Method for optimizing a surroundings model

A system of a first vehicle, the system comprising:

• a sensor set;
• and
• a control unit, wherein:
• the sensor set is configured to generate measured data of current immediate surroundings of the first vehicle that are within a scanning range of the first sensor set, wherein an original version of a first surroundings model of the surroundings of the first vehicle is generated based on the measured data generated by the first sensor set, and wherein the first vehicle is configured for automated vehicle control based on the first surroundings model representing the current immediate surroundings of the first vehicle;
• the control unit is configured to wirelessly transmit the measured data generated by the first sensor set or the original version of the first surroundings model to a central processing unit that functions as a vehicle-external control unit;
• the central processing unit, to which the wireless transmission is made, is configured to modify the first surroundings model based on a second surroundings model, thereby obtaining an updated version of the first surroundings model;
• the second surroundings model is generated based on measured data from a second sensor set of a second vehicle sensing surroundings of the other vehicle that are within a scanning range of the second sensor set;
• the scanning range of the first sensor set and the scanning range of the second sensor set partially overlap each other, the overlap occurring in an overlap area;
• the modification of the first surroundings model is based on a discrepancy between the original version of the first surroundings model and the second surroundings model corresponding to the overlap area;
• and
• the control unit is configured to:
• receive the updated version of the first surroundings model from the central processing unit;
• and
• control an automated driving operation of the first vehicle based on the updated version of the first surroundings model, such that the automated driving operation is based on a representation of the current immediate surroundings of the first vehicle that differs from the representation, by the first surroundings model generated from measured data of the first vehicle's own sensor set, of the current immediate surroundings of the first vehicle.

A non-transitory machine-readable memory medium on which is stored a computer program that is executable by computer of a first vehicle and that, when executed by the computer, causes the computer to perform the following:

• obtaining, from a sensor set of the first vehicle, measured data of surroundings of the first vehicle that are within a scanning range of the first sensor set, wherein an original version of a first surroundings model of the surroundings of the first vehicle is generated based on the measured data generated by the first sensor set, and wherein the first vehicle is configured for automated vehicle control based on the first surroundings model representing the current immediate surroundings of the first vehicle;
• wirelessly transmitting the measured data generated by the first sensor set or the original version of the first surroundings model to a central processing unit that functions as a vehicle-external control unit, wherein:
• the central processing unit is configured to modify the first surroundings model based on a second surroundings model, thereby obtaining an updated version of the first surroundings model;
• the second surroundings model is generated based on measured data from a second sensor set of a second vehicle sensing surroundings of the other vehicle that are within a scanning range of the second sensor set;
• the scanning range of the first sensor set and the scanning range of the second sensor set partially overlap each other, the overlap occurring in an overlap area;
• and
• the modification of the first surroundings model is based on a discrepancy between the original version of the first surroundings model and the second surroundings model corresponding to the overlap area;
• receiving the updated version of the first surroundings model from the central processing unit;
• and
• controlling an automated driving operation of the first vehicle based on the updated version of the first surroundings model, such that the automated driving operation is based on a representation of the current immediate surroundings of the first vehicle that differs from the representation, by the first surroundings model generated from measured data of the first vehicle's own sensor set, of the current immediate surroundings of the first vehicle.