Method for determining a route for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for determining a route of a motor vehicle comprises the steps of: collecting (21) the destination coordinates of the route; and collecting (23) the starting coordinates of the route; determining (25) the route using a road map comprising for each road section an electromagnetic field value, said determination comprising a function for minimizing exposure to electromagnetic fields crossed by the vehicle when traveling the route. A system for determining a route of a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle comprising the system are also described. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig 2

Description

Title of the invention: Method for determining a route for a motor vehicle Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for determining a route of a motor vehicle, a computer program product, a system for determining a route of a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle comprising such a system. State of the art

[0002] Although there is no scientific consensus on the subject, a part of the population considers itself to be electrosensitive and may experience headaches or sleep disturbances in the event of an electromagnetic field that is too high.

[0003] These people then take multiple precautions, such as the creation of Faraday cages, to avoid being exposed, or to have little exposure, to electromagnetic fields.

[0004] However, when traveling by motor vehicle, the usual precautions may be ineffective or difficult to implement. As a result, these people are often forced to restrict their movements.

[0005] There is therefore a real need for a method and a system for determining a route for a motor vehicle which resolves all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks. Description of the invention

[0006] To resolve one or more of the drawbacks cited above, according to a first embodiment, a method for determining a route of a motor vehicle comprises the steps of: • collection of route destination coordinates; and • collection of the starting coordinates of the route; • determination of the route using a road map comprising for each road section an electromagnetic field value, said determination comprising a function for minimizing exposure to electromagnetic fields crossed by the vehicle when traveling the route.

[0007] Thus, the vehicle can determine a route which is as painless as possible for the electrosensitive person.

[0008] Particular characteristics or embodiments, usable alone or in combination are: • minimizing exposure to electromagnetic fields includes finding a section with the lowest possible electromagnetic field level; • the electromagnetic field value of each section is downloaded from a centralized database; • downloading is carried out using vehicle-to-vehicle communications; • the electromagnetic field value of each section is received from at least one other vehicle having traveled on a route having a starting point close to the collected destination; and / or • the starting coordinates of the route correspond to the coordinates of the vehicle location.

[0009] In a second embodiment, a computer program product comprises program code instructions for implementing the above method when the program product is executed on a computer.

[0010] In a third embodiment, a system for determining a route of a motor vehicle comprises: • suitable interfaces for collecting destination and departure coordinates for the route; and • a route determination calculator adapted to use a road map including an electromagnetic field value for each road section, and to minimize exposure to electromagnetic fields crossed by the vehicle when traveling the route.

[0011] In a fourth embodiment, a motor vehicle comprises a system according to the third embodiment. Brief description of the figures

[0012] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended figures in which: • [Fig.l] represents a top view of a vehicle comprising a system for determining a route according to one embodiment; and • [Fig.2] represents a flowchart of a method for determining a route according to one embodiment. Methods of implementation

[0013] The embodiments presented below refer to a motor vehicle, a car. However, those skilled in the art understand that these are also usable with other types of vehicle such as vans, vans, etc.

[0014] The terms “front”, “rear”, “top”, “bottom”, “transverse” are understood in relation to the vehicle.

[0015] With reference to [Fig.l], a motor vehicle 1 comprises a system 3 for determining a route comprising interfaces 5 adapted to collect destination and departure coordinates of the route. Typically, these interfaces 5 are integrated into the screen of the information and entertainment system (in English "In-Vehicle Infotainment System" or IVI) of the vehicle 1. This screen, often a touch screen, is generally located on the dashboard of the vehicle 1 between the driver's seat and the front passenger's seat to be accessible by the people located in the front seats of the vehicle. Among its many functions, it interfaces with the vehicle's navigation software which is executed by the computer 7.

[0016] By using the interfaces 5, the user can define the starting location, as well as the desired destination location. By default, the starting location can be the coordinates of the vehicle's location at the time of entry, the user then only has to enter the destination location.

[0017] The location of the vehicle is known at all times by the integration of a GNSS 9 module (“Global Navigation Satellite System” in English).

[0018] The computer 7 can, for example, be integrated into the vehicle control system 1, as an advanced driver assistance system, commonly called AD AS (for “Advanced driver-assistance Systems” according to English terminology) which makes all driving decisions based on the environment and the programmed destination. The motor vehicle is then referred to as an autonomous motor vehicle. But it can also be a centralized vehicle management system including, or not, driving aids.

