Abstract: A driving system is operatable at least in a first automated driving mode with automated longitudinal and/or lateral control, and in a different second automated driving mode with automated longitudinal and/or lateral control. The driving system has a steering wheel display with luminous elements for illuminating the steering wheel, which can be operated in different illumination states that are distinguishable by the driver. The luminous elements may illuminate the steering wheel rim, and are typically integrated into the steering wheel rim. The driving system specifies which illumination state of the different illumination states the steering wheel display has. The driving system specifies that, during operation of the driving system in the first driving mode, the steering wheel display is illuminated in a first illumination state.

Abstract: A controller for changing between a respective first configuration and a respective second configuration of at least one active safety system of an automated motor vehicle is provided. The controller is configured to detect a change in the operating mode of the motor vehicle from an at least highly automated operating mode into a maximally partially automated operating mode and to change the at least one active safety system from the first configuration to the second configuration when a change is detected.

Abstract: A device for providing external communication by a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a steering wheel having one or more light-emitting elements in a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The device is configured to ascertain external information that needs to be communicated to a user of the vehicle who is arranged outside of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The device is furthermore configured to prompt the one or more light-emitting elements to generate a light signal in order to display the external information.

Abstract: A device for controlling a vehicle function of a vehicle includes a steering device for manual lateral control of the vehicle, wherein the steering device has at least one touch sensor, which is designed to detect sensor data relating to a touching of the steering device by a driver of the vehicle. The device is designed to determine sensor data of the touch sensor and to carry out a hands-on detection for the steering device based on the sensor data of the touch sensor. As well as the hands-on detection, the device is also designed to operate a vehicle function of the vehicle according to the sensor data.

Abstract: A vehicle guidance system detects when a driver of the vehicle manually intervenes in the longitudinal and/or transverse guidance of the vehicle while the vehicle is being operated in an automated driving mode. The vehicle guidance system outputs an indication to the driver via a user interface of the vehicle prompting the driver to take over the longitudinal and/or transverse guidance of the vehicle. The vehicle guidance system also continues to provide the longitudinal and/or lateral guidance of the vehicle in at least a partially automated manner for a takeover period of time and/or for a takeover distance.

Abstract: A driving system for an automated drive for a motor vehicle has an indicator for marking regions on the steering wheel, in particular on the steering wheel rim. The indicator is preferably an optical steering wheel display which is integrated into the steering wheel rim for example. During an automated drive, the driving system is designed to ascertain that the vehicle has approached an end of the automated drive lying ahead in such a manner that a first approach condition has been satisfied. If the system has ascertained that the vehicle has approached the end of the automated drive in such a manner that the approach condition has been satisfied, the indicator for marking regions on the steering wheel are actuated in response thereto such that a left and a right marking region on the steering wheel are marked. The driver is thus prompted to position their hands on the marked regions of the steering wheel in order to take over the task of driving.

Abstract: A driving system for an automated drive for a motor vehicle includes a steering wheel display with a lighting strip structure. The lighting strip structure of the steering wheel display is luminous in a defined lighting color for a duration which can be modified according to the actuation. The driving system is designed to control the steering wheel display such that the lighting strip structure is luminous in the lighting color over a starting length during the automated drive. Upon approaching an end of the automated drive lying ahead, the driving system determines that the vehicle has approached an end point of the automated drive lying ahead in such a manner that a specified approach condition has been satisfied.

Abstract: A changeable-shape steering wheel of a motor vehicle has a steering wheel rim composed of a plurality of rim parts, of which some can be pivoted relative to one another, in order for it to be possible, in addition to a circular shape, for it to also be transferred into an approximately oval shape. In a neutral position of the steering wheel which is rotatable about a circular shape center point, the semi-major axis in an oval shape is oriented at least substantially horizontally. The rim parts are movable by way of levers which are provided on the steering wheel rim, such that, in the neutral position, the semi-major axis of the oval shape of the steering wheel is no longer than half the diameter in the case of a circular shape of the steering wheel.

Abstract: A changeable-shape steering wheel of a motor vehicle has a steering wheel rim composed of a plurality of rim parts, of which some can be pivoted relative to one another, in order for it to be possible, in addition to a circular shape, for it to also be transferred into an approximately oval shape. In a neutral position of the steering wheel which is rotatable about a circular shape center point, the semi-major axis in an oval shape is oriented at least substantially horizontally. The rim parts are movable by way of levers which are provided on the steering wheel rim, such that, in the neutral position, the semi-major axis of the oval shape of the steering wheel is no longer than half the diameter in the case of a circular shape of the steering wheel.

Abstract: A means of transport and a device (10) for outputting a request for a driver of a means of transport to take over vehicle guidance are proposed. The device (10) comprising: a line-shaped first LED strip (1) with a first electrical connector (5) comprising a first plurality of LEDs (3), a line-shaped second LED strip (2) with a second electrical connector (6) comprising a second plurality of LEDs (4), a control device (7) comprising an interface (8) configured to receive the first electrical connector (5) and the second electrical connector (6), wherein the first plurality of LEDs (3) is arranged interleaved with respect to the second plurality of LEDs (4) and the control device is configured to output the request as light signals by controlling the first electrical connector (5) and the second electrical connector (6).

