Patent Application
20220194427
The disclosure relates to a vehicle driving challenge system and a method for performing a vehicle driving challenge.
The method and system according to the disclosure can be arranged in any type of road vehicle suitable for public road travel.
Specifically, although the method and system according to the disclosure is described primarily in relation to a car, the method and system according to the disclosure is not restricted to this particular type of vehicle, but may alternatively be implemented in other type of vehicles such as trucks, buses, motorcycles, etc.
Increasing and maintaining a high driver alertness while driving is generally advantageous in terms of driving safety and accident avoidance. One solution for increasing driver alertness may be driver involvement in a game or a challenge associated with the driving route, and there are for example systems available for enabling drivers of different vehicles to participate in various types of games or challenges, while competing for example against other drivers.
For example, document US 2017/097243 A1 shows a game interaction system having a games module enabling a driver to compete with another driver playing the same game, which could assist with, for example, maintaining driver alertness.
However, despite the activities in the field, there is still a demand for a further improved vehicle driving challenge.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
A general object of the present disclosure is to provide an improved vehicle driving challenge system and method for enabling improved driver alertness and attention to the traffic situation. Specifically, the prior art game interaction systems configured for enabling the driver to participate in challenges together with drivers of other vehicles do not provide a solution for enabling a quick, efficient and user-friendly initialisation process for vehicle driving challenge.
This and other objects, which will become apparent in the following, are accomplished by a vehicle driving challenge system and method for performing a vehicle driving challenge as defined in the accompanying independent claims.
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a vehicle driving challenge system comprising a first mobile module including a first mobile communication device and a first mobile user interface and being configured for being included in a first vehicle and being operated by a first driver, a second mobile module including a second mobile communication device and a second mobile user interface and being configured for being included in a second vehicle and being operated by a second driver, and a computer server system configured for enabling wireless communication with each of the first and second mobile communication devices. The first mobile module is configured for registering a request from the first driver via the first mobile user interface for initiating a driving challenge, and subsequently submitting a corresponding request to the computer server system via the first mobile communication device, which request includes planned driving route information and location of the first mobile module. Furthermore, the computer server system is configured for, upon receipt of said request, checking whether the second driver has requested or indicated willingness to participate in a driving challenge, and checking whether the second mobile module: has a planned driving route at least partly in common with the planned driving route of the first mobile module, or is located within a range of less than a certain distance threshold, in particular less than 20 km, from the location of the first mobile module, or is estimated able to take a driving route that is running at least partly in common with the planned driving route of the first mobile module. If affirmative, the computer server system is configured for determining a common driving challenge route associated with the first and second mobile modules and based on the planned driving route of the first mobile module, and initiating a real-time concurrent vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along the common driving challenge route.
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for performing a vehicle driving challenge comprising: receiving, in a computer server system, a request for initiating a driving challenge submitted by a first driver of a first vehicle by means of a first mobile module including a first mobile communication device and a first mobile user interface, wherein the request includes planned driving route information and location of the first vehicle; identifying a second vehicle having a second driver, wherein the second driver has requested or indicated willingness to participate in a driving challenge by means of a second mobile module including a second mobile communication device and a second mobile user interface, and wherein the second vehicle: has a planned driving route at least partly in common with the planned driving route of the first vehicle, or is located within a range of less than a certain distance threshold, in particular less than 20 km, from the location of the first vehicle, or is estimated able to take a driving route that is running at least partly in common with the planned driving route of the first vehicle; determining a common driving challenge route associated with the first and second vehicles and based on the planned driving route of the first vehicle; and initiating a real-time concurrent vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along the common driving challenge route.
In this way, improvement in terms of a quicker and more efficient and user-friendly initialisation process of the vehicle driving challenge is accomplished. Specifically, the system and method defined above applies a matching process for identifying a second driver that will enable quick initialisation of the driving challenge upon request from the first driver, so that the first and second drivers may benefit from and enjoy the driving challenge as much as possible during their respective driving route. A quick initialisation process is particularly advantageous when the planned driving route is relatively short. The matching process involves identifying a second vehicle based either on common driving route or vicinity between the first and second vehicles, such that only those second vehicles that may provide a quick and good match with the first vehicles are relevant for initiating the real-time concurrent vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers, thereby ensuring an efficient and user-friendly operation.
