The disclosure relates to a vehicle control device mountable on a vehicle.
In general, an accelerator operation and a brake operation are performed differently by different drivers.
In other words, different drivers depress the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal in different manners.
Accordingly, techniques have been proposed for estimating the manner in which a driver who drives a vehicle depresses the accelerator pedal or the like to control the vehicle in accordance with the manner of depressing the accelerator pedal or the like or to give a warning about the manner of depressing the accelerator pedal or the like (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-233731, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-31572, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-33107, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-238257, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-186674).
An aspect of the disclosure provides a vehicle control device mountable on a vehicle. The vehicle control device includes a warning device and a control system. The warning device is configured to warn a current driver who is driving the vehicle about one or both of an acceleration operation and a deceleration operation. The control system is configured to control the warning device. The control system includes a processor and a memory communicably coupled to the processor. The control system is configured to obtain a numerical value indicating one or both of an acceleration operation and a deceleration operation for each of past drivers who drove the vehicle in past, and store the numerical value as past operation data. The control system is configured to, when an occupant other than the current driver matches a past driver among the past drivers, set the past operation data of the past driver as reference data. The control system is configured to obtain a numerical value indicating one or both of an acceleration operation and a deceleration operation by the current driver as current operation data. The control system is configured to control the warning device to warn the current driver when the current operation data deviates from the reference data by an amount more than a warning threshold in a situation in which a travel speed of the vehicle is lower than a vehicle speed threshold and an inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle is lower than a distance threshold.
An aspect of the disclosure provides a vehicle control device mountable on a vehicle. The vehicle control device includes a warning device and a control system. The warning device is configured to warn a current driver who is driving the vehicle about one or both of an acceleration operation and a deceleration operation. The control system is configured to control the warning device. The control system includes a processor and a memory communicably coupled to the processor. The control system is configured to obtain numerical value indicating one or both of an acceleration operation and a deceleration operation for each of past drivers who drove the vehicle in past, and store the numerical value as past operation data. The control system is configured to, when an occupant other than the current driver matches a past driver among the past drivers, set the past operation data of the past driver as reference data. The control system is configured to obtain a numerical value indicating one or both of an acceleration operation and a deceleration operation by the current driver as current operation data. The control system is configured to count a number of deviations. The number of deviations is a number of times the current operation data deviates from the reference data by an amount more than a warning threshold. The control system is configured to, when the number of deviations is equal to or more than a first number, control the warning device to provide a first warning to the current driver, and reset the number of deviations. The control system is configured to, when the number of deviations is equal to or more than a second number larger than the first number after the first warning is provided, control the warning device to provide a second warning to the current driver.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and, together with the specification, serve to describe the principles of the disclosure.
As described above in the background section, the manner of depressing the accelerator pedal or the brake pedal differs from person to person. In some cases, a driver who drives a vehicle depresses the accelerator pedal or the brake pedal in a different manner from an occupant of the vehicle. In such cases, the manner in which the driver depresses the accelerator pedal or the like may make the occupant feel uncomfortable. It is therefore desirable to reduce the uncomfortable feeling for the occupant even if the driver and the occupant depress the accelerator pedal or the like differently.
It is desirable to reduce the uncomfortable feeling for an occupant of a vehicle.
In the following, an embodiment of the disclosure is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following description is directed to an illustrative example of the disclosure and not to be construed as limiting to the disclosure. Factors including, without limitation, numerical values, shapes, materials, components, positions of the components, and how the components are coupled to each other are illustrative only and not to be construed as limiting to the disclosure. Further, elements in the following example embodiment which are not recited in a most-generic independent claim of the disclosure are optional and may be provided on an as-needed basis. The drawings are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. Throughout the present specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted with the same numerals to avoid any redundant description. As used herein, a driver who is currently driving a vehicle 11 is referred to as a “current driver” if necessary, and a driver who drove the vehicle 11 in the past is referred to as a “past driver” if necessary.
