DE102016217741B4 - Method for operating a safety device of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for operating a safety device of a motor vehicle (1), comprising the steps of - detecting an imminent dangerous situation by an environmental monitoring device (4) of the motor vehicle (1) - checking whether a defined danger threshold is exceeded; characterized in that- an action is activated, comprising operating at least one drive of a window pane (8) and / or a sliding roof in the event of exceeding the defined danger threshold; and the drive for opening at least one window pane (8) and / or the sunroof is actuated if it has been detected by the environmental monitoring device (4) that the dangerous situation is the risk of travel or movement into a body of water (12).

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a safety device of a motor vehicle. The method comprises the following steps: detection of an imminent hazardous situation by an environmental monitoring device of the motor vehicle; Check if a specified hazard threshold is exceeded; Actuating at least one drive of a window pane and / or a sunroof in the event of exceeding the specified danger threshold.

Modern motor vehicles are equipped with so-called pre-crash systems which have different environment sensors in order to detect an imminent dangerous situation, which may be a collision with another road user or an object, at an early stage. Depending on the current environment, safety devices can be activated. For example, an automatic braking operation or a steering maneuver can be triggered in order to avoid or at least mitigate a collision. Depending on the situation, safety systems of the motor vehicle can also be activated, in particular airbags or belt tensioners.

When a defined danger threshold is exceeded, window panes and possibly a sunroof are usually closed in order to protect the vehicle occupants from flying debris or other foreign objects. At the same time to be prevented by the closing of the side windows that limbs such as the arms or the head are thrown out through the window opening by the forces occurring in a collision. Accordingly, in conventional security systems all windows and possibly a sunroof are closed.

If the motor vehicle, in the event of a collision, an evasive maneuver or when leaving the carriageway, is caused by carelessness of the driver in a body of water, e.g. Controlling or hurling a river or a lake, the problem arises that, as a result of the water masses acting on the vehicle doors from the outside, the vehicle doors can no longer be opened. Since, due to the above-described safety systems, the windows and / or the sunroof are closed to protect the occupants, the interior is closed to the outside of the vehicle. If the motor vehicle enters the water body, the on-board electronics usually fail as a result of water-related short circuits, so that windows and / or the sliding roof can no longer be opened, since these are usually electrically controlled nowadays and depend on a functioning onboard power supply. There is a risk that the vehicle occupants drown.

The publication DE 10 2015 002 960 A1 relates to a method for operating a vehicle, wherein an accident of the vehicle is determined by means of first signals of at least one detection unit. It is determined by means of second signals of at least one rain sensor, a water position of the vehicle, wherein an automatic opening of at least one vehicle opening is deactivated depending on the detected signals of the detection unit and the rain sensor when a water position of the vehicle is determined.

The publication DE 10 2014 005 018 A1 relates to a method for operating a vehicle, wherein an accident of the vehicle is detected. Emergency measures for the rescue of occupants of the vehicle are automatically initiated in a water accident detected by means of at least one detection unit for the detection of water.

The publication DE 10 2010 046 765 A1 relates to a safety device for a vehicle. In the vehicle, at least one sensor is arranged, which detects an increase and / or decrease of a vehicle under a water surface. Furthermore, the document relates to a method for operating a safety device in a vehicle.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method for operating a safety device of a motor vehicle, which enables improved protection of the vehicle occupants.

This object is achieved by the method according to the features of patent claim 1 and a motor vehicle for carrying out the method according to the features of claim 13. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the dependent claims.

To solve this problem is provided according to the invention in a method for operating a safety device of a motor vehicle of the type mentioned that the drive for opening at least one window and / or sunroof is actuated, if it was detected by the environment monitoring device that the dangerous situation Danger of a ride or a movement (eg fall) into a body of water.

