Method for activating at least two actuators of a motor vehicle, motor vehicle, control device for a motor vehicle, and method for operating a motor vehicle

Abstract

Actuators (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) are activated in a motor vehicle (1) by means of artificial intelligence, in particular in order to provide a passenger compartment experience. In the event of an actuator deviating from the target, the target value for other actuators is adapted so that the passenger compartment experience continues to correspond to the target settings.

Description

[0001] Method for controlling at least two actuators of a motor vehicle, motor vehicle, control unit for a motor vehicle and method for operating a motor vehicle

[0002] DESCRIPTION:

[0003] The invention relates to a method for controlling at least two actuators of a motor vehicle, in particular for the purpose of providing an interior experience. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle in which the method according to the invention can be implemented, as well as to a control unit provided for such a motor vehicle. The invention further relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle, in particular for the purpose of providing an interior experience.

[0004] Such interior vehicle experiences are offered to vehicle occupants when they are not engaged in the task of driving the vehicle. This can occur during a break or, in the case of an autonomous vehicle, during a journey where no human intervention is required.

[0005] A typical interior experience includes the provision of a feel-good atmosphere with the supply of warm air, activation of the seat heating, lighting experiences (especially with red light), relaxing music and the like.

[0006] US 2018 / 0134116 A1 discloses a motor vehicle with sensors that detect conditions prevailing inside and outside the vehicle. To ensure the best possible comfort for the vehicle occupant, a complex process of determining input data (telephone, calendar, email) is used to provide complex actuator control (air supply in the vehicle, heating of the passenger compartment, humidification and dehumidification, lights, sound, seat positions, and seat heating). Machine learning is used for this complex process.

[0007] From US 2021 / 0100480 A1 it is also known to detect the position of a user using artificial intelligence, whereby the artificial intelligence is fed with measured values ​​from several sensors.

[0008] When providing an interior experience, or in other contexts where multiple actuators in a motor vehicle are controlled together, the occupant may make changes to settings themselves. For example, if they push their seat forward, the warm air supplied to the seat further back could become too hot, lights on displays could be perceived as too bright, and so on.

[0009] The object of the invention is to make the control of actuators in a motor vehicle more flexible.

[0010] The object is achieved by a method for controlling at least two actuators of a motor vehicle having the features of claim 1, by a motor vehicle having the features of claim 8, by a control device having the features of claim 9 and by a method for operating a motor vehicle having the features of claim 10.

[0011] The method according to the invention for controlling at least two actuators of a motor vehicle, in particular for the purpose of providing an interior experience, utilizes artificial intelligence. For at least one predetermined actuator, a target setting is specified, which is assigned to a target value of a predetermined input variable. If the actual value for the predetermined input variable deviates from the target value, the artificial intelligence changes the target setting for at least one predetermined actuator. This method achieves the desired flexibility: The method only needs to be defined once, namely by specifying the target setting for the at least one predetermined actuator. However, due to the use of artificial intelligence, the desired effect (interior experience) can be achieved as far as possible, even if the actual value for the predetermined input variable is not equal to the target value.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, a target setting is specified for at least two predetermined actuators, wherein the target setting of one actuator defines the target value of the predetermined input variable and wherein the artificial intelligence changes the target setting for the other predetermined actuator if the actual setting of one predetermined actuator deviates from its target setting.

[0013] In the above example, where the vehicle occupant has changed his or her seating position, the target seating position can define the target value of the predetermined input variable and, depending on this, the artificial intelligence can change the target settings for at least one other actuator, for example for an actuator that emits light, and / or for an actuator that emits heat, and / or for an actuator that emits sound.

[0014] Preferably, it is provided that a user can control at least some of the predetermined actuators in such a way that they deviate from their target setting. This would be the case with the seat. The artificial intelligence then changes the target setting for the other part of the predetermined actuators not controlled by the user.

[0015] If, for example, the user does not want the air to be too warm and turns down the ventilation, the red component in the light can be increased to create a cozy interior experience (by controlling more red LEDs or the like). According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the predetermined input variable is a variable that reflects a user preference. This can directly influence the target setting of a single actuator, such as the setting for the seat, the volume of a sound-emitting device in the vehicle, the brightness of lights, and the like. However, the user preference can also be described in a more complex way, for example by a vector with a plurality of entries, where each entry in the vector is a target value for a different actuator. The predetermined input variable that reflects the user preference can also simply be a parameter.The variable that reflects a user preference can also be determined with the help of sensors and artificial intelligence: For example, cameras and similar devices can be used to record the user's reactions to previous interior experiences and then evaluated by artificial intelligence.

[0016] It is possible that the predetermined input variable (for this purpose) is represented numerically. For example, a user may generally want the light to be brighter than is dictated by the interior experience. Alternatively or additionally, a predetermined input variable can also be a logical variable. For example, the user can select from several words ("warm," "cozy," "active," "entertaining," and the like).

[0017] A binary input variable can also refer to situations outside the provision of the interior experience, such as driving a vehicle. It is well known that a driver can set whether to drive in a "sporty" or "economical" (fuel-efficient) manner.

