System for testing driver assistance systems of a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for testing a driver assistance system of a vehicle. The driver assistance system has at least one internal sensor and is designed to process a sensor signal of the at least one internal sensor to monitor a driver of the vehicle. The system comprises: simulation means for simulating at least one physical characteristic of the driver, the at least one physical characteristic of the driver characterizing a physiological state of the driver, in particular the driver's attention, activity, fatigue, mood, health state, and / or the influence of drugs, and capable of being detected by the at least one internal sensor; and an interface for interacting with the driver assistance system such that the sensor signal is provided to the driver assistance system in response to the at least one simulated physical characteristic. The present invention further relates to a corresponding method.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for testing a driver assistance system of a vehicle, the driver assistance system comprising at least one internal sensor and designed to process sensor signals of the at least one internal sensor in order to monitor the driver of the vehicle. Vehicles capable of automated or highly automated driving through the use of driver assistance systems, in particular vehicles with automation levels 3 to 5 (see SAE Standard J3016), require monitoring of the driver's attention to ensure that they are able to anticipate guiding the vehicle at short notice. [Background technology]

[0002] Driver assistance systems are increasingly being used in modern motor vehicles to enhance active road safety. For example, adaptive cruise control (ACC), also known as adaptive distance control (ADAP), adaptively adjusts the desired speed selected by the driver to the distance from the vehicle ahead. Further examples of driver assistance systems, in addition to ACC, are ACC stop-and-go systems that automatically move the vehicle further in traffic jams or stationary traffic, lane departure warning or lane assistance systems that automatically keep the vehicle in its lane, and pre-crash systems that prepare for or initiate braking in the event of a potential collision, for example to remove kinetic energy from the vehicle, and potentially initiate further measures if a collision is unavoidable.

[0003] These driver assistance systems expect the driver to be attentive, in other words, not fatigued or inattentive.

[0004] To increase safety, driver assistance systems are therefore increasingly being equipped with devices that determine the driver's attention or physiological state.

[0005] If it is detected that the driver is not in a good physiological state, a warning can be issued or an appropriate reaction of the driver assistance system can be initiated, thereby ensuring that the driver pays attention to the driving act.

[0006] Document EP 2284057 relates to a method for adapting one or more parameters of a driver assistance system for assisting a driver of a motor vehicle, the method comprising: The method includes determining a current gaze direction of the driver by gaze direction detection, determining a time period during which the driver is not looking at the road from the current gaze direction, and adapting one or more parameters of the driver assistance system if the determined time period exceeds a predefined critical time value. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 2284057 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The object of the present invention is to enable the optimization of driver assistance systems, in particular to provide for testing of driver assistance systems such as the aforementioned vehicle driver assistance systems and in particular systems for vehicles with automation levels 3 to 5. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] This problem is solved by a system for testing a driver assistance system and a method for testing a driver assistance system according to the independent claims. Further embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims.

[0010] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a system for testing a driver assistance system of a vehicle, the driver assistance system having at least one internal sensor and designed to process sensor signals of the at least one internal sensor to monitor a driver of the vehicle, the system comprising: simulation means for simulating at least one physical characteristic of the driver that characterizes the driver's physiological state, in particular the driver's alertness, activity, fatigue, mood, health state, and / or drug effects, and that is detectable by at least one internal sensor, the at least one internal sensor being capable of generating a sensor signal in response to the at least one simulated physical characteristic; and an interface for interacting with the driver assistance system such that a sensor signal is provided to the driver assistance system in response to the at least one simulated physical characteristic.

[0011] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a method for testing a driver assistance system of a vehicle, in particular using a system according to one of claims 1 to 15, the driver assistance system having at least one internal sensor and designed to process sensor signals of the at least one internal sensor to monitor a driver of the vehicle, at least one physical characteristic of the driver being simulated, the at least one physical characteristic of the driver characterizing a physiological state of the driver, in particular attention, activity, fatigue, mood, health state and / or drug influence, and being detectable by the at least one internal sensor, the at least one internal sensor being capable of generating a sensor signal in response to the at least one simulated physical characteristic, the sensor signal being provided to the driver assistance system in response to the at least one simulated physical characteristic.

