METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN AUTOMATED MOBILE UNIT AND METHOD FOR EMITTING A PIECE OF HAZARD INFORMATION

Abstract

A method for controlling, in particular for evacuating, a mobile unit operated in an automated manner. The method includes the following: receiving a signal from an external source, which encompasses a piece of hazard information; automated control of the mobile unit based on this piece of hazard information, the control taking place in such a way that the mobile unit is guided to a safe position for the mobile unit; automatically guiding the mobile unit based on the piece of hazard information and/or a received all-clear signal and/or a received guidance signal, the automatic guidance taking place so that the mobile unit is guided to a starting position of the mobile unit.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A method for controlling and/or evacuating a mobile unit operated in an automated manner, the method comprising: receiving a signal from an external source, which encompasses a piece of hazard information; providing automated control of the mobile unit based on this piece of hazard information, the control taking place so that the mobile unit is guided to a safe position for the mobile unit; and automatically guiding the mobile unit based on the piece of hazard information and/or a received all-clear signal and/or a received guidance signal, the automatic guidance taking place so that the mobile unit is guided to a starting position of the mobile unit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the starting position is the position of the mobile unit, in which the mobile unit was located upon receipt of the signal from the external source, which encompasses a piece of hazard information.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the starting position is a position in a predefined surrounding area of the position in which the mobile unit was located upon receipt of the signal from the external source, which encompasses a piece of hazard information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the surrounding area is a radius indicated in meters and/or kilometers.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the surrounding area is established based on a time specification within which a certain location is to be reachable by the mobile unit.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising: emitting a signal to a user and/or an owner of the mobile unit and/or a party responsible for the mobile unit, which encompasses a piece of information regarding an automated control of the mobile unit.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising: receiving an acknowledge signal of the user and/or the owner and/or the party responsible for the mobile unit, the automated guidance of the mobile unit taking place based on the acknowledge signal.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the automated mobile unit is an automobile, a drone, a truck, a boat, a construction vehicle, a commercial vehicle, a tractor, an aircraft, or a spacecraft.

24. An apparatus for controlling and/or evacuating a mobile unit operated in an automated manner, comprising: a device configured to perform the following: receiving a signal from an external source, which encompasses a piece of hazard information; providing automated control of the mobile unit based on this piece of hazard information, the control taking place so that the mobile unit is guided to a safe position for the mobile unit; and automatically guiding the mobile unit based on the piece of hazard information and/or a received all-clear signal and/or a received guidance signal, the automatic guidance taking place so that the mobile unit is guided to a starting position of the mobile unit.

25. A method for emitting a signal which encompasses a piece of hazard information, the method comprising: receiving data; generating a piece of hazard information on the basis of the received data; ascertaining an area affected by the piece of hazard information; receiving position data of at least one mobile unit; ascertaining whether the mobile unit is located in the ascertained area; emitting a signal which encompasses the hazard information to the mobile unit if the mobile unit is located in the ascertained area; and emitting a further signal to a user and/or an owner of the mobile unit and/or a party responsible for the mobile unit, which encompasses a piece of information regarding the emission of the signal to the mobile unit.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising: determining a safe position for the mobile unit, the signal encompassing a piece of information regarding the safe position for the mobile unit.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising: calculating a possible route for the mobile unit to the determined safe position, the signal, in the step of emitting the signal, encompassing a piece of information regarding the route for the mobile unit.

28. An apparatus, comprising: a device, for emitting a signal which encompasses a piece of hazard information, configured to perform the following: receiving data; generating a piece of hazard information on the basis of the received data; ascertaining an area affected by the piece of hazard information; receiving position data of at least one mobile unit; ascertaining whether the mobile unit is located in the ascertained area; emitting a signal which encompasses the hazard information to the mobile unit if the mobile unit is located in the ascertained area; and emitting a further signal to a user and/or an owner of the mobile unit and/or a party responsible for the mobile unit, which encompasses a piece of information regarding the emission of the signal to the mobile unit.

29. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising: a program code arrangement having program code for controlling and/or evacuating a mobile unit operated in an automated manner, by performing the following: receiving a signal from an external source, which encompasses a piece of hazard information; providing automated control of the mobile unit based on this piece of hazard information, the control taking place so that the mobile unit is guided to a safe position for the mobile unit; and automatically guiding the mobile unit based on the piece of hazard information and/or a received all-clear signal and/or a received guidance signal, the automatic guidance taking place so that the mobile unit is guided to a starting position of the mobile unit.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the starting position is the position of the mobile unit, in which the mobile unit was located upon receipt of the signal from the external source, which encompasses a piece of hazard information.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of one specific embodiment of the method for controlling a unit operated in an automated manner according to the present invention.

[0064] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of one further specific embodiment of the method for controlling a unit operated in an automated manner according to the present invention.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of one further specific embodiment of the method for controlling a unit operated in an automated manner according to the present invention.

[0066] FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of one specific embodiment of the method for generating and emitting a piece of hazard information according to the present invention.

[0067] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of one specific embodiment of the method for generating and emitting a piece of hazard information according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] A method for controlling a unit operated in an automated manner is outlined in FIG. 1. In this specific embodiment, the mobile unit operated in an automated manner is a drone which is equipped with multiple cameras, a GPS sensor, a communication unit, and a control unit. The control unit is configured in such a way, in this case, that an automated control of the drone is possible, in that appropriate actuators are activated without the need to intervene in the control of the drone with the aid of an external activation. Moreover, the control unit is configured for carrying out the method represented in FIG. 1. With the aid of the communication unit, the drone is capable of receiving signals from external sources and emitting signals. In this exemplary embodiment, the communication unit is configured for receiving and emitting signals via the mobile radio communication and via a WLAN.

[0069] The method starts in step 101.

[0070] In step 102, a signal of an external weather server, which encompasses a piece of hazard information, is received by the control unit via the communication unit. In this specific embodiment, the piece of hazard information contains a warning against hail and a storm which are to occur in an indicated area in an indicated period of time.

[0071] In step 103, an automated guidance of the drone takes place based on this piece of hazard information. Safe positions for the drone, to which the drone may return or move in the event that hazards occur, are stored on an internal memory which is likewise a component of the drone. Based on the received piece of hazard information, one of these safe positions is selected by the drone; in this exemplary embodiment, the safe position is a space in an underground parking garage reserved for the drone. The drone is guided in an automated manner in such a way that the drone reaches its safe position before the beginning of the forecast hail.

[0072] The method ends in step 104.

[0073] Instead of a drone, the mobile unit operated in an automated manner may also be a motor vehicle operable in an automated manner or further agricultural vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, and/or spacecraft. These vehicles are likewise equipped in such a way that they may receive signals and move in an automated manner to predefined locations.

[0074] Instead of ascertaining a safe position on its own, in an alternative specific embodiment, the safe position is already contained in the piece of hazard information. In addition, in a further specific embodiment, the route to the safe position is also already contained in the piece of hazard information.

[0075] In an alternative specific embodiment, both the determination of a safe position as well as the calculation of a route to the safe position take place in the mobile unit.

[0076] A further possible sequence of the method is represented in FIG. 2. In this specific embodiment, the method runs on a motor vehicle operated in an automated manner. The motor vehicle includes a control unit, a surroundings sensor system, and a communication unit. The motor vehicle may be operated in an automated manner via the control unit with the aid of signals received via the surroundings sensor system. Signals may be received from external sources and signals may be emitted with the aid of the communication unit.

[0077] The method starts in step 201.

[0078] In step 202, a signal of an external source is received by the control unit via the communication unit; in this exemplary embodiment, by a cloud on which data are aggregated and hazard information is generated. The received signal encompasses a piece of hazard information in which an area is contained, in which a hazard is to be assumed. In this exemplary embodiment, the piece of hazard information contains information regarding impending or existing riots or an unscheduled demonstration. Moreover, the signal of the external source contains an individually determined safe position for the vehicle and multiple proposed routes sorted by priority, which may be headed for by the vehicle in order to reach the safe position. In the vehicle, the various routes are compared with data regarding known route sections stored in the vehicle and a prioritized route is selected based on the comparison. The prioritized route is selected in such a way that known hazards may be avoided. If no further hazards are known, the route prioritized by the external source is selected.

