The invention relates to a method for assisting a driver when performing driving maneuvers, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such a method emerges, for example, from DE 198 09 416 A1, which discloses a method for assisting the driver when parking. During the driving maneuver, the parking strategy is communicated to the driver via an optical display device, an acoustic speech output device or a tactile steering wheel, so that the driver can park in the parking gap, following the parking strategy.

Furthermore, it is known, for example from DE 197 45 127 A1, to initiate an automatic braking operation when the distance between the vehicle and an object falls below a limiting value. The intention is to avoid a collision with the obstacle in this way.

The generic method has the disadvantage that the reactions of the driver to the instructions about the steering wheel position to be set cannot be predicted. The driver is incorporated in the control loop and, so to speak, represents a disturbance variable. In particular during difficult driving maneuvers, such as reverse parking into a parking gap at the edge of the road, parallel to the edge of the road (what is known as parallel parking), it is difficult for the driver to set the steering wheel position respectively requested by the instruction during the driving maneuver.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to develop a method and a device for implementing the method of the generic type in such a way that it is made easier for the driver to set the steering wheel position requested by means of the instruction.

This object is achieved by the features of patent claims 1 and 13.

According to the invention, the vehicle longitudinal speed is influenced independently of the driver when there is a steering angle deviation between the actual steering angle actually set by the driver via the steering wheel and the desired steering angle corresponding to the requested steering wheel position.

If there is such a steering angle deviation, then, during the driving maneuver, the vehicle departs from the ideal line predefined by the reference trajectory. The vehicle longitudinal speed is then reduced in order to provide the driver with sufficient time to steer the vehicle again into a vehicle position predefined by the reference trajectory.

Advantageous refinements of the method according to the invention and the device according to the invention emerge from the dependent patent claims.

The influence on the vehicle longitudinal speed is advantageously dependent on the magnitude of the steering angle deviation. The greater the steering angle deviation, the more intensely is the vehicle retarded, in order to reduce the vehicle longitudinal speed.

During the driving maneuver, depending on the actual vehicle position, a steering angle tolerance band defining the permissible steering angle can be determined and the influence on the vehicle longitudinal speed can depend on the tolerance margin between the requested desired steering angle to be set by the driver and the tolerance band limits. The lower the tolerance margin between the desired steering angle and a tolerance band limit, the more intensely must the vehicle speed be reduced if the driver sets an actual steering angle via the steering wheel position which lies between the desired steering angle and the relevant tolerance band limit.

Here, there is a possibility, in order to determine the steering angle tolerance band, of determining a rotational angle tolerance band, the actual rotational angle between the vehicle longitudinal axis and a coordinate axis of a stationary coordinate system being enlarged or reduced until it is still just possible to determine a trajectory to the target position by computation. During the determination of the trajectory, the same determination method can be used as that when determining the reference trajectory at the starting point of the vehicle. In this case, so to speak, two limiting trajectories would be calculated which, as viewed in the driving maneuver direction of travel starting from the actual vehicle position, represent a maximum possible left-hand limiting trajectory and a maximum possible right-hand limiting trajectory, along which the vehicle can still be moved to the target position. In this case, the determination of the limiting trajectories also depends on the minimum radius which can be traveled on account of the vehicle geometry and whether there are obstacles in the vehicle surroundings which have to be passed.

The greater the magnitude of the steering angle deviation and/or the smaller the magnitude of the tolerance margin, the lower is the vehicle longitudinal speed selected and set by means of appropriate control or regulation actions.

Advantageously, the vehicle will be retarded down to a standstill and kept at a standstill for as long as, on account of the steering angle deviation present, the vehicle would assume during further travel a position from which the target position can no longer be reached without shunting interruptions to the driving maneuver. If, as based on the actual vehicle position, no rotational angle deviations or only very small rotational angle deviations from the actual rotational angle of the vehicle can be permitted, then the vehicle longitudinal speed will be predefined as very low and the vehicle will immediately be brought to a standstill if the driver predefines a steering wheel position which, in the event of traveling onward with this steering wheel position predefined by the driver, would bring the vehicle into a vehicle position from which a trajectory to the target position can no longer be determined. This ensures that the driving maneuver does not have to be interrupted by shunting maneuvers and restarted. Beginning from a standstill, the vehicle is accelerated again if a permissible steering wheel position and therefore a permissible actual steering angle has been set by the driver.