The invention is based on the recognition that in a motor vehicle whose windows and sunroof is closed, and which is controlled in a body of water or falls, can not be opened due to, acting from the outside on the vehicle doors, water masses the vehicle doors. There In this situation - provided that the windows and the sunroof are electrically operated - they can not open in case of failed electrical system supply, there is a risk of drowning for the vehicle occupants, even if they survive the actual accident or crash slightly injured.

According to the invention, therefore, when there is a risk of uncontrolled movement or movement into a body of water, such as e.g. in the case of a fall from a bridge and the like, at least one of the windows and / or the sunroof promptly open automatically before entering the water. This significantly increases the likelihood that the vehicle occupants can get out of the vehicle. On the one hand, it is possible that the occupants can get to safety through the open window and / or sunroof. On the other hand, the opening of a vehicle door is facilitated, since a gradual balance of forces between the water acting from the outside on the vehicle door and the water entering the vehicle through the open window and / or sunroof takes place.

According to an expedient embodiment, the environment monitoring device determines, by means of position-determining means and map data, whether a determined current position of the motor vehicle has a (critical) proximity to the body of water and / or the determined current position of the motor vehicle is adjacent to a roadway marked in the map data. A (critical) proximity to the water can be understood as the fall below a given distance to a body of water. Since this situation also includes all journeys over a bridge and therefore alone does not allow a reliable conclusion on an imminent situation, it may be necessary or useful as a further criterion to determine whether the motor vehicle is located next to the roadway. If both criteria are met, the existence of an impending dangerous situation is likely. If, on the other hand, the vehicle is moving on a travel path present in the map data, it is possible to conclude that a bridge has been crossed.

According to a further refinement, the environment monitoring device processes as a criterion that a dangerous situation is imminent, a height change of the motor vehicle detected by means of the position-determining means, which exceeds a predefined height in a given time. This can signal, for example, the fall from a bridge into a body of water or the fall over a steep slope.

As a further criterion, which uses the environmental monitoring device as a criterion that a dangerous situation is imminent, a driving over a guideway boundary is processed, wherein the driving over the guideway boundary by means of the position determining means and / or a suspension sensor and / or a camera is detected. By means of the position determining means, e.g. be determined whether the vehicle is currently on a marked in map data track or leaves. Due to the chassis sensor system, a suddenly and unexpectedly occurring "shock", as occurs when driving over a curb, can be detected. This can e.g. be detected by different acceleration sensors, but also on the behavior of one or more struts. With the help of one or more cameras installed in the vehicle, the crossing of a track boundary can be directly detected and detected. If, in addition, the condition of the vicinity of the water is fulfilled, a dangerous imminent situation is concluded.

According to a further expedient embodiment, the environment monitoring device processes as a criterion that a dangerous situation is imminent, an uneven floor profile, in particular after crossing the track boundary and / or if the motor vehicle is next to a marked in the map data roadway, the uneven ground course means the position determining Means and / or the suspension sensor and / or the camera or cameras is detected.

The detection can be done in a manner as described above.

A further expedient embodiment provides that the environment monitoring device as criterion that a dangerous situation is imminent, a detected by means of the suspension sensor suspension travel of one or more struts during rebound, which remains maximum for a predetermined period of time process. A maximum rebound for an unusually long period of one or more struts takes place, for example, when the vehicle is in a free fall. This can for example be the case when breaking through a bridge railing and the consequent fall.

A further embodiment provides that the environment monitoring device processes as a criterion that a dangerous situation is imminent, the exceeding of a pitch angle detected in the vehicle longitudinal direction and / or the exceeding of a rotational angle detected in the vehicle transverse direction relative to a reference plane, in particular the horizontal. Such a situation occurs, for example, in a flight-like movement trajectory when the vehicle falls down from a great height, such as a fall from a bridge.

