SE541477C2

SE541477C2 - Method and system for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire

Info

Publication number: SE541477C2
Application number: SE1651248A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Johan Hesse
Original assignee: Scania Cv Ab
Priority date: 2016-09-22
Filing date: 2016-09-22
Publication date: 2019-10-15
Also published as: DE102017008613A1; SE1651248A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire. The method comprises the step of: determining said vehicle fire. The method further comprises the steps of: determining a situation associated with said vehicle (1) being on fire; analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising considering the surroundings (L) of said vehicle on fire; based upon the results of said analysis, determining appropriate actions for mitigating damages associated with said vehicle on fire and said surroundings of said vehicle on fire; and, performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions.The present invention also relates to a system for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire. The present invention also relates to a vehicle. The present invention also relates to a computer program and a computer program product.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MITIGATING DAMAGES IN ASSOCIATION WITH A VEHICLE FIRE TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a method for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a system for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire. The invention also relates to a vehicle. The invention in addition relates to a computer program and a computer program product.

BACKGROUND ART A vehicle fire may cause damages not only to the own vehicle but also to nearby objects such as other vehicles. If a vehicle at a parking place comprising other vehicles catches fire, the fire might spread to other nearby vehicles at the parking place.

US2015310742 discloses a vehicle safety system comprising a communication link for alerting a vehicle fire to vehicles nearby.

There is however a need for providing a method and system for further improving mitigation of damages in association with a vehicle fire.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire which reduces the risk of damages associated with said vehicle fire.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire which reduces the risk of damages associated with said vehicle fire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects, apparent from the following description, are achieved by a method, a system, a vehicle, a computer program and a computer program product, as set out in the appended independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the method and the system are defined in appended dependent claims.

Specifically an object of the invention is achieved by a method for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire. The method comprises the step of: determining said vehicle fire. The method further comprises the steps of: determining a situation associated with said vehicle being on fire; analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire; based upon the results of said analysis, determining appropriate actions for mitigating damages associated with said vehicle on fire and said surroundings of said vehicle on fire; and, performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions.

Hereby the risk of damages associated with said vehicle fire is reduced in that the analysis of the situation comprising the surroundings provides relevant information about which actions to take such that the appropriate actions may be performed.

The step of determining said vehicle fire may be performed utilizing any suitable detection means which may comprise one or more suitable detector units for detecting a fire comprising any suitable temperature detector and/or any suitable smoke detector.

Said situation associated with said vehicle being on fire may be any situation involving said vehicle fire comprising a vehicle fire on a parking place or other site where other nearby vehicles may be present, in connection to infrastructure which may be affected such as nearby buildings, in connection to vegetation such as a forest, a park or the like, a garage with multiple vehicles etc. Said situation may be type of fire of said vehicle, location of fire of said vehicle, severeness of said fire, status of said fire, expected development of said fire etc.

The step of determining a situation associated with said vehicle being on fire comprises according to an embodiment the step of determining the position of the vehicle on fire. The step of determining the position of the vehicle on fire may comprise utilizing any suitable detection means for detecting the position of the vehicle. The detection means may comprise one or more detection units for detecting the position of the vehicle such as the relative distance to the vehicle on fire. Said one or more detection units may be arranged in one or more nearby vehicles and/or nearby infrastructure such as one or more buildings, signs, posts or the like.

The step of determining the position of the vehicle on fire may comprise utilizing any suitable Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, e.g. a global positioning system, GPS, and map data comprising information about the location of said position. Such Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS may be arranged in the vehicle on fire and/or nearby vehicles and/or nearby infrastructure detecting.

The step of determining a situation associated with said vehicle being on fire comprises the step of determining the surroundings of said vehicle on fire.

The step of determining the surroundings of said vehicle on fire may comprise utilizing any suitable detection means for detecting the surroundings. The detection means may comprise one or more detection units for detecting the surroundings comprising detecting any object within said surroundings comprising infrastructure such as buildings, other vehicles, vegetation etc., said objects comprising any affectable object. Said one or more detection units may be arranged in one or more nearby vehicles and/or nearby infrastructure such as one or more buildings, signs, posts or the like.

The step of determining the surroundings of said vehicle on fire may comprise utilizing any suitable Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, e.g. a global positioning system, GPS, and map data comprising information about the surrounding comprising infrastructure such as buildings, signs, vegetation, etc. Said Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS may be arranged in one or more nearby vehicles and/or nearby infrastructure such as one or more buildings, signs, posts or the like.

According to an embodiment of the method the step of analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire comprises the step of analysing the weather situation, e.g. wind including wind strength and wind direction, precipitation, thunder etc.

Said surroundings may comprise a parking place or other site where other nearby vehicles may be present, infrastructure which may be affected such as nearby buildings, vegetation such as a forest, a park or the like, a garage with multiple vehicles etc. Said surroundings may comprise a gas station, factories or the like which may increase the risk should the vehicle fire spread. Said surroundings may comprise dangerous goods in nearby vehicles and/or infrastructure.

