Showing a target vehicle opening fore zone of an automated vehicle

Abstract

A method is provided for showing a target vehicle opening fore zone for a potential, future vehicle user (220) of an automated vehicle (200) by a control device, wherein the potential, future vehicle user of the automated vehicle is detected outside of the automated vehicle, and the automated vehicle marks the target vehicle opening fore zone for the potential, future vehicle user during the travel to the potential, future vehicle user before a stopping position (250) is reached.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a target vehicle opening fore zone, which indicates an entry region or a loading zone, for a potential future vehicle user of an automated vehicle by a controller, the method comprising: identifying the potential future vehicle user located outside of the automated vehicle; and indicating to the potential future vehicle user the target vehicle opening fore zone by at least one actuator of the automated vehicle that is actuatable by the controller during a journey to the potential future vehicle user before a stopping position of the automated vehicle is reached and after the potential future vehicle user located outside of the automated vehicle is identified; wherein a future stopping position of the automated vehicle and a display of the target vehicle opening fore zone are adapted to an actual movement of the potential future vehicle user in a case in which the potential future vehicle user is not moving in a direction of the display of the target vehicle opening fore zone for the future stopping position of the automated vehicle; and wherein a display of the target vehicle opening fore zone comprises at least one element that facilitates an interaction of the potential future vehicle user with the automated vehicle; wherein the display of the target vehicle opening fore zone comprises at least one first element that describes an offer for a journey with the automated vehicle; the display of the target vehicle opening fore zone comprises at least one second, interactive element, through which the potential future vehicle user can accept the offer; and the automated vehicle modifies a movement plan depending on the offer in a case in which the offer is accepted by the potential future vehicle user.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the potential future vehicle user is identified by at least one sensor of the automated vehicle.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein information items from an electronic appliance of the potential future vehicle user are received by the controller directly or indirectly via a server and the potential future vehicle user is identified based on the received information items.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an information item is received by the controller and the stopping position of the automated vehicle is determined based on the received information item.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a display of the target vehicle opening fore zone comprises at least one element that facilitates an assignment of the display of the target vehicle opening fore zone to the potential future vehicle user.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target vehicle opening fore zone for the potential future vehicle user is a path from a current spatial position of the potential future vehicle user to a future stopping position of the automated vehicle.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein information items from an electronic appliance of the potential future vehicle user are received by the controller directly or indirectly via a server and the potential future vehicle user is identified based on the received information items.

8. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein an information item is received by the controller and the stopping position of the automated vehicle is determined based on the received information item.

9. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein an information item is received by the controller and the stopping position of the automated vehicle is determined based on the received information item.

10. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a display of the target vehicle opening fore zone comprises at least one element that facilitates an assignment of the display of the target vehicle opening fore zone to the potential future vehicle user.

11. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein a display of the target vehicle opening fore zone comprises at least one element that facilitates an assignment of the display of the target vehicle opening fore zone to the potential future vehicle user.

12. A control apparatus for displaying a target vehicle opening fore zone, which indicates an entry region or a loading zone, for a potential future vehicle user of an automated vehicle comprising at least one sensor for identifying the potential future vehicle user of the automated vehicle outside of the automated vehicle, a vehicle opening fore zone display module for indicating the target vehicle opening fore zone for the potential future vehicle user during the journey to the potential future vehicle user before the automated vehicle reaches a stopping position, and a controller, by means of which the signals of the sensor are evaluable and by means of which the vehicle opening fore zone display module is actuatable; wherein a future stopping position of the automated vehicle and a display of the target vehicle opening fore zone are adapted to an actual movement of the potential future vehicle user in a case in which the potential future vehicle user is not moving in a direction of the display of the target vehicle opening fore zone for the future stopping position of the automated vehicle; wherein a display of the target vehicle opening fore zone comprises at least one element that facilitates an interaction of the potential future vehicle user with the automated vehicle; wherein the display of the target vehicle opening fore zone comprises at least one first element that describes an offer for a journey with the automated vehicle; the display of the target vehicle opening fore zone comprises at least one second, interactive element, through which the potential future vehicle user can accept the offer; and the automated vehicle modifies a movement plan depending on the offer in a case in which the offer is accepted by the potential future vehicle user.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: identifying gestures performed by the potential future vehicle user; and determining whether the potential future vehicle user is beckoning the automated vehicle toward the potential future vehicle user based on the gestures.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A shows components of an exemplary control apparatus according to the invention.

