Method for cruise control and/or regulation of vehicle spacing

0001The invention betriffl a method for speed and / or distance control at Motor vehicles, in which speed and / or acceleration and / or Delay setpoints superimposed a selectable, adjustable longitudinal dynamics characteristic is, according to the preamble of claim 1.

0002A method for speed and / or distance control in motor vehicles are in known many forms. The pure speed control is effected by known, so to speak, cruise control method. A to advanced variant, the coupling of Cruise control with a distance control. In this manner, first one that refers to a set target speed or a Set average speed, the current traffic conditions are involved. Distance sensors are used here so as to driving in the distance identify vehicles and take into account in the cruise control, ie driving ahead slower vehicles then cause an automatic throttling current speed or a deceleration of the vehicle with either Engine brake, or by adding the service brake.

0003Thus, from the EP 0813986 A2, EP 0813987 A2 and EP 0813988 A2 known various processes for speed and / or distance control. The said methods are known under the name ADR named.

0004ADRs are out in the abovementioned therefore known what to abgeforderten desired or target speeds and setpoint accelerations, rate- or distance-related target speeds and accelerations into sets ratio. This speed-related or acceleration related additional target values ​​can be carried out by operator intervention or otherwise. Make an intervention is on the otherwise automatic ride sequence. Such Intervention can therefore either semi-automatically or deliberately by selector be switched.

0005However, these advantageous per se are still capable of improvement and removal, in particular with a view to increasing the driving safety.

0006From DE 44 37 678 A1 a method is also known, when using a selector switch more or less sportier driving modes by appropriate Influencing the control or manipulated variables can be generated by superimposing. However, this system is with regard to diverse situations occurring individual driving not adaptable enough.

0007From DE 197 11 819 A1 is also a method for controlling the speed of a Motor vehicle, in which a further influence or superimposition and additional consideration of an adjustable or predetermined longitudinal acceleration setpoint is possible. This betriffl substantially the adaptation to a more or less sporting Driving.

0008Also this system or such a method which is advantageously used per se, is intended to evolve in terms of driving safety.

0009On this basis, the invention is thus the object of the se to further develop described advantageous method that the Driving safety is increased even with driver-specific settings.

0010This task specification is meant that the system for an adjustment to the current traffic situation permits, and on the other hand takes into account that each possible driver has a different driving behavior. Therefore, the object is aimed at Increasing driving safety, also under the aspect that in more or less recurrent episode several drivers operate the vehicle.

0011This object is inventively achieved in a method of the generic type achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

0012Further embodiments of the method according to the invention are in the dependent claims 2-7 specify.

0013The core of the invention is that sensory to a current driving situations be recognized and that a plurality of characteristic longitudinal dynamic profiles different, recurring driver or traffic situations are stored and are given driving situation available.

0014This is significantly higher than the previous known method, with essentially two Driving behavior characteristic modes, sporty or eco, addition.

0015Moreover, going now for various traffic situations in everyday driving recur, characteristic longitudinal dynamic profiles stored. Recurring situations are, for example,<ul><li>Cruising Highway</li><li>Overtaking highway</li><li>Cruising Highway</li><li>Overtaking highway</li><li>Cruising city traffic</li><li>Overtaking city traffic</li><li>Stop-and-go</li></ul>

0016This driving or traffic situations lead to recurring characteristic longitudinal dynamic profile. With longitudinal dynamic profile is meant that For example, for the overtaking on motorways a particular sequence of Setpoints are given in their chronological sequence that a expeditiously permit applied overtaking. Such setpoint sequences are then in the corresponding situation available designed so that the same control technology, the then during this phase traffic following operating setpoints overlap.

0017This means in the above case of the example "Overtaking on the highway" that once this said longitudinal dynamic profile is retrieved, for example, a downshift in Transmission is effected, and a corresponding actuation of the accelerating elements the drive motor. For example, influencing the air-fuel mixture, opening additional motor ventilator, injection and the like. Is said finished overtaking, so also the corresponding sequence is then in their gone through chronological generation of setpoint superimpositions and the system again returns to normal operation.

0018An essential object of the invention is that, compared with the prior art a variety of possible driving situations as it were, "superposition Profile" are stored and retrieved on an opportunistic.