According to an embodiment of the method the step of analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire comprises the step of determining characteristics of said surroundings comprising possible affectable objects, for example vehicles. Hereby the risk of damages associated with said vehicle fire is reduced in that the characteristics of affectable object is taken into account which will assist in making the right decisions in the right order and thus facilitates the analysis of the situation such that the appropriate actions may be performed.

The step of determining characteristics of said surroundings may comprise utilizing any suitable detection means for detecting characteristics of said surroundings. The detection means may comprise one or more detection units for detecting the characteristics of said surroundings comprising detecting any object within said surroundings comprising infrastructure such as buildings, other vehicles, users such as vulnerable users within said surrounding, vegetation etc., said objects comprising any affectable object. Said one or more detection units may be arranged in one or more nearby vehicles and/or nearby infrastructure such as one or more buildings, signs, posts or the like.

According to an embodiment of the method the step of determining said vehicle fire comprises the step of detecting said vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire, and/or detecting said vehicle fire by external means.

The step of detecting said vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire may comprise detecting at any suitable location on board the vehicle such as in the vehicle compartment, e.g. in connection to the sealing and/or in connection to the vehicle engine and/or in connection to the vehicle trunk or the like. Said the of detecting said vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire may comprise utilizing one or more suitable detector units for detecting a fire comprising any suitable temperature detector and/or any suitable smoke detector. Detection of vehicle fire on board the vehicle on fire may assist in spreading information about the fire in a quicker and more efficient way, thus facilitating reducing the risk of damages associated with said vehicle fire.

The step of detecting said vehicle fire externally relative to the vehicle may comprise detecting in connection to the vehicle in any suitable way comprising any suitable arrangement in connection to infrastructure in connection to the vehicle such as a building, a post, a sign or the like and/or arranged at another vehicle nearby said vehicle. Said step of detecting said vehicle fire externally relative to the vehicle may comprise utilizing one or more suitable detector units for detecting a fire comprising any suitable temperature detector and/or any suitable smoke detector. Detection of vehicle fire externally relative to the vehicle on fire may further assist in spreading information about the fire in an efficient way, thus facilitating reducing the risk of damages associated with said vehicle fire. The vehicle on fire may also not be able to detect the fire due to e.g. severeness of fire, lack of detection means or the like.

The step of performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises utilizing a vehicle-to-vehicle communication arrangement for communicating appropriate actions to nearby vehicles and where applicable activating appropriate actions for nearby vehicles.

The step of performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises utilizing a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication arrangement for communicating appropriate actions to nearby infrastructure and where applicable activating appropriate actions for nearby infrastructure.

The step of performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises utilizing an infrastructure-to-infrastructure communication arrangement for communicating appropriate actions to nearby infrastructure and where applicable activating appropriate actions for nearby infrastructure.

According to an embodiment of the method the step of performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises the step of producing appropriate warning actions. Hereby the risk of damages associated with said vehicle fire is reduced in that relevant warnings are communicated such that appropriate actions may be performed based on said warnings.

Said appropriate warning actions may comprise audible warning in the form of a sound alarm, a voice message or the like and/or visible warning in the form of visual alarm such as a blinking light, a flash, a text message or the like and/or tactile warning in the form vibrations/movements/shocks or the like on units in contact with possible vulnerable persons nearby. Appropriate warning actions may be warnings to any affectable objects comprising affectable persons such as persons in the vehicle on fire, persons in nearby buildings and/or persons in the vicinity of the vehicle on fire. Appropriate warning actions may comprise waking up persons sleeping, instruct people to move vehicles and the like. According to an embodiment of the method the step of performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises the step of activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles. Hereby the risk of damages associated with said vehicle fire is reduced in that affectable vehicles may be moved to a secure location such that they are not affected by the fire.

The step of activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles may comprise utilizing internal means on board said movable affected vehicle such that the vehicle itself, based on information of said vehicle fire, initiates the moving and repositioning to a safe location. The information about the fire may be received from detection means on board the vehicle and/or by external means, e.g. other vehicles within a vehicle-to-vehicle communication arrangement and/or infrastructure within a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication arrangement.

The step of activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles may comprise utilizing external means external to said movable affected vehicle such that external means, based on information of said vehicle fire, controls the moving and repositioning of said vehicle to a safe location. The information about the fire may be received from detection means on board the vehicle and/or by external means, e.g. other vehicles within a vehicle-to-vehicle communication arrangement and/or infrastructure within a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication arrangement.

Such a movable vehicle may be any vehicle that may be automatically controlled such that it may be moved from the vehicle fire to a position where it is no longer affected by the vehicle fire or no longer risks being affected by the vehicle fire. Such a movable vehicle may be an autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle or a vehicle being provided with means for a limited move of the vehicle. The step of activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles may comprise limitations such as limitation of movable distance of the vehicle, limitation of speed or the like e.g. in order to make theft more difficult. The vehicle could be moved to a nearby firefighting means such as a fire post.

