Securing the operation of an overcrowded motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for managing the operation of a motor vehicle (1) in order to prevent the vehicle from being driven when it is overcrowded. The invention also relates to a computer device (100) implementing such a method, as well as a motor vehicle (1) comprising such a device (100). Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Securing the driving of an overcrowded motor vehicle. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of computer systems and computerized methods for securing the operation of motor vehicles. The invention relates in particular to a method for managing the operation of a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a device implementing such a method, as well as a motor vehicle comprising such a device. The invention is applicable to motor vehicles such as motor land vehicles, in particular cars. Prior art

[0002] It is known that some drivers are sometimes tempted to transport too many passengers in their vehicle and thus temporarily exceed the maximum number of occupants allowed, which is determined by the legal regulations applicable to the vehicle. While this may sometimes be done without any problems, the consequences can be potentially dramatic in the event of an accident. Furthermore, overcrowding in a vehicle inevitably leads to increased activity within the vehicle, which can affect the driver's concentration and, therefore, contribute to increasing the risk of an accident. However, no known vehicle has a means of preventing the operation of an overcrowded vehicle. There is therefore still a gap in this area to ensure optimal driving safety. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention aims to overcome this deficiency. In particular, it aims to provide a solution to ensure that a motor vehicle cannot be driven when it has more occupants than the maximum number of occupants permitted by law applicable to all vehicles. In this way, the invention seeks to maximize driving safety.

[0004] In order to achieve these goals, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method of managing the operation of a motor vehicle by means of a computer device embedded in the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: i. obtain data characterizing the maximum number of authorized occupants of the vehicle; ii. determine, once it is established that the vehicle is stationary and that one of the vehicle's engines is started, data characterizing the number of occupant(s) present in the vehicle at the current time; iii. cause at least the immobilization of the vehicle when it is established that the number of occupant(s) present in the vehicle at the current time is greater than the maximum number of authorized occupants of the vehicle.

[0005] According to one variant, step i) can be carried out by interacting with a data storage medium of the device.

[0006] According to another variant, step ii) can be carried out by interacting with a speedometer and an ignition contact of the vehicle.

[0007] According to yet another variant, step ii) can be carried out by interacting with a camera and / or radar which are arranged in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0008] According to yet another variant, step iii) can be carried out by interacting with a gearbox and / or a handbrake of the vehicle.

[0009] According to yet another variant, step iii) may include a step consisting of causing the broadcast of visual and / or audio content by means of a human-machine interface of the vehicle.

[0010] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for managing the operation of a motor vehicle, the device comprising at least one information processing unit, including at least one processor, and a data storage medium configured to implement a method as described above.

[0011] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for the execution of the steps of a process as described above when said program is executed by at least one processor.

[0012] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a medium usable in a computer on which a program as described above is recorded.

[0013] According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a device as described above. Brief description of the figures

[0014] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying figures, in which:

[0015] [Fig-1] is a diagram of a motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0016] [Fig.2] is a functional diagram of a device according to the invention; and

[0017] [Fig.3] is a flowchart of the steps of a process according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0018] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. This vehicle is conventionally equipped with a human-machine interface 2, which allows the distribution of audio and visual content within the vehicle's passenger compartment, a gearbox 3, preferably automatic, a handbrake 4, preferably electric, an ignition switch 5, which allows the engine of the vehicle 1 to be started and stopped, and a speedometer 6, which conventionally measures the instantaneous speed of the vehicle at any given time. Furthermore, the vehicle 1 according to the invention also includes a camera 7 and a radar 8 arranged within the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1, the camera 7 thus enabling images to be taken of the passenger compartment, and the radar 8 being oriented in such a way as to be able to scan the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1.

[0019] Advantageously, the vehicle 1 according to the invention also includes a device 100 for managing the operation of a motor vehicle within the meaning of the present invention, which implements a method for managing the operation of a motor vehicle within the meaning of the present invention, as briefly summarized below and described in detail below.

[0020] During the implementation of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention first obtains the maximum number of authorized occupants of the vehicle 1. This information depends on the model of the vehicle 1 and is preferably recorded on a data storage medium of the device 100 according to the invention during its design. Next, the device 100 according to the invention determines whether the vehicle 1 is stationary while one of its engines is running. And when it establishes that such a situation exists, it then determines the number of occupant(s) present in the vehicle 1 at that current moment, by interacting for this purpose with the camera 7 and / or with the radar 8.Finally, if it determines that the number of occupants present in vehicle 1 at the current moment exceeds the maximum number of occupants allowed, the device 100 according to the invention then immobilizes the vehicle. To do this, it interacts with the gearbox 3 and / or the handbrake 4. Thus, the device 100 according to the invention is able to prevent the vehicle 1 according to the invention from being driven when it is overcrowded, and thereby improves driving safety.

[0021] Figure 2 schematically illustrates the device 100 for managing the operation of a motor vehicle according to the invention. It is essentially a computer device, comprising at least one information processing unit 101, including one or more processors, and a data storage medium 102, on which is stored, in particular, a program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of the process according to the invention described below, and an input and output interface 103 enabling the reception and transmission of data.