Advantageously, the steering wheel position to be set is communicated to the driver through acoustic driver information and/or optical driver information and/or tactile driver information. For the purpose of tactile driver information, for example, the steering wheel torque can be varied. In this case it is conceivable, for example, for the rotation of the steering wheel toward the requested steering wheel position to be made easier and/or the rotation away from the requested steering wheel position to be made more difficult. For this purpose, for example, the servo motor which is present in any case in a power steering system can be used.

The driving maneuver to be carried out can, for example, be a parking maneuver, the reference trajectory specifying the ideal route from the starting position of the vehicle or the actual vehicle position into the desired parking position. It is precisely during parking maneuvers that driver assistance is desirable, in particular for inexperienced car drivers or for car drivers who are not used to a new or seldom used vehicle. They are quite generally driving maneuvers with a vehicle longitudinal speed below a speed threshold value of, for example, 10 km/h.

It is furthermore of advantage if, in the case of a vehicle in trailer operation, each vehicle position along the reference trajectory is assigned a desired trailer angle between the vehicle longitudinal axis and the trailer longitudinal axis and if the actual trailer angle is determined and compared with the corresponding desired trailer angle, in the event of an angular deviation between the desired trailer angle and the actual trailer angle, the vehicle longitudinal speed being influenced independently of the driver. Here, an angular deviation between the desired trailer angle and actual trailer angle is additionally taken into account. In addition, in the event of the angular deviation between the actual trailer angle and the desired trailer angle, speed control can be carried out as a function of the magnitude of the angular deviation. Furthermore, it would also be possible to select the driver-independent vehicle retardation to be greater, the greater the magnitude of the angular deviation.

In the following text, the invention will be explained in more detail by using the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1

shows a schematic representation of a desired trajectory and the limiting trajectories for a parking maneuver in plan view,

FIG. 2

shows a representation in a manner of a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a device for assisting the driver when performing a driving maneuver,

FIGS. 3

aâ€“3c show a first embodiment of an optical display for the steering wheel position to be set for the driver,

FIG. 4

shows a second embodiment of an optical display for the steering wheel position to be set for the driver,

FIG. 5

shows a third embodiment of an optical display for the steering wheel position to be set for the driver,

FIG. 6

a shows a reference trajectory and the limiting trajectories at a specific time during a driving maneuver,

FIG. 6

b shows a graph relating to the situation illustrated in

FIG. 6

a, the vehicle longitudinal speed v being plotted as a function of the actual steering angle Î´_act, and

FIG. 7

shows a schematic representation of a vehicle in trailer operation in plan view.

The invention concerns a method and a device for assisting the driver of a vehicle 10 when performing or during a driving maneuver. Such a driving maneuver can be, for example, a parking maneuver, a shunting maneuver or the like, it being possible for the vehicle 10 to be operated in solo operation or in trailer operation with attached trailer. For instance, the driver can also be assisted when driving straight backward in trailer operation.

During parking maneuvers, first of all, by means of a suitable sensor system, for example by means of ultrasonic sensors units 11, during forward travel of the vehicle 10, parking gaps can be measured and evaluated to see whether the parking gap is sufficiently large for a parking maneuver. In the exemplary embodiment according to

FIG. 2

, four ultrasonic sensor units 11 are provided for this purpose, it being possible for each to be arranged in a corner region of the vehicle 10. The number of ultrasonic sensors 11 present is as desired and depends in particular on how large the emission angle Î± is at which the sensor waves are emitted and the reflected waves are received. As an alternative to the ultrasonic sensor units 11, radar sensors or laser sensors can also be employed.

The evaluation of the sensor data from the ultrasonic sensor units 11 is carried out in an evaluation unit 12, in which it is established whether the measured parking gap is sufficiently large to park the vehicle. The evaluation result can be displayed to the driver by a display device 13.

The measurement of the parking gaps and the evaluation of the measured results can either be carried out continuously below a predefinable speed threshold or, alternatively, only when the driver has entered a corresponding request, for example via the combined instrument.