According to an embodiment of the method the step of performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises the step of activating firefighting means available in said surroundings for mitigating damages on affectable/affected objects. Hereby the risk of damages associated with said vehicle fire is reduced in that affected/affectable objects will be subjected to firefighting. The step of activating firefighting means available in said surroundings for mitigating damages on affectable/affected objects may comprise utilizing any suitable control member arranged in other vehicles, infrastructure or the like. The information about the fire may be received from detection means on board the vehicle on fire and/or other vehicles within a vehicle-to-vehicle communication arrangement and/or infrastructure within an infrastructure-to-infrastructure communication arrangement.

Said firefighting means available in said surroundings may comprise e.g. a fire post, a sprinkler system in connection to infrastructure, or the like.

Specifically an object of the invention is achieved by a system for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire. The system comprises means for determining said vehicle fire. The system further comprises means for determining a situation associated with said vehicle being on fire; means for analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising means for considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire; means for determining appropriate actions for mitigating damages associated with said vehicle on fire and said surroundings of said vehicle on fire based upon the results of said analysis; and, means for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions.

According to an embodiment of the system the means for analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising means for considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire comprises means for determining characteristics of said surroundings comprising possible affectable objects, for example vehicles.

According to an embodiment of the system the means for determining said vehicle fire comprises means for detecting said vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire, and/or external means for detecting said vehicle fire externally relative to the vehicle.

According to an embodiment of the system the means for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises means for producing appropriate warning actions.

According to an embodiment of the system the means for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises means for activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles.

According to an embodiment of the system the means for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises means for activating firefighting means available in said surroundings for mitigating damages on affectable/affected objects.

The system for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire is adapted to perform the methods as set out herein.

The system according to the invention has the advantages according to the corresponding methods as set out herein.

Specifically an object of the invention is achieved by a vehicle comprising a system as set out herein.

Specifically an object of the invention is achieved by a computer program for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire, said computer program comprising program code which, when run on an electronic control unit or another computer connected to the electronic control unit, causes the electronic control unit to perform methods as set out herein.

Specifically an object of the invention is achieved by a computer program product comprising a digital storage medium storing the computer program.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present invention reference is made to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a side view of a vehicle according to the present invention; Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a side view of a location with a vehicle on fire according to the present invention; Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a system I for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a method I for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter the term “link” refers to a communication link which may be a physical connector, such as an optoelectronic communication wire, or a nonphysical connector such as a wireless connection, for example a radio or microwave link.

Hereinafter the term “possible affectable objects” refers to any object which may possible be affected by a vehicle fire and thus any affectable object within the surroundings of said vehicle on fire. The term “possible affectable objects” may thus refer to other vehicles, people, animals, buildings, vegetation such as a forest, a park or the like.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a side view of a vehicle 1 according to the present invention. The exemplified vehicle 1 is a heavy vehicle in the shape of a truck. The vehicle according to the present invention could be any suitable vehicle such as a bus or a car. The vehicle 1 may comprise or be comprised in a system I for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a side view of a location L with a vehicle 1 on fire according to the present invention. The location L comprises the surroundings of said vehicle 1 on fire.

The location L comprises a parking place PP with a set of parking spots arranged next to each other. The vehicle 1 on fire is parked in one of those parking spots. A vehicle 1A is parked in the parking spot next to the vehicle on fire and on the following parking spots vehicles 1B, 1 C and 1D are parked.

The location L further comprises infrastructure comprising buildings, here a first building B1 and a second building B2, arranged in the surroundings of said vehicle 1 on fire and a fire fighting means F in the form of a fire post.

According to the invention damages in association with the vehicle fire on the vehicle 1 are mitigated by: determining said vehicle fire; determining a situation associated with said vehicle 1 being on fire; analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising considering the surroundings of said vehicle 1 on fire; based upon the results of said analysis, determining appropriate actions for mitigating damages associated with said vehicle on fire and said surroundings of said vehicle on fire; and, performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions.

One or more of the vehicles 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D are according to this embodiment arranged to establish contact with each other within a vehicle-tovehicle communication arrangement for communicating said vehicle fire to nearby vehicles and where applicable activating appropriate actions for nearby vehicles.

One or more of the vehicles 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D are according to this embodiment arranged to establish contact with infrastructure, e.g. said buildings B1, B2 and/or firefighting means F within a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication arrangement for communicating said vehicle fire to said infrastructure and where applicable activating appropriate actions for infrastructure and/or for receiving information about said fire from said infrastructure and where applicable activation of appropriate action for one or more of said vehicle.

Said infrastructure comprising said buildings B1, B2 and firefighting means F are according to this embodiment arranged to establish an infrastructure-toinfrastructure communication arrangement for communicating said vehicle fire to said infrastructure and where applicable activating appropriate actions for infrastructure and/or other vehicles.

