阅读说明：本技术 用于自动化车辆的传感器设备 (Sensor device for an automated vehicle ) 是由 O·平克 于 2018-04-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于自动化车辆(200)的传感器设备(100),所述传感器设备具有：-至少一个数据接口(10)；和分析评估装置(20)；其中,能够通过所述数据接口(10)将行驶路径数据(D)输送给所述分析评估装置(20)；和其中,借助于所述行驶路径数据(D),能够控制所述传感器设备的环境感测特征。(The invention relates to sensor devices (100) for an automated vehicle (200), comprising at least data interfaces (10) and an evaluation device (20), wherein travel path data (D) can be supplied to the evaluation device (20) via the data interfaces (10), and wherein the environment-sensing characteristics of the sensor devices can be controlled by means of the travel path data (D).)

1, A sensor device (100) for an automated vehicle (200), the sensor device comprising:

-at least data interfaces (10), and

-an analytical evaluation device (20);

-wherein travel path data (D) can be supplied to the evaluation device (20) via the data interface (10); and

-wherein the environment sensing characteristics of the sensor device are controllable by means of the travel path data (D).

2. Sensor device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the travel path data (D) are configured as trajectory data.

3. Sensor device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least driving operations performed by a driver of the automated vehicle (200) can be taken into account by means of the data interface (10).

4. The sensor device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor device (100) is a lidar sensor, a video sensor, a radar sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor.

5. The sensor device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device is usable as a front-located sensing means and/or as a side-located sensing means and/or as a rear-located sensing means of the automated vehicle (200).

6. The sensor apparatus (100) of any one of claims , wherein the environment sensing characteristic includes a forward motion phase of the vehicle (200) lasting about 5 seconds to about 10 seconds.

7, A method for operating a sensor device (100) for an automated vehicle (200), the method comprising the steps of:

-conveying the travel path data (D) via at least data interfaces (10);

-analytically evaluating the travel path data by means of an analytical evaluation device (20); and

-controlling an environment sensing feature of the sensor device (100) by means of a control device (30) in dependence of the analyzed and evaluated travel path data.

Computer program product of 8, , having program code means for carrying out the method of claim 7 when said computer program product is run on an electronic analysis evaluation device (20) or stored on a computer-readable data carrier.

Technical Field

The invention relates to sensor devices for an automated vehicle, methods for operating a sensor device for an automated vehicle, and computer program products.

Background

Known environmental sensors for driver assistance systems, such as lidar, video, radar with limited opening angle. Any increase in the opening angle is usually either impossible (due to regulations relating to eye safety in the case of lidar, reduced resolution in the case of video, etc.) or associated with additional costs.

Sensors today offer the following possibilities: the observation range is controlled within a limited scale (for example by means of electronic "beam forming" in the case of radar, by means of a change in scanning in the case of lidar, by means of selection of partial regions in the case of video, etc.).

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide sensor devices for an automated vehicle, which have improved operating characteristics.

According to an th aspect, the object is achieved by a sensor device for an automated vehicle, comprising:

at least data interfaces, and

-an analytical evaluation device;

-wherein the travel path data can be supplied to the evaluation device via a data interface; and

-wherein the environment sensing characteristics of the sensor device can be controlled by means of the travel path data.

In this way, the technical limitations of the sensor device can be better exploited, since different environmental sensing characteristics are realized depending on the specific travel path. In the relevant sensing range, the detection performance can be increased in this way, wherein also for this case advantageously less electromagnetic energy is radiated into the environment.

According to a second aspect, the object is achieved by method for operating a sensor device for an automated vehicle, comprising the following steps:

-conveying the travel path data via at least data interfaces;

-evaluating the driving path data by means of an evaluation device; and

-controlling the environment sensing feature of the sensor device by means of the control device in dependence of the analyzed and evaluated travel path data.

Advantageous embodiments of the sensor device are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The sensor device is advantageously provided with advantageous embodiments, the driving path data being configured as trajectory data, with the aid of which a defined number of future vehicle positions are determined, wherein such data are already present in the automation vehicle.

A further -advantageous development of the sensor device is characterized in that at least driving actions performed by the driver of the automated vehicle can be taken into account via the data interface, this being done by transmitting specific data relating to, for example, the steering angle, the operation of the flashing device, the operation of the brake, etc.