A limit of the pitch angle and / or the rotation angle may be varied depending on the vehicle speed. Here, for example, in the deliberate slow down a steep embankment, in which the driver at any time a targeted stop is possible, it can be prevented that a window and / or the sunroof opens in an undesirable manner. If, on the other hand, a certain speed of the vehicle is fallen short of when descending a steep embankment, targeted stopping may possibly no longer be possible. As a result, the limit value of the pitch angle is reduced to such an extent that an automatic opening of at least one window and / or the sunroof takes place if it has simultaneously been determined that the motor vehicle is in the vicinity of a body of water.

A further embodiment provides that the pitch angular velocity and / or the rotational angular velocity is or will be evaluated.

It can also be provided that the environment monitoring device is detected as a criterion that there is a dangerous situation, turning the wheels of the motor vehicle at the same time substantially constant current position of the motor vehicle is detected. This can for example be the case with a flight-like movement trajectory when falling over a bridge railing.

A further embodiment provides that the environment monitoring device detects as a criterion that a dangerous situation is imminent when operating a brake of the motor vehicle, an abrupt change of a wheel speed to zero. This situation occurs when the motor vehicle is in a flight-like motion trajectory, where the driver is e.g. reflexively tries to brake the vehicle by applying the brake. In this situation, the wheel speed abruptly changes to zero, which is an indication of a free fall or similar situation. An abrupt change of the wheel speed to zero is not possible with existing grip.

A further embodiment provides that as an action an automatic emergency call is issued if it was detected by the environment monitoring device that the dangerous situation is the risk of driving or moving into a body of water, as well as for the discontinuation of an automatic emergency call, analogous to an operation an electric drive, a functioning electrical system must be given.

A motor vehicle according to the invention is designed according to the invention for carrying out the method of the type described above.

• 1 ein Flussdiagramm, mit wesentlichen Schritten des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens; und
• 2 eine Verkehrssituation, bei der ein Kraftfahrzeug in Folge eines Ausweichmanövers mit einer flugähnlichen Bewegungstrajektorie von einer Brücke in Richtung eines Gewässers stürzt.

The invention will be explained below with reference to an embodiment with reference to the drawings. Show it:

• 1 a flow chart, with essential steps of the method according to the invention; and
• 2 a traffic situation in which a motor vehicle crashes as a result of an evasive maneuver with a flight-like movement trajectory from a bridge in the direction of a body of water.

1 is a flowchart and shows the essential steps of the method for the operation of a safety device of a motor vehicle 1 , 2 shows a typical situation in which the inventive method is used. A motor vehicle 1 moves on a driveway 10 the by means of a bridge 11 a body of water 12 bridged. Immediately in front of the motor vehicle 1 (the so-called ego vehicle) collide two other vehicles 2 . 3 together. As a result of an evasive maneuver comes the driver of the motor vehicle 1 from the driveway 10 from. For example, due to its own speed, it breaks through a bridge railing and crashes in a flight-like motion trajectory towards the one below the bridge 11 flowing water 12 ,

The car 1 has an environment monitoring facility 4 which includes a computing unit and various sensors. The environment monitoring device 4 of the motor vehicle 1 monitored by the sensors, such as position determining means, one or more cameras, suspension sensors, rotation angle and / or pitch angle sensors and the like, the area around the motor vehicle 1 and especially the driveway 10 in front of the motor vehicle 1 , In 2 is an antenna of the position determining means, such as a GPS receiver, with the reference numeral 5 and a camera with the reference numeral 6 characterized. Other sensors, such as a suspension sensor, yaw rate sensors and the like are not explicitly shown.

After the start of the procedure, the environment monitoring device monitors 4 the environment of the motor vehicle 1 , The information supplied by the sensors of the environment monitoring device is represented by a in 2 evaluated arithmetic unit, not shown. By evaluating the different information provided by the sensors of the environment monitoring device, the computing unit can make a dangerous Situation can be detected at the risk of driving or moving the motor vehicle 1 into a body of water (step S1 ).

Such a dangerous situation is, for example, when the ego vehicle 1 due to a like in 2 accident, due to an evasive maneuver or due to an agreement from the road, eg carelessness of the driver of the ego vehicle leaves a lane and there is a risk that the vehicle no longer controlled in front of the nearby waters, such as the in 2 shown river 12 , a stream and the like to a halt, arrives.

