阅读说明：本技术 车辆及其控制方法 (Vehicle and control method thereof ) 是由 佐藤崇 辰巳昌吾 铃木彬之 西田翔吾 安部崇志 柿本鹰也 于 2021-02-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种用于适当地进行针对侵入至本车辆的前方的障碍物的警报的技术。一种车辆,其具备：检测单元,其对侵入至本车辆的前方的规定区域中的障碍物进行检测；以及输出控制单元,其在由所述检测单元检测到障碍物的情况下,控制针对该障碍物的警报的输出。(The present invention provides a technique for appropriately performing an alarm against an obstacle intruding in front of a host vehicle. A vehicle is provided with: a detection unit that detects an obstacle that enters a predetermined area in front of the host vehicle; and an output control unit that controls output of an alarm for the obstacle when the obstacle is detected by the detection unit.)

1. A vehicle, characterized in that,

the vehicle is provided with:

a detection unit that detects an obstacle that enters a predetermined area in front of the host vehicle; and

and an output control unit that controls output of an alarm for the obstacle when the obstacle is detected by the detection unit.

2. The vehicle of claim 1,

the vehicle further includes a determination unit that determines whether an alarm for an obstacle is not required in a case where the obstacle is detected by the detection unit,

the output control unit controls output of an alarm based on a determination result of the determination unit.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the output control unit does not output an alarm if the determination unit determines that an alarm is not required even if an obstacle is detected by the detection unit.

4. The vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the determination unit determines that the alarm is not required when the speed of the host vehicle is a predetermined value or less.

5. The vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the determination unit determines that the alarm is not required in a case where the own vehicle is traveling on a curve.

6. The vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the determination unit determines that the warning is not required when the detection unit detects an obstacle entering from an inner side of a curve while the vehicle is traveling on the curve, and determines that the warning is required when the detection unit detects an obstacle entering from an outer side of the curve.

7. The vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the determination unit determines that an alarm is not required in a case where the obstacle detected by the detection unit is an emergency vehicle.

8. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the predetermined area is an area where the detection unit detects an obstacle intruding in front of the host vehicle,

the range of the predetermined region in the vehicle width direction is set to become narrower as the vehicle is separated from the vehicle.

9. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the output control unit changes an output mode of an alarm according to a distance between the obstacle detected by the detection unit and the host vehicle.

10. The vehicle of any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the vehicle is a straddle-type vehicle.

11. A control method of a vehicle, characterized in that,

the control method of the vehicle includes:

a detection step of detecting an obstacle that enters a predetermined area in front of the host vehicle; and

a control step of controlling output of an alarm for the obstacle when the obstacle is detected in the detection step.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a vehicle and a control method thereof.

Background

Patent document 1 discloses that danger avoidance is performed when an obstacle intruding in front of the host vehicle is detected by a scanning radar device. Examples of the danger avoidance process include automatic deceleration, alarm, and lighting of a lamp.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 7-57181

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

Even when an obstacle intruding in front of the host vehicle is detected, depending on the situation, it may not be appropriate to alarm the obstacle.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for appropriately performing an alarm against an obstacle intruding in front of a host vehicle.

Means for solving the problems

A vehicle (10) according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a detection unit (14) that detects an obstacle that enters a predetermined region (R) in front of the vehicle; and an output control unit (11b) that controls output of an alarm for the obstacle when the obstacle is detected by the detection unit.

The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that the vehicle further includes a determination unit (11a) that determines whether or not an alarm for an obstacle is not necessary when the obstacle is detected by the detection unit, and the output control unit controls output of the alarm based on a determination result of the determination unit.

The present invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the output control means does not output an alarm when the determination means determines that an alarm is not necessary even when the detection means detects an obstacle.

The present invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the determination means determines that the alarm is not necessary when the speed of the host vehicle is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

The present invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the determination means determines that the alarm is not necessary when the own vehicle is traveling on a curve.

