Method for assisting a user of a vehicle by using an indicator for signaling a change of an operating mode of the vehicle with respect to degree of automation and for signaling an escalation level for the change

1 . A method for assisting a user in an interaction with a vehicle including at least one automated and/or partially automated and/or manual operating mode, by way of a control device that includes a processor system including at least one processor, the method comprising the following steps:

ascertaining, by the processor system, a possible or compulsory change of operating mode of the vehicle;

ascertaining, by the processor system, an escalation level for the change of operating mode of the vehicle; and

signaling, by the processor system, the ascertained change of operating mode and the escalation level, to the user using a dynamic indicator;

wherein:

the signaling is performed using a dynamic indicator displaying a representation of a body including a head portion, a hand portion, and a foot portion;

when transitioning from an indication of a fully automated mode of the vehicle to an indication of a fully manual mode of the vehicle, the indicator transitions from an indicator state in which none of the head, hand, and foot portions are illuminated or highlighted corresponding to the fully automated mode of the vehicle to an indicator state in which only the head portion is illuminated or highlighted corresponding to a first partly-automated mode of the vehicle requiring road monitoring to an indicator state in which the head and hand portions are illuminated or highlighted corresponding to a second partly-automated mode of the vehicle requiring steering but with at least one of automated braking and automated acceleration to an indicator state in which the head, hand, and foot portions are all illuminated corresponding to the manual mode of the vehicle; and

at least one of an intensity and color of the illumination or highlight of each portion is selected according to the escalation level associated with the corresponding automation or manual mode.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the ascertained change of operating state and the escalation level are additionally signaled to the user haptically and/or acoustically by way of at least one unit within and/or on the vehicle.

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein, to signal the ascertained change of operating state, the dynamic indicator is animated by way of a unit embodied as a lighting system and/or a screen and/or a hologram and/or a portable device and/or a head-up display.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic indicator's representation of the body and the illumination or highlighting thereof are such that, as the indicator transitions from the indication of the fully automated mode to the indication of the manual mode, a continuous shaded area representing the illuminated or highlighted portions gradually increases in length, with each gradual increase being provided by the illumination or highlighting of a respective additional one of the head, hand, and foot portions of the body representation.

5 . A control device configured to assist a user in an interaction with a vehicle including at least one automated and/or partially automated and/or manual operating mode, the control device comprising:

a processor system that includes at least one processor, wherein:

the processor system is programmed to:

ascertain a possible or compulsory change of operating mode of the vehicle;

ascertain an escalation level for the change of operating mode of the vehicle; and

signal the ascertained change of operating mode and the escalation level, to the user using a dynamic indicator;

the signaling is performed using a dynamic indicator displaying a representation of a body including a head portion, a hand portion, and a foot portion;

when transitioning from an indication of a fully automated mode of the vehicle to an indication of a fully manual mode of the vehicle, the indicator transitions from an indicator state in which none of the head, hand, and foot portions are illuminated or highlighted corresponding to the fully automated mode of the vehicle to an indicator state in which only the head portion is illuminated or highlighted corresponding to a first partly-automated mode of the vehicle requiring road monitoring to an indicator state in which the head and hand portions are illuminated or highlighted corresponding to a second partly-automated mode of the vehicle requiring steering but with at least one of automated braking and automated acceleration to an indicator state in which the head, hand, and foot portions are all illuminated corresponding to the manual mode of the vehicle; and

at least one of an intensity and color of the illumination or highlight of each portion is selected according to the escalation level associated with the corresponding automation or manual mode.

6 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium on which is stored a computer program for assisting a user in an interaction with a vehicle including at least one automated and/or partially automated and/or manual operating mode, by way of a control device that includes a processor system including at least one processor, the computer program being executable by the processor system and, when executed by the processor system, causing the processor system to perform the following steps:

ascertaining a possible or compulsory change of operating mode of the vehicle;

ascertaining an escalation level for the change of operating mode of the vehicle; and

signaling the ascertained change of operating mode and the escalation level, to the user using a dynamic indicator;

wherein:

the signaling is performed using a dynamic indicator displaying a representation of a body including a head portion, a hand portion, and a foot portion;

when transitioning from an indication of a fully automated mode of the vehicle to an indication of a fully manual mode of the vehicle, the indicator transitions from an indicator state in which none of the head, hand, and foot portions are illuminated or highlighted corresponding to the fully automated mode of the vehicle to an indicator state in which only the head portion is illuminated or highlighted corresponding to a first partly-automated mode of the vehicle requiring road monitoring to an indicator state in which the head and hand portions are illuminated or highlighted corresponding to a second partly-automated mode of the vehicle requiring steering but with at least one of automated braking and automated acceleration to an indicator state in which the head, hand, and foot portions are all illuminated corresponding to the manual mode of the vehicle; and

at least one of an intensity and color of the illumination or highlight of each portion is selected according to the escalation level associated with the corresponding automation or manual mode.

7 . An indicator for assisting a user in an interaction with a vehicle including at least one automated and/or partially automated and/or manual operating mode, the indicator being configured to signal an ascertained required and/or an optional change of the operating mode of the vehicle and an escalation level for the change of the operating mode of the vehicle, the indicator comprising:

a dynamic indicator displaying a representation of a body, the representation including a head portion, a hand portion, and a foot portion, wherein the dynamic indicator is configured to:

when transitioning from an indication of a fully automated mode of the vehicle to an indication of a fully manual mode of the vehicle, transition from an indicator state in which none of the head, hand, and foot portions are illuminated or highlighted corresponding to the fully automated mode of the vehicle to an indicator state in which only the head portion is illuminated or highlighted corresponding to a first partly-automated mode of the vehicle requiring road monitoring to an indicator state in which the head and hand portions are illuminated or highlighted corresponding to a second partly-automated mode of the vehicle requiring steering but with at least one of automated braking and automated acceleration to an indicator state in which the head, hand, and foot portions are all illuminated corresponding to the manual mode of the vehicle; and

provide the illumination or highlight of each portion with at least one of an intensity and color selected according to the escalation level associated with the corresponding automation or manual mode.

8 . The indicator as recited in claim 7 , wherein:

in the fully automated mode and the first partly-automated mode, the vehicle provides automated longitudinal and transverse guidance;

in the second partly-automated mode, the vehicle provides longitudinal guidance and a driver provides transverse guidance; and

in the manual mode, the driver provides both longitudinal and transverse guidance.