DE102007012507A1 - Driver assistance system's evaluation unit for use in car, has integral part determining change of speed of vehicle, and output unit for outputting output signal pertaining to change of speed to be accomplished - Google Patents

Abstract

The evaluation unit (A) has an input unit for receiving information (I) from a sensor (S). An integral part is provided for diagnosing a collision of a motor vehicle with an object using the information. An integral part determines the change of speed of the vehicle before the collision. An output unit is provided for outputting an output signal (REQ) pertaining to the change of speed to be accomplished. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for operating a driver assistance system for a vehicle (2) a computer program product for a driver assistance system for a vehicle.

Description

The The invention relates to an evaluation unit for a driver assistance system for a Vehicle, as well as a driver assistance system, a method of operation a driver assistance system and a computer program product.

Under the concept of driver assistance systems (English: ADAS, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) functions are summarized which the support serve the driver of a motor vehicle. The aim of the driver assistance systems is often Increasing safety by avoiding dangerous situations before its creation and through the assistance of the driver to avoid accidents in critical situations. Other goals are the increase of Comfort through stress reduction and relieving the driver in standard situations, the facilitation of orientation by situationally prepared and driver-friendly conveyed environment information, as well as the increase of Driving pleasure.

Examples for driver assistance functions are traction control and traction control like ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), ASR (Traction Control), ESP (Electronic Traction Control) Stability Program) EDS (electronic differential lock), as well as adaptive cornering light, Up and dimming assistant for the driving lights, night vision systems, cruise control, Parking assistance, Brake Assist, ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) or Adaptive Cruise Control, Distance warning, turn assistant, traffic jam assistant, lane detection system, lane departure warning, Lane Keeping Support, Lane Change Assistant, ISA (Intelligent Speed Adaptation), ANB (Automatic Emergency braking), curve assistant, tire pressure monitoring system, driver condition detection, Traffic sign recognition, Platooning.

Of the Invention is based on the object, an efficient evaluation for a Driver assistance system, and a corresponding driver assistance system, Computer program product and method for operating a driver assistance system show.

These The object is achieved by an evaluation unit having the features of the claim 1, and by a driver assistance system, a computer program product and a method with features of independent claims solved. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of dependent claims.

The Evaluation unit according to the invention for a Driver assistance system for a vehicle includes an input for receiving information from Sensors, a component for detecting using the Information that a collision of the vehicle with an object is imminent, as well as an ingredient for determining one before the collision to be performed speed change of the vehicle. Further, an output is provided for outputting a Output signal concerning the speed change to be carried out.

at the evaluation unit can determine whether a collision is imminent process or take into account data obtained from one or more sensors. If data from multiple sensors are used, they can Data from the evaluation unit separately or together be evaluated. Preferably, the supplied by the sensors Information at least partly for the determination of the to be performed speed change used. Here it is possible that the evaluation unit some of the information received from it for the finding the impending collision, and others for the determination the one to be carried out Speed change.

The determined by the evaluation unit speed change can be a change the amount and / or direction of the current speed vector of the vehicle. The output signal causes vehicle components, which the speed change instructed, instructed, to adapt the speed according to the output signal. Preferably, the evaluation unit additionally determines the speed change a time within which this change has to take place. The Output signal can also indicate this time in this case.

Stand various actuators available, which each can cause a certain type of speed change is it is advantageous if the evaluation unit in addition to be carried out speed change also determines which or which actuators to effect the speed change responsible are. In this case, the output signal can only be sent to those Actuators go out which have been selected by the evaluation unit. Should z. B. a rotation of the vehicle, this can be the ESP system and / or the steering of the vehicle can be used.

In a development of the invention, the information relates to or can be taken from the information: the position of the object and / or the size of the object and / or the type of the object and / or the distance between the object and the vehicle and / or the speed of the object. The information provided by the sensors may directly contain the information given; alterna In this regard, it is possible for the evaluation unit to determine this information by evaluating the information received from the sensors. In particular, the position of the object, the speed of the object, and the distance between the object and the vehicle may be relevant for determining that a collision is imminent. In particular, the size, type and position of the object can be relevant for the determination of the speed change to be carried out.