Said vehicles and/or infrastructure are according to this embodiment arranged to establish an vehicle-to-infrastructure and/or infrastructure-to infrastructure communication arrangement with external infrastructure EI for communicating said vehicle fire to said infrastructure and where applicable receiving activation instructions/controls of appropriate actions for infrastructure and/or other vehicles from said external infrastructure. Said external infrastructure may for example be an alarm central, the vehicle owner/vehicle producer or the like.

Appropriate actions may comprise producing appropriate warning actions and/or activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and/or activating said firefighting means F available in said surroundings for mitigating damages on affectable/affected objects.

In fig. 2 an action of moving said adjacent vehicle 1A has been activated so that the vehicle 1A is moved from its parking spot next to the vehicle 1 on fire.

Fig. 3 below schematically illustrates an embodiment of a system I for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire which may be applied for the situation according to what is described with reference to fig. 2 above. The embodiments described in fig. 3 below with reference to the system I may be applied to the situation in fig. 2 including e.g. means 110 for determining vehicle fire, means 120 for determining a situation associated with said vehicle being on fire, means 130 for analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view, means 140 for determining appropriate actions for mitigating damages associated with said vehicle on fire and said surroundings of said vehicle on fire based upon the results of said analysis and means 150 for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a system I for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The system I comprises means 110 for determining said vehicle fire.

According to an embodiment of the system I the means 110 for determining said vehicle fire comprises means 112 for detecting said vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire. Said means 112 for detecting said vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire may be arranged any suitable location on board the vehicle such as in the vehicle compartment, e.g. in connection to the sealing and/or in connection to the vehicle engine and/or in connection to the vehicle trunk or the like. Said means 112 for detecting said vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire may comprise one or more suitable detector units for detecting a fire comprising any suitable temperature detector and/or any suitable smoke detector.

According to an embodiment of the system the means I for determining said vehicle fire comprises means 114 for detecting said vehicle fire externally relative to the vehicle. Said means 114 for detecting said vehicle fire externally relative to the vehicle may be arranged in connection to the vehicle in any suitable way comprising any suitable arrangement in connection to infrastructure in connection to the vehicle such as a building, a post, a sign or the like and/or arranged at another vehicle nearby said vehicle. Said means 114 for detecting said vehicle fire externally relative to the vehicle may comprise one or more suitable detector units for detecting a fire comprising any suitable temperature detector and/or any suitable smoke detector. Said means 114 for detecting said vehicle fire externally relative to the vehicle may comprise detection by a spectator.

The means 110 for determining said vehicle fire comprise said means 112 for detecting said vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire and/or said means 114 for detecting said vehicle fire externally relative to the vehicle.

The system I comprises means 120 for determining a situation associated with said vehicle being on fire. Said situation may be any situation involving said vehicle fire comprising a vehicle fire on a parking place or other site where other nearby vehicles may be present, in connection to infrastructure which may be affected such as nearby buildings, in connection to vegetation such as a forest, a park or the like, a garage with multiple vehicles etc. Said situation may be type of fire of said vehicle, location of fire of said vehicle, severeness of said fire, status of said fire, expected development of said fire etc.

The means 120 for determining a situation associated with said vehicle being on fire comprises means 122 for determining the position of the vehicle on fire. The means 122 for determining the position of the vehicle on fire may comprise detection means for detecting the position of the vehicle. The detection means may comprise one or more detection units for detecting the position of the vehicle such as the relative distance to the vehicle on fire. Said one or more detection units may be arranged in one or more nearby vehicles and/or nearby infrastructure such as one or more buildings, signs, posts or the like.

The means 122 for determining the position of the vehicle on fire may comprise any suitable Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, e.g. a global positioning system, GPS, and map data comprising information about the location of said position. Such Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS may be arranged in the vehicle on fire and/or nearby vehicles and/or nearby infrastructure detecting.

The means 120 for determining a situation associated with said vehicle being on fire comprises means 124 for determining the surroundings of said vehicle on fire.

The means 124 for determining the surroundings of said vehicle on fire may comprise detection means for detecting the surroundings. The detection means may comprise one or more detection units for detecting the surroundings comprising detecting any object within said surroundings comprising infrastructure such as buildings, other vehicles, vegetation etc., said objects comprising any affectable object. Said one or more detection units may be arranged in one or more nearby vehicles and/or nearby infrastructure such as one or more buildings, signs, posts or the like.

The means 124 for determining the surroundings of said vehicle on fire may comprise any suitable Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, e.g. a global positioning system, GPS, and map data comprising information about the surrounding comprising infrastructure such as buildings, signs, vegetation, etc. Said Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS may be arranged in one or more nearby vehicles and/or nearby infrastructure such as one or more buildings, signs, posts or the like.

The system I comprises means 130 for analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view. The means 130 for analysing the situation may comprise means for analysing the weather situation, e.g. wind including wind strength and wind direction, precipitation, thunder etc. The means for analysing the weather situation may comprise any suitable sensor means such as temperature sensors, wind sensors, rain sensors or the like. The means for analysing the weather situation may comprise means for establishing communication with any weather station, any weather data or the like.

