WO2020115194A1

WO2020115194A1 - Method for rear monitoring and rear monitoring system

Info

Publication number: WO2020115194A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/083790
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Jansen; Niko Alexas
Original assignee: Zf Friedrichshafen Ag
Priority date: 2018-12-06
Filing date: 2019-12-05
Publication date: 2020-06-11
Also published as: DE102018221144A1; EP3891033A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for rear monitoring of a motor vehicle (10). In this case, a rear area behind the motor vehicle (10) is monitored. At least one motor vehicle parameter of a motor vehicle (20) approaching from behind the motor vehicle (10) is determined. In addition, it is calculated based on the determined motor vehicle parameter whether the motor vehicle runs the risk of a collision with the motor vehicle (20) approaching from behind. The invention also relates to a rear monitoring system (12).

Description

Procedure for rear area monitoring and rear area monitoring system

The invention relates to a method for monitoring the rear area of a motor vehicle and a rear space monitoring system for a motor vehicle.

Rear area monitoring systems for motor vehicles are known from the prior art, which are used exclusively for parking. These rear area monitoring systems are used to optically detect a near area behind the motor vehicle and, for example, to display a corresponding video signal on a screen in the motor vehicle interior in order to inform the driver of obstacles in the rear of the motor vehicle.

Furthermore, so-called adaptive cruise control systems or automatic distance control systems are known from the prior art, which are also referred to as “adaptive cruise control” (ACC). In these systems, the speed of a motor vehicle is automatically reduced as soon as an obstacle is recognized and a defined safety distance from the obstacle has been undershot. These systems can also have a so-called emergency braking system or emergency brake assist, which initiates full braking of the motor vehicle. Systems of this type are designed to monitor the surroundings in front of the motor vehicle, that is, vehicles driving ahead or other objects in front of the motor vehicle.

In systems of this type, it has been found that the detection of obstacles at the end of the traffic jam is difficult, as a result of which the implementation is complex and expensive in order to effectively prevent a collision, in particular a rear-end collision.

The object of the invention is to be able to prevent a collision of motor vehicles with simple means.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a method for monitoring the rear space of a motor vehicle, with the following steps: Monitoring a rear area behind the motor vehicle,

- Determining at least one motor vehicle parameter of a motor vehicle approaching the motor vehicle from behind, and

- Using the determined motor vehicle parameter, calculate whether a collision with the motor vehicle approaching from behind threatens.

Furthermore, the object is achieved according to the invention by a rear area monitoring system for a motor vehicle, with a control and arithmetic unit, at least one sensor, which monitors the rear area behind the motor vehicle, the control and arithmetic unit being coupled to the sensor for data acquired by the sensor to receive and evaluate, the control and computing unit being designed to determine a possible collision with a motor vehicle approaching from behind.

The basic idea of the invention is that the rear space of a motor vehicle is monitored, the corresponding rear space monitoring or the rear space monitoring system of the motor vehicle determining a motor vehicle parameter of the motor vehicle approaching from behind in order to be able to infer a possible collision therefrom. The corresponding steps are therefore carried out by the motor vehicle that includes the rear area monitoring or the rear area monitoring system. In contrast to the adaptive cruise control systems or emergency braking systems known from the prior art, in which the approaching motor vehicle detects an obstacle in front, the rear space monitoring is carried out according to the invention in the motor vehicle that another motor vehicle is approaching from behind.

It is accordingly provided that it is determined whether or not the motor vehicle approaching from behind will potentially cause a rear-end collision or a collision with the motor vehicle, which has the rear area monitoring or the rear area monitoring system. For this purpose, the motor vehicle approaching from behind is first detected and at least one motor vehicle parameter of the motor vehicle approaching from behind is determined. This can be done via the internal control and computing unit of the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle parameter is then used to calculate how the motor vehicle approaches the motor vehicle from behind with the rear area monitoring or the rear area monitoring system.

When calculating on the basis of the at least one determined motor vehicle parameter, it can accordingly be determined whether the motor vehicle approaching from behind can come to a standstill in good time and thus prevent a collision or whether a collision is very likely or inevitable. In other words, it is calculated whether the motor vehicle approaching from behind can still prevent the collision or not. Likewise, the determined motor vehicle parameter can be used to calculate whether the motor vehicle approaching from behind has already initiated emergency braking.