0019Further considerations may be that, for example, the environment, the Road situation or weather conditions taken into account and turn on the system is processed. That is, in a desired introducing an overtaking maneuver on the highway is the sequence of to be superimposed setpoints at a dry Weather conditions be different, as in the registration of rain or snow. With the The method according to the invention are such considerations in detail possible.

0020Further embodiments of the inventive method are that the individual sequence-related data by determining the driver-related driving behavior adaptively applied in the sequence-related driving situations and in this way are changeable. What this means is that the system is initially applied such adaptively that it carried out the manual, the part of the respective driver Situation control, data are obtained, which are the individual driver to own.

0021For this purpose, in a further advantageous embodiment of the inventive method a individual driver recognition be made by sensors, and the corresponding stored sequences could then, as described above, to each driver be individually accessed and generated. That is, in the simplest case, that the Sequence data of a more peaceful and defensive driver are different than that of a sporting driver.

0022It is of course in both cases that the ADR system as such is also applied as, the sporty driving style not to be for safety reasons may be exaggerated, that statutory minimum distances are undershot. This can prevent the distance control device anyway. What is meant is rather that individual driving characteristics that are inherent to any person in this system be considered.

0023In any further inventive embodiment it is provided that the current Driving situation detection, the current location data from a navigation system be taken into account. This has the advantage that the system enormously can work ahead. That is, the driving situation is not only tactically, ie short detected by the corresponding sensor system, but the system knows by corresponding navigational perspective in view of the current Location determination, whether below or difficult terrain but strong curvatures are expected to be strictly observed in the initiation of overtaking have to.

0024The invention is illustrated in the drawing and described in more detail below.

0025It shows:<sl><li>Figure 1: Selectable longitudinal dynamics.</li><li>Figure 2: Adaptive longitudinal dynamics.</li></sl>

0026Figure 1 shows the simplest embodiment of the method. with the help a Sportlichkeitsschalters, but specified as otherwise selector may be referred to, there is a selection of the longitudinal dynamics and the Longitudinal dynamics Profiles. be added Taken further sensory information for example, windshield wipers and rain sensor, outside temperature sensor, Speedometer or speed sensor, tachometer, proximity sensor, if necessary Navigation system and, if the ABS control unit. These said sensory data then included along with the selection of the longitudinal dynamics Profiles in one unit or integrated into a single process step, the detecting of the driving situation, and performs selection of an appropriate longitudinal dynamics program. The said dynamic profiles may be created for the already illustrated above situations, like "Cruising Highway", "Overtaking highway" with or without rain / snow, and navigation-related data.

0027Thus the driver has a choice of several longitudinal dynamic profiles are available, the contain each a sequence of several chronological control variables. These Regulating and / or manipulated variables are superimposed on the manipulated variables and desired effect appropriate assistance during this temporary driving situation.

0028Figure 2 shows an embodiment in which the system is applied adaptively. It says initially the automatic detection of the driving situation in the foreground. assist this purpose the sensor values ​​of a rain sensor, possibly the external temperature, speed sensor, Tachometer, proximity sensor, navigation system and the ABS control unit. From this Many existing sensors, the driving situation and reliable quasi semi-automatically be determined. This recognized driving situation it is the system for Recognition of the respective driver's individual driving behavior superimposed. The Recognition of the individual driving behavior of a driver can be carried out Distance sensor, navigation system, evaluation of the automatic evaluation of Throttle angle of the drive assembly, review of the brake, the review Speed ​​and the rotational speed. From an appropriate superposition of the detected Driving situation and the recognition of each individual driving behavior can then a corresponding profile utilizes an adaptive and driver based retrieve it.

0029The driver identification as such is carried out in an appropriate manner not only by a Identification on the driving behavior data, but a personal identification for example, by personal key, optical detection of the driver's face and the like are more realized. With such a definition of the individual Driver may then also safe, each driver-related adaptive sequence storage take place, and the corresponding, each individual longitudinal dynamic profile can be created.

0030Overall, the inventive method takes account of the driving situation as such, they assisted moreover also in recurrent traffic situations in an optimal way and coordinates this assistance from also a driver-specific.

0031Overall, the driving operation is not only comfortable, but according to the object under the formulated safety aspect also significantly safer.