitrary units.

[0019] If this is the case, the absolute positions, especially satellite-based positions, of the vehicle in front and the vehicle behind are checked to see if they are very close to each other. This ensures that only vehicles that are actually nearby (behind) are able to make such a request and receive the sensor information from the vehicle in front. Two-factor authentication is thus performed to complete the pairing of the vehicle in front and the vehicle behind.

[0020] Only when the vehicle in front participates in a corresponding program according to the license plate number and the vehicle behind, driving in close proximity to the vehicle in front, submits a request, can sensor information be continuously transmitted from the vehicle in front to the vehicle behind. The sensor information is preferably displayed in the vehicle behind (possibly with minimal processing), but can also be output with additional information.

[0021] The symbol for activated brake lights is generated automatically from the sensor information of the vehicle in front. For example, if the vehicle in front performs a dangerous maneuver, brakes (particularly sharply), or something similar, a separate warning can be issued to the vehicle behind.

[0022] A possible application of such a method is also in the field of electronic drawbars, also called "platooning", in which the overall efficiency of several vehicles is improved by allowing them to drive one behind the other at a very short distance, while special mechanisms are provided to ensure safety, for example to prevent a consequence of rear-end collisions in the event of emergency braking by the vehicle in front.

[0023] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the sensor information is transmitted from the vehicle in front to the vehicle behind via wireless transmission according to the 5G standard. In principle, transmission via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other older standards is also possible, but this may lead to stability issues during transmission or be inappropriate due to excessive delay.

[0024] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the transmitted sensor information is visually displayed on a display unit, in particular a screen or a head-up display, on the rear vehicle. The display is as simple as possible to avoid unnecessary distraction for the driver of the rear vehicle. This allows for intuitive displays, for example, where the other road user is indicated in augmented reality, as if the vehicle ahead were transparent.

[0025] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the sensor information about the other road user is displayed superimposed on an image of the vehicle in front.

[0026] According to a further advantageous embodiment, cross-sectional dimensions of the vehicle in front and of the other road user are visualized in real proportion.

[0027] According to a further advantageous embodiment, cross-sectional dimensions of the preceding vehicle and of the other road user are displayed depending on a distance of the preceding vehicle from the other road user.

[0028] According to a further advantageous embodiment, information is output to the rear vehicle as to whether there is another road user in front of the vehicle in front.

[0029] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the central database receives the request to obtain the absolute position of the vehicle in front and, upon pre-registration of the vehicle in front, checks the absolute position of the vehicle in front and the vehicle behind to see whether they are in the predetermined common area relative to each other and, if positive, gives the vehicle in front a release to transmit the sensor information to the vehicle behind.

[0030] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the continuous transmission of sensor information from the vehicle in front to the vehicle behind is stopped when the vehicle behind leaves the lane of the vehicle in front and / or another vehicle positions itself between the vehicle in front and the vehicle behind and / or when a minimum distance between the vehicle in front and the vehicle behind is exceeded, wherein the minimum distance is selected in particular as a function of speed.

[0031] According to a further advantageous embodiment, only sensor information is transmitted from the vehicle in front to the vehicle behind, but not information about the current speed or the driving behavior of the other road user.

[0032] According to a further advantageous embodiment, compressed and / or preprocessed sensor information is transmitted from the vehicle in front to the vehicle behind.

[0033] Further advantages, features, and details will become apparent from the following description, which – where appropriate with reference to the drawings – describes at least one embodiment in detail. Identical, similar, and / or functionally equivalent parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0034] They show:

[0035] Fig. 1 : A method for transmitting information from a vehicle driving ahead to a vehicle behind about another road user according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0036] Fig. 2: A traffic situation in which the method according to Fig. 1 can be used.

[0037] Fig. 3: A traffic situation in which the method according to Fig. 1 is terminated. Fig. 4: A visualization applied in the method according to Fig. 1.

