Method for determining the route of a motor vehicle

Abstract

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

Description

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

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for determining a route for a motor vehicle, a computer program product, a system for determining a route for 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 portion of the population considers itself electrosensitive and may experience headaches or sleep disturbances in the event of an excessively high electromagnetic field.

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

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

[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 disadvantages. Description of the invention

[0006] To overcome one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks, according to a first embodiment, a method for determining a route for a motor vehicle comprises the steps of: • collection of destination coordinates for the route; and • collection of the starting coordinates of the route; • determination of the route using a road map including for each road segment an electromagnetic field value, said determination including a function for minimizing exposure to electromagnetic fields encountered by the vehicle during the journey along the route.

[0007] Thus, the vehicle can determine a route that is the least distressing possible for the electrosensitive person.

[0008] Specific features or embodiments, usable alone or in combination, are: • Minimizing exposure to electromagnetic fields includes searching for sections where the electromagnetic field level is as low as possible; • The electromagnetic field value of each section is downloaded from a centralized database; • the download is carried out using vehicle-to-vehicle communications; • the electromagnetic field value of each segment is received from at least one other vehicle that has travelled on a route with a starting point close to the destination recorded; and / or • The starting coordinates of the route correspond to the coordinates of the vehicle's location.

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

[0010] In a third embodiment, a system for determining a route for a motor vehicle comprises: • interfaces adapted to collect destination and departure coordinates for the route; and • a route determination calculator adapted to use road mapping including for each road segment an electromagnetic field value, and to minimize exposure to electromagnetic fields encountered by the vehicle while traveling the route.

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

[0012] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the figures in the appendix in which: • [Fig. 1] represents a top view of a vehicle comprising a route-determining system according to one embodiment; and • [Fig. 2] represents a flowchart of a method for determining a route according to a method of implementation. Methods of implementation

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

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

[0015] With reference to [Fig. 1], a motor vehicle 1 includes a route-determining system 3 comprising interfaces 5 adapted to collect destination and starting coordinates for the route. Typically, these interfaces 5 are integrated into the screen of the vehicle 1's in-vehicle infotainment system (IVI). This screen, often a touchscreen, is generally located on the dashboard of the vehicle 1 between the driver's seat and the front passenger seat so that it is accessible to the occupants of the front seats. Among its many functions, it interfaces with the vehicle's navigation software, which is run by the control unit 7.

[0016] Using interfaces 5, the user can define the starting location and the desired destination. By default, the starting location can be the coordinates of the vehicle's location at the time of entry; the user then only needs to enter the destination.

[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, or “Global Navigation Satellite System”).

[0018] The computer 7 can, for example, be integrated into the vehicle control system 1, as an advanced driver-assistance system, commonly called ADAS (for "Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems"), which makes all driving decisions based on the environment and the programmed destination. The motor vehicle is then described as an autonomous vehicle. But it can also be a centralized vehicle management system that may or may not include driver assistance features.

[0019] Data transfer between the different elements is preferably carried out by a CAN (for "Controller Area Network") or LIN (for "Local Interconnect Network") type data bus.

[0020] The computer 7 is connected to a road map database 11. This road map typically includes traffic lanes. Thus, conventionally, the computer 7 can determine a route for the vehicle to travel from the starting point to the destination point. In addition, this map includes geographical information on the distribution of electromagnetic fields. This information can be stored locally with the other map data or 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 the traffic lane includes one or more values ​​associated with the electromagnetic fields through which that lane passes. For example, this could be the maximum value of the magnetic field 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 that minimizes exposure to electromagnetic fields through which the vehicle will pass. 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 could correspond to searching for segments where the electromagnetic field level, expressed as a maximum surface power density, is as low as possible.

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

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

[0025] In step 25, it calculates the route using road mapping that includes an electromagnetic field value for each road segment. The calculation includes a function for minimizing exposure to electromagnetic fields encountered by the vehicle while traveling the route, as explained above.

[0026] Figure 1 illustrates a system according to certain embodiments. The breakdown presented has a pedagogical purpose to highlight the different functions. However, it is understood that each block can be implemented using different means or combinations thereof, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers, and / or electronic circuits. Each component may include at least one computer or control unit. At least one memory may be included in each component. The memory may contain computer program instructions or software code.

[0027] The computers can be implemented by any type of data processing device, such as a central processing unit, a signal processing unit, a specific application integrated circuit, a programmable gate network, etc. The computers can be implemented in the form of 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 the software, the implementation may comprise 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 memories, hard drives, RAM, flash memory, etc.

[0030] The software product can be downloaded from a communication network and / or saved on a computer-readable medium. It can 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 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 memory are such that, when executed by the computer, the latter carries out one or more of the steps of the processes described above.

[0033] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This description is to be considered illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this single description. Numerous 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 embodiment, the electromagnetic field value for each segment is received from at least one other vehicle that has traveled on a route with a starting point close to the destination being recorded. This is possible when this other vehicle is equipped with a device for measuring and recording the electromagnetic field level. Having traveled in the opposite direction to the projected route, it can provide relevant values ​​for the computer 7.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for determining a route for 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 segment an electromagnetic field value, said determination comprising a function for minimizing exposure to electromagnetic fields through which the vehicle passes during the route.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein minimizing exposure to electromagnetic fields includes searching for 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 segment is downloaded from a centralized database.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the download is carried out 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 that has travelled on a route having a starting point close to the destination collected.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the starting coordinates of the route correspond to the coordinates of the vehicle's location.

7. Computer program product characterized in that it includes 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. A system (3) for determining a route for a motor vehicle comprising: • interfaces (5) adapted to collect destination and starting coordinates of the route; and • a route calculator (7) suitable for using road mapping including for each road segment an electromagnetic field value, and for minimizing exposure to electromagnetic fields encountered by the vehicle while traveling the route.

9. Motor vehicle comprising a system according to claim 8.

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