DE102023116822A1 - Method for controlling a vehicle assistance function depending on traffic violations, corresponding assistance system and motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (1) for operating a motor vehicle equipped with an assistance function. In the method (1), violations of traffic regulations by other road users are detected by sensors with position resolution. Based on the number and spatial distribution of the violations, at least one availability area in which the assistance function can be used and at least one non-availability area in which the assistance function cannot be used are determined. The availability of the assistance function for use in the motor vehicle is then controlled depending on whether the motor vehicle is currently in an availability area or in a non-availability area. The invention also relates to a corresponding assistance system and a correspondingly equipped motor vehicle.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle or an assistance function of a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to an assistance system set up for this purpose and a motor vehicle set up accordingly.

In road traffic, it can happen again and again that road users violate traffic rules or regulations. This can lead to critical situations. It would therefore be desirable to create options to be able to react appropriately to such situations.

One approach is described by the DE 20 2013 006 466 1 a computer program product for carrying out several steps. These include determining whether a driver of a vehicle is violating the applicable traffic regulations. The severity of the violation is then classified if necessary. In a further step, a parameter characterizing the driver's driving behavior is determined based on the severity. Finally, a message containing this parameter is issued. This is intended to enable an improvement in driving safety.

As a further approach, the US 2017 / 0 278 391 A1 an information provision device for a vehicle. Based on traffic information data, this detects an event that impedes the operation of the vehicle, for which a reliability level is then calculated. Depending on the reliability level, one of two possible messages is then issued to the driver.

As a further approach, the US 2020/0 294 401 A1 a method for influencing an actuator in a second vehicle in response to a sensor output in a first vehicle. In this method, sensor data and the current position of the first vehicle are received from a server. Based on this, the server then sends a corresponding message to the second vehicle located in the vicinity of the first vehicle. Based on this message, the actuator in the second vehicle can be activated.

These approaches may enable spontaneous reactions to current traffic violations. However, this is only possible if the traffic violation in question is actually detected and recorded in good time and if there is enough time for the vehicles in the area to react after a corresponding data processing time. In addition, today's automated vehicle control systems cannot always react appropriately, safely and reliably in situations where another road user violates a traffic violation. There is therefore a need for further solutions to deal with and take into account such situations.

The object of the present invention is to improve the safety and comfort in a motor vehicle.

This object is achieved by the features of the main claim and the subsidiary claims or the independent patent claims. Further possible embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims, the description and the figures. Features, advantages and possible embodiments that are set out in the description for one of the subject matters of the independent claims are to be regarded at least analogously as features, advantages and possible embodiments of the respective subject matter of the other independent claims and of any possible combination of the subject matters of the independent claims, if appropriate in conjunction with one or more of the subclaims.

The method according to the invention is used to operate a motor vehicle that is designed with an assistance function, in particular an assistance function for automating at least one driving task or driving function of the motor vehicle. In one method step of the method according to the invention, violations by other road users against the respective locally applicable traffic regulations or traffic rules, i.e. against the locally applicable traffic law, are recorded by means of at least one sensor system. In particular, an environmental sensor system of at least one vehicle, in particular a camera for detecting the environment, can be used as such a sensor system. Likewise, in addition or alternatively to this sensor system or as part of this sensor system, for example, a permanently installed sensor system of an infrastructure or road equipment or, for example, a mobile sensor system external to the vehicle, for example for detecting speeding violations or the like, can be used. This can possibly enable a more complete recording of corresponding violations or provide a more extensive database for detecting violations. A respective environment can therefore be observed by means of the at least one sensor system - generally or specifically for violations of the traffic regulations. This can be done in particular by means of sensors or with a variety of corresponding sensors for different environments or at different locations. In other words, not only violations at a specific location can be recorded, but also violations in a larger spatial area or at a variety of different locations.

For example, relevant environmental data that depicts or characterizes the respective environment can be recorded using the respective sensor system. This environmental data or sensor data can then be evaluated, in particular automatically, in order to recognize or detect violations of traffic regulations. For this purpose, the environmental data can be evaluated, for example, for movements of other road users, in particular relative to features of the road equipment. The actual recognition or detection of the violations can be carried out, for example, by the sensor system itself or by means of a data processing device connected downstream of it. Such a data processing device can in particular be a local data processing device. This can therefore be located at least essentially at the location of the sensor system itself or be part of the sensor system itself. If the sensor system is, for example, an environmental sensor system of a vehicle, the violations can then be recognized or detected locally in the respective vehicle, for example by a corresponding control unit or computer or the like of this vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, the environmental data or, for example, environmental data relating to a detected potential but not yet certain or clearly identified violation can be sent, for example, to an external or central server facility, such as a backend or a cloud server or a data center or the like. There, the corresponding environmental data can then be evaluated if necessary in order to ultimately detect or confirm the violations.

