Method and device for controlling an on-board lighting system in a vehicle.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a lighting system on board a vehicle (10), the lighting system being configured to illuminate at least a portion of an external environment (10a) of the vehicle (10). To this end, first data representative of a passage of the vehicle (10) into an autonomous driving mode are received. The lighting system is then controlled to generate a set of light beams according to the first data. Figure for abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for controlling a lighting system on board a vehicle. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to methods and devices for controlling a lighting system on board a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The present invention also relates to a method and a device for controlling the projection of one or more light beams onto the ground by a lighting system on board a vehicle. Technological background

[0002] With the development of new technologies, many tools or systems for assisting vehicle driving have emerged. Depending on the driving assistance systems on board a vehicle, the vehicle is able to travel with a determined level of autonomy.

[0003] The level of autonomy of a vehicle makes it possible to determine the capacity of a vehicle to travel by replacing the driver to a greater or lesser extent, and the conditions of this autonomy. This autonomy capacity can be reduced under certain conditions (city, highway, parking areas for example).

[0004] A level of autonomy is defined by different criteria established by national or international organizations such as the American federal agency responsible for road safety (or in English "National Highway Traffic Safety Administration"), the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) and the SAE International (International Society of Automotive Engineers, from the English "Society of Automotive Engineers International"). These classifications differ in particular from level 3.

[0005] The 5 levels of the classification of the American federal agency responsible for road safety are: - level 0: no automation, the vehicle driver has full control over the main functions of the vehicle (engine, accelerator, steering, brakes); - level 1: driver assistance, automation is active for certain vehicle functions, the driver retaining overall control over the vehicle's driving; cruise control is part of this level, as are other aids such as ABS (anti-lock braking system) or ESP (programmed electro-stabilizer); - level 2: automation of combined functions, the control of at least two main functions is combined in the automation to replace the driver in certain situations; for example, adaptive cruise control combined with lane centering allows a vehicle to be classified as level 2, as does automatic parking assistance (from the English “Park assist”); - level 3: limited autonomous driving, the driver can cede complete control of the vehicle to the automated system which will then be in charge of critical safety functions; autonomous driving can however only take place in certain specific environmental and traffic conditions (only on motorways for example); - level 4: fully autonomous driving under certain conditions, the vehicle is designed to ensure all critical safety functions on its own over a complete journey; the driver provides a destination or navigation instructions but is not required to make himself available to take back control of the vehicle; - level 5: completely autonomous driving without driver assistance in all circumstances.

[0006] The classification of the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers is similar to that listed above, except that it has 6 levels, with level 3 of the American classification being divided into 2 levels in that of the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.

[0007] It is currently difficult to identify vehicles circulating with a given level of autonomy among other vehicles. Summary of the invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to improve the identification of a vehicle traveling with a determined level of autonomy.

[0010] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for controlling a lighting system on board a first vehicle, the system being configured to illuminate at least part of an external environment of the first vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: - reception of first data representative of a transition of the first vehicle into an autonomous driving mode; - controlling the lighting system to generate a set of light beams including a first light beam based on the first data.

[0011] The set of light beams is visible from outside the vehicle, any road user present near the first vehicle is then able to identify it as a vehicle traveling in an autonomous driving mode.

[0012] According to a variant, the method further comprises a step of receiving second data representative of a circulation of the first vehicle in a platoon of several vehicles, the control of the lighting system being further dependent on the second data.

[0013] According to a variant of the method, the set of light beams generated by the lighting system of the first vehicle when the first vehicle is in the platoon is different from the set of light beams generated by the lighting system of the first vehicle when the first vehicle is not in any platoon.

[0014] It is thus possible for any road user present near the first vehicle to identify that this first vehicle is traveling in an autonomous driving mode in a platoon.

[0015] According to a variant of the method, the second data comprise: - data representative of a relative position, with respect to the first vehicle, of at least one second vehicle in the platoon, the at least one second vehicle being adjacent to the first vehicle in the platoon; and - data representative of a type of lighting system on board at least one second vehicle.

[0016] According to a variant of the method, the control of the lighting system is, in addition, a function of a type of lighting system of the at least one second vehicle.

