DE-102024207298-B4 - Procedures for operating a motor vehicle

DE102024207298B4DE 102024207298 B4DE102024207298 B4DE 102024207298B4DE-102024207298-B4

Abstract

Method (200) for operating a motor vehicle (100), wherein the method (200) comprises the following steps: Providing (210) a usage profile (215) that assigns to a user type of motor vehicle (100) an undesirable use of the motor vehicle (100) for that user type; Activating (220) the usage profile (215) for a user of the motor vehicle (100) if the user corresponds to the user type defined by the usage profile (215); Determine (230) if the user for whom the usage profile (215) has been activated is using or intends to use the motor vehicle (100) in the undesirable manner; and Initiating (240) a measure upon the finding (230) that the user is using or intends to use the motor vehicle (100) in the undesirable manner, wherein the determination (230) that the user is using or intends to use the motor vehicle (100) in the undesirable manner is based on a non-optical detection of quantities using sensors (111-116), wherein the vehicle (100) is operable using a non-essential vehicle function, and where the usage profile (215) defines the use of the non-essential vehicle function as the undesirable mode of use.

Inventors

Rohan Gugale

Assignees

Robert Bosch Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20240801

Claims (12)

Method (200) for operating a motor vehicle (100), wherein the method (200) comprises the following steps: Providing (210) a usage profile (215) that assigns to a user type of the motor vehicle (100) an undesirable use of the motor vehicle (100) for that user type; Activating (220) the usage profile (215) for a user of the motor vehicle (100) if the user corresponds to the user type defined by the usage profile (215); Detecting (230) if the user for whom the usage profile (215) has been activated is using or intends to use the motor vehicle (100) in the undesirable manner; and initiating (240) a measure upon the determination (230) that the user is using or intends to use the motor vehicle (100) in the undesired manner, whereby the determination (230) that the user is using or intends to use the motor vehicle (100) in the undesired manner is based on non-optical measurement of quantities using sensors (111-116), whereby the vehicle (100) is operable using a non-essential vehicle function, and whereby the usage profile (215) defines the use of the non-essential vehicle function as the undesired manner of use.
Procedure (200) according to Claim 1 , where the non-essential vehicle function includes vehicle air conditioning.
Procedure (200) according to Claim 2 , whereby the use of the vehicle's air conditioning is detected using one or more sensors.
Method (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the undesired use is selected from passenger transport, freight transport, travel delay and travel distance extension.
Method (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the user is assigned to the user type on the basis of person identification and/or under a portable computing unit (110) provided in the motor vehicle (100) and/or worn by the user of the motor vehicle (100).
Method (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the measures are selected from preventing and reporting the undesirable use.
Method (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensors are designed as non-optical sensors.
Motor vehicle (100) that is set up for operation using a procedure (200) comprising the following steps: Providing (210) a usage profile (215) that assigns an undesirable use of the motor vehicle (100) to a user type of the motor vehicle (100); Activating (220) the usage profile (215) for a user of the motor vehicle (100) if the user corresponds to the user type defined by the usage profile (215); Detecting (230) if the user for whom the usage profile (215) has been activated is using or intends to use the motor vehicle (100) in the undesirable manner; and initiating (240) a measure upon the determination (230) that the user is using or intends to use the motor vehicle (100) in the undesired manner, whereby the determination (230) that the user is using or intends to use the motor vehicle (100) in the undesired manner is based on non-optical measurement of quantities using sensors (111-116), whereby the vehicle (100) is operated using a non-essential vehicle function, and whereby the usage profile (215) defines the use of the non-essential vehicle function as the undesired manner of use.
Motor vehicle (100) according to Claim 8 , wherein the sensors are designed as non-optical sensors.
A computing unit designed to perform all the procedural steps of a process according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 to carry out.
A computer program that instructs a processing unit to execute all procedural steps of a process according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 to be performed when it is executed on the computing unit.
Machine-readable storage medium containing a computer program stored on it according to Claim 11 .

Description

The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle, a corresponding motor vehicle, as well as a computing unit and a computer program for carrying out the proposed method. Background of the invention Managing vehicle fleets requires a high degree of coordination and planning to ensure all vehicles are used optimally and maintenance intervals are adhered to. Fleet drivers should be monitored to ensure they drive safely and efficiently. Furthermore, the administrative burden can be considerable due to the need to manage a large number of vehicles and drivers. These factors make fleet management complex and challenging. In developing countries like India, many vehicle owners prefer to hire a personal chauffeur to navigate the dense urban traffic. Often, a single chauffeur is employed for the entire family, transporting family members in one or more vehicles. The problems that arise in this context are similar to those encountered in commercial fleet management. In particular, when employing a chauffeur, it is essential to ensure that they operate the vehicle efficiently and safely, in the manner desired by the vehicle owner. In the EP 1 660 354 B1 A driver warning device is proposed to alert the driver when a safety-critical condition of the vehicle is reached. However, a warning is only issued if it is configured according to a user profile. This prevents unnecessary warnings from being issued to the driver, which could reduce the driver's acceptance of the warning system. There remains a need for improvements in the operation of motor vehicles operated by certain users. Disclosure of the invention Against this background, a method for operating a motor vehicle, a corresponding motor vehicle, as well as a computing unit and a computer program for carrying out the proposed method, with the respective features of the independent claims, are proposed. Embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description. The proposed procedure includes providing a usage profile that assigns an undesirable use of the vehicle to a user type of the motor vehicle, activating the usage profile for a user of the motor vehicle if the user corresponds to the user type defined by the usage profile, determining if the user for whom the usage profile has been activated is using or attempting to use the motor vehicle in the undesirable manner, and initiating a measure upon such a determination. In the proposed procedure, the determination that the user is using or intends to use the motor vehicle in an undesirable manner is based on non-optical measurement of parameters using sensors. The sensors may, in particular, be designed as non-optical sensors. This method offers significant advantages for fleet operators and vehicle owners with employed chauffeurs, particularly in terms of safety, efficiency, and cost management. By providing a usage profile that identifies undesirable usage patterns for specific user types, it allows for a particularly effective alignment with the individual needs and behaviors of drivers, especially those driving vehicles in a fleet or employed chauffeurs. The process improves vehicle utilization by preventing undesirable behavior. This can lead, for example, to reduced fuel consumption, extended vehicle lifespan, and reduced maintenance requirements. This results in lower operating costs and increased fleet reliability. In particular, the process also contributes to environmental friendliness by, for example, promoting a fuel-efficient and environmentally conscious driving style and corresponding vehicle use. This leads to lower fuel consumption and a reduction in emissions, which offers both economic and ecological advantages. For fleet management or in connection with the employment of chauffeurs, the procedure offers an effective way to monitor driver behavior and ensure that vehicles are used in accordance with predefined guidelines. This leads to an efficient More efficient use of vehicles and improved compliance with safety regulations. Furthermore, the proposed procedure also protects against misuse by detecting undesirable usage and taking appropriate action. This is particularly important for fleet operators, who must ensure that their vehicles are used only for authorized purposes and in an efficient and safe manner. Further advantages include personalization and increased driver comfort. The system allows for individual customization of vehicles to suit different driver types, leading to improved driver satisfaction and performance. A key benefit lies in enhanced safety, as the system can detect potentially dangerous driving behavior and take immediate action to prevent accidents. This not only results in safer fleet operation but also reduces the risk of incidents and associated costs. Overall, the proposed method makes it possible to operate vehicles more safely, efficiently and environmentally friendly in the scenarios described by creating and moni