Method and device for operating a vehicle

Abstract

A method for operating a vehicle, including the following: detection of a vehicle environment; detection of a steering angle for a vehicle wheel that is defined by a steering device; ascertainment of a collision probability for the vehicle based on the detected vehicle environment and the detected steering angle in the case of an unchanged steering angle; correction of the steering angle if the ascertained collision probability is greater than or equal to a predetermined collision probability threshold in order to prevent a collision. Also described is a device for operating a vehicle and a computer program.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle, the method comprising: detecting, via a driving environment sensor system, a vehicle environment; detecting, via a steering wheel sensor, a steering angle for a vehicle specified by a steering device; ascertaining, via a processor, a collision probability for the vehicle based on the detected vehicle environment and the detected steering angle in the case of an unchanged steering angle; and correcting, via a control device, the steering angle if the calculated collision probability is greater than or equal to a predetermined collision probability threshold to prevent a collision; wherein the steering angle is corrected only within a turning direction, which is left or right, specified by the steering device, and wherein the corrected steering angle is determined by the processor, and wherein a hazard warning system of the vehicle is activated to warn other road users in the event of a correction of the steering angle, if a vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a predetermined vehicle speed threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein it is ascertained whether the specified turning direction of the steering device has to be changed even if there is a correction of the steering angle to prevent a collision, and, if so, a warning for changing the turning direction being output.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein an instantaneous target corridor of the vehicle being ascertained based on the detected steering angle, it being ascertained based on the detected vehicle environment whether an object is located in the instantaneous target corridor, and, if so, a warning is output.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a collision time is ascertained and, in the event of a correction of the steering angle, a prompt to carry out emergency braking being transmitted to the brake system of the vehicle if the ascertained collision time is less than or equal to a predetermined collision time threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an instantaneous vehicle speed is detected and, in the event of a correction of the steering angle, a lane-keeping assist system of the vehicle being deactivated if the instantaneous vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a predetermined vehicle speed threshold.

6. A device for operating a vehicle, comprising: a detection device for detecting a vehicle environment; a further detection device for detecting a steering angle for a vehicle wheel specified by a steering device; a processing unit for ascertaining a collision probability for the vehicle based on the detected vehicle environment and the detected steering angle in the case of an unchanged steering angle; and a control unit for controlling the steering angle to correct the steering angle if the ascertained collision probability is greater than or equal to a predetermined collision probability threshold to prevent a collision; wherein the steering angle is corrected only within a turning direction, which is left or right, specified by the steering device, and wherein the corrected steering angle is determined by the processor, and wherein a hazard warning system of the vehicle is activated to warn other road users in the event of a correction of the steering angle, if a vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a predetermined vehicle speed threshold.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising: a program code arrangement having program code including program code for operating a vehicle, by performing the following: detecting, via a driving environment sensor system, a vehicle environment; detecting, via a steering wheel sensor, a steering angle for a vehicle specified by a steering device; ascertaining, via the processor, a collision probability for the vehicle based on the detected vehicle environment and the detected steering angle in the case of an unchanged steering angle; and correcting, via a control device, the steering angle if the calculated collision probability is greater than or equal to a predetermined collision probability threshold to prevent a collision; wherein the steering angle is corrected only within a turning direction, which is left or right, specified by the steering device, and wherein the corrected steering angle is determined by the processor, and wherein a hazard warning system of the vehicle is activated to warn other road users in the event of a correction of the steering angle, if a vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a predetermined vehicle speed threshold.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of a method for operating a vehicle.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a device for operating a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of a method for operating a vehicle.

(4) According to a step 101, a vehicle environment is detected. This is accomplished, for example, via a driving environment sensor system of the vehicle. The driving environment sensor system includes one or a plurality of driving environment sensors.

(5) In a step 103, a steering angle specified by a steering device for a vehicle wheel, for example, for two vehicle wheels, is detected. This is accomplished, for example, via a steering wheel sensor. This means that the steering angle of the steering wheel is detected.

(6) In a step 105, a collision probability is ascertained for the vehicle based on the detected vehicle environment and the detected steering angle in the case of an unchanged steering angle. This is accomplished, for example, by a processing device. The processing device ascertains, for example, a vehicle trajectory that the vehicle would travel if the steering angle remained unchanged. Based on this vehicle trajectory and the detected vehicle environment, for example, the collision probability is ascertained.

(7) In a step 107, the steering angle is corrected if the calculated collision probability is greater than or equal to a predetermined collision probability threshold in order to prevent a collision. This is accomplished, for example, via a control device. That is to say, the correction of the steering angle includes a control of the steering angle.

(8) FIG. 2 shows a device 201 for operating a vehicle (not shown).

(9) Device 201 includes a detection device 203 for detecting a vehicle environment. The detection device includes, for example, one or a plurality of driving environment sensors.

(10) Device 201 furthermore includes another detection device 205 for detecting a steering angle specified by a steering device for a vehicle wheel, for example, for two vehicle wheels, in particular for a plurality of vehicle wheels. Additional detection device 205 includes, for example, a steering wheel sensor for detecting a steering wheel angle. The steering wheel angle specifies the steering angle.

(11) Device 201 further includes a processing unit 207 for the calculation of a collision probability for the vehicle based on the detected vehicle environment and the detected steering angle in the case of an unchanged steering angle.

(12) Device 201 further includes a control unit 209 for controlling the steering angle to correct the steering angle if the ascertained collision probability is greater than or equal to a predetermined collision probability threshold in order to prevent a collision.

(13) To control the steering angle, the control device is operatively connected, for example, to one or a plurality of actuators of the vehicle.

(14) The present invention therefore includes in particular the idea of detecting a vehicle environment via one or a plurality of distance sensors and/or via one or a plurality of radar sensors and/or via a camera system and automatically correcting a steering angle of vehicle wheels, if the steering angle specified by the steering wheel was selected by the driver of the vehicle to be too large or too small and a collision, for example, a rear-end collision, would result without intervention. For example, only the turning direction (to the left or right with respect to the vehicle's direction of travel) is specified by the steering wheel. The correct steering angle is automatically calculated in particular via the processing device.

(15) For example, it is provided according to one specific embodiment that a warning is output to the driver if, even with a correction (or in spite of a correction) of the steering angle, a collision, for example, a rear-end collision, would result and, therefore, the turning direction must be changed.

(16) For example, it is provided according to one specific embodiment to ascertain whether something (for example, another vehicle, one or a plurality of persons, an animal or a plurality of animals or a stationary infrastructure) is located and/or moving within the direct target corridor of the vehicle. This is signaled in particular to the driver.

(17) In one specific embodiment (not depicted), it is provided that prior to a collision, in particular prior to a rear-end collision, it is signaled to an antilock braking system that emergency braking must be initiated. The antilock braking system initiates the emergency braking in response to this signal.

(18) According to a further specific embodiment (not depicted), it is provided that, starting at a predetermined vehicle speed, for example, greater than 20 km/h, a lane-keeping assist system of the vehicle is deactivated.

(19) In yet a further specific embodiment (not depicted), it is provided that, in the event of a correction of the steering angle, a hazard warning system of the vehicle is activated to warn road users. This applies in particular only if the instantaneous vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a predetermined vehicle speed threshold. For example, this threshold is 20 km/h.

(20) Thus, an automatic correction of the steering angle is provided. For this purpose, an interconnection with distance sensors and/or parking sensors, an interconnection with a radar system (for the distance determination), an interconnection with a camera system, an interconnection with an antilock braking system and an interconnection with a lane-keeping assist system are provided in particular.