The relevant information or details on the applicable traffic regulations can, for example, be specified or determined based on a current position of the sensor, i.e. in particular of the vehicle equipped with it or the respective position at which the environmental data was recorded or the respective violation occurred. Based on this, the relevant information or details on the applicable traffic regulations can be retrieved, for example, from a corresponding specified database or the like.

Furthermore, the geographical positions of the violations are determined in the method according to the invention. These positions of the violations can be or include, for example, the respective position of the vehicle by means of whose sensors the violation was detected, i.e. the corresponding environmental data was recorded, when the environmental data was recorded and/or the respective position of the other road user at the time of the violation. Such positions can be determined, for example, by means of a satellite-based positioning system or using corresponding position information in the environmental data and/or, in particular if the sensor system is a permanently installed sensor system, based on a respective identification of the sensor system and a predetermined database in which the position of the respective sensor system is specified. The respective position can also be determined, for example, by means of a self-localization process of the sensor system or of the respective vehicle equipped with it, for example using a predetermined map.

If corresponding violation data indicating the detected violations are managed, for example, in the vehicle-external server device, the violation data sent from the respective sensor system or the vehicle equipped with it to this server device may, for example, already indicate or contain the respective position.

In a further method step of the method according to the invention, at least one availability area and at least one non-availability area are determined, i.e., for example, defined or selected, based on the number or frequency and spatial distribution of the violations. An availability area is an area in which the assistance function should be available for use in the motor vehicle. An non-availability area is an area in which the assistance function should not be available for use in the motor vehicle, i.e., for example, should be temporarily deactivated. All recorded violations or, for example, only the violations recorded within a sliding time window of a predetermined length can be taken into account here.

In a further method step of the method according to the invention, the availability of the assistance function for use in the motor vehicle is controlled depending on whether the motor vehicle is currently in the or an availability area determined as such or in the or an unavailability area determined as such. In other words, it can be automatically controlled or set so that the motor vehicle or its driver can only use the assistance function if the motor vehicle is in the or an availability area. However, if the vehicle is in the or an unavailability area, the assistance function can be automatically deactivated or blocked and therefore cannot be used.

The corresponding different areas can therefore be determined, i.e. defined, based on the number or frequency and spatial distribution of the detected violations of the applicable traffic regulations. For example, a cluster analysis can be used for the positions of the violations or a corresponding predefined optimization algorithm or the like. Likewise, a larger spatial area can be or have been divided into several areas in advance. Depending on the number or frequency of detected violations in these predefined areas, these can then be classified as an availability area or an unavailability area.

Within the scope of the method according to the invention, the so-called ODD (Operational Design Domain) for the respective assistance function can be defined, adapted or selected based on detected violations of traffic regulations.

The boundaries of the different areas and/or the different classifications of the areas can, for example, be updated or adjusted regularly or dynamically, i.e. continuously, as new violation data, i.e. new data on violations of traffic regulations occurring there, becomes available.

The different areas, i.e. the at least one availability area and the at least one non-availability area, can be different, for example, depending on the assistance function and/or the strength of the spatial concentration of the positions of the violations, i.e. depending on a gradient of the spatial distribution of the positions of the violations. For example, a respective size or minimum size of the areas can be in the range or on the order of magnitude of the size of at least one city block or city district or the like. Likewise, for example, a certain street can be classified as an availability area or as a non-availability area, whereby areas of the other type can adjoin either side of this street. This allows different characteristics or correspondingly different behavior of road users, for example on urban motorways or main traffic axes leading through residential areas or mixed urban areas or the like to be taken into account in comparison to the surrounding urban areas.

Such designs or definitions of the different areas can possibly prevent the availability or usability of the assistance function from changing too frequently when the motor vehicle is driving through several different areas, i.e. differently classified areas or areas of different types.