[0017] According to a variant of the method: - when the at least one second vehicle has a lighting system of the same type as a type of the lighting system on board the first vehicle, then the lighting system on board the first vehicle generates a second light beam from the set of light beams between the first vehicle and the at least one second vehicle combining with a light beam generated by the lighting system on board the at least one second vehicle; and - when the at least one second vehicle does not have a lighting system of the same type as the type of lighting system on board the first vehicle, then the lighting system on board the first vehicle generates a third light beam from the set of light beams between the first vehicle and the at least one second vehicle.

[0018] The first vehicle is thus able to adapt a set of light beams so as to highlight a link to other vehicles in the platoon surrounding it. Any road user in the vicinity of the first vehicle will then be able to identify the autonomous driving mode in a platoon of the first vehicle and at least part of the platoon of which it is a part.

[0019] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for controlling a lighting system on board a vehicle emitting a set of light beams, the device comprising a memory associated with at least one processor configured for implementing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0020] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a system comprising the device according to the second aspect connected in communication to a light source configured to emit the set of light beams.

[0021] According to a variant of the system, each light beam of the assembly is projected onto the ground.

[0022] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising the device according to the second aspect or the system according to the third aspect.

[0023] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for executing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0024] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0025] According to a sixth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0026] On the one hand, the recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit type ROM memory, or a magnetic recording means or a hard disk.

[0027] Furthermore, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

[0028] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question. Brief description of the figures

[0029] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description of the non-limiting embodiments of the invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 4, in which:

[0030] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates an environment of a vehicle, according to an example particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a grouping of vehicles by platoon, according to a particular exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] [Fig.3] illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling a lighting system on board a vehicle of Figures 1 and 2, according to a particular exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a device configured for controlling an on-board lighting system in a vehicle of Figures 1 and 2 and configured to illuminate at least a portion of an exterior environment of the vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Description of the embodiments

[0034] A method and a device for controlling a lighting system on board a vehicle and configured to illuminate at least a portion of an environment outside the vehicle will now be described in what follows with joint reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which follows.

[0035] [Fig.l] illustrates a first vehicle 10 traveling on a traffic lane of a road 1000. Other vehicles 11, 12 (called second vehicles) are traveling on this same road 1000.

[0036] In this example, the vehicle 10 corresponds to a vehicle with a thermal engine, with electric motor(s) or even a hybrid vehicle with a thermal engine and one or more electric motors. The vehicle 10 thus corresponds, for example, to a land vehicle such as an automobile, a truck, a bus.

[0037] The first vehicle 10 is equipped with a lighting system for generating a set of light beams.

[0038] This lighting system comprises, for example, one or more projectors placed on the sides and / or under certain parts of the first vehicle 10. These projectors are configured to project light at different locations, for example on the body of the vehicle and / or around the vehicle, for example, on the ground or even on the road. A projector is, for example, configured to emit light beams of different colors, or to project an image in the light beam. Examples include projectors present in the doors, under the rearview mirrors or under the rocker panels of the vehicles, configured to project the light image of a logo or pictogram on the road. There are also light devices such as tubes configured to project colored light under the vehicle, thus placing the vehicle in a luminous halo.

[0039] The first vehicle 10 carries a system associated with detectors authorizing an autonomous driving mode. A vehicle traveling in such an autonomous driving mode corresponds to a vehicle whose level of autonomy is greater than a threshold, for example greater than 3 or 4, whether in the classification published by the federal agency responsible for road safety in the USA which includes 5 levels or in the classification published by the international organization of motor vehicle manufacturers which includes 6 levels.

[0040] The first vehicle 10 incorporates one or more driving assistance systems, called AD AS (from the English “Advanced Driver-Assistance System” or in French “Système d'aide à la conduite avance”). Such AD AS systems are configured to assist, or even replace, the driver of the first vehicle 10 to control the vehicle 10 on its journey. The first vehicle 10 incorporates in particular an automatic speed regulation system, for example: - an adaptive cruise control system, known as ACC (from the English “Adaptive Cruise Control”); and / or - a predictive cruise control system, known as a PCC system (from the English “Predictive Cruise Control”); and / or - an intelligent speed adaptation system, known as an ISA system (from the English “Intelligent Speed ​​Adaptation”); and / or - a curve speed adaptation system, called the CSA system (from the English “Curve Speed ​​Assist”).