The motor generator 14 has a stator 20 to which an inverter 21 is coupled. The inverter 21 is coupled to a battery pack 22. The battery pack 22 includes a battery module 23 having battery cells, and a battery control unit 24 for monitoring charging and discharging of the battery module 23. The inverter 21 coupled to the motor generator 14 is coupled to a motor control unit 25 for controlling the inverter 21. The motor control unit 25 controls the inverter 21, which includes switching elements and the like, to control the energization of the stator 20 and control the motor torque of the motor generator 14.
The vehicle 11 is provided with a brake device 31 for braking front wheels 30 and the rear wheels 12. The brake device 31 includes a master cylinder 33 and calipers 35. The master cylinder 33 operates in conjunction with a brake pedal 32 and outputs brake fluid pressure. The calipers 35 brake disc rotors 34 of the front wheels 30 and the rear wheels 12. A brake actuator 36 is disposed between the master cylinder 33 and the calipers 35. The brake actuator 36 controls the brake fluid pressure to be supplied to the calipers 35. The brake actuator 36 is coupled to a brake control unit 37 for controlling the brake actuator 36.
As described below, the driver who drives the vehicle 11 can accelerate or decelerate the vehicle 11 by an accelerator operation and a brake operation. The vehicle 11 has a target driving force that is set in accordance with the accelerator operation by the driver, and the motoring torque of the motor generator 14 is controlled to achieve the target driving force. The vehicle 11 has a target braking force that is set in accordance with the brake operation by the driver, and the regenerative torque of the motor generator 14 and the braking force of the brake device 31 are controlled to achieve the target braking force. As described above, the acceleration of the vehicle 11 (hereafter referred to as “vehicle acceleration”) can be controlled by the accelerator operation by the driver, and the deceleration of the vehicle 11 (hereafter referred to as “vehicle deceleration”) can be controlled by the brake operation by the driver. The term “vehicle deceleration”, as used herein, means the absolute value of the vehicle acceleration in the negative direction.
As illustrated in
The vehicle 11 is provided with a front camera 43 and a front radar 44. The front camera 43 captures an image of a scene in front of the vehicle 11. The front radar 44 detects an obstacle in front of the vehicle 11. The vehicle 11 is further provided with a monitoring camera 45. The monitoring camera 45 detects a driver Dr and an occupant Pa. The front camera 43, the front radar 44, and the monitoring camera 45 are coupled to a driving support control unit 46. The driving support control unit 46 detects the inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle 11 and a preceding vehicle 100 (see
As illustrated in
Each of the control units 24, 25, 37, 42, 46, and 51 further includes an input circuit 63, a drive circuit 64, a communication circuit 65, and an external memory 66, for example. The input circuit 63 converts signals input from various sensors into signals that can be input to the microcontroller 62. The drive circuit 64 generates drive signals for various devices, such as the electric axle 13, based on a signal output from the microcontroller 62. The communication circuit 65 converts the signal output from the microcontroller 62 into a communication signal directed to another control unit. The communication circuit 65 further converts a communication signal received from another control unit into a signal that can be input to the microcontroller 62. The external memory 66 stores programs, various data, and so on. Examples of the external memory 66 include a nonvolatile memory.
The vehicle control unit 51 sets operation goals for the electric axles 13, the brake devices 31, the meter display 41, and the like, based on information input from the control units 24, 25, 37, 42, and 46 and various sensors described below. The vehicle control unit 51 generates control signals corresponding to the operation goals for the electric axles 13, the brake device 31, the meter display 41, and the like, and outputs the control signals to the control units 24, 25, 37, 42, and 46. The vehicle control unit 51 is coupled to sensors including an accelerator sensor 71 and a brake sensor 72. The accelerator sensor 71 detects an amount of operation of an accelerator pedal 70. The brake sensor 72 detects an amount of operation of the brake pedal 32. The sensors coupled to the vehicle control unit 51 also include a vehicle speed sensor 73 and an acceleration sensor 74. The vehicle speed sensor 73 detects a vehicle speed that is the travel speed of the vehicle 11. The acceleration sensor 74 detects vehicle acceleration acting in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 11. The vehicle control unit 51 is further coupled to a start switch 75. The start switch 75 is operated by the driver Dr to activate the control system 50.