To conclude, the first aspect of the present disclosure may be deemed providing a vehicle driving challenge initialisation system comprising said first and second mobile modules and the a computer server system, which vehicle driving challenge initialisation system is arranged for initiating a real-time concurrent vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along the common driving challenge route.
Alternatively, the first aspect of the present disclosure may be deemed providing a driver alertness improvement system including a vehicle driving challenge initialisation system comprising said first and second mobile modules and the a computer server system, which vehicle driving challenge initialisation system is arranged for initiating a real-time concurrent vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along the common driving challenge route.
By analogy, the second aspect of the present disclosure may be deemed providing a method for initiating a vehicle driving challenge, which method results in initiating a real-time concurrent vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along the common driving challenge route.
Alternatively, the second aspect of the present disclosure may be deemed providing a method for improved driver alertness including steps for initiating a vehicle driving challenge, which method results in initiating a real-time concurrent vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along the common driving challenge route.
Further advantages are achieved by implementing one or several of the features of the dependent claims.
In one example embodiment, the vehicle driving challenge system further comprises a first vehicle including said first mobile module and a second vehicle including said second mobile module, wherein the first vehicle further comprises a wearable or non-wearable augmented-reality head-up display or augmented-reality front window, a first sensor device for detecting eye or head position of the first driver, and a second sensor device for detecting relative position of the first and second vehicles, wherein the head-up display or augmented-reality front window is configured for, based on sensor data from first and second sensor devices, displaying a marking on the head-up display or augmented-reality front window in the line-of-sight between the first driver and the second vehicle, such that the second vehicle may be clearly visually identified by the first driver when looking out through the front window. A problem with the driving challenge is the participating drivers do not easily know exactly which among the neighbouring vehicles are actually participating in the challenge, and knowledge of this may generally increase the driver's experience of a challenge against another driver. However, by clearly visually identifying the second vehicle by a marking when looking out through the front window of the first vehicle, the first driver is intuitively made aware of the position of the second driver when they are driving close to each other.
In one example embodiment, the second vehicle has a planned driving route at least partly in common with the planned driving route of the first vehicle, and wherein an estimated arrival time at a start of the common planned driving route differs less than 10 minutes between the first and second vehicles, or is located within a range of less than 20 km from the location of the first vehicle, or is estimated able to take a driving route that is running at least partly in common with the planned driving route of the first vehicle, and wherein an estimated arrival time at a start of the common driving route differs less than 10 minutes between the first and second vehicles. Thereby, a more user-friendly driving challenge system is provided, because the participants of the driving challenge do not have to wait for each other too long before initiating the driving challenge.
In one example embodiment, the method further comprises, after determining the common driving challenge route, submitting an invitation to participate in a driving challenge to the second driver, including the common driving challenge route, and first upon receiving an acceptance to participate in the driving challenge from the second driver, initiating said vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along said common driving challenge route. Thereby, the second driver has the possibility to reject the proposed common driving challenge route at an early phase for any reason, such as a proposed common driving challenge route that is deemed not consistent with the desired driving route, or the like.
In one example embodiment, the method further comprises, when the second driver having requested or indicated willingness to participate in a driving challenge is identified, but the second vehicle has not a planned driving route sufficiently in common with the planned driving route of the first vehicle, or the second driver does not accept participating in a driving challenge based on the planned driving route of the first vehicle, checking whether the first vehicle is estimated able to take a driving route that is running at least partly in common with the planned driving route of the second vehicle, and if affirmative, determining a new common driving challenge route associated with the first and second vehicles and based on the planned driving route of the second vehicle, and subsequently submitting an invitation to participate in a driving challenge to the first driver, including the new common driving challenge route, and upon receiving an acceptance to participate in the driving challenge from the first driver, initiating said vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along said new common driving challenge route. This approach thus checks the flexibility for changing driving route of the first driver, in case the second driver rejects the proposal. This approach thus typically results in increased likelihood for finding a common driving challenge route that may be acceptable for both drivers.