The means 130 for analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprises means 132 for considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire. Said surroundings may comprise a parking place or other site where other nearby vehicles may be present, infrastructure which may be affected such as nearby buildings, vegetation such as a forest, a park or the like, a garage with multiple vehicles etc. Said surroundings may comprise a gas station, factories or the like which may increase the risk should the vehicle fire spread. Said surroundings may comprise dangerous goods in nearby vehicles and/or infrastructure.

According to an embodiment of the system I the means 130 for analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view including said means 132 for considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire comprises means 132a for determining characteristics of said surroundings comprising possible affectable objects, for example vehicles.

The means 132a for determining characteristics of said surroundings comprising possible affectable objects, for example vehicles may comprise detection means for detecting characteristics of said surroundings. The detection means may comprise one or more detection units for detecting the characteristics of said surroundings comprising detecting any object within said surroundings comprising infrastructure such as buildings, other vehicles, users such as vulnerable users within said surrounding, vegetation etc., said objects comprising any affectable object. Said one or more detection units may be arranged in one or more nearby vehicles and/or nearby infrastructure such as one or more buildings, signs, posts or the like.

The system I comprises means 140 for determining appropriate actions for mitigating damages associated with said vehicle on fire and said surroundings of said vehicle on fire based upon the results of said analysis.

Said appropriate actions may comprise appropriate warning actions. Said appropriate warning actions may comprise audible warning in the form of a sound alarm, a voice message or the like and/or visible warning in the form of visual alarm such as a blinking light, a flash, a text message or the like and/or tactile warning in the form vibrations/movements/shocks or the like on units in contact with possible vulnerable persons nearby.

Said appropriate actions may comprise automatically moving one or more affectable vehicles.

Said appropriate actions may comprise activating firefighting means available in said surroundings for mitigating damages on affectable/affected objects The system I comprises means 150 for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions.

The means 150 for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises or is comprised in a vehicle-to-vehicle communication arrangement for communicating appropriate actions to nearby vehicles and where applicable activating appropriate actions for nearby vehicles.

The means 150 for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises or is comprised in a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication arrangement for communicating appropriate actions to nearby infrastructure and where applicable activating appropriate actions for nearby infrastructure.

The means 150 for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises or is comprised in an infrastructure-to-infrastructure communication arrangement for communicating appropriate actions to nearby infrastructure and where applicable activating appropriate actions for nearby infrastructure.

According to an embodiment of the system the means 150 for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises means 152 for producing appropriate warning actions.

Appropriate warning actions may be warnings to any affectable objects comprising affectable persons such as persons in the vehicle on fire, persons in nearby buildings and/or persons in the vicinity of the vehicle on fire. Appropriate warning actions may comprise waking up persons sleeping, instruct people to move vehicles and the like.

The means 152 for producing appropriate warning actions may comprise any suitable means and may depend on the situation.

The means 152 for producing appropriate warning actions comprises according to an embodiment sound means comprising one or more sound units for producing an audible warning in the form of a sound alarm, a voice message or the like.

The means 152 for producing appropriate warning actions comprises according to an embodiment visual means comprising one or more display units for producing a visible warning in the form of visual alarm such as a blinking light, a flash, a text message or the like.

The means 152 for producing appropriate warning actions comprises according to an embodiment visual means comprising one or more display units for producing tactile warning in the form vibrations/movements/shocks or the like on units in contact with possible vulnerable persons nearby.

The means 152 for producing appropriate warning actions comprises sound means and/or visual means and/or tactile means.

The means 152 for producing appropriate warning actions comprises or is comprised in a vehicle-to-vehicle communication arrangement for communicating and thus producing a warning to vehicles nearby. Said vehicle-to-vehicle communication arrangement may be between the vehicle on fire and nearby vehicles in the risk of catching fire due to the vehicle fire and/or between a vehicle having detected said fire and other near nearby vehicles in the risk of catching fire due to the vehicle fire and/or a nearby vehicle having detected said fire and said vehicle on fire, said vehicle being on fire thus thereby being informed of its own fire.

The means 152 for producing appropriate warning actions comprises or is comprised in a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication arrangement for communicating and thus producing a warning to infrastructure and/or vehicles nearby. Said vehicle-to-infrastructure communication arrangement may be between the vehicle on fire and nearby infrastructure in the risk of catching fire due to the vehicle fire and/or between a vehicle having detected said fire and nearby infrastructure in the risk of catching fire due to the vehicle fire and/or infrastructure having detected said fire and nearby vehicles in the risk of catching fire due to the vehicle fire and/or infrastructure having detected said fire and said vehicle on fire, said vehicle being on fire thus thereby being informed of its own fire. Said vehicle-to-infrastructure communication arrangement may be between vehicle having detected said fire, i.e. vehicle on fire and/or other nearby vehicle, and external infrastructure not affected by said vehicle fire such as an alarm central, the vehicle owner/vehicle producer or the like.