Operation feedback control for displaying a warning message for the accelerator operation or the brake operation will be described hereinafter. Operations for which a warning is generated include depressing the accelerator pedal 70 or the brake pedal 32 too early, and depressing the accelerator pedal 70 or the brake pedal 32 too late. Other operations for which a warning is generated include depressing the accelerator pedal 70 or the brake pedal 32 with too long a stroke, and depressing the accelerator pedal 70 or the brake pedal 32 with too short a stroke. As described below, the operation feedback control includes flag setting control for setting a feedback flag, and warning control for displaying a warning message on the meter display 41.
As illustrated in
If it is determined in step S10 that the vehicle 11 is in congested traffic, the process proceeds to step 511. In step 511, it is determined whether an occupant other than the driver Dr is in the vehicle 11. If it is determined in step S11 that an occupant is in the vehicle 11, the process proceeds to step 512. In step 512, it is determined whether a database of the control system 50 stores operation data related to the accelerator operation and the brake operation by the occupant. As illustrated in
If it is determined in step S12 that the database stores the past operation data of the occupant, that is, if it is determined in step S12 that the occupant in the vehicle 11 matches any one of the past drivers on the database, the process proceeds to step S13. In step S13, a feedback flag Ffb is set (Ffb=1). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S10 that the vehicle 11 is not in congested traffic, or if it is determined in step S11 that no occupant is in the vehicle 11, the process proceeds to step S14. In step S14, the feedback flag Ffb is cleared (Ffb=0). If it is determined in step S12 that the occupant in the vehicle 11 does not match any one of the past drivers on the database, the process proceeds to step S14. In step S14, the feedback flag Ffb is cleared (Ffb=0). The feedback flag Ffb is set when a precondition for executing warning control described below is satisfied. The feedback flag Ffb is cleared when the precondition for executing the warning control is not satisfied.
As illustrated in
Then, in step S23, the inter-vehicle distance in the brake operation performed by the current driver, that is, the current operation data, is compared with past operation data related to an inter-vehicle distance for the occupant, who is the past driver. Then, it is determined whether the inter-vehicle distance indicated by the current operation data is outside an allowable range. If it is determined in step S23 that the inter-vehicle distance is outside the allowable range, that is, if the inter-vehicle distance indicated by the current operation data greatly deviates from that indicated by the past operation data of the occupant, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, a warning message is displayed to the current driver. In other words, a warning message for the current brake operation is displayed on the meter display 41.
As indicated by black circles in
As illustrated in
By contrast, an inter-vehicle distance (current operation data) a3 at the start of the brake operation is more than the upper-limit line L1a in a situation in which depression of the brake pedal 32 is started when the vehicle 11 is away from the preceding vehicle 100. In this situation, the current driver starts depressing the brake pedal 32 at a longer inter-vehicle distance, that is, at an earlier deceleration timing, than the occupant, who is the past driver. In other words, in this situation, the inter-vehicle distance (current operation data) a3, which is a numerical value indicating the brake operation by the current driver, deviates from the approximate straight line L11, which is the reference data, by an amount more than the warning threshold x1a. In this case, it is determined that the brake operation makes the occupant feel uncomfortable. A warning message such as “The brake operation seems to be slightly early. A later brake operation is recommended” is displayed on the meter display 41.