The present invention can take into account that assistance functions according to the current state of the art can, for example, only react correctly or sufficiently quickly and safely to traffic situations that comply with the rules or are expected, i.e. in particular to other road users behaving and moving accordingly. Unexpected or non-compliant situations or behavior of other road users can, on the other hand, be more difficult to handle for automated assistance functions or corresponding systems. For example, less training data may be available for such situations and/or faster and/or more complex driving maneuvers may be necessary in such situations to avoid an accident, which cannot always be carried out automatically and reliably enough by today's assistance functions or corresponding systems. Likewise, in such situations, for example, the assistance function can initiate emergency maneuvers that can surprise other road users and would ultimately be unnecessary or avoidable if the vehicle were driven manually.

By controlling the availability or usability of such an assistance function as proposed here, problematic or potentially safety-critical situations in which the assistance function reaches its limits can be avoided or reduced. This is based on the knowledge that such situations, i.e. violations of the applicable traffic regulations by road users, on average, i.e. across a sufficiently large number of violations or road users or kilometers traveled and in a sufficiently large spatial area, typically do not occur evenly distributed, but rather occur more frequently in certain areas than in other areas, i.e. bundled or grouped, i.e. clustered.

At the same time, the fact that the assistance function is still available, i.e. usable, in at least one area of availability, but the driver of the motor vehicle for example, one should not completely forego such assistance functions until they are sufficiently developed to handle critical situations safely and reliably. The present invention can therefore offer a corresponding level of comfort, at least in some areas, through the availability or usability of the assistance function, and also enable or support a particularly high level of safety in traffic overall. The latter can be the case, for example, because without the availability or usability of the assistance function, the driver of the motor vehicle himself has to take on the corresponding task and human drivers can typically handle unexpected or non-compliant situations and behavior of other road users better and more safely than today's assistance functions, for example for conditionally automated or highly automated vehicle control.

The present invention also relates to an assistance system. The assistance system according to the invention can be set up to record violation data and, based on this, to determine and provide area classifications for several areas, each as an availability area or as an unavailability area. The violation data indicates violations by road users of traffic regulations applicable at the respective location and associated positions. Here, the assistance system can be designed, for example, as a server device external to the vehicle, i.e. as a backend or cloud server or central data center or the like, or as a control unit for a motor vehicle or as a combination of such a server device and at least one such control unit. Additionally or alternatively, the assistance system according to the invention can be set up to control the availability or usability of at least one assistance function of the or at least one motor vehicle depending on corresponding area classifications into availability and unavailability areas and depending on the respective current position of the motor vehicle relative to them. The area classifications can be determined or have been determined in particular based on the number or frequency and the spatial distribution of the violations. Here or for this functionality or design, the assistance system can be designed in particular as a control unit for a motor vehicle. However, the assistance system can also be designed here as a server device external to the vehicle, which can then control the corresponding assistance function of the at least one motor vehicle, for example by remote control or remote access, i.e. enable or disable it depending on the position.

A corresponding vehicle-external server device, which is set up in the manner described or at least for some of the described processes, measures or procedures, as well as a correspondingly set up motor vehicle, can each be an independent aspect of the present invention.

The assistance system according to the invention can in particular be the assistance system mentioned in connection with the method according to the invention and/or be set up to carry out, in particular automatically, the method or at least some of the method steps of the method according to the invention and/or to participate in or be used in the method according to the invention. To carry out the described processes, procedures or measures, the assistance system can, for example, have at least one corresponding data processing device. This can comprise at least one processor device, for example a microchip or microprocessor or microcontroller or the like, and at least one computer-readable data storage device coupled thereto. A corresponding operating or computer program can then be stored in this data storage device, which codes or implements the corresponding measures, processes or procedures or corresponding control instructions and can be executed by means of the processing device. If the assistance system is designed as a vehicle-external server device or comprises such a vehicle-external server device, this can be set up to receive or send corresponding data, for example the violation data or area data which indicate the availability and non-availability areas, and/or signals, such as a control signal for controlling the assistance function via an at least partially wireless data connection, for example a WLAN data connection or a mobile network or the like.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the assistance system, when it is set up to determine the area classifications, is also set up to take into account as a criterion whether the local number or frequency and the local spatial density of the violations or the positions of the violations is greater or smaller than a respective predetermined threshold value. The fact that the respective local value is evaluated or taken into account can mean, for example, that the respective value is used within a predetermined area or that the areas are defined based on the values or their distribution. In the latter case, the areas can be defined, for example, in such a way that within each area there is a relatively uniform or similar distribution of the values is given. For example, the areas around clusters of positions of violations can be defined as one type of area. Areas in between can be defined as the other type of area. Likewise, for the definition of the areas, i.e. the setting of their boundaries, administrative and/or traffic infrastructure features such as road courses, road types, boundaries of administrative units and/or the like can be taken into account. The embodiment of the present invention proposed here can enable a particularly simple, quick and reliable determination or classification of several areas.