With the help of the position-determining means and map data is determined in the present embodiment, that the motor vehicle 1 currently in the immediate vicinity of the water 12 , eg a river. This criterion is a prerequisite that an imminent dangerous situation in the sense of the method according to the invention by the environment monitoring device 4 can be detected. In the case of in 2 shown embodiment, the dangerous situation, the opening of at least one window 8th and / or the sunroof required to be detected by various criteria.

The computing unit of the environment monitoring device checks in step S2 whether a hazard threshold has been exceeded at which there is a risk that the vessel will move or uncontrolled movement into the water. If this is not the case, the method returns to step S1 back. If, on the other hand, the danger threshold is exceeded ("yes"), then the process takes place according to step S3 a drive for opening at least one window pane and / or the sunroof. This is to ensure that the one or more occupants located in the motor vehicle in a fall or a ride in the water can still get out of the interior of the vehicle.

Since with closed windows and closed sunroof the forces required to open a door are very high and opening of a window or sunroof is usually no longer possible due to the water-related short circuit, according to the invention the opening of at least one access before entering the motor vehicle 1 into the water. As a result, there is the possibility that the occupants can optionally get rid of the open window and / or sunroof. If this is not possible, for example due to a small opening cross-section of an open window, the water entering the vehicle provides a gradual balance of forces between the outside and inside water so that manual opening of the door without excessive force by a vehicle occupant is made possible ,

Detecting the dangerous situation can be done in different ways and with different sensors of the environment monitoring device for the motor vehicle 1 respectively. The driving of the drive for opening at least one window and / or the sunroof of the motor vehicle 1 generally takes place whenever a "flight-like movement trajectory" of the ego vehicle is diagnosed. This can be done, for example, by the evaluation of acceleration data in the motor vehicle 1 located acceleration sensors are detected. In particular, this can also be considered turning and / or pitch angle of the vehicle and their rates of change.

The concept of a "flight-like movement trajectory" is to be understood broadly. These are to be understood as trajectory courses of the ego vehicle, as they occur in particular in a free fall or a steep slope departure. In a steep slope departure while the vehicle speed can be set in relation to a slope angle. The angle from which a flight-like movement trajectory and thus a dangerous situation is detected, can be varied depending on the vehicle speed. The smaller the vehicle speed, the greater a permitted slope angle can be, without a computing unit of the environment monitoring device actuating the drive of at least one window and / or a sunroof for opening.

In addition, various vehicle conditions can be processed for the presence of a flight-like movement trajectory and thus a dangerous situation.

In this embodiment, the motor vehicle undergoes 1 due to the fall of the bridge 11 a significant change in altitude in a given time. If the change in altitude exceeds a given value in the given time, this can be interpreted as a free fall. In this case, the criterion of the impending dangerous situation and the risk of falling into the water 12 meets, allowing the drive to open at least one windowpane 8th and / or the sunroof is actuated.

When driving over or breaking through an in 2 not shown limit of the infrastructure 10 can be detected by a suspension sensor also not shown specific signals, which also indicate a dangerous situation. As an alternative or as an additive, the crossing over of the track boundary can also be detected by the position-determining means and / or a camera.

After breaking through the track boundary, the spring travel of the struts of the motor vehicle maximized because the wheel load is eliminated immediately. If the travel remains maximum for a predetermined period of time, this also indicates a free fall of the motor vehicle 1 out.

Optionally, the motor vehicle rotates 1 after breaking through the track boundary and the transition to free fall to its vehicle longitudinal and / or Fahrzeugquer- and / or vehicle vertical axis. These data provided by corresponding sensors can also be used to detect a dangerous situation. For example, a rapid change in a pitch angle and / or angle of rotation may indicate a free fall or rollover.