If a sufficiently large parking gap has been determined, then the driver can initiate the assistance method according to the invention by means of an appropriate operating request. One possibility, after a suitable parking gap has been found, is to ask the driver automaticallyâ€”for example via the combined instrumentâ€”whether he wishes to have parking assistance. The driver then merely needs to confirm the question to activate the assistance method according to the invention. Another possibility is that, after a suitable parking gap has been found, the assistance method is activated automatically when the vehicle is stopped within a predefinable time interval and the reverse gear is selected.

FIG. 1

shows a typical situation for a parking maneuver of a vehicle 10 at the edge of a road 20 between other parked vehicles 21. The vehicle 10 has traveled along the road 20 along the row of parked vehicles 21 and, as it travels past, has determined that there is a sufficiently large parking gap 22, by means of the ultrasonic sensor units 11 and the evaluation device 12. This has been communicated to the driver via the display device 13 and he has stopped the vehicle.

Depending on the starting position 15 of the vehicle 10 assumed at the start of the driving maneuver, a reference trajectory 16 which represents the ideal line in order to move the vehicle into a target or parked position 17, starting from its starting position 15, is determined in the evaluation device 12. The reference trajectory 16 thus represents the ideal route to be covered, which leads from the starting position 15 into the target position 17.

Methods for determining the reference trajectory 16 are known, for example from DE. 29 01 504 B1, DE 38 13 083 A1 or DE 199 40 007 A1. At this point, reference is made expressly to the known methods for determining the reference trajectory 16.

During the determination of the reference trajectory, the minimum distances (such as minimum distance in the vehicle longitudinal direction, minimum distance in the vehicle transverse direction) which the vehicle to be moved along the reference trajectory has to maintain from obstacles can be varied on the basis of the length of the parking gap found. This means for example that the minimum distances to obstacles can be chosen to be larger, the longer the parking gap is. As a result, during parking, the greatest possible clearance can be ensured for the driver, in order to make the tolerable deviations of the actual vehicle position from the reference trajectory as large as possible. This increases the convenience for the driver.

Before the start of the driving maneuver, with the vehicle 10 in the starting position 15, the driver is automatically asked whether he desires assistance for the following parking maneuver, it being possible for the driver to reject or accept the assistance by means of an appropriate entry.

If the driver requests the automatic assistance in accordance with the method of the invention for the driving maneuver, the steering wheel position to be set or the steering wheel angle to be set, which would move the vehicle along the actual reference trajectory 16, is displayed to him via the display device 13.

Various examples of optical displays which can be displayed to the driver via the display device 13 are indicated in

FIGS. 3â€“5

. The first exemplary embodiment of an optical display according to

FIGS. 3

aâ€“3c is a type of bar display. A left-hand bar 25 indicates when the steering wheel is to be rotated to the left and a right-hand bar 26 indicates when the driver is to rotate the steering wheel to the right. The greater the steering wheel angle which the driver has to set, the larger also is the displayed left-hand bar 25 or the right-hand bar 26. In the exemplary embodiment, the two bars 25, 26 are formed by a plurality of light-emitting means, for example light-emitting diodes, located horizontally beside one another. The more light-emitting diodes of a bar 25, 26 which light up, the greater the requested steering wheel angle. It goes without saying that, alternatively, the type of bar display could also be represented by an LC display, not specifically illustrated, belonging to the display device 13. It would also be possible to use as the display device 13 the bar display which is already present in current vehicles and displays the distance from an obstacle during parking.

In

FIG. 3

a the respective first light-emitting diode 27 of the two bars 25, 26, which is arranged adjacent to the respective other bar 26 or 25, lights up. In

FIG. 3

the light-emitting diodes 27 that light up are represented schematically by a dot pattern. If the first light-emitting diode 27 of the two bars 25, 26 lights up in each case, this signals to the driver that he is to maintain the currently set steering wheel angle unchanged. As an alternative to this, an individual zero-point light-emitting diode could also be provided between the two bars 25, 26 and light up when the steering wheel position is to remain unchanged.

