Method and device for avoiding and/or minimising conflictual situations in road traffic

The invention relates to a method and a device for avoiding and / or Minimizing conflict situations in road traffic for use in a motor vehicle.

The development in recent years on the streets to a rapid increase in Traffic density and the flow of information out. Driving motor vehicles is therefore to a complex process in which the driver is brought in critical situations may be, in which he is overwhelmed within its means.

Therefore, it must be the goal, the vehicle operator, especially in critical situations relieve. So-called driver assistance systems serve the driver on noted certain dangers. Thus, the definition of a degree of hazard, in which a vehicle is due to dense traffic and low visibility, proposed in DE 42 14 817 A1, via distance-measuring devices the way the preceding vehicle, the relative speed between the two Vehicles or between the vehicle and an obstacle on an infrared visibility measuring system the current sight and the instantaneous speed of Vehicle and the steering angle detected. Depending on these variables is in a first process step, a measure of a safe following distance to a Front vehicle or an obstacle, and thus defines a reference to an optionally enlargeable or brought to reducing instantaneous speed for display. In a second process step is an even function of the measured Visibility secure mobile speed is calculated and this value with the speed Distance speed value compared with the lower or more negative both Values ​​for warning the driver is displayed. Such a driver assistance system but can only indirectly contribute to prevent accidents, since it on the adoption of this evidence by the driver is instructed.

Moreover, in recent years have passive safety systems in the catchment held motor vehicle (z. B. airbags, side impact protection). These systems common that they are only activated when a collision has occurred. Thus, Such safety systems not prevent an accident, but its consequences for the mitigate occupant of the motor vehicle.

Further, various seat occupancy detection devices are known, by means of which can be detected whether a vehicle is occupied. This information is, for example, to Finding required if a passenger airbag must be triggered or not. additionally can be detected by the seat occupancy detection device, what a Physiognomy having the person on the vehicle seat, including, for example Video cameras, weight sensors or the like are used. Due to the detected physiognomy may then, the gas pressure of the airbag is controlled in accordance with be so that injuries caused by the activation of the system are avoided.

The avoidance of an accident as by the use of active safety systems the ABS possible. However, the precondition for activation of the anti-lock system, that the driver has recognized the risk of accident and a correspondingly high delay Calls. Thus, the successful deployment of active safety systems is also directly by the driver dependent. For this reason, methods and Arrangements for preventing collisions with vehicles ahead developed that are capable of due to a certain autonomy, rear-end collisions at avoid. As an example, European Patent Application EP is mentioned 545 437 A2, the a method of avoiding collisions of motor vehicles describes. In which known method, the output of a distance a Evaluation supplied. The measuring range of the spacing device is in classified security zones in different distance from the motor vehicle nearby and which is associated with an individual response measure. A Such a response action is primarily an indication of the driver on a imminent collision. Responds the driver not to this Notice, is automatically a measure to reduce the risk of collision introduced. For the Defining security zones are one part vehicle-specific parameters, such as Speed ​​and other factors that affect the acceleration performance (Z. B. the loading of the motor vehicle, and the road conditions and the Visibility) have considered. However, such a system responds by warning or Braking intervention only on a fore-running motor vehicle or a front of the vehicle obstacle located to a collision with this vehicle or obstacle to prevent.

From DE 196 47 283 is a device for avoiding and / or minimizing Conflict situations in road traffic is known, the means for detecting individual parts having around a device carrying vehicle. These individual Area information In the simplest case, the output signals of sensor devices to detect one or more obstacles, it being for the Classification of the obstacles at least the distance and the relative speed is detected between the motor vehicle and the detected obstacle and its size.

In addition, can advantageously the means for detecting individual components of the Vehicle environment also means for determining the course of the road (z. B. Curve radii of the road), the prevailing visibility and the road condition or, for example, means for detecting road and signs and / or Lights include.

From these pieces of information will be in downstream means for evaluating the Image and / or parts of this image, an image or model of the vehicle environment created and evaluated. In addition, over other means, the vehicle behavior Motor vehicle detected. Here, as examples of sensors indicating the direction of travel and detect longitudinal and transverse movements and speeds to call. The Outputs of said means are at a means to evaluate the current Drivability leave.

Both the signals of the means for evaluation of the image and / or parts of this image and the output signals of the means for evaluation of the drivability of the Motor vehicle are supplied to a processing means from these Outputs a physical limit to avoid a conflict situation determined. If this physical limit is reached or exceeded, generate means downstream of the control signals for the driving functions of the motor vehicle influencing means, at least for the braking / acceleration and / or steering device of the motor vehicle, according to the outputs of the means for Evaluation of the representation of the surroundings of the center of the evaluation of the driving behavior of the Motor vehicle, that is directly on the driving functions of the vehicle influencing agent acted.

Following the acquisition of the driving functions through the device, it is the task of the impending conflict situation to defuse, ie to avoid the accident. In some cases, is this not always be possible. Here, the means for generating Control signals for the active control functions also control signals for activation of the passive safety systems (eg. as airbags, hazard lights or emergency call devices) emit.

In cases where a threat is detected at an early stage, in some circumstances Conflict situation, however, is unavoidable, the device performs a measure to Mitigation through by, for example, a collision with a garbage can the sidewalk to the collision with a person seated on the roadway prefers.