For this purpose, the at least one motor vehicle parameter can also be recorded and evaluated over a certain period of time in order to determine a temporal change in the motor vehicle parameter, about which further information can be obtained.

It can also be provided that the rear area monitoring or the rear area monitoring system is (only) activated when the motor vehicle falls below a speed threshold value, as is the case, for example, at the end of the traffic jam.

In general, the rear area monitoring or the rear area monitoring system is designed to monitor the rear area behind the motor vehicle in the distance, that is to say in the far field, so that a motor vehicle approaching from behind can be recognized in good time in order to determine the corresponding motor vehicle parameter. One aspect provides that a warning signal to a vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle and / or to a vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle approaching from behind is output, in particular an optical warning signal and / or an acoustic warning signal. The vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle, for example the driver of the motor vehicle with the rear area monitoring, can be warned accordingly, this being done optically and / or acoustically. For this purpose, loudspeakers and / or screens can be provided in the motor vehicle interior, which are controlled accordingly. In particular, it concerns the loudspeakers or the screen of a multimedia system of the motor vehicle, which is usually present in modern motor vehicles.

Alternatively, a vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle approaching from behind can be warned by means of the warning signal. The warning signal can be an optical warning signal that is output via the hazard warning system or the brake lights of the motor vehicle with the rear area monitoring. This is intended to direct the driver's attention to the motor vehicle in front of the motor vehicle approaching from behind, so that the latter can initiate emergency braking in good time. For example, the brake lights are activated in a pulsating manner, which means that the driver can be made aware of the danger faster because there is a changing light in his field of vision, which is detected more quickly.

Another aspect provides that the at least one motor vehicle parameter is a current speed, a change in speed, a deceleration, an acceleration and / or a used lane of the motor vehicle approaching from behind. In this respect, the rear area monitoring can determine in which lane the motor vehicle approaching from behind is located, in particular whether it is the same lane. Furthermore, the rear area monitoring can determine the speed or change in speed at which the motor vehicle approaching from behind is approaching. In this way, it can be concluded that braking (deceleration) of the motor vehicle approaching from behind has already been initiated. An acceleration of the motor vehicle approaching from behind could also be determined. The motor vehicle parameters can be evaluated over time in order to infer a movement course of the motor vehicle approaching from behind. This enables the probability of a collision to be determined more precisely. In particular, it can thus be calculated in a simple manner whether the motor vehicle approaching from behind is already braking, in particular emergency braking has already been initiated.

Furthermore, it can be provided that environmental parameters are determined and taken into account in the calculation. In this respect, in addition to the at least one motor vehicle parameter, further environmental parameters are included in order to calculate whether or not there is a risk of a collision with the motor vehicle approaching from behind. The environmental parameters can be a road condition, weather conditions, the season, the vehicle type and / or the vehicle size. The corresponding environmental parameters can provide information about the likely braking behavior of the motor vehicle approaching from behind.

For example, the braking distance will be longer in the case of a bad road condition or bad weather conditions than in good weather conditions or a good road condition. Furthermore, the season can provide information about whether the vehicle approaching from behind has winter or summer tires. In particular, the season can therefore be linked to the weather conditions in order to infer the braking distance of the motor vehicle approaching from behind. In an analogous manner, the vehicle type or the vehicle size of the motor vehicle approaching from behind can be taken into account, since the mass depends, among other things, on the vehicle type or the vehicle size. It can also be determined whether the motor vehicle approaching from behind is a car, a truck, a bus, a motorcycle or another type of vehicle that will have a corresponding vehicle-typical braking behavior, which will be taken into account in the calculation. According to one embodiment, the rear area behind the motor vehicle is monitored by means of at least one RADAR, LIDAR and / or imaging sensor. RADAR sensors and LIDAR sensors in particular are suitable for cost-effective rear area monitoring of a long-range area behind the motor vehicle. An imaging sensor can also be used for this, in particular with a corresponding optical system.

