A method for warning a pedestrian about a crossing of an at least in part autonomous motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for warning a pedestrian (12) about a crossing of an at least in part autonomous motor vehicle (14) by a warning system (10), comprising the steps of: receiving a crossing message (22) from t

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for warning a pedestrian about a crossing of an at least in part autonomous motor vehicle by a warning system. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as to a corresponding warning system. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] Traffic accidents between pedestrians walking on a crosswalk and motor vehicles travelling across the crosswalk occur frequently. In order to reduce such accidents between pedestrians and vehicles a method for notifying the pedestrians of an approaching vehicle is needed.

[0003] According to the state of the art, only pedestrian traffic lights, which indicate that for example the traffic light for a motor vehicle is green, are known. An additionally warning for a pedestrian of a crossing motor vehicle is not known in the state of the art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding warning system, by which the safety for a pedestrian crossing a crosswalk can be raised.

[0005] This object is solved by a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding warning system.

[0006] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for warning a pedestrian about a crossing of an at least in part autonomous motor vehicle by a warning system. A crossing message is received from the motor vehicle by a receiving device of the warning system. An operation signal for a warning device of the warning system is generated by an electronic computing device of the warning system and a warning signal for the pedestrian is outputted depending on the operation signal by the warning device.

[0007] Therefore, an additional warning of the pedestrian crossing for example an intersection or a crosswalk can be provided. This raises the security for the pedestrian, as the pedestrian gets an information about a crossing motor vehicle.

[0008] In particular, additional safety is provided, for example an additional light may indicate to the pedestrian that the motor vehicle is about to cross the path of the pedestrian. The motor vehicle should stop for a crosswalk and / or pedestrian anyway but it will add an additional layer.

[0009] There might be other situations as well, for example gaining trust for the public may be provided. In order to integrate at least in part automated motor vehicles in the daily lives, the public needs to trust the system. Furthermore, in pro-active communication by a motor vehicle might increase the trust. Instead of not knowing where the motor vehicle wants to go, pedestrians can get an indication of the planned path in certain situations.

[0010] According to an embodiment the warning device is configured as a pedestrian light.

[0011] In another embodiment the pedestrian light is provided at an intersection the motor vehicle wants to cross.

[0012] In another embodiment the crossing message is transmitted via a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication.

[0013] In another embodiment the warning device is additionally provided to a pedestrian light of a road.

[0014] In particular, the method is a computer-implemented method. Therefore, another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to the preceding aspect.

[0015] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to the preceding aspect.

[0016] Another aspect of the invention relates to a warning system for warning a pedestrian about a crossing of an at least in part autonomous motor vehicle, comprising at least one receiving device, one electronic computing device, and one warning device, wherein the warning system is configured for performing a method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method is performed by the warning system.

[0017] Advantageous embodiments of the method are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the computer program product, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as the warning system. Therefore, the warning system comprises means for performing the method.

[0018] A computing unit / electronic computing device may in particular be understood as a data processing device, which comprises processing circuitry. The computing unit can therefore in particular process data to perform computing operations. This may also include operations to perform indexed accesses to a data structure, for example a look-up table, LUT.

[0019] In particular, the computing unit may include one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers, and / or one or more integrated circuits, for example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits, ASIC, one or more field-programmable gate arrays, FPGA, and / or one or more systems on a chip, SoC. The computing unit may also include one or more processors, for example one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units, CPU, one or more graphics processing units, GPU, and / or one or more signal processors, in particular one or more digital signal processors, DSP. The computing unit may also include a physical or a virtual cluster of computers or other of said units.

[0020] In various embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units.

[0021] A memory unit may be implemented as a volatile data memory, for example a dynamic random access memory, DRAM, or a static random access memory, SRAM, or as a non-volatile data memory, for example a read-only memory, ROM, a programmable read-only memory, PROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory, EPROM, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, EEPROM, a flash memory or flash EEPROM, a ferroelectric random access memory, FRAM, a magnetoresistive random access memory, MRAM, or a phase-change random access memory, PCRAM.