Abstract: A method for having an occupant of a vehicle that is in a highly automated driving mode take over a driving task includes the steps of determining that the occupant has taken over the driving task and, in response thereto, automatically actuating a handle element, which can change its shape, in order to affect the haptics of a rim of a steering wheel of the vehicle.

Abstract: For automated driving, a driving system can be operated at least in a first automated driving mode with automated longitudinal and/or transverse guidance. A display device includes a driving mode display with a lighting unit. The driving mode display corresponds to a steering wheel display with a light strip structure for the steering wheel rim that can be lit up. A control device coupled to the display is also provided, for controlling the display. The control device is designed to control the driving mode display such that, upon activation of the first automated driving mode, the lighting unit lights up in a first lighting state with a specific luminous intensity, so as to indicate the activation of the first automated driving mode to the driver.

Abstract: A driving system for an automated drive for a motor vehicle has an indicator for marking regions on the steering wheel, in particular on the steering wheel rim. The indicator is preferably an optical steering wheel display which is integrated into the steering wheel rim for example. During an automated drive, the driving system is designed to ascertain that the vehicle has approached an end of the automated drive lying ahead in such a manner that a first approach condition has been satisfied. If the system has ascertained that the vehicle has approached the end of the automated drive in such a manner that the approach condition has been satisfied, the indicator for marking regions on the steering wheel are actuated in response thereto such that a left and a right marking region on the steering wheel are marked. The driver is thus prompted to position their hands on the marked regions of the steering wheel in order to take over the task of driving.

Abstract: A driving system for an automated drive for a motor vehicle includes a steering wheel display with a lighting strip structure. The lighting strip structure of the steering wheel display is luminous in a defined lighting color for a duration which can be modified according to the actuation. The driving system is designed to control the steering wheel display such that the lighting strip structure is luminous in the lighting color over a starting length during the automated drive. Upon approaching an end of the automated drive lying ahead, the driving system determines that the vehicle has approached an end point of the automated drive lying ahead in such a manner that a specified approach condition has been satisfied.

Abstract: A driving system is operatable at least in a first automated driving mode with automated longitudinal and/or lateral control, and in a different second automated driving mode with automated longitudinal and/or lateral control. The driving system has a steering wheel display with luminous elements for illuminating the steering wheel, which can be operated in different illumination states that are distinguishable by the driver. The luminous elements may illuminate the steering wheel rim, and are typically integrated into the steering wheel rim. The driving system specifies which illumination state of the different illumination states the steering wheel display has. The driving system specifies that, during operation of the driving system in the first driving mode, the steering wheel display is illuminated in a first illumination state.

Abstract: An arrangement of a steering wheel in a motor vehicle suitable for autonomous driving is provided, wherein the steering wheel can be pivoted or tilted from a usage position into a rest position, in which the driver of the vehicle can still specify a steering request by rotating the steering wheel. The pivoting or tilting of the steering wheel from the usage position into the rest position switches on an autonomous vehicle operating mode, in which the vehicle moves along the roadway without assistance from the driver, whereas pivoting or tilting of the steering wheel from the rest position into the usage position switches off the autonomous vehicle operating mode. For this purpose, the steering wheel rim can be pivotably or tiltably attached to a spoke of the steering wheel, which spoke is stationary or connected to the steering wheel rim.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to control a user situation awareness modification of a user of a vehicle, which includes input module configured to repeatedly receive a first event detection signal comprising information related to a detected event outside a vehicle and to repeatedly receive a first user detection signal comprising information related to a reaction or a missing reaction of a user to the detected event outside the vehicle. The apparatus further includes a processing module configured to determine a user situation awareness level based on the information related to the detected event outside the vehicle and the information related to the reaction of the user to the detected event, and to generate a control signal configured to control a user situation awareness modification module based on the determined user situation awareness level.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus that is configured to receive a first user detection signal comprising information usable for determining a user situation awareness level. The apparatus also includes a processing module configured to determine a currently necessary situation awareness level by selecting one predefined situation awareness level from a plurality of predefined situation awareness levels based on driving information. The processing module is configured to determine a current user situation awareness level based on the information usable for determining the user situation awareness level. The processing module is configured to generate a control signal to control a user situation awareness modification module based on the currently necessary situation awareness level and the current user situation awareness level.

Abstract: A method for having an occupant of a vehicle that is in a highly automated driving mode take over a driving task includes the steps of determining that the occupant has taken over the driving task and, in response thereto, automatically actuating a handle element, which can change its shape, in order to affect the haptics of a rim of a steering wheel of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to control a user situation awareness modification of a user of a vehicle, which includes input module configured to repeatedly receive a first event detection signal comprising information related to a detected event outside a vehicle and to repeatedly receive a first user detection signal comprising information related to a reaction or a missing reaction of a user to the detected event outside the vehicle. The apparatus further includes a processing module configured to determine a user situation awareness level based on the information related to the detected event outside the vehicle and the information related to the reaction of the user to the detected event, and to generate a control signal configured to control a user situation awareness modification module based on the determined user situation awareness level.