FR3065690A1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DATA ANALYSIS OF RENTAL VEHICLE FOR SHOCK DETERMINATION - Google Patents

Abstract

An analysis device (DA), equips a rental vehicle (VL) comprising acquisition means (MA11-MA15) able to acquire data representative of events involving it, and comprises analysis means (MA2 ) able to determine among these acquired event data at least those which represent a collision involving the rental vehicle (VL), and to store a definition of each determined shock.

Description

Holder (s): PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA Société anonyme.

Extension request (s)

Agent (s): PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA Public limited company.

FR 3 065 690 - A1 (64) DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING DATA OF A RENTAL VEHICLE FOR DETERMINING SHOCK.

©) An analysis device (DA), equips a rental vehicle (VL) comprising acquisition means (MA11MA15) suitable for acquiring data representative of events involving it, and includes analysis means (MA2 ) suitable for determining among these acquired event data at least those which represent an impact involving the rental vehicle (VL), and for storing a definition of each determined impact.

i

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING DATA OF A RENTAL VEHICLE FOR DETERMINING SHOCK

The invention relates to rental vehicles, possibly of the automobile type, and more specifically to the analysis of data within such vehicles.

Today, the car rental companies analyze data which is stored in the rental vehicles of their fleet in order to know certain information useful for their management, such as for example the mileage, the fuel level, the level of oil, the level of cleaning liquid, the state of charge of the battery, as well as possibly the alerts or recorded alarms (by connection of the diagnostic sockets of rental vehicles to analysis equipment), is The relative information to shocks involving rental vehicles are provided by their tenants when they return them. Here, the term "impact involving a rental vehicle" means an impact suffered by this rental vehicle, regardless of the responsibility of its driver.

This information provided is often limited (for lack

0 of experience or voluntarily), even nonexistent when the shock occurred in the absence of the tenant. They generally only concern the visible parts of the rental vehicle, such as the bodywork, the bumpers or the windshield, and certain noises or malfunctions that appear following an impact.

Consequently, car rental companies generally have fragmented and often not very robust information on shocks involving rental vehicles in their fleet, or are even unaware of shocks that have not caused visible damage. Therefore, they can sometimes rent a rental vehicle likely to present more or

0 less long-term dysfunction induced by an unknown or known but apparently harmless shock.

The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation.

To this end, it offers an analysis device, intended to equip a rental vehicle comprising acquisition means suitable for acquiring data representative of events involving it.

This analysis device is characterized by the fact that it comprises analysis means suitable for determining among these acquired event data at least those which represent an impact involving the rental vehicle, and for storing a definition of each impact determined.

Thus, the vehicle rental company, to which the rental vehicle belongs, has information that is more complete and robust, and that it can also, if necessary, compare to that provided by the tenant.

The analysis device according to the invention may include other characteristics which can be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- its analysis means can be specific to determining in the operating data of the rental vehicle and among the acquired event data those which represent a consequence of an impact, and to store in the definition of an impact each consequence of this determined shock;

> its means of analysis can be specific to determining the severity of a shock from each consequence of this determined shock, and storing in the definition of a shock the severity of this determined shock;

- in the presence of means of communication by waves in the rental vehicle, its means of analysis can be adapted to trigger a transmission, by these means of communication by waves to a remote communication equipment, of certain at least stored shock definitions;

> its analysis means may be capable of triggering the transmission of a stored shock definition comprising a severity greater than a predefined threshold and / or a consequence of shock requiring the intervention of an automobile repairer and / or a replacement of the vehicle rental and / or rental vehicle expertise;

- its analysis means may be capable of generating an alarm intended to signal to a driver of the rental vehicle, by means of signaling means on board the rental vehicle, a need to drive the latter to a selected garage, or a vehicle rental center for inspection and / or repair, or a need to call a chosen telephone number to trigger an intervention by an auto repairer and / or a replacement of the rental vehicle and / or a expertise of the rental vehicle according to the severity of an impact and / or the consequence of an impact contained in the definition of this stored shock;

its analysis means may be suitable for determining the shock data from event data acquired by acquisition means which are chosen from at least one digital camera, at least one accelerometer, and at least one device for ultrasonic or electromagnetic wave analysis;

- its analysis means can be specific to providing external equipment with each definition of shock stored.

The invention also provides a rental vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising, on the one hand, acquisition means suitable for acquiring data representative of events implicating it, and, on the other hand, a device type of analysis presented above.

