Method and apparatus for lane control of a vehicle

1. An apparatus ( 300 ) for controlling the lateral dynamics of a vehicle, the apparatus ( 300 ) comprising: a detection device ( 302 ), an output device ( 304 ) and a computing device ( 306 ), the detection device ( 302 ) being configured to detect or to determine a current course angle (α) of the vehicle, the output device ( 304 ) being configured to output a steering wheel angle (δ) with which the vehicle is controllable, and the computing device ( 306 ) being configured to define a desired course angle (α psi ) that is assigned to a first point ( 120 ) on a temporal profile of a desired driving line ( 110 ), the first point ( 120 ) being arranged on the desired driving line ( 110 ) at a distance of a first preview time (T PreviewYaw ) from a location ( 116 ) assigned to an instantaneous vehicle position, and the computing device ( 306 ) being configured to determine a course angle deviation (α psi −α) of the current course angle (α) from the desired course angle (α psi ) and to define a target angle (α ta ) that is assigned to a second point ( 124 ) on the temporal profile of the desired driving line ( 110 ), the second point ( 124 ) being arranged on the desired driving line ( 110 ) at a distance of a second preview time(T PreviewXY ) from the location ( 116 ), and the computing device ( 306 ) being configured to determine the steering wheel angle (δ) in accordance with a sum total of the target angle (α ta ) amplified by a first parameter (P ta ) and of the course angle deviation (α psi −a) amplified by a second parameter (P psi ), the first parameter and the second parameter being known information pertaining to vehicle performance.

2. The apparatus ( 300 ) of claim 1 , wherein the computing device ( 306 ) is configured to define the first preview time (T PreviewYaw ) and to determine the first point ( 120 ) on the desired driving line ( 110 ), the first point being at a distance of the first preview time (T PreviewYaw ) from the location ( 116 ) and to define the second preview time (T PreviewXY ), and to determine the second point ( 120 ) on the desired driving line ( 110 ), the second point being at a distance of the second preview time (T PreviewXY ) from the location ( 116 ).

3. The apparatus ( 300 ) of claim 2 , wherein the computing device ( 306 ) is configured to determine a direction ( 128 ) from a point with a fixed geometrical reference with respect to the vehicle, in particular from a center of gravity ( 112 ) or front axle center point of the vehicle in accordance with a model ( 102 ) of the vehicle or from a driver's position to the second point ( 124 ), and to determine the target angle (α ta ) in accordance with an angle by which the direction ( 128 ) deviates from a vehicle longitudinal axis ( 106 ) in accordance with the model ( 102 ) of the vehicle.

4. The apparatus ( 300 ) of claim 1 , further comprising an input device ( 308 ) for inputting the first parameter (P ta ) and/or the second parameter (P psi ) and/or the first preview time (T PreviewYaw ) and/or the second preview time (T PreviewXY ).

5. A method for controlling lateral dynamics, of a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting a current course angle (α) of the vehicle;

defining a desired course angle (α psi ) that is assigned to a first point ( 120 ) on a temporal profile of a desired driving line ( 110 ), the first point ( 120 ) being on the desired driving line ( 110 ) at a distance of a first preview time (T PreviewYaw ) from a location ( 116 ) assigned to an instantaneous vehicle position;

determining a course angle deviation (α psi −α) of the current course angle (α) from the desired course angle (α psi );

defining a target angle (α ta ) assigned to a second point ( 124 ) on the temporal profile of the desired driving line ( 110 ), the second point ( 124 ) being arranged on the desired driving line at a distance of a second preview time (T PreviewXY ) from the location ( 116 );

determining a steering wheel angle (δ) in accordance with a sum total of the target value (α ta ) amplified by a first parameter (P ta ) and of the course angle deviation (α psi −α) amplified by a second parameter (P psi ), the first parameter and the second parameter being known information pertaining to vehicle performance; and

outputting the steering wheel angle (δ).

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

defining the first preview time (T PreviewYaw );

determining the first point ( 120 ) on the desired driving line ( 110 ), the first point ( 120 ) being at a distance of the first preview time (T PreviewYaw ) from the location ( 116 );

defining the second preview time (T PreviewXY ); and

determining the second point ( 124 ) on the desired driving line ( 110 ), the second point being at a distance of the second preview time (T PreviewXY ) from the location ( 116 ).

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising: determining a direction ( 128 ) from a point with a fixed geometrical reference with respect to the vehicle in accordance with a model ( 102 ) of the vehicle or from a driver's position to the second point ( 124 ); and

determining the target angle (α ta ) in accordance with an angle by which the direction ( 128 ) deviates from a vehicle longitudinal axis ( 106 ) in accordance with the model ( 102 ) of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising identifying an input, and determining the first parameter (P ta ) and/or the second parameter (P psi ) and/or the first preview time (T PreviewYaw ) and/or the second preview time (T PreviewXY ) in accordance with the input.