METHOD FOR EVALUATING A DRIVER ASSISTANCE FUNCTION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A method for evaluating a driver assistance function of a motor vehicle, including operating the motor vehicle with the driver assistance function; recording first data on surroundings of the motor vehicle; recording second data on a driver of the motor vehicle; transmitting the first and second data to a database; functional networking of the data within the database; and assessing the driver assistance function as a function of the networked data.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A method for evaluating a driver assistance function of a motor vehicle, comprising: operating the motor vehicle using the driver assistance function; recording first data on surroundings of the motor vehicle; recording second data on a driver of the motor vehicle; transmitting the first data and second data to a database; functionally networking the first data and second data within the database; and assessing the driver assistance function as a function of the networked data.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein third data are recorded on surroundings of another motor vehicle that is in a same traffic situation as the motor vehicle.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein evaluation algorithms are executed in the assessment step, a practical usability of the driver assistance function being determined.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of the following is implemented in the assessing step: classifying a driver experience, assessing safety goals, assessing safety factors, assessing operating parameters of the motor vehicle, objectively assessing the driver assistance function.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein a wireless Internet connection of the motor vehicle is used for transmitting the data to the database.

17. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein a focus is on at least one of data of the motor vehicle and data of the further motor vehicle, in the assessing step.

18. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein in the assessing step, the driver assistance function either being enabled or classified for improvement measures.

19. A device for evaluating a driver assistance function of a motor vehicle, comprising: a first data acquisition device for recording data from surroundings of the motor vehicle during an operation of the motor vehicle with the driver assistance function; a second data acquisition device for recording data on a driver of the motor vehicle during operation of the motor vehicle with the driver assistance function; an interface for transmitting the data from the first data acquisition device and the data from the second data acquisition device to a database, the data from the first data acquisition device and the data from the second data acquisition device being functionally networkable with one another via the database; and an assessment device for evaluating the networked data.

20. The device as recited in claim 19, further comprising: a third data acquisition device, data from surroundings of another motor vehicle being ascertainable by the third data acquisition device.

21. The device as recited in claim 20, wherein the third data acquisition device includes a data transmission in accordance with at least one of the following communication principles: car-to-car, car-to-infrastructure.

22. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium on which is stored a computer program including program code for evaluating a driver assistance function of a motor vehicle, the computer program, when executed on an electronic control device, causing the electronic control device to perform: operating the motor vehicle using the driver assistance function; recording first data on surroundings of the motor vehicle; recording second data on a driver of the motor vehicle; transmitting the first data and second data to a database; functionally networking the first data and second data within the database; and assessing the driver assistance function as a function of the networked data.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a specific embodiment of the device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The disadvantages mentioned above reveal that it is not possible to use the V-model to comprehensively evaluate driver assistance functions because the technical options thereof do not suffice. Driven road kilometers on the order of approximately 100 million km are required when automated driving is exclusively used to validate on-road testing. This is based on the statistically based assumption that a fatal accident occurs for every 100 million kilometers driven.

[0030] The present invention provides a method for collecting data on the driver as well during his/her travel in the motor vehicle in addition to the vehicle data from sensor information. The thus obtained driver data undergo an analysis and are used to make possible a non-functional development assessment for enabling the driver assistance function.

[0031] In this way, an additional aspect may be advantageously introduced into the validation of the driver assistance function, in particular how a driver experiences a specific driving situation, and how he/she interacts with the automated driver assistance system.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a basic functional circuit diagram of a device 100 for evaluating a driver assistance function of a motor vehicle.

[0033] A first data acquisition device 10 records field data inside and outside of motor vehicle 200 that were captured by vehicle sensors (not shown).

[0034] A second data acquisition device 20 monitors the driver with the aid of what is generally known as driver sensors (not shown), for example, a video camera, sensors for recording a seating position, a steering wheel holding position, etc. Second data acquisition device 20 may be used to store driver events and/or human biosystematic events, for example.