[0018] According to another preferred embodiment, the target settings can be changed at least partially, and preferably entirely, by a user. This embodiment differs from the one in which the user can physically exit the target setting in that, although the user can change the target settings as data / information, in the present embodiment the user does not have to physically exit these target settings. If the user exits them, the artificial intelligence orients itself to the changed target setting. In this way, the user can specify their preferences in the perception of the interior experience.

[0019] According to a further preferred embodiment, the predetermined input variable is a variable detected by at least one sensor, wherein the sensor is unaffected by actuators. Unlike the embodiment described above, in which the user can control at least some of the predetermined actuators so that they leave their target setting and the actual setting is then detected, in the embodiment now in question an environmental influence can be detected. For example, the brightness outside the motor vehicle (daylight, fog, night) can define the target value of the predetermined input variable and thus also the target setting for at least one predetermined actuator. It is conceivable that this relates in particular to the brightness that is to be produced in the motor vehicle.For example, the starry sky captured by a camera acting as a sensor can be displayed on a screen or in the vehicle's ceiling, giving the vehicle occupant the impression of being outdoors. Likewise, the camera acting as a sensor can detect other variables and control actuators accordingly. Furthermore, a microphone acting as a sensor, which is unaffected by actuators, can detect the ambient noise and, depending on this, control sound-emitting actuators and other actuators differently than originally intended. Artificial intelligence is capable of determining all of this.

[0020] The motor vehicle according to the invention comprises a control unit in which artificial intelligence is implemented, in particular by a neural network of the control unit. The motor vehicle further comprises actuators. A set with a plurality of parameter values ​​specifies a plurality of target settings for predetermined actuators, wherein each target setting is assigned to a target value of a predetermined input variable, and wherein the artificial intelligence is designed to change at least one parameter value of the set if an actual value for the predetermined input variable deviates from the target value, and wherein the control unit is designed to control the actuators according to the changed set of parameter values. This motor vehicle implements the method for controlling at least two actuators as described above.

[0021] The control unit according to the invention for a motor vehicle of the type just described comprises a device for providing artificial intelligence, in particular a neural network, wherein a set with a plurality of parameter values ​​is stored in a memory of the control unit, which set specifies a plurality of target settings for predetermined actuators, wherein at least one actuator and preferably each target setting is assigned a target value of a predetermined input variable, and wherein the device for providing artificial intelligence of the control unit is designed to change at least one parameter value of the set if an actual value for the predetermined input variable deviates from the target value, and wherein the control unit is designed to output control signals to actuators in accordance with the changed set of parameters.

[0022] The method according to the invention for operating a motor vehicle, in particular for the purpose of providing an interior experience, also utilizes artificial intelligence, wherein the method can be implemented in various motor vehicles optionally with or without a predetermined actuator. The presence or absence of at least one predetermined actuator in the motor vehicle to be operated is determined. A set of parameter values ​​defines a plurality of target settings for actuators, including the predetermined actuator, and if the predetermined actuator is not present in the motor vehicle, the artificial intelligence activates at least one other actuator and / or changes the parameter value for at least one other actuator compared to its target setting.This method corresponds to the method described above for controlling at least two actuators, wherein the target value of the predetermined input variable indicates in binary form whether the respective actuator is present in the motor vehicle or not. For applications or application situations that may arise during the method and are not explicitly described here, it can be provided that, according to the method, an error message and / or a request for user feedback is output and / or a default setting and / or a predetermined initial state is set.

[0023] The invention also includes the control device for the motor vehicle. The control device can have a data processing device or a processor device that is configured to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the processor device can have at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or at least one DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Furthermore, the processor device can have program code that is configured to carry out the embodiment of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor device. The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device. A processor circuit of the processor device can, for example, have at least one circuit board and / or at least one SoC (System on Chip).

[0024] The invention also includes further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention that have features already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention are not described again here.

[0025] The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle. As a further solution, the invention also comprises a computer-readable storage medium, comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer or computer network, cause the computer to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The storage medium can, for example, be designed at least partially as a non-volatile data memory (e.g. as a flash memory and / or as an SSD - solid state drive) and / or at least partially as a volatile data memory (e.g. as a RAM - random access memory). However, the storage medium can also be operated, for example, as a so-called app store server on the Internet. The computer or computer network can provide a processor circuit with at least one microprocessor.The instructions can be provided as binary code or assembly code and / or as source code of a programming language (e.g. C).

[0026] The invention also encompasses combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also encompasses implementations that each comprise a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, unless the embodiments are described as mutually exclusive.

[0027] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. Shown are:

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle in which the invention can be implemented; and

[0029] Fig. 2 Steps of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0030] The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that can be considered independently of one another, each of which also develops the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0031] In the figures, the same reference symbols designate elements with the same function.

[0032] A motor vehicle, shown in its entirety in Fig. 1 and designated by 1 therein, is intended to provide a passenger interior experience for an occupant 2. For this purpose, there is a control unit 10 in which a device for providing artificial intelligence is implemented using a neural network. The control unit controls actuators 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d and receives signals from sensors 14a, 14b, 14c.

