Driving test system for a moving object

Abstract

One form of a driving test system for a moving object includes: an unmanned aircraft configured to fly at a set distance from the moving object that is configured to drive along a set route in a set zone and has a vision sensor disposed on one side that is configured to detect the moving object's motion; and a controller configured to control the flight of the unmanned aircraft to follow the moving object and to transmit to the vision sensor and to receive from the vision censor, detected motion characteristics of the moving object.

Claims

1. A driving test system of a moving object comprising: an unmanned aircraft including a vision sensor disposed on one side of the unmanned aircraft, the unmanned aircraft configured to: fly at a set distance from the moving object, wherein the moving object is configured to drive along a set route in a set zone; and control the vision sensor to detect a motion of the moving object, wherein the vision sensor is configured to detect lanes in which the moving object is determined to be traveling in and detect an obstacle near the moving object during implementation of a driving function of the moving object; and control the moving object to implement an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), wherein the ADAS comprises an autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, a lane departure warning system (LDWS), a lane keeping assistance system (LKAS), a blind spot detection (BSD) system, a smart cruise control (SCC) system, or a combination thereof; and a controller configured to: control the flight of the unmanned aircraft to follow the moving object; and transmit, to the vision sensor, and receive, from the vision sensor, detected motion characteristics of the moving object.

2. The driving test system of claim 1, wherein the moving object is controlled by the unmanned aircraft and the moving object comprises a detector configured to detect surroundings of the moving object.

3. The driving test system of claim 2, wherein the detector is configured to detect lanes, an obstacle near the moving object, and a distance to the obstacle.

4. The driving test system of claim 1, wherein the moving object is controlled by the unmanned aircraft and has an autonomous driving function for automatically controlling a steering device, an accelerator, and a braking device.

5. The driving test system of claim 1, further comprising: a conveyor with landing and takeoff spots for the unmanned aircraft set therein, the conveyor configured to move the unmanned aircraft from the landing spot to the takeoff spot; a landing marker formed on one side of the landing spot; a proximity sensor disposed on the other side of the landing spot and configured to detect the unmanned aircraft; and photosensors disposed on one side of the takeoff spot that are configured to detect the unmanned aircraft.

6. The driving test system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine information, speed, and travel distance of the moving object based on information detected by the vision sensor.

7. The driving test system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect motion characteristics of the moving object using the advanced driver assistance system.

8. The driving test system of claim 1, further comprising a radio transmitter/receiver and an antenna, wherein the controller is configured to control, with the transmitter/receiver and the antenna, a driving function of the moving object and the unmanned aircraft.

9. A driving test method of a moving object comprising: causing the moving object to enter a preset route and controlling the moving object to travel according to the preset route; flying an unmanned aircraft along with the moving object; detecting motion characteristics of the moving object by a vision sensor mounted on the unmanned aircraft and determining how the moving object is driving; and controlling, by the unmanned aircraft, the moving object to implement a driving function including an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), wherein the ADAS comprises an autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, a lane departure warning system (LDWS), a lane keeping assistance system (LKAS), a blind spot detection (BSD) system, a smart cruise control (SCC) system, or a combination thereof.

10. The driving test method of claim 9, further comprising detecting the moving object's surroundings by a detector.

11. The driving test method of claim 10, wherein the detector detects lanes, an obstacle near the moving object, and the distance to an object in front of the moving object.

12. The driving test method of claim 10, further comprising performing an autonomous driving function for automatically controlling a steering device, an accelerator, and a braking device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a driving test system of a moving object.

(2) FIG. 2 is a table showing functions implemented by the moving object.

(3) FIG. 3 is a schematic top plan view of a conveyer where an unmanned aircraft takes off and lands, in the driving test system for the moving object.

(4) FIG. 4 is a partial schematic top plan view showing a path of travel of the moving object in the driving test system for the moving object.

(5) FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a driving test method of the moving object.

(6) FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an unmanned aircraft's landing and takeoff procedure in the driving test method for the moving object.

(7) FIG. 7 is a table showing a vision sensor's functions and the moving object's functions in the driving test method of the moving object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) An exemplary form of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(9) FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a driving test system for a moving object.

(10) Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the driving test system for the moving object includes an unmanned aircraft 100, a vision sensor 110, the moving object 120, a detector 140, an antenna 150, a radio transmitter/receiver 160, and a controller 130.

(11) The moving object 120 includes an autonomous vehicle or a traditional vehicle that is set to travel along a route 400 set either manually or autonomously.

(12) The unmanned aircraft 100 is autonomously controlled by the controller 130 to move along with the moving object 120 at a set distance above the moving object 120. For example, the moving object 120 may be controlled by the unmanned aircraft 100.

(13) The vision sensor 110 disposed at the unmanned aircraft 100 detects motion of the moving object 120 and checks information on the moving object 120. Also, the vision sensor 110 may detect a lane in which the moving object is driving and an obstacle and may detect a distance between the moving object and the obstacle.

(14) Moreover, the detector 140 installed on the moving object 120 detects lanes 420 and an obstacle 410 near the moving object, and detects the distance to the obstacle 410.

(15) The controller 130 may be implemented as one or more microprocessors operating by a preset program, and the preset program may include a series of commands for performing a method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(16) FIG. 2 is a table showing functions implemented by the moving object.

