DE102004061331A1 - System for providing weather and / or environmental data - Google Patents

Abstract

For a system for providing weather and / or environmental data, sensor data is polled and collected cyclically by a control unit (2). From the collected data, a record is created, which is supplemented by a location information of the vehicle and a time information. The data set is transmitted to a control center, which prepares pre-warning signals, warning signals or general information signals that are made available to road users.

Description

The invention relates to a system for providing weather and / or environmental data. From the US 5699056 a traffic information system is known in which a central collects data from vehicles, processes this data and transmits traffic disruptions or accident reports to road users. The data collected by the vehicles is supplemented by location and time information. In particular, data of a position sensor, radar sensor and a rain sensor are collected and evaluated.

Advantages of invention

• – Sensordaten von in einem Fahrzeug verbauten Sensoren, die direkt oder indirekt zu Wetter- bzw. Umweltdaten führen, wie Luftgüte-, Luftfeuchte-, Regen-, Umgebungsdruck-, Temperatursensoren sowie Zustandsinformationsdaten, insbesondere von ABS und/oder ESP werden von einer Steuereinheit zyklisch abgefragt und gesammelt,
• – aus den gesammelten Daten wird ein Datensatz erstellt, der um eine Ortsinformation des Fahrzeuges und um eine Zeitinformation ergänzt wird,
• – der Datensatz wird zu einer Zentrale übertragen, welche aus den lokalen Daten von Einzelfahrzeugen, Entwicklungstendenzen oder bereits eingetretene, insbesondere gefahrenrelevante Situationen gebietsübergreifend ermittelt und entsprechende Vorwarnsignale/Warnsignale oder allgemeine Informationssignale aufbereitet, die Verkehrsteilnehmern zur Verfügung gestellt werden,
• – können Entwicklungstendenzen oder bereits eingetretene Situationen gebietsübergreifend nicht nur aufgrund von Einzelsensoren, die Wetter- oder Umweltparameter aufnehmen, ermittelt werden, sondern auch aufgrund von Zustandsinformationsdaten aus berechneten Werten wie aus ABS (automatisches Bremssystem) und/oder ESP (elektronisches Stabilitätsprogramm). Wenn das ABS- oder ESP-System anspricht, kann in Zusammenhang mit einem Temperatur- und/oder Regensensor auf das Vorhandensein von Aquaplaning oder Glatteis geschlossen werden und eine Warnung für Verkehrsteilnehmer in einem bestimmten Gebiet ausgegeben werden. Dynamische Entwicklungen können vorausberechnet werden und entsprechende Vorwarnsignale generieren. Wenn z.B. die Entwicklung einer Regenfront mit vorbekannten nächtlichen Abkühlungskurven korreliert wird, kann die Bildung von Glatteis vorherbestimmt werden und eventuell sogar der Zeitraum bis zum Eintritt dieses Ereignisses vorausberechnet werden, um entsprechende Vorwarnsignale zu erzeugen.

With the steps of claim 1, ie

• Sensor data of sensors installed in a vehicle which lead directly or indirectly to weather or environmental data, such as air quality, air humidity, rain, ambient pressure, temperature sensors and state information data, in particular of ABS and / or ESP, are cyclically cycled by a control unit queried and collected,
• From the collected data, a data record is created, which is supplemented by a location information of the vehicle and a time information,
• The data record is transmitted to a control center which determines from the local data of individual vehicles, development tendencies or situations that have already occurred, in particular danger-relevant situations, and prepares corresponding warning signals / warning signals or general information signals that are made available to road users,
• - Development trends or existing situations can be determined across territories not only on the basis of individual sensors that record weather or environmental parameters, but also on the basis of condition information from calculated values such as ABS (Automatic Braking System) and / or ESP (Electronic Stability Program). When the ABS or ESP system responds, the presence of aquaplaning or black ice in conjunction with a temperature and / or rain sensor can be inferred and a warning issued to road users in a particular area. Dynamic developments can be predicted and generate corresponding early warning signals. For example, if the development of a rain front is correlated with previously known nocturnal cooling curves, the formation of black ice can be predetermined and possibly even the time until the occurrence of this event can be precalculated in order to generate appropriate early warning signals.

For the implementation The invention can be applied to sensors already installed in the motor vehicle resorted and their networking by in-vehicle data buses. These Data must only collected or cyclically queried, processed into records and transferred to a central office become. With the in-vehicle navigation system, a location information added become.

In the dependent claims advantageous developments are shown.

drawings

Based on 1 showing selected sensors in a motor vehicle, embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail.

description of exemplary embodiments

1 shows sensors 1 and 6 in a motor vehicle, via a CAN bus with each other and with a control unit 2 are connected. All relevant sensors in the vehicle, which allow a description of weather and / or environmental data, are transmitted via the control unit 2 polled cyclically and the data summarized in a record.