[0012] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of the method according to the second aspect of the present invention, and to a computer readable medium having stored thereon such a computer program.

[0013] The present invention is based on an approach to testing driver assistance systems that have at least one internal sensor for driver monitoring with objectified, reproducible inputs.

[0014] The system of the present invention therefore comprises simulation means configured to simulate the physical characteristics of the driver that can be detected by at least one internal sensor, the sensor signals of which are provided to the driver assistance system via an interface, in particular a stimulation device, which preferably emulates the driver, causing the at least one internal sensor to output sensor data as if observing a real driver.

[0015] Alternatively, the sensor data can also be generated by so-called injection of internal sensors into the sensor chip or by directly injecting simulated sensor data into the driver assistance system.

[0016] The functionality of the driver assistance system with respect to the internal sensors can thus be tested using simulated data. Alternatively or additionally, the internal sensors or their sensor chips can also be tested. In the latter case, signal impairments caused by the physical signal recording unit, in particular the camera optics, are removed when testing the driver assistance system and / or the sensor chip. However, additionally, artificial signal impairments or impairments can also be simulated in order to learn how the sensor chip and / or the driver assistance system can handle signal impairments and impairments.

[0017] By simulating at least one physical characteristic of the driver, internal sensors and / or inputs to the driver assistance system can be accurately and reproducibly controlled. In most cases, this would be extremely difficult with a real person. Attention and activity can also be mimicked to a limited extent by a real person, but a real person cannot recall fatigue, mood, health status, and / or the effects of drugs on command. Furthermore, when used in real traffic, focusing on the inattention of a real driver to test the response of a driver assistance system is extremely dangerous.

[0018] The system and method according to the present invention can be used to reproduce the physiological states of multiple drivers, and therefore to test driver assistance systems based thereon. Both the driver as a whole, including the driver's gestures, facial expressions, posture, and contact with the interior of the vehicle, and only parts of the driver, such as only the driver's face or only the position of the driver's hands on the steering wheel, can be reproduced thereby.

[0019] Preferably, the simulation means is designed to generate signals, in particular sensor signals, that represent information from the perspective of the vehicle's internal sensors. Firstly, it is important that the signals represent the physical characteristics of the driver within the field of view of the internal sensors. The depiction aspect of the driver's physical characteristics is also important. Finally, the position of the individual body parts, as well as the proportions of the depicted body and the depicted individual body parts, are important.

[0020] In one advantageous embodiment of the system, the interface is a stimulation device configured to stimulate the internal sensor based on at least one simulated physical property. In this case, the driver assistance system can be tested as a whole when installed in the vehicle. No modifications to the sensor or data connection between the internal sensor and the data processing unit of the driver assistance system are required. However, the internal sensor can also be located outside the vehicle and stimulated there. The present invention also allows the driver assistance system to be tested as a whole without the vehicle.

[0021] In a further advantageous embodiment of the system, the stimulus device is configured to generate a response signal for reception by the at least one internal sensor based on a signal emitted by the at least one internal sensor, the response signal being generated based on at least one simulated physical characteristic, and a driver is preferably emulated when generating the response signal. This advantageous embodiment also enables testing of driver assistance systems having internal sensors that emit scanning signals. These may be, for example, ultrasonic sensors or even photodiodes.

[0022] In a further advantageous embodiment, the stimulation device is selected from the following group of stimulation devices: display screens 6a, 6b, 6e, loudspeakers, heart rate stimulators, hand emulators, weight emulators. Selecting the appropriate stimulation device or devices may allow optimal stimulation of one or more internal sensors.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment of the system, the stimulation device is designed as a structural unit, preferably incorporating a housing, such that an internal sensor can be accommodated within the structural unit, the internal sensor specifically corresponding functionally and / or structurally to or being an internal sensor of at least one of the driver assistance systems being tested, and the stimulation device is connectable to the driver assistance system being tested for signal transmission, such that a sensor signal is transmitted from the stimulation device to the driver assistance system. This advantageous embodiment allows the internal sensor together with the stimulation device to be located outside the vehicle, specifically at a location outside the actual test bench. This can thereby prevent interference in the stimulation of one or more internal sensors by test bench operation of the vehicle or the driver assistance system itself.

