DRIVING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

A driving control system including a sensor unit, a data storage unit and a control unit. The sensor unit is arrangeable in the vehicle and configured to detect at least one driving parameter of the vehicle during travelling. The control unit is configured to generate at least one driving mode based on the at least one driving parameter. The data storage unit is configured to store the at least one driving mode. The control unit is configured to receive an input whether the vehicle continues traveling in a current driving mode or changes to one of the driving modes stored in the data storage unit. The control unit is further configured to simulate the driving mode based on the input, even though the vehicle stops travelling.

Claims

1. A driving control system for a vehicle, the driving control system comprising: a sensor unit; a data storage unit; and a control unit; the sensor unit being arrangeable in the vehicle and configured to detect at least one driving parameter of the vehicle during travelling; the control unit being configured to generate at least one driving mode based on the at least one driving parameter; the data storage unit being configured to store the at least one driving mode; the control unit being configured to receive an input whether the vehicle continues traveling in a current driving mode or changes to one of the driving modes stored in the data storage unit; and the control unit being further configured to simulate the driving mode based on the input, even though the vehicle stops travelling.

2. The driving control system according to claim 1, the control unit being configured to receive the input during travelling the vehicle.

3. The driving control system according to claim 1, the control unit being configured to receive the input before travelling and adapt automatically the driving mode based on the input.

4. The driving control system according to claim 3, the control unit being configured to automatically adapt the driving mode when the vehicle slows down and/or enters in a new driving situation.

5. The driving control system according to claim 1, the driving parameter comprising at least mechanical driving data, the mechanical driving data comprising vibration of the vehicle, lateral acceleration, lateral deceleration, longitudinal acceleration and/or longitudinal deceleration.

6. The driving control system according to claim 1, the driving parameter comprising acoustic data, interior light data, interior ambient data and/or seat adjustment data.

7. The driving control system according to claim 1, the control unit being configured to receive the input via a graphical user interface and/or a wireless communication means.

8. The driving control system according claim 1, the control unit being configured to simulate the determined driving mode, even though the vehicle stops travelling temporarily.

9. The driving control system according to claim 1, the control unit being configured to simulate the determined driving mode, even though the vehicle ends travelling.

10. The driving control system according to claim 1, the data storage unit being a local and/or cloud-based data storage unit and configured to provide an access to a user independently of the vehicle occupied by the user.

11. A vehicle comprising a driver assistance system, the driver assistance system operating with the driving control system according to claim 1.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, being an autonomous vehicle.

13. A driving control method for a vehicle, the driving control method comprising: detecting at least one driving parameter of the vehicle during travelling by a sensor unit; generating at least one driving mode based on the at least one driving parameter; storing the at least one driving mode in a data storage unit; receiving an input to determine a driving mode whether the vehicle continues traveling in a current driving mode or changes to one of the driving modes stored in the data storage unit; and simulating the determined driving mode, even though the vehicle stops travelling; the sensor unit being arrangeable in the vehicle.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising driving control instructions for a vehicle stored in a memory and executed by a processor to carry out steps comprising: detecting at least one driving parameter of the vehicle during travelling by a sensor unit; generating at least one driving mode based on the at least one driving parameter; storing the at least one driving mode in a data storage unit; receiving an input to determine a driving mode whether the vehicle continues traveling in a current driving mode or changes to one of the driving modes stored in the data storage unit; and simulating the determined driving mode, even though the vehicle stops travelling; the sensor unit being arrangeable in the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Exemplary embodiments will be described in the following with reference to the following drawings.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows schematically and exemplarily an embodiment of a vehicle operating with a driving control system according to the present disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows schematically and exemplarily an embodiment of a method for driving control for a vehicle according to the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 100 including a driver assistance system, which is supported by a driving control system 1. The driver assistance system may support a driver of the vehicle 100 for any operational decisions or allow an autonomous travelling of the vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 may be a private vehicle of a user or another person, a shared vehicle, a taxi and/or a robocab. The user may be the driver or a passenger of the vehicle.

