DE-102025106924-B3 - Method for mediating a remote control device for remote control of a target vehicle by means of a mediation device and mediation device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for mediating a remote control device (14) for remotely controlling a target vehicle (12) by means of a mediation device (10). It is provided that the mediation device (10) receives a request message (18) for the provision of the remote control device (14) for remotely controlling the target vehicle (12); potential remote control devices (14) are identified; the remote control device (14) for remotely controlling the target vehicle (12) is selected from the potential remote control devices (14) according to a predetermined selection procedure; and a control connection (16) is established between the selected remote control device (14) and the target vehicle (12).

Inventors

• Klaus Meierling
• Wolfgang Theimer

Assignees

• AUDI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
• CARIAD SE

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20250224

Claims (7)

1. Method for mediating a remote control device (14) for remotely controlling a target vehicle (12) by means of a mediation device (10); wherein the mediation device (10) receives a request message (18) for the provision of the remote control device (14) for remotely controlling the target vehicle (12); potential remote control devices (14) are identified by the mediation device (10); the remote control device (14) for remotely controlling the target vehicle (12) is selected by the mediation device (10) from the potential remote control devices (14) according to a predetermined selection procedure; a control connection (16) is established by the mediation device (10) between the selected remote control device (14) and the target vehicle (12); characterized in that, in the event of a failure of the selection procedure, a substitute remote control device (14) is selected by the mediation device (10); and/or a reference vehicle specified for the target vehicle (12) is selected as the remote control device (14) by the switching device (10) in the selection procedure; and/or the remote control of the target vehicle (12) via the control link (16) is restricted to a geographical area and/or a period of time by the switching device (10).
2. Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the mediation device (10) determines authorization requirements for the remote control of the target vehicle (12), and the remote control device (14) is selected in the specified selection procedure based on authorizations of the potential remote control devices (14).
3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the remote control device (14) is selected based on a current geographical position of the target vehicle (12) and/or a current geographical position of the remote control device (14).
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mediation device (10) monitors the quality of the control connection (16) for compliance with at least one predetermined criterion, and a predetermined measure is initiated in the event of a violation of the at least one predetermined criterion.
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the remote control of the target vehicle (12) via control link (16) is monitored by the mediation device (10) for compliance with predetermined remote control specifications, and a predetermined measure is initiated in the event of a violation of one of the control specifications.
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the request message (18) includes status information concerning a current state of the target vehicle (12) and/or an occupant of the target vehicle (12), and the remote control device (14) is selected by the mediation device (10) in the selection method based on the status information.
7. A switching device (10) for switching a remote control device (14) for remotely controlling a target vehicle (12), wherein the switching device (10) is configured to receive a request message (18) for providing the remote control device (14) for remotely controlling the target vehicle (12); to identify potential remote control devices (14); to select the remote control device (14) for remotely controlling the target vehicle (12) from the potential remote control devices (14) according to a predetermined selection procedure; and to establish a control connection (16) between the selected remote control device (14) and the target vehicle (12). The switching device (10) is characterized in that, in the event of a failure of the selection procedure, it is configured to select a substitute remote control device (14); and/or the switching device (10) is configured to select a reference vehicle specified for the target vehicle (12) as the remote control device (14) in the selection procedure; and/or the switching device (10) is configured to restrict the remote control of the target vehicle (12) via the control link (16) to a geographical area and/or a period of time.

Description

The invention relates to a method for mediating a remote control device for remotely controlling a target vehicle by means of a mediation device, and to a mediation device for mediating a remote control device for remotely controlling a target vehicle. In certain situations, it may be desirable to remotely control a vehicle because the driver is unable to operate it due to a medical emergency, fatigue, or complete inattention. Reasons for this might include the vehicle being unavailable in certain locations, or fully automated driving being impossible because the vehicle is not adequately equipped, or the automatic driving function has been interrupted for technical or other reasons. Limited driving maneuvers can already be performed automatically today, at levels 2 and 3 of autonomous driving. Remote control of a vehicle by human drivers based on real-time video information about the vehicle's context is also already possible. The vehicles cannot be fully remotely controlled for extended periods of time or require input from a human driver following recommendations from a remote person. The DE 10 2020 103 905 A1 describes a method for remotely operating a target motor vehicle, control unit, and controller motor vehicle. The DE 20 2023 101 795 U1 describes a system for the remote operation of a forestry vehicle. The US 2023 236 593 A1 describes systems and procedures for controlling a trailer detached from a vehicle. The US 2024 / 0 036 571 A1 This describes a queue for remote control of autonomous vehicles. A remote control system receives a request for remote control support and adds the request to a queue of other requests. The remote control system selects a remote operator from a group of remote operators to provide a response to the request in the queue, with this decision based at least partially on one or more states of the remote operator and information related to the request received from the vehicle. If the request is not accepted within a predetermined time period, it can be forwarded to another remote operator. The DE 11 2019 007 998 T5 describes a remote control device and a remote control method. Various solutions for remotely controlling a target vehicle are known in the prior art. Remote control of the target vehicle by a third party can be easily arranged in simple situations where this third party is predetermined or can be selected from a small group. However, there may be situations where the third party for remotely controlling the target vehicle is not predetermined but must be selected from a larger group. In such cases, selecting the third party may be difficult due to specific requirements for controlling the target vehicle, which can only be met by a limited number of individuals. The present invention is based on the objective of identifying a selection of a third party for the remote control of a target vehicle. The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Advantageous further developments of the invention are described by the dependent patent claims, the following description, and the figures. A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for mediating a remote control device for remote control of a target vehicle by means of a mediation device. The target vehicle is designed to be remotely controlled via a control link by the remote control device. Remote control of the target vehicle can be understood as the lateral and/or longitudinal control of the target vehicle by the remote control device, whereby the remote control device performing the control of the target vehicle may be located outside the target vehicle. The remote control of the target vehicle may include the acquisition of environmental and operational data by a sensor device on the target vehicle and its transmission to the remote control device via the control link. The remote control of the target vehicle may also include the generation of control data by the remote control device, which is then transmitted to the target vehicle via the control link. The target vehicle can receive the control data and execute the commands provided by the control data to control the target vehicle. The remote control device can itself be configured as a vehicle designed to remotely control the target vehicle. Alternatively, the remote control device can be designed as a dedicated user interface, specifically configured as a simulator or cockpit. The remote control device can also be configured as a server capable of automatically controlling the target vehicle based on operational and environmental data. The communication device can be located within the target vehicle or as an external central computer connected to the target vehicle via a mobile communication link. The procedure involves the receiving of a request message by the intermediary device, enabling the remote control device to operate the target vehicle remotely. This request message can be sent to the intermediary device, for