The present invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that, when the detection means detects an obstacle entering from the inside of a curve while the host vehicle is traveling on the curve, the determination means determines that an alarm is not required, and when the detection means detects an obstacle entering from the outside of the curve, the determination means determines that an alarm is required.

The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the determination means determines that an alarm is not necessary when the obstacle detected by the detection means is an emergency vehicle.

The present invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the predetermined area is an area in which the detection means detects an obstacle intruding in front of the host vehicle, and the range of the predetermined area in the vehicle width direction is set to become narrower as the distance from the host vehicle increases.

The present invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that the output control means changes an output mode of the alarm in accordance with a distance between the obstacle detected by the detection means and the host vehicle.

The invention of claim 10 is characterized in that the vehicle is a straddle-type vehicle.

A method of controlling a vehicle according to the present invention recited in claim 11 is characterized by comprising: a detection step (S11) for detecting an obstacle that enters a predetermined area (R) in front of the vehicle; and a control step (S15) for controlling the output of an alarm for the obstacle when the obstacle is detected in the detection step.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention of claim 1, by providing a predetermined area for detecting an obstacle that is a target of outputting an alarm in front of the host vehicle, it is possible to appropriately output an alarm for an obstacle that has entered the front of the host vehicle.

According to the invention of claim 2, when an obstacle intruding into a predetermined area in front of the host vehicle is detected, it is possible to prevent an alarm from being automatically output even when the alarm is not necessary. That is, the alarm can be output appropriately according to the condition of the host vehicle and/or the condition of an obstacle intruding in front of the host vehicle.

According to the invention of claim 3, when an obstacle intruding into a predetermined area in front of the host vehicle is detected, it is possible to prevent an alarm from being automatically output even when the alarm is not necessary.

According to the present invention of claim 4, since an alarm is often not necessary when the own vehicle is stopped or when the own vehicle is traveling at a low speed, it is possible to prevent an alarm from being automatically output in such a case.

According to the invention of claim 5, since erroneous detection of an obstacle in a predetermined area in front of the host vehicle may occur during traveling in a curve, it is possible to prevent an alarm from being automatically output in such a case.

According to the invention of claim 6, while the vehicle is traveling along a curve, it is possible to prevent an alarm from being output due to erroneous detection of an obstacle on the inside of the curve, and to actively output an alarm on the outside of the curve, which is more likely to be overtaken than on the inside of the curve.

According to the invention of claim 7, when the obstacle intruding in front of the host vehicle is an emergency vehicle, it is possible to prevent an alarm from being output to the emergency vehicle.

According to the invention of claim 8, the more the overtaking of the obstacle approaches the host vehicle, the more the alarm can be positively given.

According to the present invention of claim 9, since the degree of influence on the host vehicle differs depending on the distance between the obstacle detected by the detection means and the host vehicle, it is possible to output an appropriate alarm according to the degree of influence.

According to the invention of claim 10, the saddle-ride type vehicle which is easier to overtake than a four-wheel vehicle has many advantages in outputting an alarm to the overtake vehicle.

According to the present invention of claim 11, by providing a predetermined area for detecting an obstacle that is a target of outputting an alarm in front of the host vehicle, it is possible to appropriately output an alarm for an obstacle that has entered the front of the host vehicle.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a vehicle configuration.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of output control of an alarm.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a predetermined area in which an obstacle is detected.

Description of the reference numerals

10: a vehicle; 11: a control unit; 11 a: a judgment section; 11 b: an output control section; 13: an alarm output unit; 14: an intrusion detection unit; 15: a status detection unit.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the plurality of features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. The same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

< first embodiment >

A first embodiment according to the present invention will be explained. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a saddle-ride type vehicle 10. In the present embodiment, a motorcycle is exemplified as the saddle-ride type vehicle 10, but the present invention can be applied to other types of saddle-ride type vehicles such as a tricycle, a four-wheel vehicle, and the like. Hereinafter, the saddle-ride type vehicle 10 may be simply referred to as "vehicle 10".