[0042] The driving control system 1 for a vehicle 100 includes a sensor unit 10, a data storage unit 20 and a control unit (not shown). The sensor unit 10 is arrangeable in the vehicle 100 and configured to detect at least one driving parameter of the vehicle 100 during travelling. The sensor unit 10 includes a plurality of sensor elements arranged inside and/or outside the vehicle 100 to detect driving parameters, interior parameters and/or surrounding parameters of the vehicle 100.

[0043] Accordingly, the sensor unit 10 may include vehicle control sensor elements, vehicle monitoring sensor elements, environment monitoring sensor elements, driver monitoring sensor elements or the like. At least one of the sensor elements of the sensor unit 10 may detect at least one driving parameter during travelling. Preferably, the sensor unit 10 may generate a plurality of driving parameters. The driving parameter may be related, for instance, to operational decisions of the vehicle 100 such as a longitudinal acceleration/deceleration, a lateral acceleration/deceleration, a steering angle, cruise control, lane changing, turning speed etc. In addition, the driving parameter includes acoustic data from road, weather such as wind or rain, and drive train noise, interior light data such as dim light, repetitive light movement from outside, interior climate data and/or seat adjustment data.

[0044] The data storage unit 20 is configured to receive the driving parameters from the sensor unit 10 based on the user's input. Preferably, the data storage unit 20 is cloud-based, thereby an access to the data storage unit 20 may not be limited to an access location as long as a network connection to the data storage unit 20 is available.

[0045] The control unit is configured to categorize the driving parameters during a pre-defined time period and/or in the latest driving period of the vehicle 100 in the same driving mode and generate at least one driving mode based on the driving parameters. The control unit is further configured to record the driving mode in the data storage unit 20.

[0046] The control unit is further configured to receive an input of the user whether the vehicle 100 should mimic a current driving mode or changes to one of the driving modes stored in the data storage unit 20. The user may enter the input before or during travelling. The user may utilize a graphical user interface means 40 arranged in the vehicle 100 and/or a wireless communication means integrated in a mobile device of the user, to provide the input regarding the driving mode.

[0047] Based on the user's input, the control unit prompts the vehicle 100 to simulate the selected driving mode, even though the vehicle 100 stops travelling. The control unit is configured to simulate the determined driving mode, even though the vehicle 100 ends travelling and/or stops travelling temporarily. The control unit is configured to automatically change the current driving mode to the determined driving mode when the vehicle 100 slows down and/or enters in a new driving situation.

[0048] Since the sensor unit 10, the data storage unit 20 and/or the control unit may be spatially separated from each other, i.e. the sensor unit 10 and/or the control unit may be arranged in the vehicle 100, the data storage unit 20 may be a cloud-based storage system, and their mutual communication may be performed preferably via the wireless communication means. The wireless communication means may include wireless internet access, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or the like.

[0049] Accordingly, the occupants may perceive a steadily sustained motion of the vehicle 100, which can provide more comfort.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for a driving control for a vehicle 100. The method includes, but not necessarily in this order: [0051] S1: detecting at least one driving parameter of the vehicle 100 during travelling by a sensor unit 10, [0052] S11: receiving an input of a user to store the at least one driving parameter, [0053] S2: generating at least one driving mode of a user occupied in the vehicle 100 based on the one driving parameter, [0054] S3: storing the at least one driving mode in a data storage unit 20, [0055] S31: showing the driving mode (s) in a graphical user interface 40, [0056] S4: receiving an input of the user to determine a driving mode whether the vehicle 100 continues traveling in a current driving mode or changes to one of the driving modes stored in the data storage unit 20, and [0057] S5: simulating the determined driving mode, even though the vehicle 100 stops travelling.

[0058] It has to be noted that embodiments of the disclosure are described with reference to different subject matters. In particular, some embodiments are described with reference to method type claims whereas other embodiments are described with reference to the device type claims. However, a person skilled in the art will gather from the above and the following description that, unless otherwise notified, in addition to any combination of features belonging to one type of subject matter also any combination between features relating to different subject matters is considered to be disclosed with this application. However, all features can be combined providing synergetic effects that are more than the simple summation of the features.

[0059] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing a claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the dependent claims.

[0060] In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfil the functions of several items re-cited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are re-cited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.