DE102023112215A1 - Control device and method for adapting a planned route for an electrically driven motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A control device (1) is provided for adapting a planned route for an electrically driven motor vehicle (10), wherein the planned route up to a destination includes charging stops taking into account a maximum range of the motor vehicle (10) and/or route conditions of the route. The control device (1) is designed to detect a drinking and/or eating behavior of a vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle (10) by means of at least one interior sensor (2; 3) of the motor vehicle (10) during a journey along the planned route (S1), to determine a time window in which the vehicle occupant needs a break based on the detected drinking and/or eating behavior (S2), and to adapt the remaining charging stops up to the destination (S3), wherein a charging stop of the adapted charging stops is planned within the determined time window.

Description

The present disclosure relates to a control device for adapting a planned route for an electrically driven motor vehicle (e.g. a battery-electric vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle and/or a hybrid vehicle), a motor vehicle comprising the control device and/or a method for adapting a planned route for an electrically driven motor vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, a computer program is provided which comprises instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to at least partially carry out the method. Additionally or alternatively, a computer-readable medium is provided which comprises instructions which, when the instructions are executed by a computer, cause the computer to at least partially carry out the method.

Known route planning methods or navigation systems for electrically powered vehicles (or for vehicles whose fuel supply takes several minutes) provide charging strategies to enable the respective vehicle to be charged at existing charging stations along the planned route, for example during a long-distance journey. Stops are planned taking into account the maximum range of the vehicle or route conditions that may affect the maximum range.

It is also known to take personal preferences, such as a favorite gas station and/or restaurant, into account when planning routes. However, unplanned or unexpected stops (sudden stops) are not taken into account and can lead to sudden and dangerous breaks on motorways and/or situations that endanger road safety, such as the driver having cramps.

DE 10 2018 217 478 A1 describes a vehicle comprising a number of sensors for monitoring the vehicle interior and a control unit which is linked to the number of sensors in terms of signal transmission technology. The control unit is designed to monitor the vehicle interior using the number of sensors, to determine whether a vehicle occupant in the vehicle interior is eating food using sensor signals transmitted by the number of sensors, to determine a property of the food using the sensor signals, and to change at least one interior parameter that influences an interior situation in the vehicle interior depending on the property of the food.

DE 10 019 407 A1 describes a method for route calculation in a vehicle navigation device in which a route is calculated from a starting or current location to a destination, whereby in the event of a vehicle defect or a defect affecting the driver, the route to an alternative destination is calculated instead of the destination.

DE 10 2021 118 982 A1 describes a method for adapting a planned journey of a vehicle, comprising, among other things, determining a driver fitness level progression function for predicting a future driver fitness level of a driver, determining whether the future driver fitness level within the planned journey will fall below a minimum level and the currently remaining range will not be sufficient for the planned journey, and, if the driver fitness level falls below the minimum level and the currently remaining range will not be sufficient, determining an updated planned journey with at least one additional journey interruption, at the end of which the driver fitness level reaches at least the minimum level and the then currently remaining range is sufficient for a then remaining portion of the updated planned journey.

Against the background of this prior art, the object of the present disclosure is to provide a device and/or a method which are each suitable for enriching the prior art.

The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. The subordinate claims and the dependent claims each contain optional further developments of the disclosure.

The task is then solved by a control device for adapting a planned route for an electrically driven motor vehicle (e.g. a battery-electric vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle and/or a hybrid vehicle). The planned route includes charging stops up to a destination, taking into account a maximum range of the motor vehicle and/or route conditions of the route.

The control device is designed to detect a drinking and/or eating behavior of a vehicle occupant, e.g. a driver, of the motor vehicle by means of at least one interior sensor of the motor vehicle during a journey along the planned route.

The control device is designed to define a time window in which the vehicle occupant (ahead determine whether a person (visibly) needs a break based on the recorded drinking and/or eating behavior.

The control device is designed to adjust the remaining charging stops until the destination, wherein a charging stop of the adjusted charging stops is scheduled within the determined time window.