In one example embodiment, the method comprises displaying also a score status of each vehicle participating in the vehicle driving challenge on the display within each vehicle participating in the vehicle driving challenge, wherein the score status is based on one or more of the following challenge rules: how time-accurate the competing vehicles passes a set of time gates along the common driving challenge route, accumulated electric energy and/or fuel consumption during the driving along the common driving challenge route, how well the vehicle maintains a constant speed, how little the vehicle friction brakes and/or engine brake are used, the lowest maximal vehicle longitudinal and lateral rate of change of acceleration and deceleration levels, highest average vehicle speed without changing lane, shortest time for traveling from start to end of the common driving challenge route, or how seldom a vehicle driving assistance system or autonomous driving assistance system is activated for maintaining safe driving and adherence to the traffic laws. By enabling the drivers to monitor and follow the score status of all participating vehicles, the drivers may have a greater experience and be more focused and attentive drivers.
In one example embodiment, the vehicle braking performance and/or vehicle acceleration performance of at least one of the vehicles participating in the vehicle driving challenge are temporarily reduced during the vehicle driving challenge for increasing the complexity for at least one of the first and second drivers. This measure also results in a more focused and attentive drivers because the complexity in increased.
In one example embodiment, the method further comprises monitoring eye or head position of the first driver by means of a first sensor device for detecting eye or head position of the first driver, monitoring relative position of the first and second vehicles by means of a second sensor device for detecting relative position of the first and second vehicles, and displaying a marking on a head-up display or augmented-reality front window in the line-of-sight between the first driver and the second vehicle, such that the second vehicle may be clearly visually identified by the first driver when looking out through the front window. As described above, by clearly visually identifying the second vehicle by a marking when looking out through the front window of the first vehicle, the first driver is intuitively made aware of the position of the second driver when they are driving close to each other, thereby making the drivers more focused and attentive.
In one example embodiment, the method comprise receiving, in the computer server system, a request submitted by the second driver for personalizing a visual exterior of the second vehicle by a personalized feature, as seen through the head-up display or augmented-reality front window by the first driver, and displaying a virtual image of the personalized feature on the head-up display or augmented-reality front window in the line-of-sight between the first driver and the second vehicle, such that the first driver sees a personalized visual exterior of the second vehicle when looking out through the front window. A personalized imaginary visual exterior of the vehicle when looking out through the front window may increase the drivers challenge experience and result in more focused and alert drivers.
In one example embodiment, the method comprises operating at least during ongoing vehicle driving challenge a vehicle driving assistance system or autonomous driving assistance system in a supervision mode, in which the system performs active supervision over the vehicle's driving behaviour for improving safe driving and adherence to the traffic laws. Thereby, the operation of the driving challenge is effectively maintained within a safe and controlled framework.
In one example embodiment, one or both of the first and second vehicles have fully autonomous driving capability, and wherein the method comprises, upon initiating the vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along the common driving challenge route, activating said fully autonomous driving, such that the first and/or the second vehicles passes a start of the common driving challenge route at a planned starting time of the vehicle driving challenge. Thereby, the user-friendliness of the system is increased because the drivers themselves do not have to bother about arriving at the start at the planned starting time.
In one example embodiment, the method further comprises identifying also a third vehicle having a third driver, wherein the third driver has requested or indicated willingness to participate in a driving challenge by means of a third mobile module including a third mobile communication device and a third mobile user interface, and wherein the third vehicle has: has a planned driving route at least partly in common with the planned driving route of the first vehicle, or is located within a range of less than 20 km from the location of the first vehicle, or is estimated able to take a driving route that is running at least partly in common with the planned driving route of the first vehicle. The method further comprises, when a third vehicle has been identified, determining also a further common driving challenge route associated with the first and third vehicles and based on the planned driving route of the first vehicle, presenting the common driving challenge route associated with the first and second vehicles and the further common driving challenge route associated with the first and third vehicles to the first driver, and receiving a selection to initiate a driving challenge along one of said common driving challenge routes from the first driver, and initiating said real-time concurrent vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along said common driving challenge route or between the first and third drivers along said further common driving challenge route in accordance with the selection of the first driver. This embodiment thus enables the first driver to select the most desirable driving challenge in a situation where several different driving challenges are available.
In one example embodiment, the method comprises displaying the common driving challenge route(s) on a display within each vehicle participating in the vehicle driving challenge. This generally increases the driver's awareness and makes them more alert during the challenge.
