METHOD FOR OPERATING A BRAKING SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE AND VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AUTONOMOUS PARKING PROCESSES

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a braking system of a vehicle during autonomous parking processes, including a first electronic control unit, a service brake system, and a partial braking system. The first control unit is designed for activating the service brake system and the partial braking system, in which an autonomous parking process is initiated, followed by an activation of the service brake system by the first control unit to generate a braking force. In the event of a failure of the service brake system, the partial braking system is activated by the first control unit to generate a braking force while the autonomous parking process is continued by utilising the partial braking system. The disclosure also relates to a vehicle control system for controlling autonomous parking processes.

Claims

1. A method for operating a braking system of a vehicle during autonomous parking processes, including a first electronic control unit, wherein the first control unit is designed for activating a service brake system and a partial braking system, comprising the following steps: a) initiating an autonomous parking process; b) activating the service brake system by operation of the first control unit in order to generate a braking force; and c) in an event of failure of the service brake system, activating the partial braking system by operation of the first control unit in order to generate a braking force during a continuation of the autonomous parking process by utilising the partial braking system.

2. The method for operating a braking system according to claim 1, wherein, in the event of a failure of the first control unit during an autonomous parking process, a second control unit, which is designed for activating the partial braking system and is coupled to the first control unit via a communication link, carries out an activation of the partial braking system in order to generate a braking force.

3. The method for operating a braking system according to claim 2, wherein, in the event of a failure of the first and of the second control units during an autonomous parking process, a third control unit, which is designed for activating the service brake system and/or the partial braking system and is coupled to the first and/or the second control unit via a second communication link, carries out an activation of the partial braking system in order to generate a braking force.

4. The method for operating a braking system according to claim 3, wherein the third control unit is designed for controlling an autonomous driving.

5. The method for operating a braking system according to claim 3, wherein, in the event of a failure of the first and the second control units during the autonomous parking process, the third control unit activates the service brake system and/or the partial braking system while the autonomous parking process is continued.

6. The method for operating a braking system according to claim 1, wherein the service brake system is a hydraulic or electro-mechanical braking system.

7. The method for operating a braking system according to claim 1, wherein the partial braking system is an electro-mechanical parking brake.

8. A vehicle control system for controlling autonomous parking processes, comprising a braking system of a vehicle, which includes a service brake system and a partial braking system, and a first electronic control unit, wherein the first electronic control unit is configured for activating a service brake system and a partial braking system is designed in such a way that the first electronic control unit can initiate an autonomous parking process, activate the service brake system by operation of the first electronic control unit in order to generate a braking force and, in an event of a failure of the service brake system, activate the partial braking system in order to generate a braking force during the continuation of the autonomous parking process by utilising the partial braking system.

9. The vehicle control system according to claim 8, wherein a second control unit is present, which, in the event of the failure of the first control unit, is able to activate the partial braking system during the on-going autonomous parking process.

10. The vehicle control system according to claim 9, wherein a third control unit is present, which, in the event of a failure of the first and the second control units, is able to activate the partial braking system during the on-going autonomous parking process.

11. The method for operating a braking system according to claim 3, wherein, the third control unit-carries out the activation of the partial braking system to generate a braking force via separate control lines, which extend past the first and the second control units from the third control unit to the partial braking system.

12. The method for operating a braking system according to claim 4, wherein, in the event of a failure of the first and the second control units during the autonomous parking process, the third control unit activates the service brake system and/or the partial braking system while the autonomous parking process is continued.

13. The method for operating a braking system according to claim 11, wherein the service brake system is a hydraulic or electro-mechanical braking system.

14. The method for operating a braking system according to claim 13, wherein the partial braking system is an electro-mechanical parking brake.

15. The method for operating a braking system according to claim 6, wherein the partial braking system is an electro-mechanical parking brake.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0033] The disclosure is explained in the following with reference to an exemplary arrangement, which is shown in the attached drawings. In the drawings;

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the vehicle control system according to the disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the vehicle control system according to the disclosure according to a first alternative exemplary arrangement, including a second control unit; and

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the vehicle control system according to the disclosure according to a second alternative exemplary arrangement, including a second and a third control unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle control system 10 for controlling autonomous parking processes of vehicles. The vehicle control system 10 includes a braking system 12 and a first electronic control unit 14.

[0038] The braking system 12 is divided into a service brake system 16 and a partial braking system 18.