The planned route can be planned (and/or determined) using map data and a current position of the motor vehicle. The current position can be determined using received position data, e.g. GPS data (global positioning system). The planned route can be planned using known techniques, methods and/or devices for route planning or navigation of motor vehicles, so that the procedure does not need to be explained further.

The charging stops can be (planned) stopping points for electrically charging the motor vehicle along the planned route. The charging stops can be planned at locations where at least one charging station is available for electrically charging the motor vehicle. The map data can include locations or positions of charging stations.

The charging stops can be taken into account when planning the route in order to ensure the necessary electrical charging options and thus the travel of the motor vehicle along the route.

The maximum range of the motor vehicle can be a range at which a charge level of the motor vehicle or a traction battery of the motor vehicle has dropped to a critical charge level.

The route conditions of the journey may include, for example, inclines, declines, curves and/or speed limits on sections of the route. The route conditions may affect the maximum range of the motor vehicle.

The time window in which the vehicle occupant needs a break can be a predefined time window, e.g. 10, 20 or 30 minutes, starting or triggered by a point in time that is determined based on the recorded drinking and/or eating behavior. Alternatively, or in addition, a length of the time window can be determined depending on, e.g., vehicle occupant-specific historical data and/or vehicle occupant-specific specifications.

Adjusting the remaining charging stops can take into account the current charge level of the motor vehicle (or the traction battery of the motor vehicle), the maximum range of the motor vehicle and/or route conditions of the (remaining) route to the destination. Adjusting the remaining charging stops can include determining a charging stop or a location of a charging station that can be reached within the determined time window when driving along the route.

The control device can be part of a navigation device (or a navigation system) for the motor vehicle or can be or is connected to the navigation device by means of signals. The navigation device can be designed (in a known manner) for route planning of the motor vehicle, e.g. for planning the planned route.

Alternatively, or in addition, the control device or control unit can be part of the driver assistance system or represent it. The control device can be, for example, an electronic control unit (ECU). The electronic control unit can be an intelligent processor-controlled unit that can communicate with other modules, for example via a central gateway (CGW), and that can form the vehicle's on-board network via field buses such as the CAN bus, LIN bus, MOST bus, FlexRay and/or the automotive Ethernet, e.g. together with telematics control units and/or environmental sensors.

It is conceivable that the control device controls functions relevant to the driving behavior of the motor vehicle, such as the steering, engine control, power transmission, and/or the braking system. In addition, driver assistance systems such as a parking assistant, adaptive cruise control (ACC), lane keeping assistant, lane change assistant, traffic sign recognition, light signal recognition, start-off assistant, night vision assistant and/or intersection assistant can be controlled by the control device.

The control device described above offers a number of advantages. Among other things, unplanned or unexpected stops can be taken into account to adapt the planned route or charging strategy, which can, for example, prevent situations that endanger road safety.

Furthermore, the adapted charging strategy can be optimized in an advantageous manner by combining the unplanned stop with a charging stop. mented, ie the stop is made at a location where the vehicle can be electrically charged. This can minimize the extension of the journey time and the number of further stops due to the unplanned stop.

Possible further developments of the device described above are explained in detail below.

The drinking and/or eating behavior can include an amount of liquid and/or (solid) food that the vehicle occupant has consumed. The drinking and/or eating behavior can also include a frequency (or number) of a supply of liquid and/or food. The drinking and/or eating behavior can also include a type of liquid and/or food.

The control device can be designed to compare the detected amount (and/or the detected frequency) of liquid and/or (liquid and/or solid) food with a reference amount (and/or a reference frequency), and to determine the time window (and/or a start of the time window) when the detected amount (and/or the detected frequency) has reached the reference amount (and/or the reference frequency). The time window can start as soon as the detected amount has reached the reference amount.

The reference quantity can comprise at least one predetermined reference quantity, e.g. 1 l, 1.5 l or 2 l of liquid. Alternatively or additionally, the reference quantity can be determined depending on, e.g., vehicle occupant-specific historical data and/or vehicle occupant-specific parameters and/or specifications.