In a further possible embodiment of the present invention, the number or frequency and/or the spatial density of violations is greater in the at least one unavailability area than in the at least one availability area. Although it may seem obvious that in an area with a larger number or density of violations of traffic regulations, supporting drivers through assistance functions can be particularly useful, the embodiment of the present invention proposed here can achieve an overall improvement in safety, at least according to the current state of the art, at least for certain assistance functions. This is based on the knowledge that at least certain types of assistance functions, in particular assistance functions for driving a vehicle, can lead to or contribute to safety-critical situations due to inappropriate or suboptimal behavior in the face of violations of traffic regulations by other road users. This can be caused or exacerbated by the fact that when such an assistance function is used in a motor vehicle, the driver of this motor vehicle often relies on it and thus observes the surrounding traffic less attentively. Accordingly, in response to a corresponding warning from the assistance function or a request to take over control of the vehicle, the driver would then possibly need too long to recognise and assess the situation and to control the vehicle appropriately in order to reliably avoid safety-critical situations or accidents.

Because the assistance function is not available for use in areas with a high incidence or occurrence of traffic violations, the driver must permanently take over the corresponding function, in particular the manual driving or steering of the vehicle. This means that the driver automatically observes the surrounding traffic more carefully and can therefore better avoid safety-critical situations or accidents. Although such violations can also occur in areas with a lower incidence of traffic violations, the convenience gained from the use of the assistance function can outweigh this and therefore be prioritized. This can represent or enable an appropriate compromise, especially if the type or severity of the violations or the severity of their impact on the driver's own driving or safety is also taken into account for the area classifications.

In a further possible embodiment of the present invention, the assistance function is a function for a conditionally automated or highly automated vehicle control of the motor vehicle. In other words, this can be an assistance function for vehicle control or vehicle guidance, i.e. vehicle operation, for example, in accordance with SAE J3016 Level 3 or Level 4. According to the current state of the art, such assistance functions can allow the driver of the motor vehicle to turn his attention away from the surrounding traffic at least temporarily, but at the same time are not always reliably able to recognize this quickly enough and/or react correctly, appropriately and safely in situations in which another road user violates the applicable traffic regulations. Accordingly, the application of the present invention for such assistance functions can contribute particularly effectively to improving safety in traffic. Likewise, the usability of such assistance functions in availability areas can contribute particularly to increasing the comfort of using the motor vehicle.

In a further possible embodiment of the present invention, the assistance system, when it is set up to determine the area classifications, is also set up to enter the positions of the violations in a map and to carry out the area classifications based on this map. Such a map can contain further data or information that can also be taken into account for the area classifications. This allows the area classifications to be carried out in a particularly practical manner. For example, the boundaries of the areas can be based on the course of the road particularly easily and reliably. This can ensure, for example, that the entire width of a road or lane is included or enclosed in a specific area and/or that the area classifications classifications do not change too frequently along a particular road or the area classification only changes at clearly visible locations for road users, such as intersections or exits or structural separations or changes in the type of road or the like. This can prevent drivers from changing the area classifications during the journey in a way that is unexpected or incomprehensible, and thus also contribute to improved safety and improved acceptance of the unavailability of the assistance function in certain areas.

The map with the violations entered on it can also provide a useful database for other functions or applications. The usability or availability of the assistance function can also be controlled based on the map. Accordingly, the assistance system, in particular in its design as a control unit for the motor vehicle, or a vehicle-side part of the assistance system can use the respective map or, for example, a part of the map selected as relevant depending on the current position and/or a planned route of the motor vehicle to control the usability or availability. For this purpose, the map or the corresponding part of the map can be called up or loaded as required. The map can also be used, for example, as a basis for planning a navigation route for the motor vehicle, in particular using a corresponding navigation system. Depending on the user's specifications, the navigation route can be planned in such a way that, for example, unavailability areas are avoided or bypassed as far as possible or taking other specifications or restrictions into account. This can automatically contribute to improving safety by avoiding areas with an increased probability of safety-critical situations or accident black spots and at the same time enable improved comfort through at least proportionally greater availability or usability of the assistance function along the navigation route.