According to one Development of the invention has the evaluation unit via an input for receiving information regarding a current one Seat occupancy of the vehicle, wherein the component for determining the speed change is designed such that when determining the change in velocity the current seat occupancy of the vehicle is taken into account. The information regarding the current seat occupancy indicate which seats the vehicle is occupied or unoccupied; furthermore they can more detailed information about include a person occupying a seat, eg. B. their size or Weight. By such more detailed information, the speed change z. B. dependent on it be made, whether in the passenger seat a child or a Adult is located.

In Embodiment of the invention is the component for determining the speed change designed such that the speed change to be performed in a certain positioning of the vehicle relative to the Object at the time of the collision and / or in a particular one Direction of travel of the vehicle at the time of the collision results. The evaluation unit determines the speed change accordingly, that a specific positioning and / or direction of travel at the time the collision is present. The positioning of the vehicle relative to the object decides about at which point or points of the vehicle the impact takes place; the direction of travel determines the direction in which the occupants be hurled during the impact. The latter is z. For efficiency of airbags interesting. It is possible that the specific positioning and / or direction of the seat occupancy of the vehicle and / or depends on the type of object. In this case considered the evaluation unit at the seat occupancy and / or type of object the determination of the to be carried out Speed change.

one Development of the invention according to is Component designed to determine the speed change such that in determining the speed change, a vehicle model considered which information is about Dangers for Inmates in case of collision provides. The vehicle model can be vehicle type specific; it can, for. B. in a memory be filed, which is part of the evaluation or on which the evaluation unit can access. The mentioned training is especially for the aspect of the invention is applicable, wherein the component configured to determine the speed change is that when determining the speed change a Minimizing the risk of injury to occupants in the collision is sought. In this case, the execution of the speed change to the inmates the greatest possible To provide protection during the collision.

The to be performed speed change can be a reduction or increase the amount of speed, and / or a rotation of the vehicle include.

One Driver assistance system according to the invention may include sensors for collecting information, as well as a Evaluation unit of the type described, and actuators for causing the speed change in accordance with the output signal of the evaluation unit. The actors can z. B. components of an ESP system, and / or components a drive control and / or components of the steering of the vehicle. Other Actuators can additionally or alternatively used.

According to the procedure for operating a driver assistance system for a vehicle it is determined that a collision of the vehicle is imminent, followed by a pre the collision to be carried out speed change of the vehicle is determined.

The Computer program product for a driver assistance system for A vehicle includes means for detecting that a collision of the vehicle is imminent with an object, and means for determining one to be performed before the collision Speed change of the vehicle. Under a computer program product may be related with the present invention in addition to the actual computer program (with his over the normal physical interaction between program and arithmetic unit in particular a recording medium for the computer program, a file collection, a configured arithmetic unit, but also for example a storage device or server on the computer program associated files are stored, understood.

The computer program product according to the invention and the method according to the invention are particularly suitable for the evaluation unit according to the invention and the driver assistance system, and this may also apply to the refinements and developments. For this purpose, they may comprise further suitable means or steps.

in the Following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment. there demonstrate:

1 : a section of a driver assistance system,

2 a first situation in which the driver assistance system of the 1 can be used

3 a second situation in which the driver assistance system of the 1 can be used.

Accidents in traffic often arise due to a series of difficult to predict links. In the period immediately before the actual collision of a Vehicle with an object is the action usually of the Vehicle driver no longer consciously influenced, z. Because of shock, Panic, or wrong assessment of Boundary conditions such as velocity vector, friction coefficients, position and reaction from other accident participants or the situation at Accident place. Because of this, the exact nature and effects a collision usually random Nature.

1 shows a section of a driver assistance system for a vehicle. In this case, one or more sensors S are provided, which supply information I to the evaluation unit A. The evaluation unit A determines whether a probable collision of the vehicle with an object is imminent. An object may be a movable or immovable object such. As a tree, a stationary vehicle or a building, or to a moving object such. B. another vehicle, or even to a living object such as a person or a large animal.

