DE102007046037B3 - Device for increasing road safety - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention consists essentially in that by a driver health calculation module, which calculates, for example, a respective priority intervention situation from signals from health data sensors, an intervention module, which converts the respective intervention situation into corresponding reactions and measures, and a vehicle control module, the vehicle data to the Announces intervention module and at the request of the intervention module commands to individual vehicle subsystems, for example, in a sudden deterioration in the health of a driver, automatically measures to minimize the risks or necessary rescue measures are initiated.

Description

A Decrease in individual traffic by car but also by road freight transport with passenger buses and trucks is not expected. simultaneously become road users due to demographic trends getting older. This increases the risk that road users by a sudden Deterioration of their state of health may endanger others, for example Example of a heart attack at the wheel.

So far there is known a device for the prevention of drunk driving, in which with the help of an alcohol sensor monitors the breathing air of the driver and possibly starting the engine is prevented.

From the publication DE 101 26 224 A1 a method and a device for characterizing the state of the driver of a motor vehicle is known in which is used in the vehicle stored or on a telemonitoring of the doctor to be treated.

Furthermore, from the published patent application DE 38 26 943 A1 show that the values measured by the health sensors are compared with limit values stored in the vehicle and, if these limit values are exceeded, among other things the vehicle subsystems are influenced.

The The object underlying the invention is now a Device for further increase safety in traffic specify.

These The object is achieved by the features of claim 1 according to the invention. The further claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

The The invention consists essentially in that by a driver health calculation module that from signals from health data sensors, for example a respective priority intervention situation calculated, an intervention module that the respective intervention situation in corresponding reactions and measures and a vehicle control module sends the vehicle data to the intervention module reports and at the request of the intervention module commands to individual Vehicle subsystems, for example, gives off at a sudden Deterioration of a driver's health Automatic activities to minimize the dangers or necessary rescue measures initiates.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing. The drawing shows a schematic block diagram with health data sensors HDS, vehicle data sensors VDS, a data transmission interface DI and a system with further modules 1 .. 7 ,

These other modules are driver health calculation module 1 , a notification module 2 , a navigation module 3 , an intervention module 4 , Vehicle control module 5 , a multimedia module 6 and an output unit 7 ,

The The following modules are functionalities and do not have to be necessarily on different or separate Hardware or software must be realized.

Some the necessary health data sensors HDS are already here tried and tested, others are still in the testing phase. The use of these sensors is in other areas and not in the vehicle. For example, one in the steering wheel and in the safety belt integrated pulse sensor, a pressure sensor built into the steering wheel, a seat belt and heart rate and heart rate sensor intended. But these sensors are not already in the vehicle integrated. About that in addition, e, a weight sensor present in the car seat and, like already mentioned at the beginning, one at head height on the driver's side mounted already known alcohol sensor intended.

Some the necessary vehicle data sensors VDS, such as one or more speed sensors, distance sensors at different Sides of the vehicle, a direction sensor or a brake sensor, are already tested and in use, others are still in the test phase.

• – Kontinuierliches Aufzeichnen der von den Sensoren gelieferten Daten
• – Überwachung der Sensoren auf Funktionsfähigkeit
• – Berechnung der Normalsituation des Fahrers
• – Berechnung ob und wenn ja welche Interventionssituation gegeben ist
• – Löschen der aufgezeichneten Daten im Falle der normalen Beendigung einer Fahrt
• – Speichern der gesammelten Daten im Falle der Beendigung einer Fahrt auf Grund einer akuten Gesundheitsgefährdung, wobei die Aufforderung zum Speichern der Daten vom Intervention Modul kommt, d. h. dort ist die Logik und notwendigen Reaktionen realisiert
• – Bereitstellen der gespeicherten Daten für medizinisches Personal, wie z. B. einem Notarzt, auf Anforderung durch das Benachrichtigungsmodul 2.