In a further possible embodiment of the present invention, when the assistance system is set up to determine the area classifications, it is also set up to aggregate violation data from a large number of vehicles that record the violations with their respective on-board environmental sensors and to take them into account when determining the area classifications. This can be particularly practical if the assistance system is or includes the server device external to the vehicle. Aggregating the violation data from a large number of vehicles, i.e. a vehicle fleet, can enable particularly precise, reliable and comprehensive recording of violations as well as correspondingly precise, reliable and comprehensive area classifications. This means that the present invention can be particularly practical to use, for example, and disruptive influences or incorrect classifications due to incorrect detection of violations or non-representative detection of violations can at least be reduced.

In a further possible embodiment of the present invention, when the assistance system is set up to determine the area classifications, it is also set up to use the violation data to determine the respective type of violation and/or their influence on the driving operation of surrounding vehicles and to determine the area classifications depending on this. The type of violation and/or their influence on the driving operation of surrounding vehicles could, for example, be estimated depending on the data situation or determined based on the available data. Corresponding data or information can, for example, be specified in the violation data itself. Corresponding data or information can also be derived from the violation data, for example by the assistance system. For this purpose, for example, environmental or sensor data from a respective sensor system recorded as part of the violation data can be evaluated. Likewise, for example, the positions or trajectories of the road users who violate the traffic regulations, for example lane-accurate, can be determined or evaluated. For example, it can be determined whether the respective violation results in the violating road user entering the lane of another road user or a lane intended for oncoming traffic, i.e. the opposite direction of travel, or at least with a certain minimum probability causes or could cause an emergency braking maneuver or an emergency evasive maneuver by another vehicle and/or something similar. For example, a corresponding table or logic or a corresponding movement or traffic model or something similar can be specified or used here.

For example, for the area classifications, violations that have no or only a minor impact on the driving of surrounding vehicles can be ignored or given a lower weighting than, for example, violations that have a greater impact on or hinder the driving of surrounding vehicles or that cause or entail a greater risk potential. Through the design proposed here The present invention can avoid an ultimately unnecessary restriction of the usability or availability of the assistance function, for example due to violations that would ultimately not require an unusual reaction from the motor vehicle. This means that the greatest possible comfort can be achieved without significantly compromising safety.

In a further possible embodiment of the present invention, the assistance system, when it is set up to control the usability or availability of the assistance function, is also set up to issue a corresponding notice about the reason for this change in connection with an automatic change in the usability of the assistance function due to an increased occurrence of violations, for example above average or above a predetermined threshold value. For example, such a notice can be issued automatically each time the corresponding motor vehicle enters or approaches a non-availability area. The notice can alert the driver of the respective motor vehicle that increased attention is required due to the increased probability of violations, i.e. non-compliant behavior of other road users in the corresponding area. The driver can thus be better prepared for corresponding situations, which can also benefit improved safety. In addition, this can be used to ensure in a particularly reliable manner that the driver is actually aware of the unavailability of the assistance function and the seriousness or significance of this unavailability or the reason for this unavailability. This can also improve the acceptance of the present invention, which can ultimately also contribute to at least an average improvement in safety and comfort. For example, the information can prevent or reduce driver irritation about the unavailability or the automatic deactivation or blocking of the assistance function. This can further improve safety in traffic, as such irritations could lead to or contribute to distraction or inattention or a more aggressive driving style on the part of the driver.

The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle that is set up to participate in the method according to the invention and/or is equipped with the assistance system according to the invention, i.e. at least a vehicle-side part of the assistance system. The motor vehicle according to the invention can in particular be the motor vehicle mentioned in connection with the method according to the invention and/or in connection with the assistance system according to the invention or correspond to this. The motor vehicle according to the invention can therefore in particular have or offer a correspondingly controllable assistance function. In particular, the motor vehicle according to the invention can therefore be set up for at least regionally partially automated or highly automated operation.

Further features of the invention can be derived from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description as well as the features and combinations of features shown below in the description of the figures and/or in the figures alone can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The drawing shows in the only figure an exemplary schematic flow chart for a method for automatically controlling the usability of an assistance function of a motor vehicle.