In one example embodiment, the method comprises displaying also a real-time position of each vehicle participating in the vehicle driving challenge on the display within each vehicle participating in the vehicle driving challenge. This generally increases the driver's awareness and makes them more alert during the challenge.
Further features of, and advantages with, the present disclosure will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. The skilled person realize that different features of the present disclosure may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
The various example embodiments of the disclosure, including its particular features and example advantages, will be readily understood from the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout the description. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
A first example embodiment of the system and method according to the disclosure will be described more in detail with reference to
The first mobile module 10 may for example be implemented in form of in-vehicle stationary mounted module, i.e. in the first vehicle 1, wherein the first mobile communication device 11 may be a an in-vehicle stationary mounted wireless cellular communication device, such as a GSM device, and wherein the first mobile user interface 12 may be implemented in form of an in-vehicle stationary mounted display.
Alternatively, the first mobile module 10 may for example be implemented in form of smartphone, tablet, computer or similar mobile computing device that may be brought along and made accessible in the first vehicle 1, wherein the first mobile communication device 11 may be the wireless cellular communication device normally provided in smartphones, tablet computers, or the like, and wherein the first mobile user interface 12 may be implemented in form of the display normally available in a smartphone, tablet computer or the like.
The same applies to the second mobile module 20 having the second mobile communication device 21 and second mobile user interface 22.
The computer server system 30 may for example be implemented in form of a stationary computer server having a database computer storage, and a communication device configured for communication with the first and second mobile communication devices 11, 21.
A first example of the operation of the system described above will be described with reference to
Specifically,
At a certain time point, for example at time t1 shortly after the first vehicle departs from point A, the first mobile module 10 registers a request from the first driver via the first mobile user interface 12 for initiating a driving challenge. The first mobile module thereafter submits a corresponding request to the computer server system 30 via the first mobile communication device 11, which request includes the planned driving route information of the first vehicle, i.e. route A to C, and current location of the first mobile module 10.
The planned driving route information and location of the first mobile module 10 may for example be obtained from a vehicle navigation system. The vehicle navigation system may for example already in connection with the first driver enters and departs with the first vehicle from point A register a planned destination for the specific journey.
Upon receipt of said request, the computer server system 30 tries to identify a second vehicle having a second driver, which has requested or indicated willingness to participate in a driving challenge by means of a second mobile module including a second mobile communication device and a second mobile user interface. This identification may for example be performed by simply searching a list a vehicles having previously submitted a request or otherwise indicated willingness to participate in a driving challenge.
The request for initiating a driving challenge from the first vehicle may be received by the computer server system 30 before or after receiving the request or indication of willingness to participate in a driving challenge by the second vehicle.
Hence, if we assume that a notification or request from the second driver inputted via the second mobile user interface 22 and submitted to the computer server system via the second mobile communication device 21 was received by the computer server system at time t2, which notification or request was a request or indication of willingness to participate in a driving challenge or a request for initiating a driving challenge, the computer server system 30 would identify the second vehicle.
Thereafter, the system is configured for performing a matching process of all requests for initiating and participating in driving challenges received from various vehicles at various time points, for providing the drivers with a quick, efficient and user-friendly initialisation of a driving challenge.
In other words, the system is configured for only continue with initialisation of a driving challenge if any of certain alternative matching criteria are fulfilled.
For example, a first alternative matching criteria is that the second vehicle 2 has a planned driving route 42 at least partly in common with the planned driving route 41 of the first vehicle 1. This means that the second vehicle 2 must provide the planned driving route information of the second vehicle 2, i.e. route B to D, and the current location of the second mobile module 20 or second vehicle 2, to the computer server system 30. This may for example be made automatically in connection with submission of the notification or request from the second driver to the computer server system 30, or upon request from the computer server system 30.
Specifically, the planned driving route information and location of the second mobile module 20 may for example be obtained from a vehicle navigation system associated with the second vehicle 2. The vehicle navigation system may for example already in connection with the second driver enters and departs with the second vehicle from point B register a planned destination for the specific journey.
