Driving System with Different Driving Functions for an Automated Drive and a Common Input Component, and Method for Activating a Driving Function via the Common Input Component

Abstract

A driving system is provided with a plurality of different driving functions for an automated drive with different degrees of automation for a motor vehicle. At least the driving function with the highest degree of automation is not constantly available. The driving system has a user interface for interacting with the driver. The user interface has an input component which is common to the plurality of driving functions for a signaling, by the driver, of a driver-side request for an automated drive to the driving system. The driving system is designed to determine an operating action via the input component for an automated drive. After the operating action is determined, the available driving function of the plurality of driving functions which has the degree of automation with the highest potential is determined. Provided the driving function is determined which has the degree of automation with the highest potential among the available driving functions, the driving function can be activated.

Claims

1. A driving system having a plurality of different driving functions for automated driving with a different degree of automation for a motor vehicle, wherein at least the function with the highest degree of automation is not constantly available, the driving system comprising: a user interface comprising a common input component which is common to the plurality of driving functions and is intended to signal, by a driver, a desire for automated driving to the driving system by way of an operating action via the common input component; and wherein the driving system is operatively configured to: determine a driver's operating action via the common input component, after the operating action via the common input component has been determined, determine that available driving function from the plurality of driving functions which has the highest degree of automation, and activate the determined available driving function with the highest degree of automation.

2. The driving system according to claim 1, wherein the common input component is an actuatable common operating element, and the operating action is actuation of the common operating element.

3. The driving system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises: an output component for offering a driving function for automated driving to the driver, and an acceptance component for accepting the offer of the driving function for automated driving by the driver, wherein the driving system is further configured to: offer the determined available driving function with the highest degree of automation to the driver via the output component, determine a driver's acceptance of the offered driving function for automated driving via the acceptance component, and activate the offered driving function for automated driving in response to the determination of the driver's acceptance of the offer.

4. The driving system according to claim 3, wherein an operating action which is to be performed via the acceptance component for the purpose of accepting the offered driving function is respectively assigned to each driving function from the plurality of driving functions, and the driving system is further configured to: communicate the necessary operating action for accepting the offered driving function to the driver via the output component, determine if a driver carries out the operating action necessary for accepting the offered driving function, and activate the offered driving function in response to determining that the driver has carried out the operating action.

5. The driving system according to claim 4, wherein the offered driving function is a driving function with at least automated longitudinal guidance or with at least automated lateral guidance, the acceptance component comprises at least one operating element for manual longitudinal guidance or at least one operating element for manual lateral guidance, and the driving system is further configured to: determine that the driver has freed or released the operating element for manual longitudinal guidance or manual lateral guidance, and determine a driver's acceptance of the offer of the driving function on the basis thereof.

6. The driving system according to claim 5, wherein the offered driving function is a driving function with at least automated lateral guidance, the acceptance component comprises a steering wheel as the operating element for manual lateral guidance, and the driving system is further configured to: determine that the driver has removed his hands from the steering wheel or determine that the driver has removed one hand from the steering wheel while the other hand remains on the steering wheel, and determine a driver's acceptance of the offer of the driving function from said determination.

7. The driving system according to claim 5, wherein the offered driving function is a driving function with at least automated longitudinal guidance, the acceptance component comprises an accelerator pedal as the operating element for manual longitudinal guidance, and the driving system is further configured to: determine that the driver has released the accelerator pedal, and determine a driver's acceptance of the offer of the driving function from said determination.

8. The driving system according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of driving functions comprise: a first driving function with a higher degree of automation, and a second driving function with a lower degree of automation, wherein the driving system is further configured to: determine, if the second driving function with the lower degree of automation is active, that the first driving function with the higher degree of automation is available, in response to this, offer the first driving function with the higher degree of automation to the driver via the output component, determine a driver's acceptance of the offered first driving function with the higher degree of automation via the acceptance component, and in response to determining the driver's acceptance of the offer, activate the offered first driving function with the higher degree of automation.

9. The driving system according to claim 8, wherein the higher degree of automation is a driving function for highly automated driving.

10. The driving system according to claim 8, wherein the driver's acceptance of the offered first driving function is carried out via actuation of a button.

11. The driving system according to claim 1, wherein the driving system is further configured to: automatically activate the determined available driving function with the highest degree of automation without a further operating action by the driver.

12. The driving system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of driving functions comprise: a driving function for highly automated driving, a driving function for partially automated driving, and a driving function for assisted driving.

13. The driving system according to claim 1, wherein the common input component is an actuatable common operating element, a first light-emitting display is assigned to the common operating element, and the driving system is configured to signal the availability of at least one of the driving functions to the driver via the light-emitting state of the first light-emitting display.

14. The driving system according to claim 13, wherein the availability of the at least one of the driving functions is the availability of the driving function with the highest degree of automation.

15. The driving system according to claim 13, wherein the first light-emitting display is integrated in the common operating element.