A further advantageous development of the sensor system is characterized in that the sensor system is a lidar sensor, a video sensor, a radar sensor or an ultrasonic sensor, whereby a plurality of different technologies can be used for the sensor system.

In a further advantageous development of the sensor system, the sensor system can be used as a front sensor and/or as a side sensor and/or as a rear sensor of an automated vehicle.

Another advantageous development of the sensor device provides that the environment-sensing characteristic comprises a forward movement phase of the vehicle lasting about 5 seconds to about 10 seconds.

The invention will be described in detail below with reference to a number of figures, using other features and advantages. All the features described or shown here constitute the subject matter of the invention by themselves or in any combination, independently of their generalization or reference in the claims and independently of their representation or representation in the description or in the drawings. The drawings are primarily considered to illustrate principles important to the invention.

The disclosed method features are analogously derived from the disclosed corresponding apparatus features, and vice versa. This means in particular that features, technical advantages and embodiments relating to the method result in a similar manner from corresponding embodiments, features and advantages of the device and vice versa.

Drawings

Shown in the drawings are:

fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the manner of action of the sensor device proposed;

another schematic diagram of the manner of action of the sensor device set forth in fig. 2;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the proposed sensor device; and

fig. 4 is a schematic flow diagram of a method for operating a sensor system for an automated vehicle.

Detailed Description

In the following, the term "automated motor vehicle" is used synonymously in the sense of partially automated motor vehicles, autonomous motor vehicles and partially autonomous motor vehicles.

It is fully utilized here that the automated driving function "knows exactly" where the vehicle will move at the next times, since the driving maneuver is completely planned and transmitted, for example, in the form of trajectory data to an actuating device of the vehicle.

It is proposed that an interface be provided on the surroundings sensor, via which interface known travel path data are read. By means of suitable calculation rules within the sensor, the sensor's environmental sensing characteristics (e.g. viewing distance, opening angle, etc.) optimized with regard to the travel path data are thereby adjusted.

The advantage of the data interface for the travel path data and the calculation rules within the sensor is that the trajectory is easy to calculate for the user of the sensor and is independent of the sensor used. Advantageously, no sensor-specific knowledge is required when specifying the travel path data in the form of a trajectory. For this reason, it is also possible for third parties to use the data interface in a simple manner, for example a manufacturer can generate a trajectory for its driver assistance function and provide it to the sensor.

If of the mentioned trajectories are actually also received by the sensors, which are output to the vehicle control, it is ensured at any point in time that the sensor sensing range which the vehicle is to travel in the next foreseeable times is exactly covered.

In the simplified variants, instead of a trajectory, paths can also be predefined for the sensor device, that is to say a geometric description of the region through which the vehicle will travel at the next times without temporally specifying when the vehicle will be at a certain point in the region.

Fig. 1 shows four diagrams of a schematic exemplary scenario of the mode of operation of the proposed sensor device 100 for an automated vehicle 200.

Fig. 1a and 1b show an automated vehicle 200, which travels through a curve. The curve in fig. 1a has a slightly smaller curvature than the curve in fig. 1 b. It can be seen that the field of view FOV of the sensor device includes the current driving position and approximately four future driving positions of the vehicle 200, which corresponds to an approximate driving time of approximately 5s to 10s for the automated vehicle 200. In this way, sensor system 100 is adapted to the future travel path of vehicle 200 with regard to its characteristics and its illumination characteristics (auseuchtverhalten).

Fig. 1a to 1d show examples of sensor devices which are limited with respect to the transmission energy. In connection with the driving operation, the viewing range of the sensor device is narrow and far (see fig. 1c,1 d: for example in the case of fast straight driving) or wide and short (see fig. 1a,1 b: for example when driving in a curve at a generally low speed). Depending on the direction of travel, the viewing range of the sensor device can be deflected to the left or to the right.

The vehicle 200 shown in dark color is in the current vehicle position, and the four light-marked vehicles represent the planned or future vehicle position of the vehicle 200 along the planned trajectory for this vehicle 200, which is reached in relation to the current vehicle position after, for example, 1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, and 4 seconds. The field of view FOV represents the sensor field of view of the front sensor system of the automated vehicle 200.

Fig. 1c and 1d show that the automated vehicle 200 changes from the center lane to the right lane in a traffic lane with three lanes and then continues to travel in the right lane, for example, on a highway at high speed. For this reason, the field of view FOV of the sensor device is adapted to the current position and approximately four future positions of the vehicle 200.