Another aspect of the invention provides that the distance to another motor vehicle is determined in front of the motor vehicle. The rear area monitoring system can accordingly have a further sensor which monitors the surroundings in front of the motor vehicle. In this respect, in addition to the rear area monitoring, the environment in front of the motor vehicle is also monitored, the corresponding data being able to be collected at the same time so that the corresponding data is available when the calculation is carried out as to whether or not a collision with the motor vehicle approaching from behind threatens. This ensures that all information relating to the entire environment of the motor vehicle is available during the calculation.

In particular, if a collision with the motor vehicle approaching from the rear threatens, a request is issued to reduce the distance to the further motor vehicle, in particular the request being output acoustically and / or optically. The vehicle driver of the motor vehicle is therefore requested by the motor vehicle with the rear area monitoring to reduce the distance to the motor vehicle in front of it, whereby the motor vehicle approaching from behind can be provided with a larger braking distance, so that an impending collision may still be avoided can. In any case, the severity of the collision can be reduced because a larger braking distance is made available, so that the speed of the motor vehicle approaching from behind can be reduced in the event of an impact. The corresponding request to the driver of the motor vehicle can be made acoustically and / or optically. In particular, the request is issued in a manner analogous to the warning signal via loudspeakers or optical display devices, that is to say loudspeakers or the screen of the multimedia system. The request is issued in particular only if the distance to the further motor vehicle in front of the motor vehicle can be reduced at all with the rear area monitoring or if this is considered to be sensible.

Another aspect provides that if a collision with the motor vehicle approaching from behind threatens, the distance to the further motor vehicle is reduced autonomously, in particular if the vehicle driver of the motor vehicle does not respond or does not respond adequately to the issued request. This means that the motor vehicle with the rear area monitoring system automatically reduces the distance to the previous motor vehicle in order to increase the braking distance available for the motor vehicle approaching from behind. This can at least reduce the severity of the collision or completely avoid the collision.

The distance to the other motor vehicle in front of the motor vehicle with the rear space monitoring is in particular only reduced autonomously if this is possible or has been considered useful.

In general, the method can be used in a traffic jam, in particular at the end of the traffic jam, and in flowing traffic, so that the motor vehicle is accelerated (autonomously) even in flowing traffic in order to avoid a collision with a motor vehicle approaching from behind. However, the motor vehicle will only accelerate if the monitored surroundings of the motor vehicle permit such an acceleration. Basically, acceleration is a slight acceleration that does not surprise the driver.

Here too, environmental parameters can be taken into account whether and how (autonomous) acceleration of the motor vehicle can take place in order to avoid an unstable driving state, for example on the basis of the weather conditions, the course of the road, the road conditions, traffic signs and / or other road users or obstacles in the vicinity of the Motor vehicle. In the autonomous control of the motor vehicle, the current driving behavior of the motor vehicle is also taken into account, and this can be adapted adaptively accordingly. This means that, for example, an existing deceleration of the motor vehicle is carried out less strongly if this is possible due to the environment in front of the motor vehicle in order to allow the motor vehicle approaching from behind to have a longer braking distance.

A risk assessment can be carried out with regard to the environment of the motor vehicle. In the risk assessment, all of the data recorded by the motor vehicle or the rear area monitoring system are evaluated in order to carry out a corresponding reaction (autonomous) of the motor vehicle, which results in minimal damage (for the entire environment). Not only the motor vehicle with the back area monitoring, but also all road users are included in the calculation or risk assessment. The evaluated data is the data which has been acquired by the sensor monitoring the rear area and by the sensor monitoring the surroundings in front of the motor vehicle.

In particular, the motor vehicle approaching from behind and / or the object located in front of the motor vehicle are classified. The “severity” of a collision can be better determined based on the classification of the motor vehicle approaching from behind, and the relevant data can be used in the risk assessment, among other things. Furthermore, when classifying the motor vehicle approaching from behind, typical motor vehicle parameters such as the braking power can be inferred, which flow into the calculation whether a collision with the motor vehicle approaching from the rear is imminent or not.

In an analogous manner, the classification of the obstacle in front of the motor vehicle ensures that a corresponding risk assessment is possible. For example, the obstacle in front of the motor vehicle is a dangerous goods transporter, a small car, a motorcycle, a pedestrian and / or an immobile Obstacle classified, which results in a different risk assessment, which can result in a different (autonomous) reaction of the motor vehicle.

