Method for Operating a Driver Assistance System of a Vehicle, Comprising Driver Moderation for Partially-Automated Functions, Driver Assistance System, and Vehicle

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for operating a driver assistance system of a vehicle. A plurality of partially automated functions are performed using the driver assistance system during operation of the vehicle. In the partially automated functions, longitudinal guidance and/or transverse guidance of the vehicle are and/or is regulated, and/or information that describes surroundings of the vehicle is output and/or a signal is output to the surroundings using the driver assistance system. Following a predetermined number of performed partially automated functions, a moderation signal is output to a driver of the vehicle for a following function that can be performed in a partially automated manner using the driver assistance system. When the moderation signal is output, the driver is asked for feedback regarding the following function.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A method for operating a driver assistance system of a vehicle, comprising: performing a plurality of partially automated functions using the driver assistance system during operation of the vehicle, wherein in the partially automated functions: longitudinal guidance and/or transverse guidance of the vehicle are and/or is regulated, and/or information that describes surroundings of the vehicle is output and/or a signal is output to the surroundings using the driver assistance system; and following a predetermined number of performed similar partially automated functions, a moderation signal is output to a driver of the vehicle for a following function that can be performed in a partially automated manner using the driver assistance system, wherein when the moderation signal is output, the driver is asked for feedback regarding the following function.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: when the moderation signal is output, the driver is asked for confirmation for the following function to be performed in a partially automated manner by the driver assistance system.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: when the moderation signal is output, the driver is asked to perform the following function manually.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the number is predetermined based on a previously determined risk profile of the driver.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the number is predetermined based on complexity and/or criticality of the following function.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the number is predetermined based on a performance of the driver assistance system.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the number is predetermined by way of a random generator.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the moderation signal is output if: the predetermined number of similar partially automated functions has been performed, and/or the partially automated functions have been performed on a same route section.

19. A driver assistance system for a vehicle comprising: a processor; and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing a plurality of instructions executable by the processor to configure the driver assistance system to perform the method of claim 11.

20. A vehicle comprising the driver assistance system of claim 19.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a vehicle that has a driver assistance system for performing partially automated functions; and

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a traffic situation in which the vehicle is maneuvered in a partially automated manner by way of the driver assistance system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference signs in the figures.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration, in plan view, of a vehicle 1 that is designed here as an automobile. The vehicle 1 comprises a driver assistance system 2 that is used to assist a driver when driving the vehicle 1. Provision is in particular made for the vehicle 1 to be able to be maneuvered in a partially automated or highly automated manner by way of the driver assistance system 2. For this purpose, the driver assistance system 2 comprises a driving function apparatus 3, illustrated only schematically here. A driving function of the driver assistance system 2 is able to be provided by way of the driving function apparatus 3. By way of example, longitudinal guidance and/or transverse guidance of the vehicle 1 may be regulated in a partially automated manner by way of the driving function apparatus 3.

[0036] The driver assistance system 2 furthermore comprises at least one surroundings sensor 4, by way of which surroundings 5 of the vehicle 1 are able to be detected. The driver assistance system 2 here comprises, by way of example, a surroundings sensor 4 that is designed as a camera. The driver assistance system 2 may preferably have a plurality of surroundings sensors 4. The surroundings sensor 4 may be used to provide surroundings data or image data and transmit them to a computing apparatus 6 of the driver assistance system 2. The surroundings data may be evaluated by way of the computing apparatus 6. The driver assistance system 2 furthermore comprises an information system 7, by way of which an output is able to be output to the driver of the vehicle 1. In this case, the output may take place optically, haptically and/or acoustically. The driver assistance system 2 furthermore comprises an input apparatus 8, by way of which an operator input from the driver is able to be detected. Information that describes the surroundings 5 and/or planned driving maneuvers may additionally be provided to the driver by way of the information system 7. The driver assistance system 2 furthermore comprises a signaling apparatus 14, by way of which optical and/or acoustic signals are able to be output to the surroundings 5. This signaling to the surroundings 5 may also be announced beforehand.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a traffic situation. The vehicle 1 is maneuvered in a partially automated manner by way of the driver assistance system 2 here. During the maneuvering of the vehicle 1, objects in the surroundings 5 are able to be recognized based on the surroundings data from the surroundings sensor 4 or the image data from the camera by way of the computing apparatus 6. Road markings 9 may also be recognized based on the image data. On the basis of the recognized road markings 9, the transverse guidance of the vehicle 1 may then be regulated by way of the driving function apparatus 3, such that the vehicle 1 is maneuvered centrally in a road 10.