The invention also provides a method for analyzing data from a rental vehicle comprising acquisition means suitable for acquiring data representative of events involving it. This method is characterized by the fact that it includes a step in which the rental vehicle determines at least one of the acquired event data which represents a shock which involves it, then stores a definition of each determined shock.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 illustrates schematically and functionally, in a top view, an example of a vehicle comprising several means of data acquisition, an analysis device according to the invention and means of communication by waves connected to a wireless communication network, and

- Figure 2 illustrates an example of an algorithm implementing a data analysis method according to the invention.

The object of the invention is in particular to propose an analysis device îo DA, and an associated analysis method, intended to allow at least the determination of definitions of impacts involving a rental vehicle VL.

In what follows, we consider, by way of nonlimiting example, that the rental vehicle VL is of the automobile type. This is, for example, a car. However, the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It concerns is indeed any type of vehicle, land, sea (or river) or air, which can be rented, and as soon as it may be involved in shocks, in traffic or stopped.

There is schematically shown in FIG. 1 an example of a rental vehicle VL comprising in particular several means of data acquisition MA1j and an analysis device DA according to the invention.

The data acquisition means MA1j are responsible for acquiring data which is in particular representative of events involving the rental vehicle VL. It is important to note that the event data can be images of the environment of the rental vehicle VL or an observable part of it (VL) or the values of at least one physical parameter of the rental vehicle VL (such as for example an acceleration in at least one of the directions of space) or static and dynamic information on at least part of the environment of the rental vehicle VL. Therefore, the means

0 of acquisition MA1j can, for example, include at least one digital camera and / or at least one accelerometer and / or at least one device for analysis by ultrasound or by electromagnetic waves (radar).

In the nonlimiting example illustrated in FIG. 1, the acquisition means MA1j include:

- a first analysis device by electromagnetic waves (or radar) MA11 (j = 1) responsible for acquiring static and dynamic information on at least part of the environment located in front of the rental car VL and possibly on part front of its longitudinal sides,

- a second electromagnetic wave (or radar) analysis device MA12 (j = 2) responsible for acquiring static and dynamic information on at least part of the environment located behind the rental vehicle VL and possibly on a rear part of its longitudinal sides,

- a first digital camera MA13 (j = 3) responsible for acquiring images of at least a portion of the front part of the rental car VL and of the environment located in front of the latter (VL) and possibly on a front part on its longitudinal sides,

- a second MA14 digital camera (j = 4) responsible for acquiring images of at least a portion of the rear part of the rental car VL and of the environment behind it (VL) and possibly on a rear part on its longitudinal sides,

0 - at least one MA15 accelerometer (j = 5) responsible for measuring acceleration of the rental vehicle VL in at least one of the directions in space.

These data acquisition means MA1j could also include a microphone and / or mechanical sensors, for example to detect jolts in the gearbox.

The event data acquired by the data acquisition means MA1j are accessible via the communication network on board the rental vehicle VL, to which most of the electronic equipment or bodies are connected, and which is possibly of the type

0 multiplexed.

It will be noted that the rental vehicle VL can include any number of data acquisition means MA1j, as soon as this number is greater than or equal to one (1).

As illustrated, a DA analysis device according to the invention comprises at least MA2 analysis means. These analysis means MA2 are suitable for (or responsible for) determining among event data, which have been acquired by data acquisition means MA1j of the rental vehicle VL, at least those which represent a shock involving this last (VL), and to store a definition of each determined shock. This storage can, for example, be done in dedicated storage means MS that includes the analysis device DA as illustrated nonlimitingly in FIG. 1, or in storage means not dedicated to electronic equipment of the vehicle. HGV rental, such as a computer responsible for recording alerts and alarms.

It will be understood that the determination of a shock is made by analysis (s) of the event data acquired by at least one of the means is of data acquisition MA1j of the rental vehicle VL, and if possible by several. Each analysis depends on the type of event data. Thus, it may be a question of comparing images successively acquired by a camera, or of comparing static and / or dynamic information successively acquired, or even of comparing accelerations

0 successively acquired.

In the example illustrated without limitation in FIG. 1, the DA analysis device is installed in a computer CA which can, if necessary, perform at least one other function within the rental vehicle VL. This CA computer can, for example, be a service box, possibly telematic (such as the one known by the acronym BSRF ("Radio Frequency Service Box" >>) or under the acronym BTA ("Autonomous Telematic Box >> )). But it is not compulsory. Indeed, the DA analysis device could be arranged in the form of a computer dedicated to the analysis of event data of the rental vehicle VL. By

Consequently, a DA analysis device according to the invention can be produced in the form of software modules (or computer modules (or “software >>”)), or else a combination of electronic circuits (or “hardware”). ") And software modules.

Thanks to the automated determination of the definitions of shocks involving the rental vehicle VL, the vehicle rental company, to which the latter belongs (VL), now has considerably more complete and robust information, which it can also, possibly compare to (or supplement with) those provided by the tenant.