(17) The moving object 120 may implement a driving function which includes an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). For example, the unmanned aircraft 100 may control the moving object 120 to implement (or perform) the driving function that includes the advanced driver assistance system.

(18) The advanced driver assistance system may include autonomous emergency braking (AEB), a lane departure warning system (LDWS), a lane keeping assistance system (LKAS), blind spot detection (BSD), or smart cruise control (SCC).

(19) The description of the well-known art can be substituted for the description of the advanced driver assistance system, and a detailed description of the advanced driver assistance system will be omitted.

(20) FIG. 3 is a schematic top plan view of a conveyer where an unmanned aircraft takes off and lands, in the driving test system for the moving object.

(21) Referring to FIG. 3, the conveyer 300 is disposed along a set route, and landing markers 310 are disposed on either side of one end of the conveyer 300. Moreover, a first proximity sensor 312 is disposed between the landing markers 310.

(22) Photosensors 316 are disposed on the other end of the conveyer 300, spaced a set distance apart in the direction the conveyor 300 moves, and a second proximity sensor 314 is disposed between the photosensors 316.

(23) The unmanned aircraft 100 detects the landing markers 310 by the vision sensor 110, and lands between the landing markers 310. Then, the first proximity sensor 312 detects the unmanned aircraft 100.

(24) When the unmanned aircraft 100 is detected by the first proximity sensor 312, the conveyor 300 goes into operation and moves the unmanned aircraft 100.

(25) When the unmanned aircraft 100 is located between the photosensors 316 and the second proximity sensor 314 detects the unmanned aircraft 100, the conveyor 300 stops operating and prepares for takeoff of the unmanned aircraft 100.

(26) FIG. 4 is a partial schematic top plan view showing a path of travel of the moving object in the driving test system of the moving object.

(27) Referring to FIG. 4, the moving object 120 is set to move along the route 400, lanes 420 are formed on either side of the moving object 120, and the obstacle 410 is disposed in a set position. The moving object 120 may be controlled either manually or autonomously.

(28) FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a driving test method of the moving object.

(29) Referring to FIG. 5, control is started at S500, and the moving object 120 such as the autonomous vehicle or the traditional vehicle and the unmanned aircraft 100 are on standby at S510 and S520.

(30) The moving object 120 enters the path 400, either by the controller 130 or by the operator at S530, and the unmanned aircraft 100 flies along with the moving object 120 at S540.

(31) The moving object 120 performs functional driving at S550. The functional driving may include implementing an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), and the advanced driver assistance system may include autonomous emergency braking (AEB), a lane departure warning system (LDWS), a lane keeping assistance system (LKAS), blind spot detection (BSD), or smart cruise control (SCC).

(32) That is, the operator or the controller 130 selectively operates the advanced driver assistance system to control the driving of the moving object 120 at S550, motion characteristics of the moving object 120 are detected by the unmanned aircraft 100 at S560, and the driving test is finished at S570.

(33) Then, the moving object 120 deviates from its route at S580, and the flight of the unmanned aircraft 100 is finished at S590.

(34) In the exemplary form of the present disclosure, the motion characteristics of the moving object detected by the vision sensor 110 of the unmanned aircraft 100 may be transmitted to the controller 130 through the radio transmitter/receiver 160, and the controller 130 may determine how the moving object 120 is driving based on the received information.

(35) FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an unmanned aircraft's landing and takeoff procedure in the driving test method for the moving object.

(36) Referring to FIG. 6, the unmanned aircraft 100 lands at a landing spot in the conveyor 300 at S600. In this case, the vision sensor 110 of the unmanned aircraft 100 detects the landing markers 310, and the unmanned aircraft 100 lands at the corresponding location.

(37) The first proximity sensor 312 detects the unmanned aircraft 100 at S610, and when it is determined that the unmanned aircraft 100 is detected, the conveyor 300 operates to move the unmanned aircraft 100 at S620.

(38) The photosensors 316 or a proximity sensor detect that the unmanned aircraft 100 has reached the set landing spot at S630, and the conveyor 300 is stopped at S640. Also, the unmanned aircraft 160 starts flying in response to a set takeoff signal.

(39) FIG. 7 is a table showing a vision sensor's functions and the moving object's functions in the driving test method of the moving object.

(40) Referring to FIG. 7, the vision sensor 110 checks information of the moving object such as the autonomous vehicle or the traditional vehicle, detects the speed of the moving object 120, detects the distance traveled by the moving object 120, and transmits the results to the controller 130.

(41) Also, the moving object 120 drives autonomously or performs each function in response to a control signal from the controller 130. In this case, the moving object 120 may be operated automatically by an accelerator pedal, brake pedal, and steering wheel of the moving object 120 by a set algorithm.

(42) While forms of the present disclosure have been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary forms, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed forms. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

(43) 100: unmanned aircraft

(44) 110: vision sensor

(45) 120: moving object

(46) 130: controller

(47) 140: detector

(48) 150: antenna

(49) 160: radio transmitter/receiver

(50) 300: conveyor

(51) 310: landing marker

(52) 312: first proximity sensor

(53) 314: second proximity sensor

(54) 316: photosensor

(55) 400: route

(56) 410: obstacle

(57) 420: lane