In

FIG. 3

b, by means of two light-emitting diodes of the left-hand bar 25 lighting up, it is indicated to the driver that he is to rotate the steering wheel slightly to the left. As soon as the requested steering wheel position has been reached, the display illustrated and described above in

FIG. 3

a appears again. In

FIG. 3

c, by means of four light-emitting diodes of the right-hand bar 26 lighting up, a higher steering wheel lock to the right is requested of the driver.

The number or light-emitting diodes 27 which form a bar 25, 26 can in principle be chosen as desired and is coordinated in such a way that the driver can be given a sufficiently fine subdivision in the requirement for the steering wheel position to be set. According to the example, each bar 25, 26 contains five light-emitting diodes 27.

By means of the display device 13, additionally or alternatively, further displays which indicate to the driver the steering wheel position to be set can also be displayed. By way of example,

FIG. 4

shows a stylized steering wheel representation 30 in combination with a direction arrow 31, which can be communicated to the driver via an LC display belonging to the display device 13, the steering wheel representation 30 and the direction arrow 31 indicating the requested direction of rotation or the requested steering wheel angle. In

FIG. 4

a slight steering wheel lock to the right is requested of the driver via the steering wheel representation 30 and the direction arrow 31.

A further embodiment of an optical display for requesting a steering wheel position to be set is shown in

FIG. 5

. There, the vehicle wheels 34 of the steerable front axle 35 are illustrated schematically. The wheel position represented by the continuous lines is the actual wheel position 36 of the vehicle wheels 34, while the dashed illustration indicates the requested desired position 37 of the steered vehicle wheels 34. Accordingly, the driver must displace the steering wheel into a position in which the desired position 37 of the vehicle wheels 34 coincides with the actual wheel position 36.

It goes without saying that, instead of the different illustration of desired position 37 and actual wheel position 36 of the vehicle wheels 34 by lines, different colors can also be chosen, if the display device 13 has a color LC display.

It is not just possible to use one or more of the optical display possibilities described in order to specify the steering wheel position to be set to the driver, but, furthermore, alternatively or additionally, acoustic driver information and/or tactile driver information which specifies the steering wheel angle to be set can be provided.

The acoustic driver information can be provided, for example, by means of a speech output via loudspeakers in the vehicle, not specifically illustrated. Tactile driver information in the exemplary embodiment is provided by using force or torque feedback on the steering wheel 40. For this purpose, the evaluation device 12 is connected to a servo motor 41 of the power steering system 42 in order to drive the latter, as indicated in

FIG. 2

by the dash-dotted line 43. Thus, the steering wheel torque at the steering wheel 40 can be varied by the evaluation device 12 via the servo motor 41 for the purpose of tactile driver information about the steering wheel angle to be set. It is possible in this case to increase the steering wheel torque to be applied by the driver for a direction of rotation away from the requested steering wheel position and/or to reduce the steering wheel torque to be applied by the driver in a position of rotation toward the requested steering wheel position. Consequently, the driver can experience, through the steering wheel torque to be applied, the direction of rotation in which he must move the steering wheel in order to set the requested steering wheel position by which means tactile driver information for indicating the steering wheel position to be set is implemented.

During the driving maneuver, depending on the respective actual vehicle position x_F,act/y_F,act/Ïˆ_F,actthe positional deviation of the vehicle 10 from that determined by the reference trajectory 16, and displayed to the driver by means of the display device 13, the steering wheel position to be set which reduces the positional deviation is displayed, so that the vehicle is again brought on to a travel route corresponding to the reference trajectory. As an alternative to this, it is in principle also possible to control out the positional deviation automatically.

The actual vehicle position x_F,act/y_F,act/Ïˆ_F,actof the vehicle 10 is to be understood not just as the vehicle position x_F,act/y_F,actin the coordinate plane in relation to a stationary coordinate system 22 of the road 20; instead the vehicle position also includes the alignment of the vehicle longitudinal axis 71 in relation to the coordinate system 22. According to the example, the rotational angle Ïˆ_Fis formed between the y axis of the coordinate system 22 and the vehicle longitudinal axis 71. The desired rotational angle consequently corresponds to the tangent to the reference trajectory 16.