The invention is therefore based on the technical problem, a method and to provide apparatus for avoiding and / or minimizing conflict situations, by means of which a further minimization of damage in inevitable conflict situations is achieved.

The solution to the technical problem is solved by the features of the claims 1 and 6. By assigning a seat occupancy detection device, of which detected data, the control signals are generated dependent, it is inevitable in Collisions increasingly possible to determine a collision course, by means of which in particular personal injury can be minimized. The basic idea is that existing protected areas, comprising a motor vehicle, each optimal use. So For example, a targeted collision against the passenger door or to the side its area on the passenger side of the vehicle driver is far less dangerous than a frontal collision. However, a different situation is if the passenger seat is busy because then the previously described maneuvers for the passenger could be fatal. In this case, could direct collision with respect to the injury to rider and Passenger be cheaper. By knowing the seat occupancy thus a further Degree of freedom in order to minimize the damage at a collision. Further advantageous Embodiments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

The invention is described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment explained. The single figure shows a block diagram of the device to avoid and / or minimizing conflict situations in road traffic.

The apparatus 1 for preventing and / or minimizing conflict situations in Road comprises means 2 for detecting an image of the environment a motor vehicle, a seat occupancy detection device 3, sensors 4, 5 to Detecting vehicle state data and an evaluation device 6. The device 2 here comprises a number of sensors 7 Lazar, radar sensors 8 and 9 cameras or Combination of these, which are designed such that this completely around the detect the motor vehicle. By combining various sensors 7-9 is not only achieved a certain amount of redundancy, but also an optimal adaptation to the scored prevailing environmental conditions. For example, takes the Reliability of the laser sensors 7 at considerably from rain or snow, but not the the radar sensors 8. In the dark, however, is the detection capability of video cameras severely restricted, but not the laser sensors 7, radar sensors 8 or a thermal imaging camera 9. The acquired data of the device 2 are continuously passed to the evaluation unit 6 and there to a full environmental image composed, with the review of the data from the sensors 7-9 depending carried out by the weather conditions and time of day that the evaluation unit 6 are supplied. In addition, the evaluation unit 6 also in a digital map draw a navigation system stored information. The generated Environmental image includes the road layout, escape surface, number, distance and respective relative speed of objects or obstacles and classification the objects. The classification covers mainly on whether the objects unprotected persons such as pedestrians or cyclists, protected person as others Motor vehicle driver or inanimate objects. The sensors 4, 5 for the detection of Vehicle condition data detect the vehicle speed, the coefficient of friction of the The substrate, the current steering angle, and similar data, which is also the Evaluation unit 6 are supplied. The evaluation unit 6 checks whether prescribed Security conditions are adhered to other motor vehicles and whether the Motor vehicle is on a collision course to a detected object. However, should this Verification that all safety distances are complied with and not otherwise Risk of collision is given, the evaluation unit generates a control signal 6 for the Actuators 10 - 12. The actuators 10 - 12 are for example the braking, acceleration and steering device of the motor vehicle, preferably as x-by-wire systems are formed. X-by-wire systems are mechanically decoupled devices in which converted a mechanical actuating movement into an electrical control signal and a Control unit is supplied, which then the actual system component purely electric controls. By an electrical connection between the evaluation unit 6 and the ECUs the x-by-wire systems can thus be very simple intervention in the Driving dynamics achieved.

If the examination of the evaluation unit 6, however, that for example, a Safety margin is too low, so these calculated an alternate strategy to the defuse traffic situation. In the simplest case, this is an actuating signal, by means of which the speed of the vehicle is matched to that of the detected object so that the required safety distance is respected again. Is not such a strategy longer possible, for example because the distance is too small, it is checked whether nor an alternative strategy without collision is possible, for example by the vehicle is directed to a free movement area. If the examination of the evaluation unit 6, that no alternative strategy is possible with a collision be prevented may, as a targeted collision is performed.

These calculates the evaluation unit 6 different collision strategies. subsequently the various collision strategies taking into account the detected Seat occupancy of the seat occupancy detection device 3 to the respective damage severity rated. For this purpose preferably a collision strategy is selected in the no injury can occur, ie there is a collision with an inanimate object performed when doing driver and other occupants not an excessive risk get abandoned. For this purpose, the motor vehicle is controlled such that the most Impact energy is absorbed by unoccupied areas of the vehicle, that the vehicle is rotated with the unoccupied areas for collision object. If the vehicle is fully busy, the vehicle range is selected, the most impact energy as can accommodate crumple zone. Principles of the descriptions apply if a collision with is performed another occupied vehicle. For this purpose, for example for Damage assessment, the seat occupancy of the collision the vehicle by the camera 9 are detected and taken into account in the collision strategy. an additional Factor, for example, by the seat occupancy detection device 3 be detected classification of occupation, for example, whether it is a to a baby, Small child or an adult is. For this purpose, the seat occupancy detection device 3 be assigned a camera or a weight sensor, from whose data on the person can be deduced. The weight sensor can be used to reduce the Error due to the sitting position with an inclination angle sensor of the backrest a Fußstellungs sensor are combined and / or. As babies and young children very much sensitive to a collision, is then preferably a strategy selected in which the damage to the latter is as low as possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

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