When the planned driving routes 41, 42 of both the first and second vehicles are obtained, the system, e.g. the computer server system 30, is configured to determine a common driving challenge route 50 associated with the first and second vehicles 1, 2 and based on the planned driving route 41 of the first vehicle 1. In
After having determined the common driving challenge route 50, the system, e.g. computer server system 30, is configure to initiating a real-time concurrent vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along the common driving challenge route 50, with start at the start 51.
The step of initiating a real-time concurrent vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along the common driving challenge route 50 may for example involve submitting instructions to the first and second mobile modules 10, 20 with information about the for example the driving challenge, the participants, the common driving challenge route, etc.
In certain scenarios, no planned driving route information of the second vehicle 2 is provided, corresponding for example to a second driver that is maybe simply driving towards a certain destination without navigation system support, and/or a second driver that is more flexible in terms of adopting a route decided by someone else, such as the first driver. The second driver may nevertheless want to participate in a driving challenge against another driver.
The start-up steps of such an alternative vehicle driving challenge system applying a second alternative matching criteria is the same as that described with reference to
However, the matching process of all requests for initiating and participating in driving challenges received from various vehicles at various time points is different because the system cannot establish whether the second mobile module 20 has a planned driving route at least partly in common with the planned driving route of the first mobile module 10 Consequently, the system is therefore configured to apply a second alternative matching criteria that involves determining whether the second vehicle is located within a certain distance threshold, for example within a range of less than 20 km, from the location of the first vehicle.
If affirmative, the computer server system 30 is configured for determining a common driving challenge route associated with the first and second mobile modules 10, 20 and based on the planned driving route of the first mobile module 10, and initiating a real-time concurrent vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along the common driving challenge route.
Such an alternative driving challenge system is described below with reference to
In this schematic and purely example illustration, the first vehicle starts from point A and drives along a first planned driving route 41 to destination C, and the second vehicle starts from point B and drives along an unknown driving route.
As described before, a request from the first driver for initiating a driving challenge is received by the computer server system 30, which request includes the planned driving route information of the first vehicle, i.e. route A to C, and current location of the first mobile module 10. Upon receipt of said request, the computer server system 30 identifies the second vehicle because the second driver has requested or indicated willingness to participate in a driving challenge.
The matching process involves determining whether the second vehicle is located within a range 15 of less than 20 km from the location of the first vehicle, as illustrated in
In the present example of
The second alternative matching criteria that involves determining whether the second vehicle is located within a range of less than 20 km from the location of the first vehicle may in certain situations result in less efficient and user-friendly matching of vehicles for a driving challenge, for example when there some type of barrier preventing the second vehicle from easily arriving at the start 51 of the common driving challenge route 50 despite being within said distance of said first vehicle. The barrier may for example be caused by traffic rules, traffic jams, lack of connecting roads, or the like.
In such cases, a third alternative matching criteria involving checking whether the second vehicle 2 is estimated able to take a driving route that is running at least partly in common with the planned driving route of the first vehicle 1, may be applied. In other words, the system is configured to make an estimation, taking into account the planned driving route of the first vehicle 1 and current location of the second vehicle 2, and the possibility for the second vehicle 2 to reach the planned driving route of the first vehicle 1.
This estimation may then be performed taking aspects such as traffic rules, traffic jams, connecting roads, and the like, into account.
For providing further improvement in terms of quick, efficient and user-friendly initialisation process for the vehicle driving challenge, the timing of an estimated arrival time of the first and second vehicles 1, 2 may additionally be taken into account in the matching process described above. For example, the system be configured such that vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along the common driving challenge route is only initiated when the estimated arrival times of the first and second vehicles 1, 2 do not differ too much.
For example, the computer server system may after having received the first and second planned driving routes 41, 42 be configured to check whether the second mobile module 20 has a planned driving route at least partly in common with the planned driving route of the first mobile module 10 and whether an estimated arrival time of said first and second vehicles 1, 2 at a start of said common planned driving route differs less than 10 minutes between the first and second vehicles 1, 2. If affirmative, the system may be configured to proceed with the steps of determining a common driving challenge route associated with the first and second mobile modules 10, 20, and initiating the real-time concurrent vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers.