At the start and during the driving maneuver, in the direction of travel 18 of the driving maneuver, a right-hand limiting trajectory 23 and a left-hand limiting trajectory 24 are additionally calculated in the evaluation device 12. The limiting trajectories 23, 24 depend on the actual vehicle position x_F,act/y_F,act/Ïˆ_F,act. As viewed in the direction of travel 18 of the driving maneuver, they indicate the two trajectories along which the vehicle 10 can still just be steered to the target position 17 from the actual vehicle position x_F,act/y_F,act. The right-hand limiting trajectory 23 is obtained by successively increasing the actual rotational angle Ïˆ_F,actâ€”in the mathematically positive senseâ€”as far as an upper limiting rotational angle Ïˆ_F,max, with which a trajectory, the right-hand limiting trajectory 23, to the target position 17 can still just be calculated. In this case, the values of the actual vehicle position x_F,act/y_F,actremain unchanged.

The lower limiting rotational angle Ïˆ_F,minis determined in an analogous way by the actual rotational angle Ïˆ_F,actbeing reduced successively until the left-hand limiting trajectory 24 to the target position 17 can still just be determined.

This results in the following equations:
Ïˆ_F,max=Ïˆ_F,act+Î”Ïˆ_Land
Ïˆ_F,min=Ïˆ_F,actâˆ’Î”Ïˆ_R
where Î”Ïˆ_Lindicates the value by which the actual angle of rotation has been increased, and ÏˆÎ”_Rindicates the value by which the actual angle of rotation has been reduced in order to obtain the relevant limiting rotational angle.

These limiting trajectories 23, 24 are determined, for example, by the algorithm used to calculate the reference trajectory 16. According to the example, the limiting trajectories 23, 24 are determined cyclically during the driving maneuver. In order to reduce the computational effort, one limiting trajectory 23 or 24 is calculated during a computational cycle and the respective other limiting trajectory 24 or 23 is calculated during the following computational cycle. The accuracy in this procedure is completely adequate. As compared with the algorithm used for determining the reference trajectory, further simplifications can be permitted in order to reduce the computational effort. For instance, the limiting trajectories can be assembled simply from path curves, such as circular sections, which require less computational effort.

By using

FIGS. 6

a and 6b, the following text will explain how the vehicle longitudinal speed v is influenced if a steering angle deviation d_LWoccurs between the actual steering angle Î´_actactually set by the driver and the steering wheel position requested and to be set corresponding to the desired steering angle Î´_des.

At the time being considered, the vehicle 10 is in the actual vehicle position which is described by the values x_F,act/y_F,act/Ïˆ_F,actin relation to the coordinate system 22 of which the origin is located in the starting position 15. By using this actual vehicle position x_F,act/y_F,act/Ïˆ_F,act, the determination of the upper limiting rotational angle Ïˆ_F,maxand of the lower limiting rotational angle Ïˆ_F,minwill be explained.

The actual vehicle position x_F,act/y_F,actremains unchanged during the determination of the two limiting angles of rotation Ïˆ_F,max, Ïˆ_F,min. The vehicle 10 is, so to speak, rotated virtually about its vertical axis in this position until the relevant limiting rotational angle is reached from which it is still just possible to determine a trajectoryâ€”which means a possible travel path of the vehicle 10â€”specifically the relevant limiting trajectory 23 or 24 to the target position 17.

First of all, assume that the vehicle is rotated to the right about its vertical axis (in the mathematically negative sense) until the actual rotational angle Ïˆ_F,actis reduced by Î”Ïˆ_R, so that the vehicle longitudinal axis assumes the position designated 71â€² in

FIG. 6

a. The vehicle longitudinal axis 71â€² forms the lower limiting rotational angle Ïˆ_F,minwith the y axis of the coordinate system 22. The right-hand limiting trajectory 23 resulting in this vehicle position, as viewed in the direction of travel 18 of the driving maneuver, is illustrated in

FIG. 61

.

Equally, the vehicle 10 can be rotated virtually to the left (in the mathematically positive sense) about its vertical axis in its actual vehicle position until the left-hand limiting trajectory 24 to the target position 17 is still just possible. The actual rotational angle Ïˆ_F,acthas in this case been enlarged by Î”Ïˆ_L, so that between the vehicle longitudinal axis, designated by 71â€³ in this rotational position, and the y axis of the coordinate system 22, the upper limiting rotational angle Ïˆ_F,maxresults. In this way, a rotational angle tolerance band between the lower limiting rotational angle Ïˆ_F,minand the upper limiting rotational angle Ïˆ_F,maxis calculated.