In practice, it can be observed that the road traffic regulations, i.e. the applicable traffic rules, are violated relatively frequently on many roads. For example, pedestrians cross the road at random points near a traffic light or pedestrian crossing instead of exactly there, possibly even when the traffic light is red for pedestrians. It can also be observed that two-wheelers such as bicycles or motorcycles, especially in slow-moving traffic, drive between other vehicles or drive around other vehicles and in doing so cross lane markings in a way that does not comply with the rules, especially to an adjacent lane intended for the opposite direction of travel. In practice, such violations of traffic regulations are not always critical, as road users expect such behavior from other road users and take this into account when driving their vehicles. However, it can become problematic if an automated vehicle, particularly a partially or highly automated one, encounters such situations or behavior. Such automated vehicles or corresponding assistance functions are often not optimally equipped or able to react to such situations or behaviors that do not comply with the applicable regulations and standards. This can lead to automated vehicles carrying out emergency maneuvers when they are Violations of the applicable traffic regulations and of expected behavior of other road users that do not conform to the road traffic regulations or the applicable traffic regulations. This can be unpleasant for the driver or passengers of the automated vehicle and can, for example, surprise following road users. The driver of the automated vehicle may then have to take control of the vehicle himself. However, it must be assumed that the driver in such automated vehicles is only partially attentive and cannot always take control of the vehicle quickly enough in certain situations. In an emergency, this can lead to dangerous situations. Even with fully automated driving, the potential danger can increase in areas where a comparatively large number of other road users violate the applicable traffic regulations compared to manual vehicle control.

These problems and challenges can be addressed by a procedure for which 1 an exemplary schematic flow chart 1 is shown. In a method step S1, vehicles can record environmental data while driving using the respective vehicle's own environmental sensors and use this to detect violations by other road users in the respective environment. These vehicles or corresponding assistance systems or components of assistance systems for them can then generate corresponding violation data. Such violation data can, for example, include a respective position indication for recognized violations. Likewise, the violation data can, for example, include or indicate a respective time stamp and/or a type of respective recognized violation and/or an influence on operation caused or caused thereby, in particular the longitudinal and/or lateral guidance of the vehicle itself.

In a method step S2, the respective vehicle can send the respective violation data to a server device external to the vehicle or this server device can receive the violation data from the vehicles.

In a process step S3, the detected violations can be entered into a predefined map according to the violation data from the server device. This means that violations recorded over time by several or all corresponding vehicles can be entered in a location-accurate manner.

In a method step S4, the server device can determine or update availability and unavailability areas for at least one assistance function of a motor vehicle based on the correspondingly generated or updated map.

In a method step S5, the server device can provide corresponding area data, i.e. information or classifications on the availability and non-availability areas. This can mean or include, for example, that this area data is provided in the server device for retrieval by motor vehicles or vehicle-mounted assistance systems or assistance system components. The server device can also send the corresponding area data to motor vehicles participating in the method, i.e., for example, to motor vehicles equipped with a corresponding assistance system or a part or component of a corresponding assistance system. This can be done based on or taking into account their current position and/or their planned navigation route and/or their most probable future movement (MPP, Most Probable Path) or the like, in order to limit the volume of data to be sent.

In a method step S6, the corresponding area data can be retrieved or recorded in a respective motor vehicle, for example through its assistance system.

In a method step S7, the motor vehicle or its assistance system can determine or monitor the position of the motor vehicle and/or a possibly planned navigation route and/or a most probable path ahead during operation or while driving and, in particular, continuously compare it with the area data. In this case, it is possible, for example, to monitor or determine whether the motor vehicle is in an availability area or non-availability area or is driving towards an availability or non-availability area or is likely to drive into it.

In a method step S8, the assistance system can control the availability or usability of the assistance function based on this, for example, enabling or blocking it. The assistance system can also issue a respective message to the driver or to a passenger of the motor vehicle in order to inform them whether or not the assistance function can be used. The driver or passenger can also be informed that the assistance function is not usable or not available, for example due to an increased probability of other road users violating the applicable traffic regulations in the respective area.

This procedure or procedural steps can be repeated continuously.

The motor vehicle, whose assistance function is automatically controlled in terms of usability or availability as described, can also function as a vehicle that records violations by other road users. The vehicles mentioned, which record violations by other road users, can be set up, just like the motor vehicle, for a corresponding automatic control of the usability or availability of an assistance function.