[0041] The examples of AD AS systems in the list above are provided for illustrative purposes and are not limiting, this list not being exhaustive.

[0042] The AD AS systems embedded in the vehicle 10 are for example supplied with data obtained from one or more embedded sensors, such as for example radars, LIDARs and / or cameras, and / or data received from a communication infrastructure.

[0043] According to a particular embodiment, the first vehicle 10 is a vehicle which has an autonomy level of level 3 or higher.

[0044] A process for controlling the lighting system on board the first vehicle 10 is advantageously implemented by the first vehicle 10, for example by one or more processors of one or more computers on board the first vehicle 10.

[0045] In a first operation, a first device on board the first vehicle 10 configured to control the lighting system of the first vehicle 10 receives first data representative of a passage of the first vehicle 10 into an autonomous driving mode.

[0046] The first device corresponds for example to a calculator, an example of hardware implementation of such a calculator being described below with regard to [Fig.4].

[0047] The first data received during the first operation correspond for example to data of a signal received via a communication bus or through input / output ports, for example following: - pressing a button (physical or virtual) on an HMI (Human-Machine Interface) when the driver of the first vehicle 10 has decided to put the first vehicle 10 into an autonomous driving mode; - detection by a second device on board the first vehicle 10 of the transition of the first vehicle 10 into an autonomous driving mode.

[0048] The first and second devices correspond to the same device or to two distinct devices configured to communicate with each other.

[0049] The first device on board the first vehicle 10 controls, during a second operation, the lighting system of the first vehicle 10. A first light beam of a set of light beams is then generated, covering a part of an external environment of the first vehicle in a zone 10a.

[0050] This zone 10a extends for example all around the first vehicle 10, making this first beam visible to any road user whether in front of, behind or to the side of the first vehicle 10.

[0051] The purpose of this first light beam is to allow any user present around the first vehicle 10 to identify that the first vehicle 10 is in an autonomous driving mode.

[0052] It is noted here that the first light beam is, for example, generated by several light sources, and that these light sources can also be used to perform other functions, for example to generate courtesy lighting when a driver or passenger of the first vehicle 10 is preparing to get into or get into the first vehicle 10.

[0053] According to a variant, the first vehicle 10 furthermore carries a communication device configured to transmit and receive data to another vehicle and / or a server of a network infrastructure. Each communication device can be likened to a node of a network, for example an ad hoc wireless network.

[0054] According to a variant, the second vehicles 11, 12 are also equipped with a communication device for transmitting and receiving data to another vehicle and / or a server of a network infrastructure.

[0055] The first vehicle 10 and the second vehicles 11, 12 advantageously communicate using a so-called V2X communication system, for example based on the 3GPP LTE-V or IEEE 802.1 lp of ITS G5 standards. In such a V2X communication system, each vehicle carries a node to enable vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and / or vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication, the pedestrians being equipped with mobile devices (for example a smartphone) configured to communicate with the vehicles.

[0056] The network infrastructure comprises, for example, communication devices 101, 102, each device 101, 102 corresponding for example to an antenna of a cellular network of the LTE 4G or 5G type or to a UBR (“Roadside Unit”), each corresponding to a node of the network, in addition to the nodes equipping the vehicles or pedestrians.

[0057] According to a particular embodiment, all of the nodes (i.e., the communications devices associated with the vehicles 10 to 12 and the antennas or UBRs 101, 102) of the network form, for example, an ad hoc wireless network (also called WANET (from the English “Wireless Ad Hoc Network”) or MANET (from the English “Mobile Ad Hoc Network”)), corresponding to a decentralized wireless network. The ad hoc wireless network advantageously corresponds to an ad hoc vehicular network (or VANET, from the English “Vehicular Ad hoc NETwork”) or to an intelligent ad hoc vehicular network (or InVANET, from the English “Intelligent Vehicular Ad hoc NETwork”), also called a “GeoNetworking” network.In such a network, 2 or more vehicles, each carrying a node, can communicate with each other in the context of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication; each vehicle can communicate with the infrastructure set up in the context of vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication; each vehicle can communicate with one or more pedestrians equipped with mobile devices (for example, a smartphone) in the context of vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication.