[0038] Fig. 1 shows a method for transmitting information from a vehicle 1 driving ahead to a rear vehicle 3 located immediately behind the vehicle 1 driving ahead about another road user 5 in front of the vehicle 1 driving ahead. To understand the method, Fig. 2 can also be used, which shows a corresponding traffic situation, wherein in particular the vehicle 1 driving ahead is a van and has dimensions that significantly exceed the rear vehicle 3 driving behind it. This can result in the case that a driver of the rear vehicle 3 does not see another road user 5 located in front of the vehicle 1 driving ahead, and for example, if the other road user 5 brakes heavily, the vehicle 1 driving ahead will perform an emergency braking maneuver.However, if the rear vehicle 3 is already informed about the braking of the other road user 5, even though this is obscured by the vehicle 1 in front, the rear vehicle 3 can also initiate braking earlier and thus prevent the formation of a traffic jam due to an overreaction during braking, as well as prevent a rear-end collision between the rear vehicle 3 and the vehicle in front 1. For this purpose, in a first step of the method, the rear vehicle 3 determines S1 a registration number of the vehicle in front 1 in order to carry out a comparison S2 of the determined registration number of the vehicle in front 1 with a central database 7 for a pre-registration.If the preceding road user 1 has registered once in advance, and their registration number is stored in the database 7 with such a feature, S3 the rear vehicle 3 or the database 7 itself sends a request to the preceding vehicle 1 to obtain a WGS-84 position of the preceding vehicle 1. A check is then carried out S4 to determine whether the WGS-84 position of the preceding vehicle 1 and a WGS-84 position of the rear vehicle 3 are within a predetermined common area, i.e., are in close proximity to one another. For this purpose, the common area is, in particular, imaginarily moved along with the preceding vehicle 1.If the rear vehicle 3 is within the area around the vehicle 1 in front, a continuous transmission S5 of sensor information from the vehicle 1 in front to the rear vehicle 3 takes place from then on, wherein the sensor information comprises data about the environment in front of the vehicle 1 in front, including another road user 5 located in this environment. This sensor information comprises, in particular, camera data from the vehicle 1 in front, which captures the environment in front of the vehicle 1 in front and thus the other road user 5.

[0039] In contrast to Fig. 2, for which the method according to Fig. 1 is fully applied, Fig. 3 shows a situation in which a gap has opened up between the rear vehicle 3 and the vehicle 1 in front, and another vehicle is about to merge into this gap. For the rear vehicle 3, there is now no longer any immediate need to receive the sensor information from the vehicle 1 in front about the other road user 5. Therefore, the continuous transmission of sensor information from the vehicle in front to the rear vehicle is interrupted when the other vehicle merges into the gap, or when the distance between the vehicle 1 in front and the vehicle 3 in rear has already become too large.

[0040] Fig. 4 shows a possible display of the other road user 5 relative to the vehicle 1 in front. The vehicle 1 in front is shown transparently, and the other road user 5 appears as if it were shining through the other road user 1. This makes it easy for the driver of the rear vehicle 3 to see if a possibly hidden other road user 5 is located in front of the vehicle 1 in front. This is shown on a screen or on a head-up display of the rear vehicle 3.

[0041] Although the invention has been illustrated and explained in detail by preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that a multitude of variations exist. It is also clear that exemplary embodiments are truly only examples and should not be construed as limiting the scope, possible applications, or configuration of the invention in any way.Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete terms, whereby the person skilled in the art, with knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, can make various changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method for transmitting information from a preceding vehicle (1) to a rear vehicle (3) located immediately behind the preceding vehicle (1) about another road user (5) in front of the preceding vehicle (1), comprising the steps: - Determination (S1) of a registration number of the preceding vehicle (1) by the rear vehicle (3), - comparing (S2) the determined registration number of the preceding vehicle (1) with a central database (7) for a pre-registration, and if such a pre-registration is detected: - sending (S3) a request to receive an absolute position of the preceding vehicle (1) by the rear vehicle (3), and - checking (S4) after receiving the absolute position of the preceding vehicle (1) whether the absolute position of the preceding vehicle (1) and an absolute position of the rear vehicle (3) are within a predetermined common range, and if this is determined to be the case: - continuously transmitting (S5) sensor information from the vehicle (1) driving ahead to the vehicle (3) behind, wherein the sensor information comprises data about the environment in front of the vehicle (1) driving ahead, including another road user (5) located in this environment.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted sensor information is visually displayed on a display unit, in particular a screen or a head-up display, on the rear vehicle (3).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the sensor information about the further road user (5) is displayed superimposed on an image of the vehicle (1) traveling ahead.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein cross-sectional dimensions of the preceding vehicle (1) and of the further road user (5) are visualized in real proportion.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein cross-sectional sizes of the preceding vehicle (1) and of the further road user (5) are displayed depending on a distance of the preceding vehicle (1) to the further road user (5).

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein information is output to the rear vehicle (3) as to whether there is another road user (5) in front of the vehicle (1) traveling in front.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the central database (7) receives the request to obtain the absolute position of the vehicle (1) in front, checks the absolute position of the vehicle (1) in front and of the vehicle behind (3) in advance to see whether they are in the predetermined common area relative to one another, and in the positive case, gives the vehicle ahead (1) permission to transmit the sensor information to the vehicle behind (3).

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the continuous transmission of sensor information from the vehicle in front (1) to the vehicle behind (3) is stopped when the vehicle behind (3) leaves the lane of the vehicle in front (1) and / or another vehicle positions itself between the vehicle in front (1) and the vehicle behind (3), or when a minimum distance between the vehicle in front (1) and the vehicle behind (3) is exceeded.

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein only sensor information is transmitted from the preceding vehicle (1) to the rear vehicle (3), but not information about the current Speed ​​or driving behaviour of other road users (5).

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein compressed and / or preprocessed sensor information is transmitted from the preceding vehicle (1) to the rear vehicle (3).

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