Preferably, the definition of a shock includes at least the type of this shock. This type of impact can, for example and without limitation, be chosen from a frontal impact, a rear impact, a side impact, an impact initiated by the rental vehicle VL, an impact received by the rental vehicle VL, a stationary shock, shock in motion, shock with a fixed object (or body), shock with a moving object (or body), and internal mechanical shock (such as a jerk in the box speeds).

For example, the analysis means MA2 may also be suitable for determining in operating data of the rental vehicle VL and among the event data acquired by the acquisition means MA1j those which represent a consequence of a shock. In this case, the analysis means MA2 are arranged to store in the definition of a shock each consequence of this determined shock.

The operating data of the rental vehicle VL is provided by on-board electronic equipment or bodies, and accessible via the communication network embedded in this rental vehicle VL.

Any type of impact consequence can be stored, and in particular body damage, a damaged bumper (or apron), a damaged windshield, a damaged optical unit, a veiled wheel, a blocked wheel, a leak, or a malfunction. of an internal organ.

In the presence of this last option, the analysis means MA2 can also be suitable for determining the severity of a shock from each consequence of this determined shock, and for storing in the definition of a shock the severity of this shock determined.

The severity of a shock can, for example and without limitation, be a value between two predefined numbers. For example, these two predefined numbers can be 0 (for minimum severity (zero or mild)) and 5 (for maximum severity (HGV rental vehicle unable to move)); these minimum and maximum numbers make it possible to define a scale or a graduation.

It should be noted that the definitions of shock can be made available in different ways.

Thus, when the rental vehicle VL comprises means of communication by means of MCN waves, as in the example illustrated without limitation in FIG. 1, the analysis means MA2 can be suitable for initiating a transmission, by these means of communication by means of MCN waves to a remote EC communication equipment, of at least some of the stored shock definitions.

For example, this EC communication equipment can be a server, belonging to the vehicle rental company to which the rental vehicle VL belongs, and accessible via a wireless RC communication network to which the communication means are connected by way of MCN waves from the rental vehicle VL.

Transmission can take place on the initiative of the DA analysis device or at the request of the EC communication equipment.

0 For example, the analysis means MA2 may be suitable for triggering the transmission of a stored definition of shock when the latter includes a severity greater than a predefined threshold and / or a consequence of shock which requires the intervention of a repairer automobile (possibly with a tow truck) and / or a replacement of the rental vehicle VL and / or an expertise of the rental vehicle VL. For example, this predefined threshold can be equal to 3 or 4 when gravity is represented by a value between 0 (minimum) and 5 (maximum).

Note that before triggering a breakdown service or sending an expert, you can possibly call the driver of the rental vehicle

0 LV in order to ask it to confirm the shock defined by the definition of shock received, then possibly guide it to a replacement vehicle or a repair site, or else notify it of the dispatch of a tow truck or a expert. This call can be made via the MCN wave communication means of the rental vehicle VL or the driver’s mobile communication equipment.

As a variant, the analysis means MA2 may be capable of generating an alarm intended to signal to a driver of the rental vehicle VL, by means of signaling means on board this rental vehicle VL, a need to drive the latter (VL ) to a chosen garage or a car rental center for inspection and / or repair, or a need to call a chosen telephone number to trigger an intervention by an auto repairer and / or an replacement of the rental vehicle VL and / or an appraisal of the rental vehicle VL, depending on the severity of an impact and / or the consequence of an impact contained in the definition of this stored shock.

This signaling can be done by means of an audio alert message broadcast by means of at least one loudspeaker of the rental vehicle VL, and / or i5 of a textual alert message and / or a thumbnail displayed by at least one display screen of the rental vehicle VL (for example that of the central instrument panel of the dashboard and / or that of the dashboard).

In yet another variant, when the definition of stored shock comprises a gravity greater than a predefined threshold and / or a consequence

0 of shock which requires an intervention of a car repairer and / or a replacement of the rental vehicle VL and / or an expertise of the rental vehicle VL, the analysis means MA2 can be able to generate an alarm intended to ask the driver of the rental vehicle VL to call, with his own wireless communication equipment, the abovementioned remote communication equipment EC (by providing him with the telephone number allowing him to be reached and the subject of the call), in order to that he himself provide this object of the call.

This alarm may be in the form of an audio message broadcast by means of at least one loudspeaker of the rental vehicle VL, and / or

0 of a text message and / or a thumbnail displayed by at least one display screen of the rental car VL (for example that of the central instrument panel and / or that of the instrument panel ). In addition, the predefined threshold can be equal to 3 or 4 when gravity is represented by a ίο value between 0 (minimum) and 5 (maximum). If the severity is not important, an application message or notification can also be sent to the driver’s mobile communication equipment after the rental.