In summary, in the method described here, for example, a large number of vehicles can record or detect violations of traffic regulations, in particular via environmental or external cameras installed in these vehicles. Corresponding data can then be mapped onto the map, in particular in or by means of the server device or a corresponding backend, for example taking into account the respective GPS positions of the vehicles or the violations identified. From a large amount of such data, which can be generated by a corresponding fleet of vehicles, it is possible to determine, for example, for a particular city, in which zones or urban areas traffic typically or relatively compliantly takes place and in which other zones or urban areas this is not the case. The former type of zones or urban areas can then be particularly well suited to the use of automated driving functions, whereas the latter types of zones or urban areas are not, since frequent drops, i.e. disengagements of the corresponding driving or assistance function, must be expected there. As a result, the ODD can be adjusted accordingly for the respective driving or assistance function by restricting the ODD, i.e. the usability or availability of the driving or assistance function, in certain areas with a comparatively high number of violations or in relation to a predetermined threshold, so that it cannot be activated there, for example.

The methodology proposed here can therefore be used to determine areas in which there is a higher risk when using automated driving. By restricting the corresponding driving or assistance functions or their usability, accidents or critical situations can be prevented, as the driver of the vehicle in question must then continue to carefully observe the surrounding traffic while driving and cannot rely on the driving or assistance function. At the same time, such a restriction on the usability or availability of the driving or assistance function can signal to the driver that he or she will probably have to be particularly careful and cautious in the corresponding area.

Overall, the examples described show how an adaptation of the usability of functions based on position data of violations of traffic regulations, i.e. applicable traffic rules, can be realized and applied.

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QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 20 2013 006 466 1 [0003]
• US 2017 / 0 278 391 A1 [0004]
• US 2020/0 294 401 A1 [0005]

Claims (10)

Method (1) for operating a motor vehicle that is equipped with an assistance function, whereby automatically - violations of locally applicable traffic regulations by other road users are recorded using a sensor system, - the positions of the violations are determined, - based on the number and spatial distribution of the violations, at least one availability area in which the assistance function should be available for use in the motor vehicle and at least one non-availability area in which the assistance function should not be available for use in the motor vehicle are determined, and - the availability of the assistance function for use in the motor vehicle is controlled depending on whether the motor vehicle is currently in the availability area or in the non-availability area. Assistance system that is set up to - record violation data indicating violations of applicable traffic regulations and associated positions and, based on this, determine and provide area classifications into availability areas in which an assistance function of a motor vehicle should be available for use and non-availability areas in which the assistance function should not be available for use, and/or - control the usability of the assistance function of the motor vehicle depending on area classifications into availability and non-availability areas determined based on detected violations of the applicable traffic regulations and the respective current position of the motor vehicle relative to them. assistance system according to claim 2 , characterized in that when the assistance system is set up to determine the area classifications, the assistance system is also set up to take into account as a criterion whether the local number and/or the local spatial density of the infringements is greater or smaller than a predetermined threshold value. assistance system according to claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that in the at least one unavailability area the number and/or spatial density of the violations is greater than in the at least one availability area. Assistance system according to one of the Claims 2 until 4 , characterized in that the assistance function is a function for conditionally automated or highly automated vehicle guidance. Assistance system according to one of the Claims 2 until 5 , characterized in that when the assistance system is set up to determine the area classifications, the assistance system is also set up to enter the positions of the infringements on a map and to carry out the area classifications on the basis of this map. Assistance system according to one of the Claims 2 until 6 , characterized in that when the assistance system is set up to determine the area classifications, the assistance system is also set up to aggregate violation data from a large number of different vehicles which record the violations with their respective on-vehicle environmental sensors and to take them into account for determining the area classifications. Assistance system according to one of the Claims 2 until 7 , characterized in that when the assistance system is set up to determine the area classifications, the assistance system is also set up to use the violation data to determine the respective type of violations and/or their influence on the driving operation of surrounding vehicles and to determine the area classifications depending thereon. Assistance system according to one of the Claims 2 until 8 , characterized in that when the assistance system is set up to control the usability of the assistance function, the assistance system is also set up to issue a corresponding indication of the reason for this change in connection with an automatic change in the usability of the assistance function due to an increased occurrence of violations of traffic regulations. Motor vehicle registered to participate in the procedure (1) pursuant to claim 1 and/or equipped with an assistance system according to one of the Claims 2 until 9 is equipped.

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