[0035] An optional third data acquisition device 30 may be used to realize a connection to a social network, for example, in the form of a car-to-car communication or a car-to-infrastructure communication, whereby data from other road users participating in the same traffic situation are recorded and included in the evaluation of driver assistance function 1. This makes it advantageously possible to comprehensively assess the driver assistance function from different perspectives, for example, from the perspective of the driver of motor vehicle 200 and from the perspective of drivers of other motor vehicles in the same traffic situation.

[0036] The data from first data acquisition device 10, second data acquisition device 20, and third data acquisition device 30 are transmitted by an interface 40 to a database 50 located externally from motor vehicle 200. This is preferably carried out by a high-speed data connection that is increasingly available in motor vehicles.

[0037] Within database 50, the recorded data are functionally networked with one another. An assessment device 60 is used to evaluate driver assistance function 1. The criteria thereby used include, for example, a classification of a driver experience, a classification of a safety goal, a classification of safety factors, an assessment of operating parameters of motor vehicle 200 during operation (for example, pedal haptics, engine noise generation, etc.). Driver assistance function 1 may also be assessed in accordance with objective technical criteria.

[0038] An evaluation is made in an evaluation device 70 as a function of the assessment performed by assessment device 60; driver assistance function 1 being enabled in a step 80 in the case that such classifications have been fulfilled. Evaluation device 70 preferably includes an algorithm, respectively a unit for analyzing and classifying the obtained and stored data for the purpose of processing and assessing the field data with regard to the specified criteria.

[0039] Suitable specified criteria for technical evaluation may include, for example: a driver experience classification (for example, an emotional assessment of driver assistance function 1, such as a negative experience, inattention, positive experience, etc.), safety goals, safety factors, assessment metrics (for example, engine noise generation and/or braking, pedal feel, haptics, etc.), objective technical assessment of driver assistance function 1. Evaluation device 70 makes a decision about a further course of action for the technical development process of driver assistance function 1, for example, a decision about a further development of driver assistance function 1 when the vast majority of drivers are showing signs of a negative experience.

[0040] In a different case where the evaluation reveals that driver assistance function 1 must be further improved, driver assistance function 1 receives feedback in a step 90 for further adaptation thereof. In step 90, functions of driver assistance function 1 may also be switched off in the field.

[0041] To implement and apply the example method in accordance with the present invention, what is generally referred to as a driver monitoring technology is preferably used. Driver monitoring makes it possible to monitor driver states and record them using data technology.

[0042] Thus, the present invention makes it possible to include the driver's subjective experience of the situation/function in the validation of driver assistance function 1. Thus, in addition to purely functional events, non-functional events are also recorded and used for analyzing and assessing the driver behavior.

[0043] Mentioned here exemplarily is an automatically initiated braking of motor vehicle 200 until standstill: A driver assistance function 1 recognizes an obstacle, initiates braking, and brings vehicle 200 to a standstill at an adequate distance from the obstacle. The result is that driver assistance function 1 was correctly performed and all safety goals were met with sufficient factors.

[0044] The example method in accordance with the present invention is able to capture an important criterion, namely the question of whether the driver has experienced this situation of braking of motor vehicle 200. In this manner, data are recorded and obtained that make inferences possible about the driver and his/her experience situation associated therewith, and about his/her behavior and interaction in a specific situation.

[0045] This also makes it discernible, for example, whether and to what degree the driver is perceived to be in danger in the situation and has shown physiological stress reactions associated therewith (increased blood pressure and/or heart rate, pupil dilation, sweating, etc.). It is also possible to thereby discern whether the driver of motor vehicle 200 has noticeably reacted at all to the system behavior of driver assistance function 1.

[0046] Combining the data obtained on the driver and on the motor vehicle makes important and complex enable validations of functional and non-functional assessments quantifiable in the first place. This makes it possible to predict an acceptance in the case of a widespread implementation of driver assistance function 1.

[0047] In summary, the present invention provides a method and a device for evaluating a driver assistance function for an automated driving of a motor vehicle that advantageously allows non-functional assessment criteria for the driver assistance function to be used. A large number of evaluation participants makes it possible for a combinatorial effect of the data of the participants to significantly shorten a time to market of the driver assistance function.

[0048] One skilled in the art will suitably alter the features of the present invention and/or combine them with one another without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.