In particular, it is provided that the motor vehicle is controlled autonomously in such a way that it hits a controlled object in front of the motor vehicle. This means that it was determined in the risk assessment that the controlled collision with the object or obstacle in front of the motor vehicle, for example another motor vehicle, represents a lower overall risk than the collision with the motor vehicle approaching from behind without the controlled collision . Due to the controlled collision with the obstacle in front of the motor vehicle, the available stopping or braking distance of the motor vehicle approaching from behind can be extended, which at least reduces the severity of the collision.

Another aspect provides that the motor vehicle communicates with at least one further motor vehicle, in particular with the motor vehicle approaching from behind. For example, an electrical warning signal can be transmitted to the motor vehicle approaching from behind in order to initiate emergency braking in this motor vehicle. The driver of the motor vehicle approaching from behind can likewise be warned accordingly. There can therefore be communication between the motor vehicles, that is to say the motor vehicle with rear space monitoring and the motor vehicle approaching from behind. This is also known as Car2Car communication.

The communication can also take place with other motor vehicles in the vicinity of the motor vehicle, in particular with further motor vehicles in front of the motor vehicle with the rear area monitoring or the rear space monitoring system, so that, for example, the further motor vehicles in front of the motor vehicle are requested to distance from the respective previous motor vehicle reduce. As a result, a larger braking distance can be made available for the motor vehicle approaching from behind. This can also be referred to as a "chain reaction" since several motor vehicles are at a distance from the previous one Reduce motor vehicle. This can also be done autonomously, provided that the corresponding motor vehicles in front of the motor vehicle are designed with the rear area monitoring or the rear area monitoring system accordingly.

In addition, when communicating with other motor vehicles, data can be recorded which are used for risk assessment. These data can be the number of vehicle occupants in the motor vehicles who are in the vicinity of the motor vehicle with the rear area monitoring. In this way, a corresponding risk assessment can be carried out with regard to the potentially injured, in particular in order to minimize the number of injuries. The corresponding data can be recorded via seat occupancy detection in the respective motor vehicles and sent to the motor vehicle with the back area monitoring.

In particular, the back area monitoring system is designed to carry out the method for back area monitoring of the aforementioned type accordingly. The advantages mentioned above thus result in an analogous manner for the rear space monitoring system.

Further advantages and properties of the invention result from the following description and the drawings, to which reference is made. The drawings show:

- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an impending collision situation in a motor vehicle with a rear area monitoring system according to the invention, and

- Figure 2 is a flow chart that illustrates the inventive method for rear space monitoring of a motor vehicle.

FIG. 1 shows a driving situation in which a motor vehicle 10 with a rear area monitoring system 12 is located. In the embodiment shown, the rear area monitoring system 12 has at least one sensor 14 which monitors the rear area behind the motor vehicle 10, in particular in the far field of the motor vehicle 10. The sensor 14 can be a RADAR, LIDAR and / or imaging Act sensor.

The sensor 14 can be arranged in the rear area of the motor vehicle 10, for example in the rear bumper.

Furthermore, the rear area monitoring system 12 comprises a further sensor 16, which monitors the surroundings in front of the motor vehicle 10. The further sensor 16 can also be a RADAR, LIDAR and / or imaging sensor.

The further sensor 16 can be arranged in the front area of the motor vehicle 10, for example in the front bumper.

Furthermore, the rear area monitoring system 12 has a control and arithmetic unit 18, which is coupled to the two sensors 14, 16, so that the control and arithmetic unit 18 receives the data acquired by the sensors 14, 16 for further evaluation.

The control and computing unit 18 is accordingly designed to evaluate the data received from the sensors 14, 16 in order to determine a possible collision with a motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind, as shown in FIG. 1. This will be discussed in more detail later with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 also shows that a further motor vehicle 22 is provided in front of the motor vehicle 10, which is at a distance d from the motor vehicle 10, the distance d or the further motor vehicle 22 being detected by means of the further sensor 16. Basically, the control and arithmetic unit 18 is set up, on the basis of the evaluated data, to issue control commands to vehicle components, among other things, in order to prevent an impending collision or at least to reduce the severity of the collision.

Based on FIG. 2, the following explains how the control and computing unit 18 determines whether a collision with the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind is imminent and how the control and computing unit 18 tries to avoid or at least mitigate the impending collision.