[0019] The transfer of data between the different elements is preferably carried out by a CAN (for “Controller Area Network” in English) or LIN (for “Local Interconnect Network” in English) type data bus.

[0020] The computer 7 is connected to a road mapping database 11. This road mapping typically includes traffic lanes. Thus, typically, the computer 7 can determine a route for the vehicle to go from the starting point to the destination point. In addition, this mapping includes geographic information on the distribution of electromagnetic fields. This information can be stored locally with the other map data or be located on a central server (not shown) to which the system 3 connects via the Internet to load the information relevant to its calculations.

[0021] Thus, each section of traffic lane comprises one or more values ​​associated with the electromagnetic fields that this lane crosses. For example, this may be the maximum magnetic field value in the form of a density surface power density expressed in W / m2. This can also be an average value.

[0022] The computer 7 then includes a specific route determination module which minimizes the exposure to the electromagnetic fields that the vehicle will cross. This minimization calculation uses conventional route calculation functions, but instead of using a cost function based on distance or speed, it uses a cost function based on electromagnetic fields. For example, this may correspond to searching for sections whose electromagnetic field level in the form of a maximum surface power density is as low as possible.

[0023] The operation of system 3 is as follows, [Fig.2].

[0024] Via the sensors 5, the system 3 collects the destination coordinates of the route, step 21, and the departure coordinates of the route, step 23.

[0025] It calculates, step 25, the route using the road map comprising for each road section an electromagnetic field value. The calculation includes a function for minimizing the exposure to the electromagnetic fields crossed by the vehicle when traveling the route, as explained above.

[0026] [Fig.l] illustrates a system according to certain embodiments. The breakdown presented has an educational purpose to highlight the different functions. However, it is understood that each block may be implemented using different means or combinations thereof, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers and / or electronic circuits. Each of the components may include at least one computer or a control-command unit. At least one memory may be included in each component. The memory may include computer program instructions or software code.

[0027] The computers can be implemented by any type of data processing device, such as a central computing unit, a signal processing processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, etc. The computers can be implemented as a single controller, or a plurality of controllers or computers.

[0028] The different modules are connected to each other by data links adapted to the environment. These can be wired or wireless.

[0029] For software, the implementation may include modules or units distributed in the form of procedures, functions, etc. The memories may be any type of storage circuit. They may be part of the processor circuit, or separate from it and connected via electrical data links. These may be non-volatile type memories, hard disks, random access memories, flash memories, etc.

[0030] The program product may be downloadable from a communications network and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium. It may be directly executable by a processor or be in the form of a high-level language requiring one or more intermediate operations to be executable.

[0031] Thus the program instructions stored in the memory and processed by the computers can be any type of program code, for example, a compiled or interpreted program written in a suitable programming language.

[0032] The computer program instructions stored in the memory are such that, when executed by the computer, the latter carries out one or more of the steps of the methods described above.

[0033] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This should be considered as illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this description alone. Numerous alternative embodiments are possible.

[0034] In a first variant, the downloading of electromagnetic field data is carried out using vehicle-to-vehicle communication devices, for example according to the ETSI ITS-G5 standard.

[0035] In a second variant, the electromagnetic field value of each section is received from at least one other vehicle having traveled on a route having a starting point close to the collected destination. This is possible when this other vehicle has a device for measuring and recording the electromagnetic field level. Having traveled in the opposite direction to the planned route, it can provide relevant values ​​for the computer 7.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for determining a route of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: • collecting (21) the destination coordinates of the route; and • collecting (23) the starting coordinates of the route; • determining (25) the route using a road map comprising for each road section an electromagnetic field value, said determination comprising a function for minimizing exposure to the electromagnetic fields crossed by the vehicle when traveling the route.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein minimizing exposure to electromagnetic fields comprises finding a section with the lowest possible electromagnetic field level.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electromagnetic field value of each section is downloaded from a centralized database.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the downloading is performed using vehicle-to-vehicle communications.

5. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electromagnetic field value of each segment is received from at least one other vehicle having traveled on a route having a starting point close to the collected destination.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the starting coordinates of the route correspond to the coordinates of the location of the vehicle.

7. Computer program product characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 when the program product is executed on a computer.

8. System (3) for determining a route of a motor vehicle comprising: • interfaces (5) adapted to collect destination and departure coordinates of the route; and • a route determination calculator (7) adapted to use a road map including an electromagnetic field value for each road section, and to minimize exposure to electromagnetic fields crossed by the vehicle when traveling the route.

9. A motor vehicle comprising a system according to claim 8.

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