The vehicle occupant-specific parameters and/or specifications can include a weight, a height, a gender, an age and/or a bio curve (of the circadian rhythm) of the vehicle occupant. The vehicle occupant-specific parameters and/or specifications can be stored in an occupant profile and/or can be retrieved. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the control device can be designed to determine the vehicle occupant-specific parameters and/or specifications by means of the at least one interior sensor.

It is also conceivable that the control device can be designed to record the drinking and/or eating behavior only after a learning phase. The control device can be designed to collect the historical data, e.g. specific to the vehicle occupants, in the learning phase and/or to determine the vehicle occupant-specific parameters and/or specifications, e.g. by learning them using a learning algorithm.

Furthermore, the reference amount can be determined depending on a type of liquid and/or (liquid and/or solid) food. The type can comprise at least one nutrient, at least one ingredient and/or a number of calories (per predetermined unit of quantity) of the liquid and/or the food.

The at least one interior sensor may comprise a weight sensor, which may be arranged in a vehicle seat and/or a chassis of the motor vehicle.

The detected quantity may include a weight difference detected by the weight sensor relative to an initial weight at the start of the journey and/or at a previous charging stop.

The at least one interior sensor may include at least one interior camera directed toward the vehicle occupant.

The control device can be designed to evaluate images taken by the at least one interior camera for detecting the amount (and/or frequency) of liquid and/or (solid) food using image recognition.

The image recognition can, e.g. using image recognition libraries, image processing functions and/or using artificial intelligence, recognize or identify at least one object that the vehicle occupant brings to his mouth. The at least one object can be, e.g. the (solid) food, a packaging or a container for the (solid) food and/or a beverage container. The amount of liquid and/or (solid) food can be detected based on a change in size and/or volume of the at least one object and/or a content of the at least one object.

The image recognition can be designed to determine or identify a type of liquid and/or (solid) food based on the recognized object. The image recognition can include text processing. The text processing can be designed to determine or identify the type of liquid and/or food based on a label, e.g. a calorie table, and optionally to record further information, e.g. a number of calories (per specified unit of quantity) relating to the liquid and/or food.

The control device can be designed to detect the drinking and/or eating behavior by recognizing a movement pattern of the vehicle occupant. The movement pattern can include a movement of the vehicle occupant sitting on a vehicle seat and/or a facial expression of the vehicle occupant.

The control device can be designed to evaluate images taken by the at least one interior camera to detect the movement pattern using image recognition (e.g. using image recognition libraries, image processing functions and/or using artificial intelligence).

The control device may be configured to compare the detected movement pattern with a reference movement pattern and to determine the time window when the detected movement pattern corresponds to the reference movement pattern.

The control device may be designed to control an input and output device to output a request as to whether a break is required when the time window has been determined.

The control device can be designed to adjust the remaining charging stops until the destination is reached only when the input and output device has received a confirmation from the vehicle occupant in response to the request.

The above can be summarized in other words and in a possible more concrete embodiment of the disclosure as described below, whereby the following description is not to be interpreted as limiting the disclosure.

Based on drinking and/or eating behavior or movement patterns, it can be determined whether the driver needs a break and it can be predicted when the next break should take place. To do this, the points of interest (POIs) and a charging strategy can be expanded to include this point. Drinking and/or eating behavior can be recorded using at least one interior sensor, i.e. how much liquid the driver has consumed and/or how much has been eaten. It is conceivable to record drinking and/or eating behavior using scales in the vehicle, e.g. food intake can be measured using scales in the vehicle. Breaks can be calculated based on liquid and/or food intake and, for example, a driver's history, and the charging strategy can be adjusted. This can reduce the total number of stops or change the stops.

