NL2022879B1

NL2022879B1 - Vehicle comprising a bumper

Info

Publication number: NL2022879B1
Application number: NL2022879A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Johannes Smit Stephan; Wilhelmus Maria Van Bentum Johannes
Original assignee: Johannes Smit Stephan; Wilhelmus Maria Van Bentum Johannes
Priority date: 2019-04-05
Filing date: 2019-04-05
Publication date: 2020-10-12

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle, in particular an autonomous vehicle, comprising a vehicle body, at least one driven wheel for propelling the body in at 5 least a forward direction, at least one bumper, coupled to the body, reversibly movable with at least a directional component opposite to the forward direction, a brake system; for bringing the vehicle to a halt, wherein the distance over which the bumper is movable in the direction opposite to the forward direction is larger than the braking distance of the vehicle at full speed. 10

Description

Vehicle comprising a bumper The present invention relates to a vehicle comprising a bumper and in particular to an autonomous vehicle comprising such bumper. Vehicles, in particular automobiles have been provided with bumpers for more than a century. The bumpers served to protect the vehicle in case of collisions with fixed or moving objects or with persons, and may have an aesthetic purpose in some cases too. In more recent years, bumpers may also be designed such that damage to objects or persons that are hit by the vehicle is minimised. Herein their shape, but also the choice for materials is taken into account. However, the design of the vehicle and in particular integration thereof in a car itself, as well as protection of said car are the main purpose in most cases. For autonomous vehicles, different circumstances and requirements may be the case. The fact that there is no driver on board makes that all responsibility is to be taken by the vehicle and its control system. Since these vehicles may also be smaller than regular road vehicles, they may easily be overlooked, and therefor extra caution may be taken.

Itis a goal of the present invention to provide a safety solution for the above mentioned category of vehicles, or at least to provide an alternative to the prior art. The invention thereto provides a vehicle, in particular an autonomous vehicle, comprising a vehicle body, with at least one driven wheel for propelling the body in atleast a forward direction, a bumper, coupled to the body, reversibly movable with at least a directional component opposite to the forward direction, a brake system; for bringing the vehicle to a halt, wherein the distance over which the bumper is movable in the direction opposite to the forward direction is larger than the braking distance of the vehicle at full speed.

A bumper that is movable with respect to the vehicle offers the possibility to be pressed when the vehicle touches an object, person or other vehicle, either because the vehicle drives against such object, person or other vehicle, or because such object, person or other vehicle collides with the autonomous vehicle while it stands still or is parked. In case of collisions occurring when the vehicle moves, it is beneficial when the bumper is movable over a distance that is larger than the braking distance at full speed, so that when it is determined that the bumper touches an object, the vehicle can be braked and is stopped before the vehicle body touches the object. The movement is reversible in order to be able to re-use the bumper after a collision. Preferably no active counter-force or dampening or absorption is applied.

In a further embodiment, the bumper according to the invention is also movable with a directional component perpendicular to the forward direction, in particular an upward and downward movement. In case of a collision, the bumper may for instance be pushed in the upward direction. These directional movements may be coupled, so that for instance when the bumper is pushed toward the vehicle, it is also lifted. Herewith it is avoided that during or after a collision, persons or objects get stuck under the bumper.

The bumper may for instance be suspended on a by a movable parallelogram construction. Such construction keeps the bumper in a predetermined orientation, for instance with its front surface perpendicular to the direction of forward movement, and may be configured for lifting the bumper when it is moved toward the vehicle body. In such parallelogram construction, the bumper and the vehicle may each form an essentially vertical oriented leg of the parallelogram, which two legs are connected by a third and a fourth leg.

In yet a further embodiment, the vehicle comprises an actuator for moving the parallelogram. Such actuator may for instance be configured for limiting a position of the bumper with a directional component away from the vehicle body but allowing movement of the bumper toward the vehicle body. A practical embodiment of such actuator will be explained into more detail with reference to the figures.

In a further aspect of the present invention, the bumper comprises multiple parts, arranged next to each other in a direction perpendicular to the forward direction, in particular the width direction of the vehicle. In particular, these parts may be formed as vertically extending slats. These multiple parts are preferably individually movable, and by further preference each part is provided with an actuator. This way, a preferred height distribution between the bumper and the surface that supports the vehicle can be obtained. The actuators may for instance be controlled such that a minimal distance between at least a part of the bumper and the surface the vehicle is supported by is obeyed when the vehicle is driven. Additionally, a maximal distance between the vehicle and the surface the vehicle is supported by is obeyed when the vehicle is parked, in particular a zero distance.

The vehicle may be surrounded on all sides by bumpers of the described kind.

The invention will be elucidated into more detail now, with reference to the following figures.

- Figures 1a-1c¢ show a schematic side view of a vehicle with a bumper according to the present invention; - Figures 2a-c show a detail of an actuator for a bumper according to the present invention; and - Figures 3a-c show a schematic front view of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention; - Figure 4 shows a detail of a sensor for a bumper according to the present invention.

Figure 1a shows a schematic side view of a vehicle 1 with a bumper 2 according to the present invention in a first position. The vehicle 1 comprises a vehicle body 3 and a driven wheel 4 for propelling the body 3 in at least a forward direction F. Evidently, there may be more than one wheel on the vehicle. The bumper 2, coupled to the body 2, reversibly movable with at least a directional component R opposite to the forward direction F. The vehicle 1 further comprises a brake system (not depicted) for bringing the vehicle 1 to a halt. The distance D over which the bumper 2 is movable in the direction R opposite to the forward direction F is larger than the braking distance B of the vehicle 2 at full speed.

