Method for checking an automated driving vehicle prior to starting a drive, and automated driving vehicle
Technologies and techniques for verifying the operational readiness of an automated driving vehicle before initiating a drive is disclosed. The method involves performing a predefined set of automated checks each time the vehicle is started. These checks are executed using predefined combinations of the vehicle's sensor system and actuator system. Additionally, the method includes verifying that cyclic checks conducted under predefined conditions in the past were completed successfully with sufficient frequency. The drive is enabled if both the startup checks and the past cyclic checks meet the required criteria. Aspects of the present disclosure also pertains to the automated driving vehicle itself.
1 . A method for checking an automated driving vehicle prior to starting a drive, comprising:
conducting a set of predefined checks in an automated manner when the vehicle is started, wherein the predefined checks are performed at least partly using predefined combinations of a sensor system and an actuator system of the vehicle;
verifying whether cyclic checks previously conducted under predefined conditions were conducted successfully with a required frequency; and
enabling a drive of the automated driving vehicle when the predefined checks conducted at the start of the drive and the cyclic checks have been successfully completed with the required frequency.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein different confidence levels are assigned to the predefined checks in the set, the predefined checks being conducted when starting a drive in the rank order of the confidence levels, and the predefined checks having a higher-ranking confidence level only being conducted when the predefined checks of all previous confidence levels have been conducted successfully.
3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the predefined checks in the set comprise predefined checks at a standstill, predefined checks when driving at a speed below a predefined threshold, and predefined checks when driving, the confidence levels ascending in the order of standstill, driving slowly, and driving.
4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein a route that is suitable for the predefined checks is determined and/or followed for conducting the predefined checks when driving at the speed below the predefined threshold and/or when driving.
5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the route is determined taking into consideration a previously achieved confidence level.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predefined checks and the cyclic checks each have a temporal validity, and wherein a respective check is considered to have been passed if the temporal validity of the respective check has not yet elapsed.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a position and/or an orientation suitable for the set of predefined checks is selected when the automated driving vehicle is being parked.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising prompting a user to conduct one or more missing predefined checks when it is not possible to conduct at least one of the predefined checks of the set in an automated manner.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing an action recommendation based on results of the predefined checks and/or the cyclic checks.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the predefined checks of the set is conducted with the aid of at least one other vehicle and/or at least one infrastructure device in a surroundings of the vehicle.
11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least selected predefined checks of the set are suspended when starting a drive if at least one blocking condition is met.
12 . An automated driving vehicle, comprising:
a control device configured to prompt a set of predefined checks to be conducted in an automated manner when a drive is started, wherein the predefined checks are performed at least partly using predefined combinations of a sensor system and an actuator system of the vehicle;
the control device further configured to verify whether cyclic checks previously conducted under predefined conditions were conducted successfully with a required frequency; and
the control device configured to enable a drive of the automated driving vehicle when the predefined checks conducted at the start of the drive and the cyclic checks have been successfully completed with the required frequency.
13 . The automated driving vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the control device is configured such that different confidence levels are assigned to the predefined checks in the set, the predefined checks being conducted when starting a drive in the rank order of the confidence levels, and the predefined checks having a higher-ranking confidence level are only conducted when the predefined checks of all previous confidence levels have been conducted successfully.
14 . The automated driving vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein the control device is configured such that the predefined checks in the set comprise predefined checks at a standstill, predefined checks when driving at a speed below a predefined threshold, and predefined checks when driving, the confidence levels ascending in the order of standstill, driving slowly, and driving.
15 . The automated driving vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein the control device is configured to determine and/or follow a route that is suitable for the predefined checks when driving at the speed below the predefined threshold and/or when driving.
16 . The automated driving vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the control device is configured to determine the route taking into consideration a previously achieved confidence level.
17 . The automated driving vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the control device is configured such that the predefined checks and the cyclic checks each have a temporal validity, and wherein a respective check is considered to have been passed if the temporal validity of the respective check has not yet elapsed.
18 . The automated driving vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the control device is configured to select a position and/or an orientation suitable for the set of predefined checks when the automated driving vehicle is being parked.
19 . The automated driving vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the control device is configured such that at least one of the predefined checks of the set is conducted with the aid of at least one other vehicle and/or at least one infrastructure device in surroundings of the vehicle.
20 . A control device for an automated driving vehicle, the control device comprising:
a processing device and a memory;
wherein the processing device is configured to:
prompt a set of predefined checks to be conducted in an automated manner when the vehicle is started, wherein the predefined checks are at least partly performed using predefined combinations of a sensor system and an actuator system of the vehicle;
verify whether cyclic checks previously conducted under predefined conditions were conducted successfully with a required frequency; and
enable a drive of the automated driving vehicle when the predefined checks conducted at the start of the drive and the cyclic checks have been successfully completed with the required frequency.