[0033] For example, first actuators 12a can be LEDs or other light sources in a strip in the vehicle headliner. An actuator 12b adjusts the seat position(s) of vehicle occupant 2. A display 12c shows images and other displays, and a loudspeaker 12d provides sound. Additional actuators may be involved (e.g., to provide heat, such as seat heating and hot air ventilation; humidifiers or dehumidifiers; and much more).

[0034] A first sensor 14a is designed as a camera directed at the surroundings of the motor vehicle, in this case capturing the sky above the motor vehicle. A second sensor 14b can detect the seat position. This can be the result of control of the actuator 12b by the control unit 10, even indirectly due to an operation by the vehicle occupant 2 on an input device 16 generally specified here. A further sensor 14c can detect, for example, the temperature and / or humidity. Via the input device 16, the vehicle occupant 2 can indicate their user preferences, for example, which temperature they prefer for the vehicle interior experience, whether they like to listen to music at a particularly quiet level or prefer listening at a medium volume, and much more.

[0035] The method according to the invention involves storing a set of parameter values ​​in the control unit 10 that is intended to define the passenger interior experience. This set can also be received wirelessly from an external unit ("backend") via a communication interface 18. However, the set of parameter values ​​cannot always perfectly specify the passenger interior experience. It may be that the intended target setting for an actuator is not even possible, for example, because the vehicle occupant has made two settings.

[0036] Accordingly, the sensors can detect the actual settings in step S12. In step S14, the target settings are compared with the actual settings. If there is a discrepancy between the actual setting and the target setting, at least one parameter value is changed in step S16. For example, vehicle occupant 2 may have specified via the input device that the music should be played at a lower volume. In this case, a subtle blue light ("night sky-like") can be emitted by actuators 12a instead of the intended white or red light.The artificial intelligence 10 ensures - if necessary after self-learning including active feedback from the vehicle occupant 2 or detecting his reaction with sensors - that the interior experience received by the vehicle occupant 2 is essentially as originally defined or deviates only to the extent that it is attributable to actions of the vehicle occupant 2 (adjustment of the seat or other actuators, making inputs to the input device 16).

[0037] After step S16, the system typically returns to step S10 (if the interior experience is not terminated), and optionally repeats step S12 in parallel. Overall, the examples demonstrate how an audio studio experience environment can be provided.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS:

1. Method for controlling at least two actuators (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) of a motor vehicle (1), in particular for the purpose of providing an interior experience, using artificial intelligence, wherein a target setting is specified for at least one predetermined actuator (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), which is assigned to a target value of a predetermined input variable, wherein if the actual value for the predetermined input variable deviates from the target value for the predetermined input variable, the artificial intelligence changes the target setting for at least one predetermined actuator (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d).

2. Method according to claim 1, in which a target setting is specified for at least two predetermined actuators (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), wherein the target setting of the one predetermined actuator defines the target value of the predetermined input variable and wherein the artificial intelligence changes the target setting for the other predetermined actuator if the actual setting of the one predetermined actuator deviates from its target setting.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a user can control at least some of the predetermined actuators in such a way that they deviate from their target setting, and wherein the artificial intelligence changes the target setting for the other part of the predetermined actuators not controlled by the user.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined input variable is a variable that represents a user preference.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined input variable is represented numerically.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the target settings can be changed at least in part and preferably all by a user.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the predetermined input variable is a variable detected by at least one sensor (14a, 14b, 14c), the sensor being unaffected by actuators.

8. Motor vehicle (1) with a control unit (10) in which artificial intelligence is implemented, in particular by a neural network, and with actuators (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), wherein at least one set with a plurality of parameter values ​​specifies a plurality of target settings for predetermined actuators (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), wherein for at least some of the actuators the target setting and preferably each target setting is assigned to a target value of a predetermined input variable, and wherein the artificial intelligence is designed to change at least one parameter value of the set if an actual value for the predetermined input variable deviates from the target value, and wherein the control unit (10) is designed to control the actuators (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) according to the changed set of parameters.

9. Control unit (10) for a motor vehicle (1) according to claim 8, with a device for providing artificial intelligence, in particular a neural network, wherein a set with a plurality of parameter values ​​is stored in a memory of the control unit (10), which set specifies a plurality of target settings for predetermined actuators (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), wherein at least for some of the actuators the target setting and preferably each target setting is assigned to a target value of a predetermined input variable, and wherein the device for providing artificial intelligence is designed to change at least one parameter value of the set in the event of a deviation of an actual value for the predetermined input variable from the target value, and wherein the control unit is designed to output control signals to actuators (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) according to the changed set of parameters.

10. Method for operating a motor vehicle (1), in particular for the purpose of providing an interior experience, using artificial intelligence, wherein the method can be carried out in different motor vehicles optionally with or without a predetermined actuator, wherein the presence or absence of at least one predetermined actuator in the motor vehicle to be operated is determined, wherein a set of parameter values ​​defines a plurality of target settings for actuators including the predetermined actuator, and wherein the artificial intelligence activates at least one other actuator and / or changes the parameter value for at least one other actuator compared to the target setting if the predetermined actuator is not present in the motor vehicle.

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