SITUATION-DEPENDENT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SENSORS AND/OR COMPONENTS

Abstract

A method for controlling sensors or components of a vehicle, using a control device. Measurement data of at least one sensor of the vehicle being received and evaluated. A traffic situation, in which the vehicle finds itself, is ascertained by evaluating the measurement data; and the at least one sensor and/or at least one component of the vehicle being activated, deactivated and/or set to a standby mode as a function of the ascertained traffic situation. A control device and a computer program are also described.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A method for controlling sensors or components of a vehicle, using a control device, the method comprising the following steps: receiving and evaluating measurement data of at least one sensor of the vehicle; ascertaining a traffic situation in which the vehicle finds itself, by evaluating the measurement data; and activating and/or deactivating and/or setting into standby mode, as a function of the ascertained traffic situation, the at least one sensor and/or at least one component of the vehicle.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein to ascertain the traffic situation, an intersection lying ahead in a direction of travel and/or a traffic light lying ahead in the direction of travel and/or a traffic jam and/or an initiated braking maneuver of the vehicle and/or adjacent road users and/or a city zone and/or a country road and/or or expressway, are detected as operating conditions optimum for the at least one sensor and/or conditions disadvantageous for the at least one sensor.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor and/or component is deactivated by the control device, as soon as the vehicle stops, and the at least one sensor and/or the at least one component is activated by the control device, when the vehicle drives on.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor and/or the at least one component is deactivated or set to a standby mode in response to a dead stop of the vehicle or in response to initiation of a braking action.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor and/or the at least one component is prospectively deactivated or set to a standby mode as a function of the ascertained traffic situation.

21. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein all of the sensors except for at least one position sensor are deactivated at a distance in front of a stopping position lying ahead, and the vehicle is forced to stop completely at the stopping position using measurement data of the at least one position sensor and/or using measurement data received over a communications link.

22. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein measurement data from a reduced number of activated sensors are used by the control device for driving the vehicle away over a starting path and/or for accelerating to a setpoint speed.

23. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein after the at least one sensor and/or the at least one components are deactivated and/or set to a standby mode, the at least one sensor and/or the at least one component are reactivated in a stepwise manner.

24. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein at least one deactivated sensor and/or component is activated on based on measurement data evaluated by the control device, and the at least one deactivated sensor is activated prospectively.

25. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one component is in the form of a control device and is deactivated or set to a standby mode in response to a dead stop of the vehicle or an initiated stoppage or before the dead stop or the initiated stoppage.

26. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor and/or the at least one component set to the standby mode is powered with electrical energy by at least one internal capacitor and/or internal battery and/or an energy supply of the vehicle.

27. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the at least one sensor and/or the at least one control device are deactivated by receiving at least one control command, and the at least one deactivated sensor and/or the at least one deactivated control device are set to an active operating state by receiving another at least one control command.

28. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor is activated and/or deactivated and/or set to a standby mode as a function of a performance of a trajectory planning and/or a deviation of an actual position from a setpoint position.

29. A control device configured to control sensors or components of a vehicle, the control device configured to: receive and evaluate measurement data of at least one sensor of the vehicle; ascertain a traffic situation in which the vehicle finds itself, by evaluating the measurement data; and activate and/or deactivate and/or set into standby mode, as a function of the ascertained traffic situation, the at least one sensor and/or at least one component of the vehicle.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which is stored a computer program for controlling sensors or components of a vehicle, the computer program, when executed a computer, causing the computer to perform the following steps: receiving and evaluating measurement data of at least one sensor of the vehicle; ascertaining a traffic situation in which the vehicle finds itself, by evaluating the measurement data; and activating and/or deactivating and/or setting into standby mode, as a function of the ascertained traffic situation, the at least one sensor and/or at least one component of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a set-up for illustrating a method according to the present invention.

[0059] FIG. 2 a schematic flow chart for illustrating the method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a set-up 1 for illustrating a method 2 according to the present invention.

[0061] Set-up 1 includes a vehicle 4, which is approaching a traffic light 6. Vehicle 4 is a vehicle operable in a highly automated manner in accordance with the BASt definition. Traffic light 6 may transmit information items and data to vehicle 4 via a Car-to-X communications link 8.

[0062] Communications link 8 is based, for example, on wireless data transmission, such as WLAN, radio, GSM, LTE, UMTS, 5G, and the like.

[0063] In particular, a switching state of traffic light 6 may be supplied to vehicle 4 via communications link 8.

[0064] Vehicle 4 includes a control device 10. Control device 10 is connected to surround sensors 12, 13, 14, 15 of vehicle 4 in a manner allowing transmission of data. This may allow control device 10 to receive and evaluate the measurement data of surround sensors 12, 13, 14, 15. Surround sensors 12, 13, 14, 15 are used for monitoring and for sampling surroundings A of the vehicle.

[0065] Control device 10 may communicate with further control units 16 of vehicle 4, such as airbag control units, and activate or deactivate them.

[0066] Surround sensors 12, 13, 14, 15 may take the form of radar sensors 15, camera sensors 12, ultrasonic sensors 13, and lidar sensors 14. Camera sensor 12 is pointed forwards in direction of travel F. Ultrasonic sensor 13 is pointed contrary to direction of travel F. Lidar sensor 14 and radar sensor 15 are laterally directed sensors and monitor a lateral region of vehicle 4.

[0067] Vehicle 4 also includes a position sensor 18, which may ascertain GNSS positions of vehicle 4 and transmit them to control device 10.

[0068] In order to maintain a standby mode, lidar sensor 12 includes an internal energy store 19, which takes the form of a capacitor.

[0069] In spite of an interrupted supply of power, this may allow camera sensor 12 to be operated at a reduced sampling rate or to at least maintain rotation. Through this, camera sensor 12 may be reactivated more rapidly.

[0070] A schematic flow chart for illustrating the method 2 according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 2. Method 2 is used for controlling sensors, in particular, surround sensors 12, 13, 14, 15, of vehicle 4, using control device 10.

[0071] In a step 20, measurement data of at least one surround sensor 12, 13, 14, 15 of vehicle 4 are received and evaluated by control device 10.

[0072] By evaluating the measurement data, a traffic situation, in which vehicle 4 finds itself or will find itself, is ascertained 22 by control device 10.

[0073] According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, vehicle 4 is located in front of a traffic light 6 lying ahead. This may be determined, using data which position sensor 18 receives, or by evaluating the measurement data of camera sensor 12.

[0074] In a further step 24, the at least one surround sensor 12, 13, 14, 15 of vehicle 4 is activated, deactivated and/or set to a standby mode as a function of the ascertained traffic situation.

[0075] Since traffic light 6 transmits relevant information items beforehand to control device 10 via communications link 8, radar sensor 15, lidar sensor 14, and ultrasonic sensor 13 may already be activated, for example, prior to the stopping of vehicle 4 at a stopping position 11 in front of traffic light 6.