METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR AUTOMATED APPLICATION OF DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS IN SERIAL OPERATION

Abstract

A method is provided for automated application (10) of a driver assistance system that is configured to implement automated driving functions. At least one application parameter is assigned to each automated driving function (12). Factory settings preset both the application parameter and acceptable ranges for the application parameters that are consistent with safety-critical requirements. A control unit identifies a relevant driving scenario after an automated driving function (12) has been implemented during normal driving operation (13, 14). The control unit uses an objective grading model to evaluate (17) a performance of each implemented automated driving function while continuing execution during a normal driving operation (13, 14). The at least one respectively assigned application parameter is adapted (15), as a result of an optimization (11), on the basis of the evaluation (17) of the performance of the respectively implemented automated driving function (12).

Claims

1. A method for automated application (10) of a driver assistance system that is configured to implement a plurality of automated driving functions, the method comprising: assigning at least one application parameter to each automated driving function (12); assigning to each application parameter a respective parameter range within which the respective application parameter can be changed without exceeding safety-critical requirements; using a control unit for identifying (16) existing driving scenarios during normal driving operations (13, 14); implementing at least one automated driving function (12) based on the driving scenario identified by the control unit; using an objective grading model for evaluating (17) a performance of the respective automated driving function that has been implemented; and adapting (15) the at least one respectively assigned application parameter as a result of an optimization (11) and on the basis of the evaluation (17) of the performance of the respectively implemented automated driving function (12).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective automated driving function (12) is evaluated based on driver evaluations in addition to the evaluation (17) by the objective grading model.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective evaluation (17) is evaluated internally in the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective evaluation (17) is evaluated via a cloud service and the method further includes transmitting a respective result to the driver assistance system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further includes using the cloud service fro transmitting the respective result to a manufacturer of the driver assistance system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a respective lower limit and a respective upper limit for settings of the respective application parameters are newly determined by the manufacturer from the transmitted results.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein all application parameters are reset to the factory setting by the driver.

8. A control unit for automated application (10) of a driver assistance system of a vehicle, the control unit comprising: a computing unit and a memory unit, the control unit being in communicative connection with the driver assistance system of the vehicle and in communicative connection with sensors and actuators of the vehicle that are controlled by the driver assistance system, the driver assistance system being configured to implement a plurality of automated driving functions, the memory having at least one application parameter assigned to each automated driving function, each application parameter being preset by a factory setting that also defines parameter ranges within which each of the application parameters can be changed in a manner consistent with safety-critical requirements, the memory unit being configured to store all data of the sensors and the actuators controlled by the driver assistance system, the control unit further using an objective grading model during a normal driving operation (13, 14) to evaluate performance of the automated driving functions (12) implemented by the driver assistance system and to adapt (15), as a result of an optimization (11), the at least one respectively assigned application parameter on the basis of the evaluation (17) of the performance of the respectively implemented automated driving function (12).

9. The control unit of claim 8, wherein the control unit additionally is configured to evaluate the respective automated driving function (12) based on driver evaluations in addition to the evaluation (17) by the objective grading model.

10. A computer program product with a computer-readable medium, on which an executable program code for automated application (10) of a driver assistance system configured to implement a plurality of automated driving function is stored, wherein, when executed on a computing unit, the program code causes the computing unit to carry out, in continued execution, the following steps: storing all data of a plurality of sensors and actuators controlled by the driver assistance system relating to a respective automated driving function (12) implemented by the driver assistance system; identifying (16) a relevant driving scenario; evaluating (17) the performance of the respectively implemented automated driving function (12); optimizing (11) at least one respective application parameter assigned to the respectively implemented automated driving function (12); and adapting (15) the at least one respectively assigned application parameter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart for the automated application of a driver assistance system in an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] It should be understood that the elements shown in the figures may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software or combinations thereof. Preferably, these elements are implemented in a combination of hardware and software on one or more appropriately programmed general-purpose devices, which may include a processor, memory and input/output interfaces. Herein, the phrase “coupled” is defined to mean directly connected to or indirectly connected with through one or more intermediate components. Such intermediate components may include both hardware and software-based components.

[0035] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the block diagrams presented herein represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles of the disclosure. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudocode, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable media and so executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart 10 for the automated application of a driver assistance system in an embodiment of the method according to the invention. In real road traffic or a real environment 14, an evaluation 17 of a performance of the implementation according to an objective grading model is evaluated for a vehicle with a driver 13 after identification 16 of a relevant driving scenario and after implementation of a respective automated driving function 12 by a driver assistance system. The resulting requirements for respective application parameters assigned to the respective automated driving function are provided to an optimization 11, the result of which leads to an adaptation 15 of the respective application parameters.

[0037] It is to be appreciated that the evaluation 17, the optimization 11 and the adaptation 15 may be carried out by the above described control unit that includes at least one computing unit and at least one memory unit. The functions of the control unit may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate software. In one embodiment, some or all of the functions may be performed by at least one processor, such as a computer or an electronic data processor, digital signal processor or embedded micro-controller, in accordance with code, such as computer program code, software, and/or integrated circuits that are coded to perform such functions, unless indicated otherwise. When provided by a processor, the functions may be provided by a single dedicated processor, by a single shared processor, or by a plurality of individual processors, some of which may be shared. Moreover, explicit use of the term “processor” or “controller” should not be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing software, and may implicitly include, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, read only memory (ROM) for storing software, random access memory (RAM), and nonvolatile storage. Other hardware, conventional and/or custom, may also be included in the control unit, such as a memory, input/output interfaces, a wireless transceiver, analog-to-digital converters, etc.

[0038] It is to be appreciated that the various features shown and described are interchangeable, that is a feature shown in one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment. It is further to be appreciated that the methods, functions, algorithms, etc. described above may be implemented by any single device and/or combinations of devices forming a system, including but not limited to storage devices, processors, memories, FPGAs, DSPs, etc.

[0039] While non-limiting embodiments are disclosed herein, many variations are possible which remain within the concept and scope of the present disclosure. Such variations would become clear to one of ordinary skill in the art after inspection of the specification, drawings and claims herein. The present disclosure therefore is not to be restricted except within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

[0040] Furthermore, although the foregoing text sets forth a detailed description of numerous embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the present disclosure is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment, as describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. One could implement numerous alternate embodiments, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0041] 10 Flow chart for automation of driver assistance system [0042] 11 Optimization [0043] 12 Automated driving function [0044] 13 Real vehicle and driver [0045] 14 Real environment [0046] 15 Adaptation of application parameters [0047] 16 Identification of relevant driving scenarios [0048] 17 Evaluation of performance