[0024] In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one internal sensor is arranged and / or installed in a component, in particular a component of the vehicle, preferably the dashboard or steering wheel of the vehicle, which component can be received by the stimulation device. According to this exemplary embodiment, the internal sensor of the driver assistance system does not need to be removed from its environment in normal operation, whereby possible interactions can be taken into account when testing the driver assistance system in the environment.

[0025] In a further advantageous embodiment of the system, the stimulation device is configured to be attached to the driver's seat and / or the gear selector lever and / or the steering wheel, whereby stimulation of the internal sensors of the driver assistance system can be recognized in a real vehicle and thus also in real vehicle operation or driving operation on a test bench.

[0026] In a further advantageous embodiment of the system, the stimulation means is configured to generate raw sensor data, and the interface is configured to feed the raw sensor data into the sensor chip of the internal sensor, in particular the perception chip of the camera. This embodiment makes it possible to dispense with the pickup elements of the sensor, i.e. the part of the sensor that converts the measurement signal into an electrical, in particular analog, signal, regardless of the optical system in the case of a camera, and the driver assistance system. On the one hand, the interaction of the sensor chip or respectively the sensor chip with the driver assistance system can thereby be tested without the intervention of the pickup elements, and on the other hand, it is also possible to selectively simulate and monitor the intervention of the pickup elements with regard to how the driver assistance system or respectively the perception chip of the internal sensor processes it.

[0027] In a further advantageous embodiment of the system, the at least one physical characteristic is selected from the following group of characteristics: biometric characteristics, seating position, posture, head position, gaze direction, facial expression, obstructed vision, in particular vision obstructed by a hat, a mask or sunglasses, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, eye movements, eyelid movements, pupil size or the blood alcohol concentration of the driver.

[0028] In a further advantageous embodiment, the at least one internal sensor is selected from the following group of sensors: a camera, in particular a stereoscopic camera, preferably an infrared camera, a capacitive sensor, a photodiode, a mechanical force sensor or a resistive sensor, a steering angle sensor, a steering torque sensor or a microphone.

[0029] In a further advantageous embodiment of the system, the physical characteristics additionally characterize the driver's identification information, thereby enabling individual testing of the driver assistance systems with respect to the driver, and also allowing testing of the identification functions of the vehicle systems.

[0030] In one advantageous embodiment of the test bench, the stimulation device is connected to the test bench simply by a signal transmission connection, preferably by a cable, a bus system, in particular a fieldbus, and / or by a wireless connection, which allows the stimulation device and the corresponding internal sensors of the driver assistance system to also be located outside the test bench.

[0031] In one advantageous embodiment of the method, the at least one physical characteristic is simulated using a driver model, which allows for simulating a wide variety of driver physiological states or driver-related physical characteristics.

[0032] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the driver model comprises a driver animation, in particular a 3D animation, capable of emulating physiological states. Preferably, the model is trained on real data.

[0033] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the simulation is based on recorded data of a real person, in particular on one or more physiological states in video data of the person, if known. This embodiment is particularly easy to implement and allows for testing without establishing or respectively training a driver model.

[0034] In a further advantageous embodiment, the driver model comprises a driver animation, in particular a 3D animation, which can emulate physiological states, thereby enabling particularly realistic testing of driver assistance systems, in particular those having a camera as an internal sensor.

[0035] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the driver model is controlled on the basis of data determined from a real person, in particular in real time, which thereby allows a particularly realistic simulation of the physiological state or physical properties of a person.

[0036] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the driver assistance system or the vehicle using the driver assistance system is moved based on the sensor signals, in particular on a test bench or in real vehicle operation.