The means 152 for producing appropriate warning actions comprises or is comprised in an infrastructure-to-infrastructure communication arrangement for communicating and thus producing a warning to infrastructure from other infrastructure. Said infrastructure-to-infrastructure communication arrangement may be between infrastructure having detected said fire and other nearby infrastructure which may be affected by said vehicle fire. Said infrastructure-to-infrastructure communication arrangement may be between infrastructure having detected said fire and external infrastructure not affected by said vehicle fire such as an alarm central, the vehicle owner/vehicle producer or the like.

According to an embodiment of the system the means 150 for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises means 154 for activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles.

The means 154 for activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles may comprise internal means on board said movable affected vehicle such that the vehicle itself, based on information of said vehicle fire, initiates the moving and repositioning to a safe location. The information about the fire may be received from detection means on board the vehicle and/or by external means, e.g. other vehicles within a vehicle-to-vehicle communication arrangement and/or infrastructure within a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication arrangement.

The means 154 for activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles may comprise external means external to said movable affected vehicle such that external means, based on information of said vehicle fire, controls the moving and repositioning of said vehicle to a safe location. The information about the fire may be received from detection means on board the vehicle and/or by external means, e.g. other vehicles within a vehicle-to-vehicle communication arrangement and/or infrastructure within a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication arrangement.

Such a movable vehicle may be any vehicle that may be automatically controlled such that it may be moved from the vehicle fire to a position where it is no longer affected by the vehicle fire or no longer risks being affected by the vehicle fire. Such a movable vehicle may be an autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle or a vehicle being provided with means for a limited move of the vehicle. The means 154 for activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles may comprise limitations such as limitation of movable distance of the vehicle, limitation of speed or the like e.g. in order to make theft more difficult. The vehicle could be moved to a nearby firefighting means such as a fire post.

According to an embodiment of the system the means 150 for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises means 156 for activating firefighting means available in said surroundings for mitigating damages on affectable/affected objects. The means 156 for activating firefighting means available in said surroundings for mitigating damages on affectable/affected objects may comprise any suitable control member arranged in other vehicles, infrastructure or the like. The information about the fire may be received from detection means on board the vehicle on fire and/or other vehicles within a vehicle-to-vehicle communication arrangement and/or infrastructure within an infrastructure-to-infrastructure communication arrangement.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 110 for determining said vehicle fire via a link 10. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 10 arranged to receive a signal from said means 110 representing data for determined vehicle fire.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 112 for detecting said vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire via a link 12. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 12 arranged to receive a signal from said means 112 representing data for determined vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 114 for detecting said vehicle fire externally relative to the vehicle on fire via a link 14. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 14 arranged to receive a signal from said means 114 representing data for determined vehicle fire on externally relative to the vehicle on fire.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 120 for determining a situation associated with said vehicle being on fire via a link 20a. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 20a arranged to send a signal to said means 120 representing data for determined vehicle fire comprising severeness and potential spread.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 120 for determining a situation associated with said vehicle being on fire via a link 20b. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 20b arranged to receive a signal from said means 120 representing data for situation associated with said vehicle being on fire.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 122 for determining the position of the vehicle on fire via a link 22. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 22 arranged to receive a signal from said means 122 representing data for position of the vehicle on fire.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 124 for determining the surroundings of said vehicle on fire via a link 24. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 24 arranged to receive a signal from said means 124 representing data for surroundings of said vehicle on fire.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 130 for analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view via a link 30a. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 30a arranged to send a signal to said means 130 representing determined situation.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 130 for analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view via a link 30b. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 30b arranged to receive a signal from said means 130 representing data for analysed situation from a potential damages point of view.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 132 for considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire via a link 32a. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 32a arranged to send a signal to said means 132 representing surroundings of said vehicle on fire.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 132 for considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire via a link 32b. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 32b arranged to receive a signal from said means 132 representing data for analysed surroundings of said vehicle on fire from a potential damages point of view.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 132a for determining characteristics of said surroundings comprising possible affectable objects, for example vehicles via a link 32a-1. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 32a-1 arranged to receive a signal from said means 132a representing data for determined characteristics.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 140 for determining appropriate actions for mitigating damages associated with said vehicle on fire and said surroundings of said vehicle on fire based upon the results of said analysis via a link 40a. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 40a arranged to send a signal to said means 140 representing data for results of said analysis.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 140 for determining appropriate actions for mitigating damages associated with said vehicle on fire and said surroundings of said vehicle on fire based upon the results of said analysis via a link 40a. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 40 arranged to receive a signal from said means 140 representing data for appropriate actions for mitigating damages associated with said vehicle on fire and said surroundings of said vehicle on fire.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 150 for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions via a link 50. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 50 arranged to send a signal to said means 150 representing data for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 152 for producing appropriate warning actions via a link 52. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 52 arranged to send a signal to said means 152 representing data for producing appropriate warning actions comprising data for audible warning and/or data for visual warning and/or data for tactile warning.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 154 for activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles via a link 54. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 54 arranged to send a signal to said means 154 representing data for producing appropriate warning actions comprising data for activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable.