[0058] The nodes corresponding to the antennas (or UBRs) 101 and 102 are advantageously connected to one or more remote servers or to the “cloud” 100 (or in French “nuage”) via a wired and / or wireless connection. The antennas or UBRs 101 and 102 can thus act as a relay between the “cloud” 100 and the first vehicle 10 and / or each second vehicle 11, 12.

[0059] With the increase in the number of vehicles circulating on the roads, road congestion and road safety are becoming issues of important concerns. To reduce road congestion and improve safety without increasing the number of roads, the method known as platooning, also known as a road convoy or vehicle train, makes it possible to shorten the distance between vehicles thanks to increased communication between these vehicles. Bringing vehicles closer together on a given road can increase throughput by up to 5 times. At the same time, safety is improved thanks to reduced reaction times made possible by new means of communication and electronically managed driver assistance.

[0060] For a vehicle to benefit from the vehicle platooning method, the latter must be configured to travel in an autonomous driving mode of level 3 and above.

[0061] According to a variant, the second vehicles 11, 12 form a platoon. Such grouping of vehicles by platoon is enabled by an automated highway system (also called smart road) which corresponds to an intelligent transport system designed to enable the circulation of driverless vehicles on dedicated roads, these vehicles circulating in an autonomous driving mode without driver intervention.

[0062] According to a procedure known to those skilled in the art, the first vehicle 10 is able to join the platoon following an exchange of data according to a V2X communication mode (for example V2V and / or V2I) with at least one of the second vehicles 11, 12 making up the platoon.

[0063] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a grouping of vehicles by platoon, according to a particular exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] According to a variant, the first vehicle 10 is in an autonomous driving mode and circulates in a platoon 19 composed in particular of the second vehicles 11, 12.

[0065] The light beam generated by the first vehicle 10 corresponds for example to a second light beam different from the first light beam so as to allow any user present around the first vehicle 10 to identify that the first vehicle 10 is in an autonomous driving mode, but also that it is part of a platoon 19 made up of several second vehicles 11, 12.

[0066] When the first vehicle 10 circulates in the platoon 19, the set of light beams generated and emitted by the lighting system comprises for example the first beam and the second beam, the 2 beams being emitted simultaneously and covering for example different and / or complementary zones of the external environment of the first vehicle 10.

[0067] This second light beam covers a part of an external environment of the first vehicle in a zone 10b. It should be noted that the zone 10b is, for example, different from the zone 10a previously defined, and / or that the second beam The light generated is different from the first light beam generated, for example by the intensity or color of the lighting.

[0068] According to a variant, the control of the lighting system allows the lighting system of the first vehicle 10 to emit a light beam from the set of light beams according to second data received.

[0069] These second data include, for example: - data representative of a relative position, with respect to the first vehicle 10, of at least one second vehicle 11, 12 of the platoon 19, the at least one second vehicle 11, 12 being adjacent to the first vehicle 10 in the platoon 19; and - data representative of a type of lighting system on board the at least one second vehicle 11, 12.

[0070] The data representative of a relative position, with respect to the first vehicle 10, of at least one second vehicle 11, 12 of the platoon 19 makes it possible to determine whether the first vehicle 10 precedes and / or is followed by a second vehicle 11, 12 of the platoon 19.

[0071] This relative position data is obtained, for example, by exchanging data between the first vehicle 10 and at least one of the vehicles 11, 12 of the platoon 19. According to another example, this data is obtained using sensors on board the first vehicle 10 such as a radar or a lidar for example.

[0072] The data representative of the type of lighting system on board a second vehicle 11, 12 are for example transmitted by this second vehicle 11, 12 and received by the first vehicle 10 according to the V2X communication mode.

[0073] According to an exemplary embodiment illustrated by [Fig.2], a second vehicle 11 follows the first vehicle 10 and a second vehicle 12 precedes the first vehicle 10. In other words, the second vehicle 11 is behind the first vehicle 10 and the second vehicle 12 is in front of the first vehicle 10.

[0074] Depending on the relative positions of at least one second vehicle 11, 12, a light beam from the set of light beams emitted by the first vehicle 10 may, for example, illuminate areas of the external environment in front of 10d and / or behind 10c the first vehicle 10. For example, one light beam covers a ground surface 10c between the first vehicle 10 and the second vehicle 11, another light beam covers another ground surface 10d between the first vehicle 10 and the second vehicle 12.