Alternatively, the computer server system may after having received the first and second planned driving routes 41, 42 be configured to check whether the second vehicle is estimated able to take a driving route that is running at least partly in common with the planned driving route of the first vehicle, and whether the estimated arrival time of said first and second vehicles 1, 2 at a start of the common driving route differs less than 10 minutes between the first and second vehicles. If affirmative, the system may be configured to proceed with the steps of determining a common driving challenge route associated with the first and second mobile modules 10, 20, and initiating the real-time concurrent vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers.
According to an example embodiment, one or both of the first and second vehicles 1, 2 have fully autonomous driving capability. Thereby, the vehicle driving challenge system may be configured to activating said fully autonomous driving upon initiating the vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along the common driving challenge route 50, such that the first and/or the second vehicles 1, 2 passes the start 51 of the common driving challenge route 50 at a planned starting time of the vehicle driving challenge. Thereby, any problematic situation caused by drivers attempt slowing down or speeding up to reach a the start at a certain start time, for ensuring the real-time concurrent vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers, may be largely avoided.
Unless not already activated, the activating of a fully autonomous driving mode may be performed automatically upon initiating the vehicle driving challenge. Alternatively, the activating of a fully autonomous driving mode may be driver initiated, such as for example via a vehicle user interface.
According to some example embodiments of the vehicle driving challenge system, as schematically illustrated in
For example, as schematically illustrated in
If the first vehicle 1 is estimated able to take a new driving route, the system is configured to determine a new common driving challenge route 53 associated with the first and second vehicles 1, 2 and based on the planned driving route 42 of the second vehicle 2, and subsequently submitting an invitation to participate in a driving challenge to the first driver, including the new common driving challenge route 53, possibly also including a planned starting time.
The system is further configured to, upon receiving an acceptance to participate in the driving challenge from the first driver, initiating said vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along said new common driving challenge route 53.
This approach of checking whether the first vehicle 1 is estimated able to replace the planned driving route 41 with a new driving route that includes a common driving route with the second vehicle 2 while still running from point A to destination C, as before, may also be applied when the second driver for any reasons does not accept participating in a driving challenge based on the planned driving route 41 of the first vehicle 1.
Similarly, in circumstance described above with reference to
The system is further configured to, upon receiving an acceptance to participate in the driving challenge from the second driver, initiating said vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along said new common driving challenge route 53, as illustrated in
Still a further example embodiment of the vehicle driving challenge system is described below with reference to
Specifically, in these schematic and purely example illustrations, the first vehicle 1 starts from point A and drives along a first planned driving route 41 to destination C, the second vehicle 2 starts from point B and drives to destination D, and the third vehicle 3 starts from point F and drives along a third planned driving route 45 to destination E.
This driving challenge system according to this example embodiment additionally comprises a third mobile module including a third mobile communication device and a third mobile user interface, wherein the third mobile module is configured for being included in a third vehicle 3 and being operated by a third driver.
Similar to the example embodiment described with reference to
Upon receipt of said request, the computer server system 30 tries to identify further vehicles having drivers that have requested or indicated willingness to participate in a driving challenge by means of the mobile communication devices and second mobile user interfaces of the further vehicles. This identification may for example be performed by simply searching a list a vehicles having previously submitted a request or otherwise indicated willingness to participate in a driving challenge. The request for initiating a driving challenge from the first vehicle may be received by the computer server system 30 before and/or after receiving the request or indication of willingness to participate in a driving challenge by the further vehicles.
Consequently, according to one example embodiment, and with reference to
In the example embodiment of
Thereafter, the system is configured for presenting the common driving challenge route 50 associated with the first and second vehicles 1, 2 and the further common driving challenge route 54 associated with the first and third vehicles 1, 3 to the first driver, and receiving a selection to initiate a driving challenge along one of said common driving challenge routes 50, 54 from the first driver.