This rotational angle tolerance band is then used for determining the vehicle longitudinal speed v by using a function f which, in principle, can be selected as desired. In this case, the vehicle longitudinal speed v depends on the steering angle deviation d_LW.

In

FIG. 6

b an example of the dependence of the vehicle longitudinal speed v on the actual steering angle Î´_actis plotted. If, via the steering wheel position, the vehicle driver sets an actual steering angle Î´_actwhich coincides with the desired steering angle Î´_desto be set, the vehicle longitudinal speed is v=v₀. This point represents the vertex of a Gauss curve in the example according to

FIG. 6

b. This is formed asymmetrically with respect to a parallel to the v axis through the vertex of the Gauss curve. According to the example, each of the two curve sections 80 and 81 resulting from dividing the Gauss curve at the vertex depends on the rotational angle difference Î”Ïˆ_Ror Î”Ïˆ_Lbetween the actual rotational angle Ïˆ_F,actand the corresponding upper or lower limiting rotational angle Ïˆ_F,maxor Ïˆ_F,min. The first curve section 80 between the desired steering angle Î´_destoward the smaller actual steering angle Î´_actis determined such that the standard deviation corresponds to the rotational angle difference Î”Ïˆ_Rbetween the lower limiting rotational angle Ïˆ_F,minand the actual vehicle rotational angle Ïˆ_F,act. In an analogous way, the second curve section 81 starting from the desired steering angle Î´_destoward larger actual steering angles Î´_actis determined such that the standard deviation of this second curve section 81 corresponds to the rotational angle difference Î”Ïˆ_Lbetween the upper limiting rotational angle Ïˆ_F,maxand the actual vehicle rotational angle Ïˆ_F,act.

These two curve sections 80, 81 then result in a minimum permissible actual steering angle Î´_minand a maximum permissible actual steering angle Î´_max. As can be seen from

FIG. 6

b, the difference between the desired steering angle Î´_desand the minimum permissible actual steering angle Î´_minis smaller than the difference between the maximum permissible actual steering angle Î´_maxand the desired steering angle Î´_des. Accordingly, the vehicle longitudinal speed v in the event of a deviating actual steering angle Î´_actwhich is smaller than the desired steering angle Î´_desis reduced to a greater extent than would be the case in the event of a corresponding deviation from the desired steering angle Î´_destoward greater actual steering angles Î´_act.

This can clearly be explained in that, in the event of a change in the vehicle rotational angle in the mathematically positive sense, a greater tolerance band is available then if the actual vehicle rotational angle were changed in the mathematically negative sense (cf.

FIG. 6

a).

As soon as the driver sets an actual steering angle Î´_actwhich, as the vehicle 10 travels onward, would lead to the vehicle 10 assuming a vehicle position from which no trajectory to the target position 17 can be found, the vehicle is brought to a standstill. The vehicle is then accelerated again, independently of the driver, only if the driver sets an actual steering angle Î´_actwhich lies between the minimum permissible actual steering angle Î´_minand the maximum permissible actual steering angle Î´_max.

In a particularly advantageous refinement, a renewed calculation of the reference trajectory is carried out each time the vehicle has automatically been retarded to a standstill.

As an alternative to the use of a Gauss function, a triangular function or any other desired curved shape with the vertex Î´_des/v₀could also be used. This function can in particular be determined empirically in driving trials in order to set the desired driving feel.

In the exemplary embodiment, the vehicle longitudinal speed v is regulated on the basis of the actual steering angle Î´_actor the steering angle deviation d_LW. This is carried out by activating retardation means 50 and/or forward drive means 51 of the vehicle 10.