Figure 1b shows a schematic view of the same vehicle 1 with its bumper 2 in a second position. The bumper 2 was moved toward the vehicle 1 because the vehicle 1 encountered an object 6. It is visible that the vehicle stopped before the vehicle body 3 touched the object 6.

The bumper 2 is also moved with a directional component H perpendicular to the forward direction F, in particular an upward H and downward direction. These directional movements are coupled because the bumper 2 is suspended by a movable parallelogram, comprising bars 7, 8, 9, 10. The bars have hinges 11, 12, 138 and 14. The bumper 2 is reversely movable, so that can return to - for instance - the position depicted in figure 1a when the vehicle 1 is moved in reverse direction R.

As can be seen by comparing the relative positions of the vehicle and the bumper in figures ta and 1b, the parallelogram is configured for lifting the bumper 2 when it is moved toward the vehicle body 3. This movement may be in the simplest embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention caused by a force exerted by the object 6 on the bumper 2.

Figure 1c shows another position of the bumper 2 with respect to the vehicle body

3. In this position, the bumper is lowered to the level of the surface 5 that supports the vehicle 1, in this case ground level. This mutual orientation may be used when the vehicle 1 is parked. By being at ground level, the bumper 2 prohibits that objects, but more important, people or animals can get stuck or hidden below the vehicle 1 when it is in its parked position. Before driving, the bumper 2 is lifted again. For this purpose, an actuator for moving the parallelogram may be present, as will be explained in figures 2a-c.

Figure 2a shows the vehicle form figures 1a-c, wherein an actuator 15 is present for limiting a position of the bumper 2 with a directional component away from the vehicle body and allowing movement of the bumper toward the vehicle body. In the position shown in figure 2a, the distance of the bumper 2 from the vehicle body 3 is limited to X. Detail P shows how this works. The bar 8 of the parallelogram is extended beyond hinge 11, and the actuator 15 is embodied as a rod, that serves as a support for the bar 8. The further the actuator is moved in the direction Y, the higher and closer to the vehicle body 3 the bumper 2 is kept. However, the actuator 15 only determines the maximum distance X between the bumper 2 and the vehicle body 3. The bumper 2 can always be moved toward the vehicle body 3 in case of a collision.

Figure 2b shows another position of the actuator 15, wherein the bumper is located further from the vehicle body.

Figure 2c shows how the bumper 2 can still be moved to the vehicle body 3 when the actuator 15 is in the position shown in figure 2b. 5

Figures 3a-c show an embodiment wherein the bumper 2 comprises multiple parts 20-29, arranged next to each other in a direction W perpendicular to the forward direction F, in particular the width direction W of the vehicle 1.The parts 20-29 are individually movable, which may be in the same way as depicted in figures 1a-c and 2-c, but at least with a vertical directional component.

Figure 3a shows a normal driving position of the bumper parts 20-29 and figure 3b shows a parting position.

In these two cases, all parts are kept at the same height.

However, as figure 3c shows, in specific circumstances, for instance when the support surface 5 comprises a projection 30, specific bumper parts may be lifted, in the case shown these are parts 25 and 26. For this purpose, each part 20-29 may be provided with an actuator, such as actuator 15 from figure 2a-c. (JB: Deze alenea is onduidelijk) The actuators may be controlled such that a minimal distance between at least a part of the bumper 2 and the surface 5(JB: met name hierna) , 30 the vehicle is supported by is obeyed when the vehicle 1 is driven.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment wherein the bumper 2 comprises a sensor 40, for detecting a collision with an object, person or other vehicle.

The sensor is in this embodiment positioned behind the bumper, and the bumper itself is supported translatable by a bearing 41 with respect to bar 8. When the vehicle collides with an object, the bumper is first forced toward the bar 8, until it touches sensor 40. When the sensor is pushed, a signal for a control of the vehicle is generated, that indicates that a collision has taken place.

This signal may be used by a control system to brake the vehicle.

The examples above are exemplary only and limit in no way the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

Conclusions

Vehicle, in particular an autonomous vehicle, comprising: - a body of the vehicle; - at least one driven wheel for moving the body in at least a forward direction; at least one bumper coupled to the body, which is reversibly movable with at least one directional component opposite to the forward direction; - a braking system for stopping the vehicle; where - the distance over which the bumper is movable in the direction opposite to the forward direction is greater than the braking distance of the vehicle at full speed.

Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the bumper is also movable with a directional component perpendicular to the forward direction, in particular upward and downward.

Vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the directions of movement are coupled.

Vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the bumper is suspended by means of a movable parallelogram.

Vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the parallelogram is adapted to raise the bumper when it is moved towards the body of the vehicle.

Vehicle according to claim 5, comprising an actuator for moving the parallelogram.

The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the actuator is configured to limit a position of the bumper in a direction component away from the body of the vehicle, and to allow movement of the bumper towards the body of the vehicle.

Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bumper comprises a plurality of parts which are arranged next to each other in a direction perpendicular to the forward direction, in particular in the width direction of the vehicle.

Vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of parts are individually movable.

Vehicle according to claim 9, wherein each part is provided with an actuator.

The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the actuators are controlled to maintain a minimum distance between at least part of the bumper and the surface that the vehicle bears when the vehicle is being driven.

Vehicle according to claim 6, wherein a maximum distance is maintained between the vehicle and the surface that carries the vehicle when the vehicle is parked, in particular a distance with a zero value.

Vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bumper comprises a sensor for detecting a collision with an object, person, or other vehicle and for providing a sensor signal.

Vehicle as claimed in claim 13, comprising a control system arranged for braking the vehicle when a sensor signal is received.

Vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, surrounded by bumpers according to any of the preceding claims.