In the present example, the first driver selected initiating a vehicle driving challenge based on the common driving challenge route 50 associated with the first and second vehicles 1, 2. As a result, the system is configured for initiating said real-time concurrent vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along said common driving challenge route 50 in accordance with the selection of the first driver, as depicted by
The example embodiment described above, relies on a third vehicle 3 having a planned driving route 45 in common with the planned driving route 41 of the first vehicle 1 for establishing a further common driving challenge route 54. However, similar to the example embodiment described above with reference to
Furthermore, for providing further improvement in terms of quick, efficient and user-friendly initialisation process for the vehicle driving challenge, the timing of an estimated arrival times of the first and second vehicles 1, 2 at the start 51 of said common driving challenge route 50, as well as the timing of an estimated arrival times of the first and third vehicles 1, 3 at the start of said further common driving challenge route 54, may be taken into account in the matching process described above. For example, the system be configured such that vehicle driving challenge between the first and third drivers along the further common driving challenge route 54 is only initiated when the estimated arrival times of the first and third vehicles 1, 3 do not differ too much, such as for example less than 10 minutes.
According to one example embodiment, one or more vehicles 1, 2, 3 participating in a vehicle driving challenge may have fully autonomous driving capability. Thereby, the vehicle driving challenge system may be configured to activating said fully autonomous driving upon initiating the vehicle driving challenge between the first and second drivers along the common driving challenge route 50, such that said one or more vehicles 1, 2, 3 passes the start 51 of the common driving challenge route 50, 53, 54 at a planned starting time of the vehicle driving challenge, as described more in detail above.
According to a further example embodiment, one or more or all of the vehicles 1, 2, 3 participating in a vehicle driving challenge may include a vehicle driving assistance system or autonomous driving assistance system that is configured to operate in supervision mode at least during any ongoing vehicle driving challenge, wherein said system is configured for performing an active supervision over the associated vehicle's driving behaviour for improving safe driving and adherence to the traffic laws.
With reference to
The marking 62 is illustrated as a rectangle displayed on the augmented-reality front window 60 in
The first sensor device 61 for detecting eye or head position of the first driver may for example be implemented in form of a stereo-camera system including two spaced-apart cameras. Moreover, the second sensor device for detecting relative position of the first and second vehicles 1, 2 may for example be implemented in form of a radar or LIDAR system configured for scanning an area in front of the vehicle 1.
In the example embodiment of
Alternatively, the first vehicle 1 may be equipped with an augmented-reality head-up display that for example is located on the dashboard of the vehicle and in the general line-of-sight between the first driver and traffic in front of the first vehicle 1. Such an augmented-reality head-up display is typically fastened to the dashboard. Still more alternatively, the first vehicle 1 may be equipped with wearable augmented-reality head-up display, for example in form of glasses or helm with some kind of display installed therein. Technical details for implementing an augmented-reality head-up display or augmented-reality front window are known from for example WO2017053616, US20160163108A1, U.S. Ser. No. 15/534,976, which are included herein by reference.
With reference to
For providing the own vehicle with a personalized visual exterior, such as spoilers, vehicle paint work, vehicle body work, etc. the driver of the vehicle, or someone else, may submit a request to the computer server system 30, specifying the desired personalized visual exterior. Data relating to the desired personalized visual exterior is subsequently provided from the computer server system 30 to the other vehicles participating in a driving challenge.
In other words, the computer server system may be configured to receive a request submitted by the second driver for personalizing a visual exterior of the second vehicle by a personalized feature, as seen through the head-up display or augmented-reality front window by the first driver, and displaying a virtual image of the personalized feature on the head-up display or augmented-reality front window in the line-of-sight 68 between the first driver and the second vehicle, such that the first driver sees a personalized visual exterior of the second vehicle when looking out through the front window.
A method for performing a vehicle driving challenge according to one example embodiment is hereinafter schematically described with reference to
Various alterations and modifications may be made to the method described above. For example, a modified method is hereinafter schematically described with reference to
Still a further example of a modified method is hereinafter schematically described with reference to
Any of the embodiments of the method described above may additionally comprise a step of displaying a score status of each vehicle 1, 2, 3 participating in the vehicle driving challenge on the display within each vehicle 1, 2, 3 participating in the vehicle driving challenge, wherein the score status is based on one or more driving challenge rules. For example, one driving challenge rule may correspond to how time-accurate the competing vehicles passes a set of time gates along the common driving challenge route.
In other words, a set of time gates is distributed along the common driving challenge route 50 and a time stamp is linked to each time gate. The participants of the vehicle driving challenge are then supposed to pass by each time gate as closes as possible to the time stamp linked to each gate, wherein a higher score is awarded when a vehicle passes the time gate at a time point closer to the time stamp.
