METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE

Abstract

A method for operating a vehicle, the vehicle receiving a digital map of a parking lot and at least one target position on the parking lot via a communication network, the vehicle navigating autonomously in the parking lot to the target position on the basis of the digital map, and the vehicle autonomously parking at the target position. A device for operating a vehicle, a vehicle, a server and a computer program are also described.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A method for operating a vehicle, comprising: receiving by the vehicle via a communication network a digital map of a parking lot and at least one target position; navigating autonomously, by the vehicle, in the parking lot to the target position on the basis of the digital map; and autonomously parking, by the vehicle, at the target position.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one target position includes at least one of: i) a drop-off position at which a driver of the vehicle is able to park the vehicle for an autonomous parking operation, and ii) a parking position at which the vehicle is to park autonomously.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein a route to the target position lying within the parking lot is ascertained on the basis of the digital map, and the navigation includes traveling the route.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein one of: i) a route to the target position is ascertained outside the vehicle and transmitted to the vehicle via the communication network, or ii) the route to the target position is ascertained inside the vehicle.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the vehicle senses at least one landmark encompassed by the parking lot during the navigation, a current position of the vehicle on the digital map being ascertained on the basis of the detected landmark, and the navigation is additionally carried out on the basis of the ascertained current position.

17. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the vehicle senses its environment during the navigation, and the navigation is carried out on the basis of the sensed surroundings.

18. A device for operating a vehicle, comprising: a communications interface designed to receive a digital map of a parking lot and a target position in the parking lot via a communication network; and a guidance device designed to guide the vehicle autonomously in the parking lot to the target position on the basis of the digital map and to park the vehicle autonomously at the target position.

19. A vehicle, designed to: receive via a communication network a digital map of a parking lot and at least one target position; navigate autonomously in the parking lot to the target position on the basis of the digital map; and autonomously park at the target position.

20. A server, comprising: a database in which a digital map of a parking lot is stored; a processor designed to ascertain at least one target position in the parking lot; and a communications interface designed to transmit the digital map and the target position via a communication network to a vehicle.

21. The server as recited in claim 20, wherein the processor is designed to ascertain a route to the destination position lying within the parking lot on the basis of the digital map, and the communications interface is designed to transmit the ascertained route via the communication network to the vehicle.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which is stored a computer program including program code for operating a vehicle, the computer program, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to perform: receiving by the vehicle via a communication network a digital map of a parking lot and at least one target position; navigating autonomously, by the vehicle, in the parking lot to the target position on the basis of the digital map; and autonomously parking, by the vehicle, at the target position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of a method for operating a vehicle.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a device for operating a vehicle.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a vehicle.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a server.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of a method for operating a vehicle.

[0057] According to a step 101, the vehicle receives a digital map of a parking lot and at least one target position in the parking lot via a communication network. The digital map and the at least one target position are able to be transmitted to the vehicle with the aid of a server, such as via the communication network.

[0058] In a step 103, the vehicle navigates autonomously, i.e., on its own, in the parking lot to the target position on the basis of the digital map. In a step 105, the vehicle parks autonomously at the target position. In other words, once the vehicle has reached the target position, the vehicle parks autonomously at the target position.

[0059] The target position, for example, includes a drop-off position and/or a parking position. This specifically means that the vehicle drives from the drop-off position to the parking position and parks there by itself. In other words, the vehicle drives back from the parking position to the drop-off position on its own, i.e. autonomously. Thus, a driver is able to park the vehicle at the drop-off position, in particular. The vehicle then drives to the parking position autonomously and parks there on its own. At a later point in time, the vehicle then drives by itself, that is to say, autonomously, from the parking position back to the drop-off position, so that the driver may get into the car again and thereby pick it up at the drop-off position.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows a device 201 for operating a vehicle.

[0061] Device 201 includes a communications interface 203, which is designed to receive a digital map of a parking lot and a target position in the parking lot via a communication network. Device 201 includes a guidance device 205, which is designed to guide the vehicle autonomously in the parking lot to the target position on the basis of the digital map, and to park the vehicle at the target position in an autonomous manner.

[0062] According to a specific embodiment, the communication network includes a mobile telephony network and/or a WLAN network.

[0063] According to a specific embodiment, the guidance for the navigation encompasses a linear and/or lateral guidance of the vehicle by the guidance device. In other words, the guidance device controls or regulates a linear and/or lateral guidance of the vehicle, in particular.