In a first step S1, the rear area behind the motor vehicle 10 is monitored by means of the sensor 14, the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind being detected.

In a second step S2, at least one motor vehicle parameter of the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind is determined, which is, for example, a current speed, a change in speed, a deceleration, an acceleration and / or a used lane of the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind .

In particular, the at least one motor vehicle parameter is determined by the control and computing unit 18, which receives the data from the sensor 14 and evaluates it accordingly.

Furthermore, the control and computing unit 18 can receive data from the further sensor 16 in order to determine the distance d from the further motor vehicle 22 in front of the motor vehicle 10. This can be done in a step S3.

Step S3 can take place essentially simultaneously with step S2.

The further sensor 16 previously, for example simultaneously with step S1, monitored the surroundings in front of the motor vehicle 10, the further motor vehicle 22 in front of the motor vehicle 10 having been detected. The corresponding dates are then on the control and computing unit 18 has been transmitted, so that the control and computing unit 18 can determine the distance d from the further motor vehicle 22 in step S3.

Furthermore, it can be provided in a fourth step S4 that the control and computing unit 18 receives at least one environmental parameter or the

Control and computing unit 18 automatically determines a corresponding environmental parameter.

The at least environmental parameter can be a road condition, weather conditions, season, vehicle type and / or vehicle size.

The fourth step S4 can also take place essentially simultaneously with step S2.

The corresponding parameters, that is to say the at least one environmental parameter and the at least one motor vehicle parameter, are used in a fifth step S5 in order to calculate whether a collision with the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind is imminent on the basis of the detected or determined parameters.

This means that the motor vehicle 10 uses the rear space monitoring or the rear space monitoring system 12 to determine whether the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind can still avoid the collision or not, in particular on the assumption that the motor vehicle 20 approaching from the rear initiates emergency braking .

If the control and computing unit 18 calculates that such a collision is imminent or very likely, in particular also on the assumption that emergency braking is taking place, the control and computing unit 18 will issue a warning signal to a vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle 10 ( Step S6).

Alternatively or additionally, a warning signal can be output to a vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind (step S7) by communication takes place between the motor vehicle 10 and the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind, which is also referred to as Car2Car communication.

In a further step S8, the control and arithmetic unit 18 can issue a request to the vehicle driver of the motor vehicle 10 to reduce the previously determined distance d from the further motor vehicle 22 in front of the motor vehicle 10, so that the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind is a longer one Braking distance can be made available.

As a result, the collision with the motor vehicle 10 can be avoided or at least mitigated. However, the corresponding request is only issued by the control and computing unit 18 if it has previously been calculated that a collision with the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind is imminent, that is to say is very likely or inevitable.

The corresponding request can be given acoustically and / or optically, using, for example, loudspeakers or optical display units of a multimedia system of the motor vehicle.

If the driver of the motor vehicle 10 does not respond to the request or does not react sufficiently, it can be provided that the distance d to the further motor vehicle 22 is reduced autonomously in a further step S9 by a longer braking distance for the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind to provide.

This autonomous reduction in the distance d can also take place directly, that is to say without prior request from the vehicle driver.

In particular, it can even be provided that the motor vehicle 10 is controlled autonomously in such a way that it drives onto the further motor vehicle 22 in a controlled manner. If an object or obstacle other than a motor vehicle is provided in front of the motor vehicle 10, the motor vehicle 10 can also drive up to this obstacle or object in a controlled manner. This is also controlled accordingly by the control and computing unit 18.

Here, however, a risk assessment is first carried out with regard to the environment of the motor vehicle 10. This means that the corresponding surroundings, in particular the objects or obstacles in the surroundings of the motor vehicle 10, that is to say in front of, next to and behind the motor vehicle 10, are classified.

In this way, potential dangers such as a dangerous goods transporter, pedestrians or other dangers can be recognized, which are taken into account in the decision-making process with regard to the (autonomously carried out) reaction which the control and computing unit 18 initiates or controls.

In particular, this risk assessment can also be used to classify the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind, so that the severity of the impending impact or the impending collision with the motor vehicle 10 is determined. This can be done in that, on the basis of the classification of the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind, it is determined whether it is a truck, a bus or another type of vehicle with special properties, with the conclusion that vehicle-typical braking distances are used, which are used in the calculation with regard to of the impending collision.