In the exemplary embodiment according to

FIG. 2

, the retardation means 50 are formed by a braking device 52 which a brake control unit 53 and wheel braking devices 54 activated by this brake control unit 53, which are assigned to the vehicle wheels 55 of the rear axle of the vehicle, and wheel braking devices 56, which are assigned to the vehicle wheels 34 of the front axle 35 of the vehicle 10. In order to activate the braking device 52, the evaluation device 12 is connected to the brake control unit 53. Consequently, if the actual desired trajectory 19 approaches one of the limiting trajectories 23, 24, the evaluation device 12 activates the brake control unit 53, which in turn acts on one or more of the wheel braking devices 54, 56.

As an alternative to speed regulation, the vehicle longitudinal speed v can merely being reduced by bringing about a braking pressure, without regulating the speed to a desired value, starting from the maximum speed v₀, which can be about 5 km/h, in the event of there being a steering angle deviation d_LW.

For the purpose of the vehicle retardation, alternatively to or simultaneously with the activation of the braking device 52, the forward drive means 51 are activated. For this purpose, the evaluation device 12 is connected to the engine control device 60, illustrated schematically in

FIG. 2

, which here symbolizes the forward drive means 51. For reasons of clarity, the complete drive train with engine control device 60, the vehicle engine, the transmission, the drive shaft and so on, have not been illustrated.

The method according to the invention can also be used in a modified form for driving maneuvers of the vehicle 10 with a trailer 70. In this case, alternatively or additionally to influencing the vehicle longitudinal speed v on the basis of the steering angle deviation d_LW, the vehicle longitudinal speed v can also be influenced on the basis of the trailer angle deviation between a desired trailer angle Î²_desand an actual trailer angle Î²_act. The trailer angle Î² is formed between the vehicle longitudinal axis 71 and the trailer longitudinal axis 72 (see

FIG. 7

). For reasons of improved clarity, the trailer coupling and the trailer towbar for connecting the vehicle 10 to the trailer 70 are not illustrated in

FIG. 7

.

In the case of trailer operation, each vehicle position of the vehicle 10 to be passed through along the reference trajectory 16 is assigned a corresponding desired trailer angle Î²_des. The simplest example would be the movement of the vehicle 10 with the trailer 70 straight backward, so that the desired trailer angle Î²_desis equal to zero during the entire driving maneuver.

The vehicle 10 has means for determining the desired trailer angle Î²_des, which, according to the example, are contained in the evaluation device 12. Furthermore, the vehicle 10 and/or the trailer 70 has/have means, not specifically illustrated here, for determining the actual trailer angle Î´_act. For example, the trailer angle between a vehicle 10 and trailer 70 can be registered by means of trailer angle sensors known per se.

During the driving maneuver, the steering wheel position which the driver has to set in order that the actually registered trailer angle Î²_actcorresponds to the desired trailer angle Î²_desis now displayed to the driver. If the actual trailer angle Î²_actdeviates from the desired trailer angle Î²_des, the retardation means 50 and/or the forward drive means 51 of the vehicle 10 are activated independently of the driver in order to reduce the vehicle longitudinal speed v. The greater the trailer angle deviation between the actual trailer angle Î²_actand the desired trailer angle Î²_des, the greater is the braking force or the braking pressure p or the vehicle retardation brought about automatically. It is also possible to regulate the longitudinal speed of the vehicle v on the basis of the trailer angle deviation between the desired trailer angle Î²_desand the actual trailer angle Î²_act, the desired speed Î²_desbeing lower, the greater the trailer angle deviation between actual trailer angle Î²_actand desired trailer angle Î²_des.

The assistance method for driving maneuvers in trailer operation on the basis of the trailer angle Î² can also be carried out independently of the determination of a reference trajectory. For example, in the case of a driving maneuver straight backward with trailer 70, it is possible for only the trailer angle deviation between the desired trailer angle Î²_desand the actual trailer angle Î²_actto be taken into account in the requirement of the steering wheel angle to be set and the activation of the retardation means 50 and/or forward drive means 51.

If, during more complex driving maneuvers in trailer operation, each position of the vehicle 10 and of the trailer 70 along the reference trajectory is assigned a corresponding desired trailer angle Î²_des, then the feedback from the driver about the steering wheel angle to be set and the automatic activation of the retardation means 50 and/or forward drive means 51 takes into account both the steering angle deviation d_LWand the trailer angle deviation.