The driver health calculation module 1 has the following tasks:

• - Continuously recording the data provided by the sensors
• - Monitoring the sensors for functionality
• - Calculation of the normal situation of the driver
• - Calculating if and if so which intervention situation is given
• - deleting the recorded data in the case of normal completion of a journey
• - Saving the collected data in case of termination of a trip due to an acute health hazard, the request to save the data comes from the intervention module, ie there the logic and necessary reactions is realized
• - Providing the stored data for medical personnel, such. B. an ambulance on Request by the notification module 2 ,

The data supplied by the HDS sensors are stored encrypted in the module and are only after successful authentication and authorization available. This is necessary to prevent unauthorized Third person related data arrive.

The normal situation of the driver is calculated as follows:
After activation of the system, the following data are collected over a period of typically three minutes and an averaging is performed: pulse, heart rate, heart rhythm, pressure on the steering wheel and weight.

Of the Period for The data collection can optionally also be configurable.

Of Further can optionally the following data are used to calculate the normal situation will be: gender, age, height, weight as well as name and first name.

This data can either be entered directly into the system, ie via a control panel of the multimedia module 6 , or via a so-called "smart car key" are made available or via a card reader, which is integrated into the "driver health calculation module, for example, read directly from an electronic health card of the driver to check whether the data determined by the system" normal data " The system has stored tables of typical data based on age, gender, weight and size.

These Tables are more typical according to different countries or nationalities Way different values and are therefore advantageous way configurable.

• – „Stress/Aufregung": erhöhter Puls, erhöhte Atemfrequenz, erhöhter Druck auf das Lenkrad
• – „Übermüdung/Unaufmerksamkeit": verlangsamter Puls, verlangsamte Atemfrequenz, verringerter Druck auf das Lenkrad
• – „Akute Gesundheitsgefährdung": Stark erhöhte Herzfrequenz, Herzrhythmusstörungen, Kammerflimmern, Pulsrasen
• – „Fahruntüchtigkeit": Alkohol im Atem des Fahrers

In the module 1 is calculated from sensor data HDS a respective intervention situation. In the following, some such intervention situations together with the relevant sensor data are given by way of example:

• - "Stress / Excitement": increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate, increased pressure on the steering wheel
• - "fatigue / inattention": slowed pulse, slowed respiratory rate, reduced pressure on the steering wheel
• - "Acute Health Hazard": Highly elevated heart rate, cardiac arrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation, pulse turf
• - "Inoperability": alcohol in the breath of the driver

During the Operation of the system, as already described, continuously the corresponding data is determined. To an intervention situation recognize and at the same time short-term fluctuations of the determined Disregard data, the data is about collected a period of time and a trend analysis of the values performed. Weight values need usually not that common be measured as other sensor data. When a threshold value is exceeded the data, these thresholds for each intervention situation different and dependent on the normal data is determined, becomes a respective priority Intervention situation identified and reported.

The Recognition of the presence, as well as the absence of one Intervention situation takes place via a hysteresis, that is so that an intervention situation is no longer recognized, have to the determined data typically at least five minutes of the normal situation correspond. This period of time can optionally also be configurable.

If an intervention situation is identified, this is sent to the intervention module 4 reported. Likewise to the intervention module 4 reported when the intervention situation no longer exists.

This intervention module 4 has the task of the module 1 to translate the information supplied into corresponding reactions and measures. The intervention module 4 Like other modules, it offers the possibility to configure the individual reactions to the reported situations without having to change the software.

• – „Stress//Aufregung": Wird vom Modul 1 Stress des Fahrers gemeldet, werden folgende "deeskalations-Maßnahmen" eingeleitet, d. h. es werden folgende Anfragen (Requests) an das Multimedia Module 6 abgegeben:
• – Aufmerksamkeits-Gong
• – Beruhigende Audio-Meldung
• – Beruhigende Musik, die vorteilhafter Weise die Musikart frei konfigurierbar ist
• – „Übermüdung/Unaufmerksamkeit": analog zu dem Stressszenario werden hier folgende Anfragen (Requests) an das Multimedia Module 6 abgegeben:
• – Aufmerksamkeits-Gong
• – Audio-Meldung mit der Aufforderung eine Pause zu machen
• – Musik vorteilhafter Weise mit Erhöhung der Lautstärke und frei konfigurierbarer Musikart

In the intervention module 4 the following reactions are typically preset for the exemplified intervention situations:

• - "Stress // Excitement": Is from the module 1 Stress of the driver reported, the following "de-escalation measures" are initiated, ie there are the following requests (Requests) to the Multimedia Module 6 issued:
• - attention gong
• - Soothing audio message
• - Soothing music, which advantageously the music style is freely configurable
• - "fatigue / inattention": analogous to the stress scenario, the following requests (requests) to the Multimedia Module 6 issued:
• - attention gong
• - Audio message with the request to take a break
• - Music advantageously with increase in volume and freely configurable music

• – „Akute Gesundheitsgefährdung": Wird vom Modul 1 eine akute Gesundheitsgefährdung des Fahrers gemeldet, werden folgende "Maßnahmen" eingeleitet:
• – Bestimmung das Fahrzeugortes über eine Anfrage (Request) an das Navigationsmodul 3
• – Bestimmung der Geschwindigkeit über eine Anfrage (Request) an das Fahrzeugsteuermodul 5
• – Bestimmung der unmittelbaren Verkehrssituation durch Abfrage sämtlicher Abstandssensoren sowie der Daten der entsprechenden Kameras, sofern solche vorhanden sind,
• – Bestimmung der Stellung der Vorderräder über eine Anfrage an das Modul 5.

Furthermore, optionally via the vehicle control module 5 the side windows on the driver's side are opened a crack to increase the supply of fresh air. At the same time can optionally also via the vehicle control module 5 the heater is turned down to reduce the temperature in the vehicle. Furthermore, optionally as well as the navigation system, for example, the next rest stop or the next parking lot to be announced.

• - "Acute health hazard": Is from the module 1 an acute health hazard to the driver, the following "measures" are initiated:
• - Determine the vehicle location via a request (request) to the navigation module 3
• - Determining the speed via a request to the vehicle control module 5
• Determination of the immediate traffic situation by interrogation of all distance sensors as well as the data of the corresponding cameras, if available,
• - Determining the position of the front wheels via a request to the module 5 ,

• – Einschalten der Warnblinkanlage, z. B. um andere Verkehrsteilnehmer zu warnen,
• – Kontrolliertes langsames Abbremsen des Fahrzeugs bis zum Stillstand,
• – Lenken des Fahrzeugs an den rechten Straßenrand während das Fahrzeug abgebremst wird,
• – Entriegeln der der Fahrertür sobald das Fahrzeug zu Stillstand gekommen ist,
• – Benachrichtigung des Rettungsdienstes über das Modul 2, wobei typischer Weise folgende Daten übermittelt werden:
• – Standort des Fahrzeugs
• – Polizeiliches Kennzeichen
• – Vermutete Gesundheitssituation
• – Name des Fahrers
• – „Fahruntüchtigkeit": Wird kurz nach dem Einsteigen des Fahrers Alkohol im Atem des Fahrers festgestellt, blockiert das Intervention Module die Zündung über ein Anforderungssignal (Request) an das Modul 5. Damit ist gewährleistet, dass der Fahrer nicht mehr am Straßenverkehr teilnehmen kann.

Based on the above data, the intervention module decides 4 Whether a forced termination of the journey, without endangering the other road users, can be initiated or not. If a compulsory completion of the trip is possible, this will be immediately via a request to the module 5 initiated. For this purpose, the following commands are typically sent to the module individually or in combination 5 issued:

• - Turn on the hazard warning lights, z. B. to warn other road users,
• - Controlled slow deceleration of the vehicle to a standstill,
• Steering the vehicle to the right edge of the road while the vehicle is being decelerated,
• - unlock the driver's door as soon as the vehicle has come to a standstill,
• - Notification of the ambulance service via the module 2 , where typically the following data is transmitted:
• - Location of the vehicle
• - Police license plate
• - Suspected health situation
• - Name of the driver
• "Inoperability": If alcohol is detected in the driver's breath shortly after the driver has boarded, the intervention module blocks the ignition via a request signal to the module 5 , This ensures that the driver can no longer participate in road traffic.

The multimedia module 6 In addition to the already well-known and established entertainment tasks, he has the following additional tasks, such as receiving and processing the commands of the intervention module 4 ,

If music / video is already playing through the multimedia module, if commands of the intervention module 4 are received, the currently playing music is interrupted and the commands of the intervention module 4 executed.