16. The driving system according to claim 13, wherein the common input component is an actuatable common operating element, a second light-emitting display is assigned to the common operating element in the form of an operating element, and the driving system is configured to change over the second light-emitting display to a defined first light-emitting state upon actuation of the common operating element in order to signal the activation of the driving function with the highest degree of automation to the driver if the driving function with the highest degree of automation is available.

17. The driving system according to claim 16, wherein the second light-emitting element is a light-emitting display arranged beside the common operating element.

18. The driving system according to claim 1, wherein the common input component is an actuatable common operating element, and the driving system is configured to prevent automated driving if the common operating element is actuated again.

19. A method for activating a driving function for automated driving for a vehicle with a driving system having a plurality of different driving functions for automated driving with a different degree of automation, wherein at least the function with the highest degree of automation is not constantly available, the method comprising the steps of: determining a driver's operating action via an input component which is common to the plurality of driving functions and is intended to signal the driver's desire for automated driving; after the operating action has been determined, determining that available driving function from the plurality of driving functions which has the highest possible degree of automation; and activating the determined available driving function with the highest possible degree of automation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0068] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary user interface.

[0069] FIG. 2 shows a first exemplary embodiment for activating driving functions for automated driving.

[0070] FIG. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment for activating driving functions for automated driving.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates components of an exemplary embodiment of a user interface for an exemplary driving system. The driving system comprises (with decreasing degree of automation) a driving function for highly automated driving (HAF) with automated longitudinal and lateral guidance (in particular for use on a freeway), a driving function (TAF) for partially automated driving with automated longitudinal and lateral guidance and a driving function (AF) for assisted driving with only automated longitudinal guidance. A driving function for assisted driving with only automated lateral guidance could optionally also be provided.

[0072] The user interface comprises an operating element 1 (AUTO) for signaling the desire for automated driving to the driving system. The operating element 1 (AUTO) is implemented as an operating button, for example, and is preferably integrated in a steering wheel 2, in which case a section of the steering wheel rim of the steering wheel 2 is illustrated in FIG. 1. A light-emitting display 3 which is used as functional illumination is arranged beside the common operating element 1 (AUTO), which light-emitting display fundamentally emits light in a first light color (for example green) after actuation of the operating element 1 (AUTO), but emits light in a second light color (for example blue) if the highly automated driving is available after actuation of the operating element 1 (AUTO).

[0073] Search illumination 7 is preferably integrated in the operating element 1 and can illuminate the inscription on the operating element (here AUTO) in a particular light color, for example. The availability of the driving function HAF for highly automated driving can be communicated to the driver via the light-emitting state of the search illumination 7. If the driving function HAF is available, the search illumination emits light in the same color (here blue) in which the functional illumination 3 emits light, for example, if the operating element 1 has been actuated and the driving function HAF is available. Otherwise, the search illumination 7 does not emit light at all, for example, or emits light in a neutral light color (for example white) in the case of lower ambient light.

[0074] Furthermore, a rocker 4 which can be moved in two opposite directions is provided and is used, for example, to change a predefined driving speed during assisted or partially automated driving.

[0075] The driver can accept an offered driving function for automated driving via an operating element 5 (SET), for example a button.

[0076] In addition, a display 6 is provided, for example in the instrument combination or in the head-up display, and can be used to offer a driving function for automated driving to the driver.

[0077] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary method of operation for activating driving functions for automated driving on the basis of the user interface above.

[0078] The driving system may be in one state of a plurality of states, namely, for example, in the state 100 without automated driving, in the state 110 with an activated driving function AF for assisted driving with only automated longitudinal guidance, in a state 120 with an activated driving function TAF for partially automated driving with automated longitudinal and lateral guidance and in a state 130 with an activated driving function HAF for highly automated driving with automated longitudinal and lateral guidance.

[0079] Starting from the state 100 without automated driving, if the driving function HAF is available (HAF,v), the driving function HAF is activated in response to actuation of the operating element 1 (AUTO) and the state 130 is therefore assumed (see state transition 200). If the driving function HAF is not available (NOT(HAF,v)) (for example because the current driving speed is too high), but the driving function TAF is available (TAF,v), the driving function TAF for partially automated driving is activated in response to actuation of the common operating element 1 (AUTO) and the state 120 is therefore assumed (see state transition 210). If neither the driving function HAF (NOT(HAF,v)) nor the driving function TAF (NOT(TAF,v)) is available (for example because the vehicle is currently not being guided manually in a sufficiently central manner in the lane), the driving function AF for assisted driving is activated in response to actuation of the operating element 1 (AUTO) and the state 110 is therefore assumed (see state transition 220).

[0080] That available driving function from the driving functions AF, TAF and HAF which has the highest possible degree of automation at this time among the available functions is therefore determined and this available driving function is then activated by the system. In this exemplary embodiment, it is assumed that, starting from the state 100, the available driving function with the currently highest possible degree of automation is automatically activated by the system (in the case of a previously activated operating element 1) without the driver having to carry out a further operating action.