For example, a driver drives from A to B, e.g. from Munich to Hamburg, where the planned route suggests two stops, e.g. in Würzburg and Hanover. The control device in combination with at least one interior camera can detect that the driver drank 1 liter of water and 0.2 liters of coffee in the first hour of driving. From historical knowledge, the control device, which can also execute the intelligent assistant, for example, knows that after such a combination the driver will need a break 30 minutes later and will have to go to the toilet. The control device changes the loading strategy, e.g. the stops from Munich, Würzburg, Hanover, Hamburg to Munich, Nuremberg, Göttingen, Hamburg.

Alternatively, the control device in combination with the at least one interior camera can detect that the driver is sitting impatiently in the driver's seat and/or has an unpleasant facial expression. The control device can ask the driver for a toilet break and/or change the charging strategy with or without the driver's consent.

Furthermore, a motor vehicle is provided which comprises the control device described above.

The motor vehicle comprises an interior sensor which is connected to the control device via signal technology.

The motor vehicle can comprise an input and output device, e.g. a touchscreen and/or a loudspeaker-microphone arrangement, which is arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle. The input and output device can be connected to the control device by means of signals.

The motor vehicle may be a passenger car, in particular an automobile, or a commercial vehicle, such as a truck.

The motor vehicle can be (at least partially) electrically driven. The motor vehicle can be designed as a battery-electric vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle and/or a hybrid vehicle.

The motor vehicle can be automated. The motor vehicle can be designed to provide longitudinal guidance and/or lateral guidance during automated driving by means of the control device. of the motor vehicle at least partially and/or at least temporarily.

Automated driving can be carried out in such a way that the movement of the motor vehicle is (largely) autonomous. Automated driving can be controlled at least partially and/or temporarily by the control device.

It is conceivable that the motor vehicle intervenes in the lateral guidance of the motor vehicle actively, e.g. by adjusting an actual steering wheel position, and optionally passively, e.g. by displaying a turning instruction, through a driver assistance system.

The motor vehicle can be a motor vehicle with autonomy level 0, i.e. the driver takes over the dynamic driving task, even if supporting systems (e.g. ABS or ESP) are present.

The motor vehicle may be a motor vehicle of autonomy level 1, i.e. have certain driver assistance systems that support the driver in operating the vehicle, such as adaptive cruise control (ACC).

The motor vehicle may be a motor vehicle of autonomy level 2, i.e. it may be so partially automated that functions such as automatic parking, lane keeping or lateral guidance, general longitudinal guidance, acceleration and/or braking are taken over by driver assistance systems.

The motor vehicle can be a level 3 autonomy motor vehicle, i.e. so automated that the driver does not have to continuously monitor the vehicle system. The motor vehicle independently carries out functions such as activating the indicator, changing lanes and/or keeping in lane. The driver can attend to other activities, but will be prompted by the system to take over control within a pre-warning period if necessary.

The motor vehicle can be a motor vehicle with autonomy level 4, i.e. it can be so highly automated that the vehicle's system permanently takes over control of the vehicle. If the system can no longer handle the driving tasks, the driver can be asked to take over control.

The motor vehicle can be a level 5 autonomy motor vehicle, i.e. so fully automated that the driver is not required to perform the driving task. No human intervention is required other than setting the destination and starting the system. The motor vehicle can operate without a steering wheel and pedals.

What is described above with reference to the control device also applies analogously to the motor vehicle and vice versa.

Furthermore, a method is provided for adapting a planned route for an electrically driven motor vehicle, wherein the planned route up to a destination includes charging stops taking into account a maximum range of the motor vehicle and/or route conditions of the route.

The method comprises detecting a drinking and/or eating behavior of a vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle by means of at least one interior sensor of the motor vehicle during a journey along the planned route.

The method includes determining a time window in which the vehicle occupant needs a break based on the recorded drinking and/or eating behavior.

The method includes adjusting the remaining charging stops until the destination, whereby a charging stop of the adjusted charging stops is planned within the determined time window.

The control method may be a computer-implemented method, i.e. one, several or all steps of the method can be carried out at least partially by a computer or a data processing device, optionally the control device.

What is described above with reference to the control device and the motor vehicle also applies analogously to the method and vice versa.