As an option, or as a variant, the analysis means MA2 can be adapted to supply each definition of shock stored (for example in the storage means MS) to external equipment which is temporarily connected to the rental vehicle VL, at demand for this equipment. This connection can, for example, be made via the diagnostic socket of the rental vehicle VL. This external equipment can, for example, be a laptop or a dedicated analysis unit or even a smart mobile phone (or "smartphone").

It will be noted that the analysis device DA can analyze the event data acquired continuously, or alternatively periodically, it is also important to note that the invention can also be considered from the angle of a method. analysis, which can in particular be implemented by means of a DA analysis device of the type presented above. The functionalities offered by the implementation of the analysis method according to the invention are identical to those offered by the

0 DA analysis device presented above.

This analysis method comprises a step in which the rental vehicle VL determines (with its DA analysis device) among the event data acquired at least that which represents a shock which involves it, then stores a definition of each determined shock (for example in the storage means MS of its analysis device DA).

There is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 a nonlimiting example of algorithm implementing an analysis method according to the invention.

In a sub-step 10, one (the DA analysis device) determines, among the event data which have been acquired by (the) means

0 of acquisition MA1j of the rental vehicle VL, at least those which represent a shock involving this rental vehicle VL.

In a sub-step 20, one (the DA analysis device) generates a shock definition from the event data representing this shock, then one (the DA analysis device) stores this generated shock definition (by example in the storage means MS).

In a sub-step 30, one (the DA analysis device) determines whether an alarm relating to the definition of stored shock should be transmitted.

If not, we (the DA analysis device) make, in a sub-step 40, this definition of shock stored available to the vehicle rental company, to which the rental vehicle VL belongs.

In the affirmative, one (the DA analysis device) transmits to a remote communication equipment EC, in a sub-step 50, an alert message comprising the definition of stored shock. Then, one (the DA analysis device) makes, in sub-step 40, this definition of shock stored available to the vehicle rental company.

Claims (10)

1. Analysis device (DA) for a rental vehicle (VL) 5 comprising acquisition means (MA1j) capable of acquiring data representative of events involving it, characterized in that it comprises means of analysis (MA2) capable of determining among said acquired event data at least those which represent a shock involving said rental vehicle (VL), and in storing a definition of each determined shock. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said analysis means (MA2) are suitable for determining in operating data of said rental vehicle (VL) and among said acquired event data those which represent a consequence d 'a shock, and is to store in said definition of a shock each consequence of this determined shock. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said analysis means (MA2) are suitable for determining a severity of an impact from each consequence of this determined impact, and for storing in 2 0 said definition of a shock said severity of this shock determined. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the presence of communication means by wave (MCN) in said rental vehicle (VL), said analysis means (MA2) are suitable for initiating a transmission, by said means of communication by channel 25 of waves (MCN) to a remote communication equipment (EC), of at least some of the stored shock definitions. 5. Device according to claim 4 taken in combination with claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said analysis means (MA2) are adapted to trigger said transmission of a stored shock definition 3 0 comprising a severity greater than a predefined threshold and / or a consequence of an impact requiring the intervention of a car repairer and / or a replacement of said rental vehicle (VL) and / or an assessment of said rental vehicle (VL). 6. Device according to the combination of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said analysis means (MA2) are capable of generating an alarm intended to signal to a driver of said rental vehicle (VL), by means of signaling means embarked on said vehicle 5 rental (VL), a need to drive the latter (VL) to a chosen garage or a car rental center for inspection and / or repair, or a need to call a chosen telephone number to trigger an intervention from a car repairer and / or a replacement of said rental vehicle (VL) and / or an assessment of said rental vehicle (VL) according to said severity of an impact and / or said consequence of 'a shock contained in said definition of this stored shock. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said analysis means (MA2) are suitable for determining said shock data from event data acquired by means 15 acquisition (MA1j) chosen from at least one digital camera, at least one accelerometer, and at least one device for analysis by ultrasound or electromagnetic waves. 8. Rental vehicle (LV) comprising acquisition means (MA1j) suitable for acquiring data representative of events 2 0 the implicant, characterized in that it further comprises an analysis device (DA) according to one of the preceding claims. 9. Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that it is of the automobile type. 10. Method for analyzing data from a rental vehicle (LV) 25 comprising acquisition means (MA1j) suitable for acquiring data representative of events involving it, characterized in that it comprises a step in which said rental vehicle (VL) determines among said event data acquired at minus those representing a shock that involves it, and then stores a definition of each determined shock. 1/1