A further example of driving challenge rule may correspond to the accumulated electric energy and/or fuel consumption during the driving along the common driving challenge route.
In other words, the driver that consumes the smallest amount of the accumulated electric energy and/or fuel during the driving challenge receives largest score.
Still a further example of driving challenge rule may correspond to how well the vehicle maintains a constant vehicle speed during the driving challenge, e.g. from the start 51 to the end 52. Constant speed is generally deemed providing improved traffic flow with less start/stop and less risk for accidents.
Still a further example of driving challenge rule may correspond to how little the vehicle friction brakes and/or engine brake are used. Friction and/or engine braking generally results in less efficient driving in terms of energy or fuel consumption. Hence, a scoring system awarding little use of vehicle friction brakes and/or engine brake may be implemented. This may also be beneficial in terms of improved traffic flow and reduced risk for accidents because other drivers may be less frequently forced to brake their own vehicles due to braking of any of the vehicles driven by participant of the driving challenge.
Yet a further example of driving challenge rule may correspond to the lowest maximal vehicle longitudinal and lateral rate of change of acceleration and deceleration levels. Smooth driving generally implies low vehicle longitudinal and lateral rate of change of acceleration and deceleration levels, and smooth driving generally results in improved traffic flow and reduced risk for accidents. Hence, having scores rewarding low vehicle longitudinal and lateral rate of change of acceleration and deceleration levels generally improve the overall traffic situation.
Still a further example of driving challenge rule may correspond to the highest average vehicle speed without changing lane. This challenge thus involves selecting the best lane from the beginning, i.e. the lane having the least amount of traffic jams and highest average speed, and thus also results in less lane changes of the participants of the driving challenge, thereby contributing to improved traffic flow and reduced risk for accidents.
A further example of driving challenge rule may correspond to the shortest time for traveling from start to end of the common driving challenge route. This vehicles participating in this challenge must however in general be controlled and/or supervised for ensuring safe driving in adherence to the traffic regulation.
A final example of driving challenge rule may correspond to how seldom a vehicle driving assistance system or autonomous driving assistance system is activated for maintaining safe driving and adherence to the traffic laws. Each activation of the vehicle driving assistance system or autonomous driving assistance system may for example reward the driver of said vehicle with some type of penalty score.
In one example embodiment, the vehicle braking performance and/or vehicle acceleration performance of at least one of the vehicles participating in the vehicle driving challenge are temporarily reduced during the vehicle driving challenge for increasing the complexity for at least one of the first and second drivers. In other words, the vehicle braking performance may be reduced by reducing the amount of brake servo assistance, and/or by setting a maximal allowed brake pressure, or the like. Similarly, the vehicle acceleration performance may be reduced, for example by reducing the power output of the vehicle propulsion source, or the like. As a result, the drivers must be more focused and attentive while driving for achieving a high score. The vehicle driving assistance system or autonomous driving assistance system may be activated for maintaining safe driving, and for example returning vehicle braking performance and/or vehicle acceleration performance to default setting as soon any risk is detected.
In one example embodiment, the method comprises displaying said common driving challenge route(s) on a display within each vehicle participating in the vehicle driving challenge. Thereby, the drivers participating in the challenge may be well-informed about the planned driving route, and how far it is to for example the end 52.
In one example embodiment, the method comprises displaying also a real-time position of each vehicle participating in the vehicle driving challenge on the display within each vehicle participating in the vehicle driving challenge. Thereby, the drivers participating in the challenge may be well-informed about both the own vehicle's current position, as well as the competitor vehicles positions.
Although the disclosure has been described in relation to specific combinations of components, it should be readily appreciated that the components may be combined in other configurations as well which is clear for the skilled person when studying the present application. Thus, the above description of the example embodiments of the present disclosure and the accompanying drawings are to be regarded as a non-limiting example of the disclosure and the scope of protection is defined by the appended claims. Any reference sign in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
Although discussed above as methods described by the flowchart of
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19202961.9 | Oct 2019 | EP | regional |
This application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2020/120404, filed Oct. 12, 2020, which claims the benefit of European Patent Application No. 19202961.9, filed Oct. 14, 2019, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/CN2020/120404 | Oct 2020 | US |
| Child | 17694401 | US |