Furthermore, a computer program is provided, comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to at least partially carry out or implement the method described above.

A program code of the computer program can be in any code, in particular in a code that is suitable for controlling motor vehicles.

What is described above with reference to the control device, the motor vehicle and the method also applies analogously to the computer program and vice versa.

Furthermore, a computer-readable medium, in particular a computer-readable storage medium dium. The computer-readable medium comprises instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to at least partially carry out or implement the method described above.

That is, a computer-readable medium may be provided that comprises a computer program as defined above. The computer-readable medium may be any digital data storage device, such as a USB stick, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an SD card or an SSD card (or SSD drive/SSD hard disk).

The computer program does not necessarily have to be stored on such a computer-readable storage medium in order to be made available to the motor vehicle, but can also be obtained via the Internet or otherwise externally.

What is described above with reference to the method, the control device, the computer program and the motor vehicle also applies analogously to the computer-readable medium and vice versa.

• 1 zeigt schematisch ein offenbarungsgemäßes Kraftfahrzeug mit einer Steuervorrichtung zum Anpassen einer geplanten Fahrtroute, und
• 2 zeigt schematisch ein Ablaufdiagramm eines offenbarungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Anpassen einer geplanten Fahrtroute.

Below, an optional embodiment is described with reference to 1 and 2 described.

• 1 shows schematically a motor vehicle according to the disclosure with a control device for adapting a planned route, and
• 2 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method according to the disclosure for adapting a planned route.

The 1 The electrically driven motor vehicle 10, which is shown only schematically, comprises the control device 1, which is designed to adapt a planned route for the motor vehicle 10, wherein the planned route up to a destination includes charging stops taking into account a maximum range of the motor vehicle 10 and/or route conditions of the route.

The motor vehicle 10 further comprises at least one interior sensor 2, 3, e.g. a weight sensor 2, which is arranged in a vehicle seat 4 or a chassis of the motor vehicle 10, and/or at least one interior camera 3, which is directed at the vehicle occupant. The at least one interior sensor 2, 3 is connected to the control device 1 in terms of signaling.

The motor vehicle 10 can also have an input and output device 5, e.g. a touchscreen and/or a loudspeaker-microphone arrangement, which can be arranged in the vehicle interior of the motor vehicle 10 and can be connected to the control device 1 for signaling purposes.

In order to be able to adapt the planned route, the control device 1 is designed to be able to do the following with reference to 2 to carry out the method 100 described in detail.

In a first method step S1, a drinking and/or eating behavior of a vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle 10 is recorded by means of the at least one interior sensor 2, 3 during a journey along the planned route.

The drinking and/or eating behavior can include, for example, an amount of liquid and/or food that the vehicle occupant has consumed. The detected amount can include a weight difference detected by the weight sensor relative to an initial weight at the start of the journey and/or at a previous charging stop. Alternatively, or additionally, the amount of liquid and/or food can be detected by evaluating images taken by the at least one interior camera 3 using image recognition.

It is also conceivable that the drinking and/or eating behavior can be detected by recognizing a movement pattern of the vehicle occupant, wherein the movement pattern can include a movement of the vehicle occupant sitting on the vehicle seat 4 and/or a facial expression of the vehicle occupant. For this purpose, images taken by the at least one interior camera 3 can be evaluated using image recognition to recognize the movement pattern.

In a second method step S2, a time window in which the vehicle occupant needs a break is determined based on the recorded drinking and/or eating behavior.

For this purpose, the recorded amount of liquid and/or food can be compared with a reference amount and the time window can be determined when the recorded amount has reached the reference amount.

Alternatively, or in addition, the detected movement pattern can be compared with a reference movement pattern and the time window can be determined if the detected movement pattern corresponds to the reference movement pattern.

In a third method step S3, the remaining charging stops until the destination are adjusted, whereby a charging stop of the adjusted charging stops are planned within the specified time frame.