[0037] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the activity of the driver assistance system is monitored and an evaluation of the function of the driver assistance system is preferably performed based on the activity. The evaluation of the driver assistance system is then preferably performed based on reference data or a reference driver or a reference driver assistance system, respectively, which allows a qualitative evaluation of the driver assistance system or its properties, respectively.

[0038] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the sensor signals provided for processing by the driver assistance system are generated based on at least one simulated physical characteristic instead of being generated by at least one internal sensor, thereby enabling direct testing of the driver assistance system, while bypassing the actual internal sensor.

[0039] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, signal transmission of at least one internal sensor of the driver assistance system is avoided.

[0040] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, raw sensor data is generated based on the at least one physical characteristic and fed into a sensor chip of the at least one internal sensor, such that the internal sensor provides a sensor signal, whereby the driver assistance system can be tested without a pickup element of the internal sensor, as explained above.

[0041] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, at least one internal sensor is stimulated based on at least one simulated physical property to provide a sensor signal, which, as explained above, allows testing the driver assistance system together with the entire internal sensor including the pickup element.

[0042] Further features and advantages emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which at least some are shown diagrammatically. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0043] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of a system for testing a driver assistance system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of a system for testing a driver assistance system. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 illustrates a third exemplary embodiment of a system for testing a driver assistance system. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 illustrates a fourth exemplary embodiment of a system for testing a driver assistance system. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method for testing a driver assistance system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a system 1 for testing a driver assistance system 2 installed in a vehicle 3 .

[0045] The simulation means 5, in particular the computing unit of the system 1, simulates the driver's physical characteristics characterizing the driver's physiological state, in particular the driver's attention, activity, fatigue, mood, health state and / or drug influence.

[0046] To this end, the simulation means 5 uses a driver model to determine the driver's biometric features or respectively characteristics, gestures, driver's seating position, driver's posture, driver's head position, driver's gaze direction, driver's facial expression, any hidden part of the driver, in particular any hidden part of the driver due to a hat, mask or sunglasses, driver's weight, driver's eyelid movement, driver's size or driver's blood alcohol concentration as being physical characteristics.

[0047] Typically, a physiological state is characterized not by one of the aforementioned physical properties, but by several of these properties.

[0048] The driver assistance system 2 monitoring the driver uses the information obtained about the driver's physiological state to, on the one hand, verify the driver's ability to drive, and, on the other hand, observe the driver's reaction to the vehicle guidance provided by the driver assistance system. One result of the driver being monitored by a driver assistance system 2, for example a lane keeping assist, may be that the driver is prompted to redirect his or her attention to what is happening on the road in front of the vehicle 3.

[0049] In addition to the computing unit 10, the driver assistance system 2 includes various internal sensors. These include, for example, different cameras 4a, 4b, and 4e, specifically stereo cameras, for monitoring different body parts. Thus, for example, the driver's head position, gaze direction, or eye position, and facial expression are important for the driver's physiological state. To be able to determine all three parameters, the driver assistance system preferably includes three stereo cameras 4a, 4b, and 4e. The first stereo camera 4a captures the head position, the second stereo camera 4b captures the gaze direction, and the third stereo camera 4e captures the facial expression. Furthermore, the driver assistance system 2 preferably includes a microphone 4c for detecting noise, such as the driver's speech, a photodiode 4d for detecting the heart rate, a capacitive sensor 4f for detecting the position of the hands on the steering wheel, and a mechanical force or resistance sensor 4g for detecting the seating position.

[0050] The sensor signals generated by the internal sensors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g are evaluated in a computing unit 10 of the driver assistance system 2, which controls corresponding functions of the vehicle 3 or the entire vehicle 3, respectively.

[0051] The system 1 for testing a driver assistance system 2 checks the quality of the monitoring performed by the driver assistance system 2. To do so, the individual physical characteristics which together make up the physiological state of the driver are provided to the driver assistance system 2 via suitable interfaces 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g.

[0052] A system 1 for testing such a driver assistance system 2 shown in Figure 1 comprises stimulation devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g suitable for stimulating the internal sensors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g according to simulated physical properties.