The vehicle 10 includes, for example, a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, an alarm output unit 13, an intrusion detection unit 14, and a situation detection unit 15, which are connected to be able to communicate with each other via a system bus 16. The Control unit 11 is, for example, an ecu (electronic Control unit) and includes a processor typified by a CPU, a storage device such as a semiconductor memory, an interface with an external device, and the like, and controls each unit of the vehicle 10. The storage unit 12 stores programs, data, and the like for controlling the vehicle 10, and the control unit 11 (processor) can read and execute the programs stored in the storage unit into a storage device such as a memory.

The control unit 11 of the present embodiment is provided with a determination unit 11a and an output control unit 11 b. When the intrusion detection unit 14 detects an obstacle, the determination unit 11a determines whether or not an alarm is not necessary for the obstacle. The output control unit 11b controls the output of an alarm (alarm sound) from the alarm output unit 13 based on the determination result of the determination unit 11 a. For example, even when the intrusion detection unit 14 detects an obstacle, the output control unit 11b does not output an alarm when the determination unit 11a determines that the alarm output is not necessary.

The alarm output unit 13 outputs an alarm sound to the outside of the vehicle or outputs an alarm by turning on the vehicle lamp. In the case of the present embodiment, the alarm output unit 13 is a siren device (horn) and outputs an alarm sound to the outside of the vehicle. The intrusion detection unit 14 is provided in the front portion of the vehicle 10, and detects an obstacle (e.g., a passing vehicle) intruding into a predetermined area in front of the host vehicle. In the present embodiment, an ultrasonic sensor is used as the intrusion detection unit 14, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and other sensors such as a camera, a millimeter wave radar, and a laser radar may be used.

The situation detection unit 15 detects a situation of at least one of the vehicle 10 (own vehicle) and the obstacle detected by the intrusion detection unit 14. In the case of the present embodiment, the situation detection unit 15 may include a speed sensor 15a, a position sensor 15b, a steering angle sensor 15c, an inclination sensor 15d, a camera 15e, and a microphone 15 f. The speed sensor 15a detects the speed of the vehicle 10. The position sensor 15b includes, for example, a GPS sensor, and detects the current position of the vehicle 10. The steering angle sensor 15c detects the steering angle of the vehicle 10. The inclination sensor 15d detects the inclination (inclination angle) of the vehicle 10. The camera 15e photographs the surroundings (e.g., the front) of the vehicle 10. The microphone 15f acquires sounds outside the vehicle.

Next, the alarm output control in the vehicle 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of output control of an alarm. The steps of the flowchart shown in fig. 2 may be performed by the control unit 11.

At S11, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the intrusion detection unit 14 has detected an obstacle intruding into the predetermined region R in front of the vehicle 10. For example, when the state where the intrusion detection unit 14 does not detect an obstacle is changed to the state where the intrusion detection unit 14 detects an obstacle, the control unit 11 can determine that the obstacle has intruded into the predetermined region R. The process proceeds to S12 when the intrusion detector 14 detects an obstacle, and proceeds to S16 when the intrusion detector 14 does not detect an obstacle.

Here, a predetermined region R for detecting an obstacle will be described. The predetermined region R is a region in which the intrusion detection unit 14 detects an obstacle intruding (overtaking) in front of the own vehicle. For example, since the closer the passing vehicle with the obstacle is to the host vehicle, the higher the influence on the host vehicle tends to be, the more actively the passing vehicle with the obstacle is to the host vehicle, the more actively the alarm is preferably given. Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 3, the predetermined region R may be set such that the range (width W) in the vehicle width direction thereof becomes narrower as it goes away from the vehicle 10 (as it goes to the traveling direction of the vehicle 10). By setting the predetermined region R in this way, it is possible to make the warning more positively the overtaking of an obstacle approaches the host vehicle. In fig. 3, FR denotes the front side of the vehicle 10, and RR denotes the rear side of the vehicle 10.