An inter-vehicle distance (current operation data) a4 at the start of the brake operation is less than the lower-limit line L1b in a situation in which depression of the brake pedal 32 is started after the vehicle 11 approaches the preceding vehicle 100. In this situation, the current driver starts depressing the brake pedal 32 at a shorter inter-vehicle distance, that is, at a later deceleration timing, than the occupant, who is the past driver. In other words, in this situation, the inter-vehicle distance (current operation data) a4, which is a numerical value indicating the brake operation by the current driver, deviates from the approximate straight line L11, which is the reference data, by an amount more than the warning threshold x1b. In this case, it is determined that the brake operation makes the occupant feel uncomfortable. A warning message such as “The brake operation seems to be slightly late. An earlier brake operation is recommended” is displayed on the meter display 41.
As illustrated in
As indicated by black circles in
As illustrated in
By contrast, a vehicle deceleration (current operation data) b3 during the brake operation is more than the upper-limit line L2a in a situation in which the vehicle deceleration generated by the brake operation by the current driver is excessively larger than the vehicle deceleration generated by the brake operation by the occupant, who is the past driver. In other words, in this situation, the vehicle deceleration (current operation data) b3, which is a numerical value indicating the brake operation by the current driver, deviates from the approximate straight line L21, which is the reference data, by an amount more than the warning threshold x2a. In this case, it is determined that the brake operation makes the occupant feel uncomfortable. A warning message such as “The brake operation seems to be slightly strong. A weaker brake operation is recommended” is displayed on the meter display 41.
A vehicle deceleration (current operation data) b4 during the brake operation is less than the lower-limit line L2b in a situation in which the vehicle deceleration generated by the brake operation by the current driver is excessively smaller than the vehicle deceleration generated by the brake operation by the occupant, who is the past driver. In other words, in this situation, the vehicle deceleration (current operation data) b4, which is a numerical value indicating the brake operation by the current driver, deviates from the approximate straight line L21, which is the reference data, by an amount more than the warning threshold x2b. In this case, it is determined that the brake operation makes the occupant feel uncomfortable. A warning message such as “The brake operation seems to be slightly weak. A stronger brake operation is recommended” is displayed on the meter display 41.
Accelerator Operation
As illustrated in
Then, in step S29, the inter-vehicle distance in the accelerator operation performed by the current driver, that is, the current operation data, is compared with past operation data related to an inter-vehicle distance for the occupant, who is the past driver. Then, it is determined whether the inter-vehicle distance indicated by the current operation data is outside an allowable range. If it is determined in step S29 that the inter-vehicle distance is outside the allowable range, that is, if the inter-vehicle distance indicated by the current operation data greatly deviates from that indicated by the past operation data of the occupant, the process proceeds to step S30. In step S30, a warning message is displayed to the current driver. In other words, a warning message for the current accelerator operation is displayed on the meter display 41.
As indicated by black circles in
As illustrated in
By contrast, an inter-vehicle distance (current operation data) c3 at the start of the accelerator operation is more than the upper-limit line L3a in a situation in which depression of the accelerator pedal 70 is started after the preceding vehicle 100 is away from the vehicle 11. In this situation, the current driver starts depressing the accelerator pedal 70 at a longer inter-vehicle distance, that is, at a later acceleration timing, than the occupant, who is the past driver. In other words, in this situation, the inter-vehicle distance (current operation data) c3, which is a numerical value indicating the accelerator operation by the current driver, deviates from the approximate straight line L31, which is the reference data, by an amount more than the warning threshold x3a. In this case, it is determined that the accelerator operation makes the occupant feel uncomfortable. A warning message such as “The accelerator operation seems to be slightly late. An earlier accelerator operation is recommended” is displayed on the meter display 41.
An inter-vehicle distance (current operation data) c4 at the start of the accelerator operation is less than the lower-limit line L3b in a situation in which depression of the accelerator pedal 70 is started when the preceding vehicle 100 is close to the vehicle 11. In this situation, the current driver starts depressing the accelerator pedal 70 at a shorter inter-vehicle distance, that is, at an earlier acceleration timing, than the occupant, who is the past driver. In other words, in this situation, the inter-vehicle distance (current operation data) c4, which is a numerical value indicating the brake operation by the current driver, deviates from the approximate straight line L31, which is the reference data, by an amount more than the warning threshold x3b. In this case, it is determined that the accelerator operation makes the occupant feel uncomfortable. A warning message such as “The accelerator operation seems to be slightly early. A later accelerator operation is recommended” is displayed on the meter display 41.