[0053] This stimulus is in each case indicated by an arrow in FIG.

[0054] If the internal sensor is a sensor that initially emits a signal so as to detect the driver's physical characteristics, for example an ultrasonic sensor (not shown) for detecting distance, a corresponding stimulation device (not shown) as well as a simulation means 5 is also provided to receive the signal, on the one hand, simulate a response signal based on the physical characteristics, and then stimulate the corresponding internal sensor as if the response signal had occurred as a result of an interaction with the driver's body.

[0055] 1, the system 1 comprises a first display screen 6a for stimulating the first camera 4a, and the driver's head position is displayed on the first display screen 6a. The driver's gaze direction or eye position, respectively, is correspondingly displayed on the second display screen 6b, and the driver's facial expression is correspondingly displayed on the third display screen 6e. Alternatively, two or all three of these visually perceptible physical characteristics of the driver can be displayed by a single display screen and captured by a single camera.

[0056] Preferably, stimulation devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g are configured to be mounted at locations on vehicle 3 where internal sensors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g detect the respective physical characteristics of the driver. It is therefore particularly important that each stimulation device 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g is positioned within the field of view of the respective sensor, or that the driver's physical characteristics are shown in the correct perspective of internal sensors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g and / or at the correct location inside the vehicle. This is particularly important in the case of physical characteristics captured by stereoscopic cameras 4a, 4b, 4e.

[0057] Further internal sensors may be provided, which are not shown, and which also detect the physical characteristics of the driver. Examples of such internal sensors include a steering angle sensor that can detect the movement of the driver and a steering torque sensor that can detect the force exerted by the driver. Correspondingly, further stimulation devices for these internal sensors may be provided.

[0058] The computing unit 10 of the driver assistance system 2 derives the physiological state of the driver from the collected data of the sensor signals.

[0059] The computing unit 10 may further be provided in a driver assistance system 2 for determining the identity of the driver.

[0060] The physiological state determined by the driver assistance system 2 can then be compared with the physiological state simulated by the simulation means 5 of the system 1. Based on this comparison, the quality of the driver assistance system as a whole, i.e. together with all internal sensors, can be assessed with regard to its ability to detect the driver's physiological state.

[0061] 1 may be used in real driving operations of a vehicle 3, in which the vehicle 3 is guided, in particular remotely controlled, by a driver assistance system 2 or by a driver. Furthermore, preferably, the system 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment may also be used on a test bench, in which the driving operations of the vehicle 3 are simulated.

[0062] Such a test bench is preferably a vehicle test bench, a hardware-in-the-loop test bench for a driver assistance system 2, a vehicle-in-the-loop test bench for a vehicle 3, or a driving simulator. Preferably, the test bench 8 is configured thereby to enable operation of the powertrain of a motor vehicle.

[0063] The test bench 8 is shown in Figure 2. Preferably, the test bench 8 comprises four dynamometers 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d capable of applying loads to the wheels or hubs of a vehicle fixed to the test bench 8.

[0064] The second exemplary embodiment of the system 1 shown in Fig. 2 differs in that the internal sensors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g are not arranged inside the vehicle 3 but are arranged outside the vehicle 3. Only the computing unit 10 of the driver assistance system 2 that guides the vehicle is arranged inside the vehicle. Correspondingly, the stimulation devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g are also arranged outside the vehicle 3 such that they can interact with the internal sensors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g in the manner described with reference to Fig. 1 .

[0065] When the respective internal sensors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g are installed in a component of the vehicle, for example in the dashboard, or the steering wheel, or the seat, the entire component may also be removed from the vehicle in the second exemplary embodiment in order to stimulate the respective internal sensors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g.

[0066] Preferably, the stimulation devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g can be designed as structural units incorporating a housing in which the respective internal sensors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g can be accommodated. This is shown in Figure 2 for a first display screen 6a, in which a first stereoscopic camera 4a is also incorporated by a likewise arranged housing 8.