It is conceivable that the third method step S3 only takes place with the consent of the vehicle occupant. For example, the input and output device 5 can be controlled to output a request as to whether a break is required when the time window has been determined, and the remaining charging stops until the destination are only adjusted when the input and output device 5 has received confirmation from the vehicle occupant in response to the request.

list of reference symbols

1

control device

2

weight sensor

3

interior camera

4

vehicle seat

5

input and output device

10

motor vehicle

100

Proceedings

S1-S3

procedural steps

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10 2018 217 478 A1 [0004]
• DE 10 019 407 A1 [0005]
• DE 10 2021 118 982 A1 [0006]

Claims (10)

Control device (1) for adapting a planned route for an electrically driven motor vehicle (10), wherein the planned route up to a destination includes charging stops taking into account a maximum range of the motor vehicle (10) and/or route conditions of the route, characterized in that the control device (1) is designed to: - detect a drinking and/or eating behavior of a vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle (10) by means of at least one interior sensor (2; 3) of the motor vehicle (10) during a journey along the planned route (S1); - determine a time window in which the vehicle occupant needs a break based on the detected drinking and/or eating behavior (S2); and - adapt the remaining charging stops up to the destination (S3), wherein a charging stop of the adapted charging stops is planned within the determined time window. Control device (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that - the drinking and/or eating behavior includes an amount of liquid and/or food that the vehicle occupant has consumed; and - the control device (1) is designed to: - compare the detected amount of liquid and/or food with a reference amount; and - determine the time window when the detected amount has reached the reference amount. Control device (1) according to claim 2 , characterized in that - the at least one interior sensor (2; 3) comprises at least one interior camera (3) which is directed towards the vehicle occupant; and - the control device (1) is designed to: - evaluate images taken by means of the at least one interior camera (3) for detecting the amount of liquid and/or food using image recognition. Control device (1) according to claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that - the at least one interior sensor (2; 3) comprises a weight sensor (2) which is arranged in a vehicle seat (4) and/or a chassis of the motor vehicle (10); and - the detected quantity comprises a weight difference detected by means of the weight sensor (2) relative to an initial weight at the start of the journey and/or at a previous charging stop. Control device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (1) is designed to: - detect the drinking and/or eating behavior by recognizing a movement pattern of the vehicle occupant, wherein the movement pattern comprises a movement of the vehicle occupant sitting on a vehicle seat (4) and/or a facial expression of the vehicle occupant. Control device (1) according to claim 5 , characterized in that - the at least one interior sensor (2; 3) comprises at least one interior camera (3) which is directed towards the vehicle occupant; and - the control device (1) is designed to: - evaluate images taken by means of the at least one interior camera (3) to recognise the movement pattern using image recognition; - compare the recognised movement pattern with a reference movement pattern; and - determine the time window when the recognised movement pattern corresponds to the reference movement pattern. Control device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (1) is designed to: - control an input and output device (5) to output a request as to whether a break is required when the time window has been determined; and - only adjust the remaining charging stops up to the destination when the input and output device (5) has received confirmation from the vehicle occupant in response to the request. Motor vehicle (10), characterized in that the motor vehicle (10) comprises: - the control device (1) according to one of the preceding claims; and - the at least one interior sensor (2; 3) which is connected to the control device (1) by signaling. Method (100) for adapting a planned route for an electrically driven motor vehicle (10), wherein the planned route up to a destination includes charging stops taking into account a maximum range of the motor vehicle (10) and/or route conditions of the route, characterized in that the method (100) comprises: - detecting (S1) a drinking and/or eating behavior of a vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle (10) by means of at least one interior sensor (2; 3) of the motor vehicle (10) during a journey along the planned route; - determining (S2) a time window in which the vehicle occupant needs a break based on the detected drinking and/or eating behavior; and - adapting (S3) the remaining charging stops up to the destination, wherein a charging stop of the adapted charging stops are planned within the specified time window. Computer program and/or computer-readable medium, characterized in that the computer program and/or computer-readable medium comprises instructions which, when the instructions are executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method (100) according to claim 9 to execute.

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