In S12, the control unit 11 (determination unit 11a) determines whether the speed of the vehicle (vehicle 10) is equal to or lower than a predetermined value. For example, when the host vehicle is stopped or when the host vehicle is traveling at a low speed (for example, 10km/h or less), the risk is relatively low even if overtaking is made ahead of the host vehicle, and therefore, it is often not necessary to perform an alarm to an overtaking vehicle (obstacle). Therefore, the determination unit 11a determines that the warning is not necessary when the speed of the host vehicle is equal to or lower than a predetermined value (for example, equal to or lower than 10 km/h) based on the speed of the host vehicle detected by the speed sensor 15a, and returns to S11. On the other hand, if the speed of the host vehicle is greater than the predetermined value, the routine proceeds to S13.

In S13, the control unit (determination unit 11a) determines whether or not the vehicle is traveling on a curve. For example, when the host vehicle is traveling on a curve, an object other than the passing vehicle, such as a road surface, a sign on the road, or a guardrail, may enter the predetermined region R, and the intrusion detection unit 14 may erroneously detect the object. Therefore, when the host vehicle is traveling on a curve, the determination unit 11a determines that an alarm is not necessary and returns to S11. On the other hand, if the host vehicle is not traveling on a curve, the process proceeds to S14.

Here, the determination as to whether or not the host vehicle is traveling on a curve may be made based on the detection results of the steering angle sensor 15c and/or the inclination sensor 15d, for example. Specifically, the determination unit 11a can determine that the host vehicle is traveling on a curve when the steering angle of the host vehicle detected by the steering angle sensor 15c is larger than a predetermined angle and/or when the inclination (inclination angle) of the host vehicle detected by the inclination sensor 15d is larger than the predetermined angle. The determination as to whether or not the own vehicle is traveling on a curve may be made based on the detection result of the position sensor. In this case, the determination unit 11a can determine whether or not the host vehicle is traveling on a curve by comparing the current position of the host vehicle detected by the position sensor 15b with the map information.

In S14, the control unit 11 (determination unit 11a) determines whether or not the obstacle (passing vehicle) detected by the intrusion detection unit 14 is an emergency vehicle. This is because it is not preferable to perform an alarm also in the case where the passing vehicle is an emergency vehicle. For example, the determination unit 11a can determine whether or not the obstacle detected by the intrusion detection unit 14 is an emergency vehicle by using a known image processing technique on an image of the periphery (front) of the host vehicle captured by the camera 15 e. The determination unit 11b may determine whether or not the obstacle detected by the intrusion detection unit 14 is an emergency vehicle based on the sound outside the vehicle acquired by the microphone 15 f. Specifically, when the sound of the siren of the emergency vehicle is also acquired by the microphone 15f when the intrusion detection unit 14 detects an obstacle, the determination unit 11b can determine that the obstacle is the emergency vehicle. If it is determined that the obstacle detected by the intrusion detection unit 14 is an emergency vehicle, it is determined that the alarm is not necessary and the process returns to S11. On the other hand, if it is determined that the obstacle detected by the intrusion detection unit 14 is not an emergency vehicle, the routine proceeds to S15.

At S15, the control unit 11 (output control unit 11b) causes the alarm output unit 13 to output an alarm (warning sound). Here, the output controller 11b may change the output mode (output method) of the alarm from the alarm output unit 13 according to the distance between the passing vehicle and the host vehicle. For example, the output control unit 11b may control the output of the alarm from the alarm output unit 13 such that the volume of the alarm sound increases as the passing vehicle and the host vehicle are closer to each other (that is, the volume of the alarm sound decreases as the distance increases). The output control unit 11b may control the output of the alarm from the alarm output unit 13 such that the output time of the alarm sound is longer as the distance between the passing vehicle and the host vehicle is shorter (that is, the output time of the alarm sound is shorter as the distance is longer). The output time of the alarm sound is a time (period) during which the alarm sound is emitted, and the alarm sound may be intermittently output or may be continuously output.