[0064] FIG. 3 shows a vehicle 301, which is designed to carry out the method according to the present invention. More specifically, this means that vehicle 301 is set up to navigate autonomously from a drop-off position to the parking position and back again. This navigation is based on the digital map and the target position. Vehicle 301, for example, includes device 201 from FIG. 2. In particular, vehicle 301 includes an environmental sensor system for sensing the vehicle environment.

[0065] FIG. 4 shows a server 401.

[0066] Server 401 includes a database 403 in which a digital map of a parking lot is stored. Server 401 furthermore includes a processor 405, which is designed to ascertain at least one target position in the parking lot. In addition, server 401 includes a communications interface 407, which is designed to transmit the digital map as well as the target position to a vehicle via a communication network.

[0067] In one specific embodiment, processor 405 of server 401 is developed to ascertain a route, situated within a parking lot, to the target position on the basis of the digital map; communications interface 407 is designed to transmit the ascertained route via the communication network to the vehicle.

[0068] The present invention thus particularly encompasses the notion of the vehicle navigating to the target position, i.e. the parking position or the parking bay, for instance, on its own, that is to say, autonomously, on the basis of transmitted and/or provided information (here, the digital map and the at least one target position) as well as on the basis of its own sensor system such as an environmental sensor system (e.g., video camera, laser sensor, ultrasonic sensor, LIDAR sensor or radar sensor). In other words, this means that the necessary information includes a digital map of the parking lot, in particular the parking garage. The digital map, for example, is a highly precise digital map of the parking garage/parking lot. The necessary information specifically includes one or more target position(s). In other words, this information is transmitted to the vehicle via the communication network.

[0069] To supplement an infrastructure, a localization system, e.g., landmarks such as visual landmarks, e.g., barcodes and/or RFID sensors, preferably exists as the basis in the parking garage or in the parking lot. In particular, the parking lot, especially the parking garage, encompasses as infrastructure a WLAN. In other words, this means that a localization of the vehicle is able to be carried out on the basis of a WLAN measurement.

[0070] Specific embodiments, which are not shown, include one or more of the following exemplary feature(s): [0071] The vehicle is parked at the drop-off point or the drop-off position (also referred to as drop-off zone). [0072] A parking lot management transmits a highly precise parking-garage map/parking lot map (digital map) to the vehicle (for instance even already in advance, i.e., prior to the vehicle being parked at the drop-off point). [0073] The parking lot management transmits to the vehicle a reserved target position for the parking operation (for example possibly already in advance, i.e., prior to the vehicle being parked at the drop-off location). [0074] The vehicle calculates or ascertains a travel path (route) to the target parking position (target position), and/or the parking lot management calculates or ascertains the travel path (route) to the target parking position and transmits it to the vehicle; [0075] The vehicle drives the path (route) to the target position. [0076] En route (during the navigation) the vehicle localizes itself via [0077] the digital map, preferably
in conjunction with [0078] for instance, landmarks (see above), which are detected and evaluated by the own sensor system (environmental sensor system of the vehicle), and/or [0079] preferably, WLAN and/or [0080] preferably, onboard sensors (video, radar, lidar, etc.). [0081] Along the route, the onboard sensors, in particular the environmental sensor system, detect(s) possible obstacles and if required, such obstacles are circumvented or it is stopped in front of them. [0082] The vehicle parks in the parking position with the aid of a parking assistant, for example. [0083] The return route from the parking position to the drop-off point takes place in an analogous manner.

[0084] In specific embodiment, the parking garage/parking lot has its own reserved area for the fully automatic or autonomous valet parking. In this way, potential problems caused by mixed traffic or by pedestrians etc. are circumvented.

[0085] In a first refinement stage (i.e., in one specific embodiment), the parking garage/the parking lot may reserve a separate area for the fully automated valet parking. This would circumvent potential problems resulting from mixed traffic or pedestrians, etc.

[0086] In another specific embodiment, the parking lot management uses parking space monitoring (e.g., with the aid of video cameras) to monitor the travel of the vehicle the entire time. In case of problems, the parking lot management is able to interrupt the travel by a “stop signal” in one specific embodiment.

[0087] According to a specific embodiment, the transfer of the information is carried out using C2X systems (for instance via WLAN), preferably in encrypted form.