For the finding that most likely a collision is imminent known methods are used. Such methods are z. B. known in the field of seat belt actuation; In this case, the seat belt is tensioned after the imminent an impact was detected and even before the collision occurs.

• • Abstandssensor, z. B. Radar: Hiermit kann der Abstand, die Geschwindigkeit und die Position eines Objektes erkannt werden.
• • Infrarotsensor, Kamera: Hiermit kann die Art und die Ausmaße von Objekten erkannt werden.
• • Funkbasierte Sensoren, wie z. B. Empfänger einer Car-to-Car-Kommunikationseinrichtung, oder Nahfeldsensoren wie beispielsweise Kapalink. Hierüber können detaillierte Informationen über andere Fahrzeuge erlangt werden.
• • Sensoren von Positionsbestimmungssystemen wie z. B. GPS oder Galileo. Hierüber kann z. B. die Position des Fahr zeugs mit der Position von feststehenden Kollisionsobjekten wie Gebäuden verglichen werden.

As sensors S, sensors provided specifically in connection with the invention may be used; Alternatively, sensors can be used which are also used in the context of other driver assistance functions. In particular, the following sensors S are suitable:

• • distance sensor, z. B. Radar: Detects the distance, speed, and position of an object.
• • Infrared Sensor, Camera: Detects the type and dimensions of objects.
• • Radio-based sensors, such as B. receiver of a car-to-car communication device, or near-field sensors such as Kapalink. Through this detailed information about other vehicles can be obtained.
• • Sensors of positioning systems such. GPS or Galileo. About this z. For example, the position of the vehicle can be compared with the position of fixed collision objects such as buildings.

• • der Ort der Kollision,
• • die Position des Objektes,
• • die Geschwindigkeit des Objektes,
• • der Abstand zwischen dem Fahrzeug und dem Objekt,
• • die Art und Abmaße des Objektes

The evaluation unit A determines the specific circumstances of the probable collision, in particular the following variables can be used:

• The location of the collision,
• • the position of the object,
• The speed of the object,
• The distance between the vehicle and the object
• • the type and dimensions of the object

Of Furthermore, the evaluation unit A is the current velocity vector the vehicle known, as well as which seats of the vehicle of occupants are occupied. The latter can over per se known method for seat occupancy detection determined become. It may be a seat occupancy sensor as one of the sensors S be used. The current speed vector of the vehicle is preferably in digital form on the vehicle bus, z. B. one CAN bus, in front. A determination of the current velocity vector is z. B. over Tire sensors possible, in particular tire pressure sensors and acceleration sensors; also information provided by the power steering of the vehicle can be used. One more way the determination of the current velocity vector is done via a Position determination of the vehicle, in particular via the satellite navigation system Galileo.

Of the Evaluation unit A is a crash model MOD, which information about that contains on which parts of the vehicle and with which impact direction a collision for the inmates less dangerous is. The crash model MOD can z. Eg via crash tests or crash simulations be won; it is for the particular vehicle specific.

Using the explained information Ones determines the evaluation unit A, as the vehicle must be accelerated to reduce the risk of injury to passengers in the collision as possible. In this case, an acceleration is understood as any change of the current speed vector related to a unit of time. It is thus possible to increase or reduce the amount of speed while maintaining the same direction, to change the direction of the speed vector while the amount remains the same, and to change both the magnitude and the direction of the speed vector.

By the acceleration is achieved that the vehicle at the time the collision in a certain way with respect to the colliding object is positioned. By positioning the vehicle in relation the part or surface component becomes the object the vehicle determines at which the impact takes place. This is tries to use the crumple zones of the vehicle as efficiently as possible. Furthermore, it is achieved by the acceleration that a certain impact direction is set. This should be like this be that inmates fall head-on into existing airbags, and not past them.

