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DE-102024133239-A1 - Control of a motor vehicle

DE102024133239A1DE 102024133239 A1DE102024133239 A1DE 102024133239A1DE-102024133239-A1

Abstract

A method for controlling a motor vehicle (105) on board which a person (115) is located comprises steps of detecting sensory influences (120) acting on the person (115); sampling measured values (130) from the person (115); determining a user state of the person (115) based on the influences (120) and the measured values (130); determining a control of a sensory influence (120) on the person (115) depending on the determined user state; and controlling the influence (120) on the person (115).

Inventors

  • Etienne Iliffe-Moon
  • Stefan Heijboer
  • Francesco MANTOVANI

Assignees

  • BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241113

Claims (15)

  1. Method for controlling a motor vehicle (105) wherein a person (115) is on board the motor vehicle (105); wherein the method comprises the following steps: - detecting sensory influences (120) acting on the person (115); - sampling measured values (130) from the person (115); - determining a user state of the person (115) based on the influences (120) and the measured values (130); - determining a control of a sensory influence (120) on the person (115) depending on the determined user state; and - controlling the influence (120) on the person (115).
  2. Procedure according to Claim 1 , wherein a user state is assigned a control of influences (120) such that the success of the control is maximized; and wherein the similarity of two internal states with respect to the similarity of assigned controls is determined.
  3. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the influence (120) is controlled such that the user state of the person (115) approaches a predetermined target state.
  4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a reaction of the person (115) to a sensory influence (120) is predicted.
  5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the user state is determined on the basis of a sequence of influences (120) acting on the person (115) and/or a sequence of measured values (130) recorded on the person (115).
  6. Procedure according to Claim 5 , whereby a sequence of controls is determined to control a transition from a given user state to a target state.
  7. Procedure according to Claim 5 or 6 , whereby the target state is determined automatically.
  8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the person (115) controls the motor vehicle (105); and the sensory influence (120) is controlled in such a way that the reception or processing of driving-related information by the person (115) is facilitated.
  9. A method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising determining the success of the control; and adjusting the control to maximize the success.
  10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control comprises a selection or control of a playback of a piece of music.
  11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control comprises a selection or control of an olfactory influence (120) on the person (115).
  12. Device (110) for controlling a motor vehicle (105), wherein a person (115) is on board the motor vehicle (105); the system comprising the following elements: - several detection devices for determining sensory influences (120) acting on the person (115); - several scanning devices for determining measured values (130) from the person (115); - a determination device for determining a user state of the person (115) based on the influences (120) and the measured values (130); - a processing device for determining a control of a sensory influence (120) on the person (115) depending on the determined user state; and - an output device for controlling the influence (120) on the person (115).
  13. Device according to Claim 12 , wherein the determination device comprises an artificial neural network designed to determine the user state of the person (115) as a function of the influences (120) and measured values (130) as an embedding, such that embeddings of similar internal states are as similar as possible to each other.
  14. Device (110) according to Claim 13 , wherein a user state is assigned a control of influences (120) such that the success of the control is maximized; and the similarity of two internal states with respect to the similarity of assigned controls is determined.
  15. motor vehicle (105), comprising a device according to one of the Claims 12 until 14 .

Description

The present invention relates to the control of a motor vehicle. In particular, the invention relates to the holistic control of the motor vehicle with respect to a person on board the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle includes a digital assistant designed to support the driver in their driving activities. The assistant may have voice control capabilities and answer the driver's questions or execute commands. For example, the assistant can help determine an interesting destination or adjust the climate control or entertainment system according to the driver's preferences. Individual driver assistance systems may be available for specific tasks, each taking over particular, usually narrowly defined, duties. For example, a blind spot monitor can provide a warning if another road user is in the vehicle's blind spot, or a windshield wiper assistant can control the wipers to ensure the windshield reaches a predetermined level of cleanliness. However, experience has shown that drivers can be overwhelmed by the warnings from many such systems. In some cases, the driver may get the impression that the systems are taking over most of the vehicle's control, thus reducing the need for attentiveness. Advanced driver assistance systems aim to relieve the driver of more complex tasks, such as staying in a lane or recognizing traffic signs. Such systems can be particularly helpful for distracted or insecure drivers; however, experienced drivers may find it more difficult to precisely adapt their driving to the prevailing situation. Autonomous vehicle control systems aim to relieve the person on board the vehicle of driving duties as much as possible. However, with current technology, these systems are not yet capable of providing a level of control equivalent to that of a human. In the vast majority of cases, a human driver who can take over control of the vehicle at any time remains essential. Many drivers prefer to control their vehicle themselves and appreciate assistance, but are less keen on being completely taken over. Currently available driver assistance systems offer essentially static support, which may vary depending on the vehicle's driving conditions. Experience has shown that individuals perceive the level of support provided by such systems to varying degrees in comparable situations. One of the problems underlying the present invention is to provide an improved technology for assisting a person on board a motor vehicle. The invention solves this problem through the subject matter of the independent claims. Dependent claims describe preferred embodiments. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a motor vehicle in which a person is located comprises steps of detecting sensory influences acting on the person; scanning measured values from the person; determining a user state of the person based on the influences and the measured values; determining a control of a sensory influence on the person depending on the determined user state; and controlling the influence on the person. It has been recognized that a person's user state has a significant influence on how they absorb information or perform a task assigned to them. User state can encompass a person's physical, physiological, emotional, cognitive, and/or social state. Some aspects may be internal, while others are external. For example, stress, mind wandering, valence, emotions, etc., tend to be internal, but there are also external states that are related to (or demonstrably related to) physical and social aspects. Such states can include, for example, physical actions, behavior, reflexes, body language, social cues, etc. User state can therefore encompass an internal and/or external state of the person. While a person's state of being cannot generally be fully observed directly, various individual aspects of that state can be understood by recording associated sensory influences on the person or by capturing measurements taken from the person. It is therefore proposed to understand the complex state of being based on multiple sensory influences and the collection of multiple measurements from the person. Unlike in other environments, this is possible on board a motor vehicle because of the numerous sensors and systems within the vehicle. can be used to determine an influence on the person or a measurement of the person. A sensory influence can be perceived by the person, and even unconscious perception can affect the user's state. For example, the person can perceive acoustic, olfactory, gustatory, haptic, thermal, acceleration- or motion-related, pain-related, visual, or neuroprotective stimuli. These stimuli can result from various influences that can be detected by appropriate sensors or systems on board the vehicle. A measurement taken from a person can, for example, relate to a vital sign such as pulse, blood pressure, body temperature, level of consciousness (vigilance), and respiratory rate as primary vital sig