[0067] Placing the internal sensors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g and the stimulation devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g at a distance from the test bench can minimize interference in the signals obtained by the internal sensors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g. For example, the microphone 4c does not pick up noise from the test bench 8 or the vehicle 3. The housing 8 also helps to reduce possible interference of the internal sensors or between the stimulation devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g and the internal sensors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, respectively.

[0068] Preferably, the stimulation devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g and the internal sensors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g are therefore arranged in a separate room and connected to the test bench by a connection for signal transmission, preferably by a cable of a bus system, in particular a fieldbus, and / or by a wireless connection.

[0069] 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the system 1 of the present invention. In contrast to the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, the interfaces 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, and 6g in this exemplary embodiment are not stimulation devices but data interfaces, through which raw sensor data can be supplied or injected into the respective sensor chips 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, 7f, and 7g of the individual internal sensors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, and 4g, respectively. To illustrate this, the symbols for each of the internal sensors 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, and 4g in FIG. 3 are simply surrounded by a dotted border.

[0070] The sensor chip 7, and in the case of the stereoscopic cameras 4a, 4b, 4e the respective perception chips 7a, 7b, 7e, process the raw sensor data and output corresponding sensor signals which are processed by the computing unit 10 of the driver assistance system 2 and used to guide the vehicle.

[0071] 4 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of the system 1. In contrast to the previous exemplary embodiments, there are no longer any internal sensor components, which are shown in FIG. 4 by dotted internal sensors.

[0072] Both the input signals elicited by predetermined physical characteristics of the driver as well as the functions of the internal sensors are fully simulated by the simulation means 5 of the system 1. Via an interface 6, the system 1 outputs sensor signals directly to the computing unit 10 of the driver assistance system 2, which then guides the vehicle 3 based on these sensor signals and any possible further information.

[0073] Figure 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a method 100 for testing a driver assistance system 2 of a vehicle 3. In particular, the method is implemented using the system 1 as described with respect to the exemplary embodiment of Figures 1 to 4.

[0074] The method essentially comprises the following three steps:

[0075] In an operational step 101, at least one physical characteristic of the driver is simulated 101, characterizing the driver's physiological state, in particular attention, activity, fatigue, mood, health state and / or drug influence, and capable of being detected by at least one internal sensor 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, and the at least one internal sensor is enabled to generate a sensor signal in response to the at least one simulated physical characteristic.

[0076] Preferably, the simulation 101 is therefore based on recorded data of a real person, in particular video data of the person, where one or more data points are available and the physiological state is known. Alternatively, at least one physical characteristic is preferably simulated using a driver model, which is preferably trained on real data. Even more preferably, the driver model includes animations that can mimic physiological states. Even more preferably, the driver model is controlled on the basis of data determined in real time from the real person.

[0077] In a second step 102, the driver assistance system 2 provides sensor signals in response to at least one simulated physical characteristic. The driver assistance system 2 or a vehicle using the driver assistance system 2 is driven based on these sensor signals on a test bench 8 or in real driving maneuvers.

[0078] In a third step 103, the activity of the driver assistance system 2 is monitored, in particular which physiological states of the driver are detected by the driver assistance system 2. Preferably, the functionality of the driver assistance system 2 is evaluated based on this monitoring.

[0079] Alternatively, the sensor signal provided for processing by the driver assistance system may be generated based on at least one simulated physical characteristic instead of being generated by at least one internal sensor 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g. Animations or the like may be unnecessary in this case. In particular, the signal transmission of at least one internal sensor of the driver assistance system is suppressed in this case.

[0080] Further alternatively, raw sensor data may be generated during the simulation based on the at least one simulated physical property and fed directly into the sensor chip 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g of the at least one internal sensor 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g to provide a sensor signal.

[0081] Further alternatively, at least one internal sensor 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g may be stimulated based on at least one simulated physical property to provide a sensor signal.

[0082] Preferably, the method 100 is computer-implemented.