[0075] According to a variant, the control of the lighting system of the first vehicle 10 is, in addition, a function of a type of lighting of the at least one second vehicle 11, 12.

[0076] The second vehicle 11 has a lighting system of the same type as that of the first vehicle 10. A lighting system of the same type is understood to mean a lighting system generating a set of light beams configured to illuminating at least a portion of an exterior environment of the second vehicle 11 representative of a passage of the second vehicle 11 in an autonomous platoon driving mode and configured to illuminate areas of the exterior environment in front of and / or behind the second vehicle 11.

[0077] According to a particular example, a lighting system on board each second vehicle 11, 12 is identical to the lighting system on board the first vehicle 10.

[0078] The second vehicle 11 then emits a light beam 11b representative of a driving mode in autonomous platoon driving.

[0079] The first vehicle 10 then generates a second light beam which combines with the light beam 11b generated by the second vehicle 11. The first vehicle 10 and the second vehicle 11 then illuminate complementary and / or merged zones for example. Thus, the zone 10c is illuminated by light beams emitted by both the first vehicle 10 and the second vehicle 11 for example.

[0080] According to another exemplary embodiment, the beams generated by the first vehicle 10 and those generated by the second vehicle 11 will generate identical or similar light beams. Identical or similar light beams are understood to mean beams of the same color for example.

[0081] According to another variant, the second vehicle 12 has a lighting system of the same type as that of the first vehicle 10, it then emits a light beam 12b representative of a driving mode in autonomous platoon driving.

[0082] The first vehicle 10 then generates a second light beam which combines with the light beam 12b generated by the second vehicle 12. The first vehicle 10 and the second vehicle 12 then illuminate complementary and / or merged zones for example. Thus, the zone 10d is illuminated by light beams emitted both by the first vehicle 10 and by the second vehicle 12 for example.

[0083] Conversely, when at least one of the second vehicles 11, 12 does not have a lighting system of the same type as that of the first vehicle 10, a third light beam is emitted between the first vehicle 10 and the at least one second vehicle 11, 12 which does not have this type of lighting system so as to highlight the link between the first vehicle 10 and the at least one second vehicle 11, 12 traveling in convoy 19.

[0084] A second vehicle 11,12 not carrying a lighting system of the same type as that of the first vehicle 10 corresponds to: - a second vehicle not fitted with any lighting system configured to signal that this second vehicle 11,12 is traveling in an autonomous and / or platoon driving mode; or - a second vehicle fitted with a lighting system for the external environment but not compatible with the lighting system of the first vehicle, such an incompatible lighting system not allowing, for example, the generation of contiguous or overlapping light beams when the first vehicle and the second vehicle follow each other in the platoon.

[0085] Thus, any road user present in the vicinity of convoy 19 can easily identify the vehicles forming a platoon. He can thus adapt his driving to the presence of this platoon, and avoid, for example, inserting himself in the middle of the platoon, that is to say between two vehicles in the platoon.

[0086] [Fig. 3] illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling a lighting system on board a vehicle of FIGS. 1 or 2, according to a particular embodiment of the present invention. The method is for example implemented by a device on board the vehicle 10 or by the device 4 of [Fig. 4],

[0087] The method comprises a step 21 of receiving first data. This first data is representative of a transition of the first vehicle into an autonomous driving mode.

[0088] According to an optional variant, the method comprises a step 23 of receiving second data representative of a circulation of said first vehicle 10 in a platoon 19 of several vehicles 11, 12.

[0089] The control step 22 of the lighting system of the first vehicle 10 is then a function of the first data received in step 21 and, optionally, of the second data received in step 23.

[0090] According to a variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to Figures 1 and 2 apply to the steps of the method of [Fig.3].

[0091] [Fig. 4] schematically illustrates a device 4 configured to control a lighting system, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The device 4 corresponds for example to a device on board the first vehicle 10, for example a computer. The device 4 is for example configured to transmit and / or receive data according to a V2X type link and control one or more light sources generating light beams.