As illustrated in
As indicated by black circles in
As illustrated in
By contrast, a vehicle acceleration (current operation data) d3 during the accelerator operation is more than the upper-limit line L4a in a situation in which the vehicle acceleration generated by the accelerator operation by the current driver is excessively larger than the vehicle acceleration generated by the accelerator operation by the occupant, who is the past driver. In other words, in this situation, the vehicle acceleration (current operation data) d3, which is a numerical value indicating the accelerator operation by the current driver, deviates from the approximate straight line L41, which is the reference data, by an amount more than the warning threshold x4a. In this case, it is determined that the accelerator operation makes the occupant feel uncomfortable. A warning message such as “The accelerator operation seems to be slightly strong. A weaker accelerator operation is recommended” is displayed on the meter display 41.
A vehicle acceleration (current operation data) d4 during the accelerator operation is less than the lower-limit line L4b in a situation in which the vehicle acceleration generated by the accelerator operation by the current driver is excessively smaller than the vehicle acceleration generated by the accelerator operation by the occupant, who is the past driver. In other words, in this situation, the vehicle deceleration (current operation data) d4, which is a numerical value indicating the accelerator operation by the current driver, deviates from the approximate straight line L41, which is the reference data, by an amount more than the warning threshold x4b. In this case, it is determined that the accelerator operation makes the occupant feel uncomfortable. A warning message such as “The accelerator operation seems to be slightly weak. A stronger accelerator operation is recommended” is displayed on the meter display 41.
As described above, the control system 50 has a database that stores, for each past driver who drove the vehicle 11 in the past, numerical values indicating the accelerator operation and the brake operation as past operation data. If an occupant other than the current driver matches any past driver, the control system 50 sets the past operation data of the occupant that matches the past driver as reference data. The control system 50 obtains numerical values indicating the accelerator operation and the brake operation by the current driver as current operation data. If the current operation data deviates from the reference data by an amount more than a warning threshold, the control system 50 displays a warning message on the meter display 41. The display of the warning message prompts the driver during driving to perform an accelerator operation or a brake operation such that the accelerator operation or brake operation can be close to the accelerator operation or the brake operation by the occupant. It is possible to reduce the uncomfortable feeling for the occupant.
In
As indicated by a solid line Lila in
In the examples illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
If it is determined in step S23 in
If it is determined in step S29 in
If it is determined in step S32 that the vehicle acceleration is outside the allowable range, that is, if the vehicle acceleration indicated by the current operation data greatly deviates from that indicated by the past operation data of the occupant, the process proceeds to step S50. In step S50, a process of counting the number of deviations Ca for the accelerator operation is performed. As described above, the processes of counting the numbers of deviations Ca and Cb for the accelerator operation and the brake operation are performed in accordance with the flowcharts in
Next, warning control 2 illustrated in
If it is determined in step S61 that the number of deviations Ca is equal to or more than the first number C1, the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle acceleration are outside the allowable ranges over the predetermined first number C1. Then, the process proceeds to step S62, and a warning message for the accelerator operation is displayed on the meter display 41. After the first warning message for the accelerator operation is displayed in the way described above, the process proceeds to step S63. In step S63, the display flag Fa is set (Fa=1). Then, the process proceeds to step S64, and a process of resetting the number of deviations Ca for the accelerator operation is performed.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S60 that the display flag Fa is set, the process proceeds to step S65. In step S65, it is determined whether the number of deviations Ca is equal to or more than a second number C2 (for example, 20) larger than the first number C1. If it is determined in step S65 that the number of deviations Ca is equal to or more than the second number C2, the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle acceleration are outside the allowable ranges over the predetermined second number C2. Then, the process proceeds to step S66, and a warning message for the accelerator operation is displayed on the meter display 41. After the second or subsequent warning message for the accelerator operation is displayed in the way described above, the process proceeds to step S63, and the process of resetting the number of deviations Ca for the accelerator operation is performed. Accordingly, the frequency with which a warning message is displayed can be reduced. Thus, a warning message can be appropriately displayed to the current driver without making the driver feel annoyed.