Examples for sensors of this type are: rain sensor, outside temperature sensor, humidity sensor and sun sensor of automatic climate control, air quality sensor of the automatic Recirculation control, ambient pressure sensor of the engine control ...

These data are supplemented by a location information of the vehicle, eg from the navigation system, and time information. In addition to the sensor data, state information data, in particular of ABS / ESP, is recorded by means of the unit 3 , which indirectly provides parameters for weather and / or environmental data. As an example, the detection of road slipperiness or aquaplaning from condition information of ABS and ESP is mentioned. The already existing networking of all systems in vehicles with data buses enables data collection without additional hardware effort.

The data transmission takes place, for example, with a mobile telephone according to one of the usual standards, which is connected to the control unit. The data sets / data telegrams are relatively short and can be transmitted with the communication between mobile phone and base station (central office). In any case, the communication from the vehicle to base stations is intended for applications such as rapid assistance in the event of breakdowns or accidents, but also individu elle route planning and reservations. Likewise, any other wireless communication systems are suitable.

Of course it goes up the goodness the data collected with the increasing equipment level of a Vehicle with the necessary components (suitable environmental sensors, Location and wireless communication).

The Collected data from individual vehicles can be stored in a central information processing system straddling be used to weather situations, in particular their development trends, better to predict or warn road users in time / warn. One typical example are the common ones occurring heavy rain with significant influence on the road. From the rain sensors of the vehicles from a rain area, the Spreading area and the movement of the rain area readily determined become.

by virtue of The collected data can be stored in the center, i. for example the Base station itself, or its associated processing center from a large number of data supplied by the individual vehicles Models for Development tendencies or already relevant to risks Situations across territories create. For the area of propagation and the movement of rainy areas, snow or black ice areas, with typical climate change values, such as cooling behavior at night, or at exposed locations such as bridges, river valleys, etc. be included.

Based Such models are warning signals for situations that have already occurred or early warning signals for likely to arise occurring situations or general Information signals processed. Already acquired in the vehicle links of Sensor signals, e.g. For ESP or ABS, can directly in the transferred to the central office Record to be integrated.

The Advance warning, warning or general information signals can Road users Broadcast, as polling signals or in the form of a control of appropriate Traffic sign (flashing of black ice, aquaplaning signals) to disposal be put. Alternatively or additionally, the navigation device can be a corresponding Show signaling.

Out the air quality sensors Several vehicles can be created an air quality model, which in particular is used to certain areas for vehicles with elevated Emissions, e.g. Diesel vehicles without soot filters, to lock or per accordingly controlled traffic signs or navigation data that particular Specify driving routes. For the creation of the air quality model can Other sensor data may also be consulted for criteria Formation of warning signals / Vorwarnsignalen to create. In the rain is e.g. the air pollution less critical than fog and static High pressure, what can be considered in the criteria.

Claims (10)

System for providing weather and / or environmental data for processing by a control center, comprising the following steps: sensor data from sensors installed in a vehicle ( 6 ), which lead directly or indirectly to weather or environmental data, such as air quality, humidity, rain, ambient pressure, temperature sensors and state information data, in particular of ABS and / or ESP are from a control unit ( 2 ) cyclically queried and collected, - from the collected data, a record is created, which is supplemented by a location information of the vehicle and a time information, - the data set is transmitted to a central office, which from the local data of individual vehicles development trends or already occurred, In particular, it identifies danger-relevant situations across all areas and prepares appropriate early warning signals, warning signals or general information signals which are made available to road users. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the signals of the air quality sensor to provide air circulation specific values of air pollution. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized that the detection of road slipper off the state information of ABS and / or ESP is obtained and in the transferred to the central office Record is integrated. System according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized that used for data collection the data bus in a vehicle becomes. System according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized that from the data of the rain sensors of several vehicles the propagation area and the movement of the rain area is detected. System according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that from the data of the rain sensors, humidity sensors and temperature sensors ( 6 ) as well as from typical climatic characteristics, such as cooling behavior at night, warning signals for black ice in exposed locations, especially in the Area of bridges, river valleys ... are generated. System according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control unit ( 2 ) is coupled to a mobile phone which transmits the records to a base station. System according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized that the prewarning, warning and / or general information signals the road users Broadcast, as polling signals or in the form of a control of appropriate Traffic signs available be put. System according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized that the co-transmitted in a record Location information provided by the navigation system of the vehicle becomes. System according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized that from the air quality sensor data several vehicles created an air quality model which is used in particular for certain areas for vehicles with increased pollutant emissions, e.g. Diesel vehicles without soot filters, to lock or per accordingly controlled traffic signs or navigation data that particular Specify driving routes.