The electronic control unit 100 is operably connected to the means 156 for activating firefighting means available in said surroundings for mitigating damages on affectable/affected objects via a link 56. The electronic control unit 100 is via the link 56 arranged to send a signal to said means 156 representing data for producing appropriate warning actions comprising data for activating firefighting means available in said surroundings for mitigating damages on affectable/affected objects.

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a method for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to the embodiment the method for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire comprises a step S1. In this step said vehicle fire is determined.

According to the embodiment the method for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire comprises a step S2. In this step a situation associated with said vehicle being on fire is determined.

According to the embodiment the method for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire comprises a step S3. In this step said determined situation is analysed from a potential damages point of view comprising considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire.

According to the embodiment the method for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire comprises a step S4. In this step appropriate actions for mitigating damages associated with said vehicle on fire and said surroundings of said vehicle on fire are determined based upon the results of said analysis.

According to the embodiment the method for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire comprises a step S5. In this step one or more of said determined appropriate actions are performed.

According to an embodiment of the method the step of analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire comprises the step of determining characteristics of said surroundings comprising possible affectable objects, for example vehicles. The step of determining characteristics of said surroundings may comprise utilizing any suitable detection means for detecting characteristics of said surroundings. The detection means may comprise one or more detection units for detecting the characteristics of said surroundings comprising detecting any object within said surroundings comprising infrastructure such as buildings, other vehicles, users such as vulnerable users within said surrounding, vegetation etc., said objects comprising any affectable object. Said one or more detection units may be arranged in one or more nearby vehicles and/or nearby infrastructure such as one or more buildings, signs, posts or the like.

The step of detecting said vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire may comprise detecting at any suitable location on board the vehicle such as in the vehicle compartment, e.g. in connection to the sealing and/or in connection to the vehicle engine and/or in connection to the vehicle trunk or the like. Said the of detecting said vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire may comprise utilizing one or more suitable detector units for detecting a fire comprising any suitable temperature detector and/or any suitable smoke detector.

The step of detecting said vehicle fire externally relative to the vehicle may comprise detecting in connection to the vehicle in any suitable way comprising any suitable arrangement in connection to infrastructure in connection to the vehicle such as a building, a post, a sign or the like and/or arranged at another vehicle nearby said vehicle. Said step of detecting said vehicle fire externally relative to the vehicle may comprise utilizing one or more suitable detector units for detecting a fire comprising any suitable temperature detector and/or any suitable smoke detector.

According to an embodiment of the method the step of performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises the step of producing appropriate warning actions. Said appropriate warning actions may comprise audible warning in the form of a sound alarm, a voice message or the like and/or visible warning in the form of visual alarm such as a blinking light, a flash, a text message or the like and/or tactile warning in the form vibrations/movements/shocks or the like on units in contact with possible vulnerable persons nearby. Appropriate warning actions may be warnings to any affectable objects comprising affectable persons such as persons in the vehicle on fire, persons in nearby buildings and/or persons in the vicinity of the vehicle on fire. Appropriate warning actions may comprise waking up persons sleeping, instruct people to move vehicles and the like.

According to an embodiment of the method the step of performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises the step of activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles.

According to an embodiment of the method the step of performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises the step of activating firefighting means available in said surroundings for mitigating damages on affectable/affected objects.

The step of activating firefighting means available in said surroundings for mitigating damages on affectable/affected objects may comprise utilizing any suitable control member arranged in other vehicles, infrastructure or the like. The information about the fire may be received from detection means on board the vehicle on fire and/or other vehicles within a vehicle-to-vehicle communication arrangement and/or infrastructure within an infrastructure-toinfrastructure communication arrangement.

With reference to figure 5, a diagram of an apparatus 500 is shown. The control unit 100 described with reference to fig. 3 may according to an embodiment comprise apparatus 500. Apparatus 500 comprises a nonvolatile memory 520, a data processing device 510 and a read/write memory 550. Non-volatile memory 520 has a first memory portion 530 wherein a computer program, such as an operating system, is stored for controlling the function of apparatus 500. Further, apparatus 500 comprises a bus controller, a serial communication port, l/O-means, an A/D-converter, a time date entry and transmission unit, an event counter and an interrupt controller (not shown). Non-volatile memory 520 also has a second memory portion 540.

A computer program P is provided comprising routines for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire. The program P comprises routines for determining said vehicle fire. The program P comprises routines for determining a situation associated with said vehicle being on fire. The program P comprises routines for analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire. The program P comprises routines for determining appropriate actions for mitigating damages associated with said vehicle on fire and said surroundings of said vehicle on fire based upon the results of said analysis. The program P comprises routines for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions. The routines for analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire comprises routines for determining characteristics of said surroundings comprising possible affectable objects, for example vehicles. The routines for determining said vehicle fire comprises routines for detecting said vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire, and/or detecting said vehicle fire by external means. The routines for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises routines for producing appropriate warning actions. The routines for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises routines for activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles. The routines for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises routines for activating firefighting means available in said surroundings for mitigating damages on affectable/affected objects. The computer program P may be stored in an executable manner or in a compressed condition in a separate memory 560 and/or in read/write memory 550.