Next, warning control 3 illustrated in
If it is determined in step S71 that the number of deviations Cb is equal to or more than the first number C1, the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle acceleration are outside the allowable ranges over the predetermined first number C1. Then, the process proceeds to step S72, and a warning message for the brake operation is displayed on the meter display 41. After the first warning message for the brake operation is displayed in the way described above, the process proceeds to step S73. In step S73, the display flag Fb is set (Fb=1). Then, the process proceeds to step S74, and a process of resetting the number of deviations Cb for the brake operation is performed.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S70 that the display flag Fb is set, the process proceeds to step S75. In step S75, it is determined whether the number of deviations Cb is equal to or more than a second number C2 (for example, 20) larger than the first number C1. If it is determined in step S75 that the number of deviations Cb is equal to or more than the second number C2, the inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle acceleration are outside the allowable ranges over the predetermined second number C2. Then, the process proceeds to step S76, and a warning message for the brake operation is displayed on the meter display 41. After the second or subsequent warning message for the brake operation is displayed in the way described above, the process proceeds to step S73, and a process of resetting the number of deviations Cb for the brake operation is performed. Accordingly, the frequency with which a warning message is displayed can be reduced. Thus, a warning message can be appropriately displayed to the current driver without making the driver feel annoyed.
It is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described above and may be changed without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In the foregoing description, the control system 50 includes the control units 24, 25, 37, 42, 46, and 51. As a non-limiting example, the control system 50 may include one control unit. The vehicle 11 is not limited to an electric vehicle including the motor generator 14 as a power source. In an example, the vehicle 11 may be a vehicle including an engine as a power source. In another example, the vehicle 11 may be a hybrid vehicle including an engine and a motor generator as power sources.
In the example illustrated in
In the foregoing description, the depression of the brake pedal 32 is used as the deceleration operation by the current driver or the past driver. As a non-limiting example, clearing the depression of the accelerator pedal 70 is also regarded as the deceleration operation. This is because when the depression of the accelerator pedal 70 is cleared, the motor generator 14 is controlled to be in the regeneration state. In the foregoing description, the vehicle acceleration and the vehicle deceleration are detected by using the acceleration sensor 74. As a non-limiting example, the vehicle acceleration may be estimated from the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal 70, and the vehicle deceleration may be estimated from the amount of depression of the brake pedal 32. In the foregoing description, the driver Dr and the occupant Pa are identified by using the monitoring camera 45. As a non-limiting example, a seating sensor disposed in a seat may be used to identify the occupant from the body weight or body shape. The current driver may operate a touch panel or the like to make a setting for the occupant on board the vehicle. If multiple occupants are past drivers, the occupants may be ranked according to the on-board position, the driving time, or the like to determine an occupant to be used as reference data.
In the foregoing description, a warning message is displayed on the meter display 41 to warn the current driver. As a non-limiting example, a speaker or the like may be used as a warning device to warn the current driver about the accelerator operation or the brake operation by voice or warning sound. In the example illustrated in
According to an aspect of the disclosure, when an occupant other than a current driver matches any past driver, a control system sets past operation data of the occupant that matches the past driver as reference data. The control system obtains a numerical value indicating one or more of an acceleration operation and a deceleration operation by the current driver as current operation data. When the current operation data deviates from reference data by an amount more than a warning threshold, the control system controls a warning device to warn the current driver. As a result, it is possible to reduce the uncomfortable feeling for the occupant.
The control system 50 illustrated in
This application is continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2022/016243, filed on Mar. 30, 2022, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2022/016243 | Mar 2022 | US |
Child | 18480150 | US |