[0022] Preferably, the device 100 according to the invention is hosted on an independent computer and interacts via its input and output interface 103 and by means of a wired vehicle communication network (e.g., CAN, Ethernet, MOST) – represented in [Fig. 1] by the double-direction arrows – with the human-machine interface 2, with the gearbox 3, with the handbrake 4, with the ignition switch 5, with the speedometer 6, with the camera 7 and with the radar 8. As a result, the device 100 according to the invention can, in particular, determine whether the vehicle 1 is stationary while an engine of the vehicle 1 is running, it can determine data characterizing the number of occupant(s) present in the vehicle 1 at a current time and it can cause the vehicle 1 to come to a complete stop.

[0023] According to the invention, all the elements described above contribute to enabling the implementation of a method for managing the operation of a motor vehicle, as described below in relation to [Fig.3].

[0024] Figure 3 illustrates, by means of a flowchart, the steps of the process according to the invention.

[0025] According to a first step 301 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention obtains data characterizing the maximum number of authorized occupants of the vehicle (Ni). As mentioned above, this information, which depends on the model of the vehicle 1, is preferably recorded on the data storage medium 103 of the device 100 according to the invention at the time of the design of the vehicle 1.

[0026] Next, according to a second step 302 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention determines, once it establishes that the vehicle is stationary and that one of the vehicle's engines is running, data characterizing the number of occupant(s) present in the vehicle at the current time (N2). To determine whether the vehicle is stationary while one of the vehicle's engines is running, it interacts with the ignition switch 5 and with the speedometer 6. This method is advantageous in that it covers several cases that can lead to overcrowding in the vehicle. Indeed, the vehicle may be overcrowded from the start of a journey, and the device 100 according to the invention monitors this case by checking the number of occupants in the vehicle 1 as soon as the vehicle's engine is started and before the journey begins.However, overcrowding of vehicle 1 may also occur during a journey, for example when one or more occupants board the vehicle during a temporary stop. Therefore, by monitoring vehicle stops, whether these occur at the beginning of a journey or at the end... During a journey, the device 100 according to the invention is able to monitor all situations that are likely to lead to overcrowding of the vehicle.

[0027] To determine the number of occupant(s) present in the vehicle 1 at any given time, the device 100 according to the invention interacts with the camera 7 and / or the radar 8. For example, it uses the images generated by the camera 7 to determine the number of human heads or torsos appearing in the images, possibly using artificial intelligence trained for this purpose, which it integrates and executes. Alternatively or cumulatively, by using scanning data generated by the radar, the device 100 according to the invention can advantageously determine the presence of an occupant even if they are concealed, for example, under a blanket. In another embodiment, it uses the radar scanning data to determine breathing or heartbeats. Indeed, when a human breathes, variations in the positioning of their torso occur.Similarly, some radars can measure heart rate as accurately as an electrocardiograph.

[0028] Finally, according to a third step 303 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention causes at least the immobilization of the vehicle as soon as it establishes that the number of occupant(s) present in the vehicle at the current moment is greater than the maximum number of authorized occupants of the vehicle. To this end, it interacts with the gearbox 3, for example by activating a parking position and preventing this position from being deactivated in the case of an automatic gearbox. Alternatively or cumulatively, it interacts with the handbrake 4, causing it to be engaged and preventing its release.

[0029] According to an alternative, the device 100 of the invention also proceeds during this third step of the process by causing the broadcast of audio and / or visual content that informs the driver of the overcrowding of vehicle 1 and, consequently, of its immobilization. The driver of vehicle 1 is thus advantageously informed of the reason why vehicle 1 is immobilized.

[0030] Thus, thanks to the method and device according to the invention described above, a solution exists to prevent the driving of an overcrowded motor vehicle. In this way, the method and device according to the invention contribute to an improvement in driving safety.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for managing the operation of the vehicle by means of a computer device (100) on board a motor vehicle (1), characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: i) obtaining data characterizing the maximum number of authorized occupants of the vehicle (Ni); ii) determining, once it is established that the vehicle is stopped and that an engine of the vehicle is started, data characterizing the number of occupant(s) present in the vehicle at the current time (N2); iii) causing at least the immobilization of the vehicle once it is established that the number of occupant(s) present in the vehicle at the current time is greater than the maximum number of authorized occupants of the vehicle.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that step i) is carried out by interacting with a data storage medium (103) of the device.

3. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that step ii) is carried out by interacting with a speedometer (6) and an ignition contact (5) of the vehicle.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that step ii) is carried out by interacting with a camera (7) and a radar (8) which are arranged in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that step iii) is carried out by interacting with a gearbox (3) and / or a handbrake (4) of the vehicle.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that step iii) comprises a step of causing the broadcast of visual and / or sound content by means of a human-machine interface (2) of the vehicle.

7. Device (100) for managing the operation of a motor vehicle (1), characterized in that the device comprises at least one information processing unit (101), comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium (102) configured to implement a method according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. Computer program comprising program code instructions for carrying out the steps of a process according to any one of claims 1 to 6 when said program is executed by at least one processor.

9. A medium usable in a computer, characterized in that a program according to claim 8 is stored thereon.

10. Motor vehicle (1), characterized in that it comprises a device (100) according to claim 7.

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