(2) FIG. 1B shows an exemplary motor vehicle with an integrated control apparatus according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2A shows a first instant during an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention.

(4) FIG. 2B shows a second instant during the exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention.

(5) FIG. 3 shows a display of a target vehicle opening fore zone, according to the invention, of a motor vehicle, consisting of a plurality of elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(6) FIG. 1A shows components of an exemplary control apparatus according to the invention. Here, the control apparatus comprises at least one sensor 110, which may be a camera, for example. The sensor 110 communicates with a vehicle user identification module 120 that is integrated in a controller 100 and configured to identify the potential, future vehicle user in the sensor data of the sensor 110. Here, this identification can comprise both the determination of the spatial position of the potential, future vehicle user and their identification.

(7) The passenger identification module 120 communicates in turn with a vehicle opening fore zone display module 130. This vehicle opening fore zone display module 130 is configured to determine a suitable display form and type of the target vehicle opening fore zone. Then, the target vehicle opening fore zone is indicated by means of at least one actuator 140. By way of example, the actuator 140 can be an actuator already present in conventional vehicles, for instance a headlamp. However, a novel actuator may also be used to this end, such as a light projector, for example.

(8) FIG. 1B shows a motor vehicle 200 with an integrated control apparatus according to the invention. The control apparatus comprises a sensor 110, for example a camera, the data of which a controller 100 accesses for the purposes of identifying the potential, future vehicle user. After calculating the target vehicle opening fore zone, the controller 100 actuates the headlamps 140 of the vehicle 200 in order to illuminate the target vehicle opening fore zone.

(9) FIG. 2A shows an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention at a first instant. Here, by means of its sensor system 110 and its vehicle user identification module 120, the automated motor vehicle 200 identifies the potential, future vehicle user 220. Said vehicle user may have booked a journey with the automated vehicle 200 via an online platform, for example.

(10) After identifying the future vehicle user 220, the automated vehicle 200, depending on its envisaged stopping position 250, uses its vehicle opening fore zone display module 130 to determine a suitable display type for indicating the target vehicle opening fore zone 240 to the potential, future vehicle user 220. The automated vehicle indicates the target vehicle opening fore zone 240 to the potential, future vehicle user 220 with the aid of an actuator 140, for example a headlamp.

(11) FIG. 2B shows a second instant during the exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention. Illustrated here is that the automated vehicle 200 has in the meantime come closer to the envisaged stopping position 250 and the target vehicle opening fore zone 240. The potential, future vehicle user 220 has also approached the target vehicle opening fore zone 240. The indication of the target vehicle opening fore zone 240 is continuously adapted to the movement of the automated vehicle 200 by the vehicle opening fore zone display module 130 in order to obtain a stationary display of the target vehicle opening fore zone 240.

(12) FIG. 3 shows a display according to the invention of a target vehicle opening fore zone 240 of a motor vehicle 200, consisting of a plurality of elements 300, 310, 320, 330. Here, the target vehicle opening fore zone 240 can be represented by light projection, for example.

(13) A first element 300 of the target vehicle opening fore zone 240 serves to illuminate the ground at the position at which the vehicle doors on one vehicle side will come to rest. In addition to the function for the potential, future vehicle user 220 of informing the latter about the spatial position of the vehicle opening fore zone 240, this may also make obstacles that may be present, such as puddles, for example, more visible.

(14) A second element 310 displays an offer of the automated vehicle 200 to the potential, future vehicle user 220. In this exemplary case, the offer may be that, for instance, the automated vehicle 200 could transport the potential, future vehicle user 220 for a fee of $20.

(15) Moreover, the display of the target vehicle opening fore zone 240 still comprises a third, interactive element 320 and a fourth, interactive element 330.

(16) The potential, future vehicle user 220 can accept the offer of the automated vehicle 200 by means of the third, interactive element 320. This volition can be indicated, for example, by virtue of stepping on the tick illustrated in the third, interactive element 320 with their foot.

(17) The potential, future vehicle user 220 can decline the offer of the automated vehicle 200 by means of the fourth, interactive element 330. The fourth, interactive element 330 can be operated in analogous fashion to the operation of the third, interactive element 320 in this case.

(18) 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.