[0039] The service brake system 16 is a braking system that is used in the normal driving operation in order to build up a braking force at all wheels and to decelerate the vehicle and, if necessary, bring the vehicle to a standstill.

[0040] The service brake system 16 is formed by a hydraulic or electro-mechanical braking system 20.

[0041] The partial braking system 18 is formed by an electro-mechanical parking brake 22 and is used primarily for holding the vehicle at a standstill.

[0042] The first electronic control unit 14 is connected via control lines 24 to the brakes of the service brake system 16 and via control lines 26 to the electro-mechanical parking brake 22 of the partial braking system 18.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a vehicle control system 10 according to a first alternative exemplary arrangement, in which, in contrast to the vehicle control system 10 from FIG. 1, a second electronic control unit 28 is additionally provided, which is connected via separate control lines 30 to the electro-mechanical parking brakes 22 of the partial braking system 18.

[0044] In addition, in this first alternative, a communication link 32 is provided between the first electronic control unit 14 and the second electronic control unit 28.

[0045] The communication link 32 can be redundantly designed and also form part of a CAN bus system.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a vehicle control system 10 according to a second alternative exemplary arrangement, in which, in contrast to the first alternative exemplary arrangement, a third electronic control unit 34 is additionally provided, which is designed for controlling an autonomous driving of the vehicle and an autonomous parking, and which is coupled via separate control lines 36 to the electro-mechanical parking brakes 22 of the partial braking system 18. In addition, the third electronic control unit 34 is connected to the brakes of the service brake system 16 via further control lines (not shown in FIG. 3 for the sake of clarity).

[0047] In addition, a communication link 40 is provided between the third electronic control unit 34 and the first electronic control unit 14, and a communication link 38 is provided, which connects the third electronic control unit 34 to the second electronic control unit 28.

[0048] The operation of the vehicle control system 10 for controlling autonomous parking processes is described in the following for each alternative with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3.

[0049] In a vehicle control system 10 according to FIG. 1, initially, the autonomous parking process is initiated in a first step. In order to generate a braking force during the autonomous parking process, the service brake system 16 is activated during the parking process by the first control unit 14 via the control lines 24, so that, for example, a change in the direction of travel can be carried out.

[0050] If a fault is detected in the service brake system 16, for example, by the first control unit 14, which results or could result in the failure or partial failure of the service brake system 16, the first control unit 14 activates the electro-mechanical parking brake 22 of the partial braking system 18 in order to generate a braking force, wherein the autonomous parking process is continued from this point forward by utilising the partial braking system 18 and can be concluded.

[0051] The transfer of the generation of braking force to the partial braking system by the first control unit takes place in a smooth transition, so that the autonomous parking process is not aborted and does not come to a halt.

[0052] In the alternative exemplary arrangement shown in FIG. 2, in which a second electronic control unit 28 is provided, the autonomous parking process can also be continued in the event of a failure of the first control unit 14, Therefore, if a fault is present that results or could result in the failure of the first control unit 14, this is communicated to the second control unit 28 from the first control unit 14 via the communication link 32. As a result, the second control unit 28 takes over the activation of the partial braking system 18 via the control lines 30 without interruption and the autonomous parking process is continued and can be concluded.

[0053] If it happens that both the first control unit 14 and the second control unit 28 fail, then, according to the alternative arrangement shown in FIG. 3, the third control unit can be activated, the third control unit being designed for controlling the autonomous driving and parking of the vehicle.

[0054] A failure of the first control unit 14 and of the second control unit 28 can be communicated to the third control unit 34 via the communication links 38, 40.

[0055] Alternatively, the third control unit 34 can also permanently monitor the first control unit 14 and the second control unit 28 via the communication links 38, 40.

[0056] Therefore, in the event of a failure of the first control unit 14 and the second control unit 28 during the autonomous parking process, the activation of partial braking system 18 for generating a braking force is carried out by the third control unit 34.

[0057] In this case as well, the autonomous parking process is continued by the operation of the third control unit 34 by utilising the partial braking system 18 and can be concluded.

[0058] The activation of the partial braking system 18 by the third control unit 34 also takes place in a smooth transition, so that the autonomous parking process is not aborted and does not come to a halt.

[0059] Since the third control unit is coupled not only to the partial braking system 18 via the control lines (not shown in FIG. 3), but also to the service brake system 16 and can control the service brake system 16, it is also conceivable that the third control unit 34 activates the service brake system 16 instead of the partial braking system 18 during the parking process, provided that the service brake system 16 is not affected by a failure.