In this way, for example, a large detection range ("visibility range") of approximately 300m to approximately 400m of the sensor device can be achieved when driving straight on a highway. Conversely, in the case where the speed is low, the irradiation distance of the sensor device decreases and the irradiation width increases. In this way, eye safety aspects for protecting persons located in the vehicle environment can also be taken into account, since the electrical operating power of the sensor device is reduced.

As a result, an optimized operating behavior of the sensor device with optimized power consumption can be achieved in this way.

Fig. 2 shows the travel path data D transmitted to the sensor device 100 of the vehicle 200 from a video image of the traveling vehicle 200 (not shown). These driving path data D are preferably designed as trajectory data and are shown in the drawing in the form of wide lanes. Along the trajectory and in the immediate surroundings, static objects can be sensed with increased priority. More distant static objects, such as the static object to the right of the image, are less noticeable because the vehicle 200 does not move there. Thereby, the sensor device 100 may primarily be concerned with objects or vehicles in the environment of the travel path. In this way, the vehicle 202 is detected in particular without having to take into account the vehicle 202 traveling ahead and the vehicle 201 overtaking on the right. Thereby, the sensing characteristics of the sensor device 100 are optimized for the actual traffic lane.

In this way, the calculation time can be advantageously reduced for the sensor device 100, or the existing calculation time/calculation capacity can be better focused on the area associated with the lane. In this way, an efficient operation of the sensor system 100 is advantageously supported.

In embodiments of the sensor device, it can be provided that a specific driver's wish is also introduced into the operating characteristics, for example in the form of data of the steering angle, the braking operation, the operation of a flash light, etc.

Advantageously, the proposed sensor device 100 can also be arranged in the rear region of the vehicle 200 (not shown), whereby the reversing operation of the vehicle is also optimally configured.

Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of specific embodiments of the proposed sensor device 100, a data interface 10 CAN be seen, which is preferably designed as a software interface, for example in the form of a bus (for example a CAN bus, ethernet, etc.), the evaluation device 20 of the sensor device 100 CAN be supplied with driving path data D via the data interface 10, in the case of the automated vehicle 200, the driving path data D are provided by a planning system and are generally used for steering and/or motor control purposes and/or braking purposes.

The evaluation device 20 determines the future position of the vehicle 200 on the basis of the travel path data D and transmits instructions to the control device 30, by means of which the operating characteristics of the sensor system 100 are set in accordance with the travel path data D.

For example, the change in the operating characteristic can be effected in a manner known per se by mechanical adjustment of the sensor device and/or by actuation of the sensor device by means of suitable electrical signals.

Advantageously, a greater opening angle than that achieved with known sensors can be achieved in this way for an automated vehicle depending on the situation. In order to be able to drive, for example, curves having all radii typically occurring on a highway, a coverage of approximately ± 60 ° is required for the front sensor system, for example.

The region in which the vehicle actually moves is often particularly important, for example, an angular range of only about-60 ° to about 0 ° may be important when driving into a left turn, an angular range of only about-30 ° to about 30 ° may be important when driving straight, and an angular range of only about 0 ° to about 60 ° is covered in the case of a right turn.

In this way, the operating characteristics of the sensor system 100 can be adapted to the travel path data, whereby the operating characteristics of the sensor system are advantageously optimized.

Advantageously, the proposed sensor device 100 is not restricted by the specific technology, so the sensor device 100 may be configured as, for example, a lidar sensor, a video sensor, a radar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like.

In the case of embodiments of the sensor system that are not shown in the drawings, it can be provided that the sensor system 100 is designed "in a distributed manner", for example, the evaluation and/or control device can be arranged on a separate controller, the control signals being transmitted to the sensor or sensors via a further interface, whereby the central processing is supported by means of "foolproof" sensors.

Fig. 4 shows the principle flow of embodiments of the method according to the invention.

In step 300, travel path data D is transmitted via at least data interfaces 10.

In step 310, the travel path data D are evaluated by means of the evaluation device 20.

In step 320, the surroundings-sensing feature of the sensor system 100 is controlled by means of the control device 30 as a function of the evaluated travel path data D.

Advantageously, the proposed method can be implemented by means of a software program running on the sensor device, thereby enabling simple adaptability of the method.

The features of the invention may be modified and/or combined with each other in a suitable manner by a person skilled in the art without departing from the core of the invention.