[0079] In step 203, the vehicle transmits a signal to a vehicle owner with the aid of the communication unit, in which information regarding the impending hazard and the planned guidance to the safe position is contained.

[0080] In step 204, an acknowledge signal which was emitted by the vehicle owner is received via the communication unit.

[0081] After this acknowledge signal has been received, the automated guidance of the vehicle takes place in step 205 in such a way that the safe position is headed for along the previously established route.

[0082] The method ends in step 206.

[0083] A further possible sequence of the method is outlined in FIG. 3. In this exemplary embodiment, the mobile unit is a tractor operable in an automated manner.

[0084] The method starts in step 301.

[0085] In step 302, a signal of an external server, which contains a piece of information regarding impending heavy rain, is received by the tractor. The tractor is positioned in the proximity of a field, so that it may be utilized on the field upon request without a great time delay.

[0086] In order to prevent the tractor from sinking in or incurring any other type of damage due to the heavy rain, a control of the tractor takes place in step 303 based on the information regarding the heavy rain. The control takes place in such a way that the tractor heads for a covered parking position. This safe position for the tractor is stored in an internal memory of the tractor and is to be prioritized by the tractor as a safe position in the case of heavy rain.

[0087] In step 304, the tractor receives a further signal which contains an all-clear signal regarding the heavy rain.

[0088] Based on this information, in step 305, an automated guidance of the tractor back to the position takes place, in which the tractor was located when it received the heavy rain warning. This position was previously stored in the tractor. The method ends in step 306.

[0089] In one further specific embodiment of the method, in step 304, a guidance signal is received, which was emitted by the owner of the tractor. This signal contains a control command which is independent of a hazard situation. The signal also contains a position which the tractor is to head for, instead of the safe position. The position is selected regardless of the heavy rain warning in this case and corresponds to a parking space on a yard covered with concrete.

[0090] In one further exemplary embodiment, step 304 of receiving a further signal is dispensed with. The automated guidance of the tractor in step 305 takes place based on the piece of hazard information contained in step 302. In this exemplary embodiment, this piece of hazard information contains a period of time in which a hazard is to be assumed. The automated guidance of the tractor back to a starting position takes place immediately after the period of time contained in the piece of hazard information.

[0091] In one further exemplary embodiment, the signal received in step 304 is emitted by a user of the tractor, since the user does not agree with the automated control. Consequently, in step 305, the tractor moves back to the starting position, regardless of a present piece of hazard information.

[0092] A further method diagram is represented in FIG. 4. The represented method may be carried out, for example, on an external server which is capable of receiving data via a suitable interface. In this exemplary embodiment, the method is carried out on a cloud.

[0093] The method starts in step 401.

[0094] In step 402, data are received by the cloud. This takes place in this exemplary embodiment via a suitable interface which is configured for receiving mobile radio signals and includes a connection to the Internet. The received data are various types of data from which a piece of hazard information is derivable, if necessary. These data encompass, for example, weather data, such as imminent hail, heavy rain, rain, a storm, warnings about natural disasters such as imminent high water, a tsunami, an earthquake, a landslide, a wildfire, a hurricane, or a heavy snowfall and, if necessary, the risk of avalanches, or warnings about hazards to an owner of a mobile unit, for example, due to an imminent stopping restriction at the present position of the mobile unit due to temporary construction work. Moreover, it may also be assumed that demonstrations or similar events, for example, assemblies of multiple persons or vehicles, pose a hazard. Consequently, data from weather stations, communications data, and data regarding GPS positions of persons or mobile units are received, on the basis of which occurring gatherings of people or growing groups of mobile units may be determined, if necessary.