Will also by the driver of the motor vehicle 1 while the brake is released, the wheels, which initially rotate due to their inertia, come to an abrupt halt. Since such an abrupt speed change to zero speed usually does not occur in a vehicle traveling conventionally on a guideway, this is a further indication of a free fall. Optionally, even turning the wheels of a motor vehicle at the same time substantially constant current position of the motor vehicle point to a dangerous situation.

In the in 2 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the arithmetic unit of the surroundings detection device thus has various possibilities for carrying out a hazard analysis with regard to the described hazardous situation in order to carry out an automatic opening of at least one window, when combined there is a risk of driving or moving into a body of water. In particular, it may be expedient to combine the various detection options for the purposes of plausibility of the assessment of the risk.

In addition, it should be noted in conclusion that when exceeding the specified hazard threshold instead of (exclusively) or in addition to the operation of the drive to open at least one window 8th and / or the sunroof, an automatic emergency call can be placed, as well as for the discontinuation of an automatic emergency call, analogous to an actuation of an electric drive, a functioning electrical system must be given. Such an emergency call can thus only before the entrance of the motor vehicle 1 be deposited in the water.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

vehicle

2, 3

other vehicles

4

Environment monitoring device (position determining device, camera, vehicle sensor system)

5

antenna

6

camera

7

bikes

8th

windowpane

10

roadway

11

bridge

12

waters

Claims (13)

Method for operating a safety device of a motor vehicle (1), comprising the steps of - detecting an imminent dangerous situation by an environmental monitoring device (4) of the motor vehicle (1); - Check whether a defined hazard threshold is exceeded; characterized in that - an action is activated, comprising actuating at least one drive of a window pane (8) and / or a sunroof in the event of exceeding the defined danger threshold; and - the drive for opening at least one window pane (8) and / or the sunroof is actuated, if it was detected by the environmental monitoring device (4) that the dangerous situation is the risk of travel or movement into a body of water (12). Method according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the environment monitoring device (4) determines by means of position-determining means and map data, whether - a determined current position of the motor vehicle (1) has a proximity to the body of water (12); and / or - the determined current position of the motor vehicle (1) is located next to a marked in the map data lane. Method according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the Environment monitoring device (4) as a criterion that a dangerous situation is imminent, a detected by means of the position determining means height change of the motor vehicle (1), which exceeds a predetermined amount in a predetermined time processed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the environment monitoring device (4) as a criterion that imminent a dangerous situation, processing a crossing of a track boundary, wherein driving over the track boundary means of the position determining means and / or a suspension sensor and / or a camera is detected. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the environment monitoring device (4) as a criterion that imminent a dangerous situation, processes an uneven ground course, wherein the uneven ground course is detected by the position determining means and / or a suspension sensor and / or a camera , Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the environment monitoring device (4) as criterion that a dangerous situation is imminent, processed by means of a suspension sensor suspension travel of one or more struts during rebound, which remains maximum for a predetermined period of time processed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the environment monitoring device (4) as a criterion that imminent a dangerous situation, exceeding a detected in the vehicle longitudinal direction pitch angle and / or exceeding a detected in the vehicle transverse direction of rotation relative to a reference plane. Method according to Claim 7 , characterized in that a limit value of the pitch angle and / or angle of rotation is varied as a function of the vehicle speed. Method according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the pitch angle velocity and / or rotational angular velocity is evaluated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the environment monitoring device (4) detects a criterion that a dangerous situation is imminent, a turning of the wheels of the motor vehicle (1) at the same time substantially constant current position of the motor vehicle (1). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the environment monitoring device (4) as a criterion that a dangerous situation is imminent, when operating a brake of the motor vehicle (1) detected an abrupt change of a wheel speed to 0. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that as an action an automatic emergency call is issued if it was detected by the environment monitoring device (4) that the dangerous situation is the risk of driving or moving into a body of water (12). Motor vehicle (1) for carrying out the method according to one of Claims 1 to 12 is trained.

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