[0038] Furthermore, in the present case, a light signal 11 from a light signal installation 12 or a traffic light may be recognized on the basis of the surroundings data or the image data. It may thus also be recognized, by way of the computing apparatus 6, on the basis of the image data, whether a red, amber or green light signal is output by the traffic light. In the present example, a red light signal 11 is currently being output by the light signal installation 12. In this case, a partially automated driving maneuver may be performed by way of the driver assistance system 2, in which driving maneuver the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle 1 is regulated on the basis of the light signal 11 and the vehicle 1 is braked such that it comes to a standstill before a stop line 13.

[0039] However, in this case, the situation arises whereby this partially automated driving maneuver, in which the red traffic light is recognized and the vehicle 1 is stopped automatically before the stop line 13, has already been performed multiple times before. This may be the case for example when the vehicle 1 has traveled this route multiple times on the daily commute. If this partially automated driving maneuver has been performed multiple times with high performance by the driver assistance system 2 in accordance with Level 2, the driver may, in rare cases, develop a significant degree of trust in automation. This may mean that the driver may trust the driver assistance system 2 and may not give the required attention to the driving maneuver.

[0040] To counter this aspect, provision is made here, following a predetermined number of performed partially automated driving maneuvers, for driver moderation to be requested for the following partially automated driving maneuver that is able to be performed. Provision is made for this in particular when a predetermined number of the same performed partially automated driving maneuvers is reached. The number after which the driver moderation is requested may be determined depending on the complexity and/or criticality of the partially automated driving maneuver. The driving maneuver described here, in which the vehicle 1 is maneuvered in a partially automated manner depending on the light signal 11, may be assumed to be safety-critical. The predetermined number may therefore be selected to be lower in comparison with less critical driving maneuvers. Furthermore, the performance of the driver assistance system 2 when performing previous similar or identical driving maneuvers may be taken into consideration when determining the number. The number may furthermore be determined on the basis of a risk profile of the driver and/or the attentiveness of the driver. As an alternative or in addition, provision may be made for the number to be determined by way of a random number generator.

[0041] If the predetermined number of partially automated driving maneuvers already performed is reached, the driver moderation may be requested for the following partially automated driving maneuver—that is to say recognizing the red light signal 11 and automatically stopping before the stop line. For this purpose, a moderation signal may be emitted by way of the computing apparatus 6 and feedback may be requested from the driver regarding the following partially automated driving maneuver by way of the output apparatus 7. The driver may in this case be asked for an operator input. This operator input may be performed on a control element or by touching one of the pedals of the vehicle 1. The operator input may be detected by way of the input apparatus 8. If the operator input has been performed by the driver, the partially automated driving maneuver may be performed by way of the driver assistance system 2 following this. As an alternative thereto, provision may be made for the driver to be asked to perform the following driving maneuver himself or to perform it manually.

[0042] This driver moderation makes it possible to prevent the driver building up a significant degree of trust in automation even in the case of high performance of the driver assistance system 2 following a plurality of successively performed partially automated driving maneuvers. The described method may also be used for other partially automated driving maneuvers. The method may in principle be used for partially automated functions that are performed by the driver assistance system 2. Such partially automated functions may, in addition to the partially automated driving maneuvers described above, also be the provision of information by way of the information system 7 and/or the outputting of a signal to the surroundings 5 by way of the signaling apparatus 14.