[0081] If the driving system has reached the state 120 after actuation of the operating element 1 (AUTO) if the driving function HAF is not available, and if the driving function TAF for partially automated driving is active, the situation may subsequently arise in which it is determined that the driving function HAF is now available (HAF,v). In this case, the driver is advised, via the display 6, that the driving function HAF is available and the activation of the driving function is offered to the driver (see FIG. 1 Highly automated driving available). The operating action which can be used by the driver to activate the driving function HAF is communicated to the driver on the display 6. For example, the offered driving function HAF can be accepted by the driver by actuating the operating element 5 (SET), with the result that the driving function HAF is activated in response to the actuation of the operating element 5 (SET). Starting from the state 120 with an active driving function TAF, the driving function HAF is offered if the driving function HAF is available (HAF,v) and the driving function HAF is activated if the offer is accepted by actuating the operating element 5 (SET) (see state transition 230).

[0082] If, in contrast, the driving system has reached the state 110, if the driving function HAF is not available and if the driving function TAF is not available, and if the driving function AF for assisted driving is active, the situation may subsequently arise in which it is determined that the driving function HAF is now available (HAF,v). Starting from the state 110 with an active driving function AF, the driving function HAF is then offered in a similar manner if the driving function HAF is available (HAF,v) and the driving function HAF is activated if the offer is accepted by actuating the operating element 5 (SET) (see state transition 240).

[0083] Provision is also made of a further state 140 to which the driving system changes from the state 120 if the driver actuates the brake pedal in the state 120 during partially automated driving (see state transition 270). In the state 140, the automated lateral guidance (Q) of the driving function TAF is continued, whereas the automated longitudinal guidance of the driving function is in the standby mode, that is to say is currently not active, with the result that the driver manually performs the longitudinal guidance. If the driving function HAF becomes available in the state 140 (HAF,v), this driving function HAF is offered to the driver and is activated if the offer is accepted by actuating the operating element 5 (SET) (see state transition 280).

[0084] If the driver actuates the accelerator pedal in the state 140, the driver is requested, via the display 6, to release the accelerator pedal. After the accelerator pedal has been released, the system changes to the state 120 again. In addition, the driver can change back to the state 120 by actuating the rocker 4. In this case, depending on the manner in which the rocker is actuated, an earlier set speed is used as the set speed or the current vehicle speed is used as the set speed.

[0085] Provision may also be made of a further state 150 to which the driving system changes from the state 110 if the driver actuates the brake pedal in the state 110 (see state transition 300). In the state 150, the longitudinal guidance is in the standby mode. If the driving function HAF becomes available (HAF,v) in the state 150, this driving function HAF is offered to the driver and is activated if the offer is accepted by actuating the operating element 5 (SET) (see state transition 310).

[0086] If the driver no longer wants any further automation in the case of active automation in the state 110, 120 or 130, the driver can actuate the operating element 1, with the result that the driving system assumes the state 100 without automation again (see state transitions 250, 260, 270).

[0087] A further exemplary embodiment is discussed below in connection with FIG. 3. In this case, in contrast to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2, a driving function for automated driving (that is to say highly automated driving, partially automated driving or assisted driving depending on availability) is first offered to the driver after actuation of the operating element 1 (AUTO) starting from the state 100, in which case the driver must accept the offer by means of an operating action. The offered driving function is then activated in response to the acceptance.

[0088] Starting from the state 100 without automated driving, the driving function HAF is offered to the driver via the display 6, with a statement of the necessary operating action for acceptance (for example with the following advice: Highly automated driving availableplease release steering wheel and accelerator pedal for activation), in response to actuation of the operating element 1 (AUTO) if the driving function HAF is available (HAF,v). The offer of the driving function HAF can also be optically highlighted in the display 6 by means of color information (for example blue) assigned to the driving function HAF. The system checks whether the driver carries out the operating action (here: release of the steering wheel (LF in FIG. 3) and release of the accelerator pedal (PF in FIG. 3)) for acceptance. If the necessary operating action has been carried out by the driver for the purpose of accepting the offered driving function, the driving function HAF is activated and the state 130 is assumed (see state transition 200).

[0089] If the driving function HAF is not available (NOT(HAF,v)), but the driving function TAF is available (TAF,v), the driving function TAF for partially automated driving is offered to the driver, with a statement of the necessary operating action for acceptance (for example with the following advice: Partially automated driving availableplease release steering wheel and accelerator pedal for activation), in response to actuation of the common operating element 1 (AUTO). If the necessary operating action has been carried out by the driver for the purpose of accepting the offered driving function, the driving function TAF is activated and the state 120 is assumed (see state transition 210).

[0090] If neither the driving function HAF (NOT(HAF,v)) nor the driving function TAF (NOT(TAF,v)) is available, the driving function AF for assisted driving is offered to the driver, with a statement of the necessary operating action for acceptance (for example with the following advice: Assisted driving availableplease release accelerator pedal for activation), in response to actuation of the operating element 1 (AUTO). If the necessary operating action has been carried out by the driver for the purpose of accepting the offered driving function, the driving function AF is activated and the state 110 is assumed (see state transition 220).

[0091] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.