A method for automatically maneuvering an at least in part automatically operated motor vehicle, a computer program product, a non-transitory computer

Abstract

A method for automatically manoeuvring an automatically operated motor vehicle 10 using an assistance system 12 of vehicle 10 includes capturing surroundings 16 of vehicle 10 by a capturing device of

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for automatically maneuvering an at least in part automatically operated motor vehicle by an assistance system of the motor vehicle. 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 assistance system. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] In the state of the art already warning systems, which may warn a driver of a motor vehicle approaching to an object are known. In particular, a predetermined safety distance is used in order to warn the driver. For example, if a distance for short the warning signal is provided for the user in order to prevent a collision with the object. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the invention to provide a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding assistance system, by which an adjustable distance to an object may be maintained automatically by the motor vehicle.

[0004] 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 assistance system according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0005] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for automatically maneuvering an at least in part automatically operated motor vehicle by an assistance system of the motor vehicle. Surroundings of the motor vehicle are captured by a capturing device of the assistance system. At least one obstacle in the captured surroundings is detected by an electronic computing device of the assistance system. An input for a predetermined distance for approaching to the obstacle is captured by an input device of the assistance system. The motor vehicle is automatically maneuvered in a position with a predetermined distance by a functional device of the assistance system.

[0006] Therefore, a person may input a predetermined distance to the obstacle. Then, the motor vehicle may maneuver such that the motor vehicle stops in a position with the predetermined distance. In particular, the predetermined distance is independent of a safety distance of the motor vehicle.

[0007] In particular the invention complements the existing warning / alarm system when the motor vehicle gets too close to an obstacle. The main difference is the purpose and therefore the corresponding operation logic. The current warning establishes when the motor vehicle gets too close to the obstacle, wherein the object is to avoid hitting the obstacle, wherein this is a safety feature. It doesn’t care how far away the obstacle is along as it is not too close. The proposed invention has the aim the get to a specific distance to the obstacle, without manually operate the motor vehicle. This may be helpful if the motor vehicle is in a tight space to fit the motor vehicle or want to park super close to a wall to make room for others.

[0008] According to an embodiment the at least one obstacle to keep the predetermined distance is selected by the user. In another embodiment the at least one obstacle is detected by an object detection algorithm.

[0009] In another embodiment during maneuvering of the motor vehicle surroundings are captured continuously.

[0010] In another embodiment the distance is inputable independent to a predetermined safety distance of the motor vehicle to the obstacle.

[0011] 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.

[0012] A still further aspect of the invention relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising at least a computer program product according to the preceding aspect.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention relates to an assistance system for automatically maneuvering an at least in part automatically operated motor vehicle, comprising at least one capturing device, one electronic computing device, one input device and one functional device, wherein the assistance system is configured for performing a method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method is performed by the assistance system.

[0014] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least the assistance system. In particular, the motor vehicle is an at least in part automatically operated motor vehicle. Therefore, the motor vehicle may comprise a functional device for controlling the maneuvering of the motor vehicle. For example, the functional device may be a steering device and / or an acceleration device.

[0015] Advantageous embodiments of the method are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the computer program product, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the assistance system, as well as the motor vehicle. The assistance system as well as the motor vehicle therefore comprises means for performing the method according to the proceeding aspect.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] In various embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units.

[0019] 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. Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings.

[0020] 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

[0021] 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.

[0022] The drawings show in:

[0023] Fig. 1 a schematic top view according to an embodiment of a motor vehicle comprising an embodiment of an assistance system; and

[0024] Fig. 2 a schematic flowchart according to an embodiment of the method.

[0025] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a schematic top view according to the embodiment of a motor vehicle 10. The motor vehicle 10 comprises at least an assistance system 12. The motor vehicle 10 is at least in part automatically operated. Therefore, the motor vehicle 10 may comprise a functional device 14 for performing the at least in part automatically maneuvering. For example, the functional device 14 may be configured as an acceleration device and / or as a steering device.

[0031] The assistance system 12 comprises at least one capturing device 16. The capturing device 16 may be for example configured as a lidar sensor, ultrasonic sensor, radar sensor or a camera. Furthermore, the assistance system 12 comprises at least one electronic computing device 18 and one input device 20. The functional device 14 may be part of the motor vehicle 10 or part of the assistance system 12.

[0032] In particular Fig. 1 shows that surroundings 22 of the motor vehicle 10 are captured by the capturing device 16. At least one obstacle 24 is detected in the captured surroundings 22 by the electronic computing device 20. An input for a predetermined distance 26 for approaching to the obstacle 24 is captured by the input device 20 of the assistance system 12. Automatically maneuvering the motor vehicle 10 in a position with a predetermined distance 26 is performed by the functional device 14 of the assistance system 12.

[0033] In particular, as shown, the predetermined distance 26 may be independent of a safety distance 28 for the motor vehicle 10. In particular, the safety distance 28 may be a distance, in which a collision of the motor vehicle 10 with the obstacle 24 is prevented. The predetermined distance 26 is adjustable, in particular depending on an input of a user of the motor vehicle 10.

[0034] Furthermore, the at least one obstacle 24 to keep the predetermined distance 26 is selected by the user.

[0035] In particular, for detecting the obstacle 24, an object detection algorithm may be used by the electronic computing device 18.

[0036] Fig. 2 shows a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of the method. In a first step S1 the user may trigger the function for maneuvering the motor vehicle 10 automatically. In a second step S2 the perception of the surroundings 22 is performed. In a third step S3 selectable obstacles 24 are presented for the user. In a fourth step S4 the user may select an obstacle 24. In a fifth step S5 the user may input the predetermined distance 26 to be kept by the motor vehicle 10 to the obstacle 24. In a sixth step S6 the maneuver is planned by the electronic computing device 18. In a seventh step S7 controlling the motor vehicle 10 in order to get into the position with a predetermined distance 26 is performed. Therefore, during the control step S7 an eighth step S8 is performed, wherein the perception of the surroundings 22 is performed continuously. signs: motor vehicle assistance system functional device capturing device electronic computing device input device surroundings obstacle distance safety distance steps of the method

Claims

1. A method for automatically maneuvering an at least in part automatically operated motor vehicle (10) y an assistance system (12) of the motor vehicle (10), comprising the steps of:- capturing surroundings (16) of the motor vehicle (10) by a capturing device (16) of the assistance system (12);- detecting at least one obstacle (24) in the captured surroundings (22) by an electronic computing device (18) of the assistance system (12);- capturing an input for a predetermined distance (26) for approaching to the obstacle (24) by an input device (20) of the assistance system (12); and - automatically maneuvering the motor vehicle (10) into a position with the predetermined distance (26) by a functional device (14) of the assistance system (12).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe at least one obstacle (24) to keep the predetermined distance (26) is selected by a user of the motor vehicle (10).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatthe at least one obstacle (24) is detected by an object detection algorithm.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatduring maneuvering of the motor vehicle (10) the surroundings (16) are captured continuously.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatthe distance (26) is inputable independent to a predetermined safety distance (28) of the motor vehicle (10) to the obstacle (24).

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 at least the computer program product according to claim 6.

8. An assistance system (12) for automatically maneuvering an at least in part automatically operated motor vehicle (10), comprising at least one capturing device (16), one electronic computing device (18), one input device (20), and one functional device (14), wherein the assistance system (12) is configured for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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