Method for the autonomous operation of a following vehicle in a vehicle train
A method for autonomously operating a following vehicle in a vehicle train together with a vehicle driving ahead of the following vehicle with respect to a direction of travel includes acquiring first route information with a front-mounted sensor. The method also includes operating the following vehicle on the basis of first route information and acquiring second route information with a rear-mounted sensor. The method further includes transmitting the second route information to the following vehicle and, when a substitute criterion is present, operating the following vehicle on the basis of the second route information.
1. A method for autonomously operating a following vehicle in a vehicle train together with a vehicle driving ahead of the following vehicle with respect to a direction of travel, the method comprising:
acquiring first route information with a front-mounted sensor, directed forwards with respect to the direction of travel, of the following vehicle, wherein the first route information includes at least one of a distance of the following vehicle from a lateral lane boundary, a distance between the following vehicle and the vehicle driving ahead, and a relative position of the following vehicle to the vehicle driving ahead;
operating the following vehicle on the basis of the first route information;
acquiring second route information with a rear-mounted sensor, directed rearwards with respect to the direction of travel, of the vehicle driving ahead, wherein the second route information includes at least one of a distance of the vehicle driving ahead from the lateral lane boundary, a distance between the vehicle driving ahead and the following vehicle, and a relative position of the following vehicle to the vehicle driving ahead;
transmitting the second route information to the following vehicle; and
when a substitute criterion is present, operating the following vehicle on the basis of the second route information.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the substitute criterion is met in one or more of the following cases:
operational failure of the front-mounted sensor of the following vehicle;
detection of the vehicle driving ahead by the following vehicle; and/or
detection of a control signal produced by the vehicle driving ahead by the following vehicle.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second route information is only transmitted to the following vehicle when the substitute criterion is present.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle driving ahead is additionally detected by the following vehicle.
5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the detection takes place based on an evaluation of the first route information.
6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the detection comprises acquiring a recognition signal of the vehicle driving ahead.
7. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the following vehicle is operated in such a manner that the latter forms a vehicle train with the vehicle driving ahead when the latter is detected.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a camera is used as a front-mounted sensor and/or as a rear-mounted sensor.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the following vehicle is only operated on the basis of the second route information when, in addition to the substitute criterion, a safety criterion is present.