In S16, the control unit 11 determines whether or not to end the alarm output control. For example, the control unit 11 may determine that the output control of the alarm is ended when the ignition switch is turned off (turned off) by the driver. If the alarm output control is not finished, the process returns to S11.

As described above, the vehicle 10 (control unit 11) according to the present embodiment determines whether or not an alarm is unnecessary for an obstacle when the intrusion detection unit 14 detects the obstacle intruding into the predetermined area R in front of the vehicle, and controls the output of the alarm based on the determination result. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the alarm from being automatically output even when the alarm is not necessary, and therefore, the alarm can be appropriately output according to the condition of the host vehicle and/or the condition of an obstacle intruding in front of the host vehicle. Here, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the determination unit 11a determines whether or not the alarm to the obstacle is unnecessary when the obstacle intruding into the predetermined region R is detected by the intrusion detection unit 14, but the determination by the determination unit 11a may not be performed. For example, the determination of whether or not the alarm is unnecessary by the determination unit 11a may be omitted, and the object may be alarmed when the intrusion detection unit 14 detects an obstacle intruding into the predetermined region R.

< second embodiment >

A second embodiment according to the present invention will be explained. In the present embodiment, another example of the output control of the alarm performed when the host vehicle (vehicle 10) is traveling on a curved road will be described. This embodiment basically replaces the first embodiment, and the alarm output control in this embodiment can be performed according to the flowchart of fig. 2. However, in the step of S13 in the flowchart of fig. 2, the processing described below may be performed.

When driving on a curve, it is generally more likely to overtake the vehicle from the outside of the curve than overtake the vehicle from the inside of the curve. In addition, in the predetermined region R where the obstacle is detected by the intrusion detection unit 14, there is a tendency that erroneous detection is less likely to occur on the outer side of the curve than on the inner side of the curve. Therefore, when it is determined in S13 that the vehicle is traveling on a curve, if the intrusion detection unit 14 detects an obstacle intruding into the predetermined region R from the inside of the curve, the control unit 11 (determination unit 11a) of the present embodiment determines that an alarm is not necessary and returns to S11. On the other hand, when the intrusion detection unit 14 detects an obstacle intruding into the predetermined region R from the outside of the curve, it determines that an alarm is necessary and proceeds to S14.

Here, a specific example of the present embodiment will be explained. For example, as shown in fig. 3, the predetermined region R in which the obstacle is detected by the intrusion detection unit 14 may be set to include a right region R in which an obstacle intruding from the right side of the vehicle is detected_rightAnd a left region R for detecting an obstacle entering from the left side of the vehicle_left. In this case, the determination unit 11a determines the tilt based on the steering angle sensor 15cThe detection results of the sensor 15d, the position sensor 15b, and the like determine whether the vehicle 10 is traveling on a curve curving in either right or left direction. Then, when it is determined that the vehicle 10 is traveling on a curve curved in the left direction, intrusion into the left region R, which is the inside of the curve, is detected_leftWhen the obstacle of (2) is detected, the determination unit 11a determines that the alarm is not necessary, and detects the intrusion into the right side region R which is the outside of the curve_rightThe determination unit 11a determines that an alarm is necessary. On the other hand, when it is determined that the vehicle 10 is traveling on a curve curved in the right direction, the intrusion into the right side region R, which is the inside of the curve, is detected_rightWhen the obstacle of (2) is detected, the determination unit 11a determines that the alarm is not necessary, and detects the intrusion into the left region R, which is the outside of the curve_leftThe determination unit 11a determines that an alarm is necessary.

As described above, the vehicle 10 (control unit 11) according to the present embodiment determines that an alarm is not necessary when the intrusion detection unit 14 detects an obstacle intruding from the inside of a curve, and determines that an alarm is necessary when the intrusion detection unit 14 detects an obstacle intruding from the outside of the curve. Thus, it is possible to prevent the output of an alarm due to erroneous detection on the inside of a curve, and to positively output an alarm on the outside of a curve that is more likely to be overtaken than on the inside of a curve.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.