[0083] It should be noted that the exemplary embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection, application, and configuration in any way. Rather, the above description is intended to provide those skilled in the art with guidelines for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, whereby various changes may be made with respect to the function and configuration of the elements specifically described without departing from the scope of protection arising from the claims and equivalent combinations of features. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1 System 2 Driver assistance systems 3 vehicles 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g Internal sensors 5 Simulation methods 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g Interface 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g Sensor chip 8 Test bench 9a,9b,9c,9d Dynamometer 10 computing units

Claims

1. A system (1) for testing a driver assistance system (2) in a vehicle (3), the driver assistance system (2) having at least one internal sensor (4a, 4b, 4c, ...) and designed to process sensor signals of the at least one internal sensor (4a, 4b, 4c, ...) for monitoring a driver of the vehicle, the system (1) comprising: a simulation means (5) for simulating at least one physical characteristic of the driver, the at least one physical characteristic of the driver characterizing a physiological state of the driver and capable of being detected by the at least one internal sensor (4a, 4b, 4c, ...), the simulation means (5) being capable of generating a sensor signal in response to the at least one simulated physical characteristic; an interface (6) for interacting with the driver assistance system (2) such that a sensor signal is provided to the driver assistance system (2) in response to the at least one simulated physical characteristic; A system (1) comprising:

2. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is a stimulation device configured to stimulate the internal sensor based on the at least one simulated physical property.

3. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the stimulation device is configured to generate a response signal for reception by the at least one internal sensor based on a signal emitted by the at least one internal sensor, the response signal being generated based on the at least one simulated physical characteristic emulated when the driver generates the response signal.

4. 4. The system (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the stimulation device (6) is configured to be mounted on a driver's seat and / or a gear selector lever and / or a steering wheel.

5. 2. The system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the simulation means (5) is configured to generate raw sensor data, and the interface (6) is configured to input the raw sensor data into the sensor chips (7) of the internal sensors (4a, 4b, 4c, ...).

6. 2. The system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the simulation means (5) is configured to generate the sensor signals and the interface (6) is configured to inject the sensor signals into the driver assistance system (2).

7. 7. The system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least one physical characteristic is selected from the following group of characteristics: biometric characteristics, seating position, posture, head position, hand position, gaze direction, facial expression, obstructed field of view, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, eye movement, eyelid movement, pupil size, or blood alcohol concentration of the driver.

8. 8. The system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one internal sensor (4a, 4b, 4c, ...) is selected from the following group of sensors: a camera (4a, 4b, 4e), a capacitive sensor (4f), a photodiode (4d), a mechanical force sensor or a resistive sensor (4g), a steering angle sensor, a steering torque sensor, or a microphone (4c).

9. A test bench (8) comprising a system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A method (100) for testing a driver assistance system (2) of a vehicle (3), the driver assistance system (2) having at least one internal sensor (4a, 4b, 4c, ...) and designed to process sensor signals of the at least one internal sensor (4a, 4b, 4c, ...) for monitoring a driver of the vehicle (3), A method (100) in which at least one physical characteristic of the driver is simulated (101), the at least one physical characteristic of the driver characterizing a physiological state of the driver and capable of being detected by the at least one internal sensor (4a, 4b, 4c, ...), the at least one internal sensor capable of generating a sensor signal in response to the at least one simulated physical characteristic, and the sensor signal is provided (102) to the driver assistance system (2) in response to the at least one simulated physical characteristic.

11. 11. The method (100) of claim 10, wherein the simulation is based on recorded data of an actual person in which one or more physiological conditions are known.

12. 11. The method (100) of claim 10, wherein the at least one physical characteristic is simulated using a driver model that is trained based on real data.

13. 13. The method (100) of claim 12, wherein the driver model includes a driver animation capable of emulating a physiological state.

14. 14. The method (100) according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein an activity of the driver assistance system (2) is monitored and an assessment (103) of the functioning of the driver assistance system (2) is made based on the activity of the driver assistance system (2).

15. 15. The method (100) according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the at least one internal sensor (4a, 4b, 4c, ...) is stimulated based on the at least one simulated physical property to provide the sensor signal (102).

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