• – Geschwindigkeit durch Abfrage des Geschwindigkeitssensors
• – Unmittelbaren Verkehrssituation über eine Abfrage sämtlicher Abstandssensoren sowie der Daten der Kameras, sofern solche vorhanden sind,
• – Stellung der Vorderräder über die Abfrage der Fahrtrichtungssensoren

The vehicle control module 5 essentially has the task of reporting vehicle data, such as the speed and the immediate traffic situation, to the intervention module, and, on request of the intervention module, issuing commands to individual vehicle subsystems. The vehicle control module supplies the following data for a corresponding request signal (request):

• - Speed by polling the speed sensor
• Immediate traffic situation via a query of all distance sensors as well as the data of the cameras, if available,
• - Position of the front wheels on the query of the direction of travel sensors

• – Herunterregelung der Innenraumheizung
• – Öffnen des Fahrerfensters
• – Einschalten der Warnblinkanlage
• – Kontrolliertes, der Verkehrsituation angepasstes Abbremsen des Fahrzeugs
• – der Verkehrsituation angepasstes "Rechts heranfahren"
• – Entriegeln der Fahrertür
• – Blockierung beziehungsweise Aufheben der Blockierung der Zündung

On a corresponding request signal (request) derives the vehicle control module 5 following commands to the different vehicle subsystems:

• - Down regulation of the interior heating
• - Opening the driver's window
• - switching on the hazard warning lights
• - Controlled, adapted to the traffic situation deceleration of the vehicle
• - adapted to the traffic situation "right approach"
• - unlock the driver's door
• - Blocking or canceling the blocking of the ignition

The navigation module 3 fulfills not only the already known tasks but also the message of the vehicle location to the intervention module 4 as well as the information about the next rest in the case of the scenario "fatigue / inattention".

• – Verschlüsselung sämtlicher personenbezogenen Daten
• – Prüfung der Authentifizierung und Autorisierung des Rettungspersonals
• – Übermittlung der relevanten Daten an das Rettungspersonal
• – Einleitung der Löschung der personenbezogenen Daten

The notification module 2 Realizes all communication with the outside world. The module takes this into account 2 whether there is already a mobile phone in the vehicle or not. If a mobile phone is present, an "emergency call" will be sent via the mobile phone in the case of an acute health risk, but if no mobile phone is available, the "emergency call" will be sent via the built-in GSM module.The following additional tasks will be performed by the notification module 2 realized:

• - Encryption of all personal data
• - Verification of authentication and authorization of the rescue personnel
• - Transmission of the relevant data to the rescue personnel
• - Initiation of the deletion of personal data

Claims (5)

Device for increasing road safety, - in which a driver health calculation module ( 1 ) with an integrated card reader for an electronic health card, which is dependent on signals from health data sensors (HDS) a respective intervention situation calculated, - in which an intervention module ( 4 ) that implements the respective intervention situation in corresponding reactions and measures, - in which a vehicle control module ( 5 ) is present which reports vehicle data to the intervention module and, at the request of the intervention module, issues commands to individual vehicle subsystems and - in the driver health calculation module ( 1 ) within a certain time interval after the start of a journey from signals from health data sensors (HDS) respective normal values are calculated by time averaging. Device according to claim 1, wherein in the driver health calculation module ( 1 ) using a table and by entering or reading from the health card by gender, age, height and weight normal values are determined. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein in the driver health calculation module ( 1 ) after the determination of the normal values continuously within a certain time interval from signals of health data sensors (HDS) calculated respective health signals by temporal averaging and from a priority intervention situation is formed as soon as at least one predetermined rule condition for a respective intervention situation is met. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the following intervention situations for transmission to the intervention module ( 4 ): - "stress / excitement": with increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate and increased pressure on the steering wheel, - "fatigue / inattention": with slowed pulse, slowed respiratory rate and reduced pressure on the steering wheel; - "Acute health hazard": in the case of a greatly increased heart rate, cardiac arrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation or pulsed tears, - "inability to drive": in the case of alcohol in the breath of the driver. Device according to Claim 4, in which a notification module ( 2 ), which independently issues an emergency call at least for the intervention situation "acute health risk" and makes stored health signals and / or data stored on the health card available only to authorized persons.