[0092] The device 4 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations described with regard to figures 1 and 2 and / or the steps of the method described with regard to [Fig.3]. Examples of such a device 4 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as an on-board computer of a vehicle, an electronic calculator such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a server. The elements of the Device 4, individually or in combination, may be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and / or into discrete components. Device 4 may be implemented in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or a combination of electronic circuits and software modules. According to various particular embodiments, device 4 is communicatively coupled with other similar devices or systems, for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0093] The device 4 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 40 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and / or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the device 4. The processor 40 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 4 further comprises at least one memory 41 corresponding for example to a volatile and / or non-volatile memory and / or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

[0094] The computer code of the embedded software program(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in the first memory 4L

[0095] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 4 comprises a block 42 of interface elements for communicating with external devices, for example a remote server or the “cloud”, other nodes of the ad hoc network. The interface elements of the block 42 comprise one or more of the following interfaces: - RF radio frequency interface, for example Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi®, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced; - USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Universal Serial Bus” in French); - HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface” or “High Definition Multimedia Interface” in French); - LIN interface (from the English “Local Interconnect Network”).

[0096] Data is for example loaded to the device 4 via the interface of the block 42 using a Wi-Fi® network such as according to IEEE 802.11, an ITS G5 network based on IEEE 802.1 Ip or a mobile network such as a 4G network (or LTE Advanced according to 3GPP release 10 - version 10) or 5G, in particular an LTE-V2X network.

[0097] According to another particular embodiment, the device 4 comprises a communication interface 43 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system when the device 4 corresponds to a computer of the on-board system) via a communication channel 430. The communication interface 43 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via the communication channel 430. The communication interface 43 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN (from the English “Controller Area Network” or in French “Réseau de contrôles”) or CAN FD (from the English “Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate” or in French “Réseau de contrôles à débit de données flexible”) type.

[0098] According to an additional particular embodiment, the device 4 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen, one or more speakers and / or other peripherals via output interfaces not shown, respectively.

[0099] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a method for controlling a lighting system of a first vehicle and to the device configured for implementing the method.

[0100] The invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally a land motor vehicle, comprising the device 4 of [Fig.4].

Claims

1. Claims Method for controlling a lighting system on board a first vehicle (10), said system being configured to illuminate at least a portion of an exterior environment (10a) of said first vehicle, said method comprising the following steps: - reception (21) of first data representative of a passage of said first vehicle (10) into an autonomous driving mode; - receiving (23) second data representative of a circulation of said first vehicle (10) in a platoon (19) of several vehicles, said second data comprise: data representative of a relative position, with respect to said first vehicle (10), of at least one second vehicle (11, 12) of said platoon (19), said at least one second vehicle (11, 12) being adjacent to said first vehicle (10) in said platoon (19); and data representative of a type of lighting system on board said at least one second vehicle (11, 12); - control (22) of said lighting system to generate a set of light beams comprising a first light beam as a function of said first and second data and as a function of a type of the lighting system on board said at least one second vehicle, method for which: - when the at least one second vehicle (11, 12) has a lighting system of the same type as a type of the lighting system on board said first vehicle (10), then the lighting system on board said first vehicle (10) is controlled to generate a second light beam of said set of light beams between said first vehicle (10) and said at least one second vehicle (11, 12) combining with a light beam generated by the lighting system on board said at least one second vehicle (11, 12); and - when said at least one second vehicle (11, 12) does not have a lighting system of the same type as the type of lighting system on board said first vehicle (10), then the lighting system on board said first vehicle (10) is controlled to generate a third light beam of said assembly of light beams between said first vehicle (10) and said at least one second vehicle (11, 12).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of light beams generated by the lighting system of said first vehicle (10) when said first vehicle (10) is in said platoon (19) is different from the set of light beams generated by the lighting system of said first vehicle (10) when said first vehicle (10) is not in any platoon.

3. Device (4) for controlling a lighting system on board a vehicle emitting a set of light beams, said device (4) comprising a memory (41) associated with at least one processor (40) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 2.

4. A system comprising the device of claim 3 communicatively connected to at least one light source configured to emit the set of light beams.

5. System according to claim 4 wherein each light beam of said assembly is projected onto the ground.

6. Vehicle (10) comprising the device according to claim 3 or the system according to one of claims 4 to 5.

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