METHOD FOR OPERATING A DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM

Abstract

A method for operating a vehicle includes detecting a road user in a predetermined portion of a vehicle's environment, detecting a start-up attempt by vehicle driver, blocking a vehicle start-up in response to the detection of a road user in the vehicle's environment and to the detected start-up attempt, and altering a vehicle control such that the comfort of the driver is reduced in comparison with an unaltered vehicle control when the vehicle start-up has been blocked.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle with a driver assistance system, the method comprising: detecting a road user in a predetermined environment of the vehicle by the driver assistance system; detecting a start-up attempt by the driver of the vehicle; blocking a vehicle start-up by the driver assistance system in response to the detection of a road user in the predetermined environment and to the detected start-up attempt; and altering a vehicle control such that comfort for the driver of the vehicle is reduced in comparison with an unaltered vehicle control when the vehicle start-up has been previously blocked.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising: rescinding the blocking in response to detecting that the road user has left the predetermined environment.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the altering the vehicle control comprises requiring the driver to reengage a driving stage in the vehicle in order to attempt the start-up again.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the altering the vehicle control comprises requiring the driver to first release a gas pedal before attempting the start-up again.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the altering the vehicle control comprises a change in a start-up behavior of the vehicle in comparison with an unaltered vehicle control.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the change in the start-up behavior of the vehicle comprises a slowed buildup of a propulsion torque in the vehicle in comparison with the unaltered vehicle control.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the change in the start-up behavior of the vehicle comprises a slower engaging of a start-up clutch when starting off than with the unaltered vehicle control.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the change in the start-up behavior of the vehicle comprises an oscillating buildup of a propulsion torque in the vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the oscillating buildup of the propulsion torque in the vehicle comprises an oscillating engagement of a start-up clutch when starting off and/or an activation of the vehicle motor that generates torque pulses.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising: issuing a warning signal in response to the blocking, wherein the altering the vehicle control occurs in response to the start-up attempt being maintained by the driver after issuing the warning signal.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the altering the vehicle control comprises an activation of a drive train in the vehicle to induce a bucking of the vehicle.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the altering the vehicle control comprises an activation of a seatbelt tensioner in the vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the altering the vehicle control is in response to the start-up blocking exceeding a predefined frequency.

14. The method according to claim 1, comprising: reinstating unaltered vehicle control in response to start-up attempts without blocking exceed a predefined frequency.

15. A driver assistance system for a vehicle comprising: a detection device configured to detect a road user in a predetermined portion of a vehicle's environment; a detection device configured to detect a start-up attempt by the vehicle driver; a blocking device configured to block a vehicle start-up in response to the detection of the road user in predetermined portion of the vehicle's environment and to the detected start-up attempt; and a control device configured to alter a vehicle control such that comfort for the driver of the vehicle is reduced in comparison with an unaltered vehicle control when the vehicle start-up has been blocked.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a vehicle with a driver assistance system; and

[0034] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a method for operating the vehicle shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle 10 in the form of a truck, in a schematic top view. The vehicle 10 comprises a trailer 12 and a tractor 14.

[0036] The vehicle 10 also has a driver assistance system. The driver assistance system contains a detection device 16 that is configured to detect a road user in a predetermined portion of the vehicle's 10 environment 18. The portion of the environment 18 is indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1. There is also a road user in the form of a pedestrian 20 in the drawing. The pedestrian 20 is so close to the tractor 14 that a driver in the tractor 14 would be unable to see the pedestrian 20. The detection device 16 nevertheless detects the pedestrian 20 in the vehicle's environment 18.

[0037] The driver assistance system also has a detection device 22 that is configured to detect a start-up attempt by the driver in the vehicle 10. The driver assistance system also contains a blocking device 24 that is configured to block a vehicle start-up 10 in response to the detection of the road user in the vehicle's environment 18, and to the detected start-up attempt. As a result, a collision with the pedestrian 20 can be prevented, even though the driver cannot see the pedestrian 20. This increases the safety for these vulnerable road users.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a method for operating the vehicle 10, which prevents the driver 10 from relying only on the driver assistance system when starting up to avoid a collision such that the driver does not personally check the vehicle's environment 18. At least some of the road users in the vehicle's environment could be detected by the driver, such that no attempts should be made to start off without the driver first checking those areas that within the driver's viewing range.

[0039] The road user is detected in step 40 in the predefined portion of the vehicle's 10 environment 18 by means of the detection device 16. The start-up attempt by the driver in the vehicle 10 is detected in step 421 by means of the detection device 22. The vehicle start-up is blocked by the blocking device 24 in step 44 in response to the detection of the road user in the vehicle's environment 18 and in response to the detected start-up attempt. A warning signal is issued to the driver in step 46 that indicates that the start-up attempt has been blocked.

[0040] If the driver stops the start-up attempt within a predetermined time frame after the warning signal has been issued, the method then continues at step 48. The blocking of the start-up is rescinded in step 48, when it has been detected that the road user has left the portion of the vehicle's 10 environment 18. This means that there is no longer any danger of a collision. The driver can then drive the vehicle 10 as usual.

[0041] When the driver does not stop attempting to start off within the predetermined time frame after the warning signal has been issued, the method continues at step 50. The vehicle control is altered in step 50, such that the comfort of the vehicle 10 for the driver is reduced in comparison with an unaltered vehicle control. Activation of the driver train in the vehicle is then altered until the start-up attempt has been stopped such that the vehicle 10 bucks, as part of the change in the vehicle control. The driver must also shift again to a driving stage, and the gas pedal must first be released, prior to attempting again to start up. With the next start-up attempt, the start-up behavior is also altered by the altered vehicle control, such that the vehicle can only accelerate to a limited extent. The driver assistance system has a control unit 26 for this that is configured to alter a vehicle control accordingly.

[0042] The driver will attempt to prevent this change in the vehicle control. For this reason, the driver will first check the vehicle's 10 environment 18 prior to attempting to start off, in order to prevent intervention by the driver assistance system. In this manner, the driver attempts to prevent endangering other road users with a start-up attempt, independently of the driver assistance system.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0043] 10 vehicle

[0044] 12 trailer

[0045] 14 tractor

[0046] 16 detection device

[0047] 18 portion of the environment

[0048] 20 pedestrian/road user/obstacle

[0049] 22 detection device

[0050] 24 blocking device

[0051] 26 control unit

[0052] 40 detecting the road user

[0053] 42 detecting the start-up attempt

[0054] 44 blocking the starting off

[0055] 46 warning signal to the driver

[0056] 48 rescinding of the blocking

[0057] 50 altering the vehicle control