After this from the evaluation unit A, the decision was made on which way the vehicle is to accelerate before the collision, she gives a REQ command for the respective acceleration units AK from. at the units AK can be z. B. to act the ESP system, which cause a deceleration or acceleration of individual wheels can, or to the vehicle steering, which indicates the direction of vehicle movement can affect, or to the drive control, which is a gas-giving or can cause deceleration.

advantageously, considered the evaluation unit A in the determination of the speed change to be carried out, whether through this a greater danger for the Inmates brought about becomes. If z. B. due to the provided by the navigation system Information is known to be on the right side of the vehicle If there is an abyss, acceleration should not be that the vehicle is near of the abyss. Furthermore, it can be determined whether by the speed change a collision with another object is likely.

2 shows an example of a first pre-crash situation. The vehicle F1 skids in the direction of a tree according to the velocity vector v1. The driver assistance system recognizes the situation and aligns the vehicle F1 using ESP, power steering and drive control so that the impact does not occur where occupants are hit. According to the arrow in 2 is the vehicle F1 rotated due to the command REQ of the evaluation unit A so that the impact is not done on the side, but in the area of the right headlight.

3 shows an example of a second pre-crash situation. The vehicle F1 moves transversely to another vehicle F2 in accordance with the speed vector v1. On the basis of the speed vectors v1 of the vehicle and v2 of the other vehicle F2, the evaluation unit A recognizes that a collision is unavoidable. Due to the command REQ of the evaluation unit A, the vehicle F1 is accelerated briefly in its previous direction of movement, so that the collision is not in the passenger area of the vehicle F1, but in the luggage compartment.

The The invention has been described above with reference to an exemplary embodiment. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

Evaluation unit (A) for a driver assistance system for a Vehicle (F1), with an input for receiving information (I) of sensors (S), with an ingredient to detect using the information (I) that a collision of the vehicle (F1) is imminent with an object (F2), with a component for determining a speed change to be made before the collision of the vehicle (F1), with an output for outputting an output signal (REQ) concerning the activities to be carried out Speed change. Evaluation unit (A) according to claim 1, wherein the information (I) or the information (I) is removable: the position of the object (F2) and / or the size of the object (F2) and / or the type of object (F2) and / or the distance between the object (F2) and the vehicle (F1) and / or the speed of the object (F2). Evaluation unit (A) according to claim 1 or 2, with a Input for receiving information concerning a current Seat occupancy of the vehicle (F1), wherein the component for determining the speed change is designed such that when determining the change in velocity the current seat occupancy of the vehicle (F1) is taken into account. Evaluation unit (A) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the component for determining the speed change is configured such that the speed change to be performed is • in a specific positioning of the vehicle (F1) relative to the object (F2), and / or • in a specific direction of travel of the vehicle (F1) at the time of the collision results. Evaluation unit (A) according to claim 4, wherein the particular Positioning and / or direction of the seat occupancy of the vehicle (F1) and / or depends on the type of object (F2). Evaluation unit (A) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the component for determining the speed change is designed such that when determining the change in velocity a vehicle model (MOD) is taken into account, which information is available poses about dangers for inmates in case of a collision. Evaluation unit (A) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the component for determining the speed change is designed such that when determining the change in velocity a minimization of the risk of injury to occupants in the collision is sought. Evaluation unit (A) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the to be performed speed change includes: • one Reduction or increase the amount of speed, and / or • a turn of the vehicle (F1). Driver assistance system for a vehicle (F1), comprising Sensors (S) for acquiring information (I), an evaluation unit (A) according to any one of claims 1 till 8, Actuators to induce the speed change according to the output signal. Driver assistance system according to claim 9, in which the actuators include: Components of an ESP system and / or Components of a drive control and / or components of a Steering of the vehicle (F1). Method for operating a driver assistance system For one Vehicle (F1), in which it is determined that a collision of the vehicle (F1) is imminent with an object (F2), and by virtue of determining a speed change to be made before the collision of the vehicle (F1) is determined. Computer program product for a driver assistance system for a Vehicle (F1), with Means of establishing that a collision of the vehicle (F1) is imminent with an object (F2), and funds for determining a speed change to be made before the collision of the vehicle (F1).