[0095] In step 403, a piece of hazard information is generated on the basis of the received data. In this exemplary embodiment, an unusual gathering of pedestrians is detected on the basis of position data of pedestrians. Simultaneously, messages are received, which contain information regarding a possible demonstration including violent participants in a certain area.

[0096] This information is combined with the detected assembly, whereby a piece of hazard information is obtained, which contains information regarding an impending demonstration, which could result in hazards for vehicles located in the proximity.

[0097] In step 404, the area affected by the piece of hazard information is ascertained on the basis of the received data. In this exemplary embodiment, a radius of 5 km around the focus of the assembly or the gathering of pedestrians is established as a danger zone.

[0098] In step 405, the position of a mobile unit is received via a receiving unit. In this exemplary embodiment, information regarding the mobile unit has already been stored, so that the location of this unit may be queried in a targeted manner.

[0099] In step 406, it is detected whether the mobile unit is located in the previously determined area which is affected by the piece of hazard information.

[0100] If it is established in step 406 that the mobile unit is located in an area, which is affected by the piece of hazard information, at the point in time of the query, an emission of a signal, which encompasses the hazard information, to the mobile unit takes place in step 407. The method ends in step 408.

[0101] A further method for emitting a signal is outlined in FIG. 5. In this exemplary embodiment, this method is carried out in a cloud.

[0102] The method starts in step 501.

[0103] In step 502, data regarding an appropriate interface are received from the cloud which is formed by multiple servers networked with one another. In this exemplary embodiment, the received data encompass a storm warning for the greater Munich area, in which strong hail is to be expected.

[0104] In step 503, a piece of hazard information is generated on the basis of these data, in that the data received in step 502 are analyzed. The aforementioned data contain the information regarding the forecast hail.

[0105] In step 504, an area is ascertained, which is or is to be affected by the piece of hazard information or by the hail. In this case, a radius is assumed, which is 50 km greater than the area indicated in the received data, in which hail is to be expected.

[0106] In step 505, position data of multiple mobile units are received, which are registered in the cloud and are to receive hazard information relevant for the mobile units.

[0107] In step 506, it is ascertained whether the mobile units are located in the area affected by the piece of hazard information or will be located there at the point in time of the occurring hazard. Where the mobile units will be located at the point in time of the hazard may be determined, for example, by querying the planned routes of the mobile units.

[0108] In step 507, a safe position is individually determined for each mobile unit which is located or is to be located in an area affected by the piece of hazard information. The type of mobile unit is taken into account in this case. Various vehicles, such as drones, automobiles, trucks, boats, agricultural machinery, aircraft, or spacecraft, may be registered.

[0109] In step 508, at least one route to the safe position determined in step 507 is individually calculated for each mobile unit. The manner in which the mobile unit may move, for example, whether it may fly or travel over water, or whether it is permitted to utilize or must utilize only certain roads, is also taken into account in this calculation.

[0110] The emission of a signal to all mobile units which are or will be located in an area affected by the piece of hazard information takes place in step 509. In this case, the signal contains the piece of hazard information, the individually determined safe position, and at least one route which may be traveled or is permitted to be traveled by the particular mobile unit in order to reach the safe position. Multiple routes or “proposals for evacuation” are transmitted only when this is desired by the particular units. This option may be selected, for example, during a registration of the units in the cloud.

[0111] The method ends in step 510.

[0112] In an optional additional step, a further signal may be emitted to a user, an owner, or a party responsible for the particular mobile unit before, simultaneously to, or after the emission of the signal to the mobile units, so that the user, the owner, or the party responsible for the particular mobile unit is informed about the impending control of the mobile unit and may intervene in this control, if necessary.

[0113] The above-described methods may also be combined with one another, of course. Individual steps may be added to each presented method or, if necessary, may also be left out. The listed exemplary embodiments are by no means to be understood as a complete list of all possible and reasonable combinations. In addition, the individual method steps of the above-described methods may be carried out on a shared control unit or in a combination of multiple control units.