[0022] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and / or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and / or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0024] The drawings show in:

[0025] Fig. 1 a schematic top view according to an embodiment of a warning system; and

[0026] Fig. 2 a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of a method.

[0027] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0029] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0030] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises” or “comprise” does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0031] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a schematic top view according to an embodiment of a warning system 10. In particular, the warning system 10 is configured for warning a pedestrian 12 about crossing of an at least in part autonomous motor vehicle 14.

[0033] The warning system 10 therefore comprises at least one receiving device 16, one electronic computing device 18, and one warning device 20.

[0034] In particular, Fig. 1 shows the warning of the pedestrian 12. A crossing message 22 of the motor vehicle 14 is received by the receiving device 16. An operation signal 24 for the warning device 20 is generated by the electronic computing device 18. A warning signal 26 for the pedestrian 12 is outputted depending on the operation signal 24 by the warning device 20.

[0035] In particular Fig. 1 shows, that the pedestrian 12 wants to cross an intersection via a crosswalk 28. The motor vehicle 14 wants to turn right. A pedestrian light 30 is for example in a green status, in particular shows a green light 32. The pedestrian 12 is therefore allowed to cross the intersection 28. In particular, in order to warn the pedestrian 12 about the crossing of the motor vehicle 14 the additional warning device 20 is presented. For example, the warning signal 26 can be provided as a yellow light, and therefore the pedestrian 12 can be informed about the crossing motor vehicle 14.

[0036] In particular, as shown in Fig. 1, the warning device 20 may be configured as a pedestrian light 30. Furthermore, the pedestrian light 30 is provided at an intersection the motor vehicle 14 wants to cross.

[0037] In another embodiment the crossing message is transmitted via vehicle-to-infrastructure communication.

[0038] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 1, the warning device 20 is additionally provided to the pedestrian light 30.

[0039] In particular, currently, a pedestrian 12 sees and relies on the pedestrian light 30 that are in synchronization with other regular traffic lights. The idea is to have an additional warning device 20 that is controlled depending on the motor vehicle 14 for example in a vehicle-to-infrastructure environment.

[0040] The motor vehicle 14 may be for example an at least in part automated motor vehicle, for example a level 4+ (SAE-Level) motor vehicle, and is driving on its planned route and sends the crossing message 22 to the receiving device 16.

[0041] Fig. 2 shows a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of the method. In particular, in a first step S1 the motor vehicle 14 may be turning right at the intersection. In a second step S2 the pedestrian light 30 shows a green light. In a third step S3 the motor vehicle 14 sends the crossing message 22 to the electronic computing device 18 and the electronic computing device 18 activates the warning device 20. Therefore, in a fourth step S4, the pedestrian 12 might cross the intersection and is aware of the motor vehicle 14 to turn. signs Warning system Pedestrian Motor vehicle Receiving device Electronic computing device Warning device Crossing message Operation signal Warning signal Crosswalk Pedestrian light Green light Steps of the method

Claims

1. A method for warning a pedestrian (12) about a crossing of an at least in part autonomous motor vehicle (14) by a warning system (10), comprising the steps of: - receiving a crossing message (22) from the motor vehicle (14) by a receiving device (16) of the warning system (10);- generating an operation signal (24) for a warning device (20) of the warning system (10) by an electronic computing device (18) of the warning system (18); and - outputting a warning signal (26) for the pedestrian (12) depending on the operation signal (24) by the warning device (20).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe warning device (20) is configured as a pedestrian light (30).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe pedestrian light (30) is provided at an intersection the motor vehicle (14) wants to cross.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatthe crossing message (22) is transmitted via a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatthe warning device (20) is additionally provided to a pedestrian light (30) of a road.

6. A computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising the computer program product according to claim 6.

8. A warning system (10) for warning a pedestrian (12) about a crossing of an at least in part autonomous motor vehicle (14), comprising at least one receiving device (16), one electronic computing device (18), and one warning device (209, wherein the warning system (10) is configured for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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