In this respect, the classification of the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind is used not only in the risk assessment of the surroundings of the motor vehicle 10, but also in the calculation of whether or not there is a risk of a collision with the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind.

In general, the entire environment of the motor vehicle 10 is accordingly included in the risk assessment via the control and computing unit 18 in order to determine the overall To reduce the risk, that is also because of the risk to the surroundings of the motor vehicle 10, in particular pedestrians or other road users without or with a small crumple zone.

The motor vehicle 10 can also communicate with other motor vehicles in its environment, in particular the further motor vehicle 22 in front of the motor vehicle 10 and the motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind in order to initiate a coordinated reaction to the impending collision.

For example, several motor vehicles in front of motor vehicle 10 receive a request to reduce the distance from the respective previous motor vehicle, so that the braking distance available to motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind can be maximized. This coordinated reduction in the respective distances is also referred to as a chain reaction.

Furthermore, when the motor vehicle 10 is communicating with the other motor vehicles, data can also be exchanged, which are taken into account in the risk assessment, among other things. For example, the data include information about the number of vehicle occupants in the respective motor vehicles, so that the risk assessment takes the number of vehicle occupants into account accordingly. This data can be recorded via seat occupancy detection in the respective motor vehicles.

The absolute risk of injury in the entire environment of the motor vehicle 10 can thus be minimized.

In principle, this ensures that an impending collision with a motor vehicle 20 approaching from behind is prevented or its severity is at least minimized. Regarding motor vehicle

Rear area monitoring system

sensor

Control and computing unit

Motor vehicle

Claims

1. Method for monitoring the rear area of a motor vehicle (10), with the following steps:

- monitoring a rear area behind the motor vehicle (10),

- Determining at least one motor vehicle parameter of a motor vehicle (20) approaching the motor vehicle (10) from behind, and

- Using the determined motor vehicle parameter, calculate whether there is a risk of a collision with the motor vehicle (20) approaching from behind.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a warning signal is issued to a vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle (10) and / or to a vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle (20) approaching from behind, in particular an optical warning signal and / or an acoustic warning signal .

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one motor vehicle parameter is a current speed, a speed change, a deceleration, an acceleration and / or a used driving lane of the motor vehicle (20) approaching from behind.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that environmental parameters are determined and taken into account in the calculation, in particular where the environmental parameters were a road surface, weather conditions, season, vehicle type and / or vehicle size.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear space behind the motor vehicle (10) is monitored by means of at least one RADAR, LIDAR and / or imaging sensor (14).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance (d) to another motor vehicle (22) in front of the motor vehicle (10) is determined.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that when a collision threatens with the approaching motor vehicle (20) from behind, a request is made to reduce the distance (d) to the further motor vehicle (22), in particular wherein the request is given acoustically and / or optically.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that when a collision threatens with the approaching motor vehicle (20) from behind, the distance (d) to the further motor vehicle (22) is reduced autonomously, in particular if the vehicle driver of the motor vehicle (10) does not respond or does not respond adequately to the prompt.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a risk assessment regarding the environment of the motor vehicle (10) is carried out.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motor vehicle (20) approaching from behind and / or an object located in front of the motor vehicle (10) are or will be classified.

1 1. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motor vehicle (10) is controlled autonomously so as to drive in a controlled manner onto an object located in front of the motor vehicle.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motor vehicle (10) communicates with at least one further motor vehicle (20, 22), in particular with the motor vehicle (20) approaching from behind.

13. Rear area monitoring system (12) for a motor vehicle (10), with a control and computing unit (18), at least one sensor (14) that monitors the rear area behind the motor vehicle (10), the control and computing unit (18) is coupled to the sensor (14) in order to receive and evaluate data acquired by the sensor (14), the control and computing unit (1 8) being designed to have a possible collision with a motor vehicle (20) approaching from behind to determine.

14. rear area monitoring system (12) according to claim 13, characterized in that a further sensor (16) is provided which monitors the environment in front of the motor vehicle (10).

15. rear area monitoring system (12) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the rear area monitoring system (12) is designed to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12.