When it is stated that data processing device 510 performs a certain function it should be understood that data processing device 510 performs a certain part of the program which is stored in separate memory 560, or a certain part of the program which is stored in read/write memory 550.

Data processing device 510 may communicate with a data communications port 599 by means of a data bus 516. Non-volatile memory 520 is adapted for communication with data processing device 510 via a data bus 513. Separate memory 560 is adapted for communication with data processing device 510 via a data bus 511. Read/write memory 550 is adapted for communication with data processing device 510 via a data bus 515. To the data communications port 599 e.g. the links connected to the control units 100 may be connected.

When data is received on data port 599 it is temporarily stored in second memory portion 540. When the received input data has been temporarily stored, data processing device 510 is set up to perform execution of code in a manner described above. The signals received on data port 599 can be used by apparatus 500 for determining said vehicle fire. The signals received on data port 599 can be used by apparatus 500 for determining a situation associated with said vehicle being on fire. The signals received on data port 599 can be used by apparatus 500 for analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire. The signals received on data port 599 can be used by apparatus 500 for determining appropriate actions for mitigating damages associated with said vehicle on fire and said surroundings of said vehicle on fire based upon the results of said analysis. The signals received on data port 599 can be used by apparatus 500 for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions. The signals used for analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire are used for for determining characteristics of said surroundings comprising possible affectable objects, for example vehicles. The signals used for determining said vehicle fire are used for detecting said vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire, and/or detecting said vehicle fire by external means. The signals used for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions are used for producing appropriate warning actions. The signals used for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions are used for activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles. The signals used for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions are used for activating firefighting means available in said surroundings for mitigating damages on affectable/affected objects.

Parts of the methods described herein can be performed by apparatus 500 by means of data processing device 510 running the program stored in separate memory 560 or read/write memory 550. When apparatus 500 runs the program, parts of the methods described herein are executed.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A method for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire, comprising the step of: determining (S1) said vehicle fire, characterized by the steps of: determining (S2) a situation associated with said vehicle being on fire, the situation comprising type of fire of said vehicle, location of fire of said vehicle, severeness of said fire, status of said fire, or expected development of said fire; analysing (S3) said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire; based upon the results of said analysis, determining (S4) appropriate actions for mitigating damages associated with said vehicle on fire and said surroundings of said vehicle on fire; and, performing (S5) one or more of said determined appropriate actions, wherein the step of determining said vehicle fire comprises the step of detecting said vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire by means of one or more detectors therefore.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire comprises the step of determining characteristics of said surroundings comprising possible affectable objects, for example vehicles.

3. A method according to any of claims 1-2, wherein the step of performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises the step of producing appropriate warning actions.

4. A method according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the step of performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises the step of activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles.

5. A method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the step of performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises the step of activating firefighting means available in said surroundings for mitigating damages on affectable/affected objects.

6. A system for mitigating damages in association with a vehicle fire, comprising means (110) for determining said vehicle fire, characterized by means (120) for determining a situation associated with said vehicle being on fire, the situation comprising type of fire of said vehicle, location of fire of said vehicle, severeness of said fire, status of said fire, or expected development of said fire; means (130) for analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising means (132) for considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire; means (140) for determining appropriate actions for mitigating damages associated with said vehicle on fire and said surroundings of said vehicle on fire based upon the results of said analysis; and, means (150) for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions, wherein the means (110) for determining said vehicle fire comprises means (112) for detecting said vehicle fire on board said vehicle on fire.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the means (130) for analysing said determined situation from a potential damages point of view comprising means (132) for considering the surroundings of said vehicle on fire comprises means (132a) for determining characteristics of said surroundings comprising possible affectable objects, for example vehicles.

8. A system according to any of claims 6-7, wherein the means (150) for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises means (152) for producing appropriate warning actions.

9. A system according to any of claims 6-8, wherein the means (150) for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises means (154) for activating a function of one or more affectable vehicles for automatically moving said one or more affectable vehicles.

10. A system according to any of claims 6-9, wherein the means (150) for performing one or more of said determined appropriate actions comprises means (156) for activating firefighting means available in said surroundings for mitigating damages on affectable/affected objects.

11. A vehicle (1) comprising a system (I) according to any of claims 6-10.

12. A computer program (P) for, said computer program (P) comprising program code which, when run on an electronic control unit (100) or another computer (500) connected to the electronic control unit (100), causes the electronic control unit to